PRESEASON TRAINING: Monday 9th December 2024

[58er 6,538]

7 minutes ago, Deestar9 said:

He’s is recovering from a shoulder …was in a sling a month or so ago 

Thanks 

[DeeSpencer 26,069]

Kolt, Kalani and the new boys jogging laps.

Main group just doing end to end lane work with 2 vests v 3 cones at each end and a 2v1 defenders in the middle to link up. 

Really simple but fundamental running and decision making. 

Now with 2 footies so it’s getting all multi ball 

[dazzledavey36 55,311]

42 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Definitely looks like Mitch Hardie. Racked up some massive numbers at VFL for the cats and was pretty stiff not to get a game at AFL level.

If he's signed at Casey then that's a great get for our VFL team.

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

24 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

He’s doing a lot of agility and very structured short running for a shoulder. Might be knee related shoulder surgery 

He asked for “the spray” and they bandaged his knee. Now he’s on the stationary bike and has been for quite a while. The bandage has been removed.

He’s now heading back to the rooms. 

Edited December 9 by Ghostwriter

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

Petts has been training with the forwards for the entire session. 

[DeeZee 7,445]

Petts may be used as a swing man , depending on circumstances and opposition.

[Ditcha 592]

I attended some of the training session. Very impressed with with the quick balling moving drill conducted by Choco. Choco was saying keep your eyes open at all times. Petty was training with forwards today, which suggests that he may be a swing man.

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,193]

I managed to get down to my first training session in a while today and really enjoyed it. I also got to meet Peter Lawrence, as I'm sure others did given he was having a chat to everyone watching. Seemed like a good guy and very passionate about the footy club, whether I agree with everything that has gone on is another thing but I did want to mention that.

Here are some very basic notes I took while watching. Given I'm not a regular I don't really have anything to benchmark to and also don't understand a lot of the drills so it is fairly basic!

When I first got there they were completing a drill in a diamond shape using the whole ground and running in twos. They were all running incredibly hard and really pushing each other, plus Choco really getting vocal. Seem to be Incorporating match day type running as opposed to just running laps to build fitness.

Milkshake running laps and looks to be in some discomfort. Ended up on the bike so must have some type of niggle.

Hand balling drill focused on shutting down ball movement once the whistle goes. Lots of celebration when it gets shutdown

Watching Trac’s power from 10m away is incredible. He burst through three potential tacklers and gave a big cheer once through.

Windsor grabbed at his calf after one of the drills…. Made me panic but seems ok and finished the rest of training.

Lindsay just keeps running and running. Looks a highly likely type and can’t wait until he’s in full training mode. Kynan Brown also moved into running about halfway through and he just motored along at a decent click for ages.

Langford is an absolute beast of a boy, but didn't get to see too much of him unfortunately.

Bailey Laurie’s kicking is elite. Hoping he can have a breakout year…

Petty playing as a forward in the match sim to start.

Adams runs hard to get a handball from May and then hits his 30m kick. I am holding out hope he will eventually take over form May as a key defender. May get a game this year if desperately needed, but I think 2026 will be when he really starts to ramp up.

Kozzy turns it over and Chappy was not happy. Chappy also giving some pretty stern words to Ricky Mentha. Chappy is very vocal and looked to be getting a bit [censored] off at times. Assuming the new game plan he is trying to implement is taking some time as would be expected.

Scrappy kick from Langford and petty picks it off his bootlaces and snaps a goal.

It’s pretty willing in the match sim. Some genuine slaps of the body happening out there. Skills have been so-so, would’ve liked a bit better but the defensive intensity is really good. Again, hard for me to tell given I don't get down very often.

Kalani White showed great courage in getting across to make a spoil. Can imagine it would be intimidating for a 17 year old! He also slotted a few nice goals and looks really athletic.

Don’t think Bowey missed a kick the whole session. Think he is ready for a big year.

Good thing it’s a pretty full list out there. Really just Lever, Spargo, Lindsay, McAdam and Melk not in full training.

Kolt finished training early… hopefully nothing too serious but he was walking back to AAMI park with a trainer as I was leaving.

Trac was smiling a lot and very vocal ...

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,193]

58 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

He asked for “the spray” and they bandaged his knee. Now he’s on the stationary bike and has been for quite a while. The bandage has been removed.

He’s now heading back to the rooms. 

I noted that Kolt finished early. Did anyone mention anything about this?

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

7 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I noted that Kolt finished early. Did anyone mention anything about this?

