Preseason Training - Week commencing 27/11/17

[Cards13 9,117]

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Mark Bradke (former basketballer) is now an assistant ruck coach at Melbourne according to a photo on Twitter by Wayne Ludbey.

https://twitter.com/WLudbey/status/935704472080154624

 

 

Gebus he is a big unit?! Look at how small the pill looks in his hand.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,150]

32 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I still would prefer to see Vince play off the half forward line. I think he is more dangerous to opposition in front of our goals.

Vince used to be deadly anywhere from 60m out, but that role seems to be played by Melkshake nowadays, who offers similar physicality but has far greater mobility than Bernie.  Vince has been a great servant the last few years, but he has lost the hurt-factor in his game.

[KingDingAling 3,589]

1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Vince used to be deadly anywhere from 60m out, but that role seems to be played by Melkshake nowadays, who offers similar physicality but has far greater mobility than Bernie.  Vince has been a great servant the last few years, but he has lost the hurt-factor in his game.

Played with a crook toe for the first half of the year. I would be prepared to cut him some slack. I actually think Vince may be one who improves significantly next year. Had a poor year this year but improved towards the end.

[faultydet 7,593]

2 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Gebus he is a big unit?! Look at how small the pill looks in his hand.

He played at 6'10" from memory, and was one hell of a good player.

One of our go-to guys during 4 Olympic campaigns.

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

4 hours ago, Vagg said:

Looking at his size beside Gawnie, I'd suggest we add him to the playing list and make him 1st Ruck...!!

Oh, Barry...as in Vagg. What a good idea! He's a biggie, ain't he? Great player, Vagg.

[Gator 16,891]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-29/lever-pounces-on-retired-demons-number

[monoccular 16,010]

6 hours ago, Demonland said:

I still would prefer to see Vince play off the half forward line. I think he is more dangerous to opposition in front of our goals.

Could all be past tense if some of the younger brigade come on and Bernie doesn't get 100% fit.

He has been very good for our club, but looked last year that he was very near the end of the road.  Hope not, by the way.

[monoccular 16,010]

7 hours ago, Vagg said:

Welcome back, Saty, and for that info.  Old farts like me wouldn't have a clue what Instagram is, and don't particularly want to know.  Please ignore the riff raff and return to feeding the hunger of those of us stuck in such far flung places as the Northern Colonies...!  (Andy has your back...!)

Agree, Barrie.

Northern Colonies? 

[Vagg 2,422]

40 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Northern Colonies? 

Gold Coast...!  LOL

[DeeSpencer 23,058]

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Could all be past tense if some of the younger brigade come on and Bernie doesn't get 100% fit.

He has been very good for our club, but looked last year that he was very near the end of the road.  Hope not, by the way.

I think Bernie has reached the age where it's fine to use him as needed during the year instead of planning a position for him. Whether it's half back, wing or tagging in the midfield he could provide fresh legs as the season goes on. 

The Tigers fell in to using Jake Townsend as a defensive forward when Caddy got injured and gave Jack Graham a run as tackling midfielder who ended up tagging Sloane, both were fresh legs who weren't even in plans until just before the final.  Bernie is the opposite in that he's towards the end of his career not launching it but I think he could provide more value as fresh legs and a designated role when one opens up.

[skills32 229]

10 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

To clear up any confusion, I have stopped posting training reports because I got bored with the constant negativity displayed by some posters and decided not to feed them anymore

I will continue to post pics on Instagram

2 notes to leave you with

Tyson is now pain free in his knees for first time since arriving at the Club and is running his best times

Bradtke is there to develop big man agility, Stafford will continue with ruck craft

Saty I don't post here much any more [for the same reason] but I do read selected threads. Your posts especially.

 

I consider your posts are the most informative posts on Demonland.' Your inside info is second to none.

Just ignore the Dheads, and and take pleasure that there is a great number of us that really appreciate the time you take out to provide info re training  and the players.

Your posting is the main reason I look at this site.

Please reconsider your decision not to post your reports.

 

[Clayton van Oliver 1,659]

Yea do we have to go through this every year? Any and every pic and report much appreciated from the other side of the globe. Forget the haters

[Whispering_Jack 27,918]

Our policy is clearly that differing views on subjects brought up in these and other threads are allowed and accepted but the problem is that some people like to cloak their so called "differing views" by means of posts that are actually attacks on others.

This won't be tolerated and the discretion on the matter lies entirely with the moderators.

Those who don't agree with this policy should in particular stay away from the training report threads.

Thanks.

