Got to training at Sandy about half way through today’s session. It went until approx 11.00am. If it started on time (8.30am) it went for 2.5 hours. At the end the players went down to the beach for a cool down, salt water, treatment.

When we got there circle work was in progress (eight to ten in a circle with ‘piggy in the middle’, at times harassed by another player).

The players split into several groups in a pretty full on training session. There were four teams competing in separate 2 on 2 simulations. The simulations varied from a handballing, touch-football match and a combined handball and kicking match.

The ‘match’ rules required all members of the team to be constantly in motion. With immediate play -on after turnovers and all players required to run over the halfway line for a score to count fitness and concentration were required attributes. It was all about fitness, concentration, decision making and players thinking and running to provide options. The players still have a fair way to go with this (particularly the desions making and provision of multiple option – perhaps concentration and playing nouse are really the issues here!!) There was a fair bit of talk, from encouragement through to angst, from the playing group, when someone or other stuffed up and good encouragement from the coaches. Ooze really stood out in this exercise with his fitness, decision making skills, nouse and voice.

A couple of times the groups ran two laps with Brock, Chunk and John Meesen (and once Robbo) leading the way (up to 40 – 50 metre gap to the rest).

There was also interspersed a ‘six spoke’ running and kicking drill. All in all a lot of running was completed by the group.

While I didn’t look much at the individuals involved Aaron and Jared Rivers did not participate in the main groups running a separate series of 150 – 200 Metre timed ½ to ¾ sprints. Clint and Matty Bate did mostly ball work. Paul Wheatley and Matty Whelan did a fair bit of walking the boundary line early in the session.

At one stage Addam Maric went into the change rooms and picked up a ball near the boundary line approx 30 metres from goal on a severe angle and casually did a ‘daicos’ that split the middle (literally!).

The newbees did stretching exercises towards the end of the session under the watchful eyes of the conditioning coaches.

I have never seen them running so much in a session, and, apart from the few 800s all on it was match related. From discussions with a number of players there appears to be a great spirit amongst the players generally. The new guys are very enthusiastic and the older guys seem to be willingly taking on a mentoring role.

In conclusion it was an impressing session, good running, targets being hit (albeit under minimal pressure) and equal parts of encouragement / angst expressed by coaches and players alike.

Like 'Big Kev' used to say "I'm excited"!

Thanks for that!, bring on 2008!!

Great to hear the boys are training hard!!

Great report its really good for interstaters as we here nothing of the AFL

The best thing is Bails has realised our decision making is horrible in traffic and is trying to change that.

Cheers for the update.

Thanks for the update and keeping me informed what is happening

Can't wait for 2008

The best thing is Bails has realised our decision making is horrible in traffic and is trying to change that.

Cheers for the update.

this guy just might know what he's doing !!

how many times have we discussed , when mentioning stats etc, that its irrelevent how many touches so and so has if the disposal ( and inherent decision causing it ) were poor

I seriously think many are going to underate us going into next year.. poor bastards !! lol

The Port Adelaide Premiership team of 2004 was highly skilled in the area of play in tight with good skills and decision making under pressure situations.