Training - Monday 5th January, 2015

[FireOath 290]

The new quadzilla?

[tappysquads 618]

Holy crap:

How old is Jack? 19? 20?

Unbelievable...

(Thanks for pic Saty)

What the hell did viney and wines do growing up?

[Lucifers Hero 40,488]

What the hell did viney and wines do growing up?

Looks like they watched Popeye and ate spinach!!

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

To answer a couple of questions

Dawes is still around the 100k mark, he told me, just doing a full pre season has got him fitter

A mark is a good mark if it sticks, the technique doesn't matter, Fitzy couldn't do something normally if he tried, now his shoulders are fixed, in all the training sessions I have been to, I have seen him only put one down. same with Dawes, this is a new season forget the past, if they are both dropping marks in June, then you can whinge and I'll join in

Other questions Pedo is another who hasn't missed a session, his running and speed are getting better each session, spoke to him pre Xmas is feeling great, looking to earn a place in the team and knows it will be competitive

Harmes is back in full training, and looking ok, another who just does everything without fuss, only a rookie but another one to put pressure on for midfield spots

As for the photos, the media staff are on Xmas break, hence no photos, if you need a fix go to my Twitter account Demonpk, that's where Georgywho got the Fitzy pic

I'll bet my left nut that Fitzpatrick and Dawes are both dropping marks come the season proper, except Fitzy might be at Casey.

Body in line with the ball, fingers pointing out and thumbs together, jump from one leg with the other knee raised, soft hands and mark it out in front of your eyes. It's pretty basic stuff.

All you need to do is to watch Hogan who is a marking machine and has perfect technique. Or Howe for that matter, who does some crazy things but besides from his freak aerial ability the reason a lot of them stick is his has sound technique.

You are way too soft on the players. My concern is that the coaches are as well.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Dawes main problem in his last year at Collingwood was a 'stiff finger' - and he lost confidence in himself over this issue.

I thought his problem was a calf muscle tear (old mans disease)

I'm sure that was his injury when he first landed.

[rjay 25,202]

You are way too soft on the players. My concern is that the coaches are as well.

I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Ask the 20+ ex players who have left the club since Roos has been around.

[mdemon 266]

Although this thread is at risk of being renamed "Chris Dawes 2015 - make or break?", FWIIW, I thought Dawes did well last year, given the circumstances.

In the first part of the season, (e.g. Carlton, Adelaide), he was simply inspirational.

Yes, he flagged towards the back end of the season (but he certainly wasn't Robinson Crusoe).

Coming off an interrupted pre-season and at the same time being asked to do all the power forward work due to the absence of Clark and Hogan meant it was inevitable his form would tail off.

Pedersen suffered a similar fate.

If Hogan stands up, (and Jamar, Gawn and possibly Fitzpatrick make consistent, rather than occasional, cameo, contributions), then I would hope/expect Dawes to have a more meaningful and productive season given that he will be enjoying some long overdue support & relief.

[Ron Burgundy 8,585]

Holy crap:

How old is Jack? 19? 20?

Unbelievable...

(Thanks for pic Saty)

NRL thighs.

[Earl Hood 6,125]

Holy crap:

How old is Jack? 19? 20?

Unbelievable...

(Thanks for pic Saty)

This image is a bit worrying. Yes it does look very NRL (as in explosive speed, crash and bash) not modern aFL where players are slimming down to improve their endurance. Roos may have to ban him from the gym and get him running.

[dazzledavey36 55,458]

This image is a bit worrying. Yes it does look very NRL (as in explosive speed, crash and bash) not modern aFL where players are slimming down to improve their endurance. Roos may have to ban him from the gym and get him running.

He is fine..

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

interrupted pre-season

[Ruffles 356]

Drove past Gosch's paddock this morning on the way to work and saw that the club was out there training again. Did anyone get along?

[waynewussell 6,590]

Just have to buy in on the Dawes debate. So much emphasis on his marking... hardly a sentence on his defensive running. I watched Dawes when he didn't have the ball in 2014 and his willingness to chase and run the other way was inspirational. Little wonder he is highly regarded by a coaching community that demands running both ways. Watch Dawes at training and you will be watching a running machine! Yes, he leads full pace and long leads (hitting the ball at pace makes marking just that little bit more difficult than in yesteryear). I have witnessed Dawes run from wing to wing to try to put pressure on an opposition player who was 50 metres clear when other demons had given it away as an impossible task. Not only did Dawes pass his team mate, but he managed to run the other way when we regained the ball. He'll go alright when we become a more attacking proposition!

Edited January 6, 2015 by waynewussell

[Dr. Gonzo 24,368]

How many need to fess up about Pedo that they got it wrong?

Anyone?

