Preseason Training - Week commencing 27/11/17

[Gator 17,454]

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

Man how do you manage all this detail. Speed recall and writing. Must be the wired younger generation.

Anyway, well done and I like the humour, provides for entertaining reading. 

He referenced May West.

My suspicion is he's not young.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

2 minutes ago, ProDee said:

He referenced May West.

My suspicion is he's not young.

My suspicion is that he is young. An older person might have known how to spell her first name correctly.

[Gator 17,454]

7 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

My suspicion is that he is young. An older person might have known how to spell her first name correctly.

I don't thinks so.

I remember many older actresses from black and white movies, but without looking up their names I could misspell plenty of them.

To even reference her indicates an older age group.

Edited November 30, 2017 by ProDee

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Can we please go back to abusing each other instead of talking about old actresses?

[hemingway 7,631]

Reference to the term actresses suggest that posters are full bodied of good vintage.

Although I prefer the term actors and actresses but of course I am full bodied but of dubious vintage.

[tiers 2,843]

Thanks for the advice.

I am not always logged in so this will not help me. And given what I complained about some posts, going to the next unread post will not help me either.

Perhaps when the site is updated next time, this issue can be considered for both logged in and anonymous readers.

[jnrmac 20,186]

4 hours ago, binman said:

Good lord, you can't be serious.

If so this is perhaps the best example of confirmation bias on DL. Ever. And that is no small feat.

We got ourselves a big one here.....

[PaulRB 6,411]

1 minute ago, jnrmac said:

We got ourselves a big one here.....

Well that just proves if you want to avoid being beaten up by a sword fish you should wear a white t-shirt.

[daisycutter 29,738]

26 minutes ago, tiers said:

Thanks for the advice.

I am not always logged in so this will not help me. And given what I complained about some posts, going to the next unread post will not help me either.

Perhaps when the site is updated next time, this issue can be considered for both logged in and anonymous readers.

well it's easy to be quickly logged in each time. check your browser for login data retention and tick the 'land remember me box

you can also (depending on browser) take the browser option to auto-restart browser tabs on startup. i do this and the demonland tab is always started and automatically logged in. i just leave that tab up all day.

[tiers 2,843]

Daisycutter, thanks.

It's not that I don't know how, it's rather that I prefer not to be logged in so that I am not tempted to respond or comment unnecessarily. It's too easy and I prefer to limit my comments to those topics and instances where I believe that I can add to the discussion.

[Demonland 73,140]

44 minutes ago, tiers said:

Thanks for the advice.

I am not always logged in so this will not help me. And given what I complained about some posts, going to the next unread post will not help me either.

Perhaps when the site is updated next time, this issue can be considered for both logged in and anonymous readers.

I didn't create the software. It is a over the counter package. What you have requested is unlikely to ever be included in a future update. Unless on a shared or public computer I don't see the need to ever log out. 

[tiers 2,843]

Demonland, thanks.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

46 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Well that just proves if you want to avoid being beaten up by a sword fish you should wear a white t-shirt.

It would be better for everyone, though, if you also remember to wear a belt.

[hemingway 7,631]

44 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We got ourselves a big one here.....

 

Takes me back in time.

To the days off the coast of Spain but more so, the waters of the Gulf Stream.. 

The fish fighting for its life and the fishermen fighting for their egos.  

Real and imagined.

The boat, rods and the fishermen do not conjure up anything.. 

[daisycutter 29,738]

22 minutes ago, tiers said:

Daisycutter, thanks.

It's not that I don't know how, it's rather that I prefer not to be logged in so that I am not tempted to respond or comment unnecessarily. It's too easy and I prefer to limit my comments to those topics and instances where I believe that I can add to the discussion.

ok understand that. demonland responded about how it is a pre packaged piece of software. other forum software i've seen works similarly.

here is a possibility. on the far right of each thread title line it will show last poster name and under it the time. If you click on the time (not the poster name) it will position you to the last post of the thread. Then you can work backwards. This is the closest i can think to your requirements. 

[buck_nekkid 6,046]

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

We got ourselves a big one here.....

