They’re back in town!

Accordingly to the club’s website -

“Men's Training Times
Wednesday 7th February, 9.40am, Gosch's Paddock”

It's forecast to be 36 degrees in Melbourne today. Anyone watching training and reporting has my grateful thanks. But please stay in the shade.

Boys look good although  can't see Viney.Weideman, Hannan and the Smith boys in rehab. McKenna and Vandenberg on the lightest of duties. VDB proppily kicking only with his left foot. Future must be in doubt.

Fine scooting weather Craft day

So after a few warmup drills split into 3 groups

Mids  stoppage/clearance/tackling

Fwds marking/goalkicking/ crumbing and bringing ball to ground

Backs marking/one on one/spoiling

They have brought in a tackling coach from the Storm for a bit of technique training

Other notes

We are taking the AFLX seriously, I asked

Clarry is an aggressive sod in the tackling drills

Nathan Jones completed whole session without a hint of trouble

Some blurry pics on here and Insta today or tomorrow

Any questions feel free

12 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Fine scooting weather Craft day

So after a few warmup drills split into 3 groups

Mids  stoppage/clearance/tackling

Fwds marking/goalkicking/ crumbing and bringing ball to ground

Backs marking/one on one/spoiling

They have brought in a tackling coach from the Storm for a bit of technique training

Other notes

We are taking the AFLX seriously, I asked

Clarry is an aggressive sod in the tackling drills

Nathan Jones completed whole session without a hint of trouble

Some blurry pics on here and Insta today or tomorrow

Any questions feel free

Thanks for the info Saty. Re AFLX did we expect them to say any different? supporting the AFL etc. but do they really care I doubt it. The big prize is 29th September the rest are small side shows. Playing in September is what will make the MFC prosper not some crap in February.

Edited February 7, 20187 yr by old dee

46 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Fine scooting weather Craft day

So after a few warmup drills split into 3 groups

Mids  stoppage/clearance/tackling

Fwds marking/goalkicking/ crumbing and bringing ball to ground

Backs marking/one on one/spoiling

They have brought in a tackling coach from the Storm for a bit of technique training

Other notes

We are taking the AFLX seriously, I asked

Clarry is an aggressive sod in the tackling drills

Nathan Jones completed whole session without a hint of trouble

Some blurry pics on here and Insta today or tomorrow

Any questions feel free

Thanks for the report Saty.

Do you, or anyone else for that matter, know what the prognosis/timeframe for Weideman is???  Seems to be perpetually in the rehab group or missing altogether...

13 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Thanks for the report Saty.

Do you, or anyone else for that matter, know what the prognosis/timeframe for Weideman is???  Seems to be perpetually in the rehab group or missing altogether...

I popped down briefly.
Not a huge amount to report. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing and went about their business.

But I was watching Weideman pretty closely as he was doing his run-throughs / sprints in front of me, lead some of the time by Crossy. He's looking a lot fitter and much more 'AFL ready' compared to last year. I saw him at a similar stage last year and thought he really seemed to look quite heavily running across the ground – almost trudging – but today he really glided along and ran swiftly for a big bloke. Wouldn't want to be standing in his way. Obviously he's still got another couple of years before we see the best of him but I think we might see some exciting glimpses this year. He couldn't be too far away from joining the main group as he looked pretty comfortable running at pace.

33 minutes ago, DemonWheels said:

I popped down briefly.
Not a huge amount to report. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing and went about their business.

But I was watching Weideman pretty closely as he was doing his run-throughs / sprints in front of me, lead some of the time by Crossy. He's looking a lot fitter and much more 'AFL ready' compared to last year. I saw him at a similar stage last year and thought he really seemed to look quite heavily running across the ground – almost trudging – but today he really glided along and ran swiftly for a big bloke. Wouldn't want to be standing in his way. Obviously he's still got another couple of years before we see the best of him but I think we might see some exciting glimpses this year. He couldn't be too far away from joining the main group as he looked pretty comfortable running at pace.

Sounding promising.

As a complete layman, I would assume that the challenge following significant ankle surgery would be the stopping, propping and changing of direction.  Was this being worked on in rehab or was it straight run-throughs at pace?

I headed down by bike for first session since last season and as Saty has mentioned, it was primarily a skills session with most of the work divided into 3 groups - forwards, mids and defenders.

AFL is becoming a bit like NFL in that you train majority of time with your chosen group.

