I'll try to do this weekly, as I'm at most Thursday morning sessions.

Training's just started. First noticeable thing is Jack Grimes running laps without a sling of any kind. Fairly positive sign that he's able to run without much discomfort.

Also, the media are already here, talking about focusing camera on Sylvia, Frawley and Watts, and then trying to talk to them after. Seems like we can't, and won't catch a break in the media.

They seem to forget about the Bulldogs.

A lot of emphasis on contested footy so far. Tackling drills, contested handball drills, bumping drills, even wrestling drills. Good to see some physical work

Sylvia, Watts, Frawley and Gawn have all just finished going up to Neeld one at a time and demanding a trade at seasons end, apart from Sylvia who said he'll walk) as they've told Neeld they have no confidence in him.......

I kid!

How about some skills/decision making? Wouldn't hurt.

How about some skills/decision making? Wouldn't hurt.

Step 1: Get the ball

Step 2: Decide what to do with it.

Step 1: Get the ball

Step 2: Decide what to do with it.

I don't think we are too bad at getting the ball at the moment, we just turn it over because we can't kick or kick to terrible options.

And we can't hold onto it because we can't hit simple targets.

Ok I'm off now. Final points:

- No viney anywhere

- Col Sylvia left early after copping a knee to the back

- Watts did a lot of goal kicking, but I guess you can't read into that too much.

- Casey team (the usual weekly ones, plus the likes of McDonald, Rodan and Blease) broke away from the main group at the end to go train together.

I counted 25 players (squad + emergencies) in the main group. If I'm correct in my assessment of this, that means the weird, bearded man known to us as 'Tom Gillies' looks to be in the group travelling to Perth. Yikes

Ok I'm off now. Final points:

- No viney anywhere

- Col Sylvia left early after copping a knee to the back

- Watts did a lot of goal kicking, but I guess you can't read into that too much.

- Casey team (the usual weekly ones, plus the likes of McDonald, Rodan and Blease) broke away from the main group at the end to go train together.

I counted 25 players (squad + emergencies) in the main group. If I'm correct in my assessment of this, that means the weird, bearded man known to us as 'Tom Gillies' looks to be in the group travelling to Perth. Yikes

Thanks for the updates!

Thanks for the updates!

Not a problem, mate

Ok I'm off now. Final points:

- No viney anywhere

- Col Sylvia left early after copping a knee to the back

- Watts did a lot of goal kicking, but I guess you can't read into that too much.

- Casey team (the usual weekly ones, plus the likes of McDonald, Rodan and Blease) broke away from the main group at the end to go train together.

I counted 25 players (squad + emergencies) in the main group. If I'm correct in my assessment of this, that means the weird, bearded man known to us as 'Tom Gillies' looks to be in the group travelling to Perth. Yikes

Could be putting them on the line here, but am I the only one not too concerned about our drafting/trading of Gillies?

If I recall, Chip wasn't a favourite amongst punters early in his career, but we had to play him because of our limited options. Gillies has come from a team with a very strong backline, has only played 14 games, is the same height/weight as Chip but about 2 seasons worth of games behind where Chip was at the same stage (for the reasons I indicated earlier).

Sure, Geelong could've held on to him and played him instead of picking up Rivers, but the biggest difference would be that the appeal of a ready made replacement for Scarlett (Rivers), given where Geelong are at currently, would've been far more appeaing that expecting a 14-gamer try and hold down one of the key defensive posts.

Just my opinion. Not saying he's going to be a star, but I'm far from putting this pick up down as a major fail at this stage.

PS. Be gentle!

Billy, my only comment to that is that IMO the lack of AFL game experience that Gillies has had is offset by his age and number of preseasons he has under his belt.

Whilst i wouldnt expect him to be dominating games of footy, I had expected that he'd have the basic fundimentals of the game under control

I'll try to do this weekly, as I'm at most Thursday morning sessions.

Training's just started. First noticeable thing is Jack Grimes running laps without a sling of any kind. Fairly positive sign that he's able to run without much discomfort.

Also, the media are already here, talking about focusing camera on Sylvia, Frawley and Watts, and then trying to talk to them after. Seems like we can't, and won't catch a break in the media.

They seem to forget about the bulldogs

Thanks for this mate, how was Toumpas?

Could be putting them on the line here, but am I the only one not too concerned about our drafting/trading of Gillies?

If I recall, Chip wasn't a favourite amongst punters early in his career, but we had to play him because of our limited options. Gillies has come from a team with a very strong backline, has only played 14 games, is the same height/weight as Chip but about 2 seasons worth of games behind where Chip was at the same stage (for the reasons I indicated earlier).

Sure, Geelong could've held on to him and played him instead of picking up Rivers, but the biggest difference would be that the appeal of a ready made replacement for Scarlett (Rivers), given where Geelong are at currently, would've been far more appeaing that expecting a 14-gamer try and hold down one of the key defensive posts.

Just my opinion. Not saying he's going to be a star, but I'm far from putting this pick up down as a major fail at this stage.

PS. Be gentle!

Is that you Mark? This sounds like a post match presser!

Thanks for this mate, how was Toumpas?

No worries. Toumpas was an interesting one, he seemed to be moving well and kicking without discomfort, but I didn't see him participating in full-speed drills. And I couldn't spot him with the 25 I mentioned above. I could be wrong, but from what I saw, I very much doubt he'll play this week

Could be putting them on the line here, but am I the only one not too concerned about our drafting/trading of Gillies?

