TRAINING: Friday 13th December 2024

[Demonland 73,139]

With only a few sessions left before the Christmas break a number of Demonlander Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's preseason training session.

DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

PLAYERS IN ATTENDANCE: JVR, Salem, McVee, Petracca, Windsor, Viney, Lever, Spargo, Turner, Gawn, Tholstrup, Oliver, Billings, Langdon, Laurie, Bowey, Melksham, Langford, Lindsay, Jefferson, Howes, McAdam, Rivers, TMac, Adams, Hore, Verrall, Sparrow, Fullarton, Petty, Pickett, Chandler, Sestan, Mentha, Woewodin, Brown, Kentfield, AMW, Hardie & White

ABSENT: May & Fritsch

REHAB: Lever, Spargo, Lindsay, McAdam, Sestan & Melksham. (some of the rehab players joined the main group at various times and then returned to rehab). Halfway through the session Fullarton was running laps.

Had a busy day at training catching up with some Demonlanders and the Podcast Team so my focus on the session was not high.

A couple of things that I will highlight was Harvey Langford's double tap tackle on Windsor during a One on One Ground Ball drill. Langford ferociously tackled Windsor to the ground twice within the same segement of the drill. We have a very special one here. Hungry and on the hunt for the ball. Uses it very well.

Windsor's kicking to targets in the forward 50 is elite.

Tholstrup's overhead marking in the middle of the ground is very strong.

Kozzy is looking in super great nick. He is not as bulky in the shoulders and looks to have slimmed down. His ball movement is sublime.

Trac and Clarry look so focused and if we get maximum output from the two of them this season then look out.

Judd McVee is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen on the training track and that includes watching Jack Viney on the training track over 12 or 13 years.

JVR rarely loses a one on one marking contest. Granted neither May or Lever was training with the main group in todays session.

I was super impressed with Jefferson's leading and marking. He kicked some nice goals from outside 50 and I only saw 1 poor shot for goal that he didn't kick through. A one stage he was on a lead and the kick was a little bit wayward. Whilst on the lead in a straight line up the field towards 50 he read that it was not going to hit him and he moved laterally to mark it. A little thing but I was impressed with the speed that he recognised it and made the decision to move to get to the ball. I've seen bits and pieces of him at Casey and have been anywhere from very impressed to a little underwhelmed. I'm cognizant of the fact that key position players take longer to develop and that he was always going to take a little longer that JVR but I think this year will be his make or break. He will likely start at Casey but this is the season he needs to take the step up. I like what I have seen in the preseason but his destiny is in his hands. 

Aidan Johnson is a very nice size for a forward. Moves well. Has a good pair of hands. A nice kick for goal. I will not be surprised if we see him trialed in the preseason matches and providing all goes well in those matches or early at Casey I won't be shocked if he gets a call up particularly because he would be a better option as the relief ruck for Max than having those duties fall on JVR. This is not a knock on JVR; ruck work because I think he did an excellent job in that relief ruck role. However I think that was to the detriment of his development as a forward as ruck work can be punishing on the body not to mention all the running up and down the field exhausting him when he has to go back to playing key forward. The less rucking he has to do outside of the forward 50 arc the better. He is a key forward and should only be used as such. We don't want to rob Peter to pay Paul.

Disco Turner has the safest pair of hands in the business. I am very bullish on him this season and firmly believe that he will breakout even more this season. He reads the ball in the air so well and just has the ability to clunk them.

On Kalani White. He is only doing warm ups and non-contact stuff and isn't involved in the larger drills and match sims but boy do I love what I see and pray to all of the footy Gods that he chooses his beloved Demons. He is a tall and skinny kid as you've seen in the photos and he is 17 but still growing and with a couple of preseasons under his belt and a good nutrition plan, he will put on some bulk. He is very athletic for someone of his height and has very nice and clean skills which often times player of that height don't possess.

It was great to see Charlie Spargo running sprints along the boundary. Since the team has returned to the track Spargo has progressively increased the intensity of his training from stationary handballing and kicking to some light movement and agility training with the trainers to slow jogging along the boundary to running and today was the first time I have seen him sprinting at a good clip. Hopefully he is not too far away from returning to the main group. I would love to see him in the full training after the Christmas/New Years break.

