Arrived 45 minutes late, stayed for an hour... steady rain throughout! Oliver trains with the same intensity he shows in the real thing. He is eye-catching, even in a training drill. Needless to say, it was very wet under foot. I was impressed by the intensity shown by all. Jeffy G was walking the boundary and seemed really sore, possibly left leg/ankle. Didn't notice Garland, Lumumba or Max King. Spencil walked around, Brayshaw, Vandenberg & Viney were on reduced duties, mainly kicking routines with Crossy. Brayshaw had one ankle bandaged. I was pleasantly surprised to see Newton do full training, as well as Dawes, who seemed ok in one on one contested stuff. Great to see Petracca and Trengove do everything. Both impressed with their footy smarts. Dunn looked fit and trained in his normal, full throated manner. I watched him slot a 45 metre goal effortlessly (while Hogan settled for several of the 35 metre variety) and was reminded of his ability to play forward. With Oscar seemingly fully fit, could Dunn be a CHF option? He certainly can score from outside 50, and can also pin-point a leading player by foot. Stretch's breakaway speed was good. ANB reminded selectors of his prowess in the packs. Mitch King was the only opponent for big Max in the ruck contests and he struggled. During this session I was reminded of the worth of White, Grimes and Terlich, particularly in the heavy going. Another who seems to have the size and speed to play senior footy is Wagner. I left with renewed confidence in our ability to rebound from Saturday's debacle. We have depth and it is being developed by a very good group of coaches. The main objective should be to keep this group together. I am sure we are looking at a climb up the ladder on the back of the current list and coaching panel. It will probably take longer than we had hoped. No predictions on how long, but Bernie was right when he said "We know where we are as a team and we're sure we are on the right track"!

3 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Arrived 45 minutes late, stayed for an hour... steady rain throughout! Oliver trains with the same intensity he shows in the real thing. He is eye-catching, even in a training drill. Needless to say, it was very wet under foot. I was impressed by the intensity shown by all. Jeffy G was walking the boundary and seemed really sore, possibly left leg/ankle. Didn't notice Garland, Lumumba or Max King. Spencil walked around, Brayshaw, Vandenberg & Viney were on reduced duties, mainly kicking routines with Crossy. Brayshaw had one ankle bandaged. I was pleasantly surprised to see Newton do full training, as well as Dawes, who seemed ok in one on one contested stuff. Great to see Petracca and Trengove do everything. Both impressed with their footy smarts. Dunn looked fit and trained in his normal, full throated manner. I watched him slot a 45 metre goal effortlessly (while Hogan settled for several of the 35 metre variety) and was reminded of his ability to play forward. With Oscar seemingly fully fit, could Dunn be a CHF option? He certainly can score from outside 50, and can also pin-point a leading player by foot. Stretch's breakaway speed was good. ANB reminded selectors of his prowess in the packs. Mitch King was the only opponent for big Max in the ruck contests and he struggled. During this session I was reminded of the worth of White, Grimes and Terlich, particularly in the heavy going. Another who seems to have the size and speed to play senior footy is Wagner. I left with renewed confidence in our ability to rebound from Saturday's debacle. We have depth and it is being developed by a very good group of coaches. The main objective should be to keep this group together. I am sure we are looking at a climb up the ladder on the back of the current list and coaching panel. It will probably take longer than we had hoped. No predictions on how long, but Bernie was right when he said "We know where we are as a team and we're sure we are on the right track"!

i think the time has come to be inventive and put Dunn or Garland up forward if only to give the older heads a new lease of life and keep the opposition guessing. Garland would be a good defensive forward who can also take a grab.

I also like the idea of Dunn as CHF a decent mark and decent kick could be good change up. (i doubt it will happen but who knows)

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-06/jeff-garlett-in-doubt-for-clash-with-north-melbourne-after-rolling-ankle

 

Just our luck!

4 minutes ago, Bay Riffin said:

i think the time has come to be inventive and put Dunn or Garland up forward if only to give the older heads a new lease of life and keep the opposition guessing. Garland would be a good defensive forward who can also take a grab.

Agree with this BR.

 

Dunn could play at CHF and even play some very reduced minutes in the ruck if need be to give Gawn a spell when he needs it.  Has kicked a bag of 5 before and started as a forward.  Not sure if Frost or Pedersen are the answer. 

 

We need someone to hold the fort until Dawes is back or Weideman is ready.

33 minutes ago, AngryAtCasey said:

Agree with this BR.

