TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

[Demonland 73,283]

A number of Demonland Trackwatchers swooped on Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's Preseason Training Session.

DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Beautiful morning at Gosch's Paddock. Very healthy crowd so far. 

REHAB: Fullerton, Spargo, Tholstrup, McVee

Viney running laps. EDIT: JV looks to be back with the main group.

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!

The main group has now split into two. The group closest to us have also split in half and look to be practicing transition from defence to the forward line. Trac is fully participating in this drill.

Lever very vocal in defense and competing well against Jefferson and Turner. Laurie has been a standout so far with his give, receive then forward 50 entries.

JVR with a nice bit of forward craft. Lost Petty and led to the beautiful pass of Sharp. He then converted beautifully from 50m.

The boys are now in a new drill focusing on short kicks around the 50. Kalani White is here and participating.

First time I've seen AJ in person. Imposing presence and looks a likely type. Easy to see why he's being mooted for a round 1 spot.

Laurie again lowers his eyes and nails a pass to JVR who takes a strong mark.

Rinse and repeat one minute later only for TMac to intercept with a late spoil.

We're now in a high paced handball/keepings off drill.

Melksham showcasing all of his years of experience as he twists and turns through traffic. Turner and Petty also surprisingly agile and skillful for big men.

Blake Howes and AJ take turns in wrapping up Kozzy (not an easy thing to do!) who pivots and divots but can't quite break away from traffic.

We're now in some good old fashioned match sim that is taking place in one half of the ground.

Tom Campbell has great touch for a big man. 

Harvey Langford showing his strength by shaking off a tackle and nailing a pass to the player on the wing.

Roo marking absolutely everything. Jeffo not so much.

Full oval match sim now.

Rivers showing great run and carry in the middle but has flubbed a few easy kicks.

Clarry cleverly intercepts a Kozzy handball and nicely delivers the ball inside 50.

He is looking fit.

Salem has his kicking boots on today. Nails a pass to Jeffo in the pocket who snaps truly.

JVR very vocal inside 50.

JVR with a huge specky to the delight of the members standing around the boundary!

Windsor doesn't run, he glides. Love watching him move around the ground. He'll be an asset no matter where we decide to play him this year.

McAdam showing fantastic dash.

Harvey Langford looks the goods on traffic. Footy IQ seems high.

As I type that, Langford nails Riv in a brutal tackle that can be heard around the ground.

Salem takes a courageous intercept mark going back with the flight. His kick falls short of AJ inside 50 who recovers beautifully before turning around nailing a short pass to Clarry.

Langford out bodies Kozzy and takes a strong mark in the centre.

Jeffo out bodies TMac nicely but just can't get them to stick (probably would've received a free kick anyway because of a chopping of the arms).

Roy George (I think) nails a sizzling pass inside 50 to Kozzy.

A nice bit of run and carry from Sestan (who's looked good today) leads to Langdon marking inside 50.

Jeffo finds himself with the ball on the midfield and takes a bit too long to get rid of it. Absolutely dumped in a tackle by Clarry.

TMac training with the forwards at the moment.

As is Kynan Brown.

Looks like that's a wrap!

CLANIKO'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Now split into two groups on opposite wings working the ball about 30 metres using only handpasses. White shirts vs reds with tackling. Kozzy a tackling beast as expected.

Trac, Chandler and sparrow were in the no touch fluro hats earlier but now are doing some kicking work with light pushing in the contest.

Full ground match sim I believe 13v13 with one player in a bib playing for the attacking team. JvR looking good as deepest forward playing on McDonald, tmac copped a big knee in the back with JVR taking a mark on him.

Jed Adams ignored Lever calling for an easy short kick inside and opted to go the long kick down the line that got intercepted, copped a bit of a spray from lever for it.

Midfield seemed pretty mixed. I think it was A backline vs A forward line at one end and B backline vs B forwards at other end. A end was JVR, Jeffo and Turner lining up against May and TMax. This split would have Lever in the B team though so tough to tell.

DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

I attended some of the training session this morning. I as very impressed with some of Bill Laurie's efforts. Jvr was marking everything including a great mark over Tmac. Trac is looking in good condition, and ready to go. Clayton Oliver looks very fit, and is in everything. Jack Billings looks very fit, and very keen to have a big season. 

KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Rehab on the paddock as I approach. Sparrow and Chandler in the yellow no contact cap, Tracc, and Verral, plenty of ball handling and running. 

Viney doing his own program. McVee and Fullarton running laps. Tholstrup in his own program. Spargo still on his own program, looking leaner than early on in preseason. 