Sword fish wants to get as far away from the plumbers crack as possible.  Obviously not Don Bourke.

[tiers 2,843]

Daisycutter, you have done well and deserve praise.

Clicking on the time works both when signed in and anonymous.

Thanks.

[Gator 17,454]

I last logged in August 24, 2016.

[Its Time for Another 4,287]

10 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Our policy is clearly that differing views on subjects brought up in these and other threads are allowed and accepted but the problem is that some people like to cloak their so called "differing views" by means of posts that are actually attacks on others.

This won't be tolerated and the discretion on the matter lies entirely with the moderators.

Those who don't agree with this policy should in particular stay away from the training report threads.

Thanks.

Maybe we should have separate training OP's just from Saty and the Haters don't have to go on them at all and the rest of us don't have to put up with their crap and can enjoy Saty's reports. The general training OP could continue for anyone else who wants to post reports. 

[Master Deebater 492]

51 minutes ago, It's Time said:

Maybe we should have separate training OP's just from Saty and the Haters don't have to go on them at all and the rest of us don't have to put up with their crap and can enjoy Saty's reports. The general training OP could continue for anyone else who wants to post reports. 

I don't always agree with Saty, but i love reading his insights and the stuff he gets from players. Plus he's a great loyal demon.

[Master Deebater 492]

6 hours ago, Jrono64 said:

I noticed we didn't have any really for last week and found these for Friday 24/11/17 on Big Footy by Proper Gander.

Not much to go off but better than nothing.

Without delving further into the interesting area of the relative merits of adding bulk v drinking beers while on holiday - here is my general impressions of training. Also Starc just got Jake Ball’s wicket, which is nice.

Notable absentees were Jack Viney and Michael Hibberd (unless he was in the rehab group on the far side, and I never saw him, but I don’t think he was there).

In his own group, doing the special older guy with 4 premierships routine was Jordan Lewis who was doing laps early on checking his time every now and again. I gave him a supportive smile every time he passed that he totally ignored, which pleased me no end. He left soon after 10 AM and wasn’t seen again.

The rehab group being tortured by Crossey for the day consisted of Kent (shoulder), Jones (something), Filopovic (why not), Lever (post premiership loss related angst), Joel Smith (things), Tim Smith (other things), Weiderman (eating disorder), Wagner (who knows), TMac (surgery for things) Buggy (pest patrol) and anyone else who was in the rehab group that I have forgotten. I think Jeff didn’t join the main group today - I saw him running a bit with the rehab guys at one point but he seemed to have left the field by the second hour so he probably went to have beers with Jordan to talk about how to get 4 premierships. TBH this group started early, and were doing things with Crossey with music on the far side of the field next to Punt Road, so I never got that good a look at them unless they were running the perimeter.

The main group rocked up at about 9:35 - 9:40. Tardy buggers.

Now to add a further layer of complication to the who is big, who is small debate for Topkent to argue about, my body shape observations are that other than Kent who looks to me much as he ever has only with bandaged shoulder, everyone appears to have come back in decent shape with some looking very good indeed. Max Gawn, as reported elsewhere, is leaner. Stretchy is really hard looking - this was evident last off season too. He seems to have one of those body types that shows muscle definition clearly. The ripped award goes to Joel Smith who was running with TMac at one stage, both wearing those silly GPS bra things. He looks like one of those Olympic sprint swimmers - washboard belly with clear 6 pack - and makes Tommy look portly if that was ever possible. Wagner in great shape too, but when is he not? His concerns do not include skin folds, which is just as well because in my view he has other issues to contend with.

Channel 7 reported Petracca as ‘lean’ a few weeks back, which to my mind is media puff because he looks much the same to me. He is a big lad who has borrowed May West’s thighs, after either winning or losing a bet depending on your POV. He trains really well and is generally smiling, except during running drills where he looks like a guy hefting around 90 plus kilos who still has endurance work to do. The coaches are all over him, and Mitch Hannah who also struggles with running drills, but Ancient said Trac has improved already from a few weeks back where he was struggling to keep up, so maybe he can spend the summer shadowing Ollie shadowing Stretch and create a kind of domino effect premiership side.

