The boys will be hitting the track this morning at 11:00am which is 1/2 an hour earlier than previous Mondays.

We'd appreciate any reports from intrepid Demonlanders heading down.

Thanks in advance.

I’m unexpectedly here. Down from Sydney and the timing worked out nicely. 

You can read about training but it’s something else being here. The main group are doing repeat 150metre sprints over and over. As they finish they jog back through a group of trainers who throw balls at them or ground balls which they pick up and  pass back. Or at other times they go straight into shots on goal but very rapid and then jog back for the next 150. When you are right next to them you see just how brutal the running is. A lot of the running is in pairs with equally matched runners. 

I love what I’m seeing. They are clearly training them to execute skills straight off maximum exertion. It’s real game simulation rather than just running around recovering then do some gentle kicking. 

As you’d expect nowadays it’s super organised. 

No particular standouts in the running. However I did see ANB kick a goal straight through the middle. Halle bloody lujah. 

Preuss and Gawn were doing their own run throughs. I hope they get on they’re spending a lot of one on one time together. Preussy is a monster. 

Now running shoes off and footy boots on. The whole group have gone into a tight huddle in the middle. Someone has started up a chant and the whole group repeats the chant as one. Different phrases over and over. Finished by chanting I have no fear and jumping up and down on the spot. 

Incredible sense of commeraderie. 

Gus doing laps on his own at a fair pace. Track and Vanders did a few laps on their own. Then Vanders and Harmsie. They were over the other side I assume in the rehab group. 

Just now, It's Time said:

I love what I’m seeing. They are clearly training them to execute skills straight off maximum exertion. It’s real game simulation rather than just running around recovering then do some gentle kicking. 

Bloody love this.

Just now, It's Time said:

Gus doing laps on his own at a fair pace. Track and Vanders did a few laps on their own. Then Vanders and Harmsie. They were over the other side I assume in the rehab group. 

Yep same as last Friday. Wonder what's up with Gus. Was reported that he was on light duties last week due to being sick during the week. Must have had something that really hit him for six.

Also a reminder to Demonlanders wanting to head down to training that Friday's training is the final session this year and is an Open session as involves giveaways and a visit from Santa.

Date: Friday, 14 December
Session start time: 9.30am
Location: Gosch's Paddock, Olympic Bvd, Melbourne
Details: Join us at our final AFL open training session for 2018! Enjoy a range of fun activities and giveaways around the ground, including a visit from Santa!

Keep up the great reporting Its Time!

Edited December 10, 20186 yr by dazzledavey36

Bloody Hell. It’s near the end of a 2hr session. Frosty has gone down to a goal square on his own with a bag of balls. Wondered what he’s doing. He’s kicking torps that are almost hitting the bloody cross in the centre circle. One went off the side of his boot. We’ll call that the 2018 Prelim Finals kick. I’ll call the centre circle ones the 2019 GF kick. 

Edited December 10, 20186 yr by It's Time

Heard Brendan McCartney tell someone the players are training really well. Gone up another level. Still some fine tuning to go but gone up a level. 

Edited December 10, 20186 yr by It's Time

2 minutes ago, It's Time said:

Bloody Hell. It’s near the end of a 2hr session. Frosty has gone down to a goal square in his own with a bag of balls. Wondered what he’s doing. He’s kicking torps that are almost hitting the bloody cross in the centre circle. One went off the side of his boot. We’ll call that the 2018 Prelim Finals kick. I’ll call the centre circle ones the 2019 GF kick. 

With the new kick in rules,  I suspect Frosty will be kicking / running it in a lot for us from the goal square 

Training just finished.  Dashing to the airport now. Can answer questions later. Will try to post some picks but will be of players running and kicking. Nothing special there. 

Great reporting @It's Time

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Bloody love this.

100% ......... and I love this bit too:

"Now running shoes off and footy boots on. The whole group have gone into a tight huddle in the middle. Someone has started up a chant and the whole group repeats the chant as one. Different phrases over and over. Finished by chanting I have no fear and jumping up and down on the spot. 

Incredible sense of commeraderie."

Pre- Christmas when training is usually a hard grind with all the repeat running and fitness stuff, but it sounds like the boys are loving every minute of it.  Not satisfied with top four, and champing at the bit to take the next step!  Brilliant!

I'm enjoying your "unexpected" visit to Melbourne as much as you seem to be It's Time.  Many thanks for sharing!

 

Frosty can be a weapon. The classic 80-100m players who can run away from any opposition and drive the ball long into the forward line.  It doesn't have to be "lace out" just so long as the opposition are put under pressure and forced to defend in our forward line.

Can't kick goals from anywhere else.

If used tactically and strategically at the right times will make a huge difference to the game plan.

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

I've said it before and I'll repeat it here.......... I love seeing Fritta in the lead group with ANB and TMac.  Taking an outstanding debut season to a new level ............ ?

 

Great report, can't wait for 2019 to come. All aboard☺️

Garlett looks much trimmer.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Great reporting @It's Time

Seconded.  Informative, well written and absent of any bias.  Love it.

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

Seconded.  Informative, well written and absent of any bias.  Love it.

Ok WB we get it. Knock it off. Goes for a few others too. You know I hate having to say it.

Can't make it on Friday so decided to have a last look before 2019.

It was slightly windy, but the standard of kicking appears up a notch - it was only four years ago when the only blokes likely to hit another player lace up were Jonesy and Wattsy. Now almost everyone can nail a pass keeping it low.

Everyone has their favourites, but my two standouts on the track were Joel Smith - he played as a forward in a short spell of close to genuine match practice - and Bayley Fritta - whose left foot passing from a very undermanned midfield was Salemesque.

Most of our young heroic midfielders -  Angus, Olly, Trac and Harmesy trained with the remedial group early along with hardworkers VDB and Stretch plus big O-Mac, Jayden, Jetta and Marty Hore.  It was possibly our best ever rehab group and Marty looks class - a bit reminiscent of Warren Dean. he wil add to our left-foot clearance contingent. Pleasingly Jayden kept the ball low and hard all morning - maybe someone has been advising him. Olly and Baker primarily did laps. Lever and Jack Viney made very short appearances. Jake just did a few kicks and Jack did a few run throughs, although dad Todd lasted the whole session, catching up with Matt Jones at one stage.

No sign of Jordy or Melky. 

It was hard not to notice how lively both Weid and Frosty were, Hibbo was also very impressive and while he may hunch over like an old man a lot, our new boy Steven May hit more targets than Michael Diamond. 

Two other things stood out to me.

The sense of calm watching training that now exists because we now have a back-up ruckman. I am not sure Preussy's athleticism is going to let him play as a forward, but if Gawny does get injured at some stage next season, we now don't have to alter the game plan. And Casey midfielders are going to love him.

The other thing was that T-Mac has taken his lack of fashion to a new level - he has added pink boots to his white sock repertoire. Not quite Warwick Capper, but a job in Richmond as a meter made awaits him when he retires.

 

Thanks for the detailed report @Deespicable