Training - Monday 28th January, 2013

[Robot Devil 1,895]

Toumpas also does well at the foot of a pack in the forward line.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Rodan is an on field leader through and through, very good to see him directing traffic and using his voice.

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

This is great stuff, how are our new boys going...Viney Toumpas and Hulk Hogan.

Just told the missus to put her panties back on because I have live training reports to read...

What is she thinking, Jvineyfan?! she should know better

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Davis really struggles getting ball to boot.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Loving the look of Dawes, presents well, runs hard and has been holding his marks.

[daisycutter 29,743]

does anyone look a bit gay?

[Biffen 12,947]

does anyone look a bit gay?

Camp as christmas.

The boys are as happy as can be.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

It was a very lively session with Jack Viney, Jimmy Toumpas and Chris Dawes all showing they will add plenty to the mix.

I think the fact that we have far less players in rehab should be a plus as well. Of course, we won't really know until we've seen the group under match pressure from another AFL club.

I look forward to the reports of the regular track watchers.

[dee-luded 2,959]

This is amazing! Sitting in Canberra getting a running commentary on training at Gosh's. Looks like the scheduled gardening will have to wait. Thanks guys!

hmmn fantastic, wait til we all have the NBN rolledout. We can all watch in video.

[BLWNBA 1,123]

The tackling exercise was done well, very good intensity after a bit of a spray.

Davey moved well, threaded the needle on most of his kicks in the match simulation. Dawes presented well, but was disappointed he didn't hold on to a few I expected him too. Strauss looked very lively, as did Rodan, Toumpas and Sylvia did some good things.

Tom Mac spoiled everything that came his way, manned up on Dawes.

Dunn looks soiled and I think he'll have a very good year.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Dunn looks soiled and I think he'll have a very good year.

Was he paired together with Viney in the drills?

[FC Melbourne 108]

Great to see the players being trained on how to tackle properly, Whelan was the last Melbourne player who knew how to tackle.

Bit harsh on Jnr McDonald.

[mjt 640]

The tackling exercise was done well, very good intensity after a bit of a spray.

Davey moved well, threaded the needle on most of his kicks in the match simulation. Dawes presented well, but was disappointed he didn't hold on to a few I expected him too. Strauss looked very lively, as did Rodan, Toumpas and Sylvia did some good things.

Tom Mac spoiled everything that came his way, manned up on Dawes.

Dunn looks soiled and I think he'll have a very good year.

You would have to think if Frawley finds his 2010 form and TM improves dramatically this year we should win more games than we lose.

[1964nowMORE 492]

A few observations from this morning, first session I've seen since this time last year.

Wow, haven't they stepped it up a cog or three? Fitter, stronger, better drilled, more on the park, quicker, tougher etc. Hard to believe it's the same group.

No sign of Neeld today when I was there - left after an hour or so. Nice to have a bloke like Craig to run the show.

Looked like everyone did most of the session apart from Trengove and Clark - did brief running and some kick to kick. Bail and Gawn did repeated sprints then some kicking drills - worked pretty hard. Otherwise looked like only Tynan and D-Rod sat out tackling drill but did everything else I saw.

Tackling was tough work, tackle low round the thighs (just above the knee was the task) - bury them in the turf then get up quick and "go" - as stated above repeat calls on "your out of the game on the grouond". I thought almost all applied themselves to the drill - Barry and Frawley seemed the best two at avoiding the tackle - a couple simply couldn't get Chip to ground, and Barry just jumped up cat like to get round others. Gee Magner can tackle. Tommy Mac and Dawes just OK at this drill - but BIG it seemed.

When they went into match simulation - end to end stuff. Stopped for the odd ball up, throw in - from AFL umpires. Craig worked through the middle barking instructions. It looked like A-team backs vs A-team forwards in this drills - plus A-team on ball.

From that I'd say certain starters for Rd1:

7 Backs - Watts, Nicho, Seller, Dunn, Frawley, Garland, T-Mac

Forwards - Dawes, Pederson, Sylvia, Howe, Byrnes - would have Hogan also....if only.

Mids - Jamar, Spencer (expect both to play), Viney, Jones, Grimes, Blease, McKenzie

Of those I couldn't pin as starting or not I thought Davey looked good - further up the ground; Toumpas looked great, just silky and a nice size already, hit some great kicks. I also recon they'll give Barry a run early before he wears out come mid-season.

Those who get to Casey games will salivate at watching Hogan all year.

Huge crowd today - great vibe, bring on the season!

[BLWNBA 1,123]

Barry was very elusive, look forward to seeing him in the NAB cup.

[low flying Robbo 979]

Neeld was definitely there at the start during the run-throughs.

My thoughts:

• Great to see some good numbers getting down to have a watch
• Davey's triceps almost overlap his elbows...
• D-Rod is a unit... and can break the packs well
• Some disappointing skills in the full match simulation with kicks not hitting targets
• Hogan is a beast for a 17 year old. Although still needs more time to read the ball better (I was down the punt rd end after the match simulation and Rawlings was giving a small group lessons on using your body to hold back the defender and pushing out at the last second to mark with outstretched arms. Hogan was constantly going too early)
• Tommy Mac was beating anyone he was put up against.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Toumpas also does well at the foot of a pack in the forward line.

Does Toumpas win much of his own ball? I've always assumed he's a classy outsider, but it seems he's pretty decent around the stoppages.

