OK a bit more about the session today.
It started at 10.00 sharp and went for 2 hours with all the players off the track by 12.00. It was quite warm, about 28 degrees by midday with a breeze but not as strong as it sometimes gets.
It certainly wasn’t a flat out session, more of a first day back easing everyone back in.
None of the modified group looked particularly hampered, Gleeson I noted showed no signs at all of his injury and moved very well, as did Begley. I also couldn’t see anything particularly wrong with Daniher but I really didn’t spend too long watching any of the modified group very much.
Smack was with the main group for the entire session and looked very good, he seemed completely recovered from his hamstring.
A number of players left after 45-60 minutes, most of the modified group along with Smith (who didn’t join in any drills or the modified group) Shiel and Stewart.
At one stage different groups of players rotated through where Ben Rutten was taking a drill near the boundary line, near where I was standing. It was very interesting hearing him give a very detailed explanation of what he wanted the players to do. There was an attacking player running near the boundary with a tackling bag and the defender had to tackle him and attempt to force him over the boundary. It sounds simple but he gave very clear, concise and very technical details of exactly how he wanted the players to go about. I was very impressed with his communication and the depth of detail. If that’s an example I think we may have picked up an excellent line coach here.
It was great to see Shiel out there, nothing much to report except at one stage he sprinted forward in a drill and I was very surprised at how fast and smooth he moved.
A few impression of the conditions of some of the players:
- Gleeson didn’t look like he had bulked up particularly, the same with Begley.
- Francis, Stringer and Hartley all look is if they have shed weight around the midriff. Francis in particularly looks terrific, he looks much more athletic than in the past. We may have to order a lot more carriages for the bandwagon.
- Bellchambers looks very big and Draper is now a very solidly built lad.
A few other players who have noticeably bulked up:
- McGrath, Parish, Zerrett, Fanta, Ridley, Stewart, Laverde, Guelfi, Saad and McKenna
- The most noticeable to me though was Myers, much bigger around the shoulders and biceps and with a very slim torso.
Lastly a little thing I noticed on one of the training boards, and I don’t think I’m giving away too many trade secrets here, but players numbers were written into groups of forwards, mids and backs. Ridley and Guelfi were among the mids group and Long was in the backs.