Clayton Oliver looks like a different person to the guy we drafted. He’s lean and has muscles and stuff, and is very focussed and effective all through the session, and the big surprise is none other than Mitch King who really has gone from ‘LOL you’re kidding’ to the heights of an interesting theoretical possibility. Hogan looking good and has come back relatively lean, in a big forward type way, and Pedo looks heaps better than last year post surgery when he was puffing his way though hours of Crossey type punishment.

Goodwin also absent, but I think the draft might be held in Sydney this year so he’s probably heading there.

I am now going to make a cheese sandwich and will return with more once I’ve eaten it and can recall some drills and stuff.

The cricket has gone to [censored] again, so I will continue.

The main group warmed up on some silly drills. They played soccerish stuff with a round ball which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our best soccer player is head-and-shoulders James Harmes who was having a Beckham-like blinder, and Dom Tyson isn’t bad either. Welcome to the next International Rules match boys. Then they play cone dancing for a bit - kind of footspeed, balance drill with players in turn having to skitter inside a diamond of different colour cones towards the colour cone yelled by a coach. Everyone okay at this. Of course there is the routine hilarious moment where the coach yells “red!” And everyone falls over their feet because there is no red cone. Wacko. What with the soccer drill then the invisible cone dance this all looks to me like a super way to do an ankle. By now I take two paracaetamol because my temper has taken a sudden nose-dive for no good reason.

Then some real drills in ball movement. Interestingly with a spot of light body work, so we’re ahead of the curve, but no full tackling, just some friendly nudges. The players have split into three rough groups which are the defenders, forwards and mids (loosely speaking). I was closest to the mids. Thinking back to preseason a few years back, we look a much sharper, more experienced and generally better unit then back then. Plus Dawes isn’t here which is a relief and works even better than the paracaetamol on my head. Harmes is killing it in the midfield for sharpness and intensity. I’m pleased about this. His best footy is really valuable - read 1st quarter against Saints last we played - but like a true demon his consistency hasn’t been great. But he looks the real deal ATM so I’m hoping for a big year. Also he has terrible tats and his hair is achieving new heights of dodgy so I’m thinking breakout, Dusty type Brownlow year for the Horse.

I check out Balic’s work and thought he looked okay, certainly not out of place. He has a good size and body shape for midfield, though looks a bit softer than some of our returning players which is hardly surprising given he is pretty young and hasn’t had much of a run at AFL game time as yet. I will watch with interest. He has an awesome totally deadpan expression, like a police officer reading from his notebook in the Federal Magistrates. His flat affect will no doubt drive Bigfooty posters to extremes during the year and I’m looking forward to it. Given he was a low pick, injury riddled past, only a year contract, and isn’t best 22 yet he seems totally the perfect character for a Melbourne sponsorship. Whoever goes to the BBQ has exactly 1 hour to make him smile or pay everyone here $50 (photo or it didn’t happen).

We also did some full team drills where the Simon Goodwin changing lanes special is on full display. Skills are pretty sharp overall, though as Sir Hugh pointed out Jesse did some real worm burners from time to time. I like to think it was intended to sharpen the ground ball skills of his teammates, such is his generosity. But on the whole we look like a functioning unit rather than a group of randoms who showed up for a spot of kick-to-kick which is encouraging. Petracca is loud and somewhat ADHD but a few more running sessions quieten him down eventually (his recovery is very good - he is a complete goose again before home time). Track also does his tongue out thing at seemingly random times, so I’m now convinced it is totally unconscious. I hope he doesn’t get a surprise tackle while like that. All in all, I think we can be reasonably confident that the change lanes thing should be executed well in 2018. Hopefully in the season we can add in the taking marks thing, the not spoiling each other thing, the kicking goals thing and not going missing during random quarters for no obvious reason thing.

