With consistent reports of him shaking the ball and his contract up at the end of the year I don't see the point continuing with Nicholson as a defender. He should be swapped to train as a forward and can compete with Bail and Byrnes (plus Tapscott, Blease, JKH) for the defensive small forward job. His elite endurance and good speed could allow him to develop in to a Matty White (Richmond now at Port) role and it's much easier for some players to put the ball between the sticks than it is to accurately hit up a moving team mate under pressure. Anyway I know it's off topic but I don't see how continuing with such a flaw will work.

Where is Fitzy at?

4 weeks to go until Richmond, at this stage the only tall forward that will be fit is Pederson who had been training down back and maybe Hogan. The best and worst thing for the club is we have a week off before we head to Alice Springs to play Geelong.

It would be good to know the Casey Pre-season schedule this will be vital to get our tall forwards fit for round 1.

The most important thing I'd say is a game on the March 13-14 weekend. We have games on Feb 14 (too early and largely irrelevant) as well as games on Feb 28 (in Alice v Geel) and March 8 (v hawks at Casey). So I don't think we need players getting a game on the Feb 21 weekend. 2 matches is enough for anyone fit and ready to play as of Feb 28.

Ideally the round 1 team play some part in both of those latter games but it might be that a couple of players get their first taste for a half or so on March 8 then need another brief outing for Casey the next weekend whilst others have the week off.

I also think Roos probably has a liking for pretty decent hit outs in scratch matches and even more so for match simulation drills as part of training. By my reading/watching today might have been the first time players were divided up in different coloured training jumpers and I expect that to continue and for the defensive pressure to step up.

Anyone know why Jamar is unable to train? I can't recall his injury

Anyone know why Jamar is unable to train? I can't recall his injury

OTH

Who does Barry train with (mids, forwards, backs)? Thanks

IIRC, this is Jamar's third year in a row of zero preseason - still seems to bob up for the start of the season though.

Who does Barry train with (mids, forwards, backs)? Thanks

IIRC, this is Jamar's third year in a row of zero preseason - still seems to bob up for the start of the season though.

Trained with mids. He used the ball exceptionally well, He is still very slight though.

I'd never witnessed his pace until today but in my opinion he rivalled Blease for raw pace.

One last thing, when I left Grimes had everyone in a big group barking orders about offensive run. Very CAPTAIN like, read into it what you will.

Happy to answer any questions.

He is the Captain and was clearly acting like one.

Happy to say I am once again his Sponsor. Hope he along with all the other players has a great year.

Thanks for the report, they are good reading for people who can't get to training.

Trained with mids. He used the ball exceptionally well, He is still very slight though.

I'd never witnessed his pace until today but in my opinion he rivalled Blease for raw pace.

Surprising, sounds like he has added a yard or two.

Am a fan from what I saw last year and while I never considered him slow I would never have compared him to Blease

Regarding those photos

Is it just me or does Tappy look a little bit leaner than recent years

Still has the upper body but just seems to be a little bit leaner and therefore may be a little quicker

Regarding those photos

Is it just me or does Tappy look a little bit leaner than recent years

Still has the upper body but just seems to be a little bit leaner and therefore may be a little quicker

Definately trimmed down. Not so top heavy.

With consistent reports of him shaking the ball and his contract up at the end of the year I don't see the point continuing with Nicholson as a defender. He should be swapped to train as a forward and can compete with Bail and Byrnes (plus Tapscott, Blease, JKH) for the defensive small forward job. His elite endurance and good speed could allow him to develop in to a Matty White (Richmond now at Port) role and it's much easier for some players to put the ball between the sticks than it is to accurately hit up a moving team mate under pressure. Anyway I know it's off topic but I don't see how continuing with such a flaw will work.

Why would you want him in the forward line with his kicking? No way i would like to see him ahead of JKH or Blease!

Why would you want him in the forward line with his kicking? No way i would like to see him ahead of JKH or Blease!

Designated wingman or HFF for Nicho if he gets into the side

Does have pace and has tagged so he can push back and track his opponent and can use his pace running down the wing.

I don't care if he uses his pace just to create handball options may as well use his biggest weapon

Regarding those photos

Is it just me or does Tappy look a little bit leaner than recent years

Still has the upper body but just seems to be a little bit leaner and therefore may be a little quicker

I was there today and for mine Tappy was in the best 5 on the ground , Pushed hard trained with aggression .

I was there today and for mine Tappy was in the best 5 on the ground , Pushed hard trained with aggression .

He looked good the session I was at last week as well. Maybe a clear run at it and some good coaching will see him realise his potential.

I am hoping that with the loss of a little muscle and maintaining his aggression at the man and the ball that we can finally see the skills that tapscott posesses

I am hoping that with the loss of a little muscle and maintaining his aggression at the man and the ball that we can finally see the skills that tapscott posesses

I have always had a soft spot for Tappy even when he has battled in the previous 2 years to get a kick. I thought his first season playing (second year on the list) he showed enough to get us excited only to go backwards and a rapid rate (not alone).

I remember him kicking 6 in the twos early this year and then came back in the ones and had a fair dinkum crack in the first half looking good and then went missing later on. I can't recall who it was against but I thought early that game that he had finally arrived. He hadn't.

Still have high hopes.

