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Training - Friday 18th (4pm) ...

Paul Gardner
in Melbourne Demons

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Get on down!!!

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    Did the newly re-appointed skipper, Neita, lead the team out onto the green-topped Moorabbin training track yesterday? No, that honour went to the birthday boy, Cale Morton. Neita and the boys made quite a show of the event calling on all the boys to get behind Cale as he led the team out of the sheds on his 18th birthday.

    Notable absentees being Nathan Jones and Lynden Dunn. I also don’t recall seeing Whelan, Bartram or Rivers. I was not there for the entire session and it is possible that they may have been doing an alternative training session/s in another part of the facility.

    The players did a brief warm up under the watchful eyes of BB, culminating in what I assume was a 1km time trial. The players went off in a staggered start with Brock leading out on his own followed shortly thereafter by the quicker runners, with the slower ones bringing up the rear. I think completed his 1km in 2.59 with the last players in approx. 3.49 (less there starting time differential). In the absence of Chunk Jones, Willo paced Brocky for the last ½ to ¾ of a lap. BB was very happy and complimentary in his appraisal of the results.

    While the likes of Cheney, McNamara, Spencer, Grimes did not participate with the main group, Cale Morton (‘Morts’), Addam Maric (‘Archer’) Meesen, Martin, Wonaeamirri were in the thick of things on the track.

    The players did a combination of old and (to me) new drills, based on set plays (mids and forwards) and forwards leading in patterns designed, in my mind, to spread out the opposition, create space for other forwards and/or running mids. If I’m not right – highly likely – then it at least it is another example of more miles being put into the players legs.

    General observations I make are the increased level of vocalisation on the track, players in groups, forwards, mids, backs discussing tactics, positioning options in preparation for the next contest. I certainly get the feeling that all the players are learning and communicating with each other and generally being more aware of collectively and individually controlling the space around them and their team mates. A simple thing like running patterns and/or blocking to free up a player, to my mind is not something we have done well in the past.

    Additionally, the players seem to be enjoying training a lot more than I have seen in previous years. The new coaching style seems o have invigorated the more seasoned players as well as ‘teaching’ the newDees.

    While I deliberately didn’t focus on any player or group, Morton, Meesen and Maric of the newDees stood out to me. Of the older types Yze, Brock and Bater looked good.

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    i love his mum for having dean bailey

    quotable DD36. i like it a lot. it wouldnt surprise me if someone makes that their signature.

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    I like the sounds of an open forward line and creating space, I bet Neita wishes he had this for the past 6 seasons

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