JKH is training well, though I should point out that every time I have been to training he is going well - he’s very focussed and generally upbeat in training. But full marks for effort even though I’m not convinced he will make it as an AFL player - he won’t die not knowing, so good for him. Harmes is the dynamo of the day though - he is completely on and wins the intensity award. Also smiles a fair bit; but his teeth are pretty big so it’s probably just more comfortable to display bits of them from time to time and give his lips a rest.

Late in the session there is some goal practice. Jesse redeems himself with some excellent kicking in set shots from various angles. He is also putting a fair bit of time now and after the session in practicing snaps for goal, so maybe this year he has decided to shrink and become a crumbing forward in the hope of winning over Ando. Jake Melksham has paired up with Jesse and misses virtually everything. Someone needs to get in his head and tell him its neck and neck in the 4th. Christians 1 and 2 both look good. One quiet and one loud. I’ll leave it to you to decide which. Oliver goes about his business like a pro. There are some nice moments where everyone is lined up watching the goal kicker and generally sledging to put the man off his game. So its a general testosterone competition of gruff swearing and raucous HaHa-ing - passing dog walkers glance over thinking its international pirate day. Harmes hasn’t tailed off yet and his goal kicking is solid from all angles.

With some more running just for fun, the last bit consists of some positional work in pairs. Max has taken Mitch King off to one end and they do some light contested stuff. Max wins mostly but Mitch doesn’t look utterly out of place any more which is a step in the right direction. Jesse is working hard on getting some distance on his man (OMac), pushing off or out-bodying. He looks great now, and OMac not doing a bad job. Close by Pedo and Keilty are doing similar work but with more comedic misses and general pointless running about, falling over, scrambling etc, but who knows what the coaches are asking for so whatever they are doing could be perfect for all I know. So lets say it is perfect and give both a big hand.

Some other coaches are doing contested midfield work tapping it to players taking turns in offensive and defensive roles. This group are all travelling well, even Balic who looks like a footballer (but still hasn’t smiled or for that matter twitched). He is getting a fair bit of encouragement but that could have been to get his face to move.

And so it ends. I head off towards a tram. I try to hang by Christian Salem and Melksham who are in conversation to find out what interesting things footy players chat about. What I found out is that Jake reckons sessions like that are the pits for changing shoes from spikes to runners. He’s right. They all should get a pay rise. I slope off when both become aware that they have attracted a third person to their conversation and give me some WTF looks.

Overall the dynamic looks good and we will probably get a premiership this year

Just got home from work and really enjoyed this. Jrono where have been?...only 10 posts ...really? Loved reading your work. Clearly you're a wordsmith/ writer and have been engaged with the club for a while. It's greatly appreciated by us office bums, even though for me the "office" is a nursery shed trying to grow a fungus.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

1 hour ago, MFC-11 said:

Just got home from work and really enjoyed this. Jrono where have been?...only 10 posts ...really? Loved reading your work. Clearly you're a wordsmith/ writer and have been engaged with the club for a while. It's greatly appreciated by us office bums, even though for me the "office" is a nursery shed trying to grow a fungus.

Jrono copied n pasted from a bigfooty poster called Proper Gander. Credits him at beginning 

[bing181 9,328]

3 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Case in point - last week he claimed everyone had came back in tip, top shape.

Actually, that's not what he said, he said that according to Misson "everyone's tracking fine". i.e., regardless of how they came back, they were now all doing what was needed. Yes, pedantic I know, but it's a different point, and not necessarily a negation of yours.

It's clear that Saty is a prickly character with his own take on things - and not just footy. Some are better dealing with that than others, while some (such as you?) ask, legitimately, whether they should have to deal with it at all. On the other hand, Saty isn't the only poster here who's a bit of a bruiser/has a short fuse, so either we have strict enforcement of guidelines (which is unrealistic IMV), or we accept a little collateral damage in the interests of there being a reasonable amount of give and take in allowing people to have their say ... such as it is.

 

[Grapeviney 9,800]

Ok, here endeth the discussion on saty.

All future posts will be deleted.

The easiest way to deal with posters you don't like is to put them on ignore. Simple.

[TRIGON 4,790]

Looking forward to Noah’s training report tomorrow.