24 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

If 46 is an academy kid he’s got to be a 25 year old in a 18 year olds body. Just took down Tracc with ease 

 

9 minutes ago, Nudge said:

He’s been incredible!!! Evasive, good skills too #mystery46

This might explain?

 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Concerning......

Ill go on record and say he will struggle to make it. A first round bust IMv

7 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

Kye Turner perchance?

No. He’s 47

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

This might explain?

 

That would be #44. He’s blonde and looks like Xavier

Drafting Zane Duursma would be a dream, great to see him train with us now 

That’s it from me.

in summary we’re training the house down

I’ll compile all my posts together in the first post of the thread and link to anyone else’s reports there too. 

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

Rehab:

 Lever (in runners but kicking the ball well and seems to be moving well), Max (not present), Melksham, Howes, AMW, J Smith

 Stafford was out early with Grundy & Verrall doing ruck drills. 

Lever went inside aami stadium along with Melks and AMW at about 950am 

Saw lever emerge and then Melks! Gee Melks looks fit this year and doesnt mind taking his shirt off!

24 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

This might explain?

 

Zane was in 44 and moved well and used the ball nicely at times. Moves a bit like Fritsch but no doubt bigger build for the same age and will be high on draft boards particularly if he’s able to display midfield versatility.

46 is a mystery to me. Built like a veteran Casey player but took down Tracc in a tackle an at one stage burst through a pack and drilled a kick inside 50 with a lot of quality 

Edited January 25, 20232 yr by DeeSpencer

7 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

This might explain?

 

The fact that Duursma's training as part of the AFL Academy experience doesn't mean we have any ties to him. It's an allocation made on a number of issues including proximity for training purposes. Since we do train at Casey Fields and he's from Gippsland, it's logical that he trains with us - plus the family connection.

 

3 minutes ago, Leopold Bloom said:

The fact that Duursma's training as part of the AFL Academy experience doesn't mean we have any ties to him. It's an allocation made on a number of issues including proximity for training purposes. Since we do train at Casey Fields and he's from Gippsland, it's logical that he trains with us - plus the family connection.

Yes I am aware that the Academy prospects get sent out to AFL clubs each year.

The only other prospect I can think is that the mystery #46 could be Cooper Simpson from thr Dandenong Stingrays. 

He's another AFL Academy prospect who I do know for a fact did train with us last week? Not sure of He's there this week, perhaps they have rotated a few prospects around.

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yes I am aware that the Academy prospects get sent out to AFL clubs each year.

The only other prospect I can think is that the mystery #46 could be Cooper Simpson from thr Dandenong Stingrays. 

He's another AFL Academy prospect who I do know for a fact did train with us last week? Not sure of He's there this week, perhaps they have rotated a few prospects around.

Just looked through the academy list and matched it up with faces and I’m 99% certain it’s him. Has a serious build on him.

Think they do a 2 week block and usually as a pair for Vic kids so that would make sense. Duursma was in the training clip they sent out last week too.

This is actually a bit similar to what he did at one stage today. Good combination of balance and skills to go with what looks a physical frame 

 

Edited January 25, 20232 yr by DeeSpencer

24 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yes I am aware that the Academy prospects get sent out to AFL clubs each year.

The only other prospect I can think is that the mystery #46 could be Cooper Simpson from thr Dandenong Stingrays. 

He's another AFL Academy prospect who I do know for a fact did train with us last week? Not sure of He's there this week, perhaps they have rotated a few prospects around.

Looks like him.

Demonland and others have reported most of what happened so there isn't really much more to add.  I concur that 44 and 46 looked very good, 46 the pick for me with this strength and poise but I've no idea who it is.

The Wednesday format at training seems to be fairly consistent in terms of drills but the match sim today was quite different from last week.  Today was a "real" match, contested stuff, full ground and at high intensity.  There was much more kicking I thought with less overlap handball and the defenders stayed deep with the forwards making it a real contest.  Last week was more focused on working the ball forward with overlap run and kicking to a forward out the back.  Make of that what you will.  I was standing close to where the players interchanged and when they came off they were spent.  I thought Hibbo was going to have a chuck at one stage but thankfully kept it in.  Verrell did some of the match sim for the first time and I liked what I saw.  He's pretty coordinated and not scared to take the game on.  He did limited minutes but is out of the rehab group and now getting involved in the drills.  AMW was running laps until late in the session and Sparg's was doing running and not the match sims but he was doing the handball drills.  I left before the end to beat the parking inspectors so look for later reports.

Impressive today were Riv who I thought was everywhere until I realized Viney was also in 24!  Confusing at a distance.  But the real Riv was pretty impressive and looks very strong.  Tmac really does look in good condition and played well despite his error with Kossie (again, I thought it was Riv but I was obscured in my view.  JvR looked very good too and just continues to impress.  Kade Chandler won't let the coaching staff forget him, he's been very lively and his tackling is a real standout.  Kossie not as impressive today but still lively and as reported Langdon and Hunter look very good on the wings.  I'm with those that think Hunter will be excellent for us if he keeps his mind on the job.

