Thanks for the great reports!

Really can't afford for Salem to have those hamstring issues carry on again. Hope it is nothing serious.

 

Cheers for report dhd and george. Makes sitting in the waiting room bareable.

 

Great to hear about trenners. Frosty and kent firing will be massive additions as well.

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The southerly wind at Casey in the winter is a sure recipe for a miserable day.  However, on a mild summer day in summer it just made the training session a sheer delight.

I won't go into the actual drills, as there is little point in describing them unless you are there, and the important thing is how they translate to match conditions.  So for those not there here are the observations:

* In the rebab group we have 8 players, and no Jack Watts to be seen today at all.  Not a good sign at this time of year for numbers.  However, Trengove we all know about.  Was really testing the foot with shuttle runs back and forward and lots of drills which put plenty of pressure on that left foot.  Despite what was told to others, he is NOT yet kicking on the left.  

Dawes had a knee strapped, but that has been the case while he has been at Melbourne.  Nothing on the calf.  He, Weidemann, Trengove, Mitch King, Petracca and Lamumba  ran a series of sprints with timing over the middle 50m ( my guess).  Most were recording mid 4 sec times, but Dawes topped them all with a 3.6.  One can assume he is not too far from being back to the main group.  Newton managed to run a few laps before disappearing into the rooms.

* Garland has changed his running and kicking style,  I had trouble recognising him until later. 

* There is a real emphasis on moving the ball quickly, and other running to receive downfield.  The mobility of Gawn is simply breathtaking for such a big man, and his first real pre-season should see him really break-out in the coming year. His strength is also incredible as he rag-dolled a couple of forwards in marking contests, who thought they had position. 

* Spencer still can't mark overhead or kick the ball properly after all this time on the list.  However, he has learnt to jump off the ground in ruck contests, instead of aiming at the opposition ruck.  The result was that he got his hand to the ball nearly every time against Gawn in the ruck contests.  Some hope there....

* Neville Jetta is a seriously hard defender to beat one-on-one.  He was pitted against Hogan and then Gawn and managed to stifle their opportunities, when it should have been only a one way contest. Still a bit slow off the mark, which can give the opponent space.

* Vandenberg is still a beast although a much trimmer version.  Bad news for the opposition is that he has replaced body fat with muscle, so he is even stronger than before.  He simply ripped a pack apart in the match simulation.

* Frost will be another welcome addition to the backline this year, but he is NOT a ruck option in defense.  He simply doesn't have the body to grapple against some of the gorillas.  However, he reads the play beautifully and took an absolute scorcher of a pack mark during the match simulation.

* Hunt, Hulett, Harmes, Kennedy, ANB and JKH all did what they had to do when required, and will get their opportunities as required during the season. It is nice to have all these options in the side now. JKH has spent a lot of time in the gym, and will be able to hold his own much more in the coming season, as some considered him to be too small and light for AFL.  Not now!

* Oliver still has a lot of work to do.  His skills and endurance seem to be OK, but needs a lot more work on his upper body.  That will come, as one can see he has the frame that will respond to AFL level training in a big way.

* Don't let Jeff Garlett a yard spare, because he cuts defenders to pieces if they do.  I guess we all know that already, but he is simply lethal around goal.

* Hogan was simply a presence on the field.  He demands the ball wherever he is, in front of goal or up the field.  Pity the backman this year, because he was simply too mobile and strong for any of ours today.

* Bugg is like a blow-fly in the middle.  Is very, very capable in and close, so hopefully his addition will make a serious improvement to the mids.  I only hope his size doesn't limit him, as I was reminded a lot of James Magner. Hope I'm wrong.

* Good to have Kent back and running.  His input was truly missed last season, and todays efforts were matching his best from last season.  His acceleration opens up space and if the game plan is based on spread and speed, then he is the man.

That's enough of the good news.  Now that there is more physical contact in the sessions, then the injuries start to happen.  I would love to put a lot of them in cotton wool until season opener, but that is not practical. 

So we saw Jones leave the track very early.  Brayshaw came off and had his knee bandaged with what looked like a knock.  No ice, and then he went for a run and took the bandage off.  However, he too left early. Vince followed, but returned to run some laps.  Then Oliver came off. 

Nothing looked too serious and I think all were just bruises, but the heart finishes up in the mouth when half the mid-field is forced off the track! 

 

 

 

thanks for a great report

Excellent reports all round guys.

We are bound to get a few niggles here and there, it's the nature of the beast.  We've still got a month and a half before the real stuff gets underway so it's plenty of time for the players to get themselves right once the training ramps up like it did today.

Starting to get excited for the year ahead!

Really want Salem fit and firing in time for round 1. Could take a massive step up this season if he can avoid injury.

2 hours ago, Die Hard Demon said:

No sign of Chris Dawes at all today. 

 

2 hours ago, daisycutter said:

but he hasn't dropped a single mark, right?

I think he earned the day off after his mark on Wednesday.

 

Thanks to all for the great reports. Hope none of the injuries are serious and that the members of the rehab group can join the main group quickly. It sounds like there's a lot to be excited about this season, with lots of names that didn't feature much in previous seasons' training reports featuring heavily this year. 

Thanks for the great reports. 

We can't keep having injuries every time we have a big Friday session. Hope the guys are ok and that the trend doesn't continue.

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

The wind was very strong (cap close to blowing off) and not conducive to precision skills.

Rehab group Dawes, Lumumba, Max King, Trengove, Petracca, Weideman, Newton – no Watts.
 

My daughter saw Jack Watts in the gym at Casey RACE. She didn't say who else was there

26 minutes ago, DocRoet said:

My daughter saw Jack Watts in the gym at Casey RACE. She didn't say who else was there

I hope he wasn't smiling....

