waynewussell

Defenders, including Max and Oliver intercept the next thrust, pass to Bugg who holds on for too long and the reset whistle blows

11 v 8 defenders between the HF lines. Long Petracca pass cut off by Hibberd, he passes over the back to a running Spencer, but Jetta runs him down and stops him in a vice like tackle

Hannan putting some space between him and Filipivic as they run the boundary... perhaps he got a jump start. This rehab group, which includes ANB has continued, hard at it, throughout the session. The main group are in the centre now setting up the next drill. A trainer holds up the magnets to allocate teams/roles

Harmes been doing well, Judy just took on Maynard and won. Johnstown pops it up a little high for Kielty, but he marks and handballs back to Johnstone who has run on impressively... he nails a 'goal'. Rawlings calls them in, then they rest. Max is outstanding in these small team games

Groups rotate now. Standouts in previous group, Watts, Jones, Wagner. Slight errors by foot... Billy, Oscar. In new group Clayton holds on to ball for too long... a little later he is monstered by Max, but bounces up and gets straight back into it. Bernie excels by foot. Kielty is praised for two great intercepts

The iron boundary rail is too hot to lean on now as they break into small groups again. The group near me are doing a run and carry activity which is very willing. Wagner puts White down, Hoges flips Garlett over into a barrel roll. Rawlings is barking instructions... first demanding more, then full of praise for intensity and decision making

There's quite a bit of 'dissatisfaction' being expressed by the assistants today. It's a lazy day sunshine type of Monday! I don't think the squad are particularly poor... I think it's time to crank it up!

He wants them to scream for the ball when they haven't got it.

30 metre passing, full ground. Assistant (couldn't tell which) calls them in because they aren't doing enough when they haven't got ball

Three sets of 60 metre sprints. Petracca just leads Melksham for 2, Melksham pips him on third. Johnstone impressive but Clarrie runs him down in third. Keilty is quite quick.

Agility on feet through cones layout.... beautiful to watch!

Into 3 groups for skills/evasive work with assistants. Misso comes over and carefully rearranged a cone that a toddler/spectator had carried around for a while

Just going through routines at the moment, run throughs, short kicks... nothing of significance to report

Petracca very particular on how he wants his knee taped near boundary line

Only Tyson, Kent & Hulett missing. Big cheer for Kingy as they jog off on warm up lap.

Arrived on time. Only ANB, Filipovic & Hanban in rehab group with Crossy... maybe Mitch King had graduated! Beautiful morning in Melbourne, going to be 31 today (cheers Ron Barassi!). Main group just arriving.

I see Hibberd as a versatile swing man in defense... He can get away with playing as one if the three key talls or a true flanker/disperser... Wagner is in the same mould, a little lighter perhaps, but developing similar skill set and the same courage running back. Filipovic reminds me of a young Martin... a very tall midfielder with a better kick.

Tim Smith continues to impress. He is very good with his shots at goal, had developed AFL standard fitness, seems to make good decisions related to game plan and has eccellent hands. I see him as a backup to Hogan and Kent/Watts

I see Wagner as a HB, he has excellent endurance, seems to have a firm grip on the game plan, has an excellent left foot and, to reiterate the Goodwin catchphrase... has composure under pressure.

Further thoughts... Wagner will feature in the 22 regularly, even with the inclusion of Hibberd and Melksham. Harmes looks set to go to the next level. Smokey 1 - Johnston. Smokey 2 - Filipovic

There weren't necessarily designated leaders for the groups... just some obvious senior, excellent trainers who went about communicating the best way to implement Goodwin's focus. Dion Johnstone will impress with his strong overhead work and his goal sense

Can only assume Hulett injured knee after I left

Hulett back on. Melksham talking tactics with Salem. Petracca to Weiderman nice play which leads to Harmes slotting one from 40 with everyone looking on. Time for me to depart. Cheers all

Hulett having ankle checked out on the boundary line. Three larger groups rotating through 3/4 ground spread activity

There is a stiff breeze now, making goal kicking all the more difficult. Lewis continues to excel, Pederson hits the ball hard and has a fine technique so is still able to score the maximum while others get too much height in the conditions (Joel Smith being one of the latter)