Kev

Another good September training. Hope this our pattern for the next few seasons. We are looking the part. Counted 36 in the main squad. Great to see so many ready to go at this time of the year. Lachlan Filipovic and Corey Maynard working with Crossy and Oskar Baker walking laps in the rehab squad. Pat Mckenna with the main squad as was Mitch King. The atmosphere seemed to be subdued with focus. Some joviality but mainly the session was taken seriously, by the players and coaching staff. The support crew tell me they are up and about in the “sheds”. The drills were done in the normal way. The emphasis appeared to be tackling then snapping goals and clean ball handling and disposal. The backs were kicking to short targets and moving the ball wide. The forwards were finding the player around the stick men, with some marking drills and leads across the front of the pack. The mids, quick hands, fast ball movement and talk. Plenty of goal kicking practice was done, snaps, sets and one step shots. Also some cumbing drills for our smalls. Noticed some players were encouraged to run hard and fast, linking together and creating fast ball movement through a corridor. During simulations, when the first mistake in offence happened, Goody pulled them together for a chat. As soon as we became a bit ferocious with our tackling the simulations ended (decision to minimise injuries). Watched Alex Neal-Bullen and Bailey Fritsch getting extra instructions at tackling. The marking bags were used by lots of the players as was some contested high balls encouraging spoils and marks. Sam Frost getting some great barrels out of the goal square (hit 5-6 in a row). I thought the players looked in good condition. There is a push for selection with Jay Kennedy-Harris, Bernie Vince, Joel Smith, Jeff Garlett and Cam Pederson training well. I didn't notice any of the niggles in our squad. Though read that others saw that Oscar McDonald and Tom Bugg had something. The crowd was large with lots of red and blue about, thanks for the atmosphere created by the supporters. The staff and volunteers put a good day on for us, thank you for your efforts. Hoping for our best game of the season. Go Dees. From Kev Martin

How sad for our AFL community. They really have to stomp out hate on those levels.

Another week of excitement, nerves, apprehension and nothing else in the world really matters. What a great ride are we getting. How's Viney's will. Loved his pressure at Gunston (when he was running into open goal and hit the post). Gunston couldn't step to open up the goal with his curling kick, great perceived pressure. We then go down town and score a running goal ourselves. The commentators saying it was one Gunston always kicks. I think it was Viney, determined, courageous and will power.

He has been working hard on it. Just can't seem to get it right. Even at training he is inconsistent and he knows it, as he gets frustrated. Could some Demonlanders give some analysis? I think he hangs his head too far over the ball on his approach, he therefore tends to lay back when he kicks. If he would use a normal posture position with his head he could then drive over the ball with his follow through. Also think his arms are too stiff through the elbows, so slight adjustments with the ball drop can't be made.

Saw him train on Tuesday. Started with being tested with short sprint runs by rehab coaches. He joined the main group after that. So the injury is probably a niggle that won't go away. Let's hope he gets up for the GF (if we win tomorrow) as he has had such a bad run with injuries.

Lovely morning for a hit out. It was again short and sweet. Jack Viney in runners, except for a little ball work, was mainly watching. Michael Hibberd had a short running test at the start, he then joined the main group. He looked unhampered. Aaron vandenBerg was not on the field. Jordan Lewis wearing kenty’s number 16 and Jake Melksham (I think) wearing Bernie‘s number 23. 24 players on the field including Jack. After warm ups they split into two groups, backs and forwards/mids. The backs had 9 players in the group, including Joel Smith, Jayden Hunt and Bailey Fritsch. After kicking drills along the boundary line then bringing the ball inside they gathered for an extended chat led by the coach Chaplin. The mids/forwards did some short drills, with the mids from a ball up, linking to half forwards who would link with full forwards. They ended with lots of goal kicking. Jay Kennedy-Harris training with mids/forwards and was last to leave the track. In the words of Brendan McCartney, “attack the ball”. Go Dees. from Kev Martin

It is their arrogance that will undo them. If they don't take us serious they will be hammered. We are ready for them. Hoping they see us as easy beats and probably believe tbey have won already. We are a different team to how we started the season. We have learnt how to win and play smart, hard football. They should fear us. As for their fans. The most arrogant of the lot. Most other teams want us to "do them". Lets take the smirk off Sicily, Smith, Breust, Roughy and Clarkson. Oh yea and Fawley.

He was running the straight lines well. Probably only a little discomfort when turning. Precautionary management in my opinion.

