DEMONLAND'S TRAINING REPORT

It’s a beautiful morning at Gosch’s Paddock. I’ll record my observations as the morning progresses but I have to leave early so hopefully some other Trackwatchers can fill in the gaps. 

Here is a compilation of all my posts/observations from training. A disclaimer: all observations are observed through one eye whilst wearing rose coloured glasses.

REHAB:

Melksham, Woey, Hunter (Concussion wearing yellow), Brown

NO SHOWS:

Salem (Thyroid), Grundy, Fritsch, Adams, Joel Smith

Blue Team:

May, Harmes, Melksham, Petracca, Brown, Kozzy, Nibbler, Bowey, Moniz-Wakefield, Dunstan, JVR, D. Smith, Jordon, Schache, Tomlinson, Jefferson, Laurie, K. Turner

White Team:

Max, Farris-White, Brayshaw, Viney (#24), Lever, Petty, Howes, Sestan, Spargo, Disco,  Chandler, Rivers, TMac, Sparrow, Clarry,  Langdon, McVee, Verrell 

I have a sneaking suspicion that Kye Turner just got the last list spot. Players in a huddle cheering and patting someone on the back & ruffling his hair. 

I didn’t notice Burgoyne here today. 

Melksham doing some running with the trainer. 

Brown and Woey also with trainer doing some work with one of the trainers. 

A game of European handball with a footy is being played in the middle of the pitch as a warmup. 

Langdon & Petty in long sleeves as the temperature climbs. 

Fingers crossed but I really think Trac’s kicking has improved. We’ve seen him have a spectrum of in play disposal from sublime to [censored]. I’ve noticed a significant improvement at training sessions. 

As a follow up to my criticism a few weeks ago of Laurie’s disposal I have noticed a significant improvement with his kicking. 

For the kicking into the pocket doomsdayers the current drill has players kicking from about the fifty to a lead deep into the pocket. 😱

Melksham, Brown & Woey all doing gym work in the open air shed. 

They’ve broken up into 3 separate groups for 3 separate drills. The smallest group is Jefferson, Verrell & Farris-White doing marking work with Chaplin body on body with them  

Another group is the keepings off handball drill in a small circle with big bodies like Max, Petty, May, TMac, Tomlinson, Schache, JVR, Lever, Disco Turner and K Turner without tackling.

The rest are doing a keepings off handball drill in a bigger circle with tackling. 

Bowey being tended to by a trainer. Something to do with lower leg, ankle or foot. He came off earlier but came back on. Trainer has left him and he has returned to the drill. 

Field has been split down the middle (length ways) and two separate half field match SIMs taking place sans tackling with players in yellow vest (changing) who are on both teams. 

There was almost a cataclysmic event as both Viney and Trac almost collided in a non contact drill. Both pulled up in time much to Viney’s disappointment. 

JVR received a handball from Trac running through the middle at full pace and lace outs a beautiful long pass to Bowey on a lead. JVR has an agility that isn't always present in key position players. I'm not suggesting he could play in the midfield but he moves really really well for a big man.

TMac’s on the run kicking has improved too. It cannot be underestimated how much we missed TMac late in the season for his work up the ground and in the 50m arc. He looks super fit. 

Dunstan has come off the track and is doing short sprints with a trainer to assess what’s going on. He’s returning to training now. 

Hunter kicking high to one on one contests between tall forwards and defenders. 

One on one opponents

May vs Schache

Petty vs Max

Tomlinson vs TMac

Lever vs JVR

Disco vs Farris-White

K Turner vs Jefferson

Disco Turner out bodying young Jefferson

Petty took a great contest chest mark on TMac

Some of the one on ones from the key position players had the players start with their back to the kicker so they were going into the contest blind. 

Mids doing a similar one on one contest drill but when the ball spills two others are at the fall of the ball contesting the spill. 

Split into two groups for the keepings off handball drill with tackling and a yellow vest player in the middle playing for both teams. Tackling intensity is high. 

Full ground match SIM underway

Hunter despite the broken nose is taking part in the SIM albeit with the fluoro hat. 

JVR has kicked a couple of goals getting out the back of his opponent when a high long ball has come in from fifty and he has waltz the ball into goal. 

Trac just makes it look so easy with his lateral movement in traffic. So much power. 

As I’ve mentioned every training session I’ve been to Kozzy is a magician in traffic. I would hire him to navigate my way up Punt Rd in peak hour.

Viney is everywhere.

Clarry doesn't appear to be hampered at all by his finger or thumb. There is no strapping and he is no longer wearing the don't touch fluoro yellow hat.

