Cheers TM, Love ur work!!!

Thanks mate

I got there at 3pm and they were already well underway.

Joining the main group were Sylvia, Evans, Kent, Turlich, Clisby and Stark. I didn't see Matt Jones, Hogan or Trengove (obviously).

The rehab group was Grimes, Dunn, Dawes, Gawn and Clark and they were running on one of the other ovals. Watts was just doing some gentle jogging but not for long. He disappeared inside soon after. Taggert was also doing laps

Clark came back half way through and also went inside.

Training was sharp and as hard as usual, not the "light" session as mentioned although it was all finished by 4.30. They did the usual drills. Davey surprised me, he was quick on the lead and took one grab marks above his head 5-6 times in a row, but like all of the forwards his shots for goal were fairly poor. Byrnes was particularly poor kicking 1 out of the 5-6 shots I saw him take.

Fizpatrick was again prominent in the 300m sprints, clearly the fastest of the big guys.

Sylvia was lagging at the back with Crouch. Jetta and Davey stuggled on the repetative sprints also Gillies and Macdonald in their sprints. Barry did very well in all of what I saw him do and Pedersen likewise.

Tynan looked good, moved well and kicked well as did Strauss and Evans,

Toumpas moves well but he's not as big as his photos suggest, at least next to his team mates he looks light.

Stark and Clisby did laps after the first few drills but are quite light framed as you would expect.

Terlich moved and kicked well and with good pace as did Tapscott.

All the usual seniors did well, Jones, Frawley, Garland but I was really concentrating on the 'fringe' guys.

I don't take notes so this is what I remember.

I am really happy to hear Pickles is traveling well.

I'd like to see him with a good run at some games ...

I got there at 3pm and they were already well underway.

Joining the main group were Sylvia, Evans, Kent, Turlich, Clisby and Stark. I didn't see Matt Jones, Hogan or Trengove (obviously).

The rehab group was Grimes, Dunn, Dawes, Gawn and Clark and they were running on one of the other ovals. Watts was just doing some gentle jogging but not for long. He disappeared inside soon after. Taggert was also doing laps

Clark came back half way through and also went inside.

Training was sharp and as hard as usual, not the "light" session as mentioned although it was all finished by 4.30. They did the usual drills. Davey surprised me, he was quick on the lead and took one grab marks above his head 5-6 times in a row, but like all of the forwards his shots for goal were fairly poor. Byrnes was particularly poor kicking 1 out of the 5-6 shots I saw him take.

Fizpatrick was again prominent in the 300m sprints, clearly the fastest of the big guys.

Sylvia was lagging at the back with Crouch. Jetta and Davey stuggled on the repetative sprints also Gillies and Macdonald in their sprints. Barry did very well in all of what I saw him do and Pedersen likewise.

Tynan looked good, moved well and kicked well as did Strauss and Evans,

Toumpas moves well but he's not as big as his photos suggest, at least next to his team mates he looks light.

Stark and Clisby did laps after the first few drills but are quite light framed as you would expect.

Terlich moved and kicked well and with good pace as did Tapscott.

All the usual seniors did well, Jones, Frawley, Garland but I was really concentrating on the 'fringe' guys.

I don't take notes so this is what I remember.

how long has Mitch been running for ? that for mine is very promising

how long has Mitch been running for ? that for mine is very promising

I would have thought so as well. Initial prognosis was that he would start running after Xmas, so he seems to be a month or so ahead of schedule ... FWIW.

Whoever suggested it was going to be a light session, got it horribly wrong. It wasn't the hardest I have been to but it was no fun run either.

I spotted Trenners in his new shoe attire, also on crutches. The bright side, is it will help build his upper body walking around with the aid of crutches.

Today's session consisted of a few warm up laps,then some ball movement broken into two groups and firing handballs towards a running player. It was done in a way that they would do the drill in a clockwise movement, fire handballs as quickly as possible,with the player that gave the handball, putting light pressure on the receiver before he gave it off.

It was fast and sharp with not many fumbles.

Another session was concentrating on a match sim, the backs clearing from the backline to a leading player, or if that option wasnt on, then he should divert it ,to across the ground to the opposite halfback flank, then they player would look upfield to pass to another on the half forward flank, who in turn would take a bounce,and pass to a leading foward. This drill was a practice moving the ball, quickly and accurately from the backline to a the forwards. Again the skills were good, but with no pressure, I would expect it to go well.