If you had to summarize today's session beyond those I've mentioned our good players did well and the younger players struggled to get into the sims as much but almost everyone did some good stuff.

And just to save Dazzle the trouble, J Smith was in the rehab group, I just don't understand why we gave him a 2 year extension. (actually I can but that's another story)! Just having a bit of fun Daz!

DEESPENCER'S TRAINING REPORT

KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

NUDGE'S TRAINING REPORT

59 minutes ago, Demonland said:

No. He’s 47

Thank you how is KT going?

Anyone care to suggest what name a fourth child might have been given by the Duursma parents, given the alphabetical progression from Xavier to Yasmin and then Zane?

Edited January 25, 20232 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Waiting for Zane Duursma to do the 🏹. Yet to see one so far 

I missed that we have a Duursma training with us… what is his relation to Jamie?

10 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Anyone care to suggest what name a fourth child might have been given by the Duursma parents, given the alphabetical progression from Xavier to Yasmin and then Zane?

Aardvark?

Bit of a mixed bag out there today. I think the heat and grind of summer took a bit out of them and they were down a few numbers. Match sim was 14 on 14 with not too many on the benches.

Viney was probably best on, just consistently helping out down back and then chaining up again on the way forward.

JvR does look ready for a crack at it but he’s also consistently battling and often beaten with Hibbo who is having an incredible summer down back. JvR will find it easier against most afl key defenders IMO.

Petty was about the cleanest out there in a small tight handball drill. Looked good in match sim too. I really want to see him embrace his attacking game this year.

May seemed to be playing higher up and had a heap of the ball. Sometimes should take the easy one faster, which is true of a lot our players, but his aggressive kicks looked good too.

K Turner is an interesting prospect, he was often the full back for May’s white team and probably got caught between opponents at times. But his athleticism when coming at the ball stands out. Got a fist on a few balls too although one went straight to the corridor. Not the most fluent kick but his right foot does have potential. Had a good battle with Jefferson.

Jefferson: obviously a lot of work to do and doesn’t hold too many marks but there’s times where he hits the contest nicely. Has a touch of time and class to the way he moves through traffic. Got on the end of 2 early goals in a row in one of the match sims. 

Grundy was a mixed bag. At times his tackling, kicking and ground ball work is excellent. Other times his marking isn’t great and he’ll take on more than he can chew trying to evade smalls. Seems to be building though, so hard to know how much is rust.

Rivers and Bowey were good. Salem was excellent, always looks completely spent when he comes off though, but it was a hot one out there.

Hunter had his moments but probably spent a fair bit of time chasing Eddie.

KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

NUDGE'S TRAINING REPORT

Could mystery 46 be Sestan?

If not, did anybody notice Sestan much in things? 

16 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

I missed that we have a Duursma training with us… what is his relation to Jamie?

Duursma is the nephew of Jamie Duursma , son of Dean Duursma who played Under19s and Reserves with Melbourne and a brother of Xavier and Yasmin (Port Adelaide AFL and AFLW respectively).

8 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Could mystery 46 be Sestan?

If not, did anybody notice Sestan much in things? 

Sestan was 38.  He's a big strong boy with a beautiful kick but in the match sims he's a rookie trying to get involved.  He managed to do that a few times but it was much more difficult today to find targets so his kicking didn't stand out like it had in other sims.  I'm a big fan, he's got good hands, is fairly composed and isn't slow but he's just a young kid learning the ropes at the moment.

 

1 hour ago, Nudge said:

He’s been incredible!!! Evasive, good skills too #mystery46

Cooper Simpson?

18 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Could mystery 46 be Sestan?

If not, did anybody notice Sestan much in things? 

Nah not Sestan, think we’ve established it’s Cooper Simpson.

Sestan had tape on a knee but didn’t seem too restricted. Got a nice bake from Choc at one stage for getting too easily pushed aside by Grundy in a handball drill.

Had a nice passage of play where he marked at half forward, held it up, took the man on the mark on and kicked long right to a leading forward. There’s some class to what he does but he doesn’t get up and back like most of our players. He clearly hasn’t had training in that elite style of football. I don’t think we’ll know until the VFL games start if he’s getting 5 touches a game or 12+ and making an impact. And we won’t know if he can make a two way impact maybe until next year!

23 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

Sestan was 38.  He's a big strong boy with a beautiful kick but in the match sims he's a rookie trying to get involved.  He managed to do that a few times but it was much more difficult today to find targets so his kicking didn't stand out like it had in other sims.  I'm a big fan, he's got good hands, is fairly composed and isn't slow but he's just a young kid learning the ropes at the moment.

 

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