Woo hoo, they were looking good. Clean and doing the basics well in challenging conditions with a gusty wind a-blowing. Rehab had Lachlan Filopovic and Corey Maynard. Michael Hibberd was late on the track. He was running laps with effort, then did a little ball work but finished early. No sight of Dean Kent or Oskar Baker. The emphasis for the drill work was definitely goal kicking, with some tackling thrown in. The basics during ball work was very good, clean by foot and hand as well as decision making. No surprises for the line squads (Cam Pederson remains with the forwards). The simulations were based around rebounds off the halfback. Angus was a bit out of sorts. Goody dragged him and when he participated again he was switched on (responded well), Simulations included Joel Smith, Jayden Hunt and Jay Kennedy-Harris. After simulations the players gathered around with Jordan Lewis leading the talk. Bernie Vince on track. Stayed with the Casey Squad when they split during simulations, as did Jeff Garlett, Cam Pederson, Tom Bugg and Josh Wagner. A little physio on the field for Oscar McDonald and Angus Brayshaw, they will be right to go. Jack Viney, fitting in as if he had been there all year. Aaron vandenBerg, vocal and training well. Max Gawn doing everything right. Sam Wiedeman kicking beautifully, getting to the ball, marking and crumbing well. Christian Petracca at last kicking goals at practice (the coaches putting some extra time into helping him). Last to leave were Tom Mcdonald (kicking goals) and some backs including Neville Jetta (working with Dion Johnstone). Go Dees. From Kev Martin

I don't think Kenty will be ready, he is not over his injury.

I was thinking more about how we would drop our bundle for a quarter (last year and early in this season). The other team would get 5 or more goals without us answering. Seems we have matured and can control the momentum of games now. Chances to score which are not taken can kill our momentum. Happy that it didn't friday night and we kept scoring goals at important times. The ducker/stager (Selwood) really helped that out, with his head tackle at the interchange. You are right, missing the easy goals makes ugly football and shows we are not playing well. I can only imagine when it all clicks for us, "you beauty". What an "up" we still have left.

Tough call for the selection committee. Hope they use commonsense and pick the team that matches up to the opposition and the way we want to play. I get a feeling the players are really supportive of each other. They seem to know that this years hard work has been a team effort, on and off the track. It would be difficult for those not picked or dropped but we will be there and about for a while now. Chances will still be there in the future. Good work Deespicable. No change for me.Unless an injury or we need a better balance to dominate the game. We are rolling. Go Dees.

000 Demon Members 695 164 posts #100 Posted Saturday at 10:58 PM We also have Cam Pederson if we need some height and a strong body

I prefer acceleration. That 5-10 meter explosion can get you to space then composure. Flat speed is good for the chase down but suprise can also be effective. So I would take footy brain over athleticism. Don't get me wrong speed players make lots of goals, can stop goals, gets to contest, stops and creates overlaps and can break open games. I love the explosive movement. Fastest from standing start over the 10 meters for me.

In the ruck contest they can't fend off with a straight arm. Arm has to be bent. The legs should used only to get some elevation in the mark. Protection should not mean harm to the other player. A knee up should be enough to protect yourself. I want hard football not dangerous stuff. You can see by the other players reaction that they see it as an unfair tactic.

I don't agree, I thought we had a well rounded 4 quarter game. Just missed too many goals. I hope we can snap alot better and get some composure when in front.

Agree, they will be kicking for territory more than side ways movement because of final strategies. Though I think we zone well. Sometimes we all go for the ball at once with the ball getting away from our control and no one down to mop up. With there small crumbers we could have problem. Hoping big game and cohesion from Jets, Fritsch and Salem to stop their crumbers and snaps. When we get it in our backline there can be chaotic ball use. O'mac and Frosty get me laughing with their "creativity".

Not sure if the game they have will stand up in finals. They rely on outside runners. Contested football is what we are about. They want to have freedom with their ball movement and are capable of it. Their coach may change their style and being so experienced at the pointy end will have something for us. Good test for us. Expect a tighter game then last night.

We also have Cam Pederson if we need some height and a strong body.

I was replying to a question from DV8.

His only support are O'mera and Sheils, who I think are a bit soft and can easily be bundled away. Their inside players are all going to have nightmares. Don't forget Jetts and Hibbs when they are close to their 50. Or Traccs and Tom near our 50.

I don't underestimate them. I was looking at their weaknesses. Hoping for a change of the guard. They control the ball well. Have good outside runners. Good distribution of goal kickers. Fast movers of the ball. Good leg speed and endurance runners. A tough team that can hurt their opposition. Are well coached and can change their structures quickly and effectively. Good front runners. Can take a game apart and be ruthless.

I think you asked did we have injuries. Wouldn't know, just a punter. Hoping for no niggles.

Coming off a loss. Backline disrupted with Stratton out. Looks like it is a change of guard in the AFL. The teams who have dominated the past decade may have ended. Jordans inside knowledge. No superstars. Mitchell not a big influencer for the amount of ball he gets. The others are impact players.

A few weeks off may have helped. Though it is his leadership to set up our structures, kicking in after a point, he likes hitting and hurting the opposition, reads the play well and the team love him. I think his only chance would be if injuries.