Training - Monday, 20th January, 2014

[Young Dee 1,303]

So maybe mobility and the willingness to run will make a difference!

He is a very good mark for his size and a good tackler so half forward is his place He could surprise if very fit

If only he had pace so he could get to the ball drop and lose his opposition

[dee-luded 2,959]

I watched Trengove on the run yesterday and I think references to his slowness are exaggerated. He looks slower than he is. The key for Trengove is fitness to run freely. When he is fit he moves well. He looks fitter to me, and whilst not being a speedster, he is every bit as mobile as Daniel Cross (who ain't no speedster either!)

neither is lenny hayes, or hodge.

[CBDees 3,167]

neither is lenny hayes, or hodge.

nor was Greg Williams!

[dee-luded 2,959]

nor was Greg Williams!

quick witted

the eyes/ears, the inner mind, the hands, the delivery.

[deeko 952]

If only he had pace so he could get to the ball drop and lose his opposition

That's right Young Dee, he doesn't have the wheels to be a high marking flanker even if he does have good jukes. Besides if we ever get the big 3 KPF's on the park together we will have Howey/Vince/possibly Watts as high flankers who all move a bit better than Trenners. Could be even a case for Tappy becoming a HFF if he can bring his training form to game day and if his body holds.

I like Trenners in amongst it in the hard stuff in the centre. If he never takes a backward step, has good hands and loves a big tackle. As others have alluded to, you don't need to be super quick to get the pill out. He just needs the fitness to be able to get from stoppage to stoppage and go again.

He had a few ok games late last year I believe getting 20 odd touches. Hopefully with a preseason he can build on this.

[jazza 1,323]

If only he had pace so he could get to the ball drop and lose his opposition

he doesnt and i dont think he ever will get pace

thats why ,you send these types down back to fill in holes[gravediggers]

like him,want him in the team,cant wait to see how he goes with a better midfield

[rpfc 28,966]

Groan...

Ongoing joke, rpfc that you seem to have missed...

No, I know it, I don't think whoever I replied to did.

Because they asked a tongue in cheek question relating to Rogers remarks about Dawes.

[Scoop Junior 3,573]

Grimes trained the whole session and trained well. Sure with the ball, read the play well as a back and kicked well.

On Trengove. He's been played out of position for the last two years as a high half forward. In this position he gets caught out with his lack of pace running up the ground to defend and doesn't have the pace when the ball comes over the back. His true position is as an inside mid and most of the comparisions like Hayes, Sewell, Selwood, Cross, Boyd and Black are to inside mids. He has the characteristics to play this position - courage, good hands, poise, stamina and an ability to find the ball.

Whilst Demonlanders will hate this I think the best comparison is with Brock McLean who coincidently out sprinted Trenners to a ball last year. Trengove is better in the air and can possibly play more positions when resting, but his problem is his lack of speed and lateral movement.

And I agree with others that this isn't bagging Trenners who is a ripping bloke and has been wonderfully loyal to MFC, it just recognizes his characteristics.

Good post Bob.

I completely disagree with the notion that because he is too slow for the midfield he should therefore play half forward.

A small half forward will be completely exposed if they lack pace. Not only will they struggle to beat their opponent to the fall of the ball but they will be completely exposed the other way when the opposition launch their attack out of defence.

I think his lack of pace can be disguised more as an inside midfielder and will not be exploited as much by the opposition.

That being said, I hope something has been affecting his pace the last few years, as at times he made slow players look quick.

If he needs to rest, I would play him deep forward, where his lack of pace would hopefully not be as exposed as it would playing high half forward. Also he has absolutely fantastic hands in the air, really clean and one grabs everything, and this attribute would be better utilised close to goal than further up on the flanks.

[Machsy 2,858]

They are quicker over the first two metres than he is.

Disagree.

[Arrow 1,257]

Who cares about Trengoves 100m sprinting ability, I don't want him to beat Lewis Jetta, I have faith that he has the 'quick 3 steps' it requires to be a good AFL midfielder. Your first 5 meters and agility would be a fantastic indicator of what it takes to be a good clearance predominant mid.

I have faith in Jack, and more specifically in Paul knowing he wouldn't leave it if his conditioning wasn't exactly where he wanted it.

[P-man 13,367]

Disagree.

Sewell debateable, but Selwood and Hayes definitely are. I'd back all three against him for acceleration and lateral movement. He is slow. Painfully so. Fingers crossed there is improvement.

