Pre-Season Training 29th November

[yakka man]

The boys who missed out on doing the last 3 km time trial had to do one today. Crowley, Michie, Mellington, Griffin, Grover, Duffield, Ibbotson, O'Brien and some of the boys who are training with us. Crowley as expected came first, Mellington ran quite well for his first 3 km trial. Michie had last or 2nd last and had to leave training half way through due to fatigue. Ibbotson ran reasonably well with Duff just ok while O'Brien was really lagging. Pitt didn't train at all just stood and watched; they must be trying to bulk him up and don't want him to burn calories. Mzungu continues to blitz training he looks real sharp. Morabito took part for the first time in ball drills and did ok. De Boer continues to run run run with Fyfe doing much the same. Sandi in the rehab group. Bolly for me keeps training really well and looks really quick and skilled. Hilly is killing it and Palmer still doing well. Pav was mainly running and Clarke is training well.

 

[freo1]

Training Monday 29th Nov

Just wrote a long post with some comments on today's training, clicked submit and didnt come out! Farrrrrrk. Here goes again. Just some random notes on today, feel free to ask me anything else.

New sponser being announced today - not sure who - so there was a bit of a media throng there and all the office jockies from the club were there suited up. Expect to see something on the news tonight.

Group was spilt as usual with guys like DeBoer, Fyfe, Walters, Pav etc doing sprints over the far side. Walters certainly looks fitter which is great.

Skills overall didn't impress me hugely. they were ok, but a couple drills, kicking to a fwd target they struggled to get the ball near the fwd. Rhys was the first to finally hit the leading fwd.

Mzungu: Guy just oozes class. Will definately be very close to a start up in round 1. Looks like a Broughton clone but perhaps with a touch more pace off the mark. Fitness looks great, always one of the first in his drills.
Roberton: All class this kid. trains with great intensity and voice. Nothing we dont already know, but's he going to be a solid player for us - very important that we keep him signed up.
Ballantyne: Just did skills but is always bouncing around. Great for comradery amongst the guys, just a serial pest always pushing and niggling his teammates. Very funny to watch.
Faulks: Certainly a long way to go for him - A LONG WAY. His fitness is well behind everyone else, just looks out of his league in that department, and for that reason it makes it hard to see his positives at the moment as he just isn't fit enough to show this competitiveness he's meant to have. His body language and voice (confidence) isn't great either, think he knows where he sits. For anyone who thinks he'll be a walk up start, I think that's a way off. Not to say he won't be a very good player, but at the moment he'd struggle to keep up with BOB which is saying something
BOB: From the start of his 3km time trial he was out the back and looked to be labouring, having said that he completed everything at training, so not sure if it's just general fitness or he has a niggle. Either way he's struggling for that last Rookie spot. Just hard to guage this guy but endurance certainly doesnt look good.
Jayden Pitt: Didnt train, was out the front of the rooms all kitted up but with no shoes on which harves walked past and gave hime shit for. Not sure if he has blisters or maybe got flogged in the pool or is just being eased in, but he seemed the only one not training. At the first huddle of training, Jason Webber called him down to the team for a minute - said: "Come down here for a sec Jay, stand in the shade next to sandi".
Crowley: absolute running machine. Won his 3km time trial from start to finish and really but in the hard yards for the last couple hundred metres. Nothing new with him though, we know he's a leader at the club in terms of fitness.
McPhee: looks to have lost a bit of bulk and was going hard, not too far behind Crowley. Should be a notch up on last year with a full pre-season I reckon.
Griffen: I like the look of him. Good mover and good skills. Not a guaranteed spot in the team, but just provides great competition for Zach which wis great.
Mellington: For such a young kid, has a good build on him already. Upper body looks ready for AFL, just needs to get form and fitness behind him.
Crichton: Has filled out quite quickly. Will certainly be pushing harder for selection next year. Doesn't look like a baby anymore.
Rhys: Certainly a leader out there both vocally and by how he trains. Looks fit as. Skills looked pretty sharp too.

That's all off the top of my head. Feel free to ask me anything

 

[salim malik]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

Thought Roberton was a stand out with Buvovaz still putting in the hard yards.
Great to see Sandi running freely and Mcpharlin back on the track and looking fit
Balla still to make an appearance so maybe recovering from off season surgery
Like to hear you guys opinion on Roberton and Bucca
Robbo looks to be heading for a great season and Bucca really making that rookie spot his

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

Great write up freo1. Thanks very much! I was hoping to make it down this morning but I had an appointment moved forward at the last minute so I couldn't make it.

Care to elaborate any more on Sonny? I already have him pegged as the big improver next season and any more little tidbits would be appreciated.

 

[salim malik]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

My mistake ,Forget the Balla bit,forgot he was in the rehab group and not in the running groups

 

[hedgehog]

Jayden Pitt: Didnt train, was out the front of the rooms all kitted up but with no shoes on which harves walked past and gave hime shit for. Not sure if he has blisters or maybe got flogged in the pool or is just being eased in, but he seemed the only one not training. At the first huddle of training, Jason Webber called him down to the team for a minute - said: "Come down here for a sec Jay, stand in the shade next to sandi".

Could you expand on this?

 

[freo1]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

Great write up freo1. Thanks very much! I was hoping to make it down this morning but I had an appointment moved forward at the last minute so I couldn't make it.

