Training 2015/16 preseason training (discussion)

[Scham]

B.Hill was a much, much better runner than Weller is in their second years. B.Hill's combination of endurance and pace was what got him a game early on. Some of the stuff on this board about Weller is over the top IMO.

Not at all sure about him being a much, much better runner than Weller but one thing I do know is that if Hill was playing for us there would've been a stack of numpties on here saying that he's years away from playing at the top level because he's young, too skinny and too outside. A more mature body would be a better option in their thinking.

I don't read everything on this board but I haven't seen anything too outlandish about Weller. The kid shows a ton of potential and I don't see anything wrong with Freo supporters getting excited about one of our youngsters providing it's justified, and Weller's WAFL form in his first year was first class and I certainly saw enough in his AFL games to see he's worth getting excited about.

 

[Sweetback]

Brad Hill got a game for the Hawks because their outside pace was next to non existent. When Brad isn't playing, they look slow coming out of transition.

 

[PurpleReign]

Hi PR What was the criteria for being selected in what group in the running stuff last Saturday? Was it based on how fast they went in the 3 Km time trial last week? Or was it on perceived speed of the he runners?

I thought Langdon from my observations at training sessions is the faster of he and Weller yet you have indicated that Weller was in the faster group.

I don't know to be honest. I would guess it had something to do with their average lap times, would the best runners at the club complete a lap in 1 min and 46 seconds?
I think you're right about Langdon, he's quick over 20m but probably not as good as the mid fielders over distance. In any case everyone knew which group they belonged to, so it is probably pretty routine method for identifying a players running ability. Weller was in the 1:50 group, son son was in the same group. Mundy was in the 3rd or 4th group from memory.

 

[DannyTheDoorman]

I don't know to be honest. I would guess it had something to do with their average lap times, would the best runners at the club complete a lap in 1 min and 46 seconds?
I think you're right about Langdon, he's quick over 20m but probably not as good as the mid fielders over distance. In any case everyone knew which group they belonged to, so it is probably pretty routine method for identifying a players running ability. Weller was in the 1:50 group, son son was in the same group. Mundy was in the 3rd or 4th group from memory.

How did you get the lap times did you take your trusty stop watch or use your iphone to get the times after the first lap?

 

[PurpleReign]

How did you get the lap times did you take your trusty stop watch or use your iphone to get the times after the first lap?

One player would shout out their respective numbers and everyone in that group would line up behind them. It all seemed a bit shambolic actually.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Not at all sure about him being a much, much better runner than Weller but one thing I do know is that if Hill was playing for us there would've been a stack of numpties on here saying that he's years away from playing at the top level because he's young, too skinny and too outside. A more mature body would be a better option in their thinking.

I don't read everything on this board but I haven't seen anything too outlandish about Weller. The kid shows a ton of potential and I don't see anything wrong with Freo supporters getting excited about one of our youngsters providing it's justified, and Weller's WAFL form in his first year was first class and I certainly saw enough in his AFL games to see he's worth getting excited about.

Mate you are spot on IMO on Weller.

He had a terrific season for Peel. His game for Freo against Port was impressive and for a 1st year player he looks good.

I also haven't read on here posters getting ahead of themselves.

 

[Pusswah]

Alex copped a football kicked from close proximity with the full force of a Clancee kick flush in the jatz crackers very early on which laid him low for a long time, He spent a lot of the time in the tent shade. Came back on but did not perform to his full capabilities. Humorous to the onlookers but not a laughing matter to Alex me thinks.

OUR FATHER SONS!

 

[Inveigh Slang]

Parker comparison is based on the fact at training he looks really quick and in his highlights it looks like he plays on talls and smalls. Shane Parker was one of the most underrated shut down defenders in the afl for a number of years playing on players ranging in size from Mathew Richardson to Phil Matera.

I'm not criticizing Shane Parker but have been to most sessions and he has been involved in mostly skills work and little on defending against tall and small mids. I haven't seen that with him yet although he does look very capable off a half back flank.

 

[Inveigh Slang]

He'd want to be a lot better than Nosey.

Would he?

 

[couldhavebeen]

where is Mondays training report . I need my fix .

 

[DannyTheDoorman]

where is Mondays training report . I need my fix .

There has been postings today from early afternoon by E Shed Salim Gav 56 and Sherrif go back a couple of pages to P68 onwards.

 

[couldhavebeen]

Increase your 'moderately high hopes' to 'significantly high hopes.' Hurley looked terrific out there today. He played as a defender in match sims and was excellent IMO. At one point he was matched up on Langdon and he showed the speed of a midfielder. I think myself and Salim are the first official members of the "Hurley will be awesome club', but new members are welcome.

Hang on Sherrif I think you have just joined my CLUB . I have been saying to anyone who was prepared to read my posts over the whole of last season about Irish that we have landed a beauty and that he has been improving every time he trains and plays.

 

[couldhavebeen]

There has been postings today from early afternoon by E Shed Salim Gav 56 and Sherrif go back a couple of pages to P68 onwards.

E Shed , Salim , Gav56 and Sherrif great reports guys .I went back but not far enough .

 

[meima]

Nobody is judging him in the way you seem to be suggesting. Just making comments on his development.

Sorry for the word judge = observation ( give him the benefit of doubt).

 

[meima]

B.Hill was a much, much better runner than Weller is in their second years. B.Hill's combination of endurance and pace was what got him a game early on. Some of the stuff on this board about Weller is over the top IMO.

