It says a lot that Daniher hasn’t taken part in full training for at least a month but no media have asked anything.
Looks like JD is being excluded from drills involving strength and changing directions. Doesn’t sound like he’s kicking the ball either. Conclusion (?) … groin ‘soreness’
Thanks Jackie - highlight of my day!
Looks like JD is being excluded from drills involving strength and changing directions. Doesn't sound like he's kicking the ball either. Conclusion (?) ... groin 'soreness'
He had a compression sleeve on his knee in some photos when at the Cerberus camp too.
Looks like JD is being excluded from drills involving strength and changing directions. Doesn't sound like he's kicking the ball either. Conclusion (?) ... groin 'soreness'
Sounds like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, didn’t Francis have it last year? I think its contagious
Nice report as always Jackie.
I went along today and the thing I noticed the most was the amount of drills borrowed from cutting edge soccer and basketball drills. Especially with the five new recruits who started their drill in front of the small crowd of onlookers.
Simple drills with a twist that are supposed to increase reaction time, add elements of randomness and in general lead to quicker cognitive speed. The old adage that muscle memory is the key has been replaced by an understanding that its not muscle but brain speed that is important and that good players with time on their hands are those ones best able to make sense (create order) in a game that offers up random scenarios.
An example of this type of drill is two players facing each other doing quick handballs. The twist is the fact they now use two balls. So one handballs while the other kicks - adding a juggling and judgement element to the basic skill set of hand balling and kicking. The premise is that players learn twice as fast as their brains are working harder pulling all the elements together. (Steph curry dribbling with two balls and even boomer harvey doing his 2 balls wall juggle are similar examples)
Boys practiced changing directions drills (speed and repitition), then one on one space drills and then eventually played small sided, quarter pitch games, made popular in soccer circles, emphasising speed and precision and intensity. Ball could not drop (hit the ground) and the ball needed eventually to be played into one end for a touchdown type pass. Helps with decision making in tight spaces with limited time. You could see the best guys able to make that little bit of space and also hit the mark when under pressure. The benefits of this training show up when they move on to full pitch drill and the extra time and space is just emphasised even more having practiced in such tight quarters.
From the players I would say the following things.
Jobe looks amazing - different body shape - lean. Had to look twice. He looks light on his feet.
McGrath looked great. Hurt his finger at some point - but looks super quick, good kick and overall classy
Dylan Clarke looks in great shape finds room and yes has that high ball drop. The close in drills (small sided intense games will test out his proficiency under pressure. I reckon he will be fine.
Ridley - great kicking action. Needs some beef but looks the goods.
Buddha looks a little out of shape (probably more than any) but still not bad.
Francis - amazing footskills to go with his size. Could be anything…
Baguley - is the new guitarist for the foo fighters
Overall training was upbeat, exciting, intense and all you could ask for.
Im excited for 2017.
JD had wrist surgery in the off season. Not sure if this is part of the reason though.
Great work Jackie, Ben, Alex and all.
JM, just how much work is "The Green" (as opposed to ex-Lion Green) doing at the moment? Thoughts??He is working very hard and is on a specialised programme to gain fitness. I described his specialised forward work on Wednesday.
Sorry, I was being a bit too clever-clogs. I meant Laverde…
Looks like JD is being excluded from drills involving strength and changing directions. Doesn't sound like he's kicking the ball either. Conclusion (?) ... groin 'soreness'He had a compression sleeve on his knee in some photos when at the Cerberus camp too.
Groin soreness all the way down to his knee 
Cheers for the reports, everyone!
Ben,
I suppose you mean "improve or decrease reaction time " ?
"Simple drills with a twist that are supposed to increase reaction time, add elements of randomness and in general lead to quicker cognitive speed. The old adage that muscle memory is the key has been replaced by an understanding that its not muscle but brain speed that is important and that good players with time on their hands are those ones best able to make sense (create order) in a game that offers up random scenarios ".
Thats a benefit for the vast majority of players who dont get that extra amount of time to react, because “time slows down” for them.
Ben, I suppose you mean "improve or decrease reaction time " ?"Simple drills with a twist that are supposed to increase reaction time, add elements of randomness and in general lead to quicker cognitive speed. The old adage that muscle memory is the key has been replaced by an understanding that its not muscle but brain speed that is important and that good players with time on their hands are those ones best able to make sense (create order) in a game that offers up random scenarios ".
Thats a benefit for the vast majority of players who dont get that extra amount of time to react, because “time slows down” for them.
Yes that would be right - well spotted…
Morgan still going well?
Never been so excited. Ridley is the one, boys.
Great report. you had me at “Fartlek”
Jobe still stands out as the leader on the training track, so if you take training as any indication for what will happen on field then IMO Jobe may go around one more season as captain
On a related note, it was good to see in the draftee videos when asked about who the hardest trainers were, the boys reeled off a whole bunch of different names. It’s not just one or two guys leading the way on the track
(from memory Myers, Watson, Heppell, Zerrett, Gleeson and Stants were the names mentioned)
Nice to meet JM today. Thanks for the book.
I watched JD a fair bit today. He is doing a lot of fitness work and seems to be moving unrestricted.
Green was also in the “fitness only” group. Yep they are making him work.
Howlett looks in ripping shape.
Heppell seems the natural leader out there, I.e. More vocal than Jobe.
Laverde does not like to lose any contest. If he does he is back in their face ready to win the next one.
I only get to one or two training sessions per year. This was the most upbeat and positive I have seen for a long time.
Now let’s just hope Coldplay is as good tonight.
How has Stewart been going? He’s the real wildcard in regards to our spine sets up
oh and fridge is absolutely monstrous… without question the beefiest midfielder on our list, has hocking and howlett easily covered