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

52 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Our policy is clearly that differing views on subjects brought up in these and other threads are allowed and accepted but the problem is that some people like to cloak their so called "differing views" by means of posts that are actually attacks on others.

This won't be tolerated and the discretion on the matter lies entirely with the moderators.

Those who don't agree with this policy should in particular stay away from the training report threads.

Thanks.

Appropriate comment and for supporters who should be uniting in a common interest, a very good moment of reflection. This site is capable of improved quality and value to us all; thank you, WJ.

[Moonshadow 16,109]

There's a big difference between abusive posts attacking others/name calling and posts expressing different views with valid, evidence based reasoning.

I am hoping to get to training either this week or next with Uncle Bitter, followed by a pub lunch, and look forward to any responses or questions. That is, if I survive the day.....

[binman 37,761]

21 hours ago, jnrmac said:

I know this is a training drill and can't tell what the context so wouldn't want to read too much into this one piece of footage but......... it 

typifies to me both players.

Good lord, you can't be serious.

If so this is perhaps the best example of confirmation bias on DL. Ever. And that is no small feat.

[Vagg 2,422]

9 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

There's a big difference between abusive posts attacking others/name calling and posts expressing different views with valid, evidence based reasoning.

I am hoping to get to training either this week or next with Uncle Bitter, followed by a pub lunch, and look forward to any responses or questions. That is, if I survive the day.....

Well, if you write your report AFTER visiting the pub, please try not to slur your words...!  Although, I have no doubt the lubrication will greatly enhance the exaggerated enthusiasm for all the lads who will be training the house down!  I shall look forward to reading it!   LOL

[tiers 2,761]

I have posted on this issue before - that there needs to be a sensible and easily manageable way to separate fact and observation based commentary from abusive, perjorative and time-wasting comments.

The training reports should be split into those that are factual and informative (like Saty's) and those that are not. Let the two threads run concurrently so that those of us who can't be there, and don;t care about petty feuds and jealousies, can rely on those who can be there for information throughout the long, dry season when we are starved of real footy.

I no longer want to be forced to trawl through the dross to find the gems. It's simple - any comment that is in any way abusive or perjorative to players, coaches, club or other posters should be sent to the dross list. Separate now.

While on the subject, is is possible to reverse the order of the posts to make last post first so that I don't have to scroll through pages of previously read posts. If there is a mechanism to change, please do.

 

[Jrono64 135]

I noticed we didn't have any really for last week and found these for Friday 24/11/17 on Big Footy by Proper Gander.

Not much to go off but better than nothing.

Without delving further into the interesting area of the relative merits of adding bulk v drinking beers while on holiday - here is my general impressions of training. Also Starc just got Jake Ball’s wicket, which is nice.

Notable absentees were Jack Viney and Michael Hibberd (unless he was in the rehab group on the far side, and I never saw him, but I don’t think he was there).

In his own group, doing the special older guy with 4 premierships routine was Jordan Lewis who was doing laps early on checking his time every now and again. I gave him a supportive smile every time he passed that he totally ignored, which pleased me no end. He left soon after 10 AM and wasn’t seen again.

The rehab group being tortured by Crossey for the day consisted of Kent (shoulder), Jones (something), Filopovic (why not), Lever (post premiership loss related angst), Joel Smith (things), Tim Smith (other things), Weiderman (eating disorder), Wagner (who knows), TMac (surgery for things) Buggy (pest patrol) and anyone else who was in the rehab group that I have forgotten. I think Jeff didn’t join the main group today - I saw him running a bit with the rehab guys at one point but he seemed to have left the field by the second hour so he probably went to have beers with Jordan to talk about how to get 4 premierships. TBH this group started early, and were doing things with Crossey with music on the far side of the field next to Punt Road, so I never got that good a look at them unless they were running the perimeter.

The main group rocked up at about 9:35 - 9:40. Tardy buggers.

Now to add a further layer of complication to the who is big, who is small debate for Topkent to argue about, my body shape observations are that other than Kent who looks to me much as he ever has only with bandaged shoulder, everyone appears to have come back in decent shape with some looking very good indeed. Max Gawn, as reported elsewhere, is leaner. Stretchy is really hard looking - this was evident last off season too. He seems to have one of those body types that shows muscle definition clearly. The ripped award goes to Joel Smith who was running with TMac at one stage, both wearing those silly GPS bra things. He looks like one of those Olympic sprint swimmers - washboard belly with clear 6 pack - and makes Tommy look portly if that was ever possible. Wagner in great shape too, but when is he not? His concerns do not include skin folds, which is just as well because in my view he has other issues to contend with.