It is fantastic to see such a small rehab group and this time of the preseason. In past years we have had many players in various stages of rehab and as we have all surmised the less body of training work that is put in during the preseason it is almost impossible to make that up during the Season. Only having a handfull of players in the rehab group and the majority of players in full training can only be a positive heading into the 2025 season.

Lever is recovering from post season surgery. I heard someone mention shoulder surgery but he also had a thin strap under one of his knees. He had slowly increased his running load while at training and I hope he too returns to the main group after the break.

New recruit Xavier Lindsay had post season surgery on his PCL. I'm not sure what his timeline to return is but he would be chomping at the bit to get involved. The little I have seen of his skills when he has been able to participate in now contact stuff is something to be excited about.

Melksham is new to the rehab group. I don't know what his ailment was and I'm sure it's been mentioned in some of the previous training reports but by the end of today session he was joining in with the main group in the match sim and did not look to be hampered by anything. He too looks to have come back in great nick (as does our other veteran TMac). Both could be playing their final seasons and neither of them will die wondering.

The one player I am most disappointed with in this preseason is McAdam. Another poster has reported that he was doing intense training sessions over the offseason. My hope after an injury interuptted preseason last year and then an injury interrupted season with only 3 senior berths and 11 games at Casey was that those injury concerns were all behind him. Since his return he has spent another preseason, at least the pre-Christmas block, in the rehab group. Granted I do not have any insight or knowledge as to what the issue or injury concern or if it is just precautionary, but I was hoping that he too could have a full preseason under his belt and hit the season running. I do believe that if fully fit he has a lot to offer which is why it is so disappointing that he is not tearing up the track. Finger crossed he is back on the track after the break.

CLANIKO'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

I headed in to Gosch's to check out training this morning and got there about 11 for the second half of training. Heres my observations

Were doing some full ground match sim style stuff when I rocked up. Then split into talls and non talls. Talls were doing a contested marking drill in front of me while the shorts/medium sized players were doing some sort of 1 on 1 groundball thing on the other side I couldn't really see.

Talls contested marking consisted of 1v1 in a box each running to an opposite corner of the box then coming back together judging a high kick and trying to mark. There were two groups of this going and the one in front of me had Harry Petty, Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Tom Campbell, Will Verrall and Trac came over about halfway thru for the medium/short drill.

After this there was a bit of full ground match sim stuff starting from a ball up on a wing and transitioning forward. Pickett playing in the mid was the biggest standout for me with some great play and a very nice fend off at one point. Other noticeable things were Roo near the pocket I was in getting a bit frustrated they didn't kick it to his side, instead kicking it to the closer pocket to the ball up where jeffo had his mark spoiled a couple times in a row. And Jack Viney ended up on the end of a few shots at goal (two from in front further out and one snap from the pocket) where he kick 1/3 of them including hitting the post from a snap that he probably should be kicking :(

Last up was a mids vs forwards goal kicking competition where everyone gets one shot from each angle/type of kick including a couple where they we getting handball receives/groundball gets. Mids seemed to be winning this comp which doesn't seem like a great sign for our forward line but oh well I guess having goal kicking mids doesn't hurt. Usual suspects in most of the line groups, only thing I noticed was both Jake Bowey and Caleb Windsor training with the backs on the other side of the ground. So maybe Bowey not going to the wing this season?

Then they changed into runners and did some running conditioning stuff, everyone appeared to be on a slightly different program. Kolt headed back to the rooms while everyone else seemed to do some amount of running/sprints.

BINMAN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

The first drill was focused on ball movement with players really encouraged to run and carry with call from trainers to 'cover the grass' and players encouraging teamates to bounce the ball (something we did very little of last season)

Xavier Lindasy (XL) is seriously naturally skilled. In the drill notes above (I think the only drill he participated in) a teamate handballed behind him (grrr) and X pirouetted, took it one handed and in the same movement handballed beautifully to a teammate who, unlike him, didn't have to break stride.

Speaking of natural talent, Kozzy is just unbelievable. A joy to watch. His footy IQ is off the charts, particularly his ability to position himself where the ball is going to go. Was switched on all session and the stand out trainer for mine.

