4 hours ago, Copuchas said:

Got along to training today, obviously warm blustery conditions.  As already noted, no Lumumba.  No Garlett either.  Everyone else appeared to be there and were either in the rehab group or the main group (with some rotating between, depending on the nature of their injuries).  Some random observations:

- Petracca already looks leaner, particularly his upper body

- Hogan and Brayshaw continue to impress (as was noted in previous sessions)

- there is a significant focus on non-preferred foot skills

- the ground was segmented into three sections longitudinally with lines running end to end from about a metre either side of each point post.  Not clear what role this played in the drills I observed

- Lewis is already vocal (eg imploring those in a group that ran 4/5 fast laps to stand up at the completion and not hunch over)

- Melksham trained with the main group, Hibberd with the rehab

- other rehab group participants (not exhaustive) were Stretch, VDB, Viney, TMAC, Pedersen, Oliver, JKH, Trengove (running laps), King

- the skill sessions were mixed - a bit difficult to be fair as conditions were atrocious.  Harms and Neal-Bullen (in particular) have some residual challenges around their disposal

Will revert with more if anything else comes to mind.

 

Hallelujah! But see below...

4 hours ago, Redbeard said:

I'm glad to read that, I've found it astounding the last few seasons seeing young players all over the league kicking a checkside to pass the ball where a left foot kick should have been used.

While I'm delighted we seem to be working on improving the non-preferred side, I suspect in the last few years so much work was needed on the preferred side there wasn't time to add this particular icing to the cake.

2 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Some very heartless pieces of advice for Lamumba on this thread.  He's a contracted player, he has suffered a workplace injury, his risks serious damage if not handled correctly - and people are trying to push him out the door.  If someone is sick, injured, unwell - a strong culture supports this person, we don't cut them loose.

In any other industry it wold be illegal to "cut them loose" if a person is sick, injured or unwell. I'm surprised posters don't appear to recognise that OH&S laws also apply to professional football clubs.

Thanks for the reports, appreciated.

1 hour ago, Copuchas said:

 saw Lewis (wearing no 8 to confuse)

Maybe it was Frawley!

Hey, can anybody here tell me why the players hunch over when they're puffed?  I assume hands on hips opens the lungs.

1 hour ago, A F said:

Not everyone is Clark, OD. We still did the right thing there too.

That is not the point of my comment AF.

we did all the right things and he retired with a sizeable leaving cheque only bob up at Geelong.

We will no doubt do all the right things here with a similar result I.e. A big pay out.

49 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Hallelujah! But see below...

While I'm delighted we seem to be working on improving the non-preferred side, I suspect in the last few years so much work was needed on the preferred side there wasn't time to add this particular icing to the cake.

In any other industry it wold be illegal to "cut them loose" if a person is sick, injured or unwell. I'm surprised posters don't appear to recognise that OH&S laws also apply to professional football clubs.

it's just an expression ldvc, don't take it too literally. i'm sure afl players/ managers/clubs/lawyers are well versed on player contract conditions

1 hour ago, nutbean said:

I like Harmes hardness and willingness to run - he does need to clean up his disposal. 

The league is littered with players who can get the ball but aren't clean enough in their disposal. We have learned from great Hawthorn sides that other clubs can have hardness and ball winning ability in spades but you need the great majority of your team being good by foot to take that next step.

Harmes is still a bit young and impetuous, the club like the way he takes the game on and must be confident they can hone his skills in due course. He's just what we need he's got a fearless attack on the ball and loves to run. I think it will take a season or so before he is the player he can be.

 

 

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Hallelujah! But see below...

While I'm delighted we seem to be working on improving the non-preferred side, I suspect in the last few years so much work was needed on the preferred side there wasn't time to add this particular icing to the cake.

In any other industry it wold be illegal to "cut them loose" if a person is sick, injured or unwell. I'm surprised posters don't appear to recognise that OH&S laws also apply to professional football clubs.

Theres a difference between cutting them loose and taking them off an "active" list

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

In any other industry it wold be illegal to "cut them loose" if a person is sick, injured or unwell. I'm surprised posters don't appear to recognise that OH&S laws also apply to professional football clubs.

Would it? From what I can tell, If a person has no sick leave, they generally can't take more than 3 months unpaid leave, and an employer is within their rights to terminate the employee after this period.

If what is reported is correct, Lamumba has passed all medical tests but refuses to even train.

7 minutes ago, TheoX said:

If what is reported is correct, Lamumba has passed all medical tests but refuses to even train.

Are you surmising this?

