Wow. Great to see a bit of bulk coming through the list.

Starting to look more like an AFL team.

nice pics on the afl site...Jack Viney should really consider the head band

Just wondering if any one was able to attend and if they had any observations

What's going on with Sylvia's hair in that photo?

Is he trying to look like Beavis or Butthead?

Oh oh Hogan wasn't smiling again....he's gone.

Whats the taping on JV's abdomen?? OP????

Some pics from today's training session including Viney, Byrnes and Rodan:

http://www.afl.com.a...14/Default.aspx

lot of "looks on" in those pics. who the heck writes the caption copy?

What's going on with Sylvia's hair in that photo?

Is he trying to look like Beavis or Butthead?

Its a bit Jonny Bravo !!! lol

Oh oh Hogan wasn't smiling again....he's gone.

Whats the taping on JV's abdomen?? OP????

Didnt Sylvia overcome OP issues using preventative taping? Probably similar.

What's going on with Sylvia's hair in that photo?

Is he trying to look like Beavis or Butthead?

He bears a very strong resemblance to The Great Cornholio at this time.

Got any job openings?

Do you like low paid semi skilled factory work ? Do you like getting particularly dirty ?

If so, we might be able to help.

It would be great if these threads had a training report or two chucked in with three pages of waffle. (Yes, I appreciate the irony of this post)

I attended from 9:15 till stumps today, I even took heaps of photos but tied up at work today, may be able to post later today or tomorrow.....just one quick obo

Towards the end most of the squad went on a run round the Tan.....but a group did the 200, 300, 400 on the oval etc, this was a group who have had serious injury in the last few years and Jack Viney

Spencer, Davey, Garland (remember his foot) Rodan...they must have lost their base...

and they are building it up again...with Nicho, Jones, Tapscott and Byrnes encouraging

Jones Tapscott and Byrnes trained away from main group whole session

Also stood 10 metres away from Mitch Clark having a bit of kick to kick...exciting

And two other things....Dan Nicholson, Lynden Dunn look in incredible shape...and Pencil Spencer is bloody enourmous close up...he is finally growing into his height.

Just back from the track. There were basically 3 groups today. The main group of about 27 (excellent numbers for the first official week of training) included Strauss, Grimes, Pederson, Taggart, Jetta and Davey. Also fantastic to see Jordie Mac in the main group from week one. That must be a first.

Two small groups plus Mitch Clark made up the numbers. Jones, Byrnes and Tapscott were set aside for sprint work. Terrific to also see Tappy having a good start to the pre-season. He's been doing some running work with Jonesy over the past 4-5 weeks and should be ready to join the main group on Monday. Again this is another great sign from a guy who has never done a full pre-season with the main group. He said a number of players are well ahead of last year and they are doing a lot of explosive work plus a fair amount of endurance stuff. Their training sounds like a killer - pre season starting after the GF, and now they do endurance and football work in the morning; weights in the arvo, then lectures, pilates and finishing at 6 on their training days. Thank god they also get a fair bit of recovery time.

Another group consisted of Tynan, Evans, Sylvia and Hogan. They basically walked a few laps and finished early; a couple did the handball work on the mini- trampoline. Colin was back last week but has been ill and spent a bit of time saying hello to the coaches and Byrnes.. I gave Tynan the points for the most improved body. He has definitely built up around the shoulders - his delts are bigger and have more definition. Earlier this year he was a skinny kid who ate pizzas after club functions. Now he's ready for a calender shoot.

Mitch Clark was there too. He did some left foot passing with one of the trainers, and walked around the sidelines for a while. I think he desperately wants to get back in the main group and i like guys who injured but still show hang around the training and encourage the team.

Those absent included Dawes (still o/seas), the Russian (on a honeymoon) Gawn (possible twinge in the hammy on Monday according to reports) and Fitzpatrick (modified program).

The main training group finished about 11, then 5 unfortunate guys had to do 8 two minute runs to build up their endurance. Spencer, Rodan, Davey, Viney and Garland were the victims and it was hard work. I believe most of the main group did this session on Wednesday.

Two highlights: Spencer attempting to kick left foot. Seasoned training watchers said they had never seen anything quite like it.

Leigh Brown joining in the 8 two minute runs and encouraging the others. A kind person might say that Leigh has only added about 15kgs since his playing days, but he was running with the pack, and...luvving it.

