PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

[Ghostwriter 2,846]

Just now, adonski said:

 

I paid out on Kingy for only ever saying negative things about us. Then he started saying really good things about us. I hate it when that happens. 😂

[stinga 601]

haven't heard comments for AMW for a while?

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,697]

7 minutes ago, stinga said:

haven't heard comments for AMW for a while?

He was in training pics from Monday, so maybe illness today or something like that?

[BLWNBA 1,195]

Apologies in advance if this has been widely discussed previously, but is the reason behind Kenterfield's absence(s) known - injury / niggle / general soreness etc? 

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,099]

3 hours ago, Greg Schneider said:

What’s Tholstrup’s issue ? Been in rehab for a couple weeks now unfortunately 

The same question could be asked of McVee.

[BAMF 4,427]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

They're calling him Harvey Reid 🤑

 

Love the person holding the camera quietly laughing at the end there in awe.

[Harvey Wallbanger 1,110]

6 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The same question could be asked of McVee.

McVee seemed unhindered in rehab - perhaps precautionary. Tholstrup also not limping or showing any other discomfort - just doing very little. Pure speculation, but perhaps concussion protocols, or illness, or management...not too worried about these two. Chandler's shoulder maybe a couple of weeks away and the timeline on Spargo is unknown...maybe we will get an official injury update this week, particularly with 7 or 8 not training today...

[M_9 2,111]

King's 'why is it always George?' a reference to George Wardlaw's injury (ie nothing to do with us?).

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,697]

4 minutes ago, M_9 said:

King's 'why is it always George?' a reference to George Wardlaw's injury (ie nothing to do with us?).

Ahhhh right. I was wondering what that meant. Yeah seems he may have a bad hammy injury…. Not great signs given he’s already had multiple issues

[Harvey Wallbanger 1,110]

12 minutes ago, M_9 said:

King's 'why is it always George?' a reference to George Wardlaw's injury (ie nothing to do with us?).

Yes - Wardlaw has done a hamstring. We have the Roos Round 2 at Marvel. Kingy said "you don't want to face the Roos early in the season!"

[binman 44,274]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

 

What's David King got against @george_on_the_outer?

Edited yesterday at 03:38 by binman

[Scoop Junior 3,558]

I also went down to training this morning.

Didn't see Kentfield or AMW. McVee and Fullarton ran a lot of laps and didn't look overly hindered. Spargo was in a singlet (not the training jumper the players wear) doing his own thing - would seem to be a while away.

When I got there they were doing two groups of a short kicking game. Looked like the aim was to practice hitting up precise kicks through a zone (picking the right option and executing) while for the defending team it was to get in the right position and then try chop off the kicks. There was no tackling and ball movement was pretty much by foot only. Trac, Sparrow and Chin participated in this wearing the yellow hats. Jake Melksham landed a few lovely weighted passes that somehow bypassed the zoning players.

They then moved into a handball game, working on moving the ball by hand in tight, defending the ball movement by hand and constantly running up and back. This was with tackling and the yellow-hatters stepped out of this drill. Max and Lever participated and looked to be back in full training.

They then moved into match sim. It wasn't an intra-club or anything like that, it seemed more about full ground ball movement. There was tackling and contact but it didn't appear to me to be at practice match / intra-club type ferocity. Also, there weren't any stoppages around the ground. I thought the ball movement was pretty slick and fast for the most part, but hey, it's far from the pressures of a game against genuine opposition.

Positionally, Petty was in defence. Fritsch played further up the ground (half forward). One would question why you wouldn't want a player with Fritsch's nous and goal kicking ability as close to goal as possible, but seeing him roll onto the left and lace out some lovely passes into leading forwards probably answers that question. I thought Adams made a few good desperate spoils. JVR leapt well at the ball and took a nice hanger on TMac from a long Rivers kick that sat up perfectly for him. Speaking of Rivers, he did seem to use that long leg on most occasions, driving the ball deep inside 50.

