6 minutes ago, BDA said:

Great reports. Thanks all. By the sounds of it we’re certs for the flag this year.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

1 minute ago, tiers said:

Just thinking. 

May, Lever, Tomlinson, TMac, Turner for talls down back.

Salem, Bowey, McVee, Brayshaw, Hore, Howes, for mids and smalls down back.

Which other team would not be envious of our list and choices.

Good sign for 2024.

GO DEES.

It’s a deep backline group but it’s not as well rounded as 2021.

May took a bit of a step back the last 2 years, Lever still battling niggles.

Tom and Tommo are fringe talls without the mobility or height to stop elite forwards. Disco isn’t quite there. Hore might be the best player out of that group.

McVee is great but isn’t prime Hibberd.

And we lack true top end pace in the flankers and truly elite kicking of Salo goes on ball and Gus back. Bowser is ready for more tho.

Still a strong backline group but not as good as they once were.

The midfield needs to come back together to near 2021 levels and the forward line needs to get back to that and even beyond, which is can if we get Fritsch, JVR and Petty all firing.

 

3 hours ago, Deespicable said:

Secondly, and I suggest some of you go straight to the next paragraph because this isn't what you want to read, the most impactful player in the first half of match sim wore the No.19. Cringe. Yep Josh Schache snagged a couple and led well - if we hadn't seen last year he'd be in the side now. Maybe the 14-a-side suits him more, but he did look very good.

He always finds space well at training but I didn’t seem him win a contest all day and he was spoiled easily by Bowey, same old Schache in case anyone expected anything different 

Training Gallery

33 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Who is more likely to get first go down back - Hore or Howes - based on training to date?

Both have been impessive and remembering that Thommo is a lock 3rd tall, I would go with Hore ATM

How were our back up rucks in Will Verrall and KFW?

I went down to training and even with old man eyes JVR was a standout from over 300m away.  Has much playful competitive energy too.

A reasonable crowd there to watch, even a kid in a Pies jumper; certainly a change from 10 years ago when there wasnt many more than a fella in a rain coat standing next to a tree.

As I walked the boundary I heard some very familiar DL voices so I propped there for awhile and listened to the chat.

Just a few of my observations; Bowey forward having shots on goal; Lever giving an instructional drill whereby you start with your back to the play then turn quickly to get the ball; Jefferson lying on the ground with someone on top and trying to get up; Salo just jogging forever with no sweat; Melky looks great.

And they did this drill where you shake your hands in the air and run forward as if wearing flippers.  Looked damn silly.

Saw Richo and Perty as well.

Go Dees

Edited January 24, 20241 yr by Jontee
typo

Hot morning, minimal wind, general impression is they are working well as a unit, and the intensity was there.

Most were out early, teaming up in various groups. Some goal kicking, others running and direction changing carrying water filled bottles, rucks were drilling together.

Rehab, Lever (later on the bike with Melky) in runners, not really training, but helping Jefferson out. Melky still doing leg exercises to strengthen the injured area. AMW running with Mentha. BBB down for a short run, Salem working very hard by running extensively. Sparrow did everything except the sims.

The scoreboard is up and running.

Whistle goes and they are into it with minimal warm-ups. They are into 3 stations, exercise, handball, and short kicking with good execution. Competitiveness starts with 2 handball games. Some have yellow bibs and start out of bounds, they then run on into the game, and attempt to break lines. Mcqualter runs one group. He appears to love them winning at what they do, really encourages them to win and be hyper-competitive. When they had a break it was Woey who did a fair bit of talking, McQualter took a back step.

The sims were next. The attackers were very good at first, but as they tired, the defenders started to dominate. We look good when we spread, and when they get the overlap with smart play and good timing. Interestingly, they ran a few through the on-ball position, Langdon, Laurie, Spargo, Gus, Hunter, ANB, Billings, Rivers, Kozzy and Bowey and the usual players. They ran on the wings, Hunter, Langdon, Windsor, K.Brown, and Woey. May dominated with his reading of the play. Max is looking fit. Spargo missed a few easy passes, but his excellent tackling made up for it. Fritsch was tackling well and seems to be honing his defensive game. JVR creates competitiveness when the ball is forwrad, also taking a few marks and creating separation on some leads. Chandler getting front and centre. McAdams in the forward area and doing well, had a head clash which seemed to have slowed him down.

Then into goal kicking. Williams moved the mannequins out near the 50 to challenge them with longer kicks, not too successful.

Finished with running.

