Thanks for the reports - no mention of Taggert. Was he there?

Any comments? Cheers

Taggert was there. He was involved in most of the drills, but at times worked away from the group and left a bit earlier. Maybe just on a modified program

That photo of Fitzpatrick is a classic but not surprising.

Nice snaps. By the way, can you believe this is January in Melbourne? It all looks so green.....and a great surface to train / play on.

Trenners, people like you are a godsend for country members like myself, thanks so much for report and photos are sensational. Great stuff mate...

the effort you guys put it in is much appreciated by those of us interstate members that can't make it ourselves...

exciting times, can't wait for the season to start properly

With Tapscott training with Brian Royal in the midfield group, and Blease and Davey being groomed by Leigh Brown in the forward group, I've been looking at our list and the running half back line is looking very thin.

From the pre-season updates, here is the full list of defenders training with Jade Rawlings:

- Bartram, Bennel, Davis, Frawley, Garland, Grimes, Jetta, MacDonald, Morton, Rivers, Seller, Sheehan, Strauss and Tynan.

Garland, Frawley, Rivers, Seller, Davis and Sheehan are clearly the tall players in the group so can't be considered.

Strauss is injured long term and won't play till later in the year. Bartram and MacDonald are depth players without class. Tynan is 18 and will be developing at vfl level.

That leaves the rebounding roles to:

- Bennell: had a terribly inconsistent year last year and didn't really show he has the defensive skills to be a defender. can he turn it around and cement a spot in the starting 18?

- Grimes: can he stay on the park?

- Jetta: a midfielder through and through... not sure whether he has the pace to be a half back flanker.

- Morton: never really been a defender, I don't see it really... doesn't have the defensive skills to be relied on. Is too outside.

I think this is a bit of a hole in our list tbh.

Looking into the future we are heavily relying on Strauss and Grimes, which is relying on injured players, plus Tynan who is unproven...

im not sure the running half back flanker is key......did the pies even have one last year? even the cats had midfielders that would drop deep and run it out

im not sure the running half back flanker is key......did the pies even have one last year? even the cats had midfielders that would drop deep and run it out

I suppose he's retired now, but Leon Davis was AA last year, not to mention the drive Collingwood get from Harry O and Heath Shaw when he's not on the punt.

As for Geelong, well Enright has been controlling the CHB line for the last 5 years and Scarlett was up to his old tricks carrying the ball out as well.

For mine I expect to see Garland and Frawley getting released at times to run and deliver long, as for the smalls I think Grimes and Bennell are the starters. Strauss might be back sooner than expected. That said I expect to see Tapscott back in the backline group pretty soon. Not sure what to make of Jetta as a HBF or Blease as a FP, I would have just left them how they were.

I suppose he's retired now, but Leon Davis was AA last year, not to mention the drive Collingwood get from Harry O and Heath Shaw when he's not on the punt.

As for Geelong, well Enright has been controlling the CHB line for the last 5 years and Scarlett was up to his old tricks carrying the ball out as well.

For mine I expect to see Garland and Frawley getting released at times to run and deliver long, as for the smalls I think Grimes and Bennell are the starters. Strauss might be back sooner than expected. That said I expect to see Tapscott back in the backline group pretty soon. Not sure what to make of Jetta as a HBF or Blease as a FP, I would have just left them how they were.

chip definately has the toe for it. just need sellars to step up so that frawleys not as shackled down back.

nichlson will cycle through defence much like jones did last year even from the midfield imo so with a fit grimes there are a few options

im not sure the running half back flanker is key......did the pies even have one last year? even the cats had midfielders that would drop deep and run it out

you obviously didn't think too long before typing this.....

Heath Shaw is in the top 3 running half backs in the comp

im not sure the running half back flanker is key......did the pies even have one last year? even the cats had midfielders that would drop deep and run it out

I agree actually - great if you have someone good enough, but the running, ball carrier types are fading. The current game is heading towards creating advantageous stoppages.

There wont be much space to run with the ball against good sides for the next few years at least. Fast players will make good small forwards though..

Good discussion Sylvinator. Bartram is a lock to play down back all year and I dont think is seen as a back up. My personal preference would be Bennell in the small defender role and not both in the back 6. Disagree with your views on Bennell, he did some fantastic stopping roles second half of the year. My issue is he struggles at this time to get the balance between stopping and using his natural traits to get the ball and counter attack. Grimes is seen as the key driver from half back (ala Enright, Shaw, ) with either Garland or Frawley seen as the other running back dependant on match up. I really think we will see less of Chip on the key forward and more so in a Scarlett like role where he comes off his man and can attack more. I do not have high expectations for Morton (hope to be pleasantly surprised) but his best football as a junior was across half back. Putting him where he played his best may see him fulfill the hope we had when we drafted him.

I think the consistent injuries to Grimes, Strauss on the come back and Sellar being an unknown creates concern. However if Grimes can stay on the park and Sellar fits to play a key role then we will look good. Otherwise we will get the opportunity to blood Davis or Tynan or another youngster which may not be a bad thing longer term.