They then went back into the handball game before then going back to more of the ball movement match sim. The yellow-hatters didn't do the match sim, Trac ran some laps and just looks in ripping shape.

At one stage Oliver really put on the after-burners to chase down a player and I thought to myself, why go so hard, you could nick a hammy (MFCSS). After the chase he went to ground and started stretching his leg and then walked off the ground and I thought, that's why! But he came back on a few minutes later and resumed playing in the match sim and seemed to play it out. That would suggest it was likely cramp although I do remember him playing out the game after his hammy against Port (more MFCSS).

Just finally, it's hard to stand out in the way you run/move when out there with 35 other professional athletes, but gee two players for me just looked on a different level with how they cover the ground. The first was Kozzie with his lateral movement. It's nothing we don't know, but his ability to twist and turn and sidestep is quite remarkable - they just couldn't tackle him. The second was Windsor. He is one of those runners that looks like they are skiing down a mountain. He just eats up the ground and is so effortless in his running style.

[old dee 23,938]

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

A few more thoughts on today's training...

Teams very competitive in competitive skills training. Lots of encouragement from players on the boundary line waiting to rotate. Many physical exchanges throughout. Tackling was fierce. disposal skills were mostly very good.

I didn't see AMW or Kentfield

Hore has developed a defender's 'mean-streak'. He put Melksham and one other very close to the fence with aggro nudges across the boundary line.

Ricky Mentha is finding a lot of ball and delivering at pace in match sims.

May has lost none of his physical aggression but still is a little wayward with some passes.

If Billings is competing with Sharp for a spot on the wing, I have Billings ahead on training form.

I asked Kilani if he was coming, he responded with, "How you going"... maybe he didn't hear me clearly, it was very windy!

Fritsch continues to play further up the field and he seems up for the challenge. Cool in traffic, constantly on the move.

Spargo was running the boundary at a hot pace and seemingly unhindered.

Max took part in match sims and competitive drills. Showed his strengths!

Langdon is in superb touch.

Langford is looking like a round 1 starter these days.

Maintaining the pre-season excellence -> Rivers, Oliver, Salem, Windsor & McDonald

Woewodin is developing. He puts body into every contest (courageously), tackles well and has stamina. Only a shade behind Sparrow in a similar position... might be the 'Nibbler' type.

If I was picking a round one team based on today's session (and on who looks 100% available) it would be this,

B: McVie, May, McDonald

HB: Salem, Lever, Windsor

C: Billings, Viney, Langdon

HF: Fritsch, Turner, Petracca 

F: McAdam, Van Rooyen, Chandler

R: Gawn, Oliver, Rivers

Int: Petty, Laurie, Melksham, Langford, Howes

So VR still doing the ruck back up? dont like it.

[Deemania since 56 6,751]

4 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Trac, Sparrow, Chandler and Verrell also training away from the main group. Currently kicking to each other inside the 50 before attempting a running shot for goal. Trac with a couple of absolute bullets that sounded amazing off the boot!

Again, whatever Tracca does, invokes, attends to, wants to do is amazing. 

[Deemania since 56 6,751]

4 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

urner and Petty also surprisingly agile and skillful for big men.

Bewdy!

[Deemania since 56 6,751]

23 minutes ago, Scoop Junior said:

He is one of those runners that looks like they are skiing down a mountain. He just eats up the ground and is so effortless in his running style.

Windsor is our new Stan Alves, surely ... only faster.

[Lord Travis 10,785]

Langford already showing signs he will be a midfield superstar for us long term. His footy IQ and power are tantalising to watch. The fact he's strong in the air too means he can play forward and be a tricky matchup due to his size. You'd love to see him and Petracca form a rotation of roles mid/forward and forward/mid, with Trac more mid and Langford more forward, then gradually swap them over time as Trac winds down and Langford develops. 

Can't wait for round 1!

