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TRAINING: Friday 17th February 2023


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There were 4 x 20 minutes quarters between teams Blue and White.  It was controlled by AFL umpires.

The first two quarters comprised of the probables in Blue versus the possibles in White. 

Blue included: Gawn, Grundy, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Sparrow, May, Lever, Petty, Rivers, McVee, Langdon, Neal-Bullen, Pickett, Spargo, Brown, McDonald, Bowey, Chandler

White: Farris-White, Verrall, Schache, Hunter, Jordon, Hibberd, Dunstan, Harmes, Howes, Jefferson, Laurie, Sestan, Deakyn Smith, Tomlinson, Turner x 2, Woewodin, van Rooyen, Trent Burgoyne, plus 2-3 other Casey top-ups.

As you’d expect Blue dominated.  At half-time they’d kicked 15 goals to one.

At half-time quite a few in Blue swapped to White, including Oliver, Brayshaw, Gawn and the first choice defenders – May, Petty, Lever, Rivers, McVee and Bowey.  Harmes, Tomlinson and a few others went from White to Blue.  The ‘new’ White got away in the third quarter, while Blue almost pinched it in the last.  Final scores for the last two quarters were 41 to 40 White’s way.

Ben Brown kicked 3 goals in the first on his way to 5.  He’s moving and marking very well.

McDonald kicked 3 and was also good.

Grundy kicked 2 and handed an easy third to Pickett.  Grundy was busy and had a good game, including a nice contested mark for one of his goals.  He really gets involved around the stoppages.  He seemed a little sore in his leg in the third quarter but he stayed on and completed all 4 quarters, so I’m assuming it’s minor.

Spargo was very good and kicked 3 goals.

Chandler did well and kicked 2.

I wonder if McVee has been earmarked for Salem’s position.  He looked very comfortable in the back 6.

Both Langdon and Hunter got plenty of it.

van Rooyen had a quiet day not helped by Blue’s dominance in the first two quarters.  He led well in the second and did take one good contested mark, but also dropped an easy chest mark in the last.  He ended the day goalless after missing a very gettable 30 metre shot in the second.

Schache was quiet early but kicked 2 goals in the second half and became a target.

Viney spent some time on ball but played mainly forward in the first half.  He hit the scoreboard and actually played very well from a HFF.

Rivers played mainly defence but also started in the centre square a few times, as did Brayshaw.  So it looks like they’re going to mix it up.

In the first half the preferred centre square setup was Oliver, Petracca, and Sparrow.

Jefferson kicked the only goal for White in the first half and ended with 2.  He took one excellent contested mark i50 (goal), but also dropped a couple he should have taken.  He looks a player.

Gawn looked a little rusty but was OK.  I would have given Grundy the honours, but they both won their share of hitouts against each other in the second half.  They were on the same team in the first half.  Gawn spent time forward but was ineffective.

For me the three best players were Oliver, Petracca, and Viney, but Spargo, Langdon, Brayshaw, Bowey, Rivers, Grundy, Brown and McDonald all did well.  Petracca and Oliver can both extricate themselves from very tight positions.  Some of their midfield craft was superb.  Both fast, big and powerful.  Oliver took a nice contested mark and was completely unhindered by his thumb.  It was great to see Petracca mark forty metres out in the last, dead in front, and kick truly.  He was also very happy (“Let’s go boys !!!”).

This was the most involved I’ve seen Sestan.  He took a couple of very strong marks and got quite a lot of it.  He also kicked truly from 51 metres out.  He’s one of those players with a low centre of gravity.  Shortish legs and a long torso in the Daicos and Jesaulenko mould.

Quick ball movement was the order of the day.  There was a strong wind, so conditions were challenging, but there were also some excellent pieces of play.  Lots of turnovers too, as is the hallmark of the modern game.

I’m sure van Rooyen will get games and he’s had a great preseason, but he may just be behind Brown and McDonald for round one.

Verrall competed well in the ruck.  He’s raw but didn’t look out of place.

Howes was very busy and mainly used it well.

Even though Hunter played the first two quarters for White I’m sure he’s in the best team.

Neale-Bullen also played well early.  He was playing on a wing.

Dunstan pulled a hamstring.  Unlike Gawn, who jogged off with his, Dunstan was in pain as he gingerly limped off.

Fritsch was a no show but may have been inside.  Moniz-Wakefield and Melksham were there but didn’t participate and nor did Joel Smith.

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Thanks for the report guys, sounds like we might have to wait a little longer than round 1 to see JVR in the AFL side considering he started in the whites today and didn’t exactly bang the door down. Plenty of time for him to prove himself though in the two practice games coming up so you never know. 

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  • Demonland changed the title to TRAINING: Friday 17th February 2023

53 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Looks like the hype on McVee is getting real. Some media outlets have him as a smokey round 1 debut.

One year we should invent a player on here, hype them up and see if the media run with it. 

Edit: just saw it was Harmesy with the pump up and the footage of the nice move Judd put on T Mc. Very keen to see how he goes in practice games 

Edited by DeeSpencer
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No mention of Pickett! I was expecting him to do significant midfield time and draw some plaudits but seems he didn’t dazzle? 

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20 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

No mention of Pickett! I was expecting him to do significant midfield time and draw some plaudits but seems he didn’t dazzle? 

Because he just does it time and time again Earl😇🤩😎

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1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hi ProDee,

Excellent training report.

How did Deakyn Smith go? Was Jed Adams playing in the match sim or rehab?

Smith was quiet.  He has AFL attributes (speed and evasion), but he hardly touched it today.

Adams didn't play.

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Thanks Picket, Gator for the excellent training reports and I loved the hogans Heroes lead in also all other posters we are truly spoilt.!!!

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I recall reading at the time when Melbourne drafted Judd McVee as a rookie at the end of 2021, that the recruiters were relying in part on the initial impression he made when he was part of WA’s midfield mix two years earlier in the state's Under 16 National Championships campaign in 2019. 

It was back then that McVee’s class came to the fore. He was regarded as a clean ball handler, an efficient disposer of the football who had a cool head. His stocks fell during the Covid19 years and he barely held on to his state spot but managed to take a place across half back for WA in what were regarded as the U19 Nationals of 2021.

It’s still a way to go but hopefully, the long memory and/or faith paid in him by a Demon recruiter plus his own hard work and development will pay off in spades. 

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Odds appear to be shortening on Judd McVee to break the duck and be amongst the first of the young uncapped guns to debut. Exciting times ahead! Go Dees. 

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10 hours ago, Die Hard Demon said:

Thanks for the great reports guys. Just one thing to note. Josh Schache’s nickname at the club is Diesel. (As in Shaquille O’Neal’s nickname) 

They call McVee ''Knuckle''.  I don't think it was preceded by another infamous word.

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