Demonland

Like two very well oiled machines. One shiny and brand new and raring to go the other slightly used but lovingly restored and in excellent condition. Has passed the road worthy and is ready to be tested on the open roads. BBB is most definitely being managed. Seems to be light on training during the week and then kicking bags of goals in full match SIMs so I have no concerns there and trust that they are managing him to get through a long season.

You could not pay for better tutelage than learning the craft at the feet of Max, Grundy and Stafford.

Oh and did I mention that we trained some very sturdy dwellings all the way down.

That’s a wrap from me. I’ll compile all my posts later on and add a few other observations too.

I had heard we’ll be rotating a lot of players through the game.

Just noticed that TMac has his left elbow strapped. Hasn’t hampered him.

The way Schache has been training at every session I have been to and from anecdotal evidence from other trackwatchers and from talking to some players at the player sponsor it is hard to see him not pushing for selection. Granted he will probably have to prove himself at Casey but I think we will definitely see him at some point in the season.

Exactly. I don’t think we can play all 3 with Grawndy and Fritsch.

Players now doing run throughs to cool down. They’ve been instructed to go slow and not reach their destination before 17 seconds.

Some of the things that Clarry does just cannot be accurately described.

Howes is a very smart clean footballer. Was in trouble in the wing and thought his way out of the situation. Granted there is not really tackling in this drill but he had a player in front and no options forward and managed to spot a player backwards and found the option. Got kudos from players and coaches around him.

I know that Ben Brown and TMac have been in great form and are almost undoubtedly around 1 starters but I can’t see how Van Rooyen doesn’t get a call up either. He is a natural forward with great hands and a superb ground ball game. Can we possibly trial 3 talls again? It didn’t work with Weid in the Mix but Van Rooyen is a different beast. Great conundrum to have.

In case I’ve never mentioned this before Kozzy is just a magician. He scooped the ball up in a one on one ground contest, broke out of a tackle with a nice don’t argue, kicked beautifully into Chandler ona lead who was spoiled in a marking contest but got the spill and handballed to Kozzy who had continued to gut run down the field and had every right to have a shot for goal on a tight angle but he kicked it in board to a free Trac who snapped truly.

Lot of loose players. Not really man on man. More of end to end circle work than a Match SIM.

Match SIM has begun with minimal contact though.

Joel Smith & Jed Adams have joined the rehabbers probably as planned as there might be a contact drill coming up for the first time this session.

It’s not a teaching drill. The ball is being throw in from the boundary and Max is just too big and strong. He’s getting his hands on it and tapping it down to the crumbers first. Not a knock on the young kid. I would not have expected anything else at this stage.

Grundy is training with the forwards on that drill whilst Max, KFW & Verral have joined the defenders drill which appear to be a drill simulating taking the ball out of defence end ending with a long kick into the forward line to a contest between KFW and Verral (who are just being used as a tall target to kick to). Max floating around as a tall marking option as the ball comes out of defence.

Forwards/Mids/Wingers doing a drill with either the wingers kicking from half forward flank or a Mid kicking from CHF into the forward line to a lead again focusing on if the ball isn’t marked then it is swooped on and snapped for goal or a better option is kicked/handballed to. There is a lot of congestion and chaos built into the drill. Often the wingers will look for a better option at CHF first before kicking into the forward line.

Salem jogging laps with Reece Conca.

Defenders doing a separate drill. Rivers is in the defenders group as is Brayshaw.

When the ball spills the ball is swooped on and kicked into a contest (forward on forward) in the forward line.

Boundary throw in simulation drill with small forwards like Spargo, Nibbler and Chandler also involved with the Mids and wingers. Verral getting a lesson in ruck craft from the Master Max.

Brown and Dunstan have hit the gym.

Next drill also starts with a kick to a one on one contest deep in the forward line. When the ball spills 4 players run in from different directions (2 in white and 2 in blue). Whoever won the spill would have a quick snap for goal.