The objective seemed to be get it to the loose man running at full tilt then deliver it to the forwards.

Since the Ross Lyon era in particular, the defensive attributes have been emphasised by most. This is also backed up by the fact that most teams with a low against, win the thing.

However this objective you raise (receiver being at full tilt) is so vitally important, and yet is dwarfed by the "defensive" mantra of commentary and the SEN sub-elite.

This objective is an area where we have clearly failed in our history, and went backwards under Neeld. The targets were basically lead-footed.

Even Matthew Knights had his Essendon receivers (Dempsey, Lovett-Murray) running at full tilt. First you need an engine and a work ethic. Second, the giver needs to quickly spot the ideal potential receiver.

The midfield of Cross, Vince, Tyson, Trengove etc... wouldn't break any records for first 5-10 metres surely; so they more than most need to dish-off quick, or receive at top speed.

Again, most of the commentators and SEN sub-elite have labelled Roos a "defensive" coach. I'm looking forward to his much underrated influence on our offensive structures and patterns. The guy is a genius at maximising our strengths, minimising our weaknesses....and vice versa for the opposition.

Excellent reports from Seraph and Steamin, leaves me with little more to add.

Cross: Very impressed ... he may be older (who am I to talk about a 30 year old being old!), but he knows how to move in traffic. He will be a real bonus for Jones because he can get the ball and dish it out. One of those types who you wonder how he got 30 touches at the end of a game.

Tyson: Still a young and developing body but can he move the ball quickly! Sharp hands and along with Cross will set new standards for the mids. His best may be some time away, but he is a real gem in the making.

Michie: Another good pick up. Moves effortlessly and almost appears to be going half pace, but is suddenly there in the thick of it when needed.

Toumpas: Agree with the other reports. Lost that puppy fat, moves quickly and can he kick ... accurately and quickly. Has quickly adapted to AFL pace which he struggled with in his first year.

Spencer: Please stay on the ground fit, we will be needing you more than we should this year. (Jamar, Fitz, Gawn, Clark, Dawes all sidelined ... do we have anyone else over 200cm?)

Nicholson: can only kick when not under any sort of pressure. Once the drills involve an opponent the ball goes anywhere.

Jamar: not even out with the rehab group.

No hope for start of season.

Too hot to stay to the end. The foggy start at 9.30 with the temperature at 17 soon disappeared!

Not sure how Nicho will improve his kicking once real pressure starts in a game. If he can't he is surely gone in 2014.

I'm looking at Clark now, he's just standing on the boundary line.

Standing?????....on one foot or two? Comfortably or hesitantly? (Prepares to slit other wrist)

I'll probably add some more later, but I think we have some real problems for the start of the season.

Today the rehab group consists of Gawn, Clark, Dawes, Viney, Fitzpatrick. They were the ones who turned up. No Hogan or Salem(that I saw).

The troubling aspect is that it leaves Spencer as our sole big man, with maybe Pedersen as a back up.. With the first NAB game just over a month away, this is looking ominous to me.

Dawes and Clark at least have seasons behind them and may not take as long to get back up, but I still strongly subscribe to the theory of every week off the track after New Year means 1 week less in season proper.

Billy Stretch looks keen and capable. But he is still a skinny kid and only 17, so you can't expect much else, and you really can't do comparisons based on training sessions. It is pleasing that he has the opportunity to participate at full AFL level training and the club get the chance to look at him close up, like they did with Viney.

Send me your address and I will forward the cyanide button for you to chew on!

Have you considered that just maybe they are being ultra cautious with our big man brigade? Maybe even keeping them under wraps?

Just a thought.

.......

Toumpas: Agree with the other reports. Lost that puppy fat, moves quickly and can he kick...accurately and quickly. Has quickly adapted to AFL pace which he struggled with in his first year.

But where are the "but he isn't Wines" folk? Still on holidays in SA?

Thanks for the reports.

I am really starting to worry that we won't c the big three (Dawes, MC and Hogan) on the park at the same time.

Seems like they are always injured and when one gets back someone else of the big three get injured.

They also have to train together which to my knowledge hasn't happened yet.

Time will tell.

Thanks for the reports.

I am really starting to worry that we won't c the big three (Dawes, MC and Hogan) on the park at the same time.

Seems like they are always injured and when one gets back someone else of the big three get injured.

They also have to train together which to my knowledge hasn't happened yet.

Time will tell.

I reckon there 's a few sharing that concern ox. But we live in hope!! I remember one (rare) day - a million years ago when Greg Parke and Ross Dillon marked everything that went over the centre and ran the defenders ragged. Love to see something like that again.

Well we all knew Dawes would miss pre-season after his surgery. Hogan's just out of action for a few weeks, and they're being cautious with Clark after his pre-Christmas injury.

Can never be too careful at training. Just look at the Crows and Van Berlo, he won't even play this season after going too hard at training. That's the last thing the trainers want for Mitch.

Why would you want him in the forward line with his kicking? No way i would like to see him ahead of JKH or Blease!

Personally I don't see much difference between Blease and Nicho. Blease isn't a great kick and can't find the footy or play with endurance. Nicholson is soft and really can't kick.

But mainly I want to try Nicholson forward for his sake not the teams. I just see no point of him as a defender. As a defender he's on a fast track nowhere so where is the harm in trying something.