Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session.

Squad: McVee May Howes Rivers Lever Salem Langdon Petracca ANB Sparrow Brown Pickett Fritsch JVR Chandler Gawn Viney Billings Windsor Oliver McDonald Hore Petty Laurie Fullarton Woewodin 

Rehab: Bowey McAdam 

The team starts the session with some warm ups with Jake Lever being the most vocal of the group with the mantra being "Precision".

Ben Brown in runners doing his own program. I suspect it’s all part of the plan to get him through as many games as possible this season particularly through the next block of games. 

Transition Drill from intercept mark off half back with no opposition (well the coaches) ending with kick to the lead of either JvR or Harry Petty. Fast and crisp ball movement always looking for a runner to handball on the outside and moving the ball through the middle of the ground. 

Very interesting. Seems like they were practicing tactics for stoppages and in particular using a spotter off the contest communicating the oppo numbers around the stoppage. That’s what it looked like to my untrained eye. 

Old school push ups for any mistake made. 

Goal kicking practice time for the forwards. 35 degree angle and from the pocket. 

Fritta nailing them all. 

The duality of Trac. Nailing one and spraying the next. 

Harry Petty was running and moving very well at training. You wouldn’t know he has had any issues with his toe/feet. Was leading and marking well albeit with no opponent/pressure. Kicking for goal from 40-50 directly in front was bang in the middle. 

That’s stumps on a light Captains run session. All Captain’s Run sessions I’ve been to have been very light sessions with little run and contact and usually only an hour and change. 

KEV MARTIN'S CAPTAIN'S RUN TRAINING SESSION OBSERVATIONS

Lovely morning for the captain's run.

The bonding appears to be high, they are supportive and encouraging towards each other. A good family club is not just words. At one time a mini number 25 ran to the boundary from the tent and gave Max a note, he read it (smiled) and tucked it into his shorts. Such nice interactions. Joy reigns supreme at the moment for the club.

Shane McAdam was down before the squad. He was wearing his normal training top (blue one with his number) and gear. Being put through a more intense training regime than previous. He appears to be moving freely, as smooth a gait as I have seen. I can imagine, he gets a test at the next session, and will join the main squad if he passes.

The main squad came out in drips and drabs. All the emergencies were with the team, 25 altogether. Partnered up for and kick to kick, until all were on, and then the whistle. BBB in runners, probably will be managed the entire season with his personal program.

They went straight into drills with two stations. One, short kicks and runs, the other, handballs, quick step evasive moves, and low ball gets. Then all the squad drilled together, kick and run in a large square area to the four corners. They ran structural sims that had fast down the corridor plays. Finished the session with some goal kicking.

Choco spent time with Bayley Fritsch, Kade Chandler, and Tracc as they snapped. Plenty were getting it right. Petty was also trying to hit some from outside the 50 arc, not too successful, though when he brought it in closer he was nailing them. Kossie was the standout, with Caleb Windsor not far behind in the 'beauty of kicking'.

Goody is standing back a bit today, seems it is Choco's time to take it. Yells out "precision", or was that Jake Lever (loud all session).

Goody runs off to AAMI immediately the session finishes. 

The atmosphere feels special.

A trainer mentioned that a Captain's run from the Casey Squad, will be there tomorrow Saturday about 9.45am on Gosch's.

We had a lovely group of 6 D/Landers, shooting the breeze, chita chatting. Thanks for that, I'm feeling part of something big.

Go Dees.

Addit: The Victory had a practice match on the other side of the paddock. A great morning for me, fully entertained, Woo-Hoo.

Bayley Fritsch,Kade Chandler, and Traccas they snapped.
 

OMG - MFCSS kicked straight in. All three actually snapped 😱😱

Wasn’t in the injury report.