I always say this, but, this will be short, or more realistically, lacking in actual content (but not mindless text! 
) I have very little to write about. It didn't help that I missed half of training with a few phone calls that I had to deal with.
So I went down to training today. van963 was down as well but I didn't see anyone else I knew. Friday sessions really are only short and lazy sessions but there was a bit on show.
Unfortunately, while I try to keep these training reports positive, there were some negative signs today. The main competitive drill was yet again a "movement from defence" drill, where one team was trying to overcome the zone set up by another team. It seems the club will persist with the switching of play that they've shown in the NAB Cup but it seemed to fail 75% of the time, and they would get eventually forced into an error. I suppose you could spin this into a positive and say that our defensive zoning is really good
But it was disappointing to watch the movement stagnate and break down so often. Whatever happened to the plan to switch diagonally across the field, simultaneously moving from one wing to another while also going forward? In many occasions the ball never left the defensive 50 before getting turned over. There is definitely work to be done in that area. Mind you, many of the players involved with the drill were youngsters that still don't have the experience to execute skills under pressure.
I made a point of watching a few players in particular today. I spent a lot of time watching Dangerfield but there wasn't alot to say. Not that he did much wrong, but for example, in the movement from defence drill, he was stationed in the centre and the ball rarely made it that far before getting turned over. He spent a lot of time with coaches who were talking to him but didn't seem to be demonstrating any action or anything. At one point at the end of the session when players were staying back to practise goalkicking he was talking to two trainers (I never recognise the trainers so I don't know who they were) for a good ten minutes or more, I wish I knew what they were saying.
I also made a point of watching Otten who I'm hoping is set for a big year. He was a bit shaky to start with (dropped a couple of marks during a drill where there was zero pressure) but got into it after a while. Craig came and spoke to him for a while but I couldn't make out what he was saying to him. Was often used as a linkman in the movement from defence and did some nice things. Spun out of a few tackles and dished off handballs to players under minimal pressure. Certainly not the worst out there. Sellar was the other often used as a linkman and did alright but was loathe to move the ball on quickly if there wasn't a clear option, which there rarely was. At one stage he got the ball, went to play on, realised it was the wrong decision, went to handball backwards and had his handball cut off by Gill. It was impressive work by Gill but unfortunate for Sellar. I try to be an optimist but I'm losing hope for Sellar. I really think he can now only make it as a forward, or a backup ruck (who will only survive on the list as long as we don't have a proper backup ruck), and the chances of him making as a forward seem diminished all the time. I hope I'm wrong.
The other I spent time watching was Walker, but he was stationed as the main forward and once the ball got near him the drill was over. He had a few kicks for goal and of course, he got them, but he little else to do in the session. He was mostly going through the motions in the drills.
I missed half of the defensive movement drill but it looked like Johncock and Doughty were doing the kickouts, and they were generally very good. I didn't see one miss the target, though Johncock did have one kickout that put his player under a fair bit of pressure (it was a straight kickout down the centre though, so at least when it went through the Crows were in a good position) but overall it looked pretty good. It was the next possession that the Crows got stuck with. 9 times out of 10 they seemed to stagnate there and go for the switch deep in defence that would eventually lead to their downfall. They need to get a lot better at this.
Porplyzia and Douglas did full training, though there wasn't exactly much contact. Porps still have the shoulder strapping but seemed uninhibited. Douglas was wearing VB's number and looked alright.
McKernan spent the session practising goalkicking with a trainer. As has been said of him before, he seems to have a beautiful kick 50% of the time and then a real shank the other 50%, there's not a lot of consistency there. His best looked very nice, hopefully he can start to reach it more often.
No sign of Rutten, VB or Henderson yet. No bikes were set up so perhaps they were indoors. Donnelly wasn't around either, and Thompson was also missing, presumably they're resting him not only from the game in Berri but for training as well. Actually, none of the first year players were around except Sloane and Schmidt. Kite was out, and I don't believe I saw Moss running around either. Perhaps that solves the "mystery" of why he isn't getting selected, he might be injured or unwell? Not that I was personally surprised he didn't make the squad over other players, but that could go a step further towards explaining it.
At the end of the session a number of players were staying back to kick for goal, including Tippett, McLeod, Edwards, Petrenko, Sloane, Jacky, Porplyzia and probably a couple others I missed. All of the above other than Tippett were practising shots on an angle, but a stiff breeze made it very difficult. Sloane looked the best of the youngsters from tight angles, whereas Petrenko and Jacky really didn't look natural from the boundary line. Goodwin stuck around to give encouragement and advice but didn't do much else. Tippett was practising from about 40 or 45 on a shallow angle and did alright, he didn't slot them all but those he missed at least looked like decent kicks. He's definitely improved his goalkicking over the summer in my opinion.
I have to say, Edwards and McLeod are looking a million bucks. It wouldn't surprise me if they have a great year this year, they really look sharp. At stages last year I thought they might be finished but they're looking really good out there.
At one stage there were some ruck drills, where Maric practised rucking to Knights, and Griffin to Vince. They looked alright but it's always hard to guage when they're just rucking against a cushion.
At one point Ben Hart was talking to a group of forwards, including Tippett, Gill, Hentschel, Walker and Jacky. Seems this constitutes their core group of forwards.
I think I'm out of content here. It was a bit of a nothing session but good to see the boys again. Can't wait for the season to get underway!
Still some ugly signs with our ball movement but it's hard not to be excited anyway. I probably won't get out to training again for a long time so it was nice to see them up close for the last time.
