I managed to get down to see the boys train again today. Here's a run down for those interested.....
Got to the ground about 9:15 and the boys were doing some basic drills in the middle with a few odd bods doing laps separate from the group. At about 9:30 the game started with the teams divided up as usual with 1 side wearing black and white and the other wearing the orange wizard tops. The full team seemed to be here today from what I could tell except for JA (he might have been watching from the sidelines) and Egan (who of course is playing tonight). At this stage something stood out in green and that was today they had fair dinkum umpires running around too. It'll be interesting to see how the push in the back rules is applied but more on that later on.
Those doing laps and not playing in the game - Josh, Dids, Goldsack, Dawes, James, Broadie, Presti, Harry, TRAVIS and DANE.
Josh looked very, very impressive and I actually asked how his fitness was as he walked by at one point. "Yeah mate, really solid."
I also asked Licca the same thing as he walked by and he replied "....just a little sore in the calf". Broadie was tearing up (RUNNING) the laps more than anyone and a few times hunched over on the fence right next to me so I asked how he was going? I thought he didn't hear so I asked again and he replied gasping for air "...not talking about footy today". Opps I felt a little silly because he was really pushing himself and just kept on going and going. He must be a bee's d1ck away from playing with the rest. Harry ran very well with Presti following. Harry's ankle must be going aright (was kicking earlier) and I'd say Presti is only out because of his hand. James was running flat out too. Dawes walked mainly but jogged a few laps (poor kid but he's gotta heal). Didn't really see Dids or Goldsack jog but didn't think much of it. Travis was a surprise though and looked like he was having a day off? He jogged laps, didn't seem injured in anyway and he played last week so I dunno what the story was. I wasn't worried though. Dane was also doing laps at the start when I first arrived but didn't get the impressive he was injured either.
Now back to the game. The match finished about 11 and there were 3 quarters. The players did the usual thing in swapping tops and posies every so often so it’s hard to spot sometimes who is who. Bucks probably got best on ground kicking a lazy 5
running from the forward flanks, pockets or in the corridor. After he kicked his 5th in the 3rd quarter one of the funniest and strangest things I think I've ever seen on a footy field happened - he went into the ruck against Richards. LOL. The game was about to finish and it was only for 1 ball up (basically body on body).
IMO others of note - Heater, Dales, Rhyce bobbed up, Johno, Pends making himself known, Davies finds the pill thou his kicking really let him down, Wakes showing great leadership, Maxwell and Medhurst - yes Medhurst. He spotted a few players well, kicks great for goal in the warm up and almost took a classic hanger over Scotty Burns. Knees on his shoulders, 2 hands on the pill and it was awarded in the back because he didn't hold it - more on that later. Medhurst really should be playing foward, feeding and kicking goals. Reid and Brown moved around from forward lines to the middle with Brown rucking at one point. Come to think of it Bryan might not have been there? (not 100% sure)
But 3 players impressed me the most. (1) Richards - rucked well and although it wasn't heavy stuff he looked confident. He also moved well, filled spots were a tall was needed and even showed the ball once, selling it well before handballing it on. He's not the best of marks so when he fills a hole we need someone at his feet. (2) Daniel Nicholls - smaller than most but wow! Nippy, finds it well, moves into positions and what a beautiful kick. A lot of quick goals in the future will come with him breaking from the centre from a ball up and kicking straight to a leading foward. I reckon D1ck can do this too but Danny is a centerman for sure. (3) Sam Iles - welcome to putting yourself into the 22 young man. Carries the ball very well, really good kick, strong in the body, quite tall for a running backmen and seems to have a nature talent of always thinking of multiple options when his got the ball.
The umpiring - geez this in the back new rule has the potential of causing the most commotion of anything new introduced by the AFL. If I could take Medbursts hanger an example, it was all ball, no hands on the back, 2 hands on the pill and because he didn't hold it he was disadvantaged by giving away the free. This happen directly in front of me and even Travis as he jogged by said "Rubbish". You take away players going for a mark like this and you're taking away one of the most unique talents of any sport in the world. We'll have to wait and see what happens in tonight's match with The Bombers vs All Stars to really see how it effects a full on game. (ABC2 8:30pm live around Australia for those outside NT for those that didn't know)
Funnierly enough to my left watching the game was David King and another Richmond gentlemen watching the game obviously taking notes. They had binoculars and an A4 booklet on what I guess were Collingwood's list. Jade Rawlings turned up for the 3rd quarter and after the game asked them how the umpiring was. They mentioned 5 real shockers and I'm certain they were referring to the new rule. This is really all I heard from the tiger spies.