In addition he only play less than 5 game.

 

[Granny Val]

I was at training today. I can confirm what Sherrif said; Smith and Grey were both pretty awful today. I dead set saw Smith miss a trainer with a handball from 6 feet away, not just wayward, completely over his head and behind him. How this guy is on an AFL list is beyond me. He landed one kick that I saw and everything else was on the ground or over blokes heads, not just making them reach but missing by miles. He telegraphs his kicks too, there was one play where he was twisting and turning and looking for an option and went he finally wound up for a kick I could have run from the stands and marked it by the time he got it on his boot. As it was Weller picked it off in front of the defender and found Pav in the square. Ross yelled out, thats good punish the mistake.

Another play that typifies the bad skills of time of our players Barlow was kicking from full back and after dithering with it for ages he went sideways allowing the defence to press up, Mzungu received and again dithered and went back to Barlow who proceeded to kick it straight to the opposition for a turnover goal. And some classic Taberner who after using his body brilliantly in a contested marking situation to get a perfect protected drop then couldn't close his arms around the ball and had it bounce off his chest. He's frustratingly close to being a good player . .

Grey did a lot right but some of kicking was indeed appalling. After one shocker he swore and dropped his head. He is a great defender but not really even as good as Spurr at using the footy.

On the positive side of the ledger I thought Ethan Hughes was terrific. He positioned beautifully outworked and outmarked Mayne several times and his disposal was really neat. He's coming on really well and really fast. I have him in the top line of players most likely to crack the 22 along with Weller and Langdon who were both excellent today. Langdon and Weller setup as outside mids today and both kicked lace out balls to the forwards at times.

Hill was BOG for me today. He just seemed to be everywhere and in the drills he always seemed to be doing that thing where he runs by for a receive and as he takes the ball he flares slightly to the left and accelerates like the kick of a sprinter going for the line and at full pace he will find a target with total precision. He is so much better than anyone else out there except Mundy and Walters with his skill and ball use.

Morabito is the other who seemed to be involved in the play every time I looked around. He really knows how to be in the right place (I remember being surprised at some of his opportunistic goals around stoppages). Because his brute strength and running is so impressive its easy to disregard how smart he is as a footballer. Like has been noted his kicking is a mixed bag with his long kicking mostly excellent but his short game does need work. He seemed to be playing as a defender which still puzzles me slightly as he is good around goal and can take a strong mark. I would have thought with our dearth of even medium height forwards he would be considered at that end of the ground.

Blakely is right in the thick of it in the midfield drills. He plays inside while Weller and Langdon are groomed as outside. I would say Blakely is less likely to crack the team soon as he's behind Mundy and Neale in the that role. Neale was solid today and some of his clearances were magic, unbelievably quick hands and his anticipation is top notch.

I really like the way they are training. Its very simple. They do kicking practice over various distances and tight handball drills in congestion and other than that its all ball movement and transition work. There doesn't seem to be any weird extraneous drills that characterised previous years. Its pure skills and ball movement.

I watched the forward group for a while which was Walters and Balla playing high kicking it in to Pav, Mayne,Tabs, Hannath and Crozier. The defenders matched with them were Smith, Silvagni (who I thought was pretty good), Dawson and Hughes. Ibbo was not sighted today and neither was Alex Pearce. Bennell as has been noted was walking laps.

Thanks EShed. Really appreciate your detailed training reports.

 

[Granny Val]

Pav welcomed then by video from Perth if you read the article correctly. Pav trained and trained well.

Great to hear my buddy is both TTHD and able to welcome the inductees in Melbourne. So looking forward to a super year from him.

 

[DannyTheDoorman]

E Shed , Salim , Gav56 and Sherrif great reports guys .I went back but not far enough .

couldhavebeen Thanks Danny ?

 

[Seppo]

Thanks Danny!

 

[Silversurfer]

These training report are so informative. Thanks to all involved. I write very little on here but read all and through this miserable football void time of year, i get my fix through all your awesome posts. Cheers to all and GO THE DOCKERS

 

[mad4freo]

These training report are so informative. Thanks to all involved. I write very little on here but read all and through this miserable football void time of year, i get my fix through all your awesome posts. Cheers to all and GO THE DOCKERS

We definitely have the best BF board in regards to training reports. I've been down to training a couple of times and can understand why we have so many going down each session, its so fun. Anyway keep it up lads.

 

[sij1981]

We definitely have the best BF board in regards to training reports. I've been down to training a couple of times and can understand why we have so many going down each session, its so fun. Anyway keep it up lads.

Yup keep up the reports !!!

 

[Balony_pony16]

Hi PR What was the criteria for being selected in what group in the running stuff last Saturday? Was it based on how fast they went in the 3 Km time trial last week? Or was it on perceived speed of the he runners?

I thought Langdon from my observations at training sessions is the faster of he and Weller yet you have indicated that Weller was in the faster group.

Langdon has always been a jet and faster over Weller

 

[Okinakashi]

So I'm coming to training tomorrow.

Remind me where the vanilla slices come from? And coffee. I need the good stuff.

 

[sven_inc]

Pardon the intrusion, but as a Box Hill follower - how is Collins going so far?

I've trawled through most of the thread but havent seen much on the man yet.

Happy with him or a bit of work to do to make the grade at this early stage?

Great character!