Hambo has helped me with today’s report.
I’ll get straight into the M.A.D. Drill because I have never seen anything like it. MAD stands for Middleastern ■■■■ Drill and it was carried out as follows: Gleeson knelt down between the goal posts in a somewhat Muslim call to prayer position with his ■■■■ facing the 50 metre arc. Players took turns from about forty metres out kicking low grounders trying to hit that part of his anatomy facing them. Being fairly skinny this was quite difficult but I did notice that a higher percentage of kicks went through than normal. Does this mean that when Joe is having a shot for goal a teammate will assume the MAD position to help focus his accuracy? I think this drill has moved the wheelie bin to second place.
While I’m on a theme we had three players doing push-ups for mistakes - I haven’t seen this since Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. (Incidentally she would be great in the MAD drill wouldn’t she.
Now to the regular report.
Training in cool windy conditions on the McCracken 0val.
Kommer was absent but Stanton did some running and Fletch just kind of hung around looking wistful at not being invited to play with the youngsters. (1 to 4 age group again).
Hepple and Brown did some running and looked ok.
Tagliatelle (Hambo spelt it for me) and Tippa trained today. Tip pay looks all at sea at first but improved as the session went on. This will please his fans.
There was talk about Connor’s kicks hanging too long in the air so I paid attention to this and noticed that his short passes appeared ok but two of his longer kicks were high and looping. Incidentally he did a good smother in a keepings off drill and his Irish smile was wider than Luna Park.
Much of the emphasis today was on precise passing and moving the ball quickly down the ground. This group needs a lot more work here as there was too much sideways ball movement at times. Surprisingly on one occasion Joe made a good lead directly to centre half forward and the player with the ball honoured it with a good long pass while the coach near him was screaming “go wide” which was inappropriate. Decision making is also part of the problem with a tendency at times to kick the ball around the fifty metre attacking arc rather than forwards finding space within the arc and leading up at the player with the ball.
However it’s early days yet and I must balance this by saying that I saw a number of excellent passages of play.
Joe and Ambrose were both prominent today, Steinberg did well and Hams is firing very well at this stage along with Gleeson.
I believe the recruiters are very pleased with the signing of Cooney and there is some hope that Lloydy will coach Joe with his goal kicking.
Is tagliatelle his real name?
I don't see Conor's kicking as an issue, a lot of the other players kicks hang in the air.
blah blah blah Tippa blah blah blah
Tippa.
Love the MAD drill .
Well done jackie
was tiff there?
Love the MAD drill .
Well done jackie
was tiff there?
I'd be disappointed if we don't start getting Tiff reports on the Wednesday sessions
Thanks Jackie.
Wonderful report. Vivid.
They should make the MAD drill easier. Get Vlad on the goal line.
' I haven't seen this since Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. (Incidentally she would be great in the MAD drill wouldn't she.'
WSPHU, don't think she is doing much now a days. :)
How’s Edwards going Jackie ?
Hey you wrote down Tagliabue :lol:
They should make the MAD drill easier. Get Vlad on the goal line.
This would return us to our soft tissue injury pandemic as all of our players ping their hamstrings for trying to kick the ■■■■ out of the ball.
The MAD drill...Lloyd having an influence already.
sorry I couldn't read my own handwriting.Hey you wrote down Tagliabue :lol:
How's Edwards going Jackie ?
He's being used a lot in defence and was on Joe for some of the time today. I think he is going ok but I haven't noticed his turn of speed or goal kicking skills so far in this pre season.
was tiff there?
I'd be disappointed if we don't start getting Tiff reports on the Wednesday sessions
Tiffany says "hi" to everyone and says that you should be able to read about her and see pictures early next yea
Now to the regular report.
Training in cool windy conditions on the McCracken 0val.
Hepple and Brown did some running and looked ok.
Tagliatelle (Hambo spelt it for me..) and Tippa trained today. Tip pay looks all at sea at first but improved as the session went on. This will please his fans.
Did he also spell Hepple? ;)
I was a backman because my kicking for goal was average but field kicking was quite good. One day my coach put me forward because of necessity and told me "don't kick for goal but pass it to someone in the crowd behind the goals". Worked a treat as I obviously had some sub-conscious issue with kicking specifically for goals.
Finished that day with 6.1
Sounds like the MAD drill could be along similar lines. Plus, adds a bit of fun into it
M.A.D