17 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

You think they don’t know how terrible they are in front of goal? Maybe they have “done enough” in terms of accuracy during training sessions but like I said, gameday is a whole different thing. How do you think they should train for that? Not rhetorical, it’s a genuine question.

This is why I don't even bother with the 'they need to do more goal kicking practice' line. I reckon I've seen Max nail 3 set shots in a row in the training sessions I've been to, with head over the ball and no sideways running out as well.

Psychological is a huge part of it but also the fact that our list doesn't have enough of the natural kicking technique to begin with. I honestly just want to see 50% conversion on a regular basis, we can improve a little but we aren't going to shoot the lights out like Adelaide. Look at Darcy Fogarty for example, that guy came into the league as one of the best set shots in that draft.

I just want to be comfortable in the knowledge that if we generate X amount of scoring chances, we can convert somewhat of a winning score.

ON GOAL KICKING… it is also harder to deliver a skill after repeat sprint efforts. That is what i would add to training- 3 100m sprints then a shot on goal. This would better replicate game situation, lactic acid accumulation, breathing changes etc than just a few kicks at training.

21 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I feel like no one really gives a fat rat’s about training anymore, which is fine. I’m still gonna attend and although I’ll probs end up talking to myself in these threads, it’s all good, I talk to myself in real life, too 😅

PS: Spargs has been told if he gets through Thursday’s training he’s good to go for Saturday.

PPS: Fish (WV28) was particularly buoyant today and when I said I hope to see him running around in the seniors soon he beamed and said, “You never know, right?” And if I’m not mistaken, he winked. I read that wink to mean You will see me out there soon! Or he could’ve just had an itchy eye or something.

We care about your track reports my little sheet rack

19 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I believe this is what has sped up Spargs’ recovery…

Because a good hug fixes everything. 🤗

AAWWW

19 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I believe this is what has sped up Spargs’ recovery…

Because a good hug fixes everything. 🤗

Maybe Spargs is frightened of leaves.After all he is very close to them when he runs.

i always appreciate the training reports, thanks to those who write them up!!

19 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

You think they don’t know how terrible they are in front of goal? Maybe they have “done enough” in terms of accuracy during training sessions but like I said, gameday is a whole different thing. How do you think they should train for that? Not rhetorical, it’s a genuine question.

no doubt there is a lot of psychological pressure involved during gameday

but one of the benefits of practice, practice, practice (structured with supervision, analysis and follow-up, of course) is you develop a higher degree of instinctiveness and muscle memory, minimising the psychological game day nerves.

it just staggers me we don't seem to apply an extensive scientific and professional approach to the most important skill ... i mean games are won or lost on goal kicking ... simple as that

1 hour ago, ghost who walks said:

Maybe Spargs is frightened of leaves.After all he is very close to them when he runs.

Or worms?

“ because I was afraid of worms, Roxanne”

Something I used to do with my under 13s and under 15s, if they had too many issues trying to kick around the corner and not run straight –

I would teach them how to kick drop kicks, and stab passes. Something that was going out of fashion when I started playing.

It’s very hard to make good contact with those if you’re trying to kick around the corner. It really helps in aligning the hip knee and foot.

One or two steps at first passing 15m to each other. Gradually extending it to 35–40m near the boundary for goals.

15 hours ago, demon3165 said:

How damm true.

The very last line..... hmmmmmm

A certain familiarity.

At the risk of ire... ( oh what the heck ) .....

I genuinely feel that a sense of 'attainment' creeps into players ( not all ) that regularly get a game. They're there. They've made it.... this'll do... a pseudo complacency.

You look at any high level sport... or indeed profession and the better/ higher achievers don't just do what's 'required' .. they push. There's extra sessions, extra courses, more practice.. special coaching. They reach....