1 minute ago, Wormburner said:

I hope he wasn't smiling....

Or laughing. Or having any fun whatsoever.

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

Excellent reports all round guys.

We are bound to get a few niggles here and there, it's the nature of the beast.  We've still got a month and a half before the real stuff gets underway so it's plenty of time for the players to get themselves right once the training ramps up like it did today.

Starting to get excited for the year ahead!

I was talking to a couple of mates who read similar boards of their own teams and you could actually just substitute players names from the other clubs and write the same reports.

There is the same caution taken with the slightest niggles with their players  - where you may take a risk with a player getting through a game where you need to win that game - this is preseason - the slightest niggle and you sit the player out - this is the no risk time of the year.

We just need to avoid anything major - I notice that the Hawks lost Roughy this week - this is what we need to avoid.

The Age reported last week that Watts hurt his elbow at training, but said it wasn't bad enough to get scans. 

 

Just now, nutbean said:

I was talking to a couple of mates who read similar boards of their own teams and you could actually just substitute players names from the other clubs and write the same reports.

There is the same caution taken with the slightest niggles with their players  - where you may take a risk with a player getting through a game where you need to win that game - this is preseason - the slightest niggle and you sit the player out - this is the no risk time of the year.

We just need to avoid anything major - I notice that the Hawks lost Roughy this week - this is what we need to avoid.

Absolutely.  Once February hits it always seems as though the rehab group grows a little but it's simply because the training ramps up a little more with the match simulations, which in turn brings about far more physical contact to the players.

Plus I don't mind a few niggles - it means we can take a look at a few younger players during the NAB Cup while they nurse them through to Round 1.

Another thankyou for the reports, I completely forgot Newton was on the list.

What's the status of the house? Is it down yet?

Nice job on the training reports guys....  in fact too good!!   Left me with nothing other than to confirm it was pretty much what I had to report.

I will say Trenners is moving very well, Hogan has bulked up, his upper thighs are coming along nicely, that should help his kicking distance.

As a whole the group no longer has skinny runts that will be easliy pushed off the ball. (Apart from the tall new guys,they'll take more time to develop)

What impressed me most was the ball movement all over the ground in the Match Sim. Did NOT see one hospital handball, players were making space and running forward (finally)

Still some sloppy disposals that missed their target, until that improves more, we will kill momemtum when we have the ball. More times than not, they got it correct. I left feeling confident with what I seen. Its been awhile since I was able to attend a training session. Previously left feeling a bit more than peeved in what I watched. But not today, if they can carry that into a real game, we are going to put the wind up a few good teams that we have had trouble beating in the past. That is the key, doing it under pressure.

They have stopped running the guys into the ground with repeated running, its so good to see them moving the ball around by hand and foot.

Kinda reminded me of the late 80's when we played like a football team. 

Jonesy didnt look good, I doubt it was serious, but he walked off to the boundry and had his leg / knee worked on, he gave a yelp,when behind his knee was worked on. Only a guess on my behalf, but maybe a sore tendon behind the knee. He walked around for 10 mins then went inside.

Brayshaw looks like he may also have a knee complaint. He was sprinting hard, then stopped dead, Heard him say its a bit sore. Again a guess, when he loaded up the  knee to stop, it was a bit uncomfortable. Then had it strapped, did some sprints for about 20 mins then off came the strapping. 

So perhaps nothing more than a niggle.

I got a close look at Petracca. I will only say, if I had the ball and I seen him barrelling towards me, I would be wanting to get rid of it pretty quick.

He's built like the brick outhouse.

1 hour ago, DocRoet said:

My daughter saw Jack Watts in the gym at Casey RACE. She didn't say who else was there

My missus was working at the RACE from 9 - 2.30 and while not knowing any players by name said she saw about 20 different players cycle through there during the day. She was outside most of the time so didn't know whether they were in the gym or using the pools.

Really appreciate the great reports, can't get to training at the moment, really busy at the moment at work with extra shifts      one player who doesn't seem to get a big mention is Harmes   how has he been in the last couple of sessions? 

 

Hoges still has his silly slow pause run up routine when shooting for goal (which he did a lot of today), but it's not as accentuated as last year.  He starts off normally, then has two silly steps about half way, before reverting back to a normal approach and follow through.

5 hours ago, Die Hard Demon said:

Spoke to one of the coaches.. confirmed that he's kicking with both feet & in a really good head space. 

DHD, I'm choosing to believe this post because it makes me feel really good how ever, other watchers have indicated that JT was only kicking on his right foot.

Can you name the coach who said this? I'm just wondering if it would be a standard line with a positive intent.

How'd my boy Pedo train today?

6 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Just need to confirm DHD......this is Melbourne you're watching ??

could it possibly be that the  'Demons'  have shown up to training,,,,,  rather than the usual Fuscia's ???

 

 

5 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If Chris Dawes is running 50 m in 3.6 seconds he shouldn't be playing football but representing Australia in the 100 m in Rio.

lets hope he's a good swimmer LD-vC...   maybe even an oceans swimmer ???  

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

Hoges still has his silly slow pause run up routine when shooting for goal (which he did a lot of today), but it's not as accentuated as last year.  He starts off normally, then has two silly steps about half way, before reverting back to a normal approach and follow through.

 

Good, he is one of the best set shots for goal in the league

26 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Hoges still has his silly slow pause run up routine when shooting for goal (which he did a lot of today), but it's not as accentuated as last year.  He starts off normally, then has two silly steps about half way, before reverting back to a normal approach and follow through.

I don't mind it if it's in control and routine, it helps open up the hips and kick through the ball. In pretty much any other kicking sport players run in on an arc around their dominant leg, it's really on Aussie Rules that I can think of (thinking soccer, rugby, NFL) where players run in straight.