Appreciate the posts @Demon Jack

32 minutes ago, Radar Detector said:

I was there early and he was walking laps. Didn’t see him doing anything else before I had to leave.

Put a fork in him he’s done. Unfortunately concussion has destroyed his footy career. 

THANKS for the reports Demon Jack - much appreciated!

29 minutes ago, Clint Buzzkill said:

Can't wait to see him in the backline.

Yes, Fritsch looked like a fish out of water when they inexplicably threw him up forward late in the season,

Thanks for the update DJ.

Good to see the resident negative comedians haven't improved over the break

27 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Thanks for the update DJ.

Good to see the resident negative comedians haven't improved over the break

It is sadly one of the constants on here.

Have to say that living in Hobart and never getting to see the boys train, any news from trackwatchers is brilliant and am very happy to read it. 

Just saw that Kysiaia Pickett is in Darwin. Anyone know why?

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Just saw that Kysiaia Pickett is in Darwin. Anyone know why?

Not familiar with Melb streets yet, and took a wrong turn on his way to Gosch's?

Just back from training.  I got there at 9.12 but I was late.  They were already out there doing some warm up drills and gentle kicking.

The first person I saw was Vanders.  He did all the drills other than the match sims and a few of the specialist drills at the end where instead he ran 300m at a fair pace with Harry Petty.  He looks in good shape.  Petty also completed some of the drills at one stage taking a great grab over Preuss.

Bennell and Tomlinson joined the rehab group at about 10 but I don't know what they did as I was on the other side of the ground.

After a few handball keepings off type drills where unlike Wednesday there was "respectful tackling" they did match sims.  It wasn't full on in terms of tackling but it was in terms of pace.  And the news from the sims is "Jack's back".  Vines was absolutely outstanding, got leather poisoning, was hard at it and added blind turns, good kicking, clean hand and great balance and agility to the sim.

Melk had a great patch where he had it on a string, Fritter was on the end of a few, TMac marked very well and Weed held some good grabs.  May's kicking is outstanding and Lever was also busy down back.  Jackson and Rivers played the first sim and Jackson is so agile, found the ball in play and moves like a mid with good vision and execution including one blind turn and give off highlighting his work.

Rivers looks likely particularly early.  Clean, agile and a lovely kick.  Neita and Hunt were opposed on my wing.  Both were involved and Neita reminds me of a young Langdon with a better kick.  I like what I'm seeing of him as he looks a natural winger to me (if there is such a position) and it will be interesting to see how he goes this year.  One to watch.

Another who impressed was Chandler.  He's got a lot of good attributes with speed and agility being the standouts.  He can kick too.

The downer was Brayshaw leaving early although he didn't look too distressed.  It wasn't a leg injury so I really can't add much.

Hannan and KK were in rehab and not working very hard.  These two don't look close to me.  Jones wasn't there when I was but apparently walked some laps before I got there.

After the second match sim selected groups did different things.  But there were a number who literally ran off to AAMI not to be seen again.  There was a clear emphasis on tackling again, Lewis was working with different players on goal kicking snaps and Stafford was working with Jackson on his kicking which looked pretty good to me.

I could confirm what we know.  Weed has really filled out and looks good taking some nice marks and kicking well.  Oh, the other to be really involved was Hibbo.  Ran well, defended and had a heap of it but for a lovely looking kick can he miss targets.  He's done it his whole career with us so nothing much has changed.  Lockhart was also impressive in patches and JJ also was involved.

I left at about 11.50 when I decided the footy's were away but they were still going after 12.  A long hard session with many of the players looking spent.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Come to think about it I didn't notice that Jones wasn't there on Wednesday. That's two sessions in a row.

He heard there's a co-captains job going at Port 

7 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

Just back from training.  I got there at 9.12 but I was late.  They were already out there doing some warm up drills and gentle kicking.

The first person I saw was Vanders.  He did all the drills other than the match sims and a few of the specialist drills at the end where instead he ran 300m at a fair pace with Harry Petty.  He looks in good shape.  Petty also completed some of the drills at one stage taking a great grab over Preuss.

Bennell and Tomlinson joined the rehab group at about 10 but I don't know what they did as I was on the other side of the ground.

After a few handball keepings off type drills where unlike Wednesday there was "respectful tackling" they did match sims.  It wasn't full on in terms of tackling but it was in terms of pace.  And the news from the sims is "Jack's back".  Vines was absolutely outstanding, got leather poisoning, was hard at it and added blind turns, good kicking, clean hand and great balance and agility to the sim.