Those of you who have been regulars at training will know this already, but for those of you who haven't been much this year, the conclusions you can draw are:

Jordy and Vince are training with defence and will start season down back. Bernie was working feverishly in most drills, so overlook from your Rd 1 team at your peril. The other player to catch the eye was Jake Lever. Gees he moves well and his hands are so clean and given the way he was encouraging others, he's a monte to be part of our new leadership group. Oscar wasn't there today, but all the other keys were - Joel Smith doing running work so not part of the squad today but I'm told by Saty that he has been on other days and he looks mega ripped. Wags also impressive, but boy it's going to be hard for him to get in this year.

Both Salem and  Angus were training with midfield group, who were practising boundary throw set up with Plappy for a lot of session. Olly was being a bit of a dick, but his push and shove games with Salem, Tracc and Billy are all part of what happens when the real stuff begins, so he was a likeable nuisance. Maynard moves well, but like Wags, he will have to hope for injuries to get a gig methinks. Viney wasn't there and Tyson was another absentee today. But Tracc is training with the mids, so will he play there? Baker getting more tuition than really joining in - same as Petty with defenders.

The forward group included Bugg, JKH, Melky and Spargo for those trying to figure out Goody's early mindset. Lots of snaps and goalkicking practice for them and ANB, Melky and JKH were my best workers on a hot day when both Hoges and Jeffy finished up a little early - Jeffy did running drills afterwards so no issues there. T.Mac clearly a leader of this gp and he will doubtless again be in leadership squad with Viney, Jones, Gawn and Lever and then maybe one of the defensive oldies as well - ie: Lewis or Vince.

Hannan doing laps/fitness work with Tim Smith, while Weed did more hardcore running. I didn't see Kent.

Of all the recruits, aside from Lever, the only one I reckon is a chance for Rd 1 action is Bayley Fritsch - he's mega fit. I suspect he will get a trial pre-season and if he performs, a spot may appear with Hannan playing recovery catch up. Bugg may be preferred to them both though because he can lay a mean tackle, as we know.

Postscript: I just realised I didn't spot Harley Balic - help Saty!

 

 

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Sounding promising.

As a complete layman, I would assume that the challenge following significant ankle surgery would be the stopping, propping and changing of direction.  Was this being worked on in rehab or was it straight run-throughs at pace?

I spoke to both Crossy and Weed, 2 more weeks in rehab and then ready to go, aim is to build a body that gets on the park and and stays there.

Same with Smith x 2 they are in and out of main group now building loads

2 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

 

Any questions feel free

Are the forwards lining up with a 2 tall, 4 small style set up like the tigers or staying with 3-3 as we did last year?

Cheers 

2 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Are the forwards lining up with a 2 tall, 4 small style set up like the tigers or staying with 3-3 as we did last year?

Cheers 

I reckon the Tiges went pretty much 1-5....Jack was often the only tall and they used a medium like Grieg as relief ruck.

Wouldn't be surprised if we went 2-4 at times and maybe varied it a bit through the year depending on match ups and form...

11 minutes ago, rjay said:

I reckon the Tiges went pretty much 1-5....Jack was often the only tall and they used a medium like Grieg as relief ruck.

Wouldn't be surprised if we went 2-4 at times and maybe varied it a bit through the year depending on match ups and form...

2 keys + a ruck relief is the answer, and ask more of our wingers to help lock it in.

Richmond flukes a premiership with a makeshift forward line.  Their's is an exception to the rule, and I sincerely hope we don't follow them.

 

Tigers were definitely a 1-4 forward structure - they had jack, one mid sized marking mid (Dusty), then three pressure smalls

I imagine we’ll be 2-3 or 2-4 with T Mac and Hogan supported primarily by Jeff and then a rotation of mids, with Trac looking to be our raging bull Dusty-a-like

27 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

Tigers were definitely a 1-4 forward structure - they had jack, one mid sized marking mid (Dusty), then three pressure smalls

I imagine we’ll be 2-3 or 2-4 with T Mac and Hogan supported primarily by Jeff and then a rotation of mids, with Trac looking to be our raging bull Dusty-a-like

He has a long way to go to get to that level DA. Raging calf in 2017 I hope bull like in 2018.

Edited February 7, 20187 yr by old dee

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

Are the forwards lining up with a 2 tall, 4 small style set up like the tigers or staying with 3-3 as we did last year?

Cheers 

Mix and match, Goodwin wants versatility, seen one drill with Melksham as the tall?

Edited February 7, 20187 yr by Satyriconhome

53 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

2 keys + a ruck relief is the answer, and ask more of our wingers to help lock it in.

Richmond flukes a premiership with a makeshift forward line.  Their's is an exception to the rule, and I sincerely hope we don't follow them.