[Pennant St Dee 13,362]

2 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I paid out on Kingy for only ever saying negative things about us. Then he started saying really good things about us. I hate it when that happens. 😂

That’s not correct, Kings has on many occasions complimented us on our training intensity and professionalism in the way we’ve gone about things with a brutality that others need to match.

When discussing Carlton training sessions pre season 2024 he mentioned they had gone up a level to a physical intensity he’d previously witnessed at Melbourne sessions.

Whilst he’s a [censored] at times, got to acknowledge some positives he says

[Pennant St Dee 13,362]

Big thanks to all the track watchers, very much appreciated

[Roost it far 8,952]

I need more reports….More!!!

[kev martin 10,576]

1 hour ago, Scoop Junior said:

After the chase he went to ground and started stretching his leg and then walked off the ground and I thought, that's why! But he came back on a few minutes later and resumed playing in the match sim and seemed to play it out. That would suggest it was likely cramp

There was a big divot in the ground were Clarry landed knee first into it, during the tackle he attempted. First thought was hammy as he grabbed for that area, and made his way to the sidelines. Second thought was knee, given the divot, and the squat position he was doing to test it. Waved the trainers away, and was back out there in no time at all.

[dazzledavey36 55,500]

Are we lead to believe Spargo is still a few months off potentially from resuming full time contact training?

Whats the go with Kentfield also? Seems like he's been missing for a while? 

[BC_1718_DC 1,505]

2 hours ago, waynewussell said:

A few more thoughts on today's training...

Teams very competitive in competitive skills training. Lots of encouragement from players on the boundary line waiting to rotate. Many physical exchanges throughout. Tackling was fierce. disposal skills were mostly very good.

I didn't see AMW or Kentfield

Hore has developed a defender's 'mean-streak'. He put Melksham and one other very close to the fence with aggro nudges across the boundary line.

Ricky Mentha is finding a lot of ball and delivering at pace in match sims.

May has lost none of his physical aggression but still is a little wayward with some passes.

If Billings is competing with Sharp for a spot on the wing, I have Billings ahead on training form.

I asked Kilani if he was coming, he responded with, "How you going"... maybe he didn't hear me clearly, it was very windy!

Fritsch continues to play further up the field and he seems up for the challenge. Cool in traffic, constantly on the move.

Spargo was running the boundary at a hot pace and seemingly unhindered.

Max took part in match sims and competitive drills. Showed his strengths!

Langdon is in superb touch.

Langford is looking like a round 1 starter these days.

Maintaining the pre-season excellence -> Rivers, Oliver, Salem, Windsor & McDonald

Woewodin is developing. He puts body into every contest (courageously), tackles well and has stamina. Only a shade behind Sparrow in a similar position... might be the 'Nibbler' type.

If I was picking a round one team based on today's session (and on who looks 100% available) it would be this,

B: McVie, May, McDonald

HB: Salem, Lever, Windsor

C: Billings, Viney, Langdon

HF: Fritsch, Turner, Petracca 

F: McAdam, Van Rooyen, Chandler

R: Gawn, Oliver, Rivers

Int: Petty, Laurie, Melksham, Langford, Howes

Any team with Billings over Bowey is not right ❌

[kev martin 10,576]

4 hours ago, BLWNBA said:

Is he still being used primarily off the wing? 

When they set up for the sims, Windsor starts off the half-back. They are really pushing high up the ground as forwards or backs. Meaning Caleb is forward of centre as they compact the contested area. The backs had TMac as the last man in one set up I saw, with May on his right side. The forwards had JVR as the last man who was loose on regular occasions, with the backs pushing past the 50 arc. 

The wings had, Billings, Sharp, Woewodin and Lindsay most of the time. Langdon was in with the centre mids. Brown was set as a half-forward, as they started the sim,  then often working like a winger as Windsor did. Though not matched up with a player, so outnumbering the opposition's wingman. 

Edited yesterday at 05:18 by kev martin

[CmonDemons2021 12]

I’m hearing Ricky Mentha has been flying and is a massive chance to be in the side early in the season