[DemonOX 8,837]

Matt Thompson was at training on Friday at Casey. Roosy got back to training today. Watts deserves a little good publicity I would have thought. He's copped enough of a bagging to last him a lifetime the poor bugger.

Watts deserves everything POSITIVE he gets.

He has copped it from day one and has not had a coach who knows what they are doing or how to develop him properly.

Also he is LOYAL. He could have very easily jumped ship at the end of last season and decided to stay despite all that has happened.

I look forward to him shoving it back two fold this season to all those who have taken cheap shots at him during his short career.

Go Watts shove it up em.

[Roost It 1,434]

Never hurt Joel Selwood, Brad Sewell, Lenny Hayes or countless others.

He won't ever be a "burst" midfielder, but that's ok.

Remember that Clint has a limited understanding of the game

[Demon 16 216]

Jack Trengove still reminds me a bit of Jimmy Bartell in playing style - and Jimmy was never 'quick'.

I still think he can become a good quality, inside, strong bodied mid who is composed, uses the ball well, defends well and can creep forward for the odd goal.

Inside/strong bodied mids rarely become very good until they're 24 or 25 so I'm not too worried about Jack myself.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

It has routinely appeared to me that many of us try to defend Trengove's speed as a means of defending his overall ability.

He is undoubtedly slow, I don't really think there's much scope to debate that. Whether we're talking acceleration or top-speed sprinting, he's not a quick midfielder, and to be honest, he's slower than I'm sure we'd all like.

But that doesn't mean he isn't, or can't be, an effective midfielder. If pace is something he doesn't have, he obviously needs to make up for it in other areas (e.g. pushing forward, using his strong marking ability, clearance work and tackling, that kind of stuff).

[old55 23,848]

Trengove could model himself on Daniel Cross at close quarters, they've got similar attributes. Cross was a key midfielder in a successful Dogs line-up for the peak of his career.

On his pace - it seems strange that he tested 2.9-something secs for 20 metres at his draft combine. That is not slow, but I agree he looks like he goes at something like 3.2+ now. I'm not sure how that happens - do they just do one trial (it seems like they might because they quote the exact figures for the top 10 records rather than an average) and maybe he jumped out of the blocks? I'm not a track expert so I've got no idea whether this could make that much difference over that distance.

[Machsy 2,858]

Best time of 2 or 3 attempts, I believe.

[stynewillalwaysbeonthevine 84]

hello all, I was wondering if anyone could send me a link of some photos of the players throughout the off season. Or where i could find some snaps of the boys training?

[deeko 952]

On his pace - it seems strange that he tested 2.9-something secs for 20 metres at his draft combine. That is not slow, but I agree he looks like he goes at something like 3.2+ now. I'm not sure how that happens - do they just do one trial (it seems like they might because they quote the exact figures for the top 10 records rather than an average) and maybe he jumped out of the blocks? I'm not a track expert so I've got no idea whether this could make that much difference over that distance.

Didn't Watts have some amazing 20m sprint score as well? Don't quote me but I am pretty sure it was close or mirrored that of Sam Blease.

Maybe someone was a bit slow on starting the stopwatch

[Hannibal 5,814]

Lots of fantastic players lack leg speed, but what disappointed me was he became reactionary. He no longer instigated. And to make matters worse he started making basic mistakes. Often. Hopefully they can be put down to confidence issues.

We needed Trengove to become a star. This looks highly unlikely. I'll watch with interest this year as it's a massive one for him.

[old dee 24,028]

Lots of fantastic players lack leg speed, but what disappointed me was he became reactionary. He no longer instigated. And to make matters worse he started making basic mistakes. Often. Hopefully they can be put down to confidence issues.

We needed Trengove to become a star. This looks highly unlikely. I'll watch with interest this year as it's a massive one for him.

Something to do with the coaching do you think?

[nutbean 8,838]

Many a slow footballer has made up for a lack of leg speed by their quickness of mind and speed and precision of execution.

I dont care if he gets faster but the quickness of mind and precision of execution has disappeared - thats what he needs to refind.

[old dee 24,028]

Many a slow footballer has made up for a lack of leg speed by their quickness of mind and speed and precision of execution.

I dont care if he gets faster but the quickness of mind and precision of execution has disappeared - thats what he needs to refind.

Believing in the game plan might be a good start.