The Devil Inside

We took ours last time we ventured to moccasin and trackie territory, didn't see any others, just Commodores and Monaros burning up and down the Berwick road alongside the pavement we were riding on Nice to see Toumpas get a name check from somebody else beside me, again though where does he fit in the side, the NAB Cup will make interesting viewing in itself Totally agree, but Wednesday, apart from being a lighter day usually just concentrates on one thing, sounds like 'walking' through clearances today

Thanks for the reports, I did say Wednesday was a light day, it is Hogan's 'day off', so fact he was running laps no concern Interesting that Salem was doing one on one with Rawlings again, will try and ask him on Friday what the deal is

Good point, will be interesting to read a different viewpoint, except Wednesday is usually a 'slacker' session

Well I ain't going down there, would mean leaving now, over to somebody else, will leave it till Friday.

Here is an interesting thought in topics, can we not say well so and so is a [censored] kick etc, yes maybe they were last year, but let's leave it till about Rd 4 and then we can see whether it has changed, saves the egg on face like Jetta from last year I have been to every training session and I think both the two way running and the kicking has improved out of sight, but I have no idea whether they will make the transition into games, hopefully

I knew to put on my plain paper bag before reading that

It was both rpfc, a few players, no names, have admitted that they were nowhere near the required level of fitness till Misson started his program, don't forget he said it would take 3 years The two way running was poor, both Lumumba and Garlett have come in and are showing the way, Garlett is already regarded as one of the best two way runners at the club, ever But agree a lot was in the head, also agree what I am seeing at training needs to transfer to game day but with chatting to the players there is belief that what Roos says will work works, it is all very simple, he doesn't over complicate, to quote one, EVERYBODY is on the same page now, you look up and there are options everywhere

Personally this is my backline Dunn, McDonald, Garland, Jetta, Grimes, Lumumba with Frost on the bench to rotate and let Lumumba into the midfield...that of course now opens the debate on where the hell do you put Howe, as the forward line looks good as well Options, options, options

The calf muscle isn't like that now, I asked him what he was doing and laughed and said a secret

Had a chat to him, by his own admission bit of a late developer, went to QLD to play and then returned to Box Hill Hawks in VFL, put together a really good season and we got him. I have explained before we have a few like him, never going to be able to do a 60 metre cross field kick down the throat of team member who doesn't have to break stride but if he has options 15 or 20 metres away, nice neat kick, have seen him miss one kick in training and have been there since day 1 and that was because he took wrong option and was told so

Beautifully put on all counts, you all do know we have just committed to another five years at AAMI?,

Exactly why Matt Jones stands out at the moment, he may have some failings, some posters think so, but he works his butt off, but thankfully he has mates now

Exactly what Roos has them doing over and over at training now, since Xmas that's all it's been, you get a 'word' if you don't work

So do I, bit of individuality, there are not many fans amongst the rest of the squad though haha

There will always be the get out of jail long kick, but Roos wants movement out of the backline, kicking long means the ball is in the air a while, helps the defenders read where it is going, whereas 2 or 3 quick short kicks and you are away, that's the plan anyway haha, seen both iin the match sim,. Same going forward ,have leading forwards, but there seems to be a call, assume they will keep changing it, where the ball is bombed in long, if there are no other optons, all the 'big guys' get back to the goal square and you have Garlett, JKH at their feet, with the midfield pushing up to keep it in there if they don't kick a goal

Probably didn't explain it properly, one look is Hogan, Dawes, Gawn/Fitzpatrick/Spencer/Pedersen, Garlett, Kent and JKH, another look is the one I put above, seen both of them during the match sim, again we have options

He's actually in really good nick, the upper body is mature now and he has been doing a lot of work in the pool, the footy smarts won't have gone away, he just needs the fitness base I have had a couple of chats with him, didn't have an issue with the club looking at a trade, understood it, he also knows he will have to prove himself all over again, justs wants to get back on the park and take it from there

Does this mean you have written off Garland or do you see him there as well? Garland can play that role , I prefer Dunn on a man and also that is the perfect role for Grimes, although size may be hindrance, the young forwards are not getting smaller

Rawlings is just happy he is spoilt for choice, again from what I have seen at tranng, think Dunn, Jetta and McDonald are locked in then the rest is open, through form, coming back from injury, new etc Grimes, Garland, Frost, Terlich, Oscar Mc, White, and any number of half backs, Lumumba, Salem, Toumpas, Brayshaw Neither Watts or Vince need skills training, they have watched enough sessions to know the game plan as well, assume if they are fit they will get a run, both have done miles and miles around the oval, both said they feel, apart from the injury, the fittest they have been Reckon Vandenberg will get a run up forward in the NAB Cup, from what I can see, we may have a forward line that consists of Gawn/Jamar/Spencer, Dawes, Hogan, Pedersen/Fitzpatrick, Petracca and Vandenberg, just so Roos can see if it works, that is some serious size there Think they want Vandenberg to build his engine before he gets into the middle, although will probably see him there in stages if it is at Casey No Dawes doesn't do ruck work, but they have the big guys competing against each other in drills one on one, poor old Oscar Mc who is they youngest and lightest gets thrown around a bit, but he hangs in there, drew praise from McCartney the other day for doing exactly what McCartney had told him after he had pushed out of the way by Dawes All the rucks look really good, Jamar will have a fight on his hands this year, they also have them rotating through the forward line

Yes perhaps you are right, but we do have a few who can do that role now as well, as I said I haven't seen him stand out for the wrong reasons either, I am just pleased today when they took the midfield group aside at one point, there was quite a crowd, including 4 ruckmen

- Couldn't help but notice Shannon Boo-urns participating in many of the training drills with the boys. Obviously still wants to be a part of the training environment and among they boys instead of just being the Welfare Manager He is a Development Coach who is also hoping to play every game for Casey this year, he is pre season training Not sure why Garlett is in 33, instead of 36, unless they cocked up his jumper as well, hadn't really thought about it

Jokiing aside Daisy, I am more disappointed, thought he would take it up another notch with another year under his belt, he is just not standing out, he is doing everything and not doing much wrong, so I suppose that is a good sign whereas Toumpas (same year) who is coming from further back has looked a completely different player, of course that could be because he is coming from further back,, personal opinion of course

That's all right OD, I phrased it like that anyway as a bit of fun Ruffles, only point of difference is Viney, hasn't really stood out for me this pre season I am sad to say, have him behind Newton and Michie at the moment

Just a bit of fun OD, I have a few femaie followers who can't get enough of Lumumba, Tyson, Michie...I get requests!!!!

Re Viv Michie, don't know what it was today, he did stand out a bit more,, maybe just feeling really good about himself, trying to get anything out of him is the old blood and stone trick, but think that is his personality, put a pick of him next to Dom Tyson on ny Twitter to show how good he is looking