kev martin

I didn't take much notice, Going about his business, with the backs. A big squad out there today.

I think Jefferson will be a pure forward. Our third talls, could be TMac, BBB, and Tomlinson. They were all doing ruck work at some stages, together with Grundy and Max. Verral was mainly on the outside of the squad today. He did kicking in a small group and some physical training all under supervision of a coach.

Quiet, I think he is just going about his business, I get the sense that he doesn't want to ruffle the feathers as a new addition to the team. Focusing on cohesion and comradeship.

JVR looking great. In the sims he was their go to man a few times. Lovely hands, good lead and double back. Easily got away from Lever, though Lever had to work on two attackers and regularly had to guard the space. Need more time to look at Jefferson, appears to be doing most things adequately, except goaling which he does effortlessly. His fitnees not up to scratch yet, endurance is lacking. He has the posture type where his head is slouched forward, wish someone would tell him to stand up straight.

I was thinking the same thing, not so much about his love life though. Could do with a full preseason so as to get him strong and resilient. Hope they are just being cautious and he gets into it soon. Mainly worked the bike and not the rowing machine.

A wintery morning, coldish and windy. Great morning for the time trials, headwinds on one side and a tail on the punt rd side. Clarry smashed it. Goody was over the moon, they embraced several times. He is set for a ripper. Looking thin, nearly wirey. He is also showing some leadership qualities. Others out front were Adam Tomlinson, he was in a different group to Clayton but gee, beat Tmac by at least 25 metres. ANB caught the front group. Some bad news, Hibbo was having difficulty with his Achilles, left training. Petracca was the only one missing. So many new players out there. Here are some new numbers, 6 Grundy, 12 Hunter, 19 Schache, 26 Jed Adams, 28 Verral, 33, 38, 39, 43 (Burgoyne?), 45, 46 Sestan, 47 Jefferson and 47 Farris-white. Plenty of train ons. Clarry has the hair bun. Langdon has crewed. Salem white. After the time trials, they got into their boots, and it began. Competitive right from the start. Into two stations, two players competing for position as the ball is thrown in the air, the other was soft tackling as the front player picks up a ground ball. Moved into three stations, short kicks, and the other two I can't remember. They transitioned to handball games with 6 on two in bibs. They then went to two stations, a sim with minimal tackling, (Hunter caught my eye with great outside run and kicks to advantage, Kossie and Sparrow as well). The other was a hard tackling handball game in restricted space. The tackler was not brought to the ground, but was expected to break and get the handball (plenty of noise as they prove to each other their shimmy and ability to stand up). They went to their lines. Looks like TMac is with the back-line, as is Woewodin, and Salem stay there as well. Tomlinson doing some work with the rucks and the back-line. Forwards bringing the ball to ground and snapping. Some mids and forwards kicking down an alley, with a camera under the supervision of Williams for goal. They then got their runners on again and hit up 10, 150 metre, in under 20 sec sprints. Deakin Smith, and Moniz-wakefield, Verral, and Adams on a modified program. Grundy and BBB working together in their individual program. They have moved a gym under the shed where Joel Smith and Angus Brayshaw did light duties and were joined with some of the new players. There may have been some drills I missed, it was a long session and with so many players out, there it was hard to follow. Addit, had a good look at Farris-white kicking when on the run and it was ok, hit lots of his targets. @Tim

We could break with Casey, and with agreement, use Port as our VFL feeder/affiliate club. Gosch's and Aami to be used during cricket. I reckon the reason to have a place around the MCG must be related to where they want the administration to hub.

Thanks for the update. M.Chaplin is always a riot and usually has L.Mithin spurring her on. Congratulations to Katy and the other recipients.

Mathew Jefferson was also wearing 47 at training on Wednesday.

A good turnout this morning. I was down there in time for Daisy's talk. She was great, emphasised our youth after congratulating and nominating the effort of individuals on the day of the GF. Very impressive up on the stage that was made for them, by the end her voice was becoming hoarse. Finished with everybody singing "the grand old flag", then getting selfies with the cup, and signings and chats with the players. Good luck tonight for their B & F. Addit: The cup was looking tarnished, really been given a workout. Like the "Velvetine Rabbit", you know your are loved when well worn

@Tim thought he saw, he had a reasonable kick. I thought he had an uncomfortable looking set kick style, but his hands were ok, I'll take more notice next time, especially his on the run kicking capacity. A long way to go to be AFL ready.