Care to elaborate any more on Sonny? I already have him pegged as the big improver next season and any more little tidbits would be appreciated.

walters is just class to me. His skills are in that level above most others. Even in the small amount of ball work he did today everything he does with the ball is class, half volley pick ups, kicking, etc.

He spent most his time over the far side running sprints with Fyfe and certainly was level pegging with Fyfe which was good. Fyfe's obviously no sprinter, but to see him keeping with him was positive and an indication he's increased his fitness which he's needed to do. Looks the goods to me and carrying on from his end to 2010

 

[freo1]

Could you expand on this?

not sure which part you want me to expand on, but basically he didnt train and I'm not sure why. he had his training jumper and training shorts on, but was bare foot. At first i thought he may have forgotten his shoes, or had blisters..... just stood at the entrance to the rooms for most the session, drinking water and looking on. he's not injured, but just wasnt training. I asked Macmanus why and he didnt know, but said the 1st years are as usual just being eased in, but Macca said maybe he got worked in the pool - that makes sense to me, prob why he was barefoot and looked to be re-hydrating. looked in good spirits to me, 99.9% sure he wouldnt be injured

 

[hedgehog]

not sure which part you want me to expand on, but basically he didnt train and I'm not sure why. he had his training jumper and training shorts on, but was bare foot. At first i thought he may have forgotten his shoes, or had blisters..... just stood at the entrance to the rooms for most the session, drinking water and looking on. he's not injured, but just wasnt training. I asked Macmanus why and he didnt know, but said the 1st years are as usual just being eased in, but Macca said maybe he got worked in the pool - that makes sense to me, prob why he was barefoot and looked to be re-hydrating. looked in good spirits to me, 99.9% sure he wouldnt be injured

Cheers for that.

I think I must have mis-interpretted your other post, not sure why Harvey was getting stuck into him though if he'd been doing pool work?

 

[bfff]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

Thanks for the reports! Greatly appreciated. Why do you think Faulks is struggling so much? Just unprepared?

 

[purplepassion82]

Thanks so much guys. I really appreciate it.

 

[duncs]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

New sponser being announced today - not sure who - so there was a bit of a media throng there and all the office jockies from the club were there suited up. Expect to see something on the news tonight.

HBF on board

 

[yakka man]

Before all the running Fyfe and Walters were doing some kicking practice to each other. Walters must have done a bit of work kicking on his opposite foot because he was kicking with his right and doing well. At this stage Walters is pretty much only running and while he does look a bit fitter he still has a way to go. Bucovaz is training well. I heard Suban say he has a bit of a back complaint and that is why he hasn't really done much training lately. After the 3 km time trial Mundy ran for the rest of the session. Probably because he didn't run as well as we would expect him too in the 3 km run. This was the first session that Houghton has left the rehab group too, he looked ok. No one is willing to say it yet but Mzungu will do really well in 2011 and will likely play round 1. Mayne also started in the skills/rehab group and then went into running for the rest of the session. Some of the boys headed to the beach after I think too.

 

[freo1]

Cheers for that.

I think I must have mis-interpretted your other post, not sure why Harvey was getting stuck into him though if he'd been doing pool work?

Wasn't getting stuck in to him, just giving him crap, having a joke

 

[Danlington]

Cheers for that.

I think I must have mis-interpretted your other post, not sure why Harvey was getting stuck into him though if he'd been doing pool work?

He said he gave him shit because he was all dressed up but barefoot.

 

[freo1]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

Thanks for the reports! Greatly appreciated. Why do you think Faulks is struggling so much? Just unprepared?

wouldnt have a clue as to why, but it doesnt matter. Either way, his fitness has a long way to go before he's ready for AFL

 

[Lach72]

Re: Training Monday 29th Nov

wouldnt have a clue as to why, but it doesnt matter. Either way, his fitness has a long way to go before he's ready for AFL

They'll get him there

 

[hedgehog]

Wasn't getting stuck in to him, just giving him crap, having a joke

I knew I'd misinterpretted it, no worries then!

Cheers for the reports salim/freo1/yakka man.

 

[Nickos66]

Cheers dudes, Sounds like Faulks needs to just keep running the laps all summer. Also sounds like Myzungu is giving it a fair crack and could well pull a 'Broughton' next year.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Mzungu reminds me A LOT of Broughton - his build, height, work ethic, mentality

If he could take the run and gun role off of HB with Broughton in the middle - who knows what could happen?

Geeez can't wait til 2011

 

[samseenee]

Thanks for the updates lads, this deprived purple hazer over here is ever so greatful for any info you lot can give. Really appreciate the effort !!

 

[23cmonShane!]

Thanks Guys. Much appreciated !

 

[Seppo]

No signs of anyone in the skills training/development group that shows a change of position for anyone?

I'm wondering if Crowly/Hayden will spend more time in the forward 50 next year as i feel we might need more depth to cover Ballas/Mayne/Waters.

Next time you guys are down at training can you ask if any players are being trained into new roles? I assume we will need a few multi-positioned players to cover the 1 less interchange next year...

 

[The Night Shift]

Good work updates team.

Is Balla always working his mouth in training as well? Would be good camaraderie. Must need to keep the sledging skills sharp for the season.

 

[pinkus maximus]

anyone recognise the guy at the front?