Melbourne preseason training

[Purple 77]

That's an interesting 18. Wonder if that is a hint at our round 1 side?

Don't think Frost will start forward nor Lumumba in the mids - Could be pretty close though.

Who would you have on the bench?

I personally probably wouldn't have frost up forward... he is behind pedersen for me to play that forward role. I would have him in our best 22 though, either on the bench or in the back line.


Um, going from that team, would say Kent, Vince, Watts and Howe, just off the top of my head. Would have some swap arounds but that would basically be my 22.

I still (probably unfairly) question if M.Jones is worth playing in the team, but think he has done enough to play round 1.

[Barra13]

I'm not so sure about Pederson ahead of Frost. Frost playing forward today as above was also doing ruck work again with Stafford and the rest of the ruck division except for Pederson. Looks like Roosy wants to get him into that 2nd ruck/forward role. I do feel for Pederson as he has been working really hard since Roosy has come in and given 100%.

[kilbluff1985]

Matt Jones seems to give away a free kick whenever he goes near someone.

That's a bit rough. Gave away 13 frees from 20 games last year, 351st in the comp for average FA's.

yeah and the umps been really trigger happy with frees so far

[Barra13]

From todays session;

Missing Terlich, Riley, Petracca, Hunt, Trengove,, McKenzie.........Cross and Newtton were sent indoors by Misson after coming out

Howe and Vince did most stuff today

Mostly drills in their respective groups, again ball movement

We now have a 200cm full back in training, Fitzy trained with defenders, spoke to him, was told last Thursday he was going to be trialled at fullback at Casey, said he enjoyed it, only cocked up once when he went on a good lead, only to remember he was now a defender and his opponent had gone other way

Frost trained with the midfield mostly?

JKH issue was an infected cut, he is fine now

Also  spoke to Aaron Vandenberg, he agrees he took one bounce too many on the run in for his goal, and shanked the kick, happy to see it go through

Spoke to Brendan McCartney, said Friday was ordinary, only good thing was it showed the players what happens when you don't play as a team, said it was only NAB Challenge, how the team is travelling is something to look at 7 weeks into the season, finds it hilarious the Pies are already being written off

Ross had a good chat to the squad at the beginning, must have gone for five or six minutes, they had a good laugh about something at the end, which is good to see

[Purple 77]

Very interesting about Fitzy...

Well, if you think about it, he is behind Jamar, Gawn and Spencer in ruck duties

And behind Dawes, Hogan, Watts and Pedersen in the forward line...

So perhaps this attempt at re-inventing himself is really the only chance he has to remain on the list?

[Big Mac]

Very interesting about Fitzy...

Well, if you think about it, he is behind Jamar, Gawn and Spencer in ruck duties

And behind Dawes, Hogan, Watts and Pedersen in the forward line...

So perhaps this attempt at re-inventing himself is really the only chance he has to remain on the list?

Looked good in the last couple games last year

But you might be right about this year being his last chance

He definitely has the closing speed - can't mark particularly well either, so it might be good for him to have the option to spoil

[Barra13]

Maybe they've realised after so long that Garland isn't up to speed? He is a great defender but when it is in his hands I shudder. I can't imagine Fitzy's disposal being a heap better.

[Ricochet]

Boys Adam Baldwin from Fox footy saying the Vandenberg didn't train this morning and isn't named for Casey this weekend, so unlikely for RD1. You guys know anything of it?

[kilbluff1985]

hopefully just resting him

[Purple 77]

Without surveying Demonland first, it doesn't surprise me that he isn't playing at casey this weekend at all. I wouldn't read too much into that.

Him missing training however is strange...

[LF]

Could be a personal reason if he missed training as well.

[Purple 77]

Only 8 demons have got permission to play at casey anyway, and their reasons are because they're coming back from injury really, so it's a good thing the berger isn't playing  :P

[Purple 77]

According to a Demonlander, he says that he asked Vandenberg personally today if he was playing this weekend, and he said he was, and Nev Jetta confirmed it.

[Barra13]

Well boys, I think this may be the last session so here it is. Hope you have all enjoyed it and found some pieces of the puzzle to finalising your teams. I reckon there is alot of value to be had from Melbourne. As my team sits now I currently have: Lumumba, Newton, VandenBerg, Salem and Hogan. Good luck for the year with your teams.

Anyway on with the report! As always will update as new information becomes available!

Hogan got through....here is the rest

No shows Petracca and Trengove

Hunt in rehab

Fitzpatrick arrived late

ANB nearly full session again, followed by a solid workout on bags and wrestling obviously building up confidence in his knee

Spoke to Jayden Hunt, they have the cause of his back issue sorted, now just a matter of starting running again, has been doing bike and swimming, so hasn'tlost his base fitness

You could sense the tenseness and anticipation in all the players

Howie still doesn't know whether he has done enough

Dom Tyson is really looking forward to Saturday, feeling great

Congratulated HL on his 200 games, really humble

Told Jesse Hogan to just enjoy the game, nearly took my arm off shaking myhand

Thanked Dave Misson for having 40 players ready to go two days from start ofseason

[Purple 77]

Cheers for all the relays barra... was my first pre-season where I bothered to read reports, and I did enjoy reading them!

I still can't shake this bad feeling about round 1 though  :(