Apples' Training Reports

[Likitysplit]

Great work mate, love logging on to see you've written one of these!

What are your expectations for us this year Mazzarjo ?

 

[Rorzza]

Also extremely satisfying to here so many back on the park this week. This is good news, making me feel good even with the minor setbacks of some players this week.

 

[Maggie5]

Blair, yeah! Leaves it all out there practice or game.
Love him.

 

[TradeDraft]

The ruck duels were fascinating. Please take note Dave! As we know, Grundy has been one of our standouts over summer. He has dominated the centre square and worked his butt off in running and sprint sessions. Today I thought he lowered his colours to Lachie Keeffe. I think Grundy may have palmed cleanly on one or two occasions, but Keeffey used his body well and showed a surprising cool ability to get his hands to the ball first. Grundy shone when the ball hit the ground, but Keeffe’s performance in the ruck was what some of us having been waiting years to see.

Well Grundy has Scans afterwards so might not been 100%

 

[JB1975]

Mazzarjo the Majestic. Thanks for the report.

It'd be great if Moore is getting on his bike. It'll be a challenging season for him, I think, but if he taps into his inner competitive beast then he'll go just fine.

I admit I'm not much fussed by Sier this year, but I'll be happy with a pleasant surprise if he pushes for senior selection in 2017. I haven't been blown away by what I've seen already, but I has some nice touch and some nice size on him.

 

[magpies42]

It was a warm sunny morning for training, with a northerly breeze to keep things comfortable.

Not training:
Ben Sinclair, Jamie Elliott, Daniel Wells
Limited training:
Rupert Wills, Jordan DeGoey, Kale Kirby, Mason Cox
Injuries:
Josh Smith went down after a bump from Phillips and immediately clutched his ankle in pain. Players came in to assist, but trainers were quickly carrying him from the field. After training as we were sampling the surprisingly good Glasshouse pizza, Josh walked around the boundary with crutches, but was placing full weight on his feet. Probably not as bad as we first feared.
Mason Cox left the track after a 30 minute ruck session. Not sure if was injured or not.

Good News:
Ben Reid, Brayden Sier, Tom Langdon, Ben Crocker, Callum Brown and Sam McLarty completed full training. Langdon was pretty rusty in match play as we’d expect, but Reid and Sier moved impressively. So did Callum Brown who has terrific evasive skills and the confidence to use them.

It was a quite laid back affair early, with only a few players on the track at 9:30. It took until 10am for Bucks to call them into the middle for a chat. Players then broke up into 4 groups to practise possession/evasion/defensive evasion skills.

Not so Good News:
Kayle Kirby began a time trial with a trainer. Is it possible that a player can look worse after 2 months of preseason than at the beginning? Kirby looks light years away from being match fit. He’s overweight and out of condition. Does anybody know what’s been going on with this boy?

It appeared that training was going to consist of a series of drills with emphasis on ball movement, because that’s all that happened until 11am. Four players were taken to the Glasshouse side for a ruck session with Anthony Rocca. Grundy, Cox, Keeffe and Max Lynch worked there for about 30 minutes.

After a short break, Buck’s called the players into the centre and the magnetic board appeared. Good we thought, match simulation. We wanted to see if Brayden Sier and Reid would take part. They did.

Reid played fullback on Darcy Moore. Darcy had his best session all summer in my opinion, providing a strong target, moving impressively and booting 3 goals.

Sier played in the middle for most of this session and was clean with the ball when given a chance. I know I keep saying it, but this boy moves like well-oiled machine. Bucks kept a very close eye on him.

Both Lyndon Dunn and Howe were impressive at the other end, dominating the back area. Their kicking really stood out this morning. Howe in particular, hit targets with sensational, low bullet-like passes.

In the middle, Tay Adams had the ball on a string. He was everywhere and used the ball very well indeed. Adams has been a standout over the sessions I have attended. It’s not just his work ethic, but his vastly improved use of the ball that has impressed.

The ruck duels were fascinating. Please take note Dave! As we know, Grundy has been one of our standouts over summer. He has dominated the centre square and worked his butt off in running and sprint sessions. Today I thought he lowered his colours to Lachie Keeffe. I think Grundy may have palmed cleanly on one or two occasions, but Keeffey used his body well and showed a surprising cool ability to get his hands to the ball first. Grundy shone when the ball hit the ground, but Keeffe’s performance in the ruck was what some of us having been waiting years to see.

I asked Bucks 3 years ago if he had plans for Keeffe in the ruck. He asked a question back, “Why would I use him in the ruck when I have two really good rucks in Grundy and Witts?” When I asked Keeffe about where he’d like to play he was diplomatic, saying he was happy to get a game, but indicated he’d love a go in the ruck. He looks like getting his chance in 2017.

Jarryd Blair was also extremely busy in this match play. He reminded me of the young Blair, as he ran in circles, shedding tackles and waiting for the right target. Today, he hit them consistently.

