Slartibartfast

I've seen a fair bit of the women's training at Gosch's this year but quite a bit has been captain's run and flush runs. Today was full on and it was full on. Having watched the women over the journey I was struck today and how much the game has improved. The speed of the game is significantly faster, the ball handling much cleaner and the kicking, particularly for goal much improved. Standing close to them today during the match drill highlighted to me how far they have come, it was quick and skillful. The other thing that is noticable is what a happy bunch they are. There is a genuine buzz and enjoyment in what they are doing which contrasts with the men's training sessions which also has a buzz but is somehow different. And the women seem to at least recognize and appreciate track watchers. Eden particularly smiles and says hello, Saraid Taylor another that over the journey has been proactively friendly and all of them just give a different vibe to us compared with the men. It's good fun watching them if you're considering a journey to Gosch's. And they train for well over 1 and a half hours. I had to leave early as I had a 2 hour parking spot. Despite the cold today, and it was, it's fun watching them.

Redleg can you clarify if there is going to be a designated track watchers area with appropriate facilities?

I went to every PS training session at Gosch’s last season and your view is absolutely contrary to everything I saw. Note, I’m commenting on his attitude, not his ability.

A very shortsighted approach.

Bring Daisy home!

No, we've got Jeffo.

I’ll buy people’s Kolt shares. Just 20, no preseason. High agility testing, clean hands, good vision and excellent disposal. Learning midfield role. Yesterday wasn’t his best game but I’ve seen enough in his last 6 games to feel comfortable with the pick. He won’t be a star but he’ll be a good solid player with great character.

The oval at Casey is first class but for the spectator it’s just terrible. I went to the Saints game there, got as high up as I could but still couldn’t identify clearly who the players were on the other side of the ground. I came home and watched the replay to see what had happened. So not only is the ground so far away (I can cope with the drive) but you don’t see much when you get there. And of course the weather conditions out there are problematic made worse by the lighter smaller ball the women use. It’s like the AFL don’t want the women’s game to succeed. There are so many good options already mentioned it’s pathetic the AFL hasn’t done better.

Take a jumper!

Mums the word Ghosty!😎

And good intel on Georgia as well. She trained apart from the group and looked very comfortable joining in main training towards the end. Harvey will be sad to hear that after he left the soccer ball did come out and they had the choice between American Footy and soccer. Kate Hore appeared to be doing a fitness test but the result wasn't evident although she looked pretty comfortable to me. The training session for the women went for longer than I could stay, and I left at 11.30. Lots of low kicks into a net about chest marking height. There is a fantastic spirit amongst the girls, it's great to see. There was also a young (from my perspective) lady having her 14 birthday today with a sign asking for a pair of boots (something I've never really understood), and she got them! Thanks Kossie, you've made someone's day!

In the absence of Harvey and Ghosty I'll do a quick summary. Absent: Viney, Lever, Turner, Melksham, Rivers, Tmac, Hore, Campbell, McAdam and AMW Rehab: Woey, May, Sesso doing some ball work and Hendo was running laps. Great day at Gosch's, beautiful weather, warm with no wind. The players came out about an hour after scheduled time and did some run throughs to start with. They then broke up into three groups. The first played head and foot only volleyball, the second a short kicking drill exercise focusing on accurate low sharp kicks. The third, who were on the other side of the ground to me were doing some sort on handballing drill but I really didn't see much of it. They rotated through these drills which they did for about 10 minutes each. There was the usual goal kicking practice at the end but they didn't stay long and finished up after about 35 or 40 minutes. The atmosphere was positive but reserved. No soccer games today and one onlooker noted Judd had an aeroplane ticket hanging out of his back pocket. Personally I didn't see it but you never know Pickett, you might get your bottle of Scotch yet.

His form and therefore confidence has really turned around since he has gone forward. He's been very impressive given his very compromised start to the season.

Rest Ghosty, saying it more than once won’t convince those who don’t think you’re right!

I'm disappointed I missed it Dazzle, oh well.

More intellectual content! Wow. DM me if you want to swear. 😀

Nostradamus!

The Strathmore in North Terrace. Lovely day in Adelaide, looking forward to supporting the boys. Too many here worried about the destination and not the journey.

I had a different take. Ball skills were excellent, lateral movement seemed good, good speed, ran in a straight line well, smiled when spoken to, disappointed not to be approached by Ghosty, body shape a bit like Sesso, good endurance, good teeth. Did you notice any of those things?

No Jeffo, no Casey.

For a young tall like Kentfield it's not about dominating games it's about attributes. He's got them. One grab mark, lots of athleticism, professional approach, good hands and adequate pace. Rookie. A one year contract. Sometimes you need to look beyond the stats sheet.

Just a few points from this morning's session: Turner trained with the backs and Petty with the forwards so I expect that's where they'll play this week. May was doing some marking craft work with Jeffo after the main structured session based on positioning and body work while the ball was in the air. Viney was doing some ball work with one of the trainers. He still had a glove on his left hand and didn't do a left hand handball at all during that exercise. Max was doing a lot of around the body goal kicking with Choco and he seemed to be testing how far out he had to be before he couldn't use that technique. Viney and Kolt seem to have special thing going, lots of wrestling and clowning around. Ball skills seemed good to me given the ground was quite wet. There were very few fumbles in the full ground drills. Looking at the set up for the FGD's I think there is a good chance Jeffo plays. Lots of goal kicking at the end for the forwards and a few others. Melk was off target today. Chandler was doing a lot of work in a drill where he centred the ball to the top of the goal square rather than go for goal. Howes and Rivers trained with the backs at one stage with the other likely starters. The goal kicking was very serious. It's not just grab a ball and have a shot, it's a serious set shot and players clearly unhappy when they missed. It's not just an end of session kick and giggle, they really work on it. It's been the same all season.

Jeez Ghosty, hats off to you in this weather. It's cold enough sitting in front of the fire! Are the girls wearing jumpers with numbers? It would be hard to working out who's who otherwise. Hope they gave you some appreciation for your dedication. Were you lonely? Bet you were the only one there!

Are people serious about referring to JUH as a "gun" KPF"!0

That’s really unnecessary.