Older demon

I know you love giving Salem a hard time about Arsenal but he would have to be happy with them. Also is he clear of the knock last week and will he play??

In addition to the list there is an army of volunteers who assist the club each year. Handing out scarves, making the banner, assisting with membership ringing members who haven't renewed (remember that when someone rings and asks don't dump on a volunteer), selling raffle tickets and a variety of other functions. HR protocols point out volunteer responsibilities and a Working with Children check. These numbers would swell the list of staff and roles even more. AFL club management is huge and expensive and PJ is the master.

Through all the discussion no one has mentioned our lack of ruck strength. There was a bronx cheer when we actually got a clearance. It all starts in the middle and when Mumford took over in Camberra and Sandi dominated today our inexperienced mid field got thrashed. They run harder spread better and kick to position better. They played of for the flag 2 seasons ago, slipped last year and are back this year. They have a mature team not many out their in their 5th game like Vandenberg, Hogan and Brayshaw. I would like the margin to have been less and wish we had converted one of this early last quarter shots. Number 1 priority is to draft/find a quality ruckman and another key position player. Tamar lowered his colours today.

Consider that Sandilands has always had the wood on Jamar then Roos may play Russian as another tall forward depending on the weather and stretch the Freo backline. Tippet in the second half showed this last week. Spencer may well be given a job of just getting in Sandilands way or shadowing him everywhere

TDI the VFL report said that Bail had a concussion and missed the 2nd half. Did he train? If Nev is out then Ro with his concussion history would have to miss as well.

Agree worry about Bail. Last year I thought he was only 1 more concussion away from retirement, won't be seen this week.

Ralph on SEN today says that Tyson may have jarred his knee (the one he hurt at GWS) and will be doubtful for next Sunday.

We will need an extra tall as Freo monitoring Sydney with their tall strong bodies. Clarke and Taberner will be hard to cover so I hope a tall back plays a blinder tomorrow. Jamar does not have a great record against Sandilands.

I was surprised last weekend to see Gysberts playing for St Kevins old boys in premier B amateurs. Hardly looked like a player with his experience in the AFL. Slow lazy and absolutely no body definition at all. A few ex Hawks VFL players looked bigger than he did, how did we get it so wrong?

TDI did you see Kent? How was his eye and was there any comment on Shaw only getting 1 week for basically assaulting Kent, splitting him open and possibly concussing him??

The weather may influence selection as well. Hissing down in Sydney and canberra has been very damp. The ground may be heavy and the conditions may not suit too many calls by the weekend.

Than you TDI for all your efforts and reports pre season I always look forward to reading whats happening.

I like what PJ says Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson has urged all those involved with the club to shed the sense of pessimism that has often gripped the Demons. Speaking at the club's launch on Monday night, Jackson drew on the example of No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca's season-ending injury as the type of incident that typically sends the Demons into a state of despair. "We still tend to have what I've coined our 'Petracca moments'," Jackson said. Maybe he does read this site. I think the culture change shouldn't be limited just to the club but the supporters as well. We have all endured so much that we have lost our positivity. Quick fixes don't work and PJ is re aligning the whole club and its culture as PJ says. "As I'm sure Roosy will say to you, we will lose games of football this year. Get over it. We're on the right path, and we need to believe we're on the right path. Those within the club certainly do." Go Dees

