2 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Glandular fever

Seriously?

An energy sapping day at training, even I was parched. Standing under a shady tree is hard work.

Nearly all those present took part in the warm up drills.

Kentfield had the mask on and was looking good, like phantom of the opera.

There is an obvious concentration on quick ball movement and quicker decision making. I heard Kingy yelling this out.

Kalani White I believe has glandular fever. TC still in a brace. Some players would drift over to the trainers/medical team, point to some part of the body, get some treatment, join back in or wander off to the sheds. Bowey moving well, the obvious limp is gone.

Just watching Salem run the boundary tightens my hamstrings.

Melky moving well, but at his stage of his career, in case of Brodie breakdown, break glass.

AMW back to the sheds early, feeling ill.

Lever very vocal.

Taylor still learning where to run.

Onley obviously has the body, kicking lets him down. Might surprise round 1.

Just now, Roost it far said:

Seriously?

Yes. A younger persons stress illness. Comes with over doing it at training or study.

5 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Yes. A younger persons stress illness. Comes with over doing it at training or study.

No contact for at least 6 weeks as spleen is vulnerable to rupture

4 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Yes. A younger persons stress illness. Comes with over doing it at training or study.

Thanks Fritta and Turner just looked it up 4-6 weeks but can drag on for up to 6 months lethargy if you cop a bad dose. Poor Kalani’s.

11 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

Thanks Fritta and Turner just looked it up 4-6 weeks but can drag on for up to 6 months lethargy if you cop a bad dose. Poor Kalani’s.

believe riv had it really bad in his draft year. lost 7kg

2 hours ago, demoncat said:

A crook guy!? As in he’s a criminal or he’s got the flu? 🤔

Auto correct. Crook gut.

2 hours ago, harveylangfordisthegoat said:

how’d taylor hold up against JVR?

It was on the other side of the ground so it was hard to keep track. It was a fast lead straight ahead so it was difficult for the defender and JVR looks super quick off the mark.

Not across all the spots available on the list & cap, but with should the club have looked at Tom Mitchell as a back up, with so much experience leaving and injury to Viney.. Steele will be good …

6 minutes ago, Demonsone said:

Not across all the spots available on the list & cap, but with should the club have looked at Tom Mitchell as a back up, with so much experience leaving and injury to Viney.. Steele will be good …

I’d prefer we locked in a small def if we lose May or Viney is given the year etc.. I think on ball we have enough depth to cover!

54 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Melky moving well, but at his stage of his career, in case of Brodie breakdown, break glass

Thanks for your report.

The above view seems to be prevailing a little around here and I wonder if it's to do with his birth certificate.

However, I hope the club doesn't share this view, considering he's come off easily one of his best seasons.

He's in my opinion the second most skilled player at the club behind Kozzie.

He can kick long bomb goals, he's the best and smartest field kick at the club, he can takes the opposition's Harris Andrews, he can kick his 4 or 5 every and now and then.

In an off season where we've lost a heck of a lot of familiar faces and already lost a few senior players to injury, I believe Melksham should be a regular (i.e. 16 -18 games) in the side for a bit of stability and can guide the younger forwards such as JVR, Jeffo and Latrelle. Furthermore, the extra interchange spot should cater for him as he can play less minutes per game.

However, If he's fighting for a spot for Brodie, then Brodie will probably keep him out.

6 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

He can kick long bomb goals,

He was kicking those long bombs today

2 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

As Neita’s great Uncle Fred Neitz(sche) would often say;

“Was uns nicht umbringt, macht uns starker.”

(That what does not kill us, makes us stronger).

He certainly was a wise, insightful man.

I used to enjoy another of his famous musings;

“Können wir dieser endlosen Kette unnötiger Verletzungen bitte ein Ende setzen, bevor die verdammte Saison überhaupt beginnt?”

10 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Thanks for your report.

The above view seems to be prevailing a little around here and I wonder if it's to do with his birth certificate.

However, I hope the club doesn't share this view, considering he's come off easily one of his best seasons.

He's in my opinion the second most skilled player at the club behind Kozzie.

He can kick long bomb goals, he's the best and smartest field kick at the club, he can takes the opposition's Harris Andrews, he can kick his 4 or 5 every and now and then.

In an off season where we've lost a heck of a lot of familiar faces and already lost a few senior players to injury, I believe Melksham should be a regular (i.e. 16 -18 games) in the side for a bit of stability and can guide the younger forwards such as JVR, Jeffo and Latrelle. Furthermore, the extra interchange spot should cater for him as he can play less minutes per game.

However, If he's fighting for a spot for Brodie, then Brodie will probably keep him out.