7 minutes ago, Roger Mellie said:

Are you surmising this?

are you now surmising that he is surmising, because i'm surmising that you are?

1 minute ago, daisycutter said:

are you now surmising that he is surmising, because i'm surmising that you are?

You sound like Gomer Pyle with a speech impediment.

Note: If you are under the age of 55 don't bother trying to appreciate the above comment.

 

1 hour ago, Courtney_Fish said:

Hey, can anybody here tell me why the players hunch over when they're puffed?  I assume hands on hips opens the lungs.

Go up to the local oval and run a quick 400 and see what you do.

Should answer the question...

 

 

...of course logic says you are right, but practice is not always logical.

4 hours ago, pinkshark said:

Making great sense there VP.  

Have you ever heard Vogon poetry ???  Do yourself a favour and find some.

20 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

You sound like Gomer Pyle with a speech impediment.

Note: If you are under the age of 55 don't bother trying to appreciate the above comment.

 

Or even 53!!

2 hours ago, nutbean said:

I like Harmes hardness and willingness to run - he does need to clean up his disposal. 

The league is littered with players who can get the ball but aren't clean enough in their disposal. We have learned from great Hawthorn sides that other clubs can have hardness and ball winning ability in spades but you need the great majority of your team being good by foot to take that next step.

I agree that its preferred that Harmes cleans up this part of his game, however arguably the 2 best mid/forwards in the game in Danger and Fyfe are both average kicks. The key is to know how best to minimise the damage like they do but it wont be the death of him if he doesn't and other parts of his game continue to develop. 

8 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Have you ever heard Vogon poetry ???  Do yourself a favour and find some.

PD I think according to Ford Prefect if you ever are unfortunate enough to hear Vogon poetry that is the last thing you will ever hear or do, curtains! 

4 hours ago, old dee said:

It really helped with Clark TPF39

So whether Clark played us or not is not the point, the club played that with discretion and can hold its head up, that should be the benchmark. And i believe it gets noticed favourably. Treating HL with respect does not hurt the club from a big picture POV.

12 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

PD I think according to Ford Prefect if you ever are unfortunate enough to hear Vogon poetry that is the last thing you will ever hear or do, curtains! 

I'm sure you're right Earl. I took a risk and watched some on youtube, not recited to me direct by an actual Vogon. No discernable ill effects ....... Yet

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

are you now surmising that he is surmising, because i'm surmising that you are?

I would answer that, but I'd just be surmising

4 hours ago, beelzebub said:

From Lewis an instant hit with Hogan ( MFC site )

"STAR Melbourne recruit Jordan Lewis has hit the training track for the first time with his new teammates as the Demons' senior players returned for pre-season training on Monday.

In hot and windy conditions at Gosch's Paddock, the four-time premiership Hawk took training in his stride, completing a tough running component involving repeat 400m efforts over five minutes that left the players gasping for air."

This is where some of the players are going to start to get the idea of where they ought to be.  Lewis is an old timer remember..

Looking forward to all those passes to Hogan that's for sure...bet he is too

I member...

48 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I agree that its preferred that Harmes cleans up this part of his game, however arguably the 2 best mid/forwards in the game in Danger and Fyfe are both average kicks. The key is to know how best to minimise the damage like they do but it wont be the death of him if he doesn't and other parts of his game continue to develop. 

danger is an average kick? wow, give me average any time

3 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Bin attending the outdoor session and attending indoor are 2 different things. The ground is unfortunately not next to the "club rooms" for us. He may be in the gym, on the bikes who knows why inside. 

Otherwise thanks to all as always for the reports much appreciated. Is it rnd 1 yet?! How nice to not be looking fwd to the draft.

Yep fair point and i did wonder about that (ie maybe he was indoors doing weights etc). But if so given it was day one of training i reckon putting in an appearance on the track, even for a short while, sends a positive message to both fans and teammates.

18 minutes ago, binman said:

Yep fair point and i did wonder about that (ie maybe he was indoors doing weights etc). But if so given it was day one of training i reckon putting in an appearance on the track, even for a short while, sends a positive message to both fans and teammates.

Obviously having no idea of his internal workings but I was amazed he was not out there 2 weeks ago urging the young blokes on.. Would like to see him continue and contribute if not band off and let's move on.

4 hours ago, old dee said:

That is not the point of my comment AF.

we did all the right things and he retired with a sizeable leaving cheque only bob up at Geelong.

We will no doubt do all the right things here with a similar result I.e. A big pay out.

So your point is we should threaten the cultural fabric of our club and kick him out, instead of the potential of paying him out? I don't think that's a particularly smart way to operate at a FD level.