Apples' Training Reports

[sr36]

Pretty sure Sier was training when I was there on Monday, doing most of the drills (if I have the right player).

Good to hear. It would be nice if he got an extended run at it, so that we could actually find out if he can play or not.

 

[Scottie65]

Training 12th Jan 2018 (the L Plates version)

Look, I'm no Warburton Lad nor am I a Mazzarjo so please forgive any inconsistencies, omissions or the like.

It was a slightly wet track this morning due to the humidity and some passing showers. On my way to work (I walk past the 'Bot, down Anderson Street and via Gotsch's Paddock) I decided on the off-chance that I took a detour to Olympic Park and if there was any activity I would stay and watch. And as luck would have it, there was.

Boys on the track by 9:15 when I got there. I positioned myself right next to the Cafe (and just beneath the vantage on the first level so I could hear Bucks bellowing out instructions from the box) and had a reasonably good view of the ground.

In no particular order/as I remember:-

- Fas came off briefly to go into the rooms but was back, unstrapped, and spent the entire session doing laps. He was joined by 'Flash' Daicos after the first drill. Later on Daics yelled to Bucks "Nah, was no good after first drill. Feels alright now". Jogged/ran unimpeded so obviously small enough to not worry about.
- Darcy Moore, Varcoe and another* (NOTE: My eyesight not so good, my facial ability for the noobs even worse.) They did some light running, lateral drills, light kick-to-kick.
- Rupert Wills also still confined to running - looks very lean/strong and comfortable.

A lot of early warm-up was on the other side of the ground, then they split into 4 groups. I concentrated on the one closest, run by Sando. It had Kale Kirby, Josh Daicos (who retired early), Steelo, Crispy, Goldy, JT, Callum Brown and a few others. The exercise was broken up so 1 pair vs 1 pair. When Sando kicked to Tarks, Tarks spun around and had to find a lead. One team defended, the other tried to draw their defender and break to space. Lots of repeat efforts and there was encouragement for Defenders who worked hard enough to delay a kick, or to forwards who made space for themselves. Goldsack and Steelo excelled in this as you would expect, but very encouraging advice for Kirby.

They then combined the 4 groups into 2 and continued this drill but with more participants over a larger area. Mayne, Pendles, Goldy, Blair and WHE all worked harder/smarter to find space and take grabs. Dunne still a master at reading patterns and intercepting. Looks like Langdon is picking up some of this skill as well. A tight-ish drill with good results.

There was a match simulation (full ground) with blacks vs magenta. This was a bit harder for me to pick out without numbers and at distance, but I did see Mason Cox with a lovely half-forward-flank contested grab, great run and evasion by Blair, Grundy absolutely belting out some field kicks (the SOUND), Treloar impressed as usual, and Crisp/DeGoey both showing some poise and fierce attack on the ball. As too Maynard.

There was some more running - from the centre they sprinted to the goals then back around the boundary to our wing for drinks. Kale Kirby sat directly on Ben Crocker's arse for the whole run and didn't waiver. Good going fella. Lots of encouragement from teammates.

Back for another set of handball drills. Essentially back/forward with a team of blacks vs yellows having to handball for possession and move from one 'zone' to the other. If the opposing team created a turnover they got a point, otherwise it went to the possession team. Some very crunching contests in this - no love lost. Someone sat Adams on his arse, who, dazed, had to sit out 1 or 2 runs. Crispy sat Pendles down. Dunne/Grundy very good at bringing the runner to ground. Daniel Wells just sublime in his ability to slink in and out of traffic and still find targets, as was Adams. Broomy also looks good in these drills where there is little room for error.

More drinks then split into 2 groups. All the seniors took part, the younger and/or injured players provided targets at 4 equal points around the boundary line. Each senior player then ran at a 75-80% speed to kick to the first point then receive a handball back. All up 4-5 'laps' of this - Crisp and WHE's short passing was sublime with their passes barely going above head-height and nearly always hitting the chest at the end of the trajectory. Adams a little scrappy but getting better. Steel Sidebottom and Blair have a slightly slower spin and higher arc but it does allow players to run into the mark rather than waiting for it. Kale kept at it during this drill - a couple of worm burners but still ran strong.

Felt like a longish session with it finishing at 11:30 or just after.

Other observations:-
- Sando is very clear with his instructions and as quick to praise as he is to stop a drill and make sure it gets back on track
- I could go to training just to watch Bucks kick long stabs again and again and again... and then nail the longest torps
- DeGoey is going to be a real beast this year. I can see him in the middle as an outside receiver and rotating to the forward line. In either he will be dangerous
- Crispy is getting more consistent and valuable as a half-back. Big year from him this year
- Grundy looks in fantastic nick and behaves like a midfielder, not a ruckman. Never backs off.

Don't ask me about the new draftees, I couldn't even tell you which ones they were

Please feel free to correct anything I have wrong. Was a lovely morning to be down there - coolish, light breeze and a hushed but appreciative crowd watching the proceedings. Mason again taking photos with all and sundry.

im not seeing jaidyn stephensons name any where in the last 2 previous reports...has he been out there??

