Training - Friday 14th March, 2014

[DeeSpencer 25,477]

The bloke 'mowing the lawn' seemed to be just watching the session.

Good on him. Not a spy though Aaron Hamill was there with a couple of others in plain sight.

Watched a few minutes of Victory training and witness a player and assistant coach have a mini argument with the player clearly not happy with what the coach was saying. But the coach seemed a bit like a tool and some of the players looked like amateurs.

Storm training looked much more fun. Just a fast fun game of touch.

[sue 9,096]

....

It pains me that with 7 or more coaches on track no one stops Fitzpatrick and makes him practice proper goal kicking technique. A super high one handed ball drop is just not ok. I know goal kicking is a bit like goal you have to find the swing that works for you but Fitzy's current action is unacceptable for a guy who is primarily a forward.

But you (and I) have no idea if he is separately taken off for kicking training. If his general training was interrupted for kicking practice, as sure as night follows day, someone on this board would grumble that it should be happening at other times.

[McQueen 17,864]

What's the status with the rookie upgrade? Georgiou seems to be the most spoken about but with only a week out from rd 1 surely it must be a decision the club has to make soon?

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,593]

Georgiou was training with the main group and training pretty constantly.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

What's the status with the rookie upgrade? Georgiou seems to be the most spoken about but with only a week out from rd 1 surely it must be a decision the club has to make soon?

They have a week, Riley has a few more weeks on the LTI, so no need to make a call till selection.

Fitzy's action was discussed, agree he drops it from too high, will hurt him on windy days.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Didn't stay to the end but overall thought it wasn't the sharpest session. I think the players are ready for games and as such are having to really fight to find the high intensity for simple drills.

.

Funny isn't it, we watch the same session but see it differently. That said, any viewpoint depends on what you are watching as for a lot of training you need three sets of eyes, but I was very impressed, walked away from training a hell of a lot happier with the skills I witnessed compared with the many training sessions I saw last year

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,593]

I agree with rod.

[DeeSpencer 25,477]

But you (and I) have no idea if he is separately taken off for kicking training. If his general training was interrupted for kicking practice, as sure as night follows day, someone on this board would grumble that it should be happening at other times.

I think Stafford had a word to him. But this was after he'd already had 5 or so shots. As mentioned there are 7 or more coaches supervising trainings. Miller was kicking the ball out to Fitzy to kick the goals (or in a lot of cases points).

If they aren't going to correct him he may as well sit out the drill. Practising the wrong thing is just a waste of time.

Maybe they've been working on his action slowly but at the moment they seem happy that this is his action and they'll accept the results. I'm not happy with that. I'd rather him kick every second ball off the side of his boot or along the ground but for him to lean forward, drop the ball with one hand and kick it with a proper trajectory not way up in the sky.

If a player was throwing the ball not handballing the coaches would step in. Same if a player when to punch every time and didn't mark. Obviously that's exaggerated but I see Fitzy's goal kicking as almost the same kind of thing. It's blatant disregard for a very important skill for a key forward.

[Undeeterred 3,123]

I think Stafford had a word to him. But this was after he'd already had 5 or so shots. As mentioned there are 7 or more coaches supervising trainings. Miller was kicking the ball out to Fitzy to kick the goals (or in a lot of cases points).

If they aren't going to correct him he may as well sit out the drill. Practising the wrong thing is just a waste of time.

Maybe they've been working on his action slowly but at the moment they seem happy that this is his action and they'll accept the results. I'm not happy with that. I'd rather him kick every second ball off the side of his boot or along the ground but for him to lean forward, drop the ball with one hand and kick it with a proper trajectory not way up in the sky.

If a player was throwing the ball not handballing the coaches would step in. Same if a player when to punch every time and didn't mark. Obviously that's exaggerated but I see Fitzy's goal kicking as almost the same kind of thing. It's blatant disregard for a very important skill for a key forward.

I agree - you probably are the only one who has noticed something wrong! Better email Roosy and co and alert them.

[jumbo returns 6,739]

Come on, let's have a debate.

Is Clark finished?

No more [censored] footing around.

Does anyone really know?

Is cat censored?

[Whispering_Jack 29,804]

Not that I want to fuel the debate on his medical condition but the fact that Clark was given leave of absence from last night's proceedings was not a good sign from the club whose coach went to great lengths to emphasize that the night was primarily for the players. I've always been a Clark optimist but at this point, I'm not holding my breath about the possibility of seeing him play before June at the earliest, irrespective of the return date against his name on the club's injury list.

[Moonshadow 17,675]

So why wouldn't they put him on the LTI list if that was the case? Give another rookie a go?

[DemonOX 8,785]

Not that I want to fuel the debate on his medical condition but the fact that Clark was given leave of absence from last night's proceedings was not a good sign from the club whose coach went to great lengths to emphasize that the night was primarily for the players. I've always been a Clark optimist but at this point, I'm not holding my breath about the possibility of seeing him play before June at the earliest, irrespective of the return date against his name on the club's injury list.

How long did Matthew Richardson have off during his recovery once his foot was right?

I think he had a fair while off too with hammy type injuries on a regular basis but once it was right he was good to go just took a little while.

This is what I keep telling myself in the hope he returns. It keeps me a little bit sane during his long lay off.

Edited March 14, 2014 by DemonOX

[Dee Fan 3,247]

So why wouldn't they put him on the LTI list if that was the case? Give another rookie a go?

That may happen in the next few weeks.

[DemonOX 8,785]

Guys relax we have Pedo as an instant replacement we just need to him to get some tatts and all is good!

U won't be able to tell the difference!

