PRESEASON TRAINING: Friday 19th January 2024

[george_on_the_outer 7,708]

Thought it best to start a separate training thread:

Training at Casey...what could be more of a simulation of winter football conditions....wet, raining, windy....yep it's the middle of summer, but no sunscreen required.  Even @picket fence's slippery mates would have taken the day off and retreated to more habitable locations.

Advertised as a match simulation session, it was hard to draw any conclusions or real observations.  This was because of the absence of numerous player for whatever reason, or players who were on some sort of restricted programme, or just plain injured.  As a consequence, there were numerous Casey listed players filling in, but obviously getting plenty of good experience themselves.

On the sidelines, we know about Melksham, and of course no Oliver or Joel Smith.  Salem, Billings & Sparrow were just running laps, with Sparrow looking to be the one doing it at full stretch.  No sight of Hunter, BBB, McAdam & AMW, while Jefferson walked on and off the field to physio areas. Every year it is a concern when players aren't on the track post Christmas break, and you can utterly guarantee for every week they are not there, you can take a week off the season for them. 11 missing out of a list of 44 isn't good!

There was all the usual warm-up's and drills but the match simulation was the most important.  But, as said before, what can one take from it with so many sidelined?

What could be taken away were things like:

TMac playing permanently in the backline.  For those that have been around from when he played their last, be prepared for much of the same.  Indecisive about where the ball is going, strong marking, but watch out for the kicking. One wonders how he will find a hole to fill with May, Lever, Tomlinson, Turner, Rivers, Bowey, Salem, Adams, Hore & Howe all vying for the back 6 positions.

Blake Howes and Disco Turner are going to be putting up their hands fairly soon for a role in the senior defensive structure, and both stood out on multiple times during the sim.  But don't discount Adams, who probably is 3rd in line, but having built up considerably in the off-season is showing some real promise with genuine football skills.

Interestingly, Judd McVee was playing further up the ground, and found himself taking shots at goal at one point, so maybe the coaches have something more planned for him.

Petty was back for the drills, but didn't compete in the sim, likewise Brayshaw, and to a certain extent Gawn, who came back for only a short spell in the sim.  Probably to give the backups some time for assessment.  In this respect Verrall is streets ahead of Fullarton, and I suspect Fullarton will only find a role as a forward....although we need plenty of those options given the situation at the end of last season. 

JVR almost took mark of the year reminiscent of the one Michael Roach held on to many, many years ago, but unfortunately he spilled it in the end, but he truly was sitting on top of the pack to attempt to take the ball at waist height.  If he connects something similar in the season, he will be taking home the MOTY easily.

Pickett spent the whole session in the middle, and like most years, nobody can lay a hand on him.  He just dances through traffic when he has no right to do so.  And with questions over Oliver, both he and Laurie can expect more opportunity in the engine room. 

ANB gave a clinic on how to kick to the opposition when under no pressure.  So no change there.  Rivers was magnificent to watch as he streamed from HB and delivers accurately. Chandler was very involved and seemed to be on the end of numerous chains.  But he was also active in contested situations, so maybe a mid-field rotation role might be on the cards in season proper. Woewodin showed glimpses of what may be possible, but with these types of simulations and with tackling and pressure not at the levels of AFL games, it is difficult to judge.  Still he looks more and more like his old man, and is obviously benefitting from the training programmes.

I know people will ask about the new draftees, but sorry, not much to report.  They after all are just starting out and some of the Casey players show more, simply because they are stronger, fitter and accustomed to the speed of the action.  Just give them time.  And don't expect to see them playing any time soon, unless we hit a huge injury problem.

That's all from me but wait for @Six6Six and his photo's to appear, as he was busy with the telphoto lens and should have some great shots of the action

 

[adonski 12,436]

ANB hitting his typical September form already!

[Lexinator 1,717]

JvR almost taking Roach-like marks excites me!

[beelzebub 23,383]

Thanks George..   Informative and quite sobering.

Brave man venturing down the road....was certainly a s@#! morning.  Still, got me out of cutting the grass....

I can't help but feel we'll need more than our share of luck starting off this season.  Not likely to have the best 22 to hand.. so patching cracks from the get go.  One has to hope these opportunities lead to one or two stepping up....and not necessarily anyone we'll expect. Footy can be funny that way.  Chocco needs to "whisper" kicking improvements ANBs way... 

I think TMac will play magoos mainly and provide insurance.

@george_on_the_outer  arguably hard to discern much as you allay but did it look like we were trying to do anything different going into the front arc ??

thanks again 

[beelzebub 23,383]

2 minutes ago, Lexinator said:

JvR almost taking Roach-like marks excites me!

TAKING  them would excite me more ;)

[IRW 1,387]

5 minutes ago, Lexinator said:

JvR almost taking Roach-like marks excites me!

Is that like Kossi almost taking marks?

It frustrates the demon hell out of me?

[Lexinator 1,717]

2 minutes ago, IRW said:

Is that like Kossi almost taking marks?

It frustrates the demon hell out of me?

Wouldn't be so bad if he dropped a few here and there, just not all the time 😉. Think Kozzie finally held one against Blues this year, and JvR held a few good ones, Swans and Tigers I think 😁

[Willmoy1947 4,140]

12 minutes ago, Lexinator said:

JvR almost taking Roach-like marks excites me!

