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Training Photos from today. Enjoy ==> https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XTvr4C?mobile=true

With umbrella in hand I went to training, getting there early in the expectation that we'd start a little earlier to avoid the weather. We didn't. Only Saty beat me and we chatted until, as usual, Vanders arrived first and did some stretches before the rest wondered accross from AAMI. Spargo, Baker, Tomlinson and Petty headed to rehab and as we countered down the rest the other absentees were OMac, KK, Hannan, Neita, May and Melksham. Smith was with the main group initially which I thought was odd given he's missed a bit but as it turned out he was over to rehab after some initial drills where he did some running before heading off half way through the session. Joney was out of rehab and in the main group for all but the match sims and Tomlinson looked like he just wanted to get out there. In rehab they all look to be doing the same sort of exercises/running except Petty was not doing the intense agility work of the others. They are clearly managing something and I suspect it's a groin issue of some sort. Oscar Baker was doing more intense running this week and really looking at Spargo and Tomlinson you'd wonder why they are not in full training. After a while Bennell strolled past and did his normal routine which doesn't appear to have changed in a month or so that I've seen so nothing much to report there. May appeared and did mainly walks around the boundary with a light bandage behind his knee where the cyst was obviously removed. I had a brief chat to him and he said he was fine and running a bit ahead of schedule. He is a really approachable and nice guy. There were a series of different drills for the different groups with a lot of focus on delivery of the ball inside 50. The drills are organised very well and it's all very efficient. The players were on the track for a good 2 hours today and there is no rest or down time. Different players obviously know exactly what drills they'll be involved in and it's all seemless. The match sims started with the usual suspects doing well. At one stage Weid ran back with the flight of the ball and missed a mark he should have taken. But 30 seconds later he took a great contested grab and from then on didn't miss a beat. Sparrow was busy and just looks like a footballer with a great build and Harmes again had leather poisoning. Vanders tackling was a highlight in the sims and the drills, he's quick over the first 5 metres and catches many unaware. Jones, Brayshaw and the first year players sat out the match sim. After that there were a few ball movement drills where Rivers was impressive, Kossies delivery to leading forwards was a highlight and Vanders was in everything. And to finish; Dunkley and Jordon were with the mids, Hunt, Bedford were with the forwards and Harmes continues to train with the backs. Bradke was also with the forwards and not the rucks and Jackson was with the rucks. If anyone still has concerns with Jackson's kicking - don't. He can kick both left and right foot and is capable. His closing speed continues to impress but he is a bit unsure with his ball handling at times but that will come. Any questions, let me know.

Here you go ==> https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XTvr4C?mobile=true

The amusing thing at training is the players, if they are in the opposing team to AVB, trying not to be in his vicinity

With the ‘explosive pace’ and ‘Dangerfield at the same age’ comparison I think Older Demon was referring to our SA recruit Tom Sparrow

Tremendous work! Love Petracca busting through 2 tacklers to still get a "kick" away. I've got a feeling he's going to deliver some highlights.

With that mo, Lever will not be the General, but the Senior Constable of our back 6 ?‍♂️

So you feel that there are a number of companies out there that are willing to part with 6 figures or higher to a club that finished seconded bottom? and what assets do you see that the club is holding back on? It looks easy when you are sitting behind a keyboard.

Thanks, and I agree this is valid to some extent, but it is also circular and a poor analogy because TV shows don't "develop" live on air: Young, developing player has not yet played well therefore he won't develop into a player who can play well. So you can claim this and be right both ways. If he doesn't develop: see told you!, but if he does: well he hadn't shown anything then so the development was a surprise. What about his poor performances make you think he won't make it? Or do you think he has already reached close to max potential so is not developing? I'd say he had two "young development" years in 16 and 17, showed a bit and broke out towards the end of 18 (only 10 games for the season) then struggled with consistency due to both a bit of increased pressure and injury (hip and concussion) before a calf injury followed by a broken jaw finished his season by round 16. Yeah, this year has a bit of pressure on it, especially if uninjured. But I'm not sure he's had a clean run at it too day he has chronicly under performed.

If this is a promo, it's terrible. Cannot see the sense of it. Continual focus on the negative does nothing for one's current mood or hope.

You can see it this pic. Dunkley looks like he's just spotted a white pointer and he's done, meanwhile his teammate (is that Bedford?) is looking on like he's a gonna...

It's Joel Smith. He must be eating his spinach.. strong to the finich!!!

I sparked this debate last year and I think the great thing about Salem is he has such an economical kicking action and balance he can quickly and reliably gather the ball, change direction and get the ball to his boot and where he wants it to go. A number of posters found photos where he’s more exaggerated in his action but I’d expect they are where he’s winding up for a longer kick. I wish we had more players with balance and a fast release to their kicking actions.

Not sure if you realise that facts aren't welcome on social networks in this post-truth world. Consider yourself admonished.

This is good news. At this time last year one commentator (I cannot remember who) from S.A. likened him to Dangerfield at the same age. Explosive pace and hard at it. Let us hope he gets a good run at it this season

Thanks six6six, They are the best action pics I have seen. I was planning the trip west but may not need to now. I'd prefer to see your action shots. Well done and worthy of a walkley for photojournalism. Trac is definitely a monster & has definetly lost the junior fat. I hope Langdon's dental insurance covers tongue laceration.

Totes

I like the overhead marking he brings us for around the front edge of the centre square. Of course, not to mention his running power. These to me are his advantages for us, and as you said, his marking around halfback as well, aiding us bringing the ball out. In these days of full ground pressure footy, imo marking the ball is the absolute pressure relief.

