The boys started early , and I was a bit late. Result; I missed most of the full ground match drills. But a couple of others were there, so expect some info.
What followed were small group drills. Some did stoppages. Some focused on kicking to the advantageous side of one-on-one contests. These then morphed into a structured, extended goal kicking session. Players were rotated through stations at various angles, taking multiple set shots, and two stations on the flanks required goal kicking on the run. It all then wound up with long range torpedoes , which seemed optional.
A few quick thoughts;
I suspect the two “squads” - vests and jumpers- have been kept pretty constant through preseason. The two sides I saw on Monday seemed to be replicated fairly closely today.
I expect Zach to play senior footy early. Has a good low centre of gravity and “sniffs” out the ground ball well. Compact, efficient and as mentioned a lot uses the footy well with minimal time.
Aylett is a good size. Drilled some nice goals in the running task.
Colyer, bags and Dell all kicked some impressive torps from a long way out.
Chappy seems very popular.
Edwards seems to have a good understanding of body positioning.
The goal kicking focus was the longest I have seen since sheeds was coach.
Hepp looked far more sprightly than on Monday.
Not sure I wil bother with pics, certainly didn’t take the quantity I did on Monday.
A relaxed but specifically targeted session from the half I saw.
Cheers Sal.
Do the Vests V Jumpers squads seem to indicate Seniors V Reserves? Or is it just evenly spread?
Thanks Sal. Love your work.
Thanks Sal. Legend.
I would say jumpers contain more likeleys in general areas, with key defensive /forward matchups tuned to ensure the right players get suitable opponents. That’s just in very broad terms, not specific.
Jackie and karma will hopefully be able to add something re the early match stuff.
Bomba was back at the helm today. He and Jobe had some long convo’s whilst the drills were going on.
And now I’ve gotta do some work. Cop you all later
Not sure I wil bother with pics, certainly didn't take the quantity I did on Monday.
Ha, good one.
Some focused on kicking to the advantageous side of one-on-one contests.
something we have been poor at for a while, particularly when kicking long to one on ones. hope we get it sorted.
And now I've gotta do some work. Cop you all later
You mean providing VFL and training reports isn't your real job?
Thanks for the report none the less.
Training in mild, smokey conditions at Tullamarine.
The following players were absent or in the modified group:
Bell chambers, Goddard, Myers, Melksham, Hams, Dalgleish, Pears, Dempsey.
Training took place on the McCracken oval and the two hour session reflected the pattern of tapering off before the Nab Cup which we saw on Monday but the standard was higher in the practice match today. I suppose the benefit of the sloppy play on Monday was that Bomber had a good opportunity to see who was capable of following the game plan and who wasn’t.
There were several interesting drills today.
- Moving from behind the mark.
A wooden shill outta was set up on the mark and the player taking the kick was thrown the ball and had to move back quickly to pass the ball off. A player standing behind the mark had to lead quickly to left or right at about 45 degrees to make position for the kick calling loudly “corridor” or “wide” to show the kicker where to go. On receiving the ball he wheeled and goaled or passed off. This quick ball movement would be useful in congested situations.
- Ruck play at stoppages.
A single ruck man would have to tap the ball to one of three or four midfielders covered by an equal number of defenders. Code numbers “1” or “4” etc would be called out to indicate who was to receive and who was to block and the receiver had to call loudly to the ruck man whose would be looking up in the air
at the ball so that he knew where to direct it.
It was interesting to see Thurlow in this drill with Watson “better touch, nice and soft” and Craig “soft hands, soft hands so that when it hits the deck it doesn’t run away from them.”
Craig is proving a real asset with his extensive football knowledge being used again and again in individual teaching situations. As for Thurlow I thought today was one of his best training sessions so far and I think he is gaining confidence and getting the hang of things.
Whilst I’m handing out bouquets Watson and Fletcher are training very well at present and Fletcher in particular has stepped up a notch from his early sessions.
Zac Merret continues to impress with his disposal skills and should play senior football this year. I suspect he was worthy of a much earlier draft pick than we took him with which is a credit to the recruiting staff.
The following sixteen players were all in the same team for the sixteen a side practice match. Bearing in mind the players who didn’t play today I list them without further, comment: Ryder, Watson, Chapman, Hooker, Hurley, Baguley, Hibbert, Daniher, Fletcher, Carlisle, Heppell, Colyer, Zaharakis, Jetta, Browne, Winderlich.
The practice match was fascinating as play was stopped after each passage and the coaches directed the players at length as to where they needed to be. The players themselves were very vocal in these discussions we’ll led by Jobe. It is somewhat difficult to convey to you the complexity of these sessions but there is a very detailed plan and the players who are selected will be the ones who can implement it.
It was encouraging to see the session end with extensive goal kicking practice from a variety of angles and distances. The accuracy of this session strongly emphasised the low value of set shots from deep in the forward pocket which probably surprises no one here.
Odds on Zach playing more games than Jackson this year?
Thanks Jackie, all seems on track for the premiership.
Thanks Jackie. Good to get back to footy again.
"Zac Merret continues to impress with his disposal skills and should play senior football this year. I suspect he was worthy of a much earlier draft pick than we took him with which is a credit to the recruiting staff."
This is good because we should have got a much earlier pick for Crameri.
What we going to call him ...ZACHA?
Thanks Jackie.
Anyone know if anything is up with Myers?
Odds on Zach playing more games than Jackson this year?
It's the Waugh brothers all over again.
Thanks Jackie. Good to get back to footy again.
"Zac Merret continues to impress with his disposal skills and should play senior football this year. I suspect he was worthy of a much earlier draft pick than we took him with which is a credit to the recruiting staff."
This is good because we should have got a much earlier pick for Crameri.
Yeah this still irks me.
Good job Jackie you the man.
Thanks Jackie.
Anyone know if anything is up with Myers?
He was a bit "Backy"
It sounds like dempsey has been in the modified group a LOT this pre season.how much full training has he actually done?