"I WISH I KNEW WHERE I WANTED TO BE WHEN I WANTED TO BE WHERE I WAS TODAY"

Picture this.... temperature around 25 warm , balmy DAY and the Fence enjoying the majesty of the very pleasant surroundings of Casey Fields, does this sound inviting? Well I can tell you it beats the hell outa a weekend in Siberia anyday!

But out here you still have to worry about slitherers but  they are far more dangerous and bigger entities which have the capacity to be a .. more menacing presence .... which might or might not be related to the sign above!

The usual drone of House music emanating from the Boom Box speakers at Casey Fields just blended nicely into the soundscape of what was another "Full On" Blitzkrieg Training session today. The following report was filed for the Demonland Brethren so what are you waiting for...... read on

Absentees  NO MAJAK No W.A Contingent except for Kossie

On modified duties  Jayden Hunt

Warm ups   This is done two ways 

1 At the new indoor facility where players go through a thorough graduated stretching and graduated drill sequence

2 Out on the ground where small drills focusing on precise ball movement, quickness of delivery and rapid fire ball drill sequences are related to in tight match simulations

One of these was a drill which I now call "Three Blind Mice" Players run backwards, with ball, Pirouette and run forward in a triangualar type sequence zig zag and then deliver the ball slighly off balance. It looks like the type of drill which equates to players being surrounded by opposition and then need to squeeze a correct delivery whilst slightly disorientated and slightly off balance.

Skills , Drills and Maneuvers

Two groups were maintained with one doing whole ground ball movements from various positions of stoppages both forwards and back and selecting again correct options for longer run and carry type work and also ground switching. The other group then continued in small confines contested ball work and again emphasizing delivery, blocking harrasing and disposal under pressure

At the completion of this drill an excellent drill where players were involved in a triangular formation with 3 players moving the ball with precise handball which was punctuated by the gadfly tendancies of two harrasers who provided contest and pressure. This was an excellent drill in which hardly any group made a mistake! Delivery was precise, Handballs were given at the right moment then opening up the play.

Following that a full match simulation was conducted under match conditions which again featured some at times breathtaking full ground transferance of the air conveyance! 

At the conclusion of that another minor activity some run throughs and Goal kicking was maintained and warm down completed a just over 2 hour pretty intensive and hard workout

Player watch

Several players really stood out for mine and I'll go through them now

ADAM TOMLINSON A few on this site have commented on his "Readiness" but after seeing him again today he WILL be ready to go round 1. He marked well, moved well, was assured and showed NO sign of being hampered by his knee reco. He looked bloody good.

DEAKYN SMITH Caught my eye on a few occasions with his Charismatic ball skills and skill level, will be one to watch in 2022

BAILEY LAURIE Looked much more assured and confident with some very "Astute" decisions and ball use

TOM SPARROW Every time I see this kid I just keep thinking he plays like a turbo charged Ollie Wines, he is a bull who is becoming more confident and imposing.

JAMES JORDON Scott Pendlebury Mrk 2 in the making here.

JAKE BOWEY How much better can this kid get? Just never ever makes a mistake just cruises along the ground mopping up better than a thirsty Jex in the desert!

JOEL SMITH Looks confident in body and took some excellent intercept marks and delivered very well in run and carry sim.

N0 27 AND 42 Not sure who they are but boy did they do some excellently crafted runs and deliveries "Lace out" I wondered whether 1 was Luke Dunstan but not sure.

OUR STANDOUTS Im putting a few buck on Clayton OLIVER for the 2022 BROWNLOW He just does not stop improving , some of his escapism and brute strength and dazzle from stoppages is almost impossible! Our culture is being driven by Max, Tracc, Stephen May and Jake Lever were irrepressible and Ed Langdon ANB, J.V, BBB, and Big Mac were all eye catching. Fritta snapped a couple of "Freak Goals" and Harmsy and Rivers assured as was Christian Salem

IMPROVERS Fraser Rossman shows signs of steady improvement once smothering with full body on a Clarry Kick and Toby Bedford, and Kade Chandler committed very well.

FINAL COMMENTS Competition for places is at all seasons high with selection headaches aplenty. Long gone are the days of limited backups and I forecast based on what I've seen little let up from the professional and exacting standards established in 2021

 

 

thanks, picket. nice report

and glad to see you covered the vipers

Thanks Picket.....another sensational report.

