I'm not sure if I've missed anything but after being spoiled with some great reports and pictures of recent club training runs, I'm wondering what the lads did today?

And a request to posters...can we try and keep this thread to actual training reports and not slanging matches about posters' views. Plenty of room for that elsewhere.

I'm not sure if I've missed anything but after being spoiled with some great reports and pictures of recent club training runs, I'm wondering what the lads did today?

I don't think there was an open session today.

Web site yesterday was saying next open session is next wednesday 21st.

Theres pix on the mfc website from todays training at Goschs .

Does anyone know how watts was going?

I managed to pop over to Gosch's Paddock. Twas a good session.

Lots of stoppage work with an AFL field umpire and boundary umpire joining in part of the session. Players in orange vests defending and those in blue vests hunting the ball. Trengove, Jones, Rodan, McKenzie in blue, which indicated their likely status in the pecking order and Viney joined them by switching over halfway through. Rodan was the stand out. His inside work was exceptional. A staff member stood near the contests and taped these drills and did the odd playback to a coach or player. There were around the ground throw-ups, boundary throw-ins and centre square ball-ups. It was a full-ground simulation with forwards and backs, but they stopped each drill as soon as it was cleared, so the forwards and backs were more for structure/placement.

Also had long kicking drills where the ball was constantly switched across ground and back inside before hitting the diagonal flanks. Lots of talk and lots of running at high speed. There was urgency and the players were encouraged to run at full tilt once ball was in possession. There would be two or three footballs constantly in play as the drill rotated around the ground. In the main the skills were good. Today's sessions encompassed stoppage work, ruckwork with Spencer and Sellar, hard running with spread, tackling/evasion, teamwork handballs, switching of play, and kicking skills.

There's a tangibly different feel to training this year. It's hard to describe, but there's a buoyancy. Training is very professional and everything seems to be timed to the minute. There were also other shorter drills that involved quick handballs and evasive techniques to avoid tackles in smaller groups. The main group finished by walking over to the tan.

Those that I saw, but didn't do the main session included Grimes, Gawn, Sylvia, Evans, Hogan, Clark, Jamar, Fitzpatrick, Tynan. I didn't see Dawes or Barry.

There's a tangibly different feel to training this year. It's hard to describe, but there's a buoyancy.

No disrespect to anyone who has left, but those who are still at the club want to be there. That makes a massive difference in attitude.

great report BH, thanks

BH ..that intangible you speak of may also be a relation of confidence .

I suspect and expect this to grow

And a request to posters...can we try and keep this thread to actual training reports and not slanging matches about posters' views. Plenty of room for that elsewhere.

Watts will make AA by 2015. Sorry

Those that I saw, but didn't do the main session included Grimes, Gawn, Sylvia, Evans, Hogan, Clark, Jamar, Fitzpatrick, Tynan. I didn't see Dawes or Barry.

Could one assume Tapscott and Jones are back in full swing?

Cheers for report

Noticed in the pics the adidas and westpac signage around the boundary. Were they training on Collingwoods ground? Is that something that has happened in previous years?

Really good report BH, couldn't wangle this morning myself, nr 39 on my jumper, how did Nev go?

Thanks BH, looks as though Rodan may well be worth the short term contract after all

Does anyone have any info on Taggert and Evans? Would love seeing these guys get a crack- how are they recovering from their injuries?

Been to 3 dees sessions so far, went and watched the saints this morn. Even though I am biased to the dees, must say our sessions have been a lot sharper and more intense than what I saw this morn. I know it's November but with our recruits, keeping this years draft

Picks and the standard of training I've seen it's hard not to get excited. I have signed up for membership for my first time.

i popped in for about 30 minutes, to answer a couple of questions when I got there Dawes was getting changed and going inside, obviously easing in due to his knee issue from last season, we trained on the collingwood ground as the nets were out for victory training. I read in the paper the other day that collingwood expect to be on their new ground by March, then that becomes our permanent training ground, cant wait for them to pull down the signs and put our own up, there it really starts to look and feel like our facility.