I'd be genuinely dead curious if anyone at Melbourne takes that view, applies that effort ( extra ) 🤔

10 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

no doubt there is a lot of psychological pressure involved during gameday

but one of the benefits of practice, practice, practice (structured with supervision, analysis and follow-up, of course) is you develop a higher degree of instinctiveness and muscle memory, minimising the psychological game day nerves.

it just staggers me we don't seem to apply an extensive scientific and professional approach to the most important skill ... i mean games are won or lost on goal kicking ... simple as that

How do we know that they’re not practicing as much as they should be? We see a brief captain’s run and a brief flush run each week. There’s a main training session two days before gameday at Casey (or Gosch’s if the upcoming match is interstate). We know they train in other ways: pool, gym, indoor skills training, etc. They only get one day off per week. How do we know they’re not practicing goal kicking somewhere? And if they are, clearly it’s not for all to see.

Reminds me of the flush run immediately following our loss to the Saints, (7.21.63, in case anyone has forgotten).

This old guy approaches me and starts pontificating about how to fix our atrocious goal kicking. Tbh I tuned out five minutes into it but snapped back to attention when I heard him say “I addressed this with three of our coaches as they came out of AAMI.”

I asked how his advice was received. He said, “Well, Mark Richardson (not a coach and not named Mark but whatevs) was polite but in a hurry, Mark Williams (at least he got this right) listened to me but didn’t say anything, and the other one was downright rude (guessing this was Chunk :D).

I’m quite sure fans like this guy are a big part of the reason goal kicking practice is “behind closed doors.”

If you’re reading this and recognise yourself as the person about whom I’m talking, apologies, but I’m just telling it like it is.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by Ghostwriter

2 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

How do we know that they’re not practicing as much as they should be? We see a brief captain’s run and a brief flush run each week. There’s a main training session two days before gameday at Casey (or Gosch’s if the upcoming match is interstate). We know they train in other ways: pool, gym, indoor skills training, etc. They only get one day off per week. How do we know they’re not practicing goal kicking somewhere? And if they are, clearly it’s not for all to see.

Reminds me of the flush run immediately following our loss to the Saints, (7.21.63, in case anyone has forgotten).

This old guy approaches me and starts pontificating about how to fix our atrocious goal kicking. Tbh I tuned out five minutes into it but snapped back to attention when I heard him say “I addressed this with three of our coaches as they came out of AAMI.”

I asked how his advice was received. He said, “Well, Mark Richardson (not a coach and not named Mark but whatevs) was polite but in a hurry, Mark Williams (at least he got this right) listened to me but didn’t say anything, and the other one was downright rude (guessing this was Chunk :D).

I’m quite sure fans like this guy are a big part of the reason goal kicking practice is “behind closed doors.”

At the risk of sounding glib. If they were ( practicing enough ) our scores would be better, surely ? So here we possibly have differing ideas and considerations about time/effort/availability.

Whoever is in charge of skills... i might suggest has failed.

There is in the end but one true litmus.

A big thing with numbers

3 hours ago, layzie said:

This is why I don't even bother with the 'they need to do more goal kicking practice' line. I reckon I've seen Max nail 3 set shots in a row in the training sessions I've been to, with head over the ball and no sideways running out as well.

Psychological is a huge part of it but also the fact that our list doesn't have enough of the natural kicking technique to begin with. I honestly just want to see 50% conversion on a regular basis, we can improve a little but we aren't going to shoot the lights out like Adelaide. Look at Darcy Fogarty for example, that guy came into the league as one of the best set shots in that draft.

I just want to be comfortable in the knowledge that if we generate X amount of scoring chances, we can convert somewhat of a winning score.

You are sounding a lot like Simon there. If we win contested footy, generate more inside 50’s than them, on percentages we should win, so don’t sweat too much on the small stuff, like goal kicking, forwards leading at the ball carrier etc.

15 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

At the risk of sounding glib. If they were ( practicing enough ) our scores would be better, surely ?

In theory, sure. But at the risk of going around in circles, it’s the goal kicking during matches that’s the problem.

