15 minutes ago, Bleasey as that said:

There's been enough threads bashing McAdam from pillar to post. Can we stop this one turning into one of them?

Don’t be offended on his behalf..

This isn’t about him, it’s about the trade going balls up. No one’s called him a [censored] bloke or anything similar.

It’s a shame what’s happened to him but it’s worse on us what could have been but hasn’t.

4 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

No, it was a dumb trade before we got him and it’s a horrendous trade with what's transpired.

Everyone is an expert after the fact

Went down to Gosch's at about 10:30 and stayed until the end. Very blustery conditions. I'll try not to repeat too much of what has been said above. Will attempt to call things as I saw them rather than with rose coloured glasses on.

 

General comments:

• Matty Scarlett - impressed with the spoiling drill he was running. Defenders were learning to spoil the ball in a targeted direction (all 360 degrees around them) to a spot of our team's advantage.

• All our new recruits from other clubs seemed to have their workloads managed at times today (CJ, Mihocek, Steele, Heath). Not sure if this a workload thing due to their clubs playing later into the year then us.

• Half field match play drill focusing on entering into the 50. Looking to hit short kicks inside 50. Start by kicking around the back of the 50 to try create new angles to enter.

• I thought our kicking was very sloppy today. The wind would have played a big factor though. Happy to let them off.

• No full ground match sim unfortunately. Hard to get too much of a read on things.

• Big fan of the full team Zooper Dooper break at the halfway mark.

 

Player specific notes:

• Latrelle, Kolt, Langdon - some of the names involved in the midfield stoppage drill when I arrived. Interesting to see.

• Max Heath - terrific in the air. Took a few very strong marks pushing back deep into defense. Gee he's a big lad as well.

• Riv - seemed to be working with the backs when I arrived.

• Jeffo - reads the ball very well in the air. Doesn’t necessarily like the contact, but he might not have to if he can get himself into the right spots.

• Gawny - back in the action!

• Matthews - good to see him out there after being held back for most of the offseason. I am excited to see him in proper match sim. Have a feeling he could turn into something (based off nothing so far except a vibe).

• JVR - Slimmed down and looks very athletic. In for a big year.

• Berry - doesn't seem out of place as a Cat B rookie.

• Culley - didn't stand out as much as previous sessions. Has set a very high bar for himself though.

• Windsor - impressive shutdown spoil on Koz. His run and carry slightly less prominent today.

• Sparrow -  sets standards. Tough. Strong tackles and laying smothers.

• X.Lindsay and Disco - wasn't their day by foot. A few errors each.

• Latrelle -  dancing feet. Magical.

• X.Taylor - makes things happen out of the back half.

• Viney - looks a while away. His brother Max was also helping out with training.

• Steele - will be an important player for us in the middle (especially with Viney out). People shouldn't write him off. Looks good.

• Sharp - heavily involved with his run. Looked good. He'll need to tidy up his disposal though, especially if he only gets the ball so many times in a game.

• Lever - have been critical of him in the past always for only having one mode (bombing the ball down the line). Good to see him looking to hit shorter targets and keep possession of the ball.

• Mentha - not a standout session, but definitely looks much improved and more involved than last year.

• Koz - Koz

 

Bloody keen for the year!

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Back pocket

As I exited Richmond station and was walking towards Punt Rd a woman asked me what bus do you catch to the MCG? Was keen to answer 31 but.....

One thing I have noticed about training this year is that the coaches are setup and in position well before the players hit the track.

Very strong wind blowing across the ground.

TMc first out with the Roo.

Absent White, McAdam, Bowey and May. (Ghosty still on holidays)

Henderson not wearing a rehab outfit and got a massive cheer from the squad as he ran past the group.

Viney and Campbell in rehab tops; Viney watched on and Campbell walked. Everyone else in training gear.

Vineys brother conducted a wrestling/grappling drill. They do look alike.

CJ had some strange velcro bandage? on his leg for a very short time.

CJ, Kentfield, Petty, AMW, Melky, Steele, Salem sometimes ran the boundary

Rivers had some minor discussion with a trainer and did some extra drills.

Ed did some weird stretching exercise in the goal square which turned out to be 'watering the sands...'

Tom Matthews took part.

Chappy yelling out positioning advice to XT during a sim.

Fritta played like his opponent was Easton Wood.

Kossie is so good sometimes I reckon he should not participate in some of the sims.

Jeffo looking better and better at each training session. Playing with confidence.

As the kids are back at school the track watchers have a veteran look about them.

Some thoughts about the training in blustery and humid conditions.

Plenty of kicks missing the mark.

They are competing and tackling with intensity. The sim in the 50 arc was a 15 minute example. They began with 4 defenders (one sitting deep) and 3 attackers outside the 50. The other 29 were inside the 50. Most of the time two attackers went into the 50 and left the defenders to get multiple re-entries after the ball exited. Most exits were scrambles as the forwards poured on the pressure in tight areas. They had some stoppages in the 50 and Heath managed some good taps. Gawn used his match awareness to find separation outside 40 meters. Plenty of backward ball movement by the forwards as they reached for space. Plenty of snaps and some marks. I was worried for them again as they competed with gusto. Kossie tackling Culley with a front on hit had me gasping. The intensity was high though only the clean and those with peripheral vision succeed.

The field sims from wing to wing lasted 8 minutes × 3 sessions, across 3 teams. There were also hats confining the game to about 60 meters across

Most of it seemed to emphasise a central game, getting possession, spreading 15 meters and looking for a lead off the back. The defenders had hard time finding leads through the middle. The best they could do was hit up a straight lead that had a hard, one on one.

Kolty was fumbly and switched off when it was easy.

Turner works well, I think he is a King favourite.

Steele makes great decisions.

Kossie is great to watch. The three of, Koss, Mentha, and Latrelle were unstoppable.

I want to see more of Mathews, he is having trouble getting involved.

24 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Fritta played like his opponent was Easton Wood.

The above made me laugh out loud.

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Chandler's always going to be too small to be a long term back pocket. If we're really desperate I'd use Kolt.

Is there any possibility that Langdon could go back.

Looking more and more likely that McAdam's gonna be a bust.