Training Thursday 11 Jan 2024, and other gibberish

[Drapersmullet]

@MattPocock18

Today’s drills were designed around defenstive structure in the forward half, trying to keep the ball in the forward 50. A couple of times, Stanton stopped the drill because the ‘defence’ switched the ball too easily and were able to escape, Stanton asked the team ‘what’s wrong, where are we positioned?’ He asked a player to explain what the probelm was, and the purpose.

@MattPocock18

the group got told off a couple of times for stopping and allowing the defence to get the bal out, or not spreading when the attackers were about to score, but pleasingly they battled through the fatigue and did well

@MattPocock18

I am pleased to say that Elijah’s kicking technique looks more simple. He seems to have stopped dropping his hip when he kciks, it looks more textbook.

[Dunnybrush]

@MattPocock18

Training on another gloriously warm summer’s morn. Much smaller group today with some KPP’s not partaking, namely Stringer, Wright, Hunter, McKay, Cox and Reid. Given all are coming back from injuries of some sort, and they all look in pretty good nick, I don’t think there’s cause for alarm. None of the draftees were present, apparently they were there early, and they then went of to an AFL education seminar. Wanganeen came out towards the end, as did Shiel. Shiel started some light jogging. Draper had a very light session, mainly practicing kicking with Rath. I’ll discuss that a little further later.

Today’s drills were designed around defensive structure in the forward half, trying to keep the ball in the forward 50. A couple of times, Stanton stopped the drill because the ‘defence’ switched the ball too easily and were able to escape, Stanton asked the team ‘what’s wrong, where are we positioned?’ He asked a player to explain what the probelm was, and the purpose. He callled on Langford, who seemed to know what he was talking about and explained well. It’s a difficult drill to judge, because it was designed to be done at about 50% intensity, and was stopped when even one player went higher than that, because it put things out of sync. Hopefully the 50% intensity isn’t transferred into matches. There were some intercepts by the forwards, but also as I said, some good switches to escape the zone. Work in progress, I guess. One player I did notice well in the drill was JDavey, some reallly good pressure to harrass and affect kicks. One kick from Durham from the back flank to the corridoor was millimetre perfect to ADavey. If it weren’t it would have been intercepted. I like the boldness, especially if Davey can get behind the defence and use his pace.

After that, the group split into three, one of small forwards, one of midfielders, who seemed to be doing tackling work, trying the break tackles to keep hands free to give off handpasses, and boundary stoppages, and one of KPP up the other end (sorry, I couldn’t see who was there, I was pre-occupied with the small forwards), but there seemed to be a focus on 1v1 marking contests. In each group, the intestity was much stronger than in previous seasons, where I feel players have at times gone through the motions.

The small forward group included ADavey, JDavey, Gresham, Menzie and Hind (guessing they still want to have the flexibility of using Hind as a forward if they feel the need). It was often 2x 1v1 grappling for the footy, trying to get the ball off each other. The other one would do rapid fire groundballs (clean hands) with a development coach.
Then they would compete in a 3v2 (3 forwards, 2 backs) with a high ball coming in, one forward and one defender would compete, bring the ball to ground, and then the other 2v1 would either try to get the ball to the spare on the outside to score a goal, or if the defender got it, try to keep the ball in. They’d run into the hangar, run back out there again and repeat the rotation. It was getting towards the end of a long session, and they were starting to fatigue, especially the Daveys, and the group got told off a couple of times for stopping and allowing the defence to get the bal out, or not spreading when the attackers were about to score, but pleasingly they battled through the fatigue and did well. The Daveys are still a bit behind on endurance, but not too much of a concern, being their second year and all. I was pleased with those two especially for fighting through the fatugue. Jayden cramped up, and kept going. Good lad.

I stayed when I saw Tsatas coming out to do some kick to kick with Rath. I am pleased to say that Elijah’s kicking technique looks more simple. He seems to have stopped dropping his hip when he kicks, it looks more textbook. He does get right to left swing on his kicks, and missed a few early ones, but there was one kick he did which was great because you could hear Rath shouting “YES! YES! YES!”. Rath was pausing after every kick to give feedback, and at one stage Tsatas was giving his own feedback, gestuing a kicking action where he was moving to the side and kicking around his body a little (it could be that that’s the sort of kick he was having trouble with). A work in progress, no doubt, but its pleasing to see progress being made.

Just on Rath, I’m really pleased the club has committed the resources to allow him to work 1 on 1 with players that need his help (Draper, Tsatas, Parish etc.). It’s great for their development that eh can do one on one, becuase each player has a different need to fix their kicking. He seems very knowledgable in terms of the feedback he was giving each of the players and how to help them improve. Drapes did a similar kick to kick, his ball drop was looking a lot better, and at large his action and actual look a lot smoother (but again, a work in progress).