It really doesn’t need to be said as we’ve seen it last two seasons but Langdon’s work rate from deep in defence, up the wing and deep into the forward line is just phenomenal. 

Spargo’s tackling work is mint. Sparg’s was often used as a link up along the wing and would look to bring it back in board with his clean & accurate disposal. 

Maxy’s marking is top shelf.

Rivers disposal into the forward line is beautiful. Regarding a questions about whether River's was playing as a midfielder for the match SIMs - Hard to tell because all the play is generated from full back ie: almost like from kick outs but not in terms of being set plays from kickouts. Playing today in the half back to half forward arc closer to the boundary. 

If JVR doesn’t mark it his follow up work is top rate. He doesn’t stop trying to win the ball and his ground work is fantastic for a big man. A lot of power in the hips. 

Schache not playing as a key forward. Playing up the ground possibly replacing Grundy who is absent today as ruck positionally. We traded Schache in as a replacement for Weid and with Grundy absent he is playing that role. On the training track I have liked what I've seen from Schache and believe he can offer us more than we got out of Weid. Time will tell.

Hunter’s delivery all around the ground (with the exception of one howler) and especially into the forward 50 is pinpoint. 

Match SIM is over.

Lots of mini drill stations set up around the ground. 

One of them has ground ball contests between a big and a small. TMac vs Spargo and Schache vs Chandler. 

A snap for goal from the boundary station. 

One on one marking contest either in the air or to a lead. Trac vs Viney and Harmes vs Sparrow. 

Jefferson vs Farris-White in contested marking contests taken by Stafford. Both taking turns being the forward and defender. I guess they are teaching both of them the defensive part of the position and also combatting having a defender on you as you're marking.

Two other drills on the other side of the field but I can’t tell what they’re doing. 

Actually one of them appears to be a ball-in drill simulating once the ball is tapped down and each player involved has his turn to mop up the ball once it hits the ground. 

Kye Turner signing papers handed to him by List Manager Tim Lamb.

That’s all from me. The boys look like they’re changing from boots into runners so perhaps they are going to do their sprints and warm down. 

In summary; not one house in the Richmond area is left standing after we once again trained the house down.

YOU CAN READ THE ENTIRE TRAINING THREAD HERE: https://demonland.com/forums/topic/54848-training-wednesday-15th-february-2023/

 

DEMON JACK'S TRAINING REPORT

Some good kicking on display at the moment. Trac has his laser reticle working beautifully. Has absolutely drilled a few kicks.

Bailey Laurie has put on a bit of size since I last saw him in action. Hope he gets a chance this year.

Not a lot of low bullet pass kicking from White so far. He kicks it quite high but typically finds the target.

Watching Pickett burst through congestion is like a drug. 

Viney and Trac nearly collide going after the same ball but stop at the last second, thus preventing the explosion that destroys all life on Earth.

May and Schache break even in a one on one marking contest. Schache does well to break free to chase and retrieve the loose ball.

Tomlinson giving TMac a lesson in body work at the moment.

EDIT: Although as I post that, McDonald returns serve.

Seston shrugs off a Dunstan tackle to break clear.

Dunstan looked like he was in a little bit of bother but seems ok now.

Laurie with a very clever tap on to a running Deakyn Smith.

Petty clunks a beauty against JVR.

Lever very vocal in the back 50.

May cuts off Petty's kick to Gawn and bursts forward, kicking to the advantage of JVR.

Trac is winning every contest he's involved in. Looks set for a better of a season.

Also, Viney looks more physically imposing and threatening than he ever has, which is saying something! The 'JV made me cry' thread is getting a few bumps this year I reckon.

I saw Fritta on the bike for a bit in the open air gym area. Don't think he participated in anything else.

TRACATTACK'S TRAINING REPORT

Rivers is a seriously big unit now, powerfully muscled and very quick. Can see him doing some midfield minutes this year. Has grown from a boy to a man since he joined us.

Loved the intense close in drills, everyone hard at it and very clean with their hands. Trac is awesome to watch in close weaving though heavy traffic with power and agility. He is almost impossible to tackle when he is on the move. Kozzie is also a delight to watch moving through congestion at speed with ease.

May looks supremely fit and marked everything that came his way. Likewise Rick Lever looks to be in great shape.

As other observers said it is great to see TMac fit and firing again, will make such a big difference to our forward structure.