No Kentfield again.

They main group of about 40 players, gathered, looked at the board and half of them turned their jersey's inside out, creating light and coloured groups.

In the warm up kicks, Williams took Langford aside and put pressure on him to get his left foot working with precision. 

Good to see Lever, Lindsay and Woey in full training.

A bit of wind around, they handled it well. The warm-up drills were done with plenty of skill and voices. 

The score board was up and running. They started a competitive kicking, then handball game in small areas. The rehabbers, Sparrow, Chandler, and Tracc, stepped into the kicking (no contact) game and separated from the handball one as it was contact.

The sims began 4 Quarters of about 7, 8 minutes each. Lights well ahead, then got over run by colours, who evened it up with the wind advantage and continued to against the wind. The backline of Tmac, and Windsor piercing the centre corridor got them dominating.

McAdam has found his mojo, running offensively and defensively (I think he is trusting his body), He is very quick, involved, and skilful. 

Lindsay playing wing against Woewodin, was heavily involved. He has a good tank, in the with the backs, then to the forward area. Closer down quickly, wants to get the ball, wants to stop the opposition. Works well as an outside runner.

Langdon played in the centre, alongside Clarry and Langford (could be an ANB substitute), got plenty of forward possessions. 

Laurie in the centre mids, moving well, getting plenty and using good skills.

JVR, getting some good looks at it in Central positions Fritta playing wide and high. Finding it difficult to get them kicking it to him.

Melksham looking good with leadership qualities.

Petty got some mongrel going, even with own players.

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. 

I think Caleb is playing out of the backline. I haven't seen him starting on the wing in the sims yet.

I was impressed with Lindsay in the wing position.

Sharp definitely has the tank and speed. My worry is, does he get enough of the ball and can he use it well. A few off kicks/turnovers today.

Then there is Billings, Woewodin, Sparrow, Brown, even Bowey and Rivers.

Our set ups are going to be interesting. Many options, and pressure for positions, especially with Melky, Salem and McAdam doing well in preseason. Mentha is improving, then there is AMW, Laurie and Hore, Johnson and Campbell. Sestan, Jefferson, Adam and Howes also in the mix. I haven't been able to leave many out of the possibilities. We have good depth this year.

HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

All in attendance today except Luker Kentfield - hasn't been seen for a while?

Roy George, Mitch Hardie and (I think) Jai Culley "train-on" players.

McVee, Trac, Spargo, Tholstrup, Sparrow, Fullarton, Chandler in rehab. Verrall seemed to be in and out of it. Viney threw his strapping away and joined the main group early.

Petty continued to train down back, Disco up forward - interestingly they seem to be trying Sestan down back (and he looked OK).

As per other comments, Clayton, Rivers and Windsor looking great through the mid-field in match sim.

McAdam (very lively again), Johnson and JVR normally deepest with Fritter playing a lot more upfield - maybe just to get more work into him. Max back to full training and Campbell was making him work. Campbell looking like he will be a capable (if not like-for-like) replacement should he be needed. Still no sign of JVR or Johnson doing any secondary ruck-work (who will it be?).

Lever back into the main group and he and May doing their usual thing - TMac also down back - does he fit in with Petty also back? 

Other random observations - Howes continues to look good, Adams seems to have discovered a bit of spark. Salem used a lot in the yellow vest (overlap) player in the match sim.

WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

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

SCOOP JUNIOR'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

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.

SLARTIBARTFAST'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Sestan worked very well off half back, he's a very good kick. McAdam was a star in a lot of the drills.  If he stays fit we have something.  At one stage Windsor had the ball running to goal.  Lingers decided to run him down. Did manage it despite Duke going at 85%.  Windsor and Kossie, as Scoop said, stand out with their physical attributes.

Roy George continues to impress.  Does some special things.  I was on his bandwagon at the end of last season but I am now.  He's got some special attributes.

I disagree with WW.  The match sims are not all that physical.  It's tackle with care and little contact in the air but Tmac might have a word with JvR.

Addition: had a long chat with Kingy, was really approachable and happy to talk.  He's a big fan of Windsor going back "because you don't get enough of the ball on the wing". He thought as a team we had the greatest highest and lowest variance.  He had a long chat to Trac, I love to know what he thinks now.

[thirty-one 216]

Roo tackled Max at one point, brought him to the ground and held him there, showing a bit of aggro.  Bill Laurie outran Clarrie at one point, which rather surprised me, not that Clarrie is really fast but I didn't think Laurie was either, and also laid a ferocious tackle on ?Clarrie?