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Training - Monday, 17th June 2019

Earl Hood
in Melbourne Demons

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Dropped by training for 30 minutes this morning in beautiful sunny and calm conditions. Neville  was running laps endlessly with Crossy, OMac running laps as well and AVB walking around a little. Viney showed up late and did some close in ball work with Hannan but not much else. Didn’t sight Lever while I was there.

The others were going hard at it with numerous drills moving the ball by foot, kicking low 30m passes to a player on the lead. It wasn’t perfect but I thought most players were hitting their targets. These 30 meter passes are the ones we seem to be over cooking on the few occasions that our mids lower their eyes when delivering to a target in our forward line. 

There were also numerous drills where a player had to move through heavy traffic to get the ball with other players armed with the big pads,so there were some heavy hits as players tried to crash through. 

Harmes, JKH, KK, Stretch and Jeffy were involved in all the quick ball movement drills, moving well and delivering to targets. There was a lot going on around the ground so it was hard to take it all in. 

Training finished with the usual freestyle goal kicking practice at the northern end where players practiced whatever they needed to I suppose, set shots from 40 m for some, running snap shots for others.

i have mentioned previously that given our abysmal set shot accuracy this year why aren’t our forwards working on technique and routine with a specialist coach to iron out their issues. So it was interesting when at the end of training Brendan McCartney came over for a chat and said he was not happy with the standard of training, that there is still a lot of work needed if we are to improve and the playing group, although young had to understand this. 

I asked him about our goal kicking yips and shouldn’t we be working on our technique more and developing routines. His response was interesting, yes they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating. This makes sense when I think about it because no matter what level of sport you played you will at some stage executed something well above your normal level and I bet when you did you were not thinking much about technique, more likely you were thinking of outcomes and the rest was just happening subconsciously. 

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    Thanks for the report.

    Wanted to avoid turning this in to a goal kicking thread but I think that's the way it will go anyway, so here's my two cents.

    Players have to have a routine and they have to have a workable repeatable technique. It doesn't have to be perfect but it does have to get the basics right - namely the ball drop has to be smooth, as low as possible and consistent with the motion of the kick.

    It's probably not practical to have every goal kicking session slowed down to feature a coach working with the players. At some stage they need to just practice goal kicking by themselves and not be coached through it. As long as it's monitored to make sure they are sticking to a routine and keeping their technique that's fine by me.

    And yes, when it comes to game day you have to be in your routine and in a clear head space. Focusing on technique never works, just ask any golfer. The focus has to be on the routine which should be a series of mental and physical processes. 

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    Thanks for the report! I always find it captivating to hear what assistant coaches have to say, especially as one as experience as McCartney. Fantastic insight, and makes me stop guessing what they're doing behind closed doors to a degree

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    19 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

    Dropped by training for 30 minutes this morning in beautiful sunny and calm conditions. Neville  was running laps endlessly with Crossy, OMac running laps as well and AVB walking around a little. Viney showed up late and did some close in ball work with Hannan but not much else. Didn’t sight Lever while I was there.

    The others were going hard at it with numerous drills moving the ball by foot, kicking low 30m passes to a player on the lead. It wasn’t perfect but I thought most players were hitting their targets. These 30 meter passes are the ones we seem to be over cooking on the few occasions that our mids lower their eyes when delivering to a target in our forward line. 

    There were also numerous drills where a player had to move through heavy traffic to get the ball with other players armed with the big pads,so there were some heavy hits as players tried to crash through. 

    Harmes, JKH, KK, Stretch and Jeffy were involved in all the quick ball movement drills, moving well and delivering to targets. There was a lot going on around the ground so it was hard to take it all in. 

    Training finished with the usual freestyle goal kicking practice at the northern end where players practiced whatever they needed to I suppose, set shots from 40 m for some, running snap shots for others.

    i have mentioned previously that given our abysmal set shot accuracy this year why aren’t our forwards working on technique and routine with a specialist coach to iron out their issues. So it was interesting when at the end of training Brendan McCartney came over for a chat and said he was not happy with the standard of training, that there is still a lot of work needed if we are to improve and the playing group, although young had to understand this. 

    I asked him about our goal kicking yips and shouldn’t we be working on our technique more and developing routines. His response was interesting, yes they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating. This makes sense when I think about it because no matter what level of sport you played you will at some stage executed something well above your normal level and I bet when you did you were not thinking much about technique, more likely you were thinking of outcomes and the rest was just happening subconsciously. 

    Will Dunkley debut?    :)

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    Excellent report!

    Yes this was interesting:  they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating.

    I'm with DeeSpencer.  Not thinking about it comes from confidence and confidence comes from something being second nature and instinctive.  The only way to do that is practice.  This is true in any sport. 

    Did Macca say how he intends to get the players to 'stop thinking about it'? 

