TRAINING: Monday 9th December 2024

Once again Demonland Trackwatchers were in attendance at the first preseason training session for the week at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations.

WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Looks like very close to 100% attendance. Kelani is back. Same group in rehab.

REHAB: Spargo, Lever, Lindsay, Brown & McAdam.

Haven’t laid eyes on Fritsch or AMW yet.

Fritsch sighted.

One unknown mature standing with Goody.

Noticing Nathan Bassett much more today. He is taking the main, full group ball movement activity, with Goody looking on. Bassett barking instructions constantly.

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! 

DEESPENCER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Match sim.

Lovely mark on the lead by Dees CHF Harry Petty.

(they’re playing with a backline of Judd and Windsor most of the key backs are rolling through a forward line).

Jed Adams nice run and receive on the next piece of play.

Bad Harry Sharp turnover kicking to Bowser.

Clarry and Tracc racking them up.

Bowser and Salo the 2 man backline now.

Moving fast with lots of diagonal stuff which is good to see.

Not always connecting to the forwards - nice Kalani intercept and spoil there - but Riv, Viney, Koss have all run the ball through the middle.

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.

DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

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'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

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 ...

SIDESHOW BOB'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

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.

KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING 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.

Jefferson is going well! Has put on bulk around the hips. Looks taller than last season. Getting involved in the sims. Listening to and executing the instructions. This morning he was working hard, getting off the blindside of defenders, and in constant movement. Didn't get many passes to him, continued to offer options. His handball and field kicking have also improved, has great hands. Has a reliable set shot. The tackling effort is still lacking, or it maybe that he cannot read defensiveness well. Starts a step behind and doesn't straight line with gusto, though can zone defend reasonably well. During drills he is as clean as anyone. Looking happy. Must be a chance to get a start this year.

They have been simming and drilling in very congested areas. A marked change from early last season.

When they structure up with a crowded forward line, the instructions I have heard have been, 'look and kick it to where the leading forwrd wants it'. A few of the sims when crowded had them putting the ball infront of JVR who wanted it above the pack for a strong specky attempt, hit the pack, and have a front and centre ready.

Big change is that the crumbers are being drilled, working together, and making sure that someone is there at the crumb (hard running). Chandler reads it well. Kossie's snaps are a beautiful thing to see, so very consistent. 

They haven't given up on the kind of bomb it in theory.