The blame for what? Trying to rebuild and turn around a basket case!! He has been there a season and a half please tell me just what is he supposed to have done in that time. win us a flag. We started from a long way back and our defensive skills poor. Some AFL coaches have spent their first 2 seasons just working on a sides defensive skills, drills and match play. They all start here and then build the offensive side and then you need the cattle. Please don't quote to me what the Kanga's Hawks and others do as they are light years ahead in their preparation and skill sets. If you want more goals and attacking style then build a goal kicking midfield and don't rely on the key forwards. When we went attacking late last season we scored goals but the opposition scored way more. Have a defence that launches attack after attack from deep in defence with precision play and foot skills. One cannot lament the poor disposal skills of some on the list and then blame the coach for not coaching a more attacking style. You build the style and while doing so adapt your game with the cattle you have. Tyson is in his 3rd season: Salem, JKH, Kent, are in their second season. Riley, Newton, Michie have played a hand full of games while Toumpas, Viney are only learning the caper. Then there are the new recruits Stretch, Neal-Bullen, Petracca and Bradshaw. I think the expectation is too high and quoting first year players that come in and dominate needs to be examined if they are coming into or should I say be eased into an established team with leaders and mentors to guide them. Praise the coach and his team for bringing in Vince, Lamumba and Cross who will mentor these young guys. Roos level of success will be measured in 5 years not 5 months and the long term strategy and team style is being built now. The good news is that Goodwin appears to favour a more attacking approach but he will achieve this only only if he has the right cattle. Grand finals are won by teams with the best defence.....

AS I have said before Frosty was a forward at Wesley and the under 18's and is a serious athlete as some are now finding out. Roos has stated that Freo have started this trend with 190 cm midfielders as do Sydney who even run Buddy in the midfield and Roughy is a sensational clearance player with the Hawks and Blicavs does a similar role at the cattery. Fitz to full back makes sense as we lack height down back against certain teams. last year GCS with Lynch, Day and Dixon all showed up teams with their marking power. This season the Kangas going with Petrie, Waite, Daw and Black will stretch any defence so a 200 cm full back is a good idea IMO. History is littered with struggling forwards who go down back and find the straight ahead line suits them and gives them confidence and some even return to the forward line.

Someone asked how many were there so I have posted some crowd photo's I took on Monday. The link is http://imgur.com/a/HEk6d#0a few taken at midday and then some taken once the players hit the track. There were some very healthy numbers there.

OK so here goes on imgur.com search for "MFC training 9/3/15" and I hope you can see the photos from training today, many thanks for the advice and let me know if it works.

I know this has been asked before but please humour me. I have some photo's from todays late session which I would like to post. Any suggestions for the best way to post these so members can have a look??

Quick note re Frosty. A Wesley old collegian who played as a key forwarding the juniors. Played front and back at GWS he is a genuine swing man and very athletic. No surprise to see him play up forward initially. Don't know of any quotes where Roos said he was recruited as a backman. If replacing Frawley, remember Frawley played up forward last season.

Smithy came to Melbourne from Ormond amateurs as a CHF and played his early days there. He had a lot of hamstring problems and I believe that led to his move down back where there was less twisting and turning. Turned into a great full back

Smithy is a demon true blue. I see him at all the MFC games and he wrote a beautiful eulogy for Robbie Flower. He has been the MFC delegate to the MCC in the past so this can only be good for the club. It is customary for the MCC president to attend the Ashes so I suspect he will miss a few games mid July. I ran into Smithy in 2013 at Lords as a guest of the other MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and saw the out going president Paul Sheahan also there.

Trengove is assisting with the coaching for Old Collegians in premier div amateurs. Still on crutches I believe, so a long way of from doing any running, but keeping involved in footy and midfield coaching with the blessing of both clubs.

I read with interest the article written by David King titled "Melbourne Blueprint: Paul Roos’ legacy at Melbourne will be decided in 2015." He makes some good points and I like the way the stats graphic at the end is presented and that you can see the various bar graphs for each player by kicks, marks etc. but it is so obvious how uneven the workload is spread Who would believe that Pederson and Watts are the leading score assist men! Frawley easily the most marks and significant goal contribution ! Only 4 players with more than 60 clearances ouch! Statistically Bail had a very good year despite the constant criticism on here. I think I can safely say is that there is a lot of room for improvement.

No comparison between Neeld and Luke. One had no man management skills and Luke is brilliant at player management.

Saw them on the park this morning. Checked with a friend at the club who told me it was voluntary on the players part with first session starting next week for the younger players. Older blokes and rehab will start later. Forget AFLPA as this was voluntary and I applaud the players keen enough to start ball work so soon.