Thanks McQueen. Been waiting all morning for the first rap up. Much appreciated.

Thanks for the report McQueen... great for us interstaters as you well know ;-) Were there any notable absentees? And, if he was there and training, how was Dawes looking?

Dawes was there at the bet start but then disappeared. No sign of Fitz either.

I was there too, new boys look classy but skinny, they also looked rapt to be there.

I was impressed by Cross, very intense, and I can see him as an integral part of the midfield next year.

Trengove is looking really fit, best since he has been at the club.

Dom Barry was involved a lot in the midfield drills and doing really well.

Clark and Hogan trained well and look fit and strong.

I like Viv Michie too, he is a great size for a midfielder, looks tough as nails.

Watts also looked good and slightly more muscle definition.

The main thing I got out of it compared to watching previous years training, was the pace of the whole thing.

It's like they were told to step it up a level, and do everything at match day speed and intensity ... lots of talk.

Just left and the boys were still going. Due to a considerable night with a certain Mountain Goat last night I will keep this short because it's hurting to concentrate this much.

Firstly, Clark looked great and participated in every drill I watched with the main group. Jumping, twisting and turning and kicking without trouble IMO.

I arrived pretty early and spent some time watching the new draftees who were involved in basic short kicking and handballing exercises. They all looked good but I was particularly impressed with JKH. His ball handling just looked classy and would be at home jagging goals out of nothing. Salem has a lovely kick on him.

Hogan has it all. Bring on next year!

Repeat 300m sprints were dominated by Tom Mc who was running them by himself but you could tell is was sigificantly faster and more steady than the others. At one stage, Jack Viney tried to take the [censored] out of Tom for a laugh and tom just did not see the funny side of it. Deadly serious young man is Tom.

Tyson hammy heavily strapped but running okay. Did not attempt to kick with that right leg though.

Roos observed a lot. Only got involved with the main group for the last few exercises but he does get very animated when in there. You can see the boys are loving him as coach already.

Overall I thought the skills were pretty sloppy but maybe I was expecting too much. Nicho was the main offender with lots dropping short or sailing over heads.

Happy to take questions.

Nicho the main offender !

You must have been watching the wrong guy

Thanks McQueen.

PS how are the tyres going ?

Hogan, Clark and Watts looked great. My standouts.

My Brother thought Trengove was moving really well until he discovered it was Viv Michie.

Was there

Dom Tyson had his knee heavily strapped, asked him why at end, said hammy is fine now but as he lifts training they just want the knee supported, this is what he 'broke' last year

Fitzy was absentee, he is crook with a cold, so went home, last thing they want is whole squad with it

Dawes and Riley went for a walk around the tan

Watts training with midfield group, asked him, said he is looking forward to playing in there

New guys, JKH oozes confidence, Salem aboslutely rapt to realise the dream, very mature for an 18yr old, Hunt like a rabbit in the headlights, managed to extract from him best time for 100metres 10.9 so seriously quick

They been told this week will be an 'orientation week' and the hard work starts next week

Kent's patella is still playing up

There was a sort of rehab group again, consisted of Spencer, Tyson, Jamar, McKenzie, Tapscott, Strauss, Garland, Byrnes, Gawn, Frawley, McDonald and probably others I can't remember

As an hirstute person, very impressed with 'Pickles' Evans' pornstar moustache

Any questions will try and answer

Was there

Dom Tyson had his knee heavily strapped, asked him why at end, said hammy is fine now but as he lifts training they just want the knee supported, this is what he 'broke' last year

Fitzy was absentee, he is crook with a cold, so went home, last thing they want is whole squad with it

Dawes and Riley went for a walk around the tan

Watts training with midfield group, asked him, said he is looking forward to playing in there

New guys, JKH oozes confidence, Salem aboslutely rapt to realise the dream, very mature for an 18yr old, Hunt like a rabbit in the headlights, managed to extract from him best time for 100metres 10.9 so seriously quick

They been told this week will be an 'orientation week' and the hard work starts next week

Kent's patella is still playing up

There was a sort of rehab group again, consisted of Spencer, Tyson, Jamar, McKenzie, Tapscott, Strauss, Garland, Byrnes, Gawn, Frawley, McDonald and probably others I can't remember

As an hirstute person, very impressed with 'Pickles' Evans' pornstar moustache

Any questions will try and answer

Thanks for the info Saty

Any idea what is wrong with Tapscott?

Dawes was there at the bet start but then disappeared. No sign of Fitz either.

A great report. I was also there, Dawes left the training track with Riley to go swimming and exercise away from the are surface. Fitzy was also there early but was sent home ill. It was reported that some of the staff stated they did not want the whole club to get a bug right now.

I have watched the opening sessions of the past 20 preseasons and never have I seen a more relaxed, fit group - full of chatter and confidence than this morning.

Rawlings took the man aspects of skill training.