At one stage in the goal kicking Tracc was dry retching, later during the running he left the field for the sheds (unusual) escorted by training staff. Couldn't tell if it's a soft tissue injury, as his gait is always a bit funny. I expect he was suffering exhaustion, due to the training load and the heat.

Edited January 24, 20241 yr by kev martin

56 minutes ago, Jontee said:

I went down to training and even with old man eyes JVR was a standout from over 300m away.  Has much playful competitive energy too.

A reasonable crowd there to watch, even a kid in a Pies jumper; certainly a change from 10 years ago when there wasnt many more than a fella in a rain coat standing next to a tree.

As I walked the boundary I heard some very familiar DL voices so I propped there for awhile and listened to the chat.

Just a few of my observations; Bowey forward having shots on goal; Lever giving an instructional drill whereby you start with your back to the play then turn quickly to get the ball; Jefferson lying on the ground with someone on top and trying to get up; Salo just jogging forever with no sweat; Melky looks great.

And they did this drill where you shake your hands in the air and run forward as if wearing flippers.  Looked damn silly.

Saw Richo and Perty as well.

Go Dees

Nice meeting you today.

Thank you to all the track watchers for providing us with these excellent training reports. For all of us interstaters it is mana from heaven at this time of the year. 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

How were our back up rucks in Will Verrall and KFW?

Verrall does a few promising things, a tackle, a mark, a ground ball get, KFW is still a mile off. 

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Very different roles but I’d pick Hore as the 3rd tall over Howes as a flanker right now.

Dee, with Tomlinson, TMac and Turner all competing for the role of 3rd tall, I wouldn't have considered Hore as a 3rd tall option at all. He's a flanker IMV and is the same height (191cm) and weight (approx, within 4-5kg) as Howes. So i considered both would be competing for the same role - hence the question. Personally, I would prefer Hore, but wouldn't mind seeing Howes take on a wing role.

10 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Verrall does a few promising things, a tackle, a mark, a ground ball get, KFW is still a mile off. 

Not surprised one bit.

Thanks to all track watchers for the detailed reports 

6 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Do you know if that'll be an open session? Would love to head down with my son before school starts.

The website says they’re open sessions but I was told that at Casey sessions it’s Richo’s call whether the gates are open, and he can decide on the morning. 

I don’t think anyone has mentioned it but Noah Yze was training today, and for a kid who has another year before drafting, he sure fitted in as much as any of this years draftees. He is a good height and we were trying to compare him to others around . He appeared to be just below Steve May in height.

 Importantly he knows how to play football. And will be an easy F/S selection given what we saw.

10 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

I don’t think anyone has mentioned it but Noah Yze was training today, and for a kid who has another year before drafting, he sure fitted in as much as any of this years draftees. He is a good height and we were trying to compare him to others around . He appeared to be just below Steve May in height.

 Importantly he knows how to play football. And will be an easy F/S selection given what we saw.

Noah Yze is 190cm tall.

He might come in handy if the opposition flood the forward line.

14 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

I don’t think anyone has mentioned it but Noah Yze was training today, and for a kid who has another year before drafting, he sure fitted in as much as any of this years draftees. He is a good height and we were trying to compare him to others around . He appeared to be just below Steve May in height.

 Importantly he knows how to play football. And will be an easy F/S selection given what we saw.

 

9 hours ago, Demonland said:

Very impressed with young Yze. 

And then I elaborated in the collated reports thread with ...

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

Very impressed with young Noah Yze. Looks a dead ringer for Nick Daicos. Let's hope he is half as good. Will most certainly be drafted by the Dees as a Father/Son. Is built like he could already play and has some height and will still have a season in the U18s and then a preseason. A lot to be excited about.

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Noah Yze is 190cm tall.

Daniel Turner is listed as 195cm and he wasn't much shorter. Ooze Jr may have grown.

10 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

He might come in handy if the opposition flood the forward line.

He’s done a lot of goal kicking from an arc (ark).

46 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

The website says they’re open sessions but I was told that at Casey sessions it’s Richo’s call whether the gates are open, and he can decide on the morning. 

Cmon Richo u know u want Fence, front and square of the action, u just know it🤩

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Nice meeting you today.

How come you didn’t post this when you first met me??????

🥺

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Verrall does a few promising things, a tackle, a mark, a ground ball get, KFW is still a mile off. 

i'll add that KFW has built up considerably in his upper body from when he was added to the Rookie List. He is listed as 206cm and Max is listed as 208cm but I think he is now taller than Max.