[rjay 24,887]

Not that I want to fuel the debate on his medical condition but the fact that Clark was given leave of absence from last night's proceedings was not a good sign from the club whose coach went to great lengths to emphasize that the night was primarily for the players. I've always been a Clark optimist but at this point, I'm not holding my breath about the possibility of seeing him play before June at the earliest, irrespective of the return date against his name on the club's injury list.

If he's been given leave by the club then it's not looking good that he will play at all 'Jack'.

[DemonOX 8,785]

It's totally out of our hands unfortunately but if he doesn't play imagine how Clark would feel?

Yes we all would be devastated but have a thought for Clark.

It would be the biggest disappointment for him I would think.

What will happen will happen. It's in gods hands so to speak.

[sue 9,096]

If he's been given leave by the club then it's not looking good that he will play at all 'Jack'.

Before too many razor blades are blunted it would be useful to know why he was given leave. It is not hard to think of possible reasons which aren't related to doom and gloom about his playing future.

[DeeZee 7,363]

Before too many razor blades are blunted it would be useful to know why he was given leave. It is not hard to think of possible reasons which aren't related to doom and gloom about his playing future.

He has injured himself again Sue, this was confirmed by a player at last nights dinner.

Taking a break from the club and footy for a while.

[sue 9,096]

He has injured himself again Sue, this was confirmed by a player at last nights dinner.

Taking a break from the club and footy for a while.

Just read that in the other thread after I posted. Poor bugger.

[Generation dee 1,336]

It's totally out of our hands unfortunately but if he doesn't play imagine how Clark would feel?

Yes we all would be devastated but have a thought for Clark.

It would be the biggest disappointment for him I would think.

What will happen will happen. It's in gods hands so to speak.

Exactly right ox, if only other posters shared your views and had some more respect for the bloke.

[All the Jacks 99]

RGRS, that's the last time you stand next to me at training, you took all my best lines, especially the GPS data

What RGRS said, session started at 9.55 and finished at 1245

Couple of Roosisms heard

"That's better, that's what AFL footy looks like"

"it's the last quarter, you don't stop running now"

He is really on Viv Michie's case

Hogan was over the far side of oval with Garland and Dawes before rest of squad arrived, did a few exercises with one of the physios, a couple of slow laps and then left, Round 1 a mystery

Dawes did the same exercises and then as said left for the tan

Garlo reckons he is two weeks away, was running at full pace with no obvious discomfort

No sign of Clark

The other wounded warrior, Riley, did nearly the full session, asked him and he said was right on track for Round 1 VFL or 3 AFL

JKH only kicked the ball around for about 15 minutes, asked him if everyting was ok, said he was on light duties and saving energy for tomorrow

Asked Lynden Dunn the same thing as he was only walking laps, said he was old

Definition of tough asked Chip Frawely about hit on Saturday, after he had completed full session

me "how the hell did you survive the hit on Saturday"

Chip "caught me right down the middle, coughed up a bit of blood, bit of a bruised rib, but she's sweet now"

RGRS forgot this bit, I asked the GPS guru why the long session, answer Roos thinks teams playing this week will have advantage in work done, so he wanted to emulate the amount of running etc the players would do in a game

Walked in to Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross on leaving, Vince the comedian, obviously overestimating my influence at the Club, told me to tell Roos, no more hard sessions like that

Any questions feel free.

Dom Tyson left the ground against the Hawks, was he OK at training yesterday..and like your training notes, close up and personal

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Dom Tyson left the ground against the Hawks, was he OK at training yesterday..and like your training notes, close up and personal

He looked alright to me

[DeeVoted 583]

Come on, let's have a debate.

Is Clark finished?

No more [censored] footing around.

Does anyone really know?

Is cat censored?

I did some comparsions between Richardson and Clark. Same injury (or close enough too it)

Both were approx 25 yrs old when they did their foot. Both around the same height and weight. So one would think recovery time for a big man would be approx around the same length of time for recovery.

Richo in 2000, played Rnds 1,2,4 then missed the rest of the year. Then in 2001 played every game. 2002 missed a handful of games and the same again in 2003. I assume as he reported himself, he then had problems with hammys. After 2003, didnt really miss a beat, until 2009, then retired.

Clark did his in 2013 played Rnds 1.2.3.4. Hasnt played since. Using Richo as a guide, one would have hoped to see Clark back for the 1st game this year. BUT, throw in the complications of the screw in his foot, plus the fact he tried to come back too early, and then played with discomfort.

We could guess, and say that has added a few more months to his time on the sidelines. If Richo missed almost a year, and he didnt have any of the trauma Clark suffered after the OP. Using that as a guide I would give Clark until mid season. Regardless of the spin the club puts out, as I dont think they are 100% sure themselves. They can only go by what Clark says on how he feels.

From all reports Clark is suffering from minor setbacks to get back playing. We need him playing at his best,he will make a huge difference up forward. But I'm resolved to not seeing him before mid season. I dont see why he needs to be playing until he can get through a number of training sessions without discomfort, niggles, and hamstring probs. If he is where he is at mid season, as he is now, one might say his future playing career is looking bleak.

I havent written him off yet, in the meantime we have options up forward. It gives Hogan and Co time to work out game strageties.

I only hope the club hasnt given Clark time away from the club to think about his future. I doubt that, a fit Clark and Co will destroy opposition defenders.

While we wait on Clark, the midfield etc can improve their delivery inside 50. After all these years I'm used to setbacks, disappointments and tragedy. It comes with being a Demon supporter. (now FFS, can it end! no more setbacks etc)

[rjay 24,887]

Before too many razor blades are blunted it would be useful to know why he was given leave. It is not hard to think of possible reasons which aren't related to doom and gloom about his playing future.

It's not about razor blades, it's just not looking good at the moment. Maybe the break will do him good but it is an about turn from the club who have consistently said he needs to gradually increase his loads because he has had too much time away from the game to now taking all the loads off and giving him a break.