Training Report - Wed 7th December 2023

[kingofthehill]

Awesome report. Thanks

[Captain_Jack]

Wow! That was an outstanding report, way more than l was hoping for. Many insights given, real nuggets of info. Thanks for your service in our regard, and thanks also to the other training observers for the effort. Fanbloodytastic effort.

[beastie]

We didn’t get a Nackers report here… have we lost him your pay only site?

[Shelton10]

I think quality and quantity are equally important. We have been notoriously less fit and less strong than the best teams for years. The only way to improve that is not by doing a little high-quality training, but by doing a lot of high-quality training.

I agree with you and @Ian_Curtis about the goal kicking. It’s that moving off the line in the last few strides of the run-in that gets me. Time and again we see a player doing all the right things in the preparation, standing square-on to the goal, beginning the run-in going directly towards goal, then in the last step or two or three move right off that line and try and hook the ball towards the goal – and miss. Surely when they are practising, the coaches should be correcting this. Set up a video camera so they can be shown what they’re doing and make them keep practising till they run straight in all the way and kick straight through the ball. That’s what all the best goal kickers have always done.

[j_w]

For those who have been attending training, any thoughts on BDB?

Vocal / quiet? Involved / observing? Jovial with the players / serious? Etc etc

[CJohns]

No i just think he chooses when to write a report.

[Kingston_Town]

Quick question to those closer to training… is Redman becoming a Goddard clone?
Gee, I hope so!

[samwoods]

Hide the pretzels!!!

[bobo]

Cue Heppell shaking his head with a wry grin in memory

[Glu]

Zerk was usually at the front, and in the medium distance runs, he’d sprint and strain to get to the front of the pack, and do his utmost to stay there. You could see the effort on his face. He doesn’t accept anything less than the best from himself.

[Jake_Brady_10]

I have similar thoughts. Him, massimo, perkins, menzie are the four i have to leap

[Bomb_Doe]

@Shelton10

I think quality and quantity are equally important. We have been notoriously less fit and less strong than the best teams for years. The only way to improve that is not by doing a little high-quality training, but by doing a lot of high-quality training.

I didn’t mean to suggest quantity isn’t important. It very much is as you point out.

The real point I wanted to make is that long sessions with poor execution is not going to improve us.
That quality has to be a key standard.

Agree - a lot of high-quality training is best outcome.

[bullishish]

Thx. You got it!

Also, there’s too much “standing around”. Heaps of opportunity to pick up a loose ball and work on your ball skills

Laverde and Stringer sitting in the middle of the ground just watching the match sim the worst of it

[bullishish]

Was no one supervising or coaching the goal kicking. Just line up, wait for 10 others to shoot, watch 9 miss and then have a go yourself,. Miss, turn around and miss again. Few exceptions e.g. Langford, Walla

[Loflyer]

Where’s the wheelie bin? Don Bradman with a wicket and a golf ball. Jeez, accuracy is everything.

[Zimmer]

@Tyler

Seems pretty standard to me, if anything Id expect them to push for more time off.

I think it’s fine but a bit of a worry that certain players will undo the good work they’ve done so far. Hopefully, the discipline is there with the new coach.

[Bomb_Doe]

You want /expect the coaches to go back and assess the session and identify the good and poor parts, and use that info for subsequent training sessions. So, if goal kicking process was poor then decide what’s needed to fix it at individual and group level.

[Deckham]

@Ian_Curtis

I ventured out to Tulla today and enjoyed the grasslands on the non-hangar side whilst watching about 90 mins of training. I will sign any member petition to have seating installed on this side of the ground, a ridiculous oversight by the club. Enough of that.