Channel 7 reported Petracca as ‘lean’ a few weeks back, which to my mind is media puff because he looks much the same to me. He is a big lad who has borrowed May West’s thighs, after either winning or losing a bet depending on your POV. He trains really well and is generally smiling, except during running drills where he looks like a guy hefting around 90 plus kilos who still has endurance work to do. The coaches are all over him, and Mitch Hannah who also struggles with running drills, but Ancient said Trac has improved already from a few weeks back where he was struggling to keep up, so maybe he can spend the summer shadowing Ollie shadowing Stretch and create a kind of domino effect premiership side.

Clayton Oliver looks like a different person to the guy we drafted. He’s lean and has muscles and stuff, and is very focussed and effective all through the session, and the big surprise is none other than Mitch King who really has gone from ‘LOL you’re kidding’ to the heights of an interesting theoretical possibility. Hogan looking good and has come back relatively lean, in a big forward type way, and Pedo looks heaps better than last year post surgery when he was puffing his way though hours of Crossey type punishment.

Goodwin also absent, but I think the draft might be held in Sydney this year so he’s probably heading there.

I am now going to make a cheese sandwich and will return with more once I’ve eaten it and can recall some drills and stuff.

The cricket has gone to [censored] again, so I will continue.

The main group warmed up on some silly drills. They played soccerish stuff with a round ball which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our best soccer player is head-and-shoulders James Harmes who was having a Beckham-like blinder, and Dom Tyson isn’t bad either. Welcome to the next International Rules match boys. Then they play cone dancing for a bit - kind of footspeed, balance drill with players in turn having to skitter inside a diamond of different colour cones towards the colour cone yelled by a coach. Everyone okay at this. Of course there is the routine hilarious moment where the coach yells “red!” And everyone falls over their feet because there is no red cone. Wacko. What with the soccer drill then the invisible cone dance this all looks to me like a super way to do an ankle. By now I take two paracaetamol because my temper has taken a sudden nose-dive for no good reason.

Then some real drills in ball movement. Interestingly with a spot of light body work, so we’re ahead of the curve, but no full tackling, just some friendly nudges. The players have split into three rough groups which are the defenders, forwards and mids (loosely speaking). I was closest to the mids. Thinking back to preseason a few years back, we look a much sharper, more experienced and generally better unit then back then. Plus Dawes isn’t here which is a relief and works even better than the paracaetamol on my head. Harmes is killing it in the midfield for sharpness and intensity. I’m pleased about this. His best footy is really valuable - read 1st quarter against Saints last we played - but like a true demon his consistency hasn’t been great. But he looks the real deal ATM so I’m hoping for a big year. Also he has terrible tats and his hair is achieving new heights of dodgy so I’m thinking breakout, Dusty type Brownlow year for the Horse.

I check out Balic’s work and thought he looked okay, certainly not out of place. He has a good size and body shape for midfield, though looks a bit softer than some of our returning players which is hardly surprising given he is pretty young and hasn’t had much of a run at AFL game time as yet. I will watch with interest. He has an awesome totally deadpan expression, like a police officer reading from his notebook in the Federal Magistrates. His flat affect will no doubt drive Bigfooty posters to extremes during the year and I’m looking forward to it. Given he was a low pick, injury riddled past, only a year contract, and isn’t best 22 yet he seems totally the perfect character for a Melbourne sponsorship. Whoever goes to the BBQ has exactly 1 hour to make him smile or pay everyone here $50 (photo or it didn’t happen).

We also did some full team drills where the Simon Goodwin changing lanes special is on full display. Skills are pretty sharp overall, though as Sir Hugh pointed out Jesse did some real worm burners from time to time. I like to think it was intended to sharpen the ground ball skills of his teammates, such is his generosity. But on the whole we look like a functioning unit rather than a group of randoms who showed up for a spot of kick-to-kick which is encouraging. Petracca is loud and somewhat ADHD but a few more running sessions quieten him down eventually (his recovery is very good - he is a complete goose again before home time). Track also does his tongue out thing at seemingly random times, so I’m now convinced it is totally unconscious. I hope he doesn’t get a surprise tackle while like that. All in all, I think we can be reasonably confident that the change lanes thing should be executed well in 2018. Hopefully in the season we can add in the taking marks thing, the not spoiling each other thing, the kicking goals thing and not going missing during random quarters for no obvious reason thing.