I'm really looking forward to seeing him play this year - along with Barry and Matt Jones. And Viney obviously.

The NAB Cup can't come soon enough.

[Slartibartfast 17,632]

Players to impress me were Blease who's run and carry is genuinely exciting. Once he's running nobody can catch him. Matt Jones is a very big midfielder and did some good things. Wasn't a fan of Tynan but like some of what he did today. Toumpas will be a favourite, exquisite skills and finds it a lot. Nicho will frustrate unless he can sort his kicking. Taggert is a big boy too but I didn't see him do much. Didn't see Terlich either which was disappointing as he'd been good the last two times I'd been to training.

All in all a good fun day but the intensity is only about 80% of match day and still the skills disappointed on occasions. I find it hard to compare with last year and it's just dancing with your sister stuff. Rohan Bail didn't train with the main group, hope it wasn't because of Dunn's brain fade at the last session.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Neeld was definitely there at the start during the run-throughs.

My thoughts:

• Tommy Mac was beating anyone he was put up against.

At the start of last season, I'd probably have swapped Tom McDonald for Daniel Talia if given the chance. Not sure that I would anymore.

He's got to be one of our most important players now.

[DeeGee 177]

I agree with most of the above. What stood out to me was:

• Flash was very good and I'm looking forward to see how he goes this year
• Howie seemed to be in everything
• Hogan is huge. He changed his shirt at one stage and we didn't realise who it was for a minute. There's no way he is only 17 - he is ripped.
• Tommy Mac was everywhere
• Frawley took a nice hanger on Jade Rawlings near the end.
• Jack Watts has bulked up yet again.

[Robot Devil 1,895]

Does Toumpas win much of his own ball? I've always assumed he's a classy outsider, but it seems he's pretty decent around the stoppages.

In the instance I mentioned, Toumpas swooped on a ball that was knocked down in a marking contest and slotted it from about 30 out. It was good to see him run on to the ball with momentum and then convert.

Didn't see him get in and under much but that's not really why we got him I guess. Jones, Rodan and Viney seemed to do a lot of the grunt work at the stoppages with Grimes, Toumpas and Blease breaking away. Rodan did make a lot of quick sprints out of congestion too.

Good to see Neil Craig emphasising the need to breakaway quickly when we go.

[dee-luded 2,959]

A few observations from this morning, first session I've seen since this time last year.

Wow, haven't they stepped it up a cog or three? Fitter, stronger, better drilled, more on the park, quicker, tougher etc. Hard to believe it's the same group.

No sign of Neeld today when I was there - left after an hour or so. Nice to have a bloke like Craig to run the show.

Looked like everyone did most of the session apart from Trengove and Clark - did brief running and some kick to kick. Bail and Gawn did repeated sprints then some kicking drills - worked pretty hard. Otherwise looked like only Tynan and D-Rod sat out tackling drill but did everything else I saw.

Tackling was tough work, tackle low round the thighs (just above the knee was the task) - bury them in the turf then get up quick and "go" - as stated above repeat calls on "your out of the game on the grouond". I thought almost all applied themselves to the drill - Barry and Frawley seemed the best two at avoiding the tackle - a couple simply couldn't get Chip to ground, and Barry just jumped up cat like to get round others. Gee Magner can tackle. Tommy Mac and Dawes just OK at this drill - but BIG it seemed.

When they went into match simulation - end to end stuff. Stopped for the odd ball up, throw in - from AFL umpires. Craig worked through the middle barking instructions. It looked like A-team backs vs A-team forwards in this drills - plus A-team on ball.

From that I'd say certain starters for Rd1:

7 Backs - Watts, Nicho, Seller, Dunn, Frawley, Garland, T-Mac

Forwards - Dawes, Pederson, Sylvia, Howe, Byrnes - would have Hogan also....if only.

Mids - Jamar, Spencer (expect both to play), Viney, Jones, Grimes, Blease, McKenzie

Of those I couldn't pin as starting or not I thought Davey looked good - further up the ground; Toumpas looked great, just silky and a nice size already, hit some great kicks. I also recon they'll give Barry a run early before he wears out come mid-season.

Those who get to Casey games will salivate at watching Hogan all year.

Huge crowd today - great vibe, bring on the season!

thanx 1964nowmore

nice read on the goings on.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Nicho will frustrate unless he can sort his kicking.

His problem is he waves the ball around before he drops it. It's like trying to hit a golf ball while on the run, he needs to keep his hands and head as still as possible.

[Hannibal 5,814]

All in all a good fun day but the intensity is only about 80% of match day and still the skills disappointed on occasions. I find it hard to compare with last year and it's just dancing with your sister stuff. Rohan Bail didn't train with the main group, hope it wasn't because of Dunn's brain fade at the last session.

Barry, Kent, Viney, M. Jones, Terlich and Toumpas are all reliable kicks, but we're yet to see their skills under AFL intensity and pressure. I definitely think we're on the right track, but it will take time.

I'm looking for someone to really step up on a HBF. It may be Watts, Strauss, Terlich, or someone else, but until we get a couple of distributors who can consistently use the ball coming out of defence like Suckling, Guerra, Birchall, or Malceski and Mattner we'll struggle. That and getting a quality midfield are our two main deficiencies.

[DEELIRIOUS 156]

If the club is allowing Dan Nicholson to be the release kick from def 50 then its gonna be a bloody long season