The training caravan moves to Casey Fields tomorrow (Monday) morning at 10.15am.

Is this in solidarity with the ailing Casey Scorpions or is it to acclimatise Jesse Hogan to his new home for the next twelve months?

Are there any Demon fans out Casey way who are going to have a look for us and perhaps report?

Take a pen & paper with you...looking forward to the updates on the boys . When is Dawes due to train?

Condition will be near perfect down there today I'm sure. Not a breath of wind...

Was down at training today and thought I would share a few insights. The wind was so strong I should have just held a kite and floated there from my house.

As I got there a large group of 21 players were going over to the Casey athletics track, while two other groups stayed on the main footy oval. The first small group was Jones, Rodan and Tappy - they did a lot of running through the middle of the ground varying their pace and then went around the ground also. The second group was Sellar, Byrnes, Viney, Jetta and another bloke who no-one seemed to know. I think I heard him being called Tommy but it was a bit unclear. They ran continuously around the boundary and were absolutely stuffed by the end of it.

The main group ran 5 or 6 (sorry, I lost count) 300m runs at about 3/4 or 4/5 pace. This was really interesting to watch and the coaches were keeping a very sharp eye on times. The coaches were yeliing out "hold your form" and the players were not allowed to lurch at the finish but hold a good running posture.

Standouts in this were:

Howe. He did this easy and did not looked the least bit troubled at the end of the last run.

Nicho. Puked his lungs out at the end.

T McDonald. Impressive for a big unit.

Spencer. Yep, I didn't believe it either but he was killing them at this distance and looked the least distressed of all the runners. Really impressed and so were the coaches.

Magner. It looked to me that there was almost no difference in time between his first and last run. Duracell battery this bloke. Impressed

Struggled:

Davey. Looked very unfit, and lagged behind his group by 30m+ on every run. Sad to see.

Bail. this really suprised me. Didn't run well at all.

Taggart. Struggled to stay in touch for the first 100m and was 20m behind main group in most runs

Dunn. Has trimmed down a heap from last year - maybe 5+ kilos - and was dead last in his group by a long way.

Blease. Won the first won in a canter. Was last every time after. Heard Brian Royal say to another coach there was a 10 second difference between his 1st and 2nd runs.

Pederson. Looks overweight to me ut plodded on.

After this they joined the other groups on the main oval. They did some kicking from various distances and I tried to look at the new guys or some notorious poor kicks. The wind was making ball drop difficult and everyone was struggling a bit but Troy Davis, Tappy and Viney I noticed rarely got one on target.

They then moved into an all-in drill where they had to run, handball and kick from a pattern of cone positions, but at two positions there was a tackle bag. After their disposal, they had to run at the tackle bag that had a footy resting on top and bring the bag to the ground. The ball then spilled out from the tackle. The tackle was not a monster effort, but rather one for the player to get the bag on the ground, recover and get to the ball as as second effort. Watts was very good at this. His second effort speed was impressive.

Another all-in drill where the players were split into two groups moving the ball out from defence. It appeared to be about creating spaces and getting free players to that position. The defenders seemed to be playing in lines, similar to soccer defence that just moves its line across the pitch. I do't know if this is a training drill only or something we might see in game play.

Last, some walked/jogged some laps. Two groups did ruck-tap, in close drills in which the ruckman got the ball down to a midfielder who was very close, who then had to run through two players with bump pads. There were some great wacks. I could only tell what was happening in the closest group, but Joel Mac seemed to love this stuff.

No Dawes, Trengove, Grimes, Clark, Gawn, Barry, Hogan, Sylvia, Bartram, Evans, or Tynan.

Wasn't a "wow" training session to watch but it appearaed to be heavily monitored by the coaches.

Great read...cheers

sounds like tappy is being preped for more midfield time this year

Thanks M38. Appreciate your efforts and insights.

Thanks for the report MaldonBoy38

Was down at training today and thought I would share a few insights. The wind was so strong I should have just held a kite and floated there from my house.

....

The second group was Sellar, Byrnes, Viney, Jetta and another bloke who no-one seemed to know. I think I heard him being called Tommy but it was a bit unclear. They ran continuously around the boundary and were absolutely stuffed by the end of it.

My brother was at training. The player was Tom Gillies apparently.

Thanks MB38, as an interstater these training reports are brilliant and much appreciated

Question. Any ideas on how Fitzpatricks recovery is going? He is my pick for new gumby cult hero next year now that Martyn has moved north and want him back on the track sooner rather than later.

Some of the drills, especially the last two sound exactly the same as last Friday.......I think the emphasis is getting used to a buffeting........would hate to be the first player who baulks either at training or in a game

Tom Gillies? Is he an option for us do you think?

Would replace jared rivers you would think??

Tom Gillies? Is he an option for us do you think?

Wouldn't be a starter I wouldn't think, but will add depth, would be ahead of Troy davis

I was really surprised with Spencer on Friday as well, but I don't think we should be, had a taste last season, realises now he can play with the big boys, growing into his frame, he is huge......giving it everything......but with Gawn and Fitzpatrick fit will need to keep pushing Jamar

Cheers Maldon Boy for the wrap

Has Cale morton muscled up a little bit?

Has Cale morton muscled up a little bit?

He and juice are training the house down

Thanks for the report. Is it me or are we getting worse and worse at training.

Maldonboy38. Please tell me there were some positives?

Viney - can't hit a target

Nicho - not running well

Pedo - looks over weight

Blease - not running well

Please give us something to inspire hope?

Thanks for the report. Is it me or are we getting worse and worse at training.

it's definitely you

Would replace jared rivers you would think??

Id have Tynan as rivers replacement

Id have Tynan as rivers replacement

Taking the [censored]?

Taking the [censored]?

His great half back man and courageous at holding the line and backing into packs to take marks.

Would replace jared rivers you would think??

I reckon Jack Watts replaced Jared last year.

I reckon Jack Watts replaced Jared last year.

I think Jared Rivers replaced Jack Watts.