Vibes and body language was terrific.

Great to see Claz and Tracc talking during drills about what appeared to be stuff like positioning etc. Very focused and serious.

Both worked on boundary throw ins after every other player had finished. Clarry very engaged and focused.

The session finished with running drills led by Selwyn. He clearly had live GPS data as he periodically called our players to finish, I assume because they had met their km target.

Clarry was running timed laps at the end in a group with Brown and Campbell. I was watching him with the binoculars and for the last couple of minutes he willed himself to pass Campbell and was making ground on Brown. When the whistle blew it looked as if he was going to faint. Teammates got around him. He is giving everything he has. Incredible effort level.

As advertised, AJ is very competitive, the sort of player Goody loves. But I'm very surprised how fit he looked, AFL level fit. He was running laps at the end at a very fast clip.

Sparrow has changed body shape quite noticeablely, dropped size in the the chest and upper arms. His running group, which he was at the front of, included tmac and Brown (they started their timed laps in front of me and tmac said to sparrow, 'that's a fast pace you're setting'). Jibes with the talk of him playing a different role next season, possibly wing.

Koz has also lost lots size in the chest and upper arms, which is why I'm dubious he will play much time as a mid this season. Kid is a dead set freak. In the match sim, which was surprisingly willing physically, running flat out he scooped the ball one handed off the deck, handballed beautifully to a teammate, putting him in space, somehow got involved in the chain again and then kicked a perfectly weighted ball accross his body, over the top of a defender to JVR. Thing of beauty.

The boundary line work i mentioned Trac and Clarry were doing after the session finished was led by Jonesy. It was fantastic to see he Trac and Claz working together. Inspired move to bring Jonesy back. Has a similar energy to gus in his ability to connect with everyone.

Kolt has got noticeably bigger and his hair looks permed. If he was dog he'd be bulloodle; a poodle bulldog cross.

DEESPICABLE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Attending training today was not quite as exciting as it was two weeks ago when the newbies were on display for the first time and the odd  player was being trialled in unusual positions, but it's still good to see what's going on and who's making inroads.

I was particularly interested in the match sim work, which lasted about an hour and generally saw 14-a-side lining up - so plenty of space and plenty of running.

As I said last Friday, it's hard not to be impressed by Caleb Windsor as a defender. He gives us the line-breaking pace and decision making that we need. Salem, Bowey and even McVee are all generally safe disposers and capable players in their own right, but adding Windsor into the mix will give us that dash we've been lacking allowing us to transition on occasions with real venom.

So far this pre-season Kossie is spending the majority of time with the mids and he's nailing it. It's like watching Aaron Davey in his prime - his ability to baulk and weave out of trouble is amazing. Last year his forays into the middle were also dynamic, but he kept turning the ball over. Hopefully with a full summer he can iron out his gives, because he now wins the majority of the contests - even more than Trac and Ollie. With him no longer playing forward, it seems Jack Viney has been assigned the task of being an extra small up forward and you'd be surprised how good a mark he is for his size and you'd hate to be the defender that turns the wrong way and gets nailed in a tackle by him.

Disco Turner looks to be mastering the art of forward-play and looks at home in the role now. Our key forwards are in a battle for spots this year and you'd be doing well to predict our round 1 trio. Jeffo had a day out in match sim kicking about four goals but he still gets pushed off it by bigger defenders. Aidan Johnson is starting to look the part, he's quick and physical and he definitely will be considered for round 1, although he'll need to nail our practice games. Petty keeps swapping roles, but spent most of today as a forward and with Jed Adams clearly on the improve, it may be that he will stay up front after all. JVR is finding the going tougher this year - he's got the yips with his kicking for goal routine and I suspect it's sapping his marking confidence. But he still looks a brute and is mega determined - the only issue being that Turner and AJ are similar models. The class and variety that Fritta provides was clearly missed today, while Melky was on light duties.

Don't be surprised if Tom Campbell plays quite a few times this year. As good as Gawny is, big Tom is beating him in the ruck tapouts contests, although he can't match him in marking duels around the ground. Tom was huge at Sandringham in the VFL last year and he has made a huge impression so far at training. He's mobile in the Brodie Grundy mode, but he has extra height, which means he can monster the throw-ins. Given there's 23 in a squad these days, surely it's time to take the pressure off Gawny a bit this season by occasionally playing TC as well with a view to subbing him out for fresh legs at three-quarter time. As to Will Verrrall, he laid a couple of ripping tackles today, but he's up against it, conceding about three inches and 10kg to TC and Gawny.