One thing I noticed in the stoppage work was Viney lined up on Rodan and managed to hold his ground in most contests. There was one centre bounce were he got the ball from a ruck tap and took off. He actually had a quicker burst of speed than I thought he had, look forward to watching him develop in the coming seasons.

Magner looks fit as a fiddle, hope he can find a yard as he has no issues getting the pill.

Jamar and Fitzpatrick were on our training ground having a kick to kick

I agree with BH about training, it looks so much more structured and planned. Pre-season games in Feb cant come quick enough now!

In the match simulation Blease and Tapscott both lined up on the half forward line.

Noticed in the pics the adidas and westpac signage around the boundary. Were they training on Collingwoods ground? Is that something that has happened in previous years?

That should be the "ground Collingwood uses". It's not theirs. In fact, last time I checked they were based in the wrong suburb.

Been to 3 dees sessions so far, went and watched the saints this morn. Even though I am biased to the dees, must say our sessions have been a lot sharper and more intense than what I saw this morn. I know it's November but with our recruits, keeping this years draft

Picks and the standard of training I've seen it's hard not to get excited. I have signed up for membership for my first time.

Well done Tappy. Have you got a couple of thousand mates. This is the year for 40000

Could one assume Tapscott and Jones are back in full swing?

Cheers for report

Yes, they're with the main group, as is Gillies and Byrnes. The main knock on Gillies is his kicking, which definitely needs continued work. He's fitting in well and moves with pace.

Jetta looks good. I don't quite see a place in the best 22, but I like his effort. He has a crack and will get games.

Evans looks to be a while off joining the main group, but the club obviously rate him. I saw him play at Frankston late in the year and we'd benefit from his pace and natural spread. He's a bit of a forgotten man, but he offers a fair bit. Needs to tighten his kicking.

Taggert is training well. Rodan spends a fair bit of time specifically with Viney and Taggert. He's taken them under his wing. He was matched up on Viney for some of the stoppage work when Viney was in an orange vest and at the end of some of the drills he spent time counselling Viney on positioning, etc. I was ambivalent about Rodan joining the club, in fact, I was probably against it. Going to training has changed my mind. It's extraordinary to say, but he's already like a glue amongst the playing group. His encouragement never stops. But just as importantly, he's a really good trainer. His kicking is great and he moves so well. I'll be curious to see how his year pans out.

Back to Taggert. His upper body needs a little work, but he'll develop into a very strong mid, as the frame is there. His legs and core are already really big. He moves well and is a good kick.

Thanks BH great report.

I know Rodan personally, and i can tell you he is champing at the bit,and really wants to prove a few people wrong.

Feels a full preseason will benefit him greatly.

His Knees are fine and infact has never felt better.

He is a super fit guy and could easily go on another 3 or 4 years.

Top bloke to boot!

Great to hear about Rodan. I was surprised we recruited him but from reports he'll come with some really good leadership qualities.

I was ambivalent about Rodan joining the club, in fact, I was probably against it. Going to training has changed my mind. It's extraordinary to say, but he's already like a glue amongst the playing group. His encouragement never stops. But just as importantly, he's a really good trainer. His kicking is great and he moves so well. I'll be curious to see how his year pans out.

It seems like such a simple approach really - to perform in AFL against the big boys you need to train against the big boys. We have now recruited the big boys to be pit against the rest of the squad in readiness for the opposition...oh and no doubt the experience and knowledge transfer helps!

That's not to say they haven't also been recruited for a specific role in the 22 either....

Edited November 16, 201212 yr by Ascobar

Thanks BH great report.

I know Rodan personally, and i can tell you he is champing at the bit,and really wants to prove a few people wrong.

Feels a full preseason will benefit him greatly.

His Knees are fine and infact has never felt better.

He is a super fit guy and could easily go on another 3 or 4 years.

Top bloke to boot!

I've always liked what I've seen of Rodan from a distance, both on and off the field. Can't understand why he wasn't played more at Richmond or Power. Glad to have him on board. Seems a good person.

Stoked about my man D Rod! could possibly be our most valuable pick up this year.