I have a feeling he had to tend to another matter unrelated to training because the admin staff seemed to be giving him a rundown so maybe it’s a media thing. 🤷‍♀️

Speaking of, Tom Campbell was being interviewed after training by a ch. 10 reporter named Nick Butler (who’s a former player, apparently). The focus of the interview is how he’s settling in with us. It’ll be on the 5pm news. 

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,193]

1 minute ago, Ghostwriter said:

I have a feeling he had to tend to another matter unrelated to training because the admin staff seemed to be giving him a rundown so maybe it’s a media thing. 🤷‍♀️

Speaking of, Tom Campbell was being interviewed after training by a ch. 10 reporter named Nick Butler (who’s a former player, apparently). The focus of the interview is how he’s settling in with us. It’ll be on the 5pm news. 

Thanks. I did see Nick Butler there I think.

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

1 minute ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Thanks. I did see Nick Butler there I think.

He stood out because he’s tall and was well-dressed and was wearing TV makeup. 

[Sideshow Bob 2,406]

Spent about 45 mins there for the first time in many a season. Very impressed with the quality of training and ball movement - picking a starting 22 is going to be tough work on the selection committee 

Was surprised about the size of Lindsay - he is definitely bigger than I was expecting - ripped and should slot straight in 

[waynewussell 6,237]

Obvious from watching training these early days; we are very fit and transferring the ball with speed (and often, but not always, precision). However, until they start real, full ground match sim, it's a bit like dancing with your sister! Apart from communicating who is not there, and who is in rehab, and who may have picked up a niggle, it's now difficult to be enlightening about projections regarding our progress in 2025. All I can say is that Langford plays round 1 and he improves us. Johnson is putting pressure on key Talls (forwards) with his intensity and athleticism. Tracc is back bigger than before, Clayton is on course to burst back into eye-catching, high disposal, mid-dominance. McDonald is fitter than he has been for a couple of years and Campbell is a legit, road-tested Max-back-up option! 

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

Maysie trained well despite having the worst night in terms of disrupted sleep since Millie was born. He says it’s his own fault though because the night before (Saturday night) he had a great night’s sleep, the best by far, and he went around yesterday morning bragging to everyone about it and clearly jinxed himself. 😅

[DubDee 26,112]

3 hours ago, waynewussell said:

I'm not saying Jeffo has no neck but I was singing

Gladstone Gladstone Gladstone Small Gladstone Small Gladstone Small

to myself when I saw this pic

 

[biggestred 5,125]

3 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Maysie trained well despite having the worst night in terms of disrupted sleep since Millie was born. He says it’s his own fault though because the night before (Saturday night) he had a great night’s sleep, the best by far, and he went around yesterday morning bragging to everyone about it and clearly jinxed himself. 😅

how is may looking? fit? babies will wreck your routine!

[DeelightfulPlay 2,559]

Thanks to all the track watchers for their reports today and earlier this preseason!  From far off Sydney, you've all had me singing in anticipation (much to my coworkers' distress). 

A taster of said singing (with apologies to Andy Williams...)

🎶🎵🏉🎄🏉🎵🎶
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the draft kids a tackling
And everyone telling you "Clarry and Trac are now here"
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest pre-season of all
With those houses trained down
And happy meetings where players hunt for the ball
It's the hap-happiest pre-season of all

🎶🎵🏉🎄🏉🎵🎶

[kev martin 10,397]

A few observations -

Basset, and Jones (Goody observing) had a sim/structural drill going, tackling included, going in at about 60% commitment. It seemed to be about getting the ball out from a stoppage in the backline with kick, when the ball gets locked in by congestion. The other side of the field had Chaplin and, I think Whitford, doing something similar, with the emphasis being locking the ball in. Basset was very vocal, he emphasised that the corridor was sacrosanct, 'give them the boundary'.

Langford struggled with the shorts kicks, and decision-making a couple of times. His long kicks were more successful. Campbell moved and handled the ball fairly well for a big man. Good fun watching Viney and Tracc compete against each other.

They had some stoppages for the mids, taken by Jones. Two mids on one opposition, crumbing off the rucks, Gawn, Verrall and Campbell. One mid would block, as the other gets a free run to collect the tap. I am yet to see the tall forwards do any ruck work.

The forwards all practised set kicking from about 45 metres out, taken by Choco.

The backs, with Bassett, practised the basic releases.

The full sims were done with plenty of skill, fast ball movement, and a sparse forward line.

They had an extensive, intensive session, building well.