If I was giving votes at training today, then I'd be considering Ed Langdon - there was one magic bit of play where he just kept running to provide the spare and after a chain of quick handballs it finally to fell to him. He pulled a 90-degree kick that found Viney lace up for a shot on goal.

Such was Ed's form that I barely noticed Harry Sharp who was often doing his best to keep up with him. Our other newbie mid Harvey Langford won a bit more of the ball today, but I suspect he's still trying to adjust to the extra pace and will enjoy the X-mas break to recharge. Kynan Brown spent much of match-sim as a small forward and got a few nice touches. But I think he needs to play on the wing or half-back to make it.

As mentioned by others, Clarry and Trac had a nice chat about body positioning after match sim, and both are clearly a step ahead of our other mids (aside from Kossie), barging and baulking their way out of stoppages. If they can keep in a good headspace all season, then there's no doubt that with our draw we will challenge again.

DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

I attended some of the training session this morning. Very impressed with the coaching of Bassett and Chaplin during the match sim. Very impressed at how fit everyone is. Liked the great talk and encouragement during match sim.

PICKET FENCE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Skills, Drills and Manouvers, As already reported on earlier posts emphasis on quick disposals, run and overlap, using the centre corridor and better skills execution. I’ll cut straight to the chase and present my tack aways from the match sim which is after all the proof of any adjustment in game style , improvements in skills and positional differentiation from this year

Some players look bigger and stronger this preseason, Laurie, Chandler, Tholstrup, Brown, Jeffo and Woewodin are certainly stronger and more able bodied. By the same token Clarry definitely has lost some midriff, and Sparrow, also looks trim.

Players look fitter by that I mean that the gut running doesn’t exhaust some players perhaps like it used to, Windsor, Langdon, Chandler, Kossy, Viney and even Max look super fit.

Game style has been tweeked and using the centre corridor, sizing up best position to put the ball to advantage with centimeter perfect disposals with hand or foot was obvious today. As confidence grows and skills develop there is a more concerted belief that Perfect practice delivers more perfect results.

Long bombs into any line much less forward entries are much more polished. Running patterns of forwards has definitely been worked on with the result of a more seamless attack spread.

Troy Chaplin, Nathan Bassett and Chuck Jones have spiced things up quite a bit with operational strategies, set plays and positioning.

Kossy was ELECTRIC Rotating through the midfield and his zips and magic were a thing to behold

Trac and Clarry and Viney were not far behind with ground ball gets, Class, spread and old fashioned grunt. Midfield looks fresh and new, clearly a philosophical shift in mindset and again I bring up positioning at stoppages looked far more creative and DANGEROUS

Tom Campbell might well be more than an understudy to Max this year, I liked the way he bustled, ran hard and competed. Might be a surprise packet

Serious thought will be given to playing Harvey Langford in round 1. He just looks like he belongs. Does everything right and is not flustered and has “Class”

Similarly “JEFFO JUGGENAUT” Has definitely improved big time, took some strong grabs, his leading patterns were classy and he is a very accurate kick for goal. I must also add Disco also was clever and canny around goal and Van Rooyen always presented a dangerous option. Petty and T Mac played mainly back.

That’s about it, all in all enjoyable day, and last question to myself….Have we improved enough to challenge for the 8?? A resounding yes from me, The tweeks in playing style, improved fitness, and improvement by our younger brigade provide me with a very positive feeling. I hate using the Culture word so I won’t but what I will say is that there is a more steely resolve and harmony evident that I haven’t seen as much of with this group. If we can replace our injuries with like players then our depth and character will rise and get the job done I believe.

KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

The area was buzzing, Victory and Storm teams were also training. The mornings mild temperature was made to train in.

They were including some rehabbers in the warm-up and drills. Great to see Spargo in a training Jersey and with boots on. Lindsay had a little time in the sims. Lever and McAdam the kicking drills only.

