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Training 2022 Training Reports

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Doubly impressive when you consider how bloody long his arms are. That's big-boy weight
To be fair he is a full time athlete who's spent half his career in rehab.

He should be bloody strong in his arms, he's never had to stop using them.
 
Fremantle Dockers training notes: Alex Pearce and Griffin Logue dominate time trials, Nat Fyfe back in action
Headshot of Eliza Reilly

Eliza ReillyThe West Australian
Mon, 6 December 2021 12:10PMComments
Eliza Reilly

Dockers players feel the pinch.

Dockers players feel the pinch. Credit: Iain Gillespie

Young buck, older moose dominate day one
Just like their younger teammates were forced to undergo a fortnight ago on their return to training, Fremantle’s five-plus year players were welcomed back with four 1km time trials.
Designed to test Fremantle’s running intensity as opposed to the traditional 2km time trial, the efforts are obviously shorter but the pain doesn’t wane.
In positive signs for the Dockers, two key defenders shared all four of the time trial victories.
[PLAYERCARD]Darcy Tucker[/PLAYERCARD] feels the pinch.

Darcy Tucker feels the pinch. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
Alex Pearce and Griffin Logue have suffered their fair share of injuries over the past few years, but the pair have returned in exceptional shape.
Pearce, returning from his first surgery-free summer in years, tied for first with midfielder Blake Acres in the opening run before edging ahead for a clean win in the second.
[PLAYERCARD]Alex Pearce[/PLAYERCARD] on the move.

Alex Pearce on the move. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
The 26-year-old was then withdrawn from the trials, allowing defensive counterpart Logue to display his endurance and win the last two comfortably.
The best players clocked a little over three minutes for each run but the entire group was in obvious hurt, no matter how fast they finished.
[PLAYERCARD]Connor Blakely[/PLAYERCARD].

Connor Blakely. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
Ethan Hughes and Michael Frederick were others to run strongly, while midfielder Connor Blakely gave his all as he looks to cement a spot in Fremantle’s starting line-up next season.
Michael Frederick.

Michael Frederick. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
Michael Walters looks to have also returned in excellent shape after struggling with injury last season, playing the role of chief motivator as the group slogged out the time trials.
Sean Darcy felt the pinch at one point, with Josh Treacy checking in after a gruelling run.

Josh Treacy and [PLAYERCARD]Sean Darcy[/PLAYERCARD].

Josh Treacy and Sean Darcy. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
Mundy morning
The likes of Joel Western, Josh Treacy and Brandon Walker had only just been born when veteran Docker David Mundy kicked off his first pre-season.

With a one-year deal signed and sealed, Mundy returned to Cockburn for his 19th pre-season with the club.
[PLAYERCARD]David Mundy[/PLAYERCARD].

David Mundy. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
But even as the oldest player on Fremantle’s list at age 36, Mundy received no special treatment and was thrust into the thick of the time trial action.
While he wasn’t one of the fastest Dockers, Mundy was consistent and rarely broke stride.
The challenge for the 354-gamer will be rediscovering the form that saw him named in the 2021 AFL All-Australian squad and finish runner-up in the Doig Medal to Sean Darcy.
Nat’s more like it
After a torturous off-season which included two shoulder surgeries and an infection, it was good to see Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe back at training and with a smile on his face.
Sporting a pink scar on his right shoulder, Fyfe looks to have already rebuilt some of the muscle he lost in recovery.
Fyfe on the track.

Fyfe on the track. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
The 30-year-old returned to running last week after being cleared to sweat again but Monday marked the first time Fyfe reunited with his teammates.
Understandably, the Dockers are eager to take a careful approach with their star midfielder and accordingly held him out of the time trials.
But Fyfe continued to build up his running with the rehab group, completing some shorter strides before graduating to laps of the oval later in the session.
Fyfe spent much of the session running alongside forward Matt Taberner who is building back after off-season ankle surgery.
Also on light duties were Brennan Cox, Lachie Schultz and James Aish.
Hayden Young watched on from the sidelines after recently having surgery to drain an abscess.
While draftee Jye Amiss spent some time with the main group before being managed towards the end of the session.
 

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Fyfe is a genetic freak the way he puts on muscle. I’ve never seen an AFL player able to transform their body so quickly. He must have never picked up anything over 5kgs before being drafted.

I reckon Erasmus will have a similar ability
 
The WA media's reports of the demise of Nathan Fyfe appear greatly exaggerated
 
So of the new class, does it look like Erasmus will be the most likely to suit up first?

Certainly from a body point of view he looks ready to go. He is already explosive in the training drills, the others all look good with excellent skills but Erasmus is the standout by a fair margin imo.
 

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Afl.com reporting Sean Darcy ran a Pb which may be bullshit as we've never done 1km runs before but perhaps they have the Tech to compare his previous years runs at 1km or worked out the equivalent of the difference in a 1km and 2km
 
Afl.com reporting Sean Darcy ran a Pb which may be bullshit as we've never done 1km runs before but perhaps they have the Tech to compare his previous years runs at 1km or worked out the equivalent of the difference in a 1km and 2km

I'm pretty sure I heard him say it himself.
 

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The tall skinny ones (Amiss and Bunnings) are going to0 take a while, so that leaves Erasmus, Worner and Clark/Brodie.

Talls drafted in the top 15 play in their first season. If they don’t they generally weren’t worth top 10. The only recent exception is Max King who had an ACL wipe out his first season.

It doesn’t mean Amiss plays every single but if he doesn’t at least suit up once he’s below par for a top ten KPF.

Given we literally have three other tall forwards on our list and they’re all best 22, two never play 20 games in a season, it won’t take much for Amiss to play a few games imo.
 
Talls drafted in the top 15 play in their first season. If they don’t they generally weren’t worth top 10. The only recent exception is Max King who had an ACL wipe out his first season.

It doesn’t mean Amiss plays every single but if he doesn’t at least suit up once he’s below par for a top ten KPF.

Given we literally have three other tall forwards on our list and they’re all best 22, two never play 20 games in a season, it won’t take much for Amiss to play a few games imo.
The number 1 pick for the Bulldogs didn't play much last year.
 
The number 1 pick for the Bulldogs didn't play much last year.

Didn’t play much… he still played.

Outside of King who had an ACL, I can’t remember the last top ten KPF that didn’t play year one. There is absolutely zero reason to write off Amiss’s chances of playing a game before Christmas.

If he doesn’t play at all year one he’s either injured or below par for a top ten pick. I don’t think he will be - he’ll play at times next year.
 

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