Anyway ... would appreciate views from others that attended. GO PIES!!!
Got to the ground about 9:15 and the boys were doing some basic drills in the middle with a few odd bods doing laps separate from the group. At about 9:30 the game started with the teams divided up as usual with 1 side wearing black and white and the other wearing the orange wizard tops. The full team seemed to be here today from what I could tell except for JA (he might have been watching from the sidelines) and Egan (who of course is playing tonight). At this stage something stood out in green and that was today they had fair dinkum umpires running around too. It'll be interesting to see how the push in the back rules is applied but more on that later on.
Those doing laps and not playing in the game - Josh, Dids, Goldsack, Dawes, James, Broadie, Presti, Harry, TRAVIS and DANE.
Josh looked very, very impressive and I actually asked how his fitness was as he walked by at one point. "Yeah mate, really solid."
I also asked Licca the same thing as he walked by and he replied "....just a little sore in the calf". Broadie was tearing up (RUNNING) the laps more than anyone and a few times hunched over on the fence right next to me so I asked how he was going? I thought he didn't hear so I asked again and he replied gasping for air "...not talking about footy today". Opps I felt a little silly because he was really pushing himself and just kept on going and going. He must be a bee's d1ck away from playing with the rest. Harry ran very well with Presti following. Harry's ankle must be going aright (was kicking earlier) and I'd say Presti is only out because of his hand. James was running flat out too. Dawes walked mainly but jogged a few laps (poor kid but he's gotta heal). Didn't really see Dids or Goldsack jog but didn't think much of it. Travis was a surprise though and looked like he was having a day off? He jogged laps, didn't seem injured in anyway and he played last week so I dunno what the story was. I wasn't worried though. Dane was also doing laps at the start when I first arrived but didn't get the impressive he was injured either. Now back to the game. The match finished about 11 and there were 3 quarters. The players did the usual thing in swapping tops and posies every so often so it’s hard to spot sometimes who is who. Bucks probably got best on ground kicking a lazy 5
running from the forward flanks, pockets or in the corridor. After he kicked his 5th in the 3rd quarter one of the funniest and strangest things I think I've ever seen on a footy field happened - he went into the ruck against Richards. LOL. The game was about to finish and it was only for 1 ball up (basically body on body). IMO others of note - Heater, Dales, Rhyce bobbed up, Johno, Pends making himself known, Davies finds the pill thou his kicking really let him down, Wakes showing great leadership, Maxwell and Medhurst - yes Medhurst. He spotted a few players well, kicks great for goal in the warm up and almost took a classic hanger over Scotty Burns. Knees on his shoulders, 2 hands on the pill and it was awarded in the back because he didn't hold it - more on that later. Medhurst really should be playing foward, feeding and kicking goals. Reid and Brown moved around from forward lines to the middle with Brown rucking at one point. Come to think of it Bryan might not have been there? (not 100% sure)
But 3 players impressed me the most. (1) Richards - rucked well and although it wasn't heavy stuff he looked confident. He also moved well, filled spots were a tall was needed and even showed the ball once, selling it well before handballing it on. He's not the best of marks so when he fills a hole we need someone at his feet. (2) Daniel Nicholls - smaller than most but wow! Nippy, finds it well, moves into positions and what a beautiful kick. A lot of quick goals in the future will come with him breaking from the centre from a ball up and kicking straight to a leading foward. I reckon D1ck can do this too but Danny is a centerman for sure.
(3) Sam Iles - welcome to putting yourself into the 22 young man. Carries the ball very well, really good kick, strong in the body, quite tall for a running backmen and seems to have a nature talent of always thinking of multiple options when his got the ball. The umpiring - geez this in the back new rule has the potential of causing the most commotion of anything new introduced by the AFL. If I could take Medbursts hanger an example, it was all ball, no hands on the back, 2 hands on the pill and because he didn't hold it he was disadvantaged by giving away the free. This happen directly in front of me and even Travis as he jogged by said "Rubbish". You take away players going for a mark like this and you're taking away one of the most unique talents of any sport in the world. We'll have to wait and see what happens in tonight's match with The Bombers vs All Stars to really see how it effects a full on game. (ABC2 8:30pm live around Australia for those outside NT for those that didn't know)
Funnierly enough to my left watching the game was David King and another Richmond gentlemen watching the game obviously taking notes. They had binoculars and an A4 booklet on what I guess were Collingwood's list. Jade Rawlings turned up for the 3rd quarter and after the game asked them how the umpiring was. They mentioned 5 real shockers and I'm certain they were referring to the new rule. This is really all I heard from the tiger spies.
Anyway ... would appreciate views from others that attended. GO PIES!!!