 

The Dogs won a premiership on the back of small, high-pressure forward line in 2016 also. Boyd and Cordy (both spending time as relief rucks), Stringer a mid-sized marking option, with Dahlhaus, Dunkley McLean, Smith etc rotating through bringing the manic pressure.

Ignore the lessons at our peril.

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

Postscript: I just realised I didn't spot Harley Balic - help Saty!

Balic, Kent, Viney, Omac not sighted

Tyson disappeared early

Hogan didn't do whole session

11 minutes ago, Thrice said:

The Dogs won a premiership on the back of small, high-pressure forward line in 2016 also. Boyd and Cordy (both spending time as relief rucks), Stringer a mid-sized marking option, with Dahlhaus, Dunkley McLean, Smith etc rotating through bringing the manic pressure.

Ignore the lessons at our peril.

I will ignore it, thanks.  Time will prove who is the better judge, and at this stage, regardless of what structure the Bulldogs and Richmond had, I'm very confident time will prove me right.

The past two premiership coaches have built a structure and a game plan on the resources at hand. We can speculate on our structure and game plan but I suspect that it will depend on the availability, form and fitness of the players.

What is different for the dees this year is that, with our flexible list comprising talls and shorts, inners and outers, attackers and defenders, runners and blockers, deliverers and receivers and many multi adaptable players, there are many different combinations that can be tested and used. The final structure for both the doggies and tiges did not become apparent until the finals arrived.

Let's be patient and not get fixated on a "preferred" structure and let it evolve. That we will have numerous options and possibilities is a plus. The ultimate goal is to find a structure and game plan that our opposition can't counter.

6 hours ago, The Chazz said:

I will ignore it, thanks.  Time will prove who is the better judge, and at this stage, regardless of what structure the Bulldogs and Richmond had, I'm very confident time will prove me right.

The first 15 rounds of 2017 we were the highest pressure side in the comp before falling away due to injury etc. Our best footy last year was streaming inside 50 in waves and scoring through general play or hit ups to free players. 

Goody has shown his hand on this one. He's looking far more closely at Beveridge and Hardwick than The Gospel of Chazz.

We've got quality KPFs but I doubt we'll see more than 2 in there too often this year. And mobility / forward pressure will be one of the main KPIs of those that do play, something TMac has especially.

10 hours ago, DemonWheels said:

Everyone seemed to know what they were doing

 

We're so boring now.

10 hours ago, tiers said:

The past two premiership coaches have built a structure and a game plan on the resources at hand. We can speculate on our structure and game plan but I suspect that it will depend on the availability, form and fitness of the players.

What is different for the dees this year is that, with our flexible list comprising talls and shorts, inners and outers, attackers and defenders, runners and blockers, deliverers and receivers and many multi adaptable players, there are many different combinations that can be tested and used. The final structure for both the doggies and tiges did not become apparent until the finals arrived.

Let's be patient and not get fixated on a "preferred" structure and let it evolve. That we will have numerous options and possibilities is a plus. The ultimate goal is to find a structure and game plan that our opposition can't counter.

I think this flexibility will be perfect for Craig Jennings’ skillset - he could very well devise some interesting structures, running patterns, match ups etc throughout the year on this basis.

 

As long as we fix our slow starts improve our  kickouts, stop going to sleep for a whole quarter when we feel like it and improve our energy as the season progresses I will be happy

All the rest is fixable the team must start to turn up to play from the first bounce in the first game!!!!!!!!

17 hours ago, rjay said:

I reckon the Tiges went pretty much 1-5....Jack was often the only tall and they used a medium like Grieg as relief ruck.

Wouldn't be surprised if we went 2-4 at times and maybe varied it a bit through the year depending on match ups and form...

 

16 hours ago, The Chazz said:

2 keys + a ruck relief is the answer, and ask more of our wingers to help lock it in.

Richmond flukes a premiership with a makeshift forward line.  Their's is an exception to the rule, and I sincerely hope we don't follow them.

 

 

15 hours ago, The Chazz said:

I will ignore it, thanks.  Time will prove who is the better judge, and at this stage, regardless of what structure the Bulldogs and Richmond had, I'm very confident time will prove me right.

Tiges & Dogs circumstances governed how they set up. We're a more rounded team so I expect that flexibility will be used to our benefit.

We won't be following either so I don't think you have anything to worry about.

With Fritsch & Hannan as 3rd tall options & the Petracca wildcard don't be surprised if we don't go with a dedicated 2nd ruck option. Tommy Mac or Pedders will take care of that, I think they may often be fighting for the same spot in the team.

How Weideman comes up will also play a part in how we set up...

Sometimes we will go 2-4 and sometimes we will rotate a resting ruck.