First session I’d seen under the Woosha regime on a fairly overcast morning at Tulla and there was certainly a strange atmosphere compared to what I had experienced every other time in the past.
Thinking of how hyped we and everyone around the club would be at this time of year normally with more and more match practice coming into training really rams the point home as to how completely farked this situation is, as it was exceptionally hard to muster any excitement about what this team will be able to manage based on today.
Not to say we will be winless and nothing will be gained, but we are certainly pushing up ■■■■ creek as far as wins and losses go (as we all know) and excitement is most likely only going to come from individual performers and not our look as a football side (again, as expected.)
As Jackie said the main drill was a fairly soft match simulation primarily focused on ball movement, with the boundary lines brought in by about 10 minutes down the length of the ground presumably to improve ball movement in more confined spaces.
As a collective, the skills were completely shizen and our movement going forward is absolutely horrendous. Nothing new. Without knowing what sort of load they’re in and what coaches are asking a lot of the players seemed very relaxed when personally I would think greater intensity would be just what the doctor ordered. Anyway, this drill went on for what seemed like two hours with some slight variation before the group split into their lines and fiddled around with simple things with nothing of note before groups split into running and boxing.
Positives are important though and don’t get me wrong there definitely are some.
Orazio has pace and will need to use it. Will be one of our most important players this year if he can get it to click as probably the key line breaker.
Zakka looks as good as I’ve ever seen him, looked like he was really trying to set the tone on the track and probably got the three votes on the day. Trademark receive at 60, run to 50 and straight through the middle at the Airport End at one point brought a smile.
The Langford is looking exceptionally fit and really strong. Ran Longy and Irish off their legs in the running drill the three of them were doing and is going to be a very very good player. Side note but was interested in one of the intervals of this drill when Irish and Longy had hands on hips and Langers had his hands on his head Justin Crow piped up with “Get your hands down off your head, our body language has to be strong.”
Kommer is fit and going well, sight of him working one on one with fitness staff late on by making two or three leads to an imaginary kicker whilst screaming for the ball before doubling back to goal to crumb the footy thrown by the coach was quite funny when he would abuse the imaginary kicker for not honouring his lead. Good character for the group.
Of the others, Hartley will get some bags kicked on him if he’s thrown in to the deep end but is a solid footballer and a good pick up. Luey is running laps which is something, Joey will have a tough year unless he pulls out plenty of individual brilliance, Yestin had a bit of it, Gach spent an hour on the bike, Francis and Redman did a few drills on the Etihad oval along with some laps and I didn’t notice Laverde, Gleeson or Edwards but my eyes are farked so they might have hidden up the far end.
Of the top ups spent a lot of time watching Kelly and Grimley who will both be serviceable. Kelly spent a minute or two talking to 5 or 6 of the young mids after a drill at one point which was good to see, the experience of a three time premiership player will be invaluable. Crowley looks so happy to be here and appreciated the effort of me and a mate for coming down to watch. Not sure if Stokes was out there.
Could ramble on so will answer any questions as best I can but to summarise I think Jackies mention of the ‘holding pattern’ situation we are in is ultimately the best way to describe it at the minute. I did find myself thinking half way through that if the skills and movement clicked, we could be fairly competitive… and even if they don’t we’ll still beat Carlton twice.