If I recall, Chip wasn't a favourite amongst punters early in his career, but we had to play him because of our limited options. Gillies has come from a team with a very strong backline, has only played 14 games, is the same height/weight as Chip but about 2 seasons worth of games behind where Chip was at the same stage (for the reasons I indicated earlier).

Sure, Geelong could've held on to him and played him instead of picking up Rivers, but the biggest difference would be that the appeal of a ready made replacement for Scarlett (Rivers), given where Geelong are at currently, would've been far more appeaing that expecting a 14-gamer try and hold down one of the key defensive posts.

Just my opinion. Not saying he's going to be a star, but I'm far from putting this pick up down as a major fail at this stage.

PS. Be gentle!

But if you look at the Geelong guys who have played as much VFL as Gillies they should be ready to perform when given a shot. Gillies came and in and found big forwards too big, smaller types too quick, stunk when he got the ball (remember his point) and in the Essendon game was completely shot and barely moved after 3/4 time. If it was a matter of fitness then that's a massive slight on him. But to me he doesn't have size or speed and you need one but preferably both to play as a tall defender. If you go down the list of good key forwards you'll find they are all either too big or too quick for Gillies. Now Rivers can have the same problem but that's why he mainly plays as a third tall and has great smarts and skills to get him out of trouble.

Is that you Mark? This sounds like a post match presser!

What you mean is it was a well measured piece with a full understanding of footy on display, didn't think you could properly comprehend, demonstrated by your poor attempt at humour as a contribution, you and DemonWA sat next to each other are you?, thinking of what smart arse diatribe to put next, that doesn't really contribute, gets rather boring

Thanks Master and Demonof1994 for the reports, couldn't get there myself this morning, work called unfortunately

Could be putting them on the line here, but am I the only one not too concerned about our drafting/trading of Gillies?

If I recall, Chip wasn't a favourite amongst punters early in his career, but we had to play him because of our limited options. Gillies has come from a team with a very strong backline, has only played 14 games, is the same height/weight as Chip but about 2 seasons worth of games behind where Chip was at the same stage (for the reasons I indicated earlier).

Sure, Geelong could've held on to him and played him instead of picking up Rivers, but the biggest difference would be that the appeal of a ready made replacement for Scarlett (Rivers), given where Geelong are at currently, would've been far more appeaing that expecting a 14-gamer try and hold down one of the key defensive posts.

Just my opinion. Not saying he's going to be a star, but I'm far from putting this pick up down as a major fail at this stage.

PS. Be gentle!

I actually agree. We have a history on these forums of prematurely delisting players (in our own minds) only to see them come good and even reach AA heights... notables being, Frawley (AA), Jamar (AA) and most recently, one Nathan Jones.

I actually agree. We have a history on these forums of prematurely delisting players (in our own minds) only to see them come good and even reach AA heights... notables being, Frawley (AA), Jamar (AA) and most recently, one Nathan Jones.

Garland.

I have always wanted to make up cheeky graphic of how demonland views demon players. Along the line of this

Draft day - super star

First game - the next big thing

A little while later - dud why we pick him we should of picked.....

50-100 game mark - Great player going to be our future

A little while later - plodder, needs to delist/trade/retire

At the end of his days - list clogger, too slow, too old

Years after retirement/left demons- Champion/we always loved him/never should of let him go

Is that you Mark? This sounds like a post match presser!

Possible it might be a Mark, but its not even close to Neeld.

Neeld would be quoting STATS Frawley in his 1st 5 yrs only managed 39 clearances of which 10 were effective, 5 rebounds 10 hitouts and handballed 30 times, 20 to the opposition. Wheres Gilles has 80% efficenticy mainly because I refuse to play him much,so his stats are better.

How I am doing?

Edited May 23, 201312 yr by DeeVoted

'Tom Gillies' looks to be in the group travelling to Perth. Yikes

What you mean is it was a well measured piece with a full understanding of footy on display, didn't think you could properly comprehend, demonstrated by your poor attempt at humour as a contribution, you and DemonWA sat next to each other are you?, thinking of what smart arse diatribe to put next, that doesn't really contribute, gets rather boring

Thanks Master and Demonof1994 for the reports, couldn't get there myself this morning, work called unfortunately

Yet your contributions (personal attacks on everyone who doesn't think we are cruising along on the road to glory) are fantastic contributions. Keep up the good work champ!

Yet your contributions (personal attacks on everyone who doesn't think we are cruising along on the road to glory) are fantastic contributions. Keep up the good work champ!

No I am actually discriminatory, I only launch 'personal attacks' on the small minority of less well informed posters on this board, who do nothing but denigrate the Club and everyone connected with it, I can provide you with a list, although I thought you along with a few others on the list were not going to read my posts again, obviously wrong, can't stick to anything then?

This is a topic on training, I was making a contribution, so were you, I was trying to be constructive, you were just whining, simple really.

Nice doing business with you, await your next correspondence with barely contained excitement

Oh and I should add Gillies being let go by Geelong isn't solely related to Rivers.

Rivers and Lonergan are both getting on in years and they must have wanted to some contingency on the chance Taylor leaves.

Their regular VFL defenders I believe are Ryan Bathie (former basketballer) and Mitch Brown (Converted forward who seems to struggle when he plays AFL). If they had faith in Gillies I think they would've kept him regardless of getting Rivers in.