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A day late, a buck short, he’s writing the report…“
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Bit run of the mill.
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I, for one, appreciate this day-late report from nackers. It’s nice to have something fun to read on a Thursday morning to pass the time at work. Just sucks that it’ll be 3ish weeks until the next one.
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Must be a big one. While he’s writing, I’ve done the washing, dropped one at school, the other at daycare. Now in a cafe ready to read it and……….
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I’m not waiting 3 weeks for yesterdays training report.
You’ll do what Nackers says you’ll do ! And like it !
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Much like our expectations on our best 22 in 22 there is a solid competition happening in the training threads this summer.
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If this is a moulin rouge review I will ■■■■ myself laughing. In fact I no longer want a training report. … Ok. Maybe I do.
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Don’t forget the dinner report.
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“A day late, a buck short, I’m writing the report”
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The ‘N’ stands for ‘Nothing to see here’.
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Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory. A world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. A lot of match sim in various forms today. Wanganeen doing a lot of very special things…
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Well it’s finally the morning, I hope this can live up to expectations after another fantastic report by @saladin .
Apart from Wanganeen that I’ll get to a bit later the part that I took out of the session most from Yesterday was the attitude of the playing group. I know we’ve already talked a bit about how upbeat it’s been this pre season, but this seemed to be even a further step up.
It’s an ultra competitive attitude, but in a fun sort of a way, the whole group looks like they are really enjoying their time training together and are spurring each other on to do better and improve.
A few examples of this from yesterday:
There was a drill where players were divided into two groups, one defenders the other attackers with half of each group on the field at a time with the other half resting in either pocket next to the goal posts. The play started with a coach or trainer kicking the ball into a contested area around half forward. Each group was loudly cheering on the respective group either trying to score or defend, and when either side achieved their goal there was a huge cheer before they swapped positions with their teammates.
This support continued on during the full ground match sim. When Smith kicked a ‘goal’ descibed in a previous report that was clearly touched the attackers were are cheering each other and running around with high fives while the defenders were loudly remonstrating that the ball had been touched.
In between some of these drills they had a kick after the siren scenario with Wright, Francis, Baldwin and Stringer taking a set shot from about 35 on a 45 degree angle. They had to cope with a cauldron of players on either side of them loudly cheering and calling out as they ran in, with several other players jumping around on the mark. There were huge roars as the first 3 went through, before stringer missed to give a win to the other group.
As mentioned earlier they were just really enjoying themselves without going over the top but in a fun competitive way. I asked a lot of the other long time training watchers if they have seen an attitude similar to this before and the general consensus was this was taking it to a whole new level. It’s interesting to not after the recent revelations at Carlton when Malthouse was appointed and Murphy was made captain that Murphy at times hated going to the club and his time there, and this was reflected across the results from the playing group.
What’s happening at Essendon at the moment is the complete opposite of that, it’s not only that they are enjoying being with each other and training, but they are building are real camaraderie where they seem to get as much enjoyment from their fellow teammates performing well as they do from themselves. Once you have that attitude within the group I think your half way there.
Onto some of the individual efforts, starting out with the promised report on Wanganeen. Early in the session there was a bit of a straw poll done between us about who you would take if you had to choose at this stage between Wanganeen and Fejo, with thoughts split fairly evenly. That was until the drills started and we were all in shock when Tex took a huge pack mark against Ridley in the goalsquare with all the other big boys included in the pack. I still don’t know how he managed to do it because he didn’t seem to get particularly high, he just read it better. None of us watching could believe it. He then followed up with a beautiful trap baulk and check side goal from the boundary, some really well timed intercepts and spoils that reminded me of his father. He’s really come out of his shell in the last few weeks and seems to be growing in confidence with each session, evidences by his confidence to take on players with a sidestep with a great balance.
There is obviously a long way to go yet and things could change as we get closer to the start of the season, but at this stage you would have to take him if available, apart from the fact that it would be a great story for the club with a Wanganeen returning, and selecting us over Port. The other thing about him is that he seems a natural smallish forward, which is the biggest deficiency in our list at the moment.
I thought this was also the best session from Francis so far as well. He looked to be playing a lot higher up the ground as a forward and constantly involved, both with marks, intercepts and linking the play. Before these drills started the group were repetitive 200’s at a very high intensity. Francis was in a group of around 6 or 7 including Snelling and managed to beat him home on a couple of occasions and was nearly always near the front of the pack when he didn’t. This continues in most other runs he did. He’s in by far the best shape I’ve seen him and as I’ve said previously he really looks to be enjoying his time at the club and with the group
Some other players to stand out during the session were Draper with some big marks around the ground, although he also had a moment where he went for one of his runs and had no idea what to do with it before sending a mongrel punt forward. He looked to be spending a bit more time forward this session where he also took a couple of good marks.
Caldwell got involved quite often both defensively and attacking. Voss spent most of the time as a forward in the match sim including taking a very nicely judged mark in from of the pack. Very interesting to see how and where he develops.
Kelly looks to be a bit of a rock down back. He easily outpointed Bryan at one stage in a contested mark one on one, and very rarely seems to get beaten regardless of the size of his opponent. he remonds me a bit of how Gibson used to play for Hawthorn, and it’s probably at a similar stage in his career when they pinched him from North. Let’s hope he can go an and have similar success with us.
There was another moment where I saw something special from Durham. There was a contested ball in the back flank, the ball was between a couple of players and I was amazed at the speed he was able to pick up the ball, side step and break away. it mightn’t sound like much but it;s these little things that you see that separate the also rans and the players with something special.
That’s about all for this report, I’d like to personally thank all the fellow training reporters for their efforts, the standard has really improved we’ve had some incredibly detailed informative reports.
And of course what everyone is really waiting for is Moulin Rouge. I’ve seen most of the big stage plays both here, interstate and overseas and this was nearly as spectacular as any of them. amazing sets, costumes lighting and sound and the perfect setting at the regent which looked amazing. The second act dragged on a little, but it was still a great experience and i would encourage anyone that loves bi=g musicals to see it. It was certainly helped by being 4 rows from the front on the middle.
On a personal note if I can be indulged for a moment, we’ve had a difficult couple of years, and have just moved into a guesthouse on 2 acres in walking distance to Healesville where we have been madly painting, refurbihing and gardening for the last couple of months. We have 3 large rooms with ensuites finished and should have to fourth one done today or tomorrow. We would love to see anyone looking for some R & R in the Yarra Valley or just a chance to talk all things Essendon. Of course mates rates will apply.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas and hope our optimism translates to a successful 2022 on the field.
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Looks beautiful!!
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Thanks, yes it’s gorgeous and incredibly peaceful.
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Stunning mate! Also thank you once again for the training reports. How did Baldwin go in the match sim?
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Thanks Nackers (and others) for your report.
For those of us that are separated by distance from the club, these reports are gratefully received. One day I’d love to get down there for a training session myself.
Your new place looks fantastic and I hope it is successful.
I’d be signing Wanga’s now before some other club makes him an offer, I have seen enough. Plays tall and small. A great SSP choice.
Have a great Christmas.
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