     

    As an aside, does anyone know if we have sports psychologists on staff.  I know it sounds a bit corny but mindfulness and visualisation are very good techniques to still the mind and follow a set routine.  Richmond and Dusty in particular had great success with it.  I recall Tammy Roos did a bit of this with the team and players found it beneficial.  I doubt we now have anyone on the coaching panel that goes in for the 'soft stuff'. 

    Edit: Just checked club website - no sports psychologists listed.

    Edited by Lucifer's Hero

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    • Demonland changed the title to Training - Monday, 17th June 2019

    39 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

    Dropped by training for 30 minutes this morning in beautiful sunny and calm conditions. Neville  was running laps endlessly with Crossy, OMac running laps as well and AVB walking around a little. Viney showed up late and did some close in ball work with Hannan but not much else. Didn’t sight Lever while I was there.

    The others were going hard at it with numerous drills moving the ball by foot, kicking low 30m passes to a player on the lead. It wasn’t perfect but I thought most players were hitting their targets. These 30 meter passes are the ones we seem to be over cooking on the few occasions that our mids lower their eyes when delivering to a target in our forward line. 

    There were also numerous drills where a player had to move through heavy traffic to get the ball with other players armed with the big pads,so there were some heavy hits as players tried to crash through. 

    Harmes, JKH, KK, Stretch and Jeffy were involved in all the quick ball movement drills, moving well and delivering to targets. There was a lot going on around the ground so it was hard to take it all in. 

    Training finished with the usual freestyle goal kicking practice at the northern end where players practiced whatever they needed to I suppose, set shots from 40 m for some, running snap shots for others.

    i have mentioned previously that given our abysmal set shot accuracy this year why aren’t our forwards working on technique and routine with a specialist coach to iron out their issues. So it was interesting when at the end of training Brendan McCartney came over for a chat and said he was not happy with the standard of training, that there is still a lot of work needed if we are to improve and the playing group, although young had to understand this. 

    I asked him about our goal kicking yips and shouldn’t we be working on our technique more and developing routines. His response was interesting, yes they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating. This makes sense when I think about it because no matter what level of sport you played you will at some stage executed something well above your normal level and I bet when you did you were not thinking much about technique, more likely you were thinking of outcomes and the rest was just happening subconsciously. 

    ABSOLUTE GARBAGE  ( Where is the DRILL)

    Training finished with the usual freestyle goal kicking practice at the northern end where players practiced whatever they needed to I suppose, set shots from 40 m for some, running snap shots for others.

    MORE GARBAGE ( Even more so)

    I asked him about our goal kicking yips and shouldn’t we be working on our technique more and developing routines. His response was interesting, yes they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating.

    Well ... my response to this is ... We really DO have our heads in the sand..

    Goal kicking is an art and needs SPECIALIST instruction. 

    PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE under Match conditions

    "STOP THINKING ABOUT IT... SERIOUSLY???? 

    THINK MORE ABOUT IT AND FIX THE PROBLEM 

    Nup GARBAGE, 

    And the worst is the Club STILL STILL cannot see and remedy a problem!!

    Hnmmm

    Thanks for Observations Earl Hood!

     

    Edited by picket fence

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    Different sport but still applicable. At a youth group where I help out I watched a young kid shooting hoops. He was ok but not getting the shots in. I noticed he was shooting with both feet in a line facing the basket. I told him to put his lead foot in front of the other one when aiming at the target for an immediate positive result. Imagine the little things a gun footy sharpshooter could impart to our forwards. 

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    18 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

    Different sport but still applicable. At a youth group where I help out I watched a young kid shooting hoops. He was ok but not getting the shots in. I noticed he was shooting with both feet in a line facing the basket. I told him to put his lead foot in front of the other one when aiming at the target for an immediate positive result. Imagine the little things a gun footy sharpshooter could impart to our forwards. 

    the job's yours. when  can you start? ?

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    1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Excellent report!

    Yes this was interesting:  they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating.

    I'm with DeeSpencer.  Not thinking about it comes from confidence and confidence comes from something being second nature and instinctive.  The only way to do that is practice.  This is true in any sport. 

    Did Macca say how he intends to get the players to 'stop thinking about it'? 

     

    As an aside, does anyone know if we have sports psychologists on staff.  I know it sounds a bit corny but mindfulness and visualisation are very good techniques to still the mind and follow a set routine.  Richmond and Dusty in particular had great success with it.  I recall Tammy Roos did a bit of this with the team and players found it beneficial.  I doubt we now have anyone on the coaching panel that goes in for the 'soft stuff'. 

    Edit: Just checked club website - no sports psychologists listed.

    I have been on about that for years.  

    As I understand we did have one (or maybe two) but ND didn't think we needed one and they were sacked.

    Maybe if we did have one when Liam Jurrah was struggling things may have turned out differently?

    I also understand that at least some other clubs do have these on their staff, though I am not sure which clubs these are.

