7 hours ago, Demonland said:

Chandler didn't look happy about being done over by the Bowza.

1 hour ago, dworship said:

Chandler didn't look happy about being done over by the Bowza.

Love the Bowza. Really hope he cements his spot this year. 

40 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Love the Bowza. Really hope he cements his spot this year. 

Pressure for spots is going to be intense at the club but agree chook I hope Bowza locks himself in early in the piece.

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

Love the Bowza. Really hope he cements his spot this year. 

It shapes as an interesting year for bowser.

From a good luck charm  best 22 lock who only knew winning.

To getting dropped in the back of his second season.

He didn't appear injured - did he miss a game? - so perhaps it was a classic case of second year blues.

However, I have little doubt Salem either out injured or not at his best had a big impact. Bowey was suddenly the main distributor off half back and other teams put work into him.

He is a super important player for us, Salem even more so.

But almost as important is both playing regularly together. They compliment each other really well and if Salem is fit and firing the opposition is more likely to give him more focus than bowey .

Which helps bowey get off the chain a bit more and set up some scoring chains.

If Hunter can cement a spot in the best 22, suddenly we have three elite kicks distibuting the ball in that critical half back, wing zone.

That's a big improvement from 2022 right there. 

A question for the track watchers (loving the reports) - how are bowey and salo looking?

Edited January 16, 20233 yr by binman

17 hours ago, stinga said:

Went with a friend to watch training this morning.  They have 3 sets of temporary grandstands set up next to the rooms for spectators and get a good view of everything.

Fritsch was the only absentee and J Smith was on the bike for the whole session.

Everyone in their own numbers except JVR in 44,   Kye Turner is 47 and Burgoyne 33.

Started off with goal kicking which has been described before.

Then an agility routine where where they ducked around ski poles whilst marking short kicks, receiving and giving handballs.  Then a couple of other similar groups (of which there were 3 of 15 or 16 players).  In one a ball was tossed in with 5 in white tabbards trying to intercept or tackle whilst other team handballed it around.   At this stage one of the groups was all the tall players probably 194 or more and their skills below their knees were great.  The had to at least bounce handball through the group a couple of times.  When you saw 16 such tall players together you realised we are going to be a tall side, even if 6 are at Casey.  May's anticipation and tackling stood out.

Then whole ground long kicks one way, punch to defend and switch with handballs from defence then run and handball or short kicks to the other end.  Very slick movement.  It was in this that I saw Grundy on a few occasions just take off and try and get ahead of the play into the forward line.  From that and previous reports,I think that is what he is going to do.

They then did different versions of match practice which included free kicks, 50 metres etc.   In this it stood out just how far  the 1st and 2nd year players are behind the senior players  Hibberd, May, Lever and Petty work really well together.  Of the new players  Hunter stood out - just kept hitting targets and got a bit of the ball.   Grundy was very mobile but Max dominated.  Schache took one good mark but that's all I saw him do.  The 2 Turners were OK but a level below the others.   Burgoyne was in the match practice but didn't seem to do much.  Kozzie was quiet but looked good if that makes sense.

Brown was very good, TMac and Bowie were OK  JVR was impressive.  Chandler and Spargo got involved. Trac, Oliver, Viney Langdon, Brayshaw, Harmes and Sparrow were a level above the rest.  ANB was quiet and at one stage came off with maybe a groin issue, but came back on.  Thommo did well - looks to have lost weight and moves a bit freer.  Salem, Melksham, Jordan, Dunstan and Laurie were quiet.  

The young ones do well in the skills drills but just don't have the body or presence to impact in the match play.  Seston has a body that could compete but a long way behind.  Howes is probably the closest but will take him a while.

Great report, thanks stinga. The highlight for me was the use of the word "tabbard". I had to look it up. (Though, I think it might only have a single b.) 

On 1/16/2023 at 10:40 PM, binman said:

It shapes as an interesting year for bowser.

From a good luck charm  best 22 lock who only knew winning.

To getting dropped in the back of his second season.

He didn't appear injured - did he miss a game? - so perhaps it was a classic case of second year blues.

However, I have little doubt Salem either out injured or not at his best had a big impact. Bowey was suddenly the main distributor off half back and other teams put work into him.

He is a super important player for us, Salem even more so.

But almost as important is both playing regularly together. They compliment each other really well and if Salem is fit and firing the opposition is more likely to give him more focus than bowey .

Which helps bowey get off the chain a bit more and set up some scoring chains.

If Hunter can cement a spot in the best 22, suddenly we have three elite kicks distibuting the ball in that critical half back, wing zone.

That's a big improvement from 2022 right there. 

A question for the track watchers (loving the reports) - how are bowey and salo looking?

Need all three involved  in our rebound 50 game. Not only hitting targets but making quick decisions and cutting up teams with quick delivery i50 and isolating our forwards

If we use the boundary like we did this year it will be a long year. We will inevitably turn it over but we need to take more risks.