TRAINING: Friday 21st February 2025

[Demonland 73,608]

Demonland Trackwatchers beat the Friday heat to bring you their observations from this morning's Captain's Run out at Gosch's Paddock in the lead up to their first hit out in a Practice Match tomorrow against the Kangaroos.

TRAVY14'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

On the park:

Trac
Spargo
Gawn
Viney
Langdon
May
Fritsch
Salem
Henderson

Rehab: McVee (updated to include Melk, Kolt, AMW and Kentfield)

Spoke to "Gus" the trainer, he said these are the guys not playing tomorrow.  Will be playing a lot of the kids.

Henderson training to get to know the guys.

General drills with running incorporated into it for fitness, nothing really to report.

McVee doing plenty or run throughs at gentle pace, but impressed considering its an eight week hammy.

Rest of the team rocking up now for captains run.

Windsor in footy boots!!

Windsor just left the track, not looking comfortable.  Not a new injury, but obviously still recovering.

HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Absent: McAdam

Rehabbing: Melksham and McVee lots of running. Moniz-Wahefield. Tholstrup and Kentfield not doing much.

Not playing tomorrow: May, Salem, Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Gawn, Langdon, Fritsch, Henderson, Windsor

Train-on: Roy George (Culley not present).

Leaves the other 28 available to have a run tomorrow:

2 van Rooyen
8 Lever
13 Oliver
14 Billings
16 Laurie
17 Bowey
19 Langford
20 Lindsay
21 Jefferson
22 Howes
24 Rivers
25 TMac
26 Adams
27 Hore
28 Verrall
29 Campbell
30 Sharp
32 Sparrow
33 Fullarton
35 Petty
36 Pickett
37 Chandler
38 Sestan
39 Mentha
40 Woewodin
41 Brown
42 Johnson
? George

Windsor did some running with the main group - a big step forward from last week. Don't expect him to play tomorrow though.

Based on what we saw today I expect the Casey game will not have any AFL listed players, and as reported earlier it may be that Roy George has a run in the main game (even though not on the list?).

Given the nature of Kolt's injury he just turns up to training but he is not doing any running or drills. Today he spent quite a bit of time with his friend Kentfield - gentle stretches etc, hand-balling, etc. They will both be a couple of months away based on official and unofficial reports.

KEV MARTIN'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

Gorgeous morning, right temperature, no wind, plenty of vibe around (excited, nervous, up), they are ready to hit and compete. 

The veterans of Trac, Spargo, Gawn, Viney, Langdon, May, Fritsch, Salem, and the new one Henderson, had their own program going. They did join in some main drills. Henderson looks OK, can run and covers the ground smoothly, also has a good kick on him. In a general drill where we hadn't dropped a ball until Henderson let one slip. Good learning curve for him. A few others missed after that. I think, starting in that group of leaders will be good for him.

The veterans group did an excessive number of run throughs.

The others were about 28 or so in numbers. Going to be an interesting hit out tomorrow in the sim against North. 

Goody controlled the training, mainly by himself. The sims had him structuring mostly infront of the ball. The contest weren't there as they kept distance and allowed each other space.

Kossie heavily involved, as a small forward. Oliver, rotated with him in from the forward to the mid-area.

JVR getting his hands on it, with Turner as his offsider.

Jefferson and Johnson at the end that they weren't kicking too.

Backline being led by Lever who got the intercepts.

Sharp played high half-forward. 

Verral and Campbell rucking in different teams.

H.Langford, looked nervous, fumbled a few. Hope he enjoys his first hit out with team tomorrow. 

Lindsay is going well, I like that he is quiet, absorbing all he can get, and plays with poise. Will be a good role player for Goody as he is a quick learner.

They had some goal kicking at the end, Mentha has a good banana shape on his snaps.

Brad Green was down at training, hanging out with the "brains trust", on the far side. (First time I have noticed him down at the Paddock).