Jack Viney has turned his hair into a ginger look. Jetta trained strongly with the group ... I would say he is an odds on favourite to be picked up by us in the rookie draft.

Thanks for the info guys.

Thanks for the info Saty

Any idea what is wrong with Tapscott?

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him at all, think this is new regime, because he keeps breaking down, think they are starting the 'rebuild' again if that makes sense, I did ask him and just got a nod

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him at all, think this is new regime, because he keeps breaking down, think they are starting the 'rebuild' again if that makes sense, I did ask him and just got a nod

Interesting.

I have all but lost faith that he will make an AFL level player.

Intend to keep a close eye on him in 2014.

Thanks saty

Kent's patella is still playing up

Patella tendonitis is a bastard; I had it several years ago. You have to go until it hurts, then stop. Repeat each day until it doesn't hurt any more. You can strap the knee to take the pressure off the tendon, but, sooner or later, you have to do without that too. The thing that really bums you out is the time it takes to revert back to normal, and the fact that when it starts throbbing, you can't do anything about it..

Dawes was there at the bet start but then disappeared. No sign of Fitz either.

Thanks mate.

My other standout was Paul Roos. He is so hands on and watches all aspects of training like a hawk. A number of times he stopped the mids congestion handballing to offer advice on technique and positioning.

Love watching him at training.

.Jetta trained strongly with the group ... I would say he is an odds on favourite to be picked up by us in the rookie daft.

Not sure on this one. You would think we can draw a line on what Jetta offers by now. if we didn't want him on the main list, why rookie him ?

It's a nice touch that the players and coaches are all in attendance at Federation Square for the stand against violence against women and family.

Another Roos initiative.

It makes me very happy that none of Salem, JKH and Hunt are injured. It'd be nice if Tyson was fully fit too but you can win it all.

It makes me very happy that none of Salem, JKH and Hunt are injured. It'd be nice if Tyson was fully fit too but you can win it all.

Tyson is fit, his knee is strapped for precaution as he build up to full fitness, just give it extra support, I asked him where the strapping was when I spoke to him and he had it in his hand, he held it up, so doesn't need it after training

Don't get to hung up on 100m times, most at is age are hand times with sport coaches and parents holding stop watches. Being fast at AFL isn't about straight line speed, agility is more important than straight line speed, the ability to change direction at pace and to have a break away speed, Judd at his prime was this he not only had a good turn of foot but was able to change his angle or direction at top speed. Also I have know guys that could run sub 11 sec's at 17/18 good juniors but you just don't that space AFL/State league level.

The only thing from training that I really want to know is our skill levels are we hitting targets. Last year drills just weren't clean, better than the year before but we still had a lot of footy missing targets by both hand and foot. This translated into the season proper, we need to learn to control the footy by keeping possession and that starts at pre-season.

New guys, JKH oozes confidence, Salem aboslutely rapt to realise the dream, very mature for an 18yr old, Hunt like a rabbit in the headlights, managed to extract from him best time for 100metres 10.9 so seriously quick

Back in my youth (/sigh) my best for the 100m was 11.1, breaking the 11 sec barrier is bloody tough. To do it with minimal weight training is actually very bloody impressive, with an elite training schedule this kid could be anything

Back in my youth (/sigh) my best for the 100m was 11.1, breaking the 11 sec barrier is bloody tough. To do it with minimal weight training is actually very bloody impressive, with an elite training schedule this kid could be anything

Depends who is holding the stop watch Jarka.

Depends who is holding the stop watch Jarka.

Mine was at Olympic Park, but I hear what you're saying, there can be up to half a second difference with hand helds.

Don't get to hung up on 100m times, most at is age are hand times with sport coaches and parents holding stop watches. Being fast at AFL isn't about straight line speed, agility is more important than straight line speed, the ability to change direction at pace and to have a break away speed, Judd at his prime was this he not only had a good turn of foot but was able to change his angle or direction at top speed. Also I have know guys that could run sub 11 sec's at 17/18 good juniors but you just don't that space AFL/State league level.

The only thing from training that I really want to know is our skill levels are we hitting targets. Last year drills just weren't clean, better than the year before but we still had a lot of footy missing targets by both hand and foot. This translated into the season proper, we need to learn to control the footy by keeping possession and that starts at pre-season.

It's November, today was sloppy, Roos for me doesn't seem that bothered about hitting targets at the moment, it all seems to be about working as a team, I think that method works you get used to knowing where somebody is going to be, and you learn to kick there, we even did the old fashiioned circle work today with the ball

As for the speed, I quoted the time he did to show the kid can be seriously quick, not to start a debate on chronography, we need a bit of speed, Salem and JKH are no slouches either

how bad are training boots or runners nowadays if the sole detaches?

He was actually wearing moulded footy boots.

As important as Mitch's foot is, I think you having a baby might have been the bigger news story.

I'm not sure what would be more painful. Another season without Mitch would be unbearable.