Just to add a couple of observations to the terrific reports already:

• Massimo was a real standout for me today. His kicking is such a weapon and gee he’s in good condition. In a half field drill where the boys were split in two teams, he carved up from half back opening up play multiple times with precise bullet passes that reach their targets so quickly. He then showed his rising fitness levels by following up and sprinting to be another option. I think we have a real player here. He did get nailed by 2.03m at one stage trying to evade him which was entertaining.
• Redman is rising as a real captaincy option for me. He is clearly one to raise standards and call out teammates if something isn’t done properly, which he did during a goal kicking drill where his group had missed 11/12 shots from a 60 degree angle (more on that later). He stood out to me because I didn’t really notice it from Zach and Andy who would naturally be the next likely skipper options I guess.
• Alwyn Davey showed a glimpse of something really special. They were doing a drill in a group of about 8 or 9 players on the forward flank where there would be a contested ball 4 on 2 then delivering to a target inside 50. Davey gathered the ball, faked left then right, pulled off a don’t argue and just glided through a gap and hit the target with the outside of his boot. Hepp got over to him and was pumped. Again it was just a glimpse, but gee I was impressed.
• Munkara was just doing goalkicking as others have mentioned, and I totally agree with everything said. He has this pure fluency when he kicks that is just so natural. He is going to be such an interesting watch for all of us as he continues to build fitness.
• Caldwell really does look in exceptional condition. He is on restricted training but has added a little bit of size and just looks super fit. Excited to see what he produces when he integrates into full training.
• Zerk has been the pick of the defenders for me so far. Positioning is good in the contest and he is more assured with ball in hand, a criticism i’ve had of him previously. Also has that Rance like desperation to impact a contest when you think he is no chance to get there and just gets a late bump or fist in.
• Perkins looks like an AFL player now. In great condition and has put on some size as well. I’m pretty bullish on him being our breakout player if he is given enough midfield opportunity, kind of like Parish did.
• Overall it was good to see a lift in the running program. Hope they continue to flog the players to the brink in this regard. That was a damning outcome from the external review and we have to play a lot of catch up to match the best sides. Some good shuttle runs and interval type running today which is good to see. I’m on Sean Murphy watch as I was surprised to see him retained after the review.
• Tackling was good today and a few players were nailed trying to evade in the half field drill mentioned earlier. I hope Scott instils some mongrel into this team and tackling for me has to improve from this year, so it’s good to see what I think is some progress.

In terms of things I thought could do with some improvement:

• Goalkicking as noted earlier was pretty ordinary from where I was standing today. Whilst it is great to see them actually doing goalkicking, I reckon I saw 4/30 players kick the goal from the flank where I was right behind. Leigh Tudor came across at one stage and gave some advice on being square with the shoulders when kicking, but then each player would just spray them and didn’t really care. I guess I’m probably expecting too much, but it would be great to see a coach come over and chat with the group immediately and then send out the players to tweak their technique or routine to deliver a better outcome. An example is the players swinging the ball from side to side as they approach and then running out to the side instead of straight at the goal. Every time I saw a player doing this they missed. I know it happens a lot and i’m no coach, but goalkicking accuracy is a real bugbear of mine and annoys the ■■■■ out of me tbh so I’d like to see this done with real purpose at training. Voss was probably the worst at goalkicking today which doesn’t bode too well if we plan to play him as a forward. Didn’t watch much VFL last year so don’t know if it was an issue at all with him.
• I think more broadly it’s noticeable that this team is very young, which they are, and to me needs strong leadership. I noted last week about wanting to see more of a steely resolve and this remains a key improvement i’d like to see develop over pre-season. Good to see Redman stand out for wanting to raise standards but i’d like to see more of this across the group. I want to feel like i’m witnessing a team with a point to prove next year and leave the jokes and shithousery for the locker room. We need strong leaders to emerge to build strong standards that will be so important to instil good habits into young players that hopefully leads to sustained success.

Overall I thought it was a good session with plenty of positives to take out. Looking forward to coming back in the new year to see what progress they have made with Scott having had his feet under the desk a little longer. The match sim training will be an interesting watch for sure.

I’m sorry - missed your Patreon advertisement here - would you post it again?

[Humble_NSW_Fan]

Every year at preseason time a Blitz hero is uncovered. A superhero, capable of writing exceptional training reports.

Welcome and thank you @Ian_Curtis .

[Hotrodd]

thanks king