Pre Season Training Report #2

[Embers]

Went down to training again last week (bit late on the report again) probably for the last time till season 2006 mainly to catch a glimpse at all the new recruits etc. Seeming as all our rookie recruits were from W.A it seems they been training with us for about a week or so already. Anyway I picked a really good day to go cos they had a mini scratch match on, It was 18 a side cos thats all we have training atm. Lasted a bit over a hour I think

Sides were split into Cox, and Cuzz group. Cox took all the younger blokes, Cuzz took most of the older blokes. Lynch and Membley rotated the ruck and were gonna get spanked hence why Cox got the younger midfielders. Seabs and Gardy still arnt training really. Hunter played in the forward line for Cuzz team (dont know if that means something) Staker took him. Graham took Hansen, Other side Glass took Smith (who still isnt 100%) and Spangher took Gaspar (that was a bit harsh on him i thught). Dont want to get too involved in matchups ill just add some various notes

- Armstrong looked very impressive, gave Butler a bit of a football lesson, Armstrongs kicking is a bit dodgy tho but he can find the pill so thats good, looks to have settled in quickly too.

- Priddis played on Fletcher (good match up) both didnt get within touching distance of each other all day. Fletcher easily won the match up cos he kicked 2 goals and in general played very well, but Priddis was on the bottom of alot of packs which was nice to see

- Hurn played on the back pocket on Sampi, both did very little but Hurn took a good grab or two. Hurn won the battle in the end but Sampi didnt do a hell of a lot in the end (Samps just started training a fortnight or so ago).

- McKinley played on Chick I think (dont remember) and took a ripping pack mark, he kicked 1 goal 2 but in fairness his 2 behinds were very tough chances. McKinley likes to hover around the square and take a big grab which is great, what we need exactly I feel.

- Hunter did great up forward, times his leads well and likes to deviate off it in the last second to make it harder to spoil. Didnt really appreciate how footy smart he was till now. Kicked 3 (prolly 2) goals IIRC, and took a few grabs up the ground

- Smith had Cox droppin infront of him all game so he didnt have the best of times, he did kick 1 goal however, and busted thru a pack every now and then. Althoug he is a leading forward he definetly does have the body to go through some players at AFL level, they payed quite a bit of attention to him tho, He shud of been given one free kick in the square so really shud of had 2.

- Gaspar annihilated Spangher in the body to body, the blokes a rake, but Spangher did a few good things, provided quite a bit of run from defence and tried to run Gaspar of his feet a bit, something I liked is that he always went straight up the middle something Woosh will change I guess :D

- Rosa again really impressed me, his athelticism is great and he certainly has improved his marking. He played on Chipper I think and both didnt get near each other (both off wing). Rosa improved his kicking, looks a bit stronger and kicked a goal, certainly won the contest, may be playing Round 1 2006 if he keeps this up.

- Cox annihilated everyone in the ruck, it was a bit sad to watch really.

- Selwood tagged Cuzz and did a great job, something bout Selwood is even thugh he was taggin he still finds a bit of the ball which is I guess what Woosh wants from his taggers. Selwood won the first half but Cuzz got a bit on top after that

- Sharp reminds me of Kerr, he can turn on a 5c coin and is tough as nails, gets himself up really quickly for a young bloke, I think he played on Nicoski in the as a forward flank. Looks to off put on a bit of muscle

- Jaymie Graham really did the once over on Hansen, something that concerns me bout Hansen is that he aint footy smart and doesnt adapt really well. Graham pretty much stood infront of him and made him go wide and still was able to spoil and take a grab or two. Graham looks very footy smart. Hansen on the other hand needs alot of dirrection. Dont know if im being too harsh on Hansen or not givn Graham enugh credit

- Gaspar is improving as each day goes past, gettin quicker and showing off more of his talent that we know he has. Looks to be trimming down a bit

- Judd impressive as always, did this real freakish thing were he kind of did a 360 to break out of a tackle and hit Hunter on the chest with his left foot

- Damn does Brett Jones have massive legs, he did alright, played on Embers I think, It looks as if pace is his main prority for this pre season.

- Out of the new recruits Armstrong McKinley were the two most impressive. Hurn didnt do a hell of a lot but neither did Sampi, Priddis played a bit too loose and Spangher needs a bit more meat on his bones before ill judge. All of em showed glimpses and signs tho so that is all good.

- Anyone know where the Doogs is.

Thats all I can think off for now, any questions just ask, ill add more if i think of more to add..

[iceman]

Thanks for the update Embers, always great to hear how the team is shaping up for next season

[Lynch drops a mark]

doogs had a shoulder reco i think, so i doubt that you will see him in contact scratch matches for a while

[Embers]

Top 10 from scratch match

1. Adam Hunter - dominated Staker, did alot of great things
2. Dean Cox - destroyed players way under his class but did it well :D
3. Chad Fletcher
4. Chris Judd
5. Jaymie Graham
6. Ben Cousins
7. Travis Gaspar
8. Matt Rosa
9. Steve Armstrong
10. Adam Selwood

[andrew_embley]

thanks for that Embers
:thumbsu:

[wce_all_da_way]

Great Report mate. Top Stuff :thumbsu:

[hawkeye23]

Loving your work Embers! :thumbsu:

[coasting]

I hope Woosh gives Hunter a go at FF, especially if Smith doesn't work out. He proved in the final series he can play there.

[masai]

Pre season training reports, I call them "Bandy Reports".

Starring in pre season doesn't always translate to home and away game form. The good think to take way from these reports are players who are building up / or down their bodies.

Take the form at this time of the season with a grain of salt, form in March is a better guide.

[jorel6669]

Thanks for the reports Embers. Keep 'em coming. I'm one who cannot get to any training sessions (despite working in West Perth!) due to my work hours, so these kind of updates are appreciated.

