TRAINING: Saturday 17th February 2024

On the eve of the Dees first practice match for the 2024 season a couple of Demonland Trackwatchers bring you their observations from today’s Captain’s Run at Gosch’s Paddock. 

KEV MARTIN’S CAPTAIN’S RUN OBSERVATIONS

Looks a a dress rehearsal Captain's run.

23 out doing drills. 

Included is Will Verall, Kynan Brown, Bailey Laurie, Caleb Windsor, Blake Howes, Adam Tomlinson, Kade Chandler, Jack Billings and Josh Schache.

Rehab include BBB, Tom Fullarton, TMac, AMW, Woey.

Not included in this group are Clayton Oliver, Christian Salem, Charlie Spargo, Angus Brayshaw, Shane McAdam, Matt Jefferson, Jed  Adams, Marty Hore, Harry Petty, Koltyn Tholstrup, Daniel Turner and Kyah Farris-White.  

                        …

The second team players have now turned up. 

No shows. Daniel Turner, Charlie Spargo and Harry Petty.

Shane McAdam is doing his own program.

Clayton Oliver is also with the second group, as are a few Casey players.

The seconds are in red or blue guernseys. 

The captain's runners are wearing red.

In red in the seconds are, Oliver, Farris-White, Jefferson,  Salem, Sestan, Hore, Tholstrup and Adams.

Seems Casey are in the blue.

Lovely morning for a run, overcast, no wind, cool temperature. 

It's a captain's run of 23 players strutting their stuff. It looks like Kossie will be able to play.

Interestingly they are giving some first yearers, new and young ones a go at it - Verall, K. Brown, Laurie, Windsor, Howes, Chandler, Billings and Schache.

They appear switched on in the drills.

Goody has implemented a few different scenarios in the no contact sims. Once he called a “power play”. Pushes a backmen forward of the stoppage, gets the wingers to be wide ('will only work if you are very wide') and they take the ball straight down the middle from a backline stoppage. Another drill had them receiving the ball on the inside corridor and hitting into the forward area. I can see us playing with a more open forward area this season, or at least at times and using a bit more strategy during the game, as we change the styles up. Keep them guessing Dee's.

Forgot to mention that Angus Brayshaw was also a no show.

Great to see all the rehab do some sprinting drills and were included in the team drills with the seconds (except McAdam and Jefferson). Woey wearing the yellow concussion protocol hat.

Oliver made his way to most of the Casey players. Those Casey appeared a bit star stuck and Clarry introduced himself, shook hands and encouraged them. Nothing highfalutin about him. The Casey players did the drills well, looks like most of the younger ones. I'm impressed with Tyler Williams, Ryan Valentine, Charlie Muley

My prediction is, year of the Tom Sparrow. Hit some great passes, looks fit, appears slim downed, and I reckon, will run through brick walls.

Hoping Jared Rivers will also continue his trajectory. 

Caleb Windsor has learnt so much in his short time with us. Interesting to see how he goes, I reckon he will be a class above.

I really want to see K. Brown. Reminds me of Robbie Flower body shape, very elusive (cannot be tackled), has great vision, uses/changes the angles and has skills.

Hope Verrall has got what it takes. Big game for him.

Another no show today was Melky.

WERRIDEE’S CAPTAIN’S RUN OBSERVATIONS

Bowser, Trent Rivers, Judd McVee and Blake Howes arriving now. Adam Tomlinson, Steven May and Jake Lever join them.

Just kick to kick atm.

Tom McDonald has arrived.

Frittata and Roo have arrived.

Tom Sparrow and Bailey Laurie join in

Ed Langdon, Trac K. Brown, Josh Schache, Kossie, Kade Chandler, Jack Viney, Max Gawn, Nibbler, Jack Billings, Caleb Windsor, Taj Woewodin and Will Verrall arrive.

Tom McDonald just told me that he’s right for the Carlton game.

The group are doing agility drills.

McDonald and Woewodin kicking away from the drills.

Ben Brown, Tom Fullerton and Andy Moniz-Wakefield arrive

Woewodin is out with concussion will be back against Carlton

Now kicking and handball drills

McDonald Woewodin Fullarton jogging laps

It’s only just a guess but the players training in the main group will play tomorrow meaning meaning we will see K Brown and Verrall

Ball movement has been impressive very fast

Some Casey players arrive with Kyah Farris-White, Jed Adams, Christian Salem, Ollie Sestan, Matt Jefferson, Marty Hore, Clarry and Koltyn Tholstrup.

B. Brown Fullerton and AMW are playing keeping’s off.

Forwards and mids kicking for goal while the backs do marking and kicking drills

The seconds are training now.

McAdam jogging laps.

The seniors are done.

Woewodin doing drills. Todays been non contact so it’s understandable why he’s doing the drills

AMW in the drills as well

B. Brown also the drills as is Fullarton - mustn’t be too far away.

Even Tom McDonald is now in the drills

The only ones that are not participating are McAdam and Jefferson who is having shots at goal.

Jefferson just told me they are adjusting his loads that’s why he’s not training but will play in the reserves 

AMW, B. Brown and Fullarton should be available for opening round the only concern is McAdam who seems a fair way away from returning to the team

McAdam told me he should be right round 2 the calf niggle is not as bad as he first thought 

The reserves are done and dusted

TOUGH KENT'S CAPTAIN'S RUN OBSERVATIONS