Upcoming open training sessions:

Monday 26th November - 9:30am - Gosch's Paddock

All other training sessions are closed sessions.

I'll be in the dentist's chair. Could someone who attends please give me the training drill?

Ouch.

Is Toumpas due to start training today? He was saying he's goodbyes to Adelaide on twitter last night so I'm assuming he'll be down there.

I hope to be there on Wednesday! no luck today though

Club just tweeted a photo of all 4 new recruits at training.

http://instagram.com/p/SeMloaF32D/

Jimmy looks a good size.

Nice to see the new boys straight into it.. Welcome to our newest Demons ... great to have you on board.

I managed to catch around the first half hour as a (prolonged) break from my morning jog.

Observations:

• Hogan is huge in the body for a 17 year-old. Dawes is definitely taller than him, so don't know if Dawes (193cm) is taller than listed, or Hogan (varies, but last I saw was 195cm) id shorter than listed. He was jogging laps with Dawes and Gawn.
  
• All the new draftees were there. Toumpas looks reasonable broad across the shoulders and should fill out. They were separate from the group and did some drills including a rapid fire catch and handpass drill off a net. Toumpas was super clean in this drill, Matt Jones good and only fumbled one I saw, Terlich was pretty fumbly, and I wasn't watching when Kent had his turn. They also did 15 metre kick-to-kick and M. Jones didn't need to move a muscle for Toumpas' kicks to him.
  
• Barry, Evans and Grimes ran laps not in the main group.
  
• Sylvia and Watts were paired together for what looked like 200 metre sprints, but only did half distance.
  
• There was one player definitely over 200cm that I didn't recognise. He later joined the new draftees, presume he was an "invitation to train" rookie list possibility.
  

I can't think of any listed player that wasn't out there doing something today (although not all in main group training).

I've got some video of the team running past when paired up, will see if I can get it off my phone and up here.

http://instagram.com/p/SeMloaF32D/

Jimmy smiling and loving every minute of being traded to us again. He is my new favourite player

I know that the photo isn't meant to a definitive photo of our new recruits (despite the caption) but i reckon it is interesting that Barry, Hogan and Viney are not included in the photo. To me it is a reminder that Viney and to a lesser extent even Barry and Hogan are already part of the club.

For me that is great for the club and should not be underestimated i reckon. Having Viney at the club all last year means even though he is new draftee he is more a second year player. He knows the Neeld model, what to expect, the game plan and the rest of the players. You won't get a more AFL ready player.

Hogan will be the same next year. Barry obviously not quite as entrenched but he still has 2-3 weeks more pre season training than other new draftees which will put him ahead of the newbies and stand him in good stead.

Like it.

http://instagram.com/p/SeMloaF32D/

Toumpas will give the group a lift, always seems to be laughing and enjoying himself with an outgoing personality, has a great energy. In that photo Kent looks quite small, apparently has a 60m left foot kick on him, did anyone notice that at training?

oopas ompas we've got jimmy toumpas!

They also did 15 metre kick-to-kick and M. Jones didn't need to move a muscle for Toumpas' kicks to him.

Interesting. I noted a similar thing when Trengove first came to the club. His first session he was paired with Gys and it was very clear that Trengove was doing a few steps to get the Gys' kicks, while Gys just stood there and the ball hit him right in front of the eyes every time.

Some other good news at training was Mitch Clark jogging some slow laps. He got a big cheer from all the boys as he ran passed them.

Some other good news at training was Mitch Clark jogging some slow laps. He got a big cheer from all the boys as he ran passed them.

Not just good but the best news

There were a tonne of people at training, (including Todd V, Harrington, Mahoney, Connolly, Schwab, etc.) so I'm sure there'll be more reports. I'll leave it to others this week. It was a long session. I got there at 9.50am, which was exactly the same time as the players came out, and left at 12.20pm and they were still training.

I have to say I like the look of Kent. He has the big arse that Malthouse loves, strong legs and is a very nice left foot kick. Although the newbies were restricted to light work and spending time with Neil Craig.

And I loved Viney's stoppage work in the man-on-man match simulation drills.

Anyone know who the mystery tall is?

Made the trip down to have a look this morning. Things of greatest note for mine.

Gawn is enormous across the chest. Looks like a monster; fitness pending, I could see him being first ruck by year's end.

I was taken by exactly how big Viney is. Was paired with Byrnes in the sprints in the 5th or 6th pair, and was the standout for mine, taking him easily each time. Even when he slipped at the start, and gave up 10m, he chased him down. Was hungry!