My son is editing his shots as I type... will try to upload a few of his images shortly.

@hardtack will probably have some, I will, once I finish work I'm surprised @Baghdad Bob report was so detailed, didn't take his eyes of Tommy Mc the whole session ????

Not too many on here seem too excited about Tomlinson. I personally think he is a great acquisition if nothing more than his size and running ability. I can't recall the number of times last year where we kicked long to medium or small sized forwards with 2-3 big bodied defenders easily marking and bouncing the ball out of our forward 50. Tomlinson will push up to be an option out of defensive 50, has the size and the tank to do it on repeat. This means Tmac can actually get the ball at CHF rather than the wing and Weid/Petty/Jackson can start out of the square, rather than at CHF. Tomlinson in my opinion, strengthens our forward line by simply being an outlet aka. Crows Tom Lynch.

Too early to send out the Finals 2020 information to members?? *includes 20ml of bathwater for your enjoyment

Good to see AVB in the thick of it and looking fit, also Joel Smith looking good early with the main group drills then was sent to the rehab group to do sprints when the match sims started. Joel looks super fit to me. One guy who caught my eye was Tom Sparrow he looks like a footballer now, Built up his body, is moving beautifully and has clean hands, disposal needs some work of course. He played a few games last year but then got injured. Any thoughts from others where he might fit in?

He didn’t do his calf. He felt a tight spot. Not ideal, but they pulled him up before he could do any further damage. As suggested, he seemed in pretty good spirits when he walked a few laps with May, ball in hand. I think it would’ve been ambitious to expect Bennell to make it through to playing without any setbacks. Let’s hope he’s up and running sooner rather than later.

I’ll never forget the glory of our AFL X premiership

Thanks Doc. Can you have a look at my lower back?

Great example and if the momentum of that tackle took them both players forward as seems likely, the maggots would pay in the back! That is why I believe tackles should be judged for legality on where they start, not where they finish.

And got royally screwed by the biased dog umpires.

You could not get a perfect example of a perfect tackling technique right here. Both arms wrapped fully around and locked on. This is why Vanders is like an enforcer in our side. His physicality and brute power was sorely missed throughout 2019. Watch the first half of his 2018 game against West Coast in round 23 when he set the tone with his tackling.

I listed Hannan in with Hunt and Jackson as X factors because after picking the right balance of talls and mid sized marking players as well as ground level guys I think that last spot will be for a guy who can make something happen. I certainly feel like we haven't seen the best of Hannan but yes what we have seen the last couple of years has been inconsistent and hampered by injuries. But most teams have one forward who is inconsistent but a dangerous match up and Hannan's pace and nose for a goal makes him that kind of player. Like all our forwards he has to work on his positioning and connection with the mids and I'd to see him stronger at the contest at times. And of course he has to improve defensively to lock down a spot - something which isn't easy when hampered by injuries. I think he's capable of having a good season and being in the best 22 if they get him fully fit and confident, but if not we might be better served with someone like Hunt who can rotate up on to a wing and be dangerous as the out the back forward. Or we might just blood Jackson who could be a tricky match up forward and then strengthen the ruck minutes without Gawn.

Fair point BAMF, but if you go by demonland, Oliver is basically a better version of Voss and Fritsch is a modern James Hird (but better overhead). Ridiculously overrating dees players is kind of our thing. On Hannan, he won't win a coleman, but at his best he's more than a handy contributor in an area we lack. He averaged 1.5 goals a game in 2018, which is a rung below elite but pretty good for a small forward. Statistically speaking, his output is comparable with players like Liam Ryan, Daniel Rioli and Jason Costagna. When fit, I think he's an important cog in the forward line. Plus he kicked the sealer in the EF against Geelong, so he gets bonus points for that.

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avb should be banned from contact training let him bottle it up for the opposition in the real stuff

Can't believe we bought the double calf surgery story, but at least HB comes cheap

Was hoping Hannan would get a good pre season in, seems not to be the case. Fingers crossed he can get back in the main group ASAP.

The club would surely be realistic enough to know Harley would have a setback or two along the way.

I swear this is the best summary of Weid I've read. Ask the evidence I've seen points to "it should click at some point", and reports from inside the club suggest attitude and application are correct. That doesn't mean he will make it, but I haven't seen anyone articulate why they think he won't make it with evidence apart from "doesn't do enough". My fingers are firmly crossed.

Really we live in hell and make the occasional foray up to the surface to get crushed and put back to hell. Not a massive fan of thief’s pump up videos. Maybe if we were hitting September, but otherwise... a lot of room for egg.

If he can build a tank worthy of an elite midfielder, there really is no ceiling.

Oh, I forgot... Saty would be... well, Saty, and at every training session with camera poised, in one hand

If we go with 7 forwards then you don't need to rotate them through the midfield all that much. If you go 8 you're looking at more midfield rotations. At this stage I'd probably say 7 forwards. 2 mid sizes: Fritsch, Melksham 2 talls: T Mc, Weid/Petty/Brown 1 x factor: Hunt, Jackson, Hannan Which then leaves: 1 high half forward: ANB, Jones, C Wagner, Spargo, Chandler, Bedford 1 crumber: Chandler, Pickett, Spargo, Bedford Until Pickett shows he's got the fitness and ability at AFL or VFL level (which could be as soon as the first preseason game) I think Chandler is ahead in the order. He's not rated highly enough on here.

Finishing 16th or higher. I think we have the list capable of achieving above KPI.

Would love to see T-Mac rediscover his form of 2018 and display it consistently , think he's the most important cog in this puzzle