After the majority players left the field at 11:40, Bill Davoren took 4 players through a series of gruelling sprints. Ben Reid, Sam McLarty, Brayden Sier and Tom Langdon slogged it out under the watchful eyes of Buckley, Sanderson and Harvey.

Overall, I was impressed with what I saw today. In particular, the ball use and quick, slick movement was a standout. Happy to try to answer any questions you may have.

Neil.

The big question I have on Keefe, is hardness at the contest and at the ball. I'd like to see him face up against an aggressive ruckmen in a regular season game before judging. Grundy is aggressive on match day, not at training.

 

[Mkcaptain]

Great report Mazzarjo. Do you know if they're training on Wednesday or Thursday?

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Mazzarjo thanks and really appreciated Neil.

One of the better parts of bigfooty.

I've quietly waited to hear good things about Sier.

Very pleasing.
Who knows our crop of newbies might be just our ticket for a push up the ladder.

Brown, Daicos, Sier, McLarty (already a favourite of mine) ....

 

[El cane]

Hey man did you see what happened to Daicos? I heard he grabbed his hamstring.

 

[Buckley is my hero]

Thanks for the great report Neil. I wouldn't be too concerned about Kirby. He started off overweight when he joined the club then lost a fair bit of weight just before Christmas, then put all the weight back on when he returned after Christmas. He was at the AGM tonight. He is very broad shouldered and doesn't look too overweight to me. I'm guessing here, his natural playing weight is between 85 - 90 kgs. As we get closer to the start of the season his weight will come down and then into the season as he gets games under his belt, his weight should stabilise. He was never going to start the season in the seniors and in fact his strength through his shoulders might actually help him as a crumbing forward. The downside is that while he may have the pace to keep up at VFL level, he might not have the pace to succeed at AFL level (unless he can reduce his weight to under 85kg).

 

[Buckley is my hero]

Hey man did you see what happened to Daicos? I heard he grabbed his hamstring.

No sign of any duress when he attended the AGM tonight.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Thanks for the report. Anything we should read in that White was not taking part in the ruck drills?

It sounds like he has dropped in the pecking order to fourth and will have to make it as a specialist forward or not at all....just a theory.

Very encouraging news about Keeffe.

 

[sr36]

Thanks for the report. Anything we should read in that White was not taking part in the ruck drills?[

Good spot. Interesting. I'd assumed we were going small up forward, but maybe not.

 

[Stoods]

Well Grundy has Scans afterwards so might not been 100%

Where did you hear this? Scans on what?

 

[TradeDraft]

Where did you hear this? Scans on what?

On Channel 10 News. He did not say on What

 

[MagpieBat]

Where did you hear this? Scans on what?

 

[loki04]

Thanks for the great report Neil. I wouldn't be too concerned about Kirby. He started off overweight when he joined the club then lost a fair bit of weight just before Christmas, then put all the weight back on when he returned after Christmas. He was at the AGM tonight. He is very broad shouldered and doesn't look too overweight to me. I'm guessing here, his natural playing weight is between 85 - 90 kgs. As we get closer to the start of the season his weight will come down and then into the season as he gets games under his belt, his weight should stabilise. He was never going to start the season in the seniors and in fact his strength through his shoulders might actually help him as a crumbing forward. The downside is that while he may have the pace to keep up at VFL level, he might not have the pace to succeed at AFL level (unless he can reduce his weight to under 85kg).

It's not pace that he needs to worry about it's his endurance, he would likely have the pace in spades for both grades even being a bit plump.

 

[loki04]

It sounds like he has dropped in the pecking order to fourth and will have to make it as a specialist forward or not at all....just a theory.

Very encouraging news about Keeffe.

Will likely be Moore and White as the 2 KPF with Cox also playing cameo up there.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Will likely be Moore and White as the 2 KPF with Cox also playing cameo up there.

Thats what I said. Maybe didnt express myself that well. Seems to me Keeffe and Cox will be fighting out for the second ruck spot while they want White to be a stay at home forward.

 

[Hardas]

Love your positive report on Sier. But I cant wait to see more of McLarty. He's somewhat the forgotten man around these parts.

Recently received a glowing report on Sam as a bloke - here's hoping he's as good onfield.

 

[Hardas]

Cheers, as always, Neil - great reading.
Enough positive signs to be optimistic.
Moore, Reid,, Howe, Dunn, Adams...even Queyffy!

 

[Gone Critical]

Great report Neil. Appreciated

 

[Apex36]

I'd be interested to know how McLarty performed in match sim Mazzarjo

The only thing I see mentioned in your report was that he did extra sprints afterwards.

 

[JollyBallsUp]

Love your positive report on Sier. But I cant wait to see more of McLarty. He's somewhat the forgotten man around these parts.

Who?

 

[rand corp]

Awesome reports Neil, I just love coming on here and seeing a new one up to read. Thank you so much.