Training - Wednesday 18th January, 2012 at Casey Fields

[bing181 9,328]

Everyone is training great in January, at this rate the top eight is going to have 14 teams in it.

The playing group has changed by 1 senior player and half a dozen kids.

Keep Leopards in mind.

The extension of your argument is that no team will or can ever progress (or regress) without changing the playing group. Same group = same results. Which is patently not true (WCE last year as one of many, many examples).

Changes in training and coaching - not to mention coaching staff - can have a big impact on how players and a team perform.

As for the leopards, while no-one's expecting a huge leap forward on an individual level from senior players such as Joel Mac or Beamer, newer and younger players such as Gysberts, Howe, Nicholson, Bennell etc., would normally be expected, at this stage of their careers, to improve.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I was going to mention that article actually, it came from nowhere, you look at all the training reports from around that time, Jack is hardly mentioned anywhere.

Whatever, I'm a Watts fan, I was a Trapper fan too, that's what scares me.

I knew having a slight worry about the golden boy would ruffle some feathers. How dare I question anything in this greatest of all pre-seasons!

That's not the case at all, it is simply getting it right. Anyone can criticise any player they like but they should get their facts right before they do.

No big deal.

[bing181 9,328]

I knew having a slight worry about the golden boy would ruffle some feathers. How dare I question anything in this greatest of all pre-seasons!

You can't hide behind that - ruffle all you want, but you're basing your assumptions on ... well, assumptions.

[DemonWA 3,936]

These Jack Watts comments are a recurring theme. I have to admit it worries me a bit. Travis Johnstone comes to mind.

We've heard the same thing since day one, lack of intensity, needs to get involved etc... From supporters and coaches alike. Disappointed that I'm still hearing it.

I think Watts is one of those guys who is so talented that they've never really had to "try" inorder to be successful. Problem is for Jack to be the player we hope he will be, he is going to have to bust his gut.

Hopefully he will, but time and time again you see highly talented people not fulfill their talent becasue they done have the desire that some other, less talented guys have.

[leehow 303]

i watched jack a few times when he was a basketballer, because he played at the club i did, and it never looked like he was working as hard as others. i think he is one of those players that in match type conditions always seems to be doing things easy, and that gives the impression that he isnt working hard. i expect to see very big things from jack this year, and i think a lot of supporters will be pleasantly surprised.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

You can't hide behind that - ruffle all you want, but you're basing your assumptions on ... well, assumptions.

What am I assuming? That every comment referring to Watts' lack of training intensity is right? Guilty. I've seen it myself. Haven't been down this pre-season, but as I said, reading daveytrain1's comments this far into Watts' development disappoints me.

You can't hide behind a sportsnewsfirst article. Well you can, but I can see through it.

[Akum 2,660]

Funny thing was, you chose to disregard the two reports that had some positive stuff about Jack at training, and to take the one negative report as gospel truth. That's your prerogative, but don't expect to be seen as objective.

[Sir Why You Little 37,119]

Watch Jack's great goal againt the Tigers right on half time from last year. Jack will be fine this year. Listen to Leigh Brown's comments. I want Jack to peak around Q.B. game, not so much in January. Yes he can look laconic at times, but coach Neeld is watching him closely.

[waynewussell 6,237]

I was happy with Jack's progress in 2011. He showed plenty IMO.. there was a drop off from round 18ish, but some of the anxiety here makes it sound like he was a failure last year. I'm expecting Jack to have more impact in 2012 because he is bigger, fitter and confident. No stress... sit back and enjoy!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,088]

Awesome reporting folks. It really does help those of us who can't get to the training sessions to have such detailed descriptions of what the boys are doing.

Really good to see that some of our less frequesntly mentioned players are showing good signs, and that Clark is looking like a forward.

One other small thing.

- Watts took a nice mark over JT and was happy about it

Am I the only person here who thinks Watts should be outmarking JT pretty much every time?

[bing181 9,328]

What am I assuming? That every comment referring to Watts' lack of training intensity is right?

No, that every comment referring positively to Watt's training intensity is wrong. This includes comments from the coaches, and Neeld:

“But to his credit, obviously I’ve said a few things in the media regarding Jack and I’ve had those discussions with him face to face. I’m really pleased with the way that he’s training, so we’ll wait and see.”

You're cherry picking information to support your position. There was one negative comment re Watts' intensity in one of three training reports, and based on that, the sky is falling.

[Bay Riffin 1,478]

Tapscott had a shitty preseason last year (worse than this year from memory?) yet still played round 1, smashed it, and continued on to total 15 games for the season. I'm hoping his training restrictions are more of a precautionary thing than a necessary thing.

Still I hope it is a safely safely approach with him.

Even more than making finals this year, we need to get a full years development from Grimes, Tapscott, Blease and Gysberts

[Green Machine 63]

Is Michael Evans still on the list, I havent heard anything about all pre season?

[Grandson of a gun 276]

Thanks for the reports guys- it always makes for interesting reading.

People always view things slightly differently and it is good to have multiple reports from which you can glean a more accurate picture.

But for those worrying about what the players are doing, remember we have coaches out there who have a far more intimate knowledge of what exactly is going on and what we see on the track is only a small portion of the training regime our team undertakes.