They did a lot of ball work today, by hand and foot. Lots of burst stuff - run hard - get the ball - and hit the target. It was fabulous to see so many faces on the park, and they are clearly well ahead in fitness compared to this time last year.

I was at the session this morning, loved it, seriously need AFL to start again asap!

Plenty of pure footy drills before running around Tan to finish off. Things that were noteworthy:

• Strauss is the forgotten man I feel, but his right foot is a real weapon and was the best kick at a windy session today

• Pedersen is just real solid in all aspects of his training, could not see a weakness and a good mover for his size

• Viney joined in everything, but even though he is a junior star, the rise in class he now faces was apparent

• Clark was stalking around, helping were he could. So obvious he was busting to join in. I LOVE the presence and attitude of this guy!

• the new navy training strip is a winner

• Credit to Spencer, his endurance running was great and he had Garland, Viney and Rodan covered

• the whole session just smacks of professionalism, presents well, everything catered for and training on Collingwood's old Gosch Paddock Oval had a better feel, and a fence too!

• spoke to man boy Hogan, who did minor drills. Like his strut, his confidence, the first bloke to ever give me a boner I reckon...

I recommend anyone who has the chance to attend a training to do so, puts all the media crap out of your mind and you can't help but love how far Neeld, Craig, Misson has taken this group in 12 months.

Thanks for the reports guys.

Hope you are still employed

great reports guys keep it up

Thanks, guys. Every report is gratefully received!

Thanks for the reports guys.

Hope you are still employed

I had my last day off before Christmas, and i spend the day watch the Dees train. How tragic is that?!!!

It was worth it. I know each year we roll up to watch them train and we say they are training the house down, and so-and-so is looking fantastic, and so on.

I'm not going to say that every kick hit the target and no marks were dropped. That clearly wasn't the case today. But at least they were there - in large numbers - and the coaches and players seem happier with their efforts. You can't ask much more than that at the moment.

I had my last day off before Christmas, and i spend the day watch the Dees train. How tragic is that?!!!

It was worth it. I know each year we roll up to watch them train and we say they are training the house down, and so-and-so is looking fantastic, and so on.

I'm not going to say that every kick hit the target and no marks were dropped. That clearly wasn't the case today. But at least they were there - in large numbers - and the coaches and players seem happier with their efforts. You can't ask much more than that at the moment.

One of the requirements for supporting the Dees I would have thought DD was a tragic nature.

Glad to see yours is still functioning well.

Thanks for the reports guys. Much appreciated. I now feel like a run around the Tan myself. What I like about Mitch Clark is his positive attitude around the club and among players and he appears from what I've read here, in articles, on twitter and on the track a real asset in more ways than a forward/ruck for the club. He's taken to Jesse Hogan and his development and I think it's great.

Have everything crossed for a few players, most notably Tapscott for a solid pre-season and to see his progress.

I look at those groups mentioned above: -

Garland

Spencer

Davey

Rodan

Byrnes

Jones

Nicho

Tapscott

And I see the guys in bold benefitting. Particularly Tapscott. Byrnes, Jones and Nicho would be setting the bar high with regards to work rate.

Hows Evans looking? I am particular keen on seeing how he is progressing as I really think he could be an elite midfielder at AFL level if he managers to stay on the park.

What's going on with Sylvia's hair in that photo?

Is he trying to look like Beavis or Butthead?

I thought he looked a little like Jack Nance's character in David Lynch's Eraserhead (most unsettling movie ever made).

Another break, Evans was moving OK, assume he was on a light day....., we never know, the little group of Evans, Syliva, Tynan and Hogan just did bits and pieces......Taggert had exactly the same issue as Evans so if the Medicos and Physios have fixed him would assume they know how to fix Evans

One other thing......Craig when they were practicing kick outs was very critical of missed kicks etc but he also praised where required

Hows Evans looking? I am particular keen on seeing how he is progressing as I really think he could be an elite midfielder at AFL level if he managers to stay on the park.

He was just a lap walker this morning, but the club has promoted him to the senior list so they must think he's getting over his serious injuries of the last 12 months.

Some comments on haircuts. i think it's unfair to single out Sylvia for attention. Viney also needs a clip, and poor Leigh Brown. He looked like one of those goofy big kids out of Archie and jughead. He needed a cap with a propeller. (Sorry Leigh - luvved your running).

worth reading norths forum to see how gysberts is training