Great report JM!
I reckon there's a lot of Sam Mitchell in Zach Merrett.
eeewwwwww
IN: PEARS!
Sounds like Carlisle will be back forward with hurley returning.
Well, if it ain't broke...
Pears is a good player and once he gets his body right and his CONFIDENCE will be starting 18.
Just won't be this year.
Great report thanks JM
who won the Pears - Steinberg contest?
Training in cool overcast conditions at Tullamarine.
Absent Watson, Gleeson.
There was a different dynamic at training today with Watson's absence as he is very vocal and almost a coach in his own right at these sessions.
The atmosphere today was spirited and very vocal. e.g. At a paired contested marking drill between Hurley and Carlisle they actually started with a lengthy standing wrestle before Carlisle attempted to mark and Hurley to strip the ball. The contest ended with players cheering and clapping which was pretty much the tone today. Pears' fans will be pleased to hear he participated in full training today his opponent in the triple contested marking drill being Steinberg which indicates they still have thoughts of turning him into a forward.p
Fletcher did the first part of training then ran laps for the rest. He looks okay to me and my guess is that they wanted to guard against him rolling his ankle again in the match play.
The majority of training was on the McCracken oval and the early sessions were involved in honing skills especially kicking and quick ball movement in order to counter Melbourne's possession game. The idea was to thread the way through with precise kicking. When Kav hand balled instead of kicking he was chided by Zaharakis "that was hopeless Kav." There was great emphasis in this drill on wheeling quickly and making quick decisions. Bomber emphasised that a kick wasn't a good kick when the recipient had to wait for the ball. "That's not acceptable make him come onto the ball." In my opinion its pleasing to see an emphasis on kicking the ball rather than avoiding responsibility by laying off a meaningless hand pass.
Cale Hooker plays number one hundred on Sunday which I'm sure everyone would agree is a great effort. Cale is arguably our most improved player and I was interested to see that he has changed his running gait in the sprints incorporating a high knee action - watch for it on Sunday. Actually it reminded me of Ronnie Andrews but without his high elbow lift. Someone told me there was a big article on him in the Sun today and that he has a new running coach.
If he can improve his speed that would be great.
There was a lot of goal kicking practice today, set shots and snap shots and the two main groups of players were rotated through the Clarke Oval for intensive kicking practice. It seems that there has been a change of thinking amongst the fitness staff when goal kicking practice was limited for fear of quad and hamstring injuries.
Bomber came back to the handball versus kicking issue later in the session berating the players with "why is it going sh..house? People are hand balling to people under pressure - kick it!" Hard to disagree with that.
I haven't said much about Raynor this year - he is making steady progress as a link player and kicked a lovely curling goal at the airport end today and might be a chance next year with a bit more experience under his belt.
However the player who stood out for me today was Zac Merrett. We all know about his quality disposal but what impressed me today was his ability to weave through traffic and deliver precisely to Ryder on the lead. Gleeson weaves and baulked very well but in a different way to Zac who has a low centre of gravity and crouches low when running in packs (which I have been told was how Dickie Reynolds used to run) but with eyes raised looking ahead for the opening for his rapier like disposal. I suggest he might get some more time in the middle with Watson out. Remember "Twins" with Danny DiVito and Arnold Schartzenegger well we have our rising star twins with Joe Daniher and Zac Merrett.
Trained well, atmosphere sans Watson very upbeat so they should give a good account of themselves against Melbourne.
Reynolds - Hutchison - whatever, i will take either one.
4:15 - 6:34 marks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlBmrZc0Kf0
What I love about Zerret is his ability to force the forwards to make a lead and run to his kick and make them get in front of their target.
That kick he did for Ryder I think it was against Gold Coast was pure brilliance
What I love about Zerret is his ability to force the forwards to make a lead and run to his kick and make them get in front of their target.
That kick he did for Ryder I think it was against Gold Coast was pure brilliance
brisbane, but, kicks to the space and draws the forward.
Thank you. I really enjoyed reading this as I was just in the ASADA thread.
Love the reports, thanks JM.
(iirc Rotten Ronnie had a high elbow lift even when he wasn't running)
Which Blizer was going donuts on the ovals..
Hoons rip up Bombers' turf
Posted by: 3AW News | 20 June, 2014 - 12:08 PM
Essendon's training ground has been damaged by hoons performing burnouts.
The centre square on the club's secondary ground has been badly damaged, with tyre marks and sand now visible.
Despite the damage, players have had a quick run on it this morning.
Sports reporter Sam McClure told Neil Mitchell the tyre marks are "severe".
It is believed police are now investigating.
LISTEN: Sam McClure reports from the scene
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Probably a scum supporter in a fully sick commodore…
WILSON: INNOCENT ZAKA STRIKES OUT
WILSON: INNOCENT ZAKA STRIKES OUT
Essendon cybernetics dungeon experimenting with attaching PEW to players feet.
Wilson: James Hird's Drug friends get revenge by doing burnouts on AIS Paralympic Oval.