Haven't you ever taken one of those....

[Lexinator 1,717]

Just now, Willmoy1947 said:

Haven't you ever taken one of those....

Every 'mark in the pack' game I ever played...

[biggestred 5,140]

Hunter was doing run throughs most of the session.

I thought the skills in general were quite poor. Although perhaps a wet footy might excuse some of it.

[biggestred 5,140]

Also i thought noah yze looked very good. Small forward but was agile and elusive. 

[Demonstone 22,820]

14 minutes ago, biggestred said:

Also i thought noah yze looked very good.

He's right at home in the wet.

[Demonland 73,161]

 

[Demonland 73,161]

 

[Earl Hood 6,101]

1 hour ago, biggestred said:

Hunter was doing run throughs most of the session.

I thought the skills in general were quite poor. Although perhaps a wet footy might excuse some of it.

Were supporters allowed into the ground today? 

[george_on_the_outer 7,708]

23 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Were supporters allowed into the ground today? 

Yes but only half the ground. What was poignant was the number of young kids there. The club needs to make these Casey sessions open to build this future fan base in Casey. 

[binman 43,813]

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

ANB gave a clinic on how to kick to the opposition when under no pressure.  So no change there. 

 

Bit of a worry for the rest of the team then given he was number one last season for average kick to score ratio with kicks inside 50;  ie hitting targets.

By the by, the bottom three?

Maxy, Tracc and Clarry. 

#nibblamthys 

#sonochangethere

#confrimationbiashardtoshake

[Roost it far 8,627]

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

On the sidelines, we know about Melksham, and of course no Oliver or Joel Smith.  Salem, Billings & Sparrow were just running laps, with Sparrow looking to be the one doing it at full stretch.  No sight of Hunter, BBB, McAdam & AMW, while Jefferson walked on and off the field to physio areas. Every year it is a concern when players aren't on the track post Christmas break, and you can utterly guarantee for every week they are not there, you can take a week off the season for them. 11 missing out of a list of 44 isn't good!

Out of that list bar Oliver only Salem, Sparrow and McAdam are needed at full fitness for round zero. I'm pretty sure none are carrying injuries and it's likely load management so I think you can calm the farm a little. Thanks for the report though and it appears Howes and Turner are pushing hard for round zero which is great news. 

[Greg Schneider 987]

20 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Out of that list bar Oliver only Salem, Sparrow and McAdam are needed at full fitness for round zero. I'm pretty sure none are carrying injuries and it's likely load management so I think you can calm the farm a little. Thanks for the report though and it appears Howes and Turner are pushing hard for round zero which is great news. 

Yep bang on, these guys aren't even injured it's load management. Who cares if they miss out on one match sim in January, bit of an overreaction 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

With all the wet weather we’ve copped in training this pre season, one would expect us to improve on our 0-6 record in wet weather games last year.

[fr_ap 2,529]

We will be doing very well to stay top 4 at this rate. 

Likely to be missing our best player in Oliver for who knows how long, Tmac and BBB seemingly over the hill, May and Gawn a year older and at the moment, no real depth or youth to excite this year other than perhaps Rivers/McVee continuing to progress.

I like Laurie and Woey, but if our midfield depth has become those two, Chandler and ANB in spurts, that spells trouble.

Add to this the long absence of useful swingman/forwards Smith/Melk, McAdam so far appearing as injury prone as he is famous for, a big question mark on how Gus looks on return as well as some pretty significant mental scarring at this point (across the team, not just Gus), and it honestly feels like we are a Petracca injury away from missing the finals or even bottom 6. 

Sydney's list is stronger, Carlton are improving quickly and Collingwood's fan base won't let them complacently carry on. Adelaide are also improving rapidly and should compete if Walker can keep defying his age. 

The middle of our list is thinner than it's been for years. Just feels like we are slipping off the best teams at the moment. 

Don't come for my throat - just can't shake the feeling we are due to tumble. It's not MFCSS either - i haven't felt this way about the list in at least 5 years I think. 

Edited January 19 by fr_ap

[george_on_the_outer 7,708]

One thing I forgot to mention was the drill/sim after the match sim.  It started again and again on the HBF with the exercise to find a way into attack.  It is probably much needed with the emphasis on rebound goals, which happen more often than pack marks in the forward line that the fans love so much. 

Since half the side was trying to attack, the other half was having to defend, and then they changed the roles around.  It was interesting how little of the conventional "switching" happened, but that was typical for the top 4 sides last year.  The good sides just have it covered so well, and if sides try to do it, they just get locked in with nowhere to go. 

Anyhow it was a great spectacle, as each exercise produced different results, sometimes back and forward, sometimes through the middle, sometimes lightning fast down the wings, but the common factor was the running required, both to attack and defend.  No room for slouches these days.

[Demonland 73,161]

 

[Greg Schneider 987]

17 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Match sims just happened and our socials team are compiling this [censored]. Says it all. 

[kev martin 10,416]

48 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

 

Don't come for my throat - just can't shake the feeling we are due to tumble. It's not MFCSS either - i haven't felt this way about the list in at least 5 years I think. 

Did you go to training, or are you responding to a training issue?