Dawes was more active than his injury report suggested, i would suggest he would be back with the main group as soon as next week.

Hogan did laps with Dawes and Gawn. and then kick to kick with Dawes... there is just something about him. looks commanding with the footy around him.

Aaron Davey was a shadow of his former self. I understand the contract situation, but it's sad to watch from my perspective.

Barry did some kick to kick lead work late in the piece and looks like a beautiful mover

All in All seems like a more balanced list already.

Disappointments,

1) Would have loved to have seen the new boys tear it up also, i guess we need to ease them in.

2) Watts and Sylvia seemed to be on slight restrictions compared to the rest of the group. Nothing to prevent ready for round 1, but these are 2 players I'd love to be tearing the track apart all pre season. Whenever expectations aren't meant, resritced pre seasons are always mentioned.

Welcome aboard Jimmy, Dean, Dean and Matt! Go Dees!

There were a tonne of people at training, (including Todd V, Harrington, Mahoney, Connolly, Schwab, etc.) so I'm sure there'll be more reports. I'll leave it to others this week. It was a long session. I got there at 9.50am, which was exactly the same time as the players came out, and left at 12.20pm and they were still training.

I have to say I like the look of Kent. He has the big arse that Malthouse loves, strong legs and is a very nice left foot kick. Although the newbies were restricted to light work and spending time with Neil Craig.

And I loved Viney's stoppage work in the man-on-man match simulation drills.

+ 1, He is strong in the core BH and why I think he has that bit of accelaration and some good power through the thighs. Was a big fish in a small pond of Northam but now is just another number. I think this kid has some upside and contrary to others don't think it means our list is struggling if he is right up there for best first year player.

any one know who the mystery tall is?

Is there a pic of him?

There were a tonne of people at training, (including Todd V, Harrington, Mahoney, Connolly, Schwab, etc.)

And I loved Viney's stoppage work in the man-on-man match simulation drills.

I didn't miss as much as I thought. Arrived around 10.20. Huge amount of on lookers from brief comparisons while driving/training by in the past. Looked like a bunch of media for the new arrivals. New arrivals did very little.

Agree also noticed Viney in a tap ruck to mid session and he moves well through traffic. Does anyone know who the other ruckman in that drill was, had no number but he looked a little nervous and nearly killed the 'bag man' a couple of times

Barry ran a heap of laps, moves well but looks light.

Hogan... he does look a player from very limited work. They are obviously slowly bringing him along but he looks bigger, stronger than other players who have been on our list for longer. Even when we was just having a kick to kick with Dawes he goes at the ball, good sign from a future fwd.

Not great amount to add as was trying to get my bearings for most of it but some observations:

Lots of 2 player repeat sprints nothing really stood out besides Flash who does lag a fair way behind.

Each portion of training looks like it is timed to the second, even if they have not completed the drill with all players whistle goes and it's into the next drill.

The type of circle work drill mentioned from previous sessions looked like it was back in play, there will be very very very little going through the centre ofthe ground. Bal was worked from say back pocket with a switch or a hit up to CHB, from there it was strictly boundry run and carry. Trenners went through the centre square at one point and was told TRENNERS GET OUTTA THERE very quickly.

In a lights v darks full ground stoppage drill it was just contest after contest after contest, any time the ball was held in or spilled to far out a ball up or throw in was had to simulate the next stoppage. It again shows the way we are going to play, hard contested in tight then spread. For mine (i'm sure others will have different opinions) it looked sloppy with no real stand outs besides it highlighting we still have a long way to go with out skills. Plenty of turn overs in this drill.

Left while this was still going on.

Overall loved it, players really vocal, getting around each other and can see some real physical development in most players but seeing it live gives a broader view and tempers any over the top expectations. The process is in play and it is a gradual build but the foundations are in place and looking good.

The new tall was 200cm and his first name was Jack.

Good, we need more Jack's!

The new tall was 200cm and his first name was Jack.

Jack Hannath would be my guess..

http://www.afl.com.a...90/default.aspx

http://www.heraldsun...r-1226520107367

Jack Hannath would be my guess..

http://www.afl.com.a...90/default.aspx

http://www.heraldsun...r-1226520107367

As opposed to Jake Spencer or Stef Martin this guy is an ACTUAL footballer, not a 'basketballer' or 'tall guy'.

Looks very hungry.