[DeeZone 10,074]

Big thanks to ww, dAJ, Ghost Writer, Kev Martin for your training reports and all posters for their observations and special comments. I am getting some real positive vibes about our group.😁

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

1 hour ago, biggestred said:

how is may looking? fit? babies will wreck your routine!

He was bleary-eyed but I thought that was because Monday mornings can be rough. He trained well for someone running on “bugger-all” sleep. 

[Ghostwriter 1,680]

1 hour ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Thanks to all the track watchers for their reports today and earlier this preseason!  From far off Sydney, you've all had me singing in anticipation (much to my coworkers' distress). 

A taster of said singing (with apologies to Andy Williams...)

🎶🎵🏉🎄🏉🎵🎶
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the draft kids a tackling
And everyone telling you "Clarry and Trac are now here"
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest pre-season of all
With those houses trained down
And happy meetings where players hunt for the ball
It's the hap-happiest pre-season of all

🎶🎵🏉🎄🏉🎵🎶

Awww DP, I’m sure Andy Williams would be very impressed. He’d probs wonder who tf Clarry and Tracc are, but he’d be impressed nonetheless 😘

Edited December 9 by Ghostwriter

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,733]

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Definitely looks like Mitch Hardie. Racked up some massive numbers at VFL for the cats and was pretty stiff not to get a game at AFL level.

If he's signed at Casey then that's a great get for our VFL team.

It’s him.. 💯 can’t not be it his actual face 

 

MASSIE get for our VFL team and potential mid-season pick-up for sure 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,906]

6 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Awww DP, I’m sure Andy Williams would be very impressed. He’d probs wonder who tf Clarry and Tracc are, but he’d be impressed nonetheless 😘

I doubt it. He's been dead for 12 years.

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,733]

3 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I managed to get down to my first training session in a while today and really enjoyed it. I also got to meet Peter Lawrence, as I'm sure others did given he was having a chat to everyone watching. Seemed like a good guy and very passionate about the footy club, whether I agree with everything that has gone on is another thing but I did want to mention that.

Here are some very basic notes I took while watching. Given I'm not a regular I don't really have anything to benchmark to and also don't understand a lot of the drills so it is fairly basic!

When I first got there they were completing a drill in a diamond shape using the whole ground and running in twos. They were all running incredibly hard and really pushing each other, plus Choco really getting vocal. Seem to be Incorporating match day type running as opposed to just running laps to build fitness.

Milkshake running laps and looks to be in some discomfort. Ended up on the bike so must have some type of niggle.

Hand balling drill focused on shutting down ball movement once the whistle goes. Lots of celebration when it gets shutdown

Watching Trac’s power from 10m away is incredible. He burst through three potential tacklers and gave a big cheer once through.

Windsor grabbed at his calf after one of the drills…. Made me panic but seems ok and finished the rest of training.

Lindsay just keeps running and running. Looks a highly likely type and can’t wait until he’s in full training mode. Kynan Brown also moved into running about halfway through and he just motored along at a decent click for ages.

Langford is an absolute beast of a boy, but didn't get to see too much of him unfortunately.

Bailey Laurie’s kicking is elite. Hoping he can have a breakout year…

Petty playing as a forward in the match sim to start.

Adams runs hard to get a handball from May and then hits his 30m kick. I am holding out hope he will eventually take over form May as a key defender. May get a game this year if desperately needed, but I think 2026 will be when he really starts to ramp up.

Kozzy turns it over and Chappy was not happy. Chappy also giving some pretty stern words to Ricky Mentha. Chappy is very vocal and looked to be getting a bit [censored] off at times. Assuming the new game plan he is trying to implement is taking some time as would be expected.

Scrappy kick from Langford and petty picks it off his bootlaces and snaps a goal.

It’s pretty willing in the match sim. Some genuine slaps of the body happening out there. Skills have been so-so, would’ve liked a bit better but the defensive intensity is really good. Again, hard for me to tell given I don't get down very often.

Kalani White showed great courage in getting across to make a spoil. Can imagine it would be intimidating for a 17 year old! He also slotted a few nice goals and looks really athletic.

Don’t think Bowey missed a kick the whole session. Think he is ready for a big year.

Good thing it’s a pretty full list out there. Really just Lever, Spargo, Lindsay, McAdam and Melk not in full training.

Kolt finished training early… hopefully nothing too serious but he was walking back to AAMI park with a trainer as I was leaving.

Trac was smiling a lot and very vocal ...

Greta stuff mate — love to hear Chappy getting on their [censored] he’s a absolute fun and WILL fix fed line issues — hearing he’s already completely changed the vibe and has blocks being sued as many of us have asked for for years.. exciting times