I would park on the Botanical Garden side of the yarra (Alexander ave) and walk across the Morell bridge to Gosch's park. Paid metered parking is the closest, but if you look around the area, maybe you could find some time restricted free parking.

During the Casey final series, I was looking for him. Very much under the radar in the backline. He wracked up some disposals but I didn't notice him. Even wondered if he was out there, when in a discussion with another DL'er. I did notice him positively at training.

I didn’t see much of him last season, at Wednesday's training he did look good, involved, energetic and strong.

No

@Top End Dee ask a question about Kyah Farris-white His kicking style was very stilted, ungamely, he was getting coached on taking shots on goal. Nearly every ball, he more or less lobbed into the area (really hit under the ball). He was fairly accurate. Jefferson was paired up with Farris-white for the entire session. They ran the boundaries together, at one stage all the coaches took particular notice of their last run, when Farris-white burned Jefferson. They were even wearing the same number, 47.

9.30 am, seemed to be the official start time. A few were out earlier. (I am guessing)

I expect they will have a run from about 9.30 am.

Schache is taller but I think JVR has the energy. I would get JVR in there. Looks like he wants it. He and Steven May lost contact with the group they were running with and ended on their haunches. Probably just that pain that comes from the first few exertions to a new season. Ran hard and was heavily involved during the sims. Professional attitude. Agree about "getting used to the playing group". He is fit, has an AFL ready body, and ran well in his group.

I had a sense there was something floating above me at one stage. It was a drone from Victory's training session. Great morning on Gosch's with both AFL and A-League doing their things.

It was a bit tongue in cheek from Goody. He was running at the back of the pack during laps and Goody wanted him to be leading them round. Expecting and pushing to achieve more. His response was to move into the centre and on the outside (running extra meters) of the pack. He is looking strong, fit and appears setting himself for a big year. Beautiful handling and kicking of the ball during sims, also had plenty of run in him. Becoming a good tactician, in that he set up a few plays off the back area. Looks like he could be working for a mid position.

Down for my first look at our squad, A beautiful day with quite a few out early. The defenders doing some passing to each other on the wing and the rest having goal kicking practice. Once the session starts, they go about it earnestly, with a no nonsense physical trainer taking the reins. Quite regimented in the warm-up and when doing the runs. There is no room for ambiguity. After the warm-up, they are into 3 groups and 3 stations. Strength, goal snaps and a power station. They then go to a drill which is working across each other with precision kicks. Williams with the one-liners and keeping them amused. The next one is similar but with the space opening up making for longer kicking. They go into simulations. A bit rusty for the first couple of plays, but it doesn't take long till they get the ball movement right, or the defensive press causing turnovers. After sims comes some running. Still pretty mild as they only do 4 laps, though within time limits and different groups running at times, appropriate to size and age. My impressions are: Trent Rivers is looking stronger and bigger, as is Jordon. Tom Sparrow looks fit, as does Laurie. Bayley fritch as skilled as ever, though appears to be on a slightly modified program, and did not participate in sims. Grundy the same and was doing his own running program. Deakyn Smith, Moniz-wakefield and Hibbs on a modified program that appears to be about fitness as they spent all their time running. Spargo and Chandler in everything during sims. Howes and Woewodin working with Viney. JVR has great hands and is bringing the energy. Goodwin wants more from Pickett. Pettraca and May struggling with the running. Hunter was struggling with connection, Schache looks the better one at the moment. Farris-white has a fair bit of work to do on his kicking style, appears to have a good endurance engine. Mathew Jefferson was mainly working alongside Farris-white and both didn't participate in sims. He appeared a touch nervous as he dropped some simple chest marks and had a little difficulty finding connection when drilling his kicks. Needs to also work on fitness. Not at training: Salem, Lever, TMac, Lever, Brayshaw, Gawn, ANB, Oliver, Langdon, Melksham, Tomlinson, Petty, Joel Smith, Ben Brown.

The Brisbane players got closed down. None of their stars stood up. Our players good for 3 quarters. Great coaching, placing players behind the ball in the last, out coached 'em. We were desperate for and at every contest. Loved how we kept our feet and put the body between opposition and ball. Played the game in our forward 50. The umpires turned in the last. Amused by the Lion supporters boo's. Our in and under players controlled it, with some important marks from our spine players to steady the ship. Great that we ran all day. West, Hanks, Gillard, the role players, got it done. Well done Dees.