I have faith in the coaching group to extract the best out of the players we have.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

I am far less concerned about watts supposed lack of intensity than I was 12 months ago.

And on the whole the comments by those that have attended training and from the coaches in the media have been positive in this regard.

He really came on last year and in some games would have been one of the hardest working out there...and when he found some form it stuck for a good stretch too...much longer than I expected...before fading at the end.

I can't wait to see what he will do this year.

[Demonsterative 3,020]

Thanx for the reports guys, much appreciated.

I went to training last week and was hugely impressed by Jack! His skills and class was a stand out. He will be fine!

[Yokozuna 1,004]

Just got back from my own training, and low and behold, there has to be a negative spin on the training session.

Firstly, unless you have either watched several training sessions (as I have) or more importantly, you are part of the coaching staff, I would not be commenting about JW's lack of intensity. I have seen him and he has been one of the most enthusiastic trainers there, in particular his voice. He may look like he is taking it easy at times, but I would say he is working as hard as anyone out there.

In regards to injured players, Blease and Tapscott were doing some drills on another oval, and from what I saw, they were both running.

Michael Evans has been training, but he is recovering from some sort of injury so I have only seen him walk laps.

Gysberts was looking good out there today, and he seems to be stronger and fitter.

I also forgot to say how impressive Bate looked when doing the competitive 1 on 1 drills. I can see he has the potential to be a stong mid this year, as long as he takes his opportunity when he gets it (again though, this is training that he looks good in)!

[DeeSpencer 26,069]

Seems like Bate, Nicholson, Magner, Gysberts are aware that after Moloney, Trengove, Jones and McKenzie their are plenty of spots in that midfield to go around. If we are to make the 8 which I think is a long shot we'll need some good games out of the 4 I mentioned.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Firstly, unless you have either watched several training sessions (as I have) or more importantly, you are part of the coaching staff, I would not be commenting about JW's lack of intensity.

What he said.

Thanks for the reports to all.

[Gouga 570]

Thanks for all the reports so far.

Just wondering where Dunn is at? There have been a few comments here and there but nothing overly positive or negative.

Anybody know if he is training with the forwards, mids or defenders?

It is a critical year for Dunn and I personally think he will struggle to play seniors. But with a new coach I would be expecting him to be firing. Any comments? Thanks.

[biggestred 5,125]

firstly, thanks for the reports guys! hang out for them every mon wed and fri.

am loving the reports of doing drills under pressure and match simulations. i did some sport related courses as part of my university degree and i coached the womens footy team and basically all i did was contested clearances and half court games (i only had 15 or so at each training) and when it came to play games they smashed the clearances (seriously, some had better hands than some afl players ive seen in close) and by crikey they knew how to defend and attack inside the arc. they started out as beginners too. anyway the moral of the story is that im awesome.

but seriously - drills under pressure and match sim is the balls. rick charlsworth of hockey coaching fame said he used to play 1 or 2 extra on the opposition team so that training would be HARDER than a game. works for his teams - the won gold medals.

[Footynut 302]

All this JW bashing kinda reminds me of the way the footy world used to get into Tom Hawkins....took a while but there weren't too many knocking his performance in last years GF.....

Jack's time will come and he will be ready if this footy dept has anything to do with it...

[DeeSpencer 26,069]

Thanks for all the reports so far.

Just wondering where Dunn is at? There have been a few comments here and there but nothing overly positive or negative.

Anybody know if he is training with the forwards, mids or defenders?

It is a critical year for Dunn and I personally think he will struggle to play seniors. But with a new coach I would be expecting him to be firing. Any comments? Thanks.

I've seen 2 trainings and both times Dunn has been touch better than middle of the road in terms of running and traning with the forwards. He looks pretty bulked up as well. To be honest I'm surprised Neeld hasn't tried him as a mid just like Bate. He's got the tank and the big body. In terms of skills he is looking good without being spectacular. I just don't see him all of a sudden charging back ahead of Petterd, Jurrah, Howe and Green and winning his defensive forward or lead up forward job back. Then again he is in the final year of a contract again so might pull something out of the bag.

All this JW bashing kinda reminds me of the way the footy world used to get into Tom Hawkins....took a while but there weren't too many knocking his performance in last years GF.....

Jack's time will come and he will be ready if this footy dept has anything to do with it...

Watts hasn't played on Ben Ried minus a groin in the final quarter of a granny. Everyone will jump of Hawkins soon again I think.

[DEELIRIOUS 156]

Good reports but......

People always have something to but about, someone to bash, Watts for example. At least be thankful that they are out there in the main group. Wait till the season starts before you bash on, not in January.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Good reports but...... People always have something to but about, someone to bash, Watts for example. At least be thankful that they are out there in the main group. Wait till the season starts before you bash on, not in January.

I don't think Destroy All was bashing Watts it was more a feel he picked up from the reports that Jack wasn't putting in as well as he could or should. I remember watching Ian Thorpe swim and he always seemed to be coasting and he gave the impression, to me at least, that he could just swim faster if anyone challenged; well perhaps it was just the way it looked and perhaps he was really flat out.