picket fence

"I WISH I KNEW WHERE I WANTED TO BE WHEN I WANTED TO BE WHERE I WAS TODAY" Picture this.... temperature around 25 warm , balmy DAY and the Fence enjoying the majesty of the very pleasant surroundings of Casey Fields, does this sound inviting? Well I can tell you it beats the hell outa a weekend in Siberia anyday! But out here you still have to worry about slitherers but they are far more dangerous and bigger entities which have the capacity to be a .. more menacing presence .... which might or might not be related to the sign above! The usual drone of House music emanating from the Boom Box speakers at Casey Fields just blended nicely into the soundscape of what was another "Full On" Blitzkrieg Training session today. The following report was filed for the Demonland Brethren so what are you waiting for...... read on Absentees NO MAJAK No W.A Contingent except for Kossie On modified duties Jayden Hunt Warm ups This is done two ways 1 At the new indoor facility where players go through a thorough graduated stretching and graduated drill sequence 2 Out on the ground where small drills focusing on precise ball movement, quickness of delivery and rapid fire ball drill sequences are related to in tight match simulations One of these was a drill which I now call "Three Blind Mice" Players run backwards, with ball, Pirouette and run forward in a triangualar type sequence zig zag and then deliver the ball slighly off balance. It looks like the type of drill which equates to players being surrounded by opposition and then need to squeeze a correct delivery whilst slightly disorientated and slightly off balance. Skills , Drills and Maneuvers Two groups were maintained with one doing whole ground ball movements from various positions of stoppages both forwards and back and selecting again correct options for longer run and carry type work and also ground switching. The other group then continued in small confines contested ball work and again emphasizing delivery, blocking harrasing and disposal under pressure At the completion of this drill an excellent drill where players were involved in a triangular formation with 3 players moving the ball with precise handball which was punctuated by the gadfly tendancies of two harrasers who provided contest and pressure. This was an excellent drill in which hardly any group made a mistake! Delivery was precise, Handballs were given at the right moment then opening up the play. Following that a full match simulation was conducted under match conditions which again featured some at times breathtaking full ground transferance of the air conveyance! At the conclusion of that another minor activity some run throughs and Goal kicking was maintained and warm down completed a just over 2 hour pretty intensive and hard workout Player watch Several players really stood out for mine and I'll go through them now ADAM TOMLINSON A few on this site have commented on his "Readiness" but after seeing him again today he WILL be ready to go round 1. He marked well, moved well, was assured and showed NO sign of being hampered by his knee reco. He looked bloody good. DEAKYN SMITH Caught my eye on a few occasions with his Charismatic ball skills and skill level, will be one to watch in 2022 BAILEY LAURIE Looked much more assured and confident with some very "Astute" decisions and ball use TOM SPARROW Every time I see this kid I just keep thinking he plays like a turbo charged Ollie Wines, he is a bull who is becoming more confident and imposing. JAMES JORDON Scott Pendlebury Mrk 2 in the making here. JAKE BOWEY How much better can this kid get? Just never ever makes a mistake just cruises along the ground mopping up better than a thirsty Jex in the desert! JOEL SMITH Looks confident in body and took some excellent intercept marks and delivered very well in run and carry sim. N0 27 AND 42 Not sure who they are but boy did they do some excellently crafted runs and deliveries "Lace out" I wondered whether 1 was Luke Dunstan but not sure. OUR STANDOUTS Im putting a few buck on Clayton OLIVER for the 2022 BROWNLOW He just does not stop improving , some of his escapism and brute strength and dazzle from stoppages is almost impossible! Our culture is being driven by Max, Tracc, Stephen May and Jake Lever were irrepressible and Ed Langdon ANB, J.V, BBB, and Big Mac were all eye catching. Fritta snapped a couple of "Freak Goals" and Harmsy and Rivers assured as was Christian Salem IMPROVERS Fraser Rossman shows signs of steady improvement once smothering with full body on a Clarry Kick and Toby Bedford, and Kade Chandler committed very well. FINAL COMMENTS Competition for places is at all seasons high with selection headaches aplenty. Long gone are the days of limited backups and I forecast based on what I've seen little let up from the professional and exacting standards established in 2021

They are not the worst with cultural problems, how the heck another team Nth of Victoria can go with a guy in leadership with a history of on field issues is mystyfying. What message does that send out to supporters and young players?

I agree, in teaching for example Data drives the teaching and learning program to an Overarching degree. The problem is that if you take away the human element and focus on data driven pedagogy to the detriment of experiential and some trial and error.