That’s all from me, I think I need to use the sun shades I complained about for so long, I’m a bit burnt. All in all, I thought it was a good session.

Awesome report, thanks mate.

[dambuster]

TLDR

[stir_fried_ewok]

POCOCK.
you magnificent bastard.

[MattPocock18]

Training was good and Tsatas can kick now. Davey got tired but gutsed it out.

[CJohns]

Brilliant report Matt

[localbomber]

I miss the Stringer is Fat, Cox is Laconic and Lazy, Jones just doesn’t try hard enough and Tsatas can’t kick training reports.
Oh well.
Thanks anyway

[Kialla]

Thanks Matt, good info for us to digest and to compare other reports. If you attended any pre-season training last year, how would you compare where you see us in that comparison? Is it moderately or greatly improved and in what areas? Thanks mate!

[sine_nomine]

@MattPocock18

Not when it’s visiting my 97 year old grandmother…

Only if she is a Bomber supporter.

Edit: Thank you Matt.

[MattPocock18]

She actually barracks for…no, I won’t say it.

[HBomb]

Which Blitz Reporters and where at the V.F.L. Training last night that could give a decent report as to the players that where there and how they went Sorry put it in the wrong thred meant to put it in the V.F.L. thred

[JayDon]

For us considering that his form, whatever that is, isn’t up to scratch.
No 100m sprinter or baseball pitcher who reached ultimate standard hasn’t had to refine their technique to achieve greatness.
They don’t blow opposition away at 16 and that just continues is ludicrous. Some however continue to refine and train to improve. Some make it and some don’t. Talent only gets you so far.
Be patient and some will get to the top. We rely on the staff and their own drive to reach those heights.
Let’s hope they do and they are mostly in control of that outcome.

Kobe Bryant’s insane training schedule in high school

[Slappery]

Throw some chairs
Smash some phones

[JayDon]

FWIW back in 2000 we brought this for the whole game every game. In the end teams feared us and we slaughtered them.

I want this attitude this year. No more pushovers like the last 20 years.

Stand corrected but back then Hardwick, Wallis and Soloman had a pact:

“Let’s send someone home in an ambulance!”

All the stuff we talk about on here this is the non negotiable! No-one likes to play us must be number 1!

BIGGEST FIGHTS IN THE AFL 2023

[Odoyle]

It’s just not a thing anymore, with concussion rules etc.

Looking through teams now, is there any team that opposition would really fear for their physical safety? I don’t think there is.

Difficult to play against and uncompromising would be good, but the days of fear are well and truely over and never to return.

It’s contested ball, skill and structure. That’s how you win.

[Bully]

Yep, not one player in the comp i would fear these days.

[MattPocock18]

Interesting question.

Some things have noticeably improved, one is the players agility and power in their change of direction. I’ve felt that this has been an area of weakness for us for a while, especially against the top sides. It’s the difference between switching the play quickly out of a stoppage, or getting caught. I certainly think the experiences at exos may have helped here.

I’ve also liked the increase in intensity when contesting at stoppages or in 1v1 contests. I’ve felt in previous years, we’ve had players that would go through the motions when doing this, and it showed on game day when we’ve get easily outbodied in contests. Players do seem stronger and more powerful this year too, so that’s a plus.

As for the minor side, I’m concerned that we still have holes with our defensive zone. Players seem to know where to stand , but at times aren’t getting there quickly enough, or aren’t sure what to do when something ‘outside the box’ happens, which is where the system falls down. We need players to be able to think, not just be robots. I like when the coaches ask players to explain what went wrong or why we are doing this. There are still times where our skills leave a bit to be desired, but that’s less of an issue for me if they’re making the right choice, as long as it’s not too regular.

For me the biggest change has come from employing David Rath. We are addressing areas that need fixing and need fixing now, not just waiting and hoping they fix themselves naturally. This is good.

[Shelton10]

@MattPocock18

For me the biggest change has come from employing David Rath. We are addressing areas that need fixing and need fixing now, not just waiting and hoping they fix themselves naturally. This is good.

Could not agree more. Kicking has been a glaring deficiency among many of our players for years, and I’ve never been able to understand why any AFL club, especially ours, hasn’t had a specialist kicking coach. Now we have. About bloody time.

[Bombers2013]

I am hearing that all is not well with the appointment of one of our highly priced recruits, lazy trainer and not very popular with the bunch. Hope they can rectify this!

[RTBC]

@Bully

Yep, not one player in the comp i would fear these days.