8 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

You are sounding a lot like Simon there. If we win contested footy, generate more inside 50’s than them, on percentages we should win, so don’t sweat too much on the small stuff, like goal kicking, forwards leading at the ball carrier etc.

I don’t think either Goody or Layzie said this

39 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

How do we know that they’re not practicing as much as they should be? We see a brief captain’s run and a brief flush run each week. There’s a main training session two days before gameday at Casey (or Gosch’s if the upcoming match is interstate). We know they train in other ways: pool, gym, indoor skills training, etc. They only get one day off per week. How do we know they’re not practicing goal kicking somewhere? And if they are, clearly it’s not for all to see.

Reminds me of the flush run immediately following our loss to the Saints, (7.21.63, in case anyone has forgotten).

This old guy approaches me and starts pontificating about how to fix our atrocious goal kicking. Tbh I tuned out five minutes into it but snapped back to attention when I heard him say “I addressed this with three of our coaches as they came out of AAMI.”

I asked how his advice was received. He said, “Well, Mark Richardson (not a coach and not named Mark but whatevs) was polite but in a hurry, Mark Williams (at least he got this right) listened to me but didn’t say anything, and the other one was downright rude (guessing this was Chunk :D).

I’m quite sure fans like this guy are a big part of the reason goal kicking practice is “behind closed doors.”

If you’re reading this and recognise yourself as the person about whom I’m talking, apologies, but I’m just telling it like it is.

how old was he hope it wasnt me

51 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I'd be genuinely dead curious if anyone at Melbourne takes that view, applies that effort ( extra ) 🤔

Tracc, Oliver, Lindsay, Hore, Spargo, Lever, Sparrow, McDonald, Bowey, May, Chandler, Viney, Tholstrup, Melksham, Woewodin, Windsor, come to mind, as those I have seen go the "extra mile".

Doesn’t mean the others don’t, just I haven't noticed.

3 minutes ago, Kev said:

Tracc, Oliver, Lindsay, Hore, Spargo, Lever, Sparrow, McDonald, Bowey, May, Chandler, Viney, Tholstrup, Melksham, Woewodin, Windsor, come to mind, as those I have seen go the "extra mile".

Doesn’t mean the others don’t, just I haven't noticed.

Salo and Fritta oftentimes spend their downtime together and they’ll go for a run along the beach for example.

this may sound odd but our game is called foot ball the very basic you are taught as a little kid is how to kick the ball our blokes cant do it.It seems to me bigger bodies and speed have taken over our once game,there are exceptions of course but they dont play for us

5 minutes ago, ghost who walks said:

how old was he hope it wasnt me

Nah defs not you, big spook. Unless you sometimes morph into a pompous know-it-all who has no tact. I’d never seen him there before and I haven’t seen him there since.

2 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Salo and Fritta oftentimes spend their downtime together and they’ll go for a run along the beach for example.

Yes, forgot about those two (Salo, Fritsch), both usually working on skills when free-time on the Paddock.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by Kev

On 22/06/2025 at 12:07, Ghostwriter said:

I feel like no one really gives a fat rat’s about training anymore, which is fine. I’m still gonna attend and although I’ll probs end up talking to myself in these threads, it’s all good, I talk to myself in real life, too

Your efforts don’t go unnoticed and, for me at least, don’t go unappreciated!! Being a Sydney based fella, any training report is welcome… so don’t worry, despite me not getting involved in discussions, I’m welcoming them with open arms!!

3 hours ago, ghost who walks said:

AAWWW

Caaarryst!

4 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Nah defs not you, big spook. Unless you sometimes morph into a pompous know-it-all who has no tact. I’d never seen him there before and I haven’t seen him there since.

glad hes moved on had worried there for a while if you reading this sir stay away from little rack

Just now, picket fence said:

Caaarryst!

Calm down ffs! They’re not hugging at all. Keith the physio is banging shoulders with Charles to test his scapula. You’re gonna give yourself a hernia if you keep this up.