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Daicos might also be a little cocky at times.

All reports have him as very level headed. It’s his little brother who’s the cocky one (and justified in his cockiness apparently).

Never got that impression of him. Heard anything?

Im with Ed and Apex.
From the superficial stuff I've seen, I actually think its opposite with Josh... he just always came across to me as a guy who is not particularly confident about his football, and if not for some pushing/guidance by his dad and the club, would probably not have been a footy player otherwise. Just didn't seem to have the kind of confidence of character (again superficially) that you usually from draftees.

Now thats more personality wise. Not talking about what he's like on the park - although hes got improvements to make, he does look pretty comfortable when playing - and for a first year player that does take a deal of confidence.

 

[jmac70]

Im with Ed and Apex.
From the superficial stuff I've seen, I actually think its opposite with Josh... he just always came across to me as a guy who is not particularly confident about his football, and if not for some pushing/guidance by his dad and the club, would probably not have been a footy player otherwise. Just didn't seem to have the kind of confidence of character (again superficially) that you usually from draftees.

Now thats more personality wise. Not talking about what he's like on the park - although hes got improvements to make, he does look pretty comfortable when playing - and for a first year player that does take a deal of confidence.

Yeah you're probably right.

Just watching The Spurs make a big comeback.

 

[Lefthanded]

The kid has all the talent in the world, and could conceivably become a top 5 player on our list if he gets his shit together, but it’s increasingly looking like he just doesn’t , and won’t ever have the application needed to make it at the top level. It’s incredibly frustrating to watch.

Do you need a hug? #askkirby

 

[Apex36]

Do you need a hug? #askkirby

I’m not allowed to anymore since the restraining order

 

[Lefthanded]

Any sightings of Sier and Murray. Barely heard a whimper about either of them. Admittedly, they probably fall into the unable to recognise category.

got a mention from Pedro in pre season thread, excerpt being:

Pleasing to see a few that have been missing a bit do the whole session, inc Brayden Sier, Daniel Wells (far from fat BTW)

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Went down to training today and had the legend Micky McGuane standing next to me with his boys. The thing that concerned me was that he was doing a fair few head shakes at the quality of the disposal of some players......

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

l did like the look of Wells, Treloar, Grundy, DeGoey and Maynard, who along with Dunn are beautiful long kicks, the best at the club.
Disappointed with some of the match sim plays, one was continued blind kicking long into the forward line to a two or three on one contest....also some disposal coming out of defence showed alot of work to still do in that area.

 

[Pedro]

im not seeing jaidyn stephensons name any where in the last 2 previous reports...has he been out there??

Definately out there today. Start to finish

 

[Apex36]

Went down to training today and had the legend Micky McGuane standing next to me with his boys. The thing that concerned me was that he was doing a fair few head shakes at the quality of the disposal of some players......

How old are McGuanes boys?

 

[TradeDraft]

Went down to training today and had the legend Micky McGuane standing next to me with his boys. The thing that concerned me was that he was doing a fair few head shakes at the quality of the disposal of some players......

How old is his Boys?

Well he would have lot of Company Then. We have quite a Few with Below Average Disposal

 

[Frank Gallagher]

im not seeing jaidyn stephensons name any where in the last 2 previous reports...has he been out there??

He did both knees whilst warming up on his first day, and as he went to reach for the knees he put both shoulders out, thanks for recommending him.

 

[Scottie65]

He did both knees whilst warming up on his first day, and as he went to reach for the knees he put both shoulders out, thanks for recommending him.

roll my eyes

 

[Scottie65]

Definately out there today. Start to finish

thanks champ....hows he looking?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

He did both knees whilst warming up on his first day, and as he went to reach for the knees he put both shoulders out, thanks for recommending him.

So you’re saying he’ll spend slightly less time in the rehab room than Rusling did?

 

[Frank Gallagher]

So you’re saying he’ll spend slightly less time in the rehab room than Rusling did?

2 weeks apparently.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

You were, they threw you in the wheelie bin for causing a fracas, remember?

And then he got free piss from one of our injured forwards

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Third bullet point down - he's doing laps and light kicking with Travis Varcoe and one other.

FWIW he has really added some muscle to the frame this pre-season

Great work there The Sherriff.

Who is Mazzarjo again?

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Went down to training today and had the legend Micky McGuane standing next to me with his boys. The thing that concerned me was that he was doing a fair few head shakes at the quality of the disposal of some players......

Did he stop talking? Take breath?

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

How old are McGuanes boys?

10 years old....resemble the old man to a tee!!

 

[Frank Gallagher]

10 years old....resemble the old man to a tee!!

They might take the modeling route instead then.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Mick would make a good coach IMO, iirc he's won premierships in lower leagues.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Mick would make a good coach IMO, iirc he's won premierships in lower leagues.

Very football astute.
Perhaps not as life astute.

Oh and never stops flapping his gums.... loves a chat... then loves some more chatting... then even more talking....

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Very football astute.
Perhaps not as life astute.

Oh and never stops flapping his gums.... loves a chat... then loves some more chatting... then even more talking....

He even talks while he's punting as well.