Much appreciated!

Great colourful, interesting and comprehensive summary Picket.Almost Dickensian without clothes descriptions.I loved it.

Thanks Picket you're a legend. How is Dunstan going?

Number 42 is Turner. Looks the goods.

What's wrong with Hunt?

Great report, thanks. Is training open to the public or are you mixing it with the wildlife?

42 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Number 42 is Turner. Looks the goods.

looks the goods this kid one to watch throughout the year.

Mr Fence. Thanks very much 

appreciate your views. And you taking the tie to go there despite standing on snakes 

Great write up. How different is it being a Melbourne fan now. I remember so often there would be 2-3 players that should not be playing seniors. Boy am I glad those days are done.

Greatly appreciated Picket.

In fact so good that Andy said to send him your petrol receipt for reimbursement.

Thanks picket how good that the boys are working so hard and skill fully leading into the Xmas break.!

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

…….

JAMES JORDON Scott Pendlebury Mrk 2 in the making here.

…..

 

 

James Jordon tracking to be Pendles-like? Normally you’d think gross exaggeration and extreme wishful thinking, the ramblings of the delusional, but the way this club is tracking at the moment it could end up underselling JJ. 

Thanks Picket, your the best!

Sparrow could be a superstar but I doubt he will break into our midfield next year. Petracca, Viney or Oliver would need to be injured.

We have an exciting list.

5 minutes ago, Wrecker46 said:

Sparrow could be a superstar but I doubt he will break into our midfield next year. Petracca, Viney or Oliver would need to be injured.

We have an exciting list.

I can see Sparrow taking a couple of centre bounces next year a quarter, and then spending a bit of time on the HF flank and the bench.

His finals series was too good to ignore and he’s coming into his 4th year so he’s approaching his prime as a mature footballer. Probably best 22.

Great report might aswell get the 22 premiership cup engraved now 

2 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

Sparrow could be a superstar but I doubt he will break into our midfield next year. Petracca, Viney or Oliver would need to be injured.

We have an exciting list.

Wrecker - we need far more than three midfielders, and I have absolutely no doubt that Sparrow will join Harmes, ANB and JJ(and Dunstan)  in playing his role in this classy midfield.

5 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Great report, thanks. Is training open to the public or are you mixing it with the wildlife?

On the Outer Limits

But so Rapped Re Clayton Oliver!.....

bloody sensational!

You’ve got a nice way of paying compliments to the players @picket fence.

compliments to you!

Lol the only one talking about Tomlinson’s “readiness” is you picket. Webber is a physio and knows his game, as he said if Tomlinson comes out playing early doors then he is well ahead of the curve. 

12 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Great report, thanks. Is training open to the public or are you mixing it with the wildlife?

With wildlife, "Emptiness eagles and snow,unfriendliness chilling my body and thinking of pictures of home"

PIctures of Home

DEEP PURPLE

One of the greatest songs ever from Machine Head 1971

Edited December 17, 20213 yr by picket fence

10 hours ago, monoccular said:

Wrecker - we need far more than three midfielders, and I have absolutely no doubt that Sparrow will join Harmes, ANB and JJ(and Dunstan)  in playing his role in this classy midfield.

When Oliver and Petracca play over 90% time on ground we don't have as many rotations as you think.

We might be getting to a position where the list runs so deep, that capable players just can’t get a game. Now being a premiership team, some of those players will want to be traded to get their opportunities. In the past they would be seen as freebies or NQR’s, whereas now they will be seen in a different light by the other clubs and become tradeable for draft picks, which when bundled  in pick swaps, improves our draft hand. Then when JT gets to work, you hopefully pick up more young talent and the list keeps improving. That provides a sustained opportunity for more success, while our core group of champions are still at their best. Hopefully you replace some of them with more very good players, knowing that real champions are not always around or available.

TBH and not getting carried away, it would not be stupid to say that this current team has a real chance to win a few more flags while it’s core is still playing well. Of course, luck with injuries is still hugely important and hard work has to be a given.

We are now in a very good position to have continued success and as fans, we have a chance to reap a lot of enjoyment from our club after years of disappointment.