Too much smoke and shadows behind the windows for his liking.
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Lol that was a classic.
Yeah he came across as that slightly dumb mate who is as genuine and lovable as they come. Seemed to create great connections with the players and there appeared to be strong mutual respect. On the handful of occasions I attended training I liked the bodywork and leading patterns stuff he did with the forwards.
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Great to see so many senior players there. Looks like most except for Parish, Perkins and Merrett. Anyone know any others missing?
Ridley was very good today
https://x.com/bomberricko/status/1987697011651739822?s=46&t=y9oWYSpg8c5zTvCfVDAS8g
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Taken from: No Cookies | Herald Sun
MERRETT MISSES OPTIONAL RETURN
Essendon star Zach Merrett missed an opportunity to show his face at The Hangar as almost 40 Bombers hit the track on the first day of pre-season.
Merrett is under no obligation to attend training until November 24 but has been a regular fixture in the opening fortnight alongside his first to fourth-year teammates in previous years.
The six-time Essendon best and fairest was in Queensland for a wedding on the weekend and did not come to the club as other senior players including captaincy contenders Andrew McGrath, Mason Redman and Sam Durham began their pre-seasons early.
Key defender Zach Reid said Merrettās absence was āno big issueā as he was reluctant to weigh in on whether the 30-year-old should be replaced as captain.
Bombers chief executive Craig Vozzo said last month the club would go through its ānormal processā to appoint its skipper after Merrett was unsuccessful in his bid to force a trade to Hawthorn.
āThe group is galvanised. Weāre all good,ā Reid said when asked how he had felt watching the Merrett situation unfold over the off-season.
ā(Merrett) is obviously not required yet, so thatās no big issue. But weāll welcome him back with open arms. Heās our best player, and thereās no denying that.
āHeās going to make us a better team, so weāre going to welcome him back.ā
Reid was unsure whether the star midfielder would return before the senior players officially begin pre-season on November 24.
āI donāt know, heās still got two weeks until he officially comes back ā¦ so when he does, we will support him,ā he said.
āI havenāt given (Merrettās captaincy) much thought. I suppose itās a process every year ā¦ Iāll observe over the next couple of months and when that time comes, Iāll cast my vote, but Iām not too sure.
āIām sure he will address it when he comes back, heās been such a pro throughout his career.
āI think the group just wants to move on ā¦ you canāt let that sort of stuff derail a pre-season or an off-season. Weāll welcome him back and get on with the job weāre all here to do.ā
INNESS A POPULAR FIGURE
New high performance boss Mathew Inness was out on the track as about 35 AFL-listed players and a handful of VFL players opened their pre-season campaigns.
The former Bulldogs and Eagles fitness guru watched as 15 young Bombers set off for a 2km time trial, with delisted Carlton midfielder Jaxon Binns holding off last yearās winner Angus Clarke in a tight finish well ahead of Archie Roberts, Saad El-Hawli and Jayden Nguyen.
Reid did not run in the time trial but moved smoothly as he returned to training following hamstring surgery in July.
He said Inness and his strength and conditioning team had been āgreatā as he grew in optimism entering his sixth season.
āI feel like our off-season program has been top-notch, and I think a lot of the boys agree,ā Reid said.
āItās really individualised, so I think the boys are liking that and Iāve enjoyed it.ā
Star defender Jordan Ridley, who was frustrated with the clubās previous fitness regime after another injury-riddled campaign, joined teammates in ballwork in another positive sign for Bombers fans.
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Gresham and Bryan. Jones only did bike work and Martin ran laps.
Edwards and Hayes participated in drills (Kicking , Marking etc) but not flow games drills. Making great recovery strides
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How has this guy still not got any muscle definition?
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Interesting. So Merrett was invited to McGrathās wedding. It was just the date got changed on his invite meaning he turned up a week later than all the other players.
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Why straight to a negative aspect? Maybe, he got another opportunity, maybe he had enough and is doing something else?
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Anytime my kids say 6 7 now Iām just going to respond with Scott Boland - build that man a statue.
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I wheelie hope we donāt
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very positive that Zack Reidās hamstring was able to get through that interview
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So farkcarlscum win the time trial 
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Congrats to Zach and (former) Mrs Mitchell.
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As much as Fletch was always lean, Cox still looks like heās allergic to weights. Has to be something in that and reoccurring injuries.
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The thing with Cox is, everytime he actually does play, he really sticks his tackles and goes in pretty hard. I think heās pretty strong.
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Negligible physical development going into his 6th preseason.
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Yeah, just quietly, I reckon there could be better things to focus on for first day of preseason than the muscle definition of a guy who has been out for a year with concussion issues.
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