When they had a full field drill, defenders in yellow bibs, ran and pressured near the ball users. First time I'd seen this defensive movement included in drills. If they caught them they tapped the back, or they placed themselves in blocking positions, or they stand the mark and go when the play-on happened.

Coaches continue to work in pairs, and they can be in any of the various groups. My guess is they coach according to a skill set, not a line preference at the moment. Though, when they have gone into their line groups they take up the designated roles.

I like the pairing of JVR and Jefferson. They don't get in each other's way, and their skill sets compliment the other. Big bash, ground ball get, find outside or behind space, alongside, aerial and leading acumen.

They want the players to keep out of the corridor areas. Calls of stay wider rang out. Appears they are trying to make leads into the spaces, in the middle of the field. 

AMW has become a close down tackling machine.

Tmac hasn't put a foot wrong.

The drills are performed at an outstanding skill level. Hoping the sims follow suit. They continue to work hard on their structures and intentions. 

They are eager and happy out there.

WHISPERING JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

21 hours ago, Rolling Stone said:

Some glowing reports about the players.

My question is whether the trackwatchers who have been going down to Gosch's think we can improve enough to return to the top half of the ladder in 2025?

Damn good question Mr. Stone. 

While watching this morning’s session with some very astute observers on the boundary line, we were pondering over exactly where the 2025 list stands by way of comparison to the great 2021 premiership team.

Here’s the team that beat the Western Bulldogs in the Grand Final at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, on Saturday 25 September 2021:-

The players who are no longer at the club are Michael Hibberd, Angus Brayshaw, Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, James Harms, Luke Jackson and James Jordon (sub who didn’t get on the ground). There were also a few good depth players who for one reason or another didn’t make the cut, notably Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, Jayden Hunt, Jake Melksham, Sam Weideman, Aaron vandenBerg and Toby Bedford. A few of those were on their way out. Daniel Turner had just been drafted in the mid-season draft. Adam Tomlinson was on a long spell out with an ACL. Kade Chandler and Joel Smith were thereabouts.

Are we better now?

It’s hard to replace some of those premiership stars (Brayshaw, Brown, Hibberd and Jackson were instrumental), there are some question marks about some of the key midfielders from 2021; only time will tell whether the team remains as fit and healthy as it was back then. 

I did see room for optimism on today’s showing at Gosch’s Paddock. Kozzy was outstanding today but he’s out suspended for the first three games. Trent Rivers is maturing into an important piece in the side. They look to be the big improvers over the intervening time.

You would have to be happy with the progress of Clarry and Tracc - they displayed an attitude today that augured well for their return to “normalcy” within the team.

There seems to be a nice infusion of high level elite young talent from the last two drafts in Windsor, Tholstrop, Langford and Lindsay are all blue sky. Judd McVee is emerging as a quality defender. Then there were the young key forwards Jacob van Rooyen, Turner, Matt Jefferson and newcomer Aidan Johnson held their marks and moved around the ground with flair, noting that their cause was aided by the absence of Steven May and the fact that Jake Lever was running laps around the boundary.

The jury’s out but I’m optimistic for a return to the finals.

WEBBER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Pedalled down to training yesterday too, and can happily confirm the thoughts and observations of others on here. Looking fit and happy, the boys. 

Notables for me -

Really really pleased to see ‘Charles’ Spargo at full stride-out pace looking great (and super fit bodily). If he’s a season starter, we’re getting an extra back on the list, and I reckon he’ll be driven like no man to make it stick. 

Jack Viney continues to amaze with his sheer ‘one way’ to play and train - you’d just hate to be matched up with him in competitive drills, but he will ALWAYS set the standard. 

Kozzy IS mesmeric. Makes me smile that the non-Dees footy world still doesn’t get it.

Clarry’s having a great time, back to his best ‘happy hands’ around the stoppage and through traffic. Obviously loving the energy and group intent, to which Nathan Jones is such a brilliant addition - welcome back Chunk. 

And finally - the 3-headed Demonland pod monster does exist. IRL! Can confirm that no only is @binman a real boy, so too are @george_on_the_outer and @Demonland/Andy. No digital puppetry or A.I. here, no algorithmic airwave deceptions, just flesh and blood assailing a mic or three.