) I have very little to write about. It didn't help that I missed half of training with a few phone calls that I had to deal with.So I went down to training today. van963 was down as well but I didn't see anyone else I knew. Friday sessions really are only short and lazy sessions but there was a bit on show.
Unfortunately, while I try to keep these training reports positive, there were some negative signs today. The main competitive drill was yet again a "movement from defence" drill, where one team was trying to overcome the zone set up by another team. It seems the club will persist with the switching of play that they've shown in the NAB Cup but it seemed to fail 75% of the time, and they would get eventually forced into an error. I suppose you could spin this into a positive and say that our defensive zoning is really good
But it was disappointing to watch the movement stagnate and break down so often. Whatever happened to the plan to switch diagonally across the field, simultaneously moving from one wing to another while also going forward? In many occasions the ball never left the defensive 50 before getting turned over. There is definitely work to be done in that area. Mind you, many of the players involved with the drill were youngsters that still don't have the experience to execute skills under pressure.I made a point of watching a few players in particular today. I spent a lot of time watching Dangerfield but there wasn't alot to say. Not that he did much wrong, but for example, in the movement from defence drill, he was stationed in the centre and the ball rarely made it that far before getting turned over. He spent a lot of time with coaches who were talking to him but didn't seem to be demonstrating any action or anything. At one point at the end of the session when players were staying back to practise goalkicking he was talking to two trainers (I never recognise the trainers so I don't know who they were) for a good ten minutes or more, I wish I knew what they were saying.
I also made a point of watching Otten who I'm hoping is set for a big year. He was a bit shaky to start with (dropped a couple of marks during a drill where there was zero pressure) but got into it after a while. Craig came and spoke to him for a while but I couldn't make out what he was saying to him. Was often used as a linkman in the movement from defence and did some nice things. Spun out of a few tackles and dished off handballs to players under minimal pressure. Certainly not the worst out there. Sellar was the other often used as a linkman and did alright but was loathe to move the ball on quickly if there wasn't a clear option, which there rarely was. At one stage he got the ball, went to play on, realised it was the wrong decision, went to handball backwards and had his handball cut off by Gill. It was impressive work by Gill but unfortunate for Sellar. I try to be an optimist but I'm losing hope for Sellar. I really think he can now only make it as a forward, or a backup ruck (who will only survive on the list as long as we don't have a proper backup ruck), and the chances of him making as a forward seem diminished all the time. I hope I'm wrong.
The other I spent time watching was Walker, but he was stationed as the main forward and once the ball got near him the drill was over. He had a few kicks for goal and of course, he got them, but he little else to do in the session. He was mostly going through the motions in the drills.
I missed half of the defensive movement drill but it looked like Johncock and Doughty were doing the kickouts, and they were generally very good. I didn't see one miss the target, though Johncock did have one kickout that put his player under a fair bit of pressure (it was a straight kickout down the centre though, so at least when it went through the Crows were in a good position) but overall it looked pretty good. It was the next possession that the Crows got stuck with. 9 times out of 10 they seemed to stagnate there and go for the switch deep in defence that would eventually lead to their downfall. They need to get a lot better at this.
Porplyzia and Douglas did full training, though there wasn't exactly much contact. Porps still have the shoulder strapping but seemed uninhibited. Douglas was wearing VB's number and looked alright.
McKernan spent the session practising goalkicking with a trainer. As has been said of him before, he seems to have a beautiful kick 50% of the time and then a real shank the other 50%, there's not a lot of consistency there. His best looked very nice, hopefully he can start to reach it more often.
No sign of Rutten, VB or Henderson yet. No bikes were set up so perhaps they were indoors. Donnelly wasn't around either, and Thompson was also missing, presumably they're resting him not only from the game in Berri but for training as well. Actually, none of the first year players were around except Sloane and Schmidt. Kite was out, and I don't believe I saw Moss running around either. Perhaps that solves the "mystery" of why he isn't getting selected, he might be injured or unwell? Not that I was personally surprised he didn't make the squad over other players, but that could go a step further towards explaining it.
At the end of the session a number of players were staying back to kick for goal, including Tippett, McLeod, Edwards, Petrenko, Sloane, Jacky, Porplyzia and probably a couple others I missed. All of the above other than Tippett were practising shots on an angle, but a stiff breeze made it very difficult. Sloane looked the best of the youngsters from tight angles, whereas Petrenko and Jacky really didn't look natural from the boundary line. Goodwin stuck around to give encouragement and advice but didn't do much else. Tippett was practising from about 40 or 45 on a shallow angle and did alright, he didn't slot them all but those he missed at least looked like decent kicks. He's definitely improved his goalkicking over the summer in my opinion.
I have to say, Edwards and McLeod are looking a million bucks. It wouldn't surprise me if they have a great year this year, they really look sharp. At stages last year I thought they might be finished but they're looking really good out there.
At one stage there were some ruck drills, where Maric practised rucking to Knights, and Griffin to Vince. They looked alright but it's always hard to guage when they're just rucking against a cushion.
At one point Ben Hart was talking to a group of forwards, including Tippett, Gill, Hentschel, Walker and Jacky. Seems this constitutes their core group of forwards.
I think I'm out of content here. It was a bit of a nothing session but good to see the boys again. Can't wait for the season to get underway!
Still some ugly signs with our ball movement but it's hard not to be excited anyway. I probably won't get out to training again for a long time so it was nice to see them up close for the last time.
It's been great fun getting to training and writing reports, I'd never been to a training session before this preseason and I certainly feel I understand both the game style better and can also recognise the players better. The first time I went I couldn't tell who was who without the numbers, nowadays I don't even need to see the numbers.