✋

He was very good last year from about the Carlton game on (that snap from the boundary and ovation coming off the ground may have been the confidence shot he needed). Let's hope he can back it up again this year.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,464]

Just have to buy in on the Dawes debate. So much emphasis on his marking... hardly a sentence on his defensive running. I watched Dawes when he didn't have the ball in 2014 and his willingness to chase and run the other way was inspirational. Little wonder he is highly regarded by a coaching community that demands running both ways. Watch Dawes at training and you will be watching a running machine! Yes, he leads full pace and long leads (hitting the ball at pace makes marking just that little bit more difficult than in yesteryear). I have witnessed Dawes run from wing to wing to try to put pressure on an opposition player who was 50 metres clear when other demons had given it away as an impossible task. Not only did Dawes pass his team mate, but he managed to run the other way when we regained the ball. He'll go alright when we become a more attacking proposition!

Pretty sure I mentioned one of Dawes defensive efforts when I was bagging out Watts yesterday in the "surprise packet" thread.

[old dee 23,922]

What the hell did viney and wines do growing up?

supplements!

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

He is fine..

Agreed, watch Viney's time and finish position for the 3k, he is in the leading groups at Goschs

GRRM, gee you must really enjoy the footy, you remind me of David Cross who, when he left King Crimson, stopped listening to music coz he kept analysing it, I don't care if they catch the mark between their head and arm as long as they mark it, same as kicking, if it hits the target that will do me, wobble, grubber, helicopter etc. Yes I would like to see 100% perfection in the skills but it ain't gonna happen, as long as we kick more goals than the opposition going forward, I really don't care how we do it

I am not too soft on the players, I am not on an AFL list, so I feel I can't carp about anybody that is, get frustrated yes, but carp no

Ps I hope u have the number of kids you want, you may be listing to one side come June

Edited January 6, 2015 by The Devil Inside

[Dr John Dee 1,057]

Agreed, watch Viney's time and finish position for the 3k, he is in the leading groups at Goschs

GRRM, gee you must really enjoy the footy, you remind me of David Cross who, when he left King Crimson, stopped listening to music coz he kept analysing it, I don't care if they catch the mark between their head and arm as long as they mark it, same as kicking, if it hits the target that will do me, wobble, grubber, helicopter etc. Yes I would like to see 100% perfection in the skills but it ain't gonna happen, as long as we kick more goals than the opposition going forward, I really don't care how we do it

I am not too soft on the players, I am not on an AFL list, so I feel I can't carp about anybody that is, get frustrated yes, but carp no

Ps I hope u have the number of kids you want, you may be listing to one side come June

(i) maybe he should have stopped listening before he left the band

(ii) agree, although this points to something else that might be important: what you describe might just be called skill errors, but they might also be improvisations, depending on the situation. And improvisation is a skill in itself (Stevie J probably being the current master), but not one that's easy to teach especially through the sort of routine and repeated practice that's involved in developing other skills (foot, hand, speed etc).

Given how much training you get to witness, Devil, do you see any emphasis on improvisation/praise for the unexpected?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,950]

I won't re-post the Newton/Viney photo, but two things stand out. Firstly, all that strength around the thighs and hips should make Viney very difficult to knock over. He appears from the photo to have a very low centre of gravity which helps keep players upright. Of course, it's no good having this advantage if you don't have other necessary traits such as speed, effort, ball-getting and disposing skills. Let's hope that this extra mass doesn't impact negatively on these other matters.

Secondly, I am mesmerised by Viney's boots. If not for those vibrant colours they would be almost invisible. It looks like our property steward runs a side-line in Chinese foot binding.

[old dee 23,922]

I won't re-post the Newton/Viney photo, but two things stand out. Firstly, all that strength around the thighs and hips should make Viney very difficult to knock over. He appears from the photo to have a very low centre of gravity which helps keep players upright. Of course, it's no good having this advantage if you don't have other necessary traits such as speed, effort, ball-getting and disposing skills. Let's hope that this extra mass doesn't impact negatively on these other matters.

Secondly, I am mesmerised by Viney's boots. If not for those vibrant colours they would be almost invisible. It looks like our property steward runs a side-line in Chinese foot binding.

Better send Trengove in to see him

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,950]

Better send Trengove in to see him

Perhaps he already has...and that's the cause of the problem.

[Whispering_Jack 30,949]

Melbournemidfielder Bernie Vince back on deck

Sounds mainly all good with the most ominous piece of news being the injury woes of Geelong's Lincoln McCarthy who suffered a navicular injury in 2013 and missed the whole season before playing only four games in 2014. He's back in a moon boot and on crutches which shows how tough it is to come back from this sort of injury and the challenges JT is now facing.

[dee-tox 4,835]

Let's hope that Viney with all his perceived extra strength can stand in his feet. Autumn leaves in my mere opinion.

[binman 44,201]

Let's hope that Viney with all his perceived extra strength can stand in his feet. Autumn leaves in my mere opinion.

Is this a haiku?

[FireOath 290]

All that strength in the lower legs is good for those inside mids that once they get the ball they break the pack to clear space then give it off. Perfect for him in my eyes as he does like to try and break packs.