Headed along to training yesterday but didn’t have time to document my notes, so here it goes…
Training in beautiful conditions at “The Hanger”
Absent: Francis, Ridley, Brown and Colyer (I went to a session last week also and didn’t see Brown or Colyer, not sure what is up there)
Modified Group: The usual - Hurls, Joe, Hooker, T-bell, Burger, Raz, Hep, Lav II and Mckenna. All of which seemed ready to go and completed separate drills on the Etihad oval.
Running laps: Saad, Long and Tippa
Draper doing ruck drills with Jamar
First year players doing their own thing, working on skills.
It was a massive session for the boys with the focus continuing on contested drills in small groups. A lot of small sided games with 5 a side trying to get through a maze of players without turning over the ball.
Another drill which I found interesting involved the group split in 2 and both starting in opposite goal squares. 5 players from one side of the ground would take off and proceed to work the ball down the ground between themselves. When they got to the other end, another 5 players would take off to work the ball back up the other way, however this time the first group become defenders with the aim to stop the progress of the 2nd team moving the ball up the field. Teams of 5 would then swap around between attack and defense.
I must say Stringer did stand out in the contest work and looks fit. Zaka was one of the best performed in the whole session.
I also like the progress of Redman, a bit of a forgotten man, but he has put on some muscle and looks ready for AFL (body wise), however what position does he play? Training with defenders at the moment.
A few observations
- Mutch looks fitter, more toned
- Hartley has put on serious muscle around the shoulders, looks like he has more intent to improve
- Begley has dropped his puppy fat
All looking great as it only December so not many negatives. Hopefully we see most of the boys back in full training after Christmas