waynewussell

There are different start and finish points for each group. The different coloured lines are to spread the traffic and make it easier to see what the order is in each group

Thanks DL… done!

If I could work out how to empty the media cache I would post a few pics of the run

Don’t think Sharp ran

Tim Lamb and Jason Taylor working the phones throughout the session. At least one lengthy conference away from the group

Round 19 2024, to be exact

Don't forget, at this time in the previous pre-season Kolt was on a greatly reduced program. Can't remember if it was back related or a foot issue. He came back to the team with this disadvantage. By seasons end he was playing solid football for Casey. With an ounce of luck, he will get through this pre-season injury free, ready to roll.

Training today was more laid-back than Monday. More about patterns for quick transfer than intense pressure on the ball-carrier. They did do a two-lap time trial. Sharpie was once again the standout in his group, with Tholstrup not too far behind. I noticed that Berry was content to bring up the rear, as he manages his transfer to the elite level.

Had the good fortune to have a chat with Kingy today. He wandered over to the boundary line when he finished putting out the cones for the next activity. My first impressions were that he was personable, straightforward and very tall. He said that training wouldn’t be too intensive in the first few sessions, as the full list joined the group. I mentioned that it was good to see Brodie and AMW progressing so well. He said Brodie was busting to join the main group and it was a battle to hold AMW back until Christmas. I asked him what his first impressions of the training group were. He said he was impressed with the overall fitness. He singled out the Roo, saying he had lost kilos but gained strength. We both agreed that ‘the current # 4’ (Harvey) was set to take the next step. He said that Jai Culley was in the best three on the track on Monday. A few other enthusiastic observers joined in the conversation. He also agreed that Windsor was a standout in the first session. One notable comment he made was about putting up the ‘team’ for round 1 for the players... there were no names on the list!

My Movie 15-720p30.mov

You would have to have been at pre-season training to know

I think it's called maturing! Add growing confidence, self-awareness, body growth, developing strength etc. Who would have thought an athlete going from 19 to 20 would actually get better... Work it out!

Impressions from first session. Jai Culley is the real deal Jefferson was surprisingly agile and active in the in-close handball comp Roo looked full of confidence Lever moved freely Langford even better than before Windsor cut it up in running half back role… disposal as before Petty looked poised Berry confident in traffic

I miss Choco!

Now, with the stand rule, the game IS unwatchable!

furthermore to my furthermore... before the Stand rule... back in time, there was no necessity for the opposition team to man the mark. If the opposition players in the vicinity ran on in the direction that the kicker was going to kick, there was no penalty. It would be considered poor play because it would allow the player with the ball to run further forward to advantage. The coach would quite likely drag the player who didn't man the mark to prevent this play-on, however, there was nothing in the rules to prevent the opposition team from leaving the mark, as long as the defending players didn't run over the mark! Now we have a 50 metre penalty for almost any movement, in any shape or form, by the opposition player(s). This is more like the playground 'freeze' games we used to play at primary school. This is not sensible, mature rule changing to better the game!

Furthermore, the umpire would most often indicate to the kicker and the man on the mark where the mark was by standing close to the spot and pointing. How often do you see that happen now? The umpire would also indicate the 'line' for kicking over the mark (remember that notion?) and if the kicker deviated, the umpire would immediately call "play on"!

The task for 'the man on the mark' used to be to put pressure on the kicker without moving forward over the mark. This could mean standing, waving arms, jumping up or moving sideways if the kicker attempted to move off his line. If the umpire called "play on", the man on the mark could move toward the kicker in whatever direction to apply more pressure or to tackle. This ruling was accepted and applied throughout many decades, possibly a century, before it was deemed too restrictive on the kicker! If you research and watch the games that are held up as classic examples of Australian Rules (eg the 1989 GF), you will notice that the old rule was applied successfully throughout. The umpire could pay a 15 metre penalty if the man on the mark encroached. Supporters, umpires and players throughout the capital cities and the whole country knew how the rule worked. If it ain't broke...

Have to vent! The "stand" rule is an embarrassment to the code. The perpe-traitors should be run out of town! The 'nominate your ruck' rule is a primary school fix to a non-existent problem! The 'last touch-insufficient intent-raffle it' rule is unnecessary. The worship of the high scoring game is only valid if both teams score highly. Both teams scoring lowly can also provide an intense and engaging battle, enhanced by the fact that the team that is losing is only a goal or two away from winning - duh! A majority of the recent rule changes have not had the desired effect and have led to this crazy need for rule changes to fix the rule changes. Greg Swann had an opportunity to clean up the mess by winding back the obvious mess-ups! He failed!

6 Hore 5 McNamara 4 Gillard 3 Mackin 2 Chaplin 1 Pearce

Umpires refuse to pay incorrect disposal… it ruins the game!