Training Mon 24th

[Dockernut]

Good work Token! Beat me to it We were watching from the same spot so I don't have much to add.

McPhee was first out on the track and looks super keen. As was said he's slimmer and his skills look good.

Harves gathered all the players in a tight huddle before they started and at the end of his talk there was a huge laugh. Harves looks really relaxed and enjoying himself.

During the warmups Hilly was doing most of the mobility / loosen up drills but when it came to calf stretching the trainer said Hilly don't do those. Suggest perhaps a calf strain or lower leg has been his problem rather than the dreaded dare not speak it's name. As has been mentioned he was running beautifully and kicking fine. It's like watching a thoroughbred colt!

Roberton looks super fit and stronger, impressive in drills.
McPharlin in great condition and skills sharp.
Palmer looks much slimmer than last year. I hardly recognised him as he's lost the bad haircut and lots of weight. I guess he worked a lot on his upper body when not able to run. He is moving beautifully and his kicking looked precise. He just seems to be running so much better than last year. Good times. He was doing all the midfield drills as the extractor and doing it well.
He (Palmer) was only outshone by the excellence of Mitchie in the ball up drills. He (Mitchie) was reading it like a book and moving beautifully in traffic. He's a good size (I'd say more than the 78kg in his bio) and very skilful. Super impressive. Where do our recruiters find them? Don't be surprised to see him playing Rd 1.
Anthony was being used in defence in the full ground drill as the kicking man. He's got a nice hoof. I'm not sold on his general footy skills but he's training hard and can certainly kick!
Fyfe was used as the setup man in some drills where the midfield had to get it to him and he would then assess upfield and kick to setup a forward thrust. This boy is special. Marvellous footy brain. Just takes the extra second (or not if not needed) and always releases to advantage. Can't teach that shit. He will be a leader if not captain.
Another that caught the eye was Bucovaz. Not so much as a forward but when he played as a midfielder. He actually moves nicely for his size and delivers well. I'd be surprised if he gets a start early in the year but could surprise if given opportunity.
Lower trains with the midfield group, also as an extractor. Nothing stands out about him but I believe his talent lies in winning hard ball so wait and see.
Faulks is starting to look like he belongs. A few so so kicks but linked up nicely on occasion.
No sign of Sibo. Presume he's in the crippled group with Houghta, Mora, Rodger. Barlow must be a way off yet as he wasn't there at all.
Suban didn't take part in the match sims but looks hard as nails and very determined. I expect a big year.
Great to see Balla / Son Son running and kicking. They don't look far off.
Overall a sharp session with high spirit. Lots of talking, laughing and camaraderie.
Signs are good peeps!

Oh yeah!

 

[Seppo]

"Fyfe was used as the setup man in some drills where the midfield had to get it to him and he would then assess upfield and kick to setup a forward thrust. This boy is special. Marvellous footy brain. Just takes the extra second (or not if not needed) and always releases to advantage. Can't teach that shit. He will be a leader if not captain."

Fyfe for the 2011 Doig, Mark of the Year, and Normsmith...

 

[leungtl]

Cheers for the updates guys, and welcome to the boards TE!

 

[Seppo]

I was hoping someone could take a small video of the next training session and post it on Youtube.
The reports from Salim, E Shed & Co are only just enough to get me through the weeks, but i suppose the pre season comp is not to far away... Not too long before we see some of these new guys in action on the field.

Interesting to see how the likes of Crichton, Spags and Roberton will perfom to push their selection chances and if some of the newer Rookies/Draftees push for a spot too (e.g. Lower and Michie)

 

[Nickos66]

Awesome, cheers Token & E shed.

 

[purplefrog]

Interesting to see how the likes of Crichton, Spags and Roberton will perfom to push their selection chances and if some of the newer Rookies/Draftees push for a spot too (e.g. Lower and Michie)

Have been to about 6 Monday training sessions this pre season and for me the stand outs have been Mzungu Roberton Crichton Zac and a few weeks ago Mellington.
Roberton I reckon will be in the 22 round 1 as I see him being groomed as our next CHB. He looks a lot bigger than last year and his kicking skills (particularly on his left foot) during pre season have been elite.
Seems realy focused and trains really intensely. Crichton and Spags would both be pushing for the back up mid field roles and both seemed to have filled out and gained a few kilos in weight. Very good foot skills on both these young guys particularly Crichton.
I remember a few seasons ago Heath Black delivering those long raking left foot kicks into our forward line, we now have Hill Suban Crichton Lower and Bollenhagen who hopefully will start doing the same.

 

[Freodoc]

Have been to about 6 Monday training sessions this pre season and for me the stand outs have been Mzungu Roberton Crichton Zac and a few weeks ago Mellington.
Roberton I reckon will be in the 22 round 1 as I see him being groomed as our next CHB. He looks a lot bigger than last year and his kicking skills (particularly on his left foot) during pre season have been elite.
Seems realy focused and trains really intensely. Crichton and Spags would both be pushing for the back up mid field roles and both seemed to have filled out and gained a few kilos in weight. Very good foot skills on both these young guys particularly Crichton.
I remember a few seasons ago Heath Black delivering those long raking left foot kicks into our forward line, we now have Hill Suban Crichton Lower and Bollenhagen who hopefully will start doing the same.

Ah, yes. A pleasure to behold, sadly missed.
Glad to see the famous left boot featuring a fair bit in Lach's medley of Freo highlights.

 

[Dock_king]

So Anthony did not actually play on Pav as a defender.

Thanks mate

 

[bfff]

How come left boots are always raking? I have not once heard of a raking right boot.

 

[yakka man]

On The West website they have 13 photo's of the session. Compared to last year Mcphee looks like a POW; he is so much slimmer.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Yeah just had a look

Sandilands looks very thin - has he lost weight over the pre-season or is just a bad picture?

 

[bfff]

Hill's legs look huge compared to Mundy's.

 

[Nickos66]

Hill's always has the big thighs, even back with the snap of him playing for WA in the State championships he had bit thighs, in proportion to the rest of his body anyway.

 

[theGav56]

Roberton I reckon will be in the 22 round 1 as I see him being groomed as our next CHB. He looks a lot bigger than last year and his kicking skills (particularly on his left foot) during pre season have been elite.

I am hoping so too. To me we seem to have quite a few rebounding defenders, but not quite so many lockdown players. If Roberton can snare that position, or be an option for it, we are well placed in the backline for the forseable future, plus some developing options.