Melbourne 2016 pre-season

[Nige]

 :o

[Barra13]

Petracca also looking solid.

[Purple 77]

Such an unique body shape... you really feel like he could barge through people in a contest.

He'll look good along side Hogan in the forward line next year  8)

[Barra13]

"Reigning best and fairest winner Bernie Vince has suffered a minor setback after breaking his little finger at training last week.

Vince was spotted with a splint on his finger at the club's training base at AAMI Park on Friday morning.

"Unfortunately he had an incident last week. He'd actually just made it back into the main group and then busted his little finger," Jones said.

"He's got a little pin in there. It's pretty standard, most boys at this time of year might suffer something minor like that, but that's not going to affect him in terms of weights and running.

"A little bit of (an interruption) with ball work for a few weeks, but he'll be sweet."

[Purple 77]

Could be worse.

A lack of pre-season last year certainly didn't effect him :P

[Barra13]

I bowled a long to training for a while. I didn't stay for long so I'm sure others can add more.

A photographer was there as was a cameraman so there might be photos from AFL media and footage on the news (don't know which one).

Players in rehab or being rested:

Dawes, Prince, Spencil, Garlett, Watts, Frost, Tyson, Brayshaw, Trengove, unidentified stick (possibly AFL Academy trainee). These guys did modified training and or ran laps. Trengove was doing some light drills. Good to see him do more than just running.

Patracca did a good deal of the main training but went off to an adjacent oval when the full ground ball movement work was being done. Garlett (his mrs and kid were there), Tyson and Brayshaw did some 150-ish meter run-throughs at some speed. Brayshaw lagged behind in all but one of the runs (except the last one). I assume then, he's coming from further back that the others. Looks bigger this season.

I didn't really pick out too many of the newbies apart from Oliver, but only because he glows in his pastiness. His kicking seemed OK in the drill I saw him. Looked to be tiring the more each drill progressed - to be expected. So far so good. He, Hulett, Stretch, King (Mitch) and Garland were doing some forward drills. they all looked pretty good - standouts were Stretch and Oliver (not that they were doing a whole lot).

I have read observations that Watts is being very vocal - I concur.

Bugg looks to have settled in very well.

I'll add more as I think of it.

NB. Very hard to spot players with no names on their shirts and in hats.

[Barra13]

Some pics from training today.  ;)

http://www.gettyimages.com.au/photos/melbourne-demons-training?excludenudity=false&family=editorial&page=1&phrase=melbourne%20demons%20training&sort=best

[Barra13]

Popped by for about an hour. Didn't see Dawes, Lumumba, Frost or Trengove. Did see Brenton Sanderson, Shifter and Cal Twomey.

So many drills with different groups it's kind of hard to report on what was happening unless you take notes.

Certainly nice to see Brayshaw, Tyson and Garlett doing some ball work as well as runs.

Jones, ANB and Petracca had a bit of kick to kick at the end with Crossy taking turns to shadow defend one of them as they led off. Fair to say Petracca knows how to mark on a lead.

Hulett impressed me of the new boys, good size, lovely kick. Joel Smith was with them for a fair few drills. Weideman kicks well on his left. Nothing wrong with Oliver's physique. Wagner was with the main group.

The usual drills all focused on fast ball movement. A full ground drill featured 2 teams going head to head in non stop footy with no stopping for marks. Vanders was prominent in the midfield, and Viney. Billy Stretch found the ball in space. Bugg got the ball at half back a bit. JKH was involved. The one player who really made things happen was Hunt, using his burst of speed through the middle. But he does seem a bit one dimensional and his kicking isn't fluent, so I'm temper expectations but still he showed a bit.

Ben Kennedy moved well to get in to space. With at one stage Grimes refusing to handball to him until it was late enough to be a hospital handball. That said Jack did kick nicely a couple of times. The thing with BK is every now and then he misses a kick or fumbles a handpass. I wonder if it's just confidence and belief, because he does have good skills. I think he needs to just relax and slow down a bit.

Melksham was very impressive running and using the ball well from half back.

[Barra13]

I went down there around 10 until the end of training.
I must say I had a little boy with me who his fav player is garlett as both aboriginal  and after a couple of photos with him found out by Brayshaw that Garlett is his fav player got a trainer to bring him back his hat signed. very grateful.
Also pretracca had a conversation with my child (5) and called him mate then girl then man and as Tom Bugg and Ben kennedy came for a chat he then realized and said '' I just
Realized I called him a girl ( mind you he looks nothing like a girl) and they proceeded to say he will be a ladies killer and he has hair like harmsey.
Moral of this story I love how much these guys put time and effort into talking to people and children. Hogan was great with him.

Anyway back to training!
I saw Trengove and Harry O at about 10.15 heading towards ammi so they were down with that training part.
I really love how harmsey goes about his footy. Super fit and tackling machine. If he stuffs up he backs himself to keep trying. Does not give up on himself.

Garlett, Tyson and brayshaw just running and hand balling to each other nothing to much for them
Spencer and watts were running laps all day

Tom Mcdonald leading the way with running so was harmsey
Viney looked to struggle at the back also last one off the track kicking for goals but unsure if he was abit sore or not today didn't look 100%
Only time I saw Vince was when he was walking off.
Unsure who it was, I am 95% sure it was Hunt but if so this kid looks good! Gets himself into good positions and doesn't mind taking on people. Jetta was tackling very well.
JKH running was ok but seemed to drop off a lot as time goes on. Tries to take on to many people when there's better options and gets tackled.
Hogan this kid I swear is a beast! No one can get past him. Moved well and only had eyes for the ball.
As for Melksham he did alright but may be trying to impress a bit to much. Did a few things wrong that should have been easy but better now then during a game.
Stretch moved for well and got into space very quick and he likes to get the play moving.
Weideman looked wrecked at the end but hey so would I!
If I remember anything else I will post

[Big Mac]

The big question is can Bernie still hold a beer?

[Purple 77]

Great insights.

[tbagrocks]

Cant wait to see if my old boy, JT can get back and fit, ready to play again 8)  Seems like the whole world is looking at Jack and Brad from the crows also! Many thought they would have to retire, hopefully both men line up for round one ;D

But ive been a JT fan since Sturt and hope he can produce what he has shown in the past! That, would be awesome

[T Dog]

Get around the Toump?   ;D

[Purple 77]

JT will never play a game for port, unless it's round 23 and he gets a pity game.

I don't recall spud getting more than 16 disposals in the second half of the year at vfl level, and can't break into the Melbourne side! How will he get into ports? I just don't see it happening. If he signed a 1 year deal, then he'll follow cale and gysberts as ex Melbourne high draft picks to last one year before getting delisted.

He just doesn't have what it takes to be a good afl player.

[kilbluff1985]

i didnt think Aaron Hall had what it took 12 months ago either