JKH is training well, though I should point out that every time I have been to training he is going well - he’s very focussed and generally upbeat in training. But full marks for effort even though I’m not convinced he will make it as an AFL player - he won’t die not knowing, so good for him. Harmes is the dynamo of the day though - he is completely on and wins the intensity award. Also smiles a fair bit; but his teeth are pretty big so it’s probably just more comfortable to display bits of them from time to time and give his lips a rest.

Late in the session there is some goal practice. Jesse redeems himself with some excellent kicking in set shots from various angles. He is also putting a fair bit of time now and after the session in practicing snaps for goal, so maybe this year he has decided to shrink and become a crumbing forward in the hope of winning over Ando. Jake Melksham has paired up with Jesse and misses virtually everything. Someone needs to get in his head and tell him its neck and neck in the 4th. Christians 1 and 2 both look good. One quiet and one loud. I’ll leave it to you to decide which. Oliver goes about his business like a pro. There are some nice moments where everyone is lined up watching the goal kicker and generally sledging to put the man off his game. So its a general testosterone competition of gruff swearing and raucous HaHa-ing - passing dog walkers glance over thinking its international pirate day. Harmes hasn’t tailed off yet and his goal kicking is solid from all angles.

With some more running just for fun, the last bit consists of some positional work in pairs. Max has taken Mitch King off to one end and they do some light contested stuff. Max wins mostly but Mitch doesn’t look utterly out of place any more which is a step in the right direction. Jesse is working hard on getting some distance on his man (OMac), pushing off or out-bodying. He looks great now, and OMac not doing a bad job. Close by Pedo and Keilty are doing similar work but with more comedic misses and general pointless running about, falling over, scrambling etc, but who knows what the coaches are asking for so whatever they are doing could be perfect for all I know. So lets say it is perfect and give both a big hand.

Some other coaches are doing contested midfield work tapping it to players taking turns in offensive and defensive roles. This group are all travelling well, even Balic who looks like a footballer (but still hasn’t smiled or for that matter twitched). He is getting a fair bit of encouragement but that could have been to get his face to move.

And so it ends. I head off towards a tram. I try to hang by Christian Salem and Melksham who are in conversation to find out what interesting things footy players chat about. What I found out is that Jake reckons sessions like that are the pits for changing shoes from spikes to runners. He’s right. They all should get a pay rise. I slope off when both become aware that they have attracted a third person to their conversation and give me some WTF looks.

Overall the dynamic looks good and we will probably get a premiership this year

[hemingway 7,583]

21 minutes ago, tiers said:

I have posted on this issue before - that there needs to be a sensible and easily manageable way to separate fact and observation based commentary from abusive, perjorative and time-wasting comments.

The training reports should be split into those that are factual and informative (like Saty's) and those that are not. Let the two threads run concurrently so that those of us who can't be there, and don;t care about petty feuds and jealousies, can rely on those who can be there for information throughout the long, dry season when we are starved of real footy.

I no longer want to be forced to trawl through the dross to find the gems. It's simple - any comment that is in any way abusive or perjorative to players, coaches, club or other posters should be sent to the dross list. Separate now.

While on the subject, is is possible to reverse the order of the posts to make last post first so that I don't have to scroll through pages of previously read posts. If there is a mechanism to change, please do.

 

great idea

[Salems Lot 2,354]

Pretty sure Proper Gander used to post on here; some of the best sports reporting I have seen.  Really informative and hilarious at the same time.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Salems Lot

[hemingway 7,583]

32 minutes ago, Jrono64 said:

I noticed we didn't have any really for last week and found these for Friday 24/11/17 on Big Footy by Proper Gander.

Not much to go off but better than nothing.

Without delving further into the interesting area of the relative merits of adding bulk v drinking beers while on holiday - here is my general impressions of training. Also Starc just got Jake Ball’s wicket, which is nice.

Notable absentees were Jack Viney and Michael Hibberd (unless he was in the rehab group on the far side, and I never saw him, but I don’t think he was there).

In his own group, doing the special older guy with 4 premierships routine was Jordan Lewis who was doing laps early on checking his time every now and again. I gave him a supportive smile every time he passed that he totally ignored, which pleased me no end. He left soon after 10 AM and wasn’t seen again.

The rehab group being tortured by Crossey for the day consisted of Kent (shoulder), Jones (something), Filopovic (why not), Lever (post premiership loss related angst), Joel Smith (things), Tim Smith (other things), Weiderman (eating disorder), Wagner (who knows), TMac (surgery for things) Buggy (pest patrol) and anyone else who was in the rehab group that I have forgotten. I think Jeff didn’t join the main group today - I saw him running a bit with the rehab guys at one point but he seemed to have left the field by the second hour so he probably went to have beers with Jordan to talk about how to get 4 premierships. TBH this group started early, and were doing things with Crossey with music on the far side of the field next to Punt Road, so I never got that good a look at them unless they were running the perimeter.