Trenners, people like you are a godsend for country members like myself, thanks so much for report and photos are sensational. Great stuff mate...

I agree

Bartram is a lock to play down back all year and I dont think is seen as a back up.

Unfortunately Bartrams kicking is not good enough to hold down a back 6 position, the good sides (Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn) set up their attack with pin point or long to position kicking from defense and rarely turn the ball over. You can never deny his courage and endevour but if he is to hold down a position at all it will be in a lock down mid field role and this role is being phased out more and more with a high rotation mid field.

Trenners, people like you are a godsend for country members like myself, thanks so much for report and photos are sensational. Great stuff mate...

I agree

Thanks fellas, makes it worthwhile to see that it makes a big difference to some who can't get there!

I always appreciate others going along to training and providing reports, and given that I wasn't at work for once I thought I would head down!

So easy to ride there on the bike, it seems quite a few other watchers did the same

Unfortunately Bartrams kicking is not good enough to hold down a back 6 position, the good sides (Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn) set up their attack with pin point or long to position kicking from defense and rarely turn the ball over. You can never deny his courage and endevour but if he is to hold down a position at all it will be in a lock down mid field role and this role is being phased out more and more with a high rotation mid field.

Rjay my view is the same but my understanding is that Neeld sees him as a backline starter and not backup. I would personally not have him in my best 21.

My interest is in Grimes this season. I got his number on my new jumper last year before he got injured. I don't care if he gets captain or not (which I doubt he will now), I just want him on the park.

From what I've seen in the preseason, he has bulked up and looking in good shape. I hope he is setting himself up for a great season.

My one wish is to see him have a prolonged stay without injury and string together some very consistent performances.

Gippy

My personal preference would be Bennell in the small defender role and not both in the back 6. Disagree with your views on Bennell, he did some fantastic stopping roles second half of the year. My issue is he struggles at this time to get the balance between stopping and using his natural traits to get the ball and counter attack.

I agree with you entirely on Bennell. I think Jetta also offers an option, but like Bennell, has his strengths and weaknesses. I would like to see both in the back line ahead of Bartram.

Jetta's strengths:

- creative use of the footy to the level that I think he can be a genuine playmaker

- good skill level and vision

- protects his team mates

- tackling machine intimidated ny no one.

Weaknesses:

- IIRC he has never done half a preseason, let alone a full one

- one arm is half the size of the other

- lacks depth with kicking

- not overly quick

I wouldn't mind seeing what he's capable of and a Bennell/Jetta 1-2 could be a bit special down the track.

My interest is in Grimes this season. I got his number on my new jumper last year before he got injured. I don't care if he gets captain or not (which I doubt he will now), I just want him on the park.

From what I've seen in the preseason, he has bulked up and looking in good shape. I hope he is setting himself up for a great season.

My one wish is to see him have a prolonged stay without injury and string together some very consistent performances.

Gippy

Interesting.

On reflection of your mention and the mentions of Neeld,,, & Neelds Tactics. I'm of the opinion that Grimsey will flourish under the Neeld Tactical styles.

A couple of observations about Friday.

Jack Tregove WILL be captain of the Demons; perhaps not this year, although it wouldn't surprise me. He is an absolute stand out in leading the players in all things. He never stops encouraging, pushing for improvement, as well as being full-on himself in his own training habits.

I see several players improving in their performance on the track compared to before Xmas. I'm referring to gysberts and to a lesser extent bleeze. Both are now at least able to stay with the bunch in the run drills, a significant improvement to pe Xmas. The concerns though remain jack watts (who seems to drop back very quickly in these running drills). Also crouch does not yet seem to be at AFL standard fitness

I noticed also there seems to be more an element of physical contact in their training. One of the drills was for the group to split into three groups of six or seven and run for 30 seconds, stop and do push ups, wrestling etc then start running again often quite fast. In this process I noticed both Leigh Brown and Neil Craig would deliberately put themselves inside the running groups and bump hard certain of the players such as Watts, Clark, Fitzpatrick, Trengove, Gysberts It was much more physical than it sounds. I expected Neeld to up the anti in this direction but not quite so far out from the season. Expect much more of the same as we get closer to the action, especially with the forwards and the "star class" of those now in their early 20s and expected to perform much better this year .

I took the liberty of creating a short video of the clips I took during the forward 50 entry drill and the clearance work

Video deleted as per clubs wishes

It includes the injury to Howe, clanger kicks from Jetta and Bennell and a nice mark from Watts

It's my understanding the club prefers supporters (and in regards to this site in particular) to not film training & post it on the Internet?

I could easily be wrong - just asking the question.

Just a guess, but I would think it depends on whether open or closed, but I think it would be best to stick to photos until clarified

I took the liberty of creating a short video of the clips I took during the forward 50 entry drill and the clearance work.

It includes the injury to Howe, clanger kicks from Jetta and Bennell and a nice mark from Watts

Trenners, please take it down, from here and Youtube. The club DOES NOT want video posted as it is used by opposition sides.

Edited January 8, 201213 yr by Whispering_Jack