Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence endured the sweltering heat on a windy day out at Casey Fields to bring you the following Preseason Training Report.

Blustery day at Casey, Ground NOT OPEN?? and the only other people I saw were one bloke on the far side and another Man and Woman also watching around the south Goals, had a small pair of Binoculars but looking through the fence was problematic.

NO SHOWS

Clarry, Kade Chandler, Petty, and Melky

REHAB GROUP

Gus, Salem, Bailey Fritsch, and later ……. Koltyn Tholstrup!

A group of young players including Caleb Windsor was also on light duties.

OSERVATIONS, PLAYER WATCH AND DRILLS INFORMATION

Drills were nothing new and involved overlaps, weaves, clean ball handling and picking the correct options. All players looked pretty fit and a few have put on some beef. Among them were Jefferson, Sestan, Farris White, Sparrow and I really liked the look of TRENT RIVERS!

After exercises stretches players were practicing goal kicking from various angles, distance and combos of set shots and on the run pivots.

After that came an almost full match simulations between Red Kicking with the wind and White kicking against. Reds DOMINATED; however, it was at times difficult to differentiate as quite a few players had different numbers on for example VINES wearing no 3? As well as standing on the outside looking in this set another level of challenge!

From the Match sim I have this to report!

BEN BROWN will play round 1 barring injury; He looked really good unhampered and ran far and wide kicked plenty of goals and looks a new man.

TRENT RIVERS Wow just watching him develop was just mind bending , he has gone to another level with fitness, confidence, poise and belief ran through midfield at times and just shrugged opponents at will.

SHANE MC ADAM What an excitement machine knows where to run, almost took the hanger of the year, and kicks the ball beautifully , he will also play round one.

JACK BILLINGS What an astute pick up, clever, crafty, uses the ball very well and will slot in as high half forward or maybe wing and did some very nice things.

KOZZY PICKET, Did the usual Kossy things.

TOM FULLARTON, doesn’t look out of place and is a presence in Ruck and forward.

JOSH SCHACHE Bit of a surprise packet for me today was involved kicked a couple of goals and was good in contest.

MATHEW JEFFERSON, Has definitely bulked up and did a few nice things and kicked a couple of goals as well.

BAILEY LAURIE Was also quite involved in general play, but I don’t know if he just lacks something is it breakaway pace?

BLAKE HOWES Also did some good things , took the game on , his disposal was good and he looked quite confident!

Other than that T Mac played back but gee he looks slow and I’m not sure where he will sit this year in selections. A few players missed REGULATION goals for example Trac from 40 out directly in from and really this again would not want to be part of our conversion going forward.

Was training intensity up or down compared to what I saw last year at this time? I would have to say Slightly less intense than same time and maybe just building gradually. Skills looked sharper and there was a propensity to pick the correct option and seemed to be more creative handball. There was little evidence of Bombing into forward 50, but then again, this needs to be tested at the coalface in games to see if there has been a more systematic entry and conversions that equate to wins. Will try to watch again next week if possible.

 

19 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence endured the sweltering heat on a windy day out at Casey Fields to bring you the following Preseason Training Report.

Blustery day at Casey, Ground NOT OPEN?? and the only other people I saw were one bloke on the far side and another Man and Woman also watching around the south Goals, had a small pair of Binoculars but looking through the fence was problematic.

NO SHOWS

Clarry, Kade Chandler, Petty, and Melky

REHAB GROUP

Gus, Salem, Bailey Fritsch, and later ……. Koltyn Tholstrup!

A group of young players including Caleb Windsor was also on light duties.

OSERVATIONS, PLAYER WATCH AND DRILLS INFORMATION

Drills were nothing new and involved overlaps, weaves, clean ball handling and picking the correct options. All players looked pretty fit and a few have put on some beef. Among them were Jefferson, Sestan, Farris White, Sparrow and I really liked the look of TRENT RIVERS!

After exercises stretches players were practicing goal kicking from various angles, distance and combos of set shots and on the run pivots.

After that came an almost full match simulations between Red Kicking with the wind and White kicking against. Reds DOMINATED; however, it was at times difficult to differentiate as quite a few players had different numbers on for example VINES wearing no 3? As well as standing on the outside looking in this set another level of challenge!

From the Match sim I have this to report!

BEN BROWN will play round 1 barring injury; He looked really good unhampered and ran far and wide kicked plenty of goals and looks a new man.

TRENT RIVERS Wow just watching him develop was just mind bending , he has gone to another level with fitness, confidence, poise and belief ran through midfield at times and just shrugged opponents at will.

SHANE MC ADAM What an excitement machine knows where to run, almost took the hanger of the year, and kicks the ball beautifully , he will also play round one.

JACK BILLINGS What an astute pick up, clever, crafty, uses the ball very well and will slot in as high half forward or maybe wing and did some very nice things.

KOZZY PICKET, Did the usual Kossy things.

TOM FULLARTON, doesn’t look out of place and is a presence in Ruck and forward.

JOSH SCHACHE Bit of a surprise packet for me today was involved kicked a couple of goals and was good in contest.

MATHEW JEFFERSON, Has definitely bulked up and did a few nice things and kicked a couple of goals as well.

BAILEY LAURIE Was also quite involved in general play, but I don’t know if he just lacks something is it breakaway pace?

BLAKE HOWES Also did some good things , took the game on , his disposal was good and he looked quite confident!

Other than that T Mac played back but gee he looks slow and I’m not sure where he will sit this year in selections. A few players missed REGULATION goals for example Trac from 40 out directly in from and really this again would not want to be part of our conversion going forward.

Was training intensity up or down compared to what I saw last year at this time? I would have to say Slightly less intense than same time and maybe just building gradually. Skills looked sharper and there was a propensity to pick the correct option and seemed to be more creative handball. There was little evidence of Bombing into forward 50, but then again, this needs to be tested at the coalface in games to see if there has been a more systematic entry and conversions that equate to wins. Will try to watch again next week if possible.

 

Thanks Picket I think going today deserves a medal. Terrible day out. 

Well done on braving the conditions Pickett and also on the wrong side of the fence, fantastic commitment. 

Many thanks Pickett. Top notch top notch.

Loving what I’m hearing about Rivers. Will definitely be the barometer for our team this year methinks. I just love the way he goes about it.

As far as Howes goes, he needs a full year being injury free to develop properly.

Glad to hear how BBB is going. He will go a long way to easing our forward problems.

Edited December 9, 20231 yr by Demon Disciple

Yes I’m really hoping BBB gets back. He’s the forgotten man of 2023. Not even mentioned in the media regarding any absence and he can help our goalscoring and conversion.