He's a certain starter for for all the reasons you have mentioned above.

With regards to his very light preseason, I'd say he's able to guide the club on how to best manage his body. His off-field habits are also elite and this gives him that bit more leeway when it comes to actual training loads.

1 hour ago, Dannyz said:

He's a certain starter for for all the reasons you have mentioned above.

With regards to his very light preseason, I'd say he's able to guide the club on how to best manage his body. His off-field habits are also elite and this gives him that bit more leeway when it comes to actual training loads.

An article I read this morning said the highest any player has the ball in hand in total for a game is 60 seconds (that is removing dead time for kicking a set shot). So for the things that Melky is great at how often does he need the ball vs the things his body is no longer able to do well for the majority of time you dont have it in possession ie: pressure and cover the ground. I dont think you can play him and Mihocek and Fritter in a style where we want to push up the ground heavily, transition quickly and get out the back. I see the other two well ahead of him. Maybe the extra on bench allows for it but I cant see him playing more than a quality mature back up role where required.

Big thanks to Ghostwriter (welcome back), Demonland, Ditcha, thirty-one, travy14, Fritta and Turner, all posters and special comments greatly appreciated.😁👍

6 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Like injuries at training so are the days of our lives.

Like mince meat through an hourglass, so are the hammies at Gosch’s Paddock.

5 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

“Was uns nicht umbringt, macht uns starker.”

(That what does not kill us, makes us stronger).

I saw that and immediately thought of Get Smart.

Some thoughts about the training in the balmy conditions, with no wind.

They are not close checking or tackling, in the sims. The first lot were 8 minutes × 2 sessions of set plays from the half-back area. Then they did a 15 minute hit out.

A little congestion to start, though they easily break the lines and get the ball moving quickly without the usual pressure. There was space everywhere. They hugged the boundary most of the time. The backs would switch with ease and the runners found separation and made the easy kicks. I was quite amazed to see our change in game style. Previously we had been looking for that central corridor, we were fighting to make space and get separation. It was a day with plenty of space and skilled kicking.

Latrelle dominated, running forward to back and forward again. Really good tank, with a burst of speed as he steps, shimmies and sells the fake, definitely a starter. Nice kick as well.

Steel sits back in the central area acting as a defensive mid. Made quite a few re-entries and links.

Fritta was played on the wing in a few of the proceedings.

JVR hands seem to be in a better position. Hoping it translates to cleaner marking. Looking good.

The forward line is no-longer playing “ring a ring a rosie”. Much more about making leads, then getting back and going again. Though I have seen some drills where the forwards get in the way of back men so separation can occur when the area is congested.

Interestingly, we can change it up (open or congested style).

Some of the structured stuff had them getting front and centre as the big tapped the high ball. We struggled to read it well. They then hope for an “out the back” lead.

They played with more freedom and gave each other space. The ball moved quickly

At the end of the sims, they separated into groups of marking, I think low ball gets, and goal kicking. Goaling was much more structured then the old just let them have shots. Latrelle and Mentha seemed to have a licence to strut there stuff from hard on the boundary. The rest with set shots inside the 40 meters. The other lot marking from over the bag.

Plenty of players finishing with doing fast and numerous laps.

J.Rivers working hard on Taylor's positioning and decision-making.

King with forwards of JVR, Jeffo, Miochek and Fritsch, just talking to them at the end.

Last to leave was King.

Lots of the board and associated Admins were also down. They have been regular attendees of preseason, including Guerra.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Kev

26 minutes ago, Kev said:

…….

The forward line is no-longer playing “ring a ring a rosie”. Much more about making leads, then getting back and going again. Though I have seen some drills where the forwards get in the way of back men so separation can occur when the area is congested.

…..

I love this …. So much unlike what we have seen before.

Blocking, repeat leads to reduce congestion.

Movement 🤗🤗🤗🤗

5 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Yes. A younger persons stress illness. Comes with over doing it at training or study.

5 hours ago, chook fowler said:

No contact for at least 6 weeks as spleen is vulnerable to rupture

No just no contact… avoid exertion. So many teenagers even not in elite sports won’t rest, start running (and alcohol) too soon and end up with “chronic fatigue”

Dees on nine news tonight (6:45pm) - "How King plans to turn things around".

5 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Yes. A younger persons stress illness. Comes with over doing it at training or study.

5 hours ago, chook fowler said:

No contact for at least 6 weeks as spleen is vulnerable to rupture

No just no contact… avoid exertion. So many teenagers even not in elite sports won’t rest, start running (and alcohol) too soon and end up with “chronic fatigue”