The last session I got to see before leaving early, was they had the players in 3 groups.

One group practising defensive skills, like a high ball coming in the punching the ball towards the boundrary.

Another group were the mids, they were running through a drill,from a tapout to firing a handball to a 'running' player. (Note: Not to someone standing flat footed as we have witnessed in the past) then that player would handball 20 mtrs to 2 players players heading towards the goals. Looked good under no pressure. if they get that drilled into them often enough we might see some decent centre clearances.

The 3rd group were doing a drill where the ball was thrown up by one of the coaches, 2 players contesting, then tapped down to be scouted by a running small and then have a running shot on goal.

If all the above was considered a light run, in the Bailey are, it would have been a hard hitout.

Overall a good session,and concentrated mostly on ball movement from one end to the other.

Most had some decent colour, looked to me they had been sunning their time away elsewhere in the country. Blease must have been locked up inside all day, still looked pale: sunscreen factor 50+ for young Sam.

The latest rumour ... I shouldn't spread rumours, right?

Apparently, they had to put down a croc after it broke all of its teeth,trying to latch onto J.Viney. Urban myth?

In closing, I had a quick chat to the coach, he still thinks we have a way to go before he considers them to be at a level fitness-wise where he thinks they should be. More games etc. but was very happy with everyone's progress thus far.

Just even up the ledger. No 12 wasnt holding back, he looked fit and was involved and doing well. I thought I'd throw that in, as the last time I watched he wasn't doing a lot.

To make a proper assessment I want to see how they stand up against some opposition. Will it all fall apart or are we going to take what we practice into a real game? They have made some big inroads into me being confident next year, but I've been down this path before. But I like what I am seeing.

Everyone have a safe and wonderful Xmas and New Year.

Nice reports Totally Deevoted and Mad.

I'm exhausted from just reading them.

Sounds like we might be at AFL level next year.

Thanks for all the detail Deevoted.

A bit of a wake up call to hear that they still have a way to go before they are at the level of fitness Neeld expects. Just shows you how far they've got to go from what he inherited.

I spoke to Neil Craig at the Sydney function during the season and he said he thought they'd be competitive from about mid 2014 onwards.

Sounds like Neeld's and Craig's expectations for 2013 even with all these great Darwin camps etc are not too optimistic. They seem to have a real strong handle on what the benchmarks are for the top competitive teams and where our group is in relation to them.

I'd rather get that reality check now than get unrealistic expectations for next year based on all these great training notes. My 14yr old son told me to have a look at some of the other club's sites to see what training they are doing. Funnily enough all of them are saying exactly the same things i. e came back in best pre season shape ever. Are all setting PB's right off. Everything we've been hearing. At least we've got Misson and Craig so we can feel confident that they know when they set a benchmark for training that it is an accurate one.

My 14yr old son told me to have a look at some of the other club's sites to see what training they are doing. Funnily enough all of them are saying exactly the same things i.e. came back in best pre season shape ever. Are all setting PB's right off. Everything we've been hearing. At least we've got Misson and Craig so we can feel confident that they know when they set a benchmark for training that it is an accurate one

Your 14 year old son sounds smarter than most of us Demonlanders combined.

I spoke to Neil Craig at the Sydney function during the season and he said he thought they'd be competitive from about mid 2014 onwards.

Sounds like Neeld's and Craig's expectations for 2013 even with all these great Darwin camps etc are not too optimistic. They seem to have a real strong handle on what the benchmarks are for the top competitive teams and where our group is in relation to them.

I read someone say that Misson reckoned that the load they put onto the players last year was about 60% and this year would step up to about 80% of what they should be at, with them peaking at the load expected being in 2014, so this might be about right.

I don't think it is as much that the club isn't optimistic, just that they can't load up on the players all at once and expect their bodies to be able to handle it (Essendon and Weapon anyone??)

That said, I have no doubt that Neeld will be planning to go into every game with the expectation of trying to win the game, but the gameplan, the players required and the total commitment to the style etc, it's probably to be expected that it will take a little while yet.

Yes we are looking great but so are the other clubs.