The main group rocked up at about 9:35 - 9:40. Tardy buggers.

Now to add a further layer of complication to the who is big, who is small debate for Topkent to argue about, my body shape observations are that other than Kent who looks to me much as he ever has only with bandaged shoulder, everyone appears to have come back in decent shape with some looking very good indeed. Max Gawn, as reported elsewhere, is leaner. Stretchy is really hard looking - this was evident last off season too. He seems to have one of those body types that shows muscle definition clearly. The ripped award goes to Joel Smith who was running with TMac at one stage, both wearing those silly GPS bra things. He looks like one of those Olympic sprint swimmers - washboard belly with clear 6 pack - and makes Tommy look portly if that was ever possible. Wagner in great shape too, but when is he not? His concerns do not include skin folds, which is just as well because in my view he has other issues to contend with.

Channel 7 reported Petracca as ‘lean’ a few weeks back, which to my mind is media puff because he looks much the same to me. He is a big lad who has borrowed May West’s thighs, after either winning or losing a bet depending on your POV. He trains really well and is generally smiling, except during running drills where he looks like a guy hefting around 90 plus kilos who still has endurance work to do. The coaches are all over him, and Mitch Hannah who also struggles with running drills, but Ancient said Trac has improved already from a few weeks back where he was struggling to keep up, so maybe he can spend the summer shadowing Ollie shadowing Stretch and create a kind of domino effect premiership side.

Clayton Oliver looks like a different person to the guy we drafted. He’s lean and has muscles and stuff, and is very focussed and effective all through the session, and the big surprise is none other than Mitch King who really has gone from ‘LOL you’re kidding’ to the heights of an interesting theoretical possibility. Hogan looking good and has come back relatively lean, in a big forward type way, and Pedo looks heaps better than last year post surgery when he was puffing his way though hours of Crossey type punishment.

Goodwin also absent, but I think the draft might be held in Sydney this year so he’s probably heading there.

I am now going to make a cheese sandwich and will return with more once I’ve eaten it and can recall some drills and stuff.

The cricket has gone to [censored] again, so I will continue.

The main group warmed up on some silly drills. They played soccerish stuff with a round ball which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our best soccer player is head-and-shoulders James Harmes who was having a Beckham-like blinder, and Dom Tyson isn’t bad either. Welcome to the next International Rules match boys. Then they play cone dancing for a bit - kind of footspeed, balance drill with players in turn having to skitter inside a diamond of different colour cones towards the colour cone yelled by a coach. Everyone okay at this. Of course there is the routine hilarious moment where the coach yells “red!” And everyone falls over their feet because there is no red cone. Wacko. What with the soccer drill then the invisible cone dance this all looks to me like a super way to do an ankle. By now I take two paracaetamol because my temper has taken a sudden nose-dive for no good reason.

Then some real drills in ball movement. Interestingly with a spot of light body work, so we’re ahead of the curve, but no full tackling, just some friendly nudges. The players have split into three rough groups which are the defenders, forwards and mids (loosely speaking). I was closest to the mids. Thinking back to preseason a few years back, we look a much sharper, more experienced and generally better unit then back then. Plus Dawes isn’t here which is a relief and works even better than the paracaetamol on my head. Harmes is killing it in the midfield for sharpness and intensity. I’m pleased about this. His best footy is really valuable - read 1st quarter against Saints last we played - but like a true demon his consistency hasn’t been great. But he looks the real deal ATM so I’m hoping for a big year. Also he has terrible tats and his hair is achieving new heights of dodgy so I’m thinking breakout, Dusty type Brownlow year for the Horse.

I check out Balic’s work and thought he looked okay, certainly not out of place. He has a good size and body shape for midfield, though looks a bit softer than some of our returning players which is hardly surprising given he is pretty young and hasn’t had much of a run at AFL game time as yet. I will watch with interest. He has an awesome totally deadpan expression, like a police officer reading from his notebook in the Federal Magistrates. His flat affect will no doubt drive Bigfooty posters to extremes during the year and I’m looking forward to it. Given he was a low pick, injury riddled past, only a year contract, and isn’t best 22 yet he seems totally the perfect character for a Melbourne sponsorship. Whoever goes to the BBQ has exactly 1 hour to make him smile or pay everyone here $50 (photo or it didn’t happen).