I'd love to see some of these scratch matches. Wish someone like Channel 31 would cover them, but I guess the costs would be too high.

[Locky]

Thanks for the report, top stuff :thumbsu:

[Eagles 4 Mine]

Cheers Embers your report sounds as good as my Jack Daniels tastes.:thumbsu:

[Embers]

A few things I forgot to add

- Someone I was talking to there was saying how impressive Steve Armstrong has been and that from what he has heard, Armstrong will be promoted off the rookie list, I also heard this from a family member who is good friends with Tony Micale last night, dont be surprised when he is promoted off the rookie list ahead of Ben Sharp

- From what masai was saying I still think the best performed players havnt changed from what I wrote down. Hunter looks in peak physical condition, Rosa is building up, Gaspar is looking alot fitter and quicker as is Graham. Those last 3 will play a role in 2006 I feel.

- Hurn is a huge lad, probably a bit harsh on him before, he had a job and he done it well

- Beau Wilkes cant kick a football at all, its really sad cos he looks like a good enough athlete but unless that kicking takes off next year id be a bit worried if i was him.

- Sampi looks the same

- Le Cras put on some muscle but not enough for AFL level yet

Most of the improvement seems to be coming from our 22-24 year olds with the exception of Rosa, in particular Gaspar and Graham, id be very worried If i was Staker and Lynch about seeing any game time at all next year the way things are shaping up

[otis_david]

I'm very worried about Samps, I fear its gunna be more of the same from him throughout most of his career unless he can get his ******** together asap.

Embers was anyone else playing as a crumber who impressed you? I'm thinking Morton or Lecras?

[Embers]

I'm very worried about Samps, I fear its gunna be more of the same from him throughout most of his career unless he can get his ******** together asap.

Embers was anyone else playing as a crumber who impressed you? I'm thinking Morton or Lecras?

To be honest there wasnt a hell of a lot to crumb in the end, when it did come time to crumb the midfielders like Fletch and co were reading it and picking it up. Ive said it once and Ill say it again Waters will be our forward pocket next year. Last training session I went too you could really see it was a role that would suit him, The two behinds McKinley kicked were from the ground and quick snaps, so he cud be a option, the guys got a AFL ready body so who knows.

Dont like Sampi chances much for 2006 though...

[theorangeapple]

There is a difference between a forward pocket and a crumber. Both Waters/ McKinley and Sampi could play forward pocket but they would play completely different roles. The reality is that Waters will never play FP in the sense that Sampi plays it. Unfortunatley, I think Sampi is a monty to be our crumber for the whole year. There isnt alot of players who can compete for his position.

I think Mckinley is the better bet for FP than Waters. Beau's strength is his attack on the ball and the man, aswell as his size and aggression. I think those attributes would be wasted up forward. Use him in bursts to create a mismatch but I dont think he has the creative flair or natural forward instincts to play forward 100min a game, 22 rounds a year. McKInley on the other hand has the pack marking, the skills, flair and intelligence around goal. I dont think Beau has has enough finesse to play that smart forward pocket role needed.

[jorel6669]

Embers, let us know if anyone tries Sampi in a tagging role, either midfield or in defence. I know he'll have to get fitter, but I can imagine if Woosha challenges him with it it will either turn him into a better player or we can find out how lazy he really is.

[macca69]

I agree with TOA, Sampi is our only genuine crumbing forward, now that Phil has left. Very happy to hear about Armstrong, though I am surprised at Hurns showings. Expect Sampi to have a big year next year, eagles supporters have piad him out a bit recently but he will deliver in '07 will easily get 70 shots on goal next year, hopefully that will translate into 40+ goals.

[hawkeye23]

I agree with TOA, Sampi is our only genuine crumbing forward, now that Phil has left. Very happy to hear about Armstrong, though I am surprised at Hurns showings. Expect Sampi to have a big year next year, eagles supporters have piad him out a bit recently but he will deliver in '07 will easily get 70 shots on goal next year, hopefully that will translate into 40+ goals.


Deliver in '07???? WTF???? We need him to deliver NOW!!!!!!

[macca69]

Deliver in '07???? WTF???? We need him to deliver NOW!!!!!!

didn't say he wouldn't deliver in '06:p

[Embers]

didn't say he wouldn't deliver in '06:p

Too be fair to Sampi he just started training not that long ago, he may improve he still has 3 months to go

[theorangeapple]

I agree with TOA, Sampi is our only genuine crumbing forward, now that Phil has left. Very happy to hear about Armstrong, though I am surprised at Hurns showings. Expect Sampi to have a big year next year, eagles supporters have piad him out a bit recently but he will deliver in '07 will easily get 70 shots on goal next year, hopefully that will translate into 40+ goals.


It seems we are lining up Shannon for backpocket for the time being. Not a bad idea because any length of time in the midfield could really inflame his OP. With Hurn playing in the back half, that should free up Waters who I think he going to play midfield more than forward throughout his career. I remember Woosh started him in the centre square on about 3 occasions in his debut year. A sign of things to come.

We are going to need to recruit some sort of crumber in the up coming yrs. Luckily, there seems to be afew likely sorts in next years draft.

[Embers]

Hurn definetly cud play next year in a back pocket, nothing stopping him other then OP, his fitness cud be good enough come Round 1 2006, very very disciplined bloke I could tell, he could of easily pushed up the ground but stayed on Samps and did his job, didnt lose concentration either.

A good footy mind there I can tell, something you want from ur back pocket.

[Lingsface]

personally i think hurn and waters look like very similar players but is there enough room for both of them on the hbf line

[quiksilva]

Ideally Waters should come into the midfielder when we have room for him. With some of the players get older there will be more time in the midfield for him, this is only when he has fully recovered from OP.