It's like the racing story where the jockey says I saw the gap and went for it, except the gap was going faster than I was.

Until we see the boys in matches, it is really hard to get a handle on where we are at.

Does anyone know why Grimes is in the rehab group again??

Many thanks guys, Enjoy the reports.,.

A bit of a wake up call to hear that they still have a way to go before they are at the level of fitness Neeld expects. Just shows you how far they've got to go from what he inherited.

I spoke to Neil Craig at the Sydney function during the season and he said he thought they'd be competitive from about mid 2014 onwards.

Its good to get a bit of a reality check. The competition doesn't stand still. I get the feeling that in the Bailey years we recruited andtrained as if it would. The game plan we worked towards was out of date before we were half way there.

It's scary to think that you have to improve just to stand still. But with bigger bodies on our list and a more competitive culture you'd have to believe that we'll improve more than most

You'd expect the players to be as flat as tacks this week. Sounds like there is still life in the group ........... which is great

Thanks to all the reporters

Agree, to get reports from Casey is fantastic; living in Thornbury it is a big drive to get there let alone at the time of day that the training was held.

Thanks guys

......

A bit of a wake up call to hear that they still have a way to go before they are at the level of fitness Neeld expects. Just shows you how far they've got to go from what he inherited.

I spoke to Neil Craig at the Sydney function during the season and he said he thought they'd be competitive from about mid 2014 onwards.......

I guess it is better that they play down expectations. Even were they at the required level I doubt if the coaches would be saying too much,

I remain, as ever in pre-season, optimistic.

Thanks for the update guys (and for your honest appraisals)!

Does anyone know why Grimes is in the rehab group again??

I wouldn't be too worried, the 'loads' on players are managed so minutley these days that a player will be in 'the rehab group' who isn't injured but just won't be haivng a full Denzel.

*Denzel is short for Training Day.

I guess it is better that they play down expectations. Even were they at the required level I doubt if the coaches would be saying too much,

I remain, as ever in pre-season, optimistic.

Most times you can tell when you are being spun a line. Or you get the usual 'we are taking one week at a time'. Mark Neeld came across as sincere,

He added they (the players) have a way to go, but they realise they cant load them up with too much work load, or they will be dropping like flies, and or getting injured. he wasnt playing it down (optimisic) I got an honest answer on where we are at. Its going to take time. I was hoping he would say they are where he wants them. But he didnt, he told it as it was. He spoke to me like we knew each other well. No putdowns or an abrupt tone.

He greeted me 1st, I was a bit taken back, as I wasnt expecting to be noticed. But I did stand out like a sore thumb.

I get the feeling they appriecate supporters making the effort to observe training. If anyone can make an effort to get to training, even if its means putting yourself out a little, I am positive it wont go unnoticed by the staff or the players.

If the timing is right, you can have a quick chat with the fitness coaches , players and Mark Neeld. In this point in time, is when they need support and encouragement. Instead of 5 people we got 50, we could fast track their progress. We'll get that easly when they are successful and winning games. But right now, if anyone can, I encourage them to make a effort, and show their support at training.

I spoke to Trenners, one of his 1st questions to me was, I suppose you have been through all the bad times?

So they do care, they realise we are overdue, they are doing their best to retify it.

Does anyone know why Grimes is in the rehab group again??

I cant answer that, I seen him in his training gear. I was expecting him to join the main group. When I looked around he was gone.

Perhaps he had some weight sessions in his program,or maybe a slight niggle.

I wouldn't be too worried, the 'loads' on players are managed so minutley these days that a player will be in 'the rehab group' who isn't injured but just won't be haivng a full Denzel.

*Denzel is short for Training Day.

Whats haiving short for, i had to take that shot rpfc, it probably wont come along again.

excuse this stupid question but did dawes go the darwin? I just cant remember reading anything about him being there.

Whats haiving short for, i had to take that shot rpfc, it probably wont come along again.

No, it will...

But, like this time, it will be the first time I have ever spelled a word wrong...

*Please note how normal people converse when others correct their behaviour/spelling - with good humour and an easy nature. (rpfc's Free Advice #12)

**This is not directed at you mjt.

excuse this stupid question but did dawes go the darwin? I just cant remember reading anything about him being there.

He was there. The only bloke who wasn't was Trengove.