Give him a year or two to focus just on establishing himself in the team. However, if he’s performing well I’d be absolutely on board with getting him into the leadership group early.
Yeah, it wouldn’t be seven minutes of high-intensity running.
Unless of course we are aiming to just win games by literally running teams off their feet. Because if we can have players sustain seven minute bursts of high intensity running, we’ll beat teams simply because they can’t keep up.
Umpires here warming up alongside the squad. Fingers crossed we get some decent match sim to look at.
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I hope the umpires pay a lot of unfair frees against every player, to make sure they get the full game day experience.
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Could you please observe and let us know the Rough forwards vs Backs match ups
Any interesting changes?
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I heard a rumour that Brisbane is doing 8 minutes.
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Abs?
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Lmao!
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You see, I was commenting on 7 minutes not being that much. Obviously I don’t expect them to go 7 minutes sprinting, but 7 minutes of (say) 4-5x300 at high intensity with 100m jog in between type thing would need to be multiple sets to actually be a full on session for professional athletes. I assume that’s what they’re doing but the way it was written, as though 7 minutes without water was really hard, just sounded a bit underwhelming.
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I can’t last 7 minutes. That’s crazy talk
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Fixed!
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Who’s winning…….and who’s losing??
6, 7 ? 
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Post reported
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Sweet. Another new game style.
(We needed it btw.)
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Get that stuff out of here only doom and gloom allowed to be posted on here!
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Does the new play style include multiple 200cm players in wet weather conditions?
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I see this lot what does it mean?
Younger generation and their stupid memes
Ok so I finally got to see training this morning for the first time this pre-season. I had a number of people tell me things are quite different this year, so I was curious on how Inness and the coaches run the show. Also how the players are responding to a new type of program.
So to my eyes that was the best training session i have seen in my many years watching. Why is that?
Yes there was some missed handballs still… some kicks that missed targets….so don’t get me wrong… we still have some development to go. But this is why it was the best session I have seen:
It was by far the most professional I have seen the Essendon Football Club run a session. It was the most professional i have seen the playing group approach the session for the whole 2 hours. Areas of huge growth for me were
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intensity of the session and the discipline and focus between drills. There is no let up. You run hard to the next drill, get into position and off you go. It strengthens playing through fatigue to make better decision in red time situations.
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Players voices. It was quite shocking how loud training was. Everyone calling out instructions and yes calling out mistakes. Bad handball was called out and its lets do it again and get it right. Noticeably the body language of the player who missed a handball was one of anger and wanting to get it right. Skill error was not made by laziness or lack of intensity. That for me is an important distinction as last year i could not say that.
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Leaders were more visibly coming through. Redman and McGrath very vocal and instructional. Redman was actually scarily intense. There was one ball movement drill of about 12 players in front of me and Caldwell was the clear leader. He paused a drill if he didn’t like what he saw he gave coaches and players strong feedback. If he sensed a young player was unsure… ran over and talked him through their positioning and intent of the drill. Durham similar with his group. So this for me was a big deal on how much younger players saw strong leaders talking through training.
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Speed of ball movement a huge focus. No one is allowed to hold the ball for more than 2 seconds. Its go go go. Move it forward!!!
Noticed a lot of emphasis on our team using the stand rule to more of our advantage. Working more on wings spreading, opening space. From what i saw it was night and day to how we have played previous in terms of speed of ball movement. But we all know its EFC v EFC.
Some players of note:
Merrett: was the first time seeing him and I have to say as much as i have been frustrated with him he was completely engaged with the group and his own intensity was very high. Made one small mistake in front of me and he was absolutely livid with himself and apologised to the group around him. Can honestly say there seems no risk at all with him not playing 100% to my vision. If anything i sensed he is enjoying the big step up in standards.
Max Kondog: ok lets talk Max cause he was the stand out for me. Don’t care that he was pick 36… looked every bit as exciting as the first three boys picked. He is quick and just looked a handful for everyone. May not be as strong yet as the others but he will play some senior footy this year. Zero doubt.
Sharp: Great to finally watch him. He is as advertised. Professional, tough and just looks like a 200 game player. Worked closely with Parish today and they seem to be getting along well. Parish btw looking much better.
Farrow and Robey: Robey didn’t train and was watching on. Farrow sadly had most of his match sim drills on the other side to me so i only noticed a few things which were lovely skilled passes. Love his balance.
Tsatas: No doubt his kicking looks better. Didnt see one bad one actually. Seemed to have a bit more power in his legs. His fitness was the main stand out…. ran much better both ways and did some run with stuff. To my eyes looked to be another level up. We will see.
Gerreyn: took some strong marks and just looks like a player soon to break out. Maybe the following season but its coming.
Fiorini: took me back with how vocal he was. Demanded to a few on better disposal in the drills and you can tell he is quite respected in the group already.
Bryan to me looked closest to play re ACL injured players. Even did 10mins of a group kicking drill. Edwards did laps at decent pace. Hayes was not out there.
Langford and Ridley: both seem fairly close to me. Langford did 40% of match sim drills and then laps. Looks ok tbh. Rids ran faster laps today and for quite sometime.
May: thought May looked more mobile and seems to have trimmed down in terms of chest. Liked what i saw
Huss: just busy and doesn’t take a step back. Him and Kako have a great connection
Johnson: looks a touch quicker to the eye with some increased fitness now. Still damaging with the ball and for me he is playing round one
So overall the session felt quite different in tone and application. Everyone was buying into what Inness was wanting. First time tbh we may actually be matching some top sides on how a club should train. Took awhile lol. But today I had a smile just watching my football club look professional and with strong intent.
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