If it makes the team better why not? The last thing we need is complacency. What if Dunstan, Hunt, Smith and others get of to flyers at training and in pre season games. Competition for game time will be the hottest for years, maybe for all time at the Dees.

Not disputing your logic, but it was a full on Match simulation in which he fully took part in. If the Doctors or Physios had any doubt about his knee standing up to full match sim, would they have let him play?? Would seen foolishly risky if there was ANY doubt!

Well he played in the match simulation last Friday, and they wouldn't have done that if he wasnt 100% fit, so on that basis unless there is a hiccup I think he would be right to go in round 1

Agree 100%

Um Um NO! I swear I saw him not make the distance for goal from 30 m out once! Dazzle, serious question for you, where do you see Luke Dunstan fitting in??

Friday Dazzle!

I don't think Dunstan has been recruited to play at Casey!

I WANT THE CLARRY CHOO CHOO SPECIAL

Um dont ever forget ROB FLOWER EVER

On what I saw last Friday Werridee I have NO DOUBT!!

Macrae not even able to tie Clarries Bootlaces is my take!

Even if u are NOT a dingbat, You still know it!!🤪

Whilst the Doggies probably edge us out in their midfield depth (Bont, Macrae, Libba, Dunkley, Treloar, Hunter, Smith), they lack a major weapon in the ruck department and we have two of them in Max and LJ. So overall, the Demons probably have the better total midfield setup. THE DOGGIES DONT EDGE US OUT IN THE MIDFIELD AT ALL. WE ARE AND HAVE THE BEST MIDS GOING AROUND.

GOODY AND MAX T SHIRT With the following inscription '' BANG BANG BANG" GONE IN 60 SECONDS!

Re: training this week Demonlanders, I have a few things on and cant attend till Friday, happy if others can assist to provide reports from Casey Fields. Cheers P.F😎

Hopefully and quintesentially that last minute or so of the third quarter.

The Superpack DVD of every game in 2021 IS Getting a serious run at my place! At $144 bucks from Sanity I consider it not only an investment but a bloody good reminder of the stellar season we had

ALERT! LATEST SIGNPOSTING SEEN AT CASEY FIELDS "WARM RIDE WARRRM RIDE BABY THATS THE WAY YOU ARE" Graham Bonnet Why did I bring this "Classic"song up ?? Because training today was as smooth and as sublime as the song! This didn't look like a preseason knockup more a purring machine that has just been fitted with a turbo charger Weather great just perfect for training, bit of breeze but nothing out of the ordinary, Ground is in fantastic condition as well Players missing Dogga, didnt see Jake lever either and I did see Jayden Hunt doing some exercises away from main group SKILLS, DRILLS AND MANOEVERS. WARM UPS Consisted of short precise ball movement drills, around close contests and choosing correct options, small group work followed before a surprising match simulation game/drill where some very interesting simulations occured key points were as follows 1 Portable goal posts were moved 20 meters in from permanent ones 2 The game was played in a rectangle type field with narrowed boundaries 3 All starts were from the Casey Dressing rooms side with a boundary throw in The skills, touch, finese, fitness and audible crunching tackles and some at times dazzling ball movement was as evident as the last minute and a half of the 3rd quarter of the grand final. To me it looks like every single player has arrived back lean , hungry and fit. There was no sign of lethargy or any semblence of Premiership hangover that I could see. The other thing that struck me was the obvious enjoyment that comes with the mateship element which build a culture of excellence. PLAYER WATCH As usual Clarry, Salem, Viney, Max Langdon and BOWEY that set the standard but others who were prominent included a clearly fit Stephen May, Adam Tomlinson, Tom Mc Donald and a very good Joel Smith. Majak Daw provided plenty of excitment and a work out for Max in the ruck and others to shown form were ANB, Trac and BB Weeds did a few things but got pushed under the ball a few times. Tom Sparrow also showed something OTHER ASPECTS After Match simulations players were put threw some gruelling run throughs and then finally other small drills in groups designed for quick evasions, and picking right option in pressure situations. If this is a sign of what is to come them 2022 should yield as much success and excitment as 2021 Overheard at nearby shops at Santa Stall, Santa says to little tike in Melbourne Jumper "What do you want for Christmas?? Little tike "Another Melbourne Flag next year" !😁 Final thoughts, After seeing Jake Bowey lay a tackle on Kossie doing his acrobatic routine which befuddles everyone. How good is this Kid!?

JEELONG AT FREAKING JEELONG AGAIN???!! FFS GIL?🤯

Yes how vomitous🤮

I'm always on the other side of the fence so no change from my view!

Never fear, Picket Fence is here! Have had one or two things on but should get to next Casey Training session🤩