thirty-one

Jeffo is in runners. Running the boundary.

Pretty sure that Roo just brought Culley down in a great tackle. Looks like keepings off for that group, two defenders on one forward on this side. Finding space and leading is the name of that game.

So far, the only players who aren't joining the main group are Salem, Melksham, McAdam, Viney, Bowey and Henderson. Mihochek has joined the main group. I don't remember seeing him in it before.

Three groups. Finding space, up and down between the arcs, closer more congested work, forwards contested marking.

@Demonland it's only Wednesday...

Matthews has joined the main training group. Lots of warm ups. Kick to kick, springs, quick off the mark exercises. Kick, handpass kick.

Salo is doing buttsercises and stretches. Melksham and McAdams are in rehab along with Matthews, AMW. Viney has just shown up, in runners. Henderson and Bowey are walking and not in training guernseys.

It's on!

I was thinking about why I like going to training, and it really comes down to being able to see the players as people. I've been overseas or interstate for most of 20 years. I've not seen a game in person since either 2010 (maybe) or 2007 (definitely). The players became somehow abstract, figures I saw on the tv. Now at training I see them stuffing up or doing something well and always busting a gut, trying to be/do better. They are just people. Well paid men, men with elite fitness and skills but still people.

Something I noticed today during the match sim was Reg (Xavier Lindsay) being coached on where to stand against his man and when/how to move to defend, and Kalani being encouraged to chase, at which point he chased a bit late and ran halfway across the ground chasing one player after another. Both are still only kids as far as AFL goes and are still developing. Reg looks somewhat closer than Kalani. Maysie was leading Tom Couch (who has definitely not missed leg day) on the first of the sprints around the oval but after a bit was lagging. He's doing heaps of running and doing some of the drills.

Look who is here and having a little kick to kick! Bowser

He seems to be integrating well. He's hard to spot because he's in the thick of things and he isn't flashy.

Zero Hanger says that he's contracted with Casey for this year.

I keep seeing Kentfield brought up as an example of someone who hasn't lived up to the hype (because this is what Cranky's post suggests). He's only been with us since the mid-season (rookie) draft of 24, so about 18 months. There's no way he would've been at AFL levels of fitness and strength at that point. Six months later (a year ago) he was starting to recover from a bout of pneumonia that put him in hospital. This is his first proper pre-season. We'll see how he goes this year. AMW would have played AFL last year without that ACL injury. Kolt and Jeffo do have to level up at this point.

quoted from Zero Hanger. Heard lots of questions about who the train on players were. The blonde lad has a good jump on him.

Yeah, he had a cap on. It was obvious at the end when we could get close up but before that I took a photo that shows it's a cap.

If you were there, you'd know Lever was out there. It seemed like he never shut up!

Well I guess next week will give me the chance to throw off this cold or hay fever or whatever it is. That is good? Good. Of course it would be Wednesday when training happens at Gosch's otherwise I'd be doing breakfast with family.... Yes it IS all about me!

They still have the odd clanger but there's an emphasis on moving the ball fast - lots of quick handballs and switches from one side of the ground to the other - and that can come with risk. Most of the time it works, sometimes it doesn't. They are still learning a new style. Some exercises look like keepings off. And as F&T said, they are really tackling - not gentle things but the real deal. Without having access to instant replays and given there's often two or three different things happening on the oval at once, it's hard to remember clangers and see what should've happened. (I guess that is what the drone is for - take footage that can be analysed later.)

Tommy was having a bit of fun on Monday. He was getting to kick the footy, and do an activity that involved taking the ball and handpassing it on whilst being harassed (or being the harasser). One person stood in front and tried to take the ball whilst someone standing right behind them hit and grabbed at their arms. He looked pretty happy to be doing something other than running.

But not #22, dunno how he would've managed it.... Guess he wouldn't pay any frees at all!

Uh, a bunch of pagans might say the same thing about Christmas....

I will try to be there both days, though if training starts at 8:45 I've not a hope of getting there at the start of it. If it is sunny, I'll also be wearing my dicky flower hat. I'd just feed everyone GF sausages. The Coles ones used to be GF, didn't look this time around to see, might not be the best bangers but still good for a feed.

Looking forward to it! Tie dye tee and probably my indigenous guernsey for me! I should be no longer jetlagged by then. Can't get to training on Wednesday (hafta go look at a shed!) but Friday should be good. Pity pre-Christmas training ends so soon. PS @Ghostwriter , are the bangers gluten and dairy free? I can bring some me-safe bread. Been ages since I had a sausage sizzle.

It seems to be an injury that takes a couple of years to get back to your best from.