    It would be interesting if those that do are the successful ones.

    Edited by monoccular

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    What’s the saying again

    PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (unless you are the MFC of course)

    unbelievable. 

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    1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Excellent report!

    Yes this was interesting:  they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating.

    I'm with DeeSpencer.  Not thinking about it comes from confidence and confidence comes from something being second nature and instinctive.  The only way to do that is practice.  This is true in any sport. 

    Did Macca say how he intends to get the players to 'stop thinking about it'? 

     

    As an aside, does anyone know if we have sports psychologists on staff.  I know it sounds a bit corny but mindfulness and visualisation are very good techniques to still the mind and follow a set routine.  Richmond and Dusty in particular had great success with it.  I recall Tammy Roos did a bit of this with the team and players found it beneficial.  I doubt we now have anyone on the coaching panel that goes in for the 'soft stuff'. 

    Edit: Just checked club website - no sports psychologists listed.

    Goodwin is big on psychology, be it how the individual prepares and how the coach's interact with the players, all part of a psychological curriculum. Psych is D.Williams... but as always, the player themselves may not buy into the soft skills, of attentional shifting etc etc

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    50 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

    the job's yours. when  can you start? ?

    Lol. but seriously  I think we all know footballers have egos and I believe there would be a lot of ex gun goalkickers who would be flattered to be giving technical advice to our players.

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    2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Excellent report!

    Yes this was interesting:  they are spooked on setshots but no we have done all that technique stuff, it will only turn around when they stop thinking about it. By which I think he means to stop thinking about the mechanics of it all because that is self defeating.

    I'm with DeeSpencer.  Not thinking about it comes from confidence and confidence comes from something being second nature and instinctive.  The only way to do that is practice.  This is true in any sport. 

    Did Macca say how he intends to get the players to 'stop thinking about it'? 

     

    As an aside, does anyone know if we have sports psychologists on staff.  I know it sounds a bit corny but mindfulness and visualisation are very good techniques to still the mind and follow a set routine.  Richmond and Dusty in particular had great success with it.  I recall Tammy Roos did a bit of this with the team and players found it beneficial.  I doubt we now have anyone on the coaching panel that goes in for the 'soft stuff'. 

    Edit: Just checked club website - no sports psychologists listed.

    Olympic park sports medicine based at AAMI park has sport psychology services, as I understand it a few of the players go there.

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    2 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

    Brendan McCartney came over for a chat and said he was not happy with the standard of training, that there is still a lot of work needed if we are to improve and the playing group, although young had to understand this. 

    Thanks for the report @Earl Hood - this is a bit concerning from McCartney. Surprising that the level of training is not good enough, especially when the players, you would think, have everything to prove.

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    2 hours ago, DemonOX said:

    What’s the saying again

    PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (unless you are the MFC of course)

    unbelievable. 

    YEP Unbelievable!!

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    18 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    YEP Unbelievable!!

    Unless you keep practicing the wrong thing over and over again. 

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    I have already reported about the issue with the goal kicking, as McCartney said 'over thinking' it

    Short memories on here again, Tommy Mc couldn't miss last yeat, it will sort itself out

    They have set a high standard at training, obviously in Macca's eyes, didn't reach it today

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    1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    Wonderful report. thanks Earl Hood.

    Completely staggered at the positions of Macca. Speechless. 

    On the contrary I can understand where he is coming from. If you keep concentrating on trying to fix a problem with your technique it may just get worse as you over analyse the mechanics of kicking a ball straight. A lot of advice to cure the putting yips in golf does not involve the mechanics of the swing but rather what’s going on in your mind when you line up. 

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    4 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

    Training finished with the usual freestyle goal kicking practice at the northern end where players practiced whatever they needed to I suppose, set shots from 40 m for some, running snap shots for others.

    Heaven forbid we some kind of structured approach to this part of our game!

    P.S. thanks Earl - a credit to you.

    Edited by rolling fog

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    1 minute ago, rolling fog said:

    Heaven forbid we some kind of structured approach to this part of our game!

    Yeah, what would professional coaches know about what's best.

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    18 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

    I have already reported about the issue with the goal kicking, as McCartney said 'over thinking' it

    Short memories on here again, Tommy Mc couldn't miss last yeat, it will sort itself out

    They have set a high standard at training, obviously in Macca's eyes, didn't reach it today

    In Tommy's case it could also be related to an injury concern.

    His form has dropped off dramatically & he did/does have toe issues.

    I remember Mark Lecras was one of the most accurate kicks in the AFL then after a broken arm had to wear a cast when playing.

    He lost all accuracy, even after the cast came off.

    Small things can easily effect the mechanics of kicking straight.

    Maybe mechanics, maybe mental...

     

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    4 minutes ago, bing181 said:

    Yeah, what would professional coaches know about what's best.

    1.8 for a half in Darwin would suggest not a lot 

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