We also did some full team drills where the Simon Goodwin changing lanes special is on full display. Skills are pretty sharp overall, though as Sir Hugh pointed out Jesse did some real worm burners from time to time. I like to think it was intended to sharpen the ground ball skills of his teammates, such is his generosity. But on the whole we look like a functioning unit rather than a group of randoms who showed up for a spot of kick-to-kick which is encouraging. Petracca is loud and somewhat ADHD but a few more running sessions quieten him down eventually (his recovery is very good - he is a complete goose again before home time). Track also does his tongue out thing at seemingly random times, so I’m now convinced it is totally unconscious. I hope he doesn’t get a surprise tackle while like that. All in all, I think we can be reasonably confident that the change lanes thing should be executed well in 2018. Hopefully in the season we can add in the taking marks thing, the not spoiling each other thing, the kicking goals thing and not going missing during random quarters for no obvious reason thing.

JKH is training well, though I should point out that every time I have been to training he is going well - he’s very focussed and generally upbeat in training. But full marks for effort even though I’m not convinced he will make it as an AFL player - he won’t die not knowing, so good for him. Harmes is the dynamo of the day though - he is completely on and wins the intensity award. Also smiles a fair bit; but his teeth are pretty big so it’s probably just more comfortable to display bits of them from time to time and give his lips a rest.

Late in the session there is some goal practice. Jesse redeems himself with some excellent kicking in set shots from various angles. He is also putting a fair bit of time now and after the session in practicing snaps for goal, so maybe this year he has decided to shrink and become a crumbing forward in the hope of winning over Ando. Jake Melksham has paired up with Jesse and misses virtually everything. Someone needs to get in his head and tell him its neck and neck in the 4th. Christians 1 and 2 both look good. One quiet and one loud. I’ll leave it to you to decide which. Oliver goes about his business like a pro. There are some nice moments where everyone is lined up watching the goal kicker and generally sledging to put the man off his game. So its a general testosterone competition of gruff swearing and raucous HaHa-ing - passing dog walkers glance over thinking its international pirate day. Harmes hasn’t tailed off yet and his goal kicking is solid from all angles.

With some more running just for fun, the last bit consists of some positional work in pairs. Max has taken Mitch King off to one end and they do some light contested stuff. Max wins mostly but Mitch doesn’t look utterly out of place any more which is a step in the right direction. Jesse is working hard on getting some distance on his man (OMac), pushing off or out-bodying. He looks great now, and OMac not doing a bad job. Close by Pedo and Keilty are doing similar work but with more comedic misses and general pointless running about, falling over, scrambling etc, but who knows what the coaches are asking for so whatever they are doing could be perfect for all I know. So lets say it is perfect and give both a big hand.

Some other coaches are doing contested midfield work tapping it to players taking turns in offensive and defensive roles. This group are all travelling well, even Balic who looks like a footballer (but still hasn’t smiled or for that matter twitched). He is getting a fair bit of encouragement but that could have been to get his face to move.

And so it ends. I head off towards a tram. I try to hang by Christian Salem and Melksham who are in conversation to find out what interesting things footy players chat about. What I found out is that Jake reckons sessions like that are the pits for changing shoes from spikes to runners. He’s right. They all should get a pay rise. I slope off when both become aware that they have attracted a third person to their conversation and give me some WTF looks.

Overall the dynamic looks good and we will probably get a premiership this year

Man how do you manage all this detail. Speed recall and writing. Must be the wired younger generation.

Anyway, well done and I like the humour, provides for entertaining reading. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,381]

I'm suspicious that Proper Gander might be either a proud family member of James Harmes or his manager who is about to start wage negotiations with the club.

Extremely entertaining reporting.

[Demonland 64,398]

1 hour ago, tiers said:

While on the subject, is is possible to reverse the order of the posts to make last post first so that I don't have to scroll through pages of previously read posts. If there is a mechanism to change, please do.

 

If you click on the red star or circle next to the thread title on the list of threads it will take you to your first unread post provided you are logged in.

[daisycutter 28,452]

1 hour ago, tiers said:

 

While on the subject, is is possible to reverse the order of the posts to make last post first so that I don't have to scroll through pages of previously read posts. If there is a mechanism to change, please do.

 

if you click on the round bullet to the left of the thread title it will take you directly to next unread post

you must be logged in as a user though (ie not anonymous browsing)

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by daisycutter
seems demonland beat me to the punch