Manchester United's flight to Perth was delayed slightly amid sad circumstances at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday.
A military plane landed on the private runway, blocking United's take-off, due to a medical emergency on board. United were airborne 45 minutes later.
United trained at AAMI Park for the final time on Wednesday morning and were back at the quaint WACA at 10am on Thursday. The stadium is undergoing a renovation, so some stands were off limits but supporters packed out the first tier of the Lillee-Marsh Stand.
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In attendance was Danny Hodgson, a soccer player from Cumbria living in Perth who was in the Carlisle academy with United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Hodgson was left in a coma last September after he was punched in an unprovoked attack at Perth Train Station. Hodgson spent six months in hospital and arrived at the WACA in a wheelchair but has started to walk.
United arranged for players to greet Hodgson, who was sent a video message by Henderson and Cristiano Ronaldo last year. His 17-year-old attacker was sentenced to three years and eight months in juvenile detention.
It was lashing it down during the open session. Scott McTominay was the only United player not present as he was doing recovery work in the team's hotel gym and at one point it looked like he might be joined by Marcus Rashford, hurt as Eric Bailly executed a fair recovery tackle in one of the games.
Anthony Martial looked particularly sharp and his imperious glare at Alejandro Garnacho during the keep-ball session was of a player oozing confidence. Mere months ago, Garnacho might have been eyeing Martial's squad spot but not anymore.
Us dedicated correspondents interviewed another United player on Thursday afternoon at the team hotel the Ritz Carlton, surreally in a room United had reserved. Chic though it was, it was not a suite, so space was tight for 10 hacks and the player was amused by the setting upon his entrance.
In the lift back down, we were crammed in with United's club secretary Rebecca Britain, tasked with finalising a visa for Lisandro Martinez and other signings. The lift was so erratic - and packed - we stopped at floors where Tahith Chong and Tyrell Malacia were waiting. Understandably, both waited for sparser lifts.
Touring with United is now so surreal some journalists are receiving selfie requests. The funniest incident was at Federation Square in Melbourne for the kit launch when a supporter yelled "Samuel! Samuel! Samuel!" at my colleague Laurie Whitwell. There is little resemblance bar our comprehensive coverage of United.
Other colleagues have been invited onto the new MUTV show The Debate. This correspondent is yet to make his debut, or receive an invite for that matter. As someone at MUTV said to me, "You would actually debate on it."
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