Am salivating at the the thought of our two wingers Lingers and Hunter tearing it up at the G. Saw a couple of low and accurate 30m bullet passes from Hunter into the forward line, something we lacked last year. Lingers stamina and relentless running is awesome to watch. Together with Clarrie or Viney will form a powerful centre line.

A special mention about JVR. I watched him very closely and was very impressed with how hard he works when the ball hits the ground with intense second and third efforts. He is going to be real asset for us when he finally gets the nod for his first game. He is very hard at it and has excellent evasive skills. Looks like he is being very well coached by Greg Stafford in developing his forward craft.

KEV MARTIN'S TRAINING REPORT

J. Smith absent.

B. Fritch on an exercise bike. 

Thought they wound back a bit on the work load today. Could have been due to the morning being hot.

I think a few drank a bit before the session, as many had to squat and urinate. Tmac at the 50 meter arc. You really wouldn't want to be rolling around in it.

Their concentration in drills was the worst I've seen this season, as plenty of simple drops and misses.

When challenged, they did better.

Our movement during the handball game is getting better as they run great lines to slice the defenders and break the tackles, though some tackling and herding is great.

They are being very supportive of each other, and appear to be having fun.

K.Turner played the sims well. Nothing like getting the thumbs up. He ran to space well, read the plays, got involved and made a few of rebounds out of the backline.

JVR plays with a ferocity, though I thought Petty was starting to beat him, but not for long.

D.Smith is a bit inconsistent and needs work on his tackling. Spreads well and has a good dance when he gets the ball.

Schache has been dropping some marks, when in a contest but in the best position, unlike Max who works hard for the best position and was clutching them.

McVee was looking strong and composed when he gets the ball.

Lever, May, Oliver, Harmes, Spargo, Brayshaw, Langdon, Jordon, Rivers Sparrow, ANB, Chandler keeping the standards up during sims.

Kossie, Tracc, Hunter, and Bowey, the best afield. 

SLARTIBARTFAST'S TRAINING REPORT

I was at training today and it's all been covered.  There wasn't any real match sims which I find the most revealing so I thought I'd reflect on what I've noticed most over the training sessions I've seen.

The intensity has been high and the skills have been good but I expect when the real stuff starts and real match pressure is applied we will see our fair share of skill errors. I'd like to think that we will be more direct and a lot of the drills in match sim have been moving the ball quickly from the backline forward with a focus on the key forwards running into space out the back.  But this relies on the opposition letting us do it and I don't think that's likely to happen.  We may be a little more direct but I'm guessing there will be many plays to the forward pocket in an effort to lock it in and create repeat entries.  Our improvement forward will come from having fit KPF and better delivery.

Over the PS journey there have been a few surprises for me.  Steven may has been consistent and terrific down back, he's been in good form. Tmac has been good all preseason and isn't giving his spot up without a fight.  JVR has been a real surprise.  We've been told to be patient and not expect too much but JVR hasn't read the script.  What sets him apart from the other KF is his intensity when the ball hits the ground.  He's brave in the air and ferocious when it hits the ground in a way Tmac, BBB, Fritta and Gawny aren't.  That makes him a pretty attractive option forward but of course with everyone fit someone is going to miss and from reports BBB is flying in the match sims at Casey.

My best and most consistent performer goes to JJ.  He's never flashy, never the best but just always good.  He does the basics very well and is finding a lot of the ball particularly when playing inside mid.  He suffers from being too versatile and hasn't made a position his own.  But his PS form has him clearly in the best 22 and I'll be fascinated to see where he fits.  The other player pushing really hard is Kade Chandler.  He's too good for Casey but he needs to really take his chance when it comes.  For me he takes ANB spot because in my view his skills are significantly better but of course there are those that argue ANB plays such an important structural role for us he's a lock.  I don't see it that way.

Kossie is another to catch the eye.  He looks bigger, stronger and more involved.  We know the talk, now it's a matter of seeing if he really does play meaningful midfield minutes and if he can perform.

Of the young kids Judd McVee is the best performer for mine.  Howes, DSmith, Laurie, Woey, and this years crop aren't close imo and will find it really hard to get a go.  Howes looks to be the most dangerous with very good AFL attributes but he's a way off it in my book.

I imagine they will have a full match sim at Casey on Friday and then go into the season proper training pattern from then on which means Wednesdays at Gosch's will be craft sessions and a bit of loosening up between matches and for Wednesday track watches that takes a bit of spice out.  

Anyway, I'd be interested in other track watches views and who their standouts of the PS have been.  It goes without saying that the mature players all do well - Gawn, Trac, Clarrie et al.  We know what they bring and all are doing well.