Training Wednesday 10 April

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
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Went out to Tullamarine for a bit of look.
When I arrived match simulation / practice was in full swing. Below are a few observations, for what they are worth.
If a training thread already exists my apologies. Feel free to merge.

Both Hooker and Daniher took part in their respective positions without any apparent impediment or problem. I noticed how vocal JD is in encouraging others during the session.
Draper was opposed to TBC for the match practice and in other drills later on and he beat him in almost every contest, both in the air and when the ball hit the ground. I was surprised how mobile Draper is. He even out manoeuvred TBC with his body to take the better position. Canā€™t be far off. Maybe Draper was going flat out and TBC going at half pace.
Zach Merret received a wack in the face in a pack contest and was on his haunches for a while and received attention from a trainer. I was impressed that Heppel made his way over from about 70 meters away to check him out and give him a pat on the back. Good stuff. Merrett left the field for ten minutes and returned to resume training, so no problem. (Heppellā€™s left leg was heavily strapped, but he trained without apparent discomfort)
Always a worry with match practice and the potential for injury, but good that they were going in hard.
Sheil dominated in the packs, emerging with the pill regularly. Parish also was lively.
First time Iā€™ve seen Mosquito. Talller than I thought and will certainly fill out. I was impressed with how very quick he is over the short distance.
Begley is certainly an impressive build. Very strong. In the tacking / wrestling drill later in the session, no one in his group could get him to ground. Redman was also impressive going 5-0 up like Begley. When they went one on one it was a bit of a line ball as they hit the turf together.
McKenna and Saad worked well in the practice with their pace and dash.
McKernan was walking around and didnā€™t appear to be limping, but only going at a gentle pace. Didnā€™t see Mutch out there. A couple of the injured list players trained on the second oval.

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Did you notice where Hooker trained? Cal Twomey reporting that he spent time training with the forwards.

All back to front in Hookerā€™s likely return


Callum Twomey

Apr 10, 2019 10:42AM

The Bomber leaders who ā€˜stood upā€™

ESSENDON will consider using Cale Hooker as a forward this week as the All Australian defender returns from a calf injury.

Although Bombers coach John Worsfold stopped short of confirming the 30-year-old would be picked to face Brisbane on Saturday at the MCG, Hooker is expected to face the Lions despite having not played a senior game so far this season.

The Bombers have been hit by injuries to their key forward ranks, with Shaun McKernan suffering a long-term hamstring tear in last weekā€™s win over Melbourne.

Spearhead Joe Daniher, also recovering from a calf injury, isnā€™t expected to be available until round five, leaving Worsfold to assess the possibilities in the front half this week.

Mitch Brown kicked five goals at VFL level last week and is also a chance to come in to the side. ā€œWeā€™ve got a few options to consider,ā€ Worsfold said on Wednesday.

During training on Wednesday, Hooker flipped between forward and defensive roles in the clubā€™s match simulation drills.

Brisbane will enter the game unbeaten, with recruit Lachie Neale starring through its midfield.

The former Docker has averaged 38 disposals across his first three weeks as a Lion, including a 15-clearance effort against Port Adelaide last week.

Essendon does not usually deploy a hard tag on the oppositionā€™s most damaging midfielder, with Worsfold saying the Bombers needed to nut out a plan to limit Nealeā€™s influence.

ā€œOur midfield group took on one of the best midfield groups last weekend and performed really well, so weā€™re really confident that weā€™ll take on Brisbaneā€™s midfield and match them with the same intensity we threw at Melbourne last weekend,ā€ he said.

ā€œ[Nealeā€™s] had an outstanding start and his last few years have been outstanding as a top-line midfielder.ā€

Essendon broke the shackles against Melbourne last week, booting 20 goals Ć¢ā‚¬ā€œ more than the combined 14 they had managed in the opening fortnight of the season.

The Bombers were encouraged to play on instinct and in an attacking fashion, but Worsfold didnā€™t agree his side was still better placed when playing an offensive game style.Ƃ

ā€œMelbourne kicked 18 goals, which was disappointing for us, but it was from 22 shots. With the amount of inside-50s they had (63 to Essendonā€™s 53 entries), the defenders defended that really well to let them only have 22 shots at goal,ā€ he said.

ā€œWeā€™ve spoken a lot about it. We need to improve in all aspects of our game to become one of the top threats in the competition.ā€

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Did Francis train freely?

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Francis was out there in the match practice and looked ok to me. He took part in the other drills also.

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you see Francis running around here with Joey - looks ok

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Thank you! Been hanging out for some training news. TBC v Draper very interesting.

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Draper

BRING HIM IN

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I donā€™t want to do an injustice to TBC, but on what I saw Draper was generally more impressive on this occasion. TBC did win the tap once or twice but that was about it.

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Thanks dontildeath, great report!

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Belly is cooked

Where did hooker train?

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so TBC plays the way he trains?

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3 of our best mids will be required to match Lachie Neales clearances. He did that against the likes of Boak, Gray, Ebert, and Wines. Think Mitchell in his Brownlow year.

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When I got there he was training on the backline.

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Or maybe TBC has only one pace these days. Draper should be brought in, big Tom is not 100% fit.

Any news of how Gleeson trained?

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Any news on Zac Clarke, was he training?
or was it just Draper and Big Bell

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On there shoulders?

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Did Joey appear hungover after his ā€œbenderā€?

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we looked lively
we will win

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Predicted this when Luey retired, Bellchambers only plays well when he has competition for the no.1 spot.

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couldnā€™t have said it better myself.

Slowest ruckman around the ground in the AFL. Bring in Draps!

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