Melk had a great patch where he had it on a string, Fritter was on the end of a few, TMac marked very well and Weed held some good grabs.  May's kicking is outstanding and Lever was also busy down back.  Jackson and Rivers played the first sim and Jackson is so agile, found the ball in play and moves like a mid with good vision and execution including one blind turn and give off highlighting his work.

Rivers looks likely particularly early.  Clean, agile and a lovely kick.  Neita and Hunt were opposed on my wing.  Both were involved and Neita reminds me of a young Langdon with a better kick.  I like what I'm seeing of him as he looks a natural winger to me (if there is such a position) and it will be interesting to see how he goes this year.  One to watch.

Another who impressed was Chandler.  He's got a lot of good attributes with speed and agility being the standouts.  He can kick too.

The downer was Brayshaw leaving early although he didn't look too distressed.  It wasn't a leg injury so I really can't add much.

Hannan and KK were in rehab and not working very hard.  These two don't look close to me.  Jones wasn't there when I was but apparently walked some laps before I got there.

After the second match sim selected groups did different things.  But there were a number who literally ran off to AAMI not to be seen again.  There was a clear emphasis on tackling again, Lewis was working with different players on goal kicking snaps and Stafford was working with Jackson on his kicking which looked pretty good to me.

I could confirm what we know.  Weed has really filled out and looks good taking some nice marks and kicking well.  Oh, the other to be really involved was Hibbo.  Ran well, defended and had a heap of it but for a lovely looking kick can he miss targets.  He's done it his whole career with us so nothing much has changed.  Lockhart was also impressive in patches and JJ also was involved.

I left at about 11.50 when I decided the footy's were away but they were still going after 12.  A long hard session with many of the players looking spent.

Thanks for the excellent report.

 

 

@Baghdad Bob   you missed it, footys came out again, last group finished just after 1pm

 

Pickett’s obviously up there either for a funeral or family business. 

Anyhow, hope the kid is going ok.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Pickett’s obviously up there either for a funeral or family business. 

Anyhow, hope the kid is going ok.

Hopefully he's there for a family celebration instead. Best wishes either way.

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

Hopefully he's there for a family celebration instead. Best wishes either way.

Yes exactly. 

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

I wonder what the ailment is? Is it concussion related or soft tissue?

Jones now in Rehab not sure why 

Jackson was there doing the moonwalk!

1 hour ago, Mazer Rackham said:

He heard there's a co-captains job going at Port 

Added to rehab group and then Port 

11 minutes ago, All the Jacks said:

Jones now in Rehab not sure why 

My query that you quoted referred to Kade Kolodjashnij but I'm curious to know why Jones hasn't been at training over the past two sessions.

Watched early part of training. Jackson showed skill and determination both in tapping ball in ruck situations as well as at ground level. This was a solid season including all of the ruckman involving continuous repeat situations. Pruess also impressed covering the ground muck quicker than last year. 

In match situation I was impressed with Rivers. His disposal was good.

Gus left early. He appeared to be rubbing his lower back

Edited December 6, 20196 yr by John Lord

My first visit to a session this pre season. Petracca looked fantastic. He was in everything and using the ball magnificently. If he could develop any more musculature, I don't know how. Absolute beast. Jackson looked eager. He was trailing Max all over the place in the match sim. He kicked a drop punt from a flank at one stage and it went 55-60 metres comfortably. 

Vandenberg was moving freely and seems as if he could return to it soon ( can't be soon enough for us !!! )

Couple of nice leads and grabs by Weid. He seems to be stronger in the upper body. 

Oliver looked impressive in most of his involvements. He's a slippery customer and he'll be hard to counter next year. At one point he dispossessed one opponent and evaded close attention from two others in the pocket to score a sneaky goal.

Harley Bennell has a funny type of gait but he was running comfortably around he boundary.

 

Match simulation training was pretty intensive.At one stage Hibberd jumped high up in the air to spoil a mark.He did but fell to the ground awkwardly and smashed his left shoulder It happened 5 metres in front of me.He took quite a while to get up before he got up.I thought he had busted his shoulder because he rally hit the ground hard.

33 minutes ago, John Lord said:

Gus left early. He appeared to be rubbing his lower back

Bad news. This killed most of his pre season last year and apparently hampered him throughout most of this season. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't have rested him in this dud season to make sure he was over it. Maybe rest doesn't help. Sounds like training and playing doesn't either.