 

Dunn could play at CHF and even play some very reduced minutes in the ruck if need be to give Gawn a spell when he needs it.  Has kicked a bag of 5 before and started as a forward.  Not sure if Frost or Pedersen are the answer. 

 

We need someone to hold the fort until Dawes is back or Weideman is ready.

The problem is who will cover their tall forward line - Waite, Petrie, Brown etc

 What happened to training reports from the last three sessions? So many great reports coming from Demonlanders (often accompanied by suggested changes for the following round): they are sadly missed.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-06/jeff-garlett-in-doubt-for-clash-with-north-melbourne-after-rolling-ankle?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News

 

Dunn up forward would certainly pose an instant headache for opposition. If he can't crack the back six this seems valid, a rotational CHB/CHF Neitz type. I like it.

9 minutes ago, 3Dee said:

Dunn up forward would certainly pose an instant headache for opposition. If he can't crack the back six this seems valid, a rotational CHB/CHF Neitz type. I like it.

If only he was Neitz, Dunn has rarely if ever posed a headache for opposition defenders in the past.

Dunn is needed down back this week, and that's where he's been playing for the better part of two years. If he comes back in, I think his penetrating kick ins (with the odd torp) will also help us clear the ball quicker.

If we are struggling, the change up I'd like to see is Hogan behind the ball and McDonald up forward.

Thanks for the report Wayne. I called by for a brief look also just in time to see Jeffy limping off, didn't look good for this week. Was interested to see the drill from the half back flank either down the line or across the centre and then into goal. Looked a bit like the manoeuvre Essendon pulled on us about 20 times last Saturday, nice to see we are learning something from our games.

I'm pleased to hear that Garlett injured himself today and it wasn't a carry over from the game on Saturday. When I first saw the discomfort he was showing today I thought he had little chance of fronting up against Kangaroos. However, realising that the injury happened just minutes before I arrived, I think he may still get up after treatment. If not, Stretch, ANB and JKH may be forward options. On training form I would opt for Stretch.

Good to see Oliver was in full traing; hopefully this means he'll be right to play this weekend after possibly being referred to as one of the 'tired players' on the weekend.

Biggest thing that stood out for me today, aside from the rubbish Weather, is i think a lot of people have forgotten just how good a player Jack Trengove is, he looks starting 18 at least on training form, and clearly played well for Casey! he has the class, smarts and skills we're desperately lacking.

12 minutes ago, Peter Griffen said:

Biggest thing that stood out for me today, aside from the rubbish Weather, is i think a lot of people have forgotten just how good a player Jack Trengove is

That just makes zero sense.

Maybe you're a mind reader?

44 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Good to see Oliver was in full traing; hopefully this means he'll be right to play this weekend after possibly being referred to as one of the 'tired players' on the weekend.

Vanders and Viney on light duties suggests two possible members of the Sleepy Six.

Is it time to send out a search party for Kent? He's been missing for four long quarters and didn't even rock up for a training report.

11 minutes ago, McQueen said:

That just makes zero sense.

Maybe you're a mind reader?

Who's Jack Trengove?

Dunn and Matthew Bate were bits and pieces forwards for years and neither ever clicked in that role.

It's only being reinvented as a defender that has saved Dunn's career from going the same way as Bate's.

2 hours ago, chook fowler said:

The problem is who will cover their tall forward line - Waite, Petrie, Brown etc

I actually agree and come to think of it McDonald forward might be a better go.

Dunn on Petrie

Garland on Waite

Pedersen or Frost (whichever plays) on Brown

1 minute ago, AngryAtCasey said:

I actually agree and come to think of it McDonald forward might be a better go.

Dunn on Petrie

Garland on Waite

Pedersen or Frost (whichever plays) on Brown

If they are the match ups then Waite will have day out. Don't see Garland as a tall defender. See him as a taller small defender that can out mark smaller forwards.

30 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

If they are the match ups then Waite will have day out. Don't see Garland as a tall defender. See him as a taller small defender that can out mark smaller forwards.

It's funny, cause i automatically thought the same thing when i initially wrote it, but then saw Waite only has 3cm & 1kg on Garland. Hardly figures that would make you think he'll monster Col.

Garlett an absolute "will definitely play" according to Misson. That negates any of my replacement suggestions

55 minutes ago, AngryAtCasey said:

I actually agree and come to think of it McDonald forward might be a better go.

Dunn on Petrie

Garland on Waite

Pedersen or Frost (whichever plays) on Brown

Waite is on fire in the first two rounds. Keep garland away from him.

I like the idea of Dunn in the forward line, but as has been said earlier he will surely play back this week due to Norths big forwards