Training News

[ImperialPurple]

Well spotted...

 

[dominguez]

I went down and had a look this morning.

Tarrant, Farmer, Matt Carr, Collard and McPharlin were absent.

Drum and Copping trained in the gym.

Thornton, Hasleby, Schammer and JLo did very little work and were away from the main group. JLo looked noticeably bigger in the upper body.Pavlich only did about half the session with the rest of the team but looked fine, for the other half he snapped shots at goal with one of the assistants. Pav seeems to have grabbed the captaincy with both hands, he was very vocal when he did take part in the session. Crowley had a large brace on his knee but was moving freely and took part in the entire session. Heath Black didn't do any work with the group, he ran laps by himself but seemed to be moving freely. Two other guys ran laps for most of the session, one would have been Foster, the other was around 6"4' with blonde hair (Rumble??).

Haddrill looked good and will play first week of the NAB cup and round one IMO.

Peake, Browne, Grover, Sandilands, Warnock, Cook, Johnson and Murphy were the standouts. Peake and Browne must need constant reassurance because after every kick Connolly would say well done Brownie/Peakie. Both seem to have improved their foot skills. During match practice Peaker received a handball alongside Macca and within 3 seconds he had 10 metres on him.Murphy is a natural leader of the young guys and would go over to pat them on the back whenever they hit a target. He also looks much bigger. Cook's skills looked great, didn't see him miss a target.

Ibbotson dropped some marks and missed some targets.

Mourish looked good and was big on the high fives.

Warnock beat Sandilands in a couple of one on one marking duels during match practice and looks considerably bigger. Sandilands would give him some rough treatment wherever possible, which to me indicates that he is likely to play early in the year and Sandi is preparing him for the step up in class.

 

[Cheetah]

Well done Dom!

How did Solly and Dunn look?

 

[kp junior]

Thanks Dom, has Peake put on any weight, ala his old man?

 

[theGav56]

Haddrill looked good and will play first week of the NAB cup and round one IMO.

Big call. I would assume Hadrill would be played at FB if you were right. Can't remember seeing him play anywhere else for a significant period of time. That would mean MacPharlin to CHB, which of course is where he used to play before going forward.

Firstly, I would like to see Hadrill back and fit. It must be really difficult for him having taken his game to a pretty high level, then to be cut down long term with injury. Five stars to him for hanging in there.

Secondly, I want to see our defence take another step forward. They were pretty mean last season, with lots of talent, and seemed to gell together pretty well. But there are a few nice guys back there. Parker, Mundy, MacPharlin, Hayden. Great footballers, and very nice blokes. If I needed someone to babysit my five year old for a few hours on a Friday night, I'd give them a call. But I want them to be meaner, harder and angrier. Not just denying their opponent the ball, but also giving them a touch of Irritable Backman Syndrome. The big strong body of Hadrill up against the gorillas has been missed.

 

[Captain Pump]

Secondly, I want to see our defence take another step forward. They were pretty mean last season, with lots of talent, and seemed to gell together pretty well.....The big strong body of Hadrill up against the gorillas has been missed.

I though Grover took a massive step forward last year, and I can't think of any forward line (barring our own) that we would struggle to match up on with Haddrill, Groves, McPharlin, Johnson, Parker, Hayden and Mundy on the park. We have someone for every type of forward plus strong rebounding capability. 3 talls, no problem. 2 small forwards and we have Parks and Hayden.

Solid.

 

[dominguez]

Well done Dom!

How did Solly and Dunn look?

Both looked big, strong and fit. Dunn was moving well and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the NAB cup.

 

[dominguez]

Thanks Dom, has Peake put on any weight, ala his old man?

Still looked thin, I guess he just has that body type that won't add bulk.

 

[dominguez]

Big call. I would assume Hadrill would be played at FB if you were right. Can't remember seeing him play anywhere else for a significant period of time. That would mean MacPharlin to CHB, which of course is where he used to play before going forward.

Firstly, I would like to see Hadrill back and fit. It must be really difficult for him having taken his game to a pretty high level, then to be cut down long term with injury. Five stars to him for hanging in there.

Secondly, I want to see our defence take another step forward. They were pretty mean last season, with lots of talent, and seemed to gell together pretty well. But there are a few nice guys back there. Parker, Mundy, MacPharlin, Hayden. Great footballers, and very nice blokes. If I needed someone to babysit my five year old for a few hours on a Friday night, I'd give them a call. But I want them to be meaner, harder and angrier. Not just denying their opponent the ball, but also giving them a touch of Irritable Backman Syndrome. The big strong body of Hadrill up against the gorillas has been missed.

A fit Haddrill will certainly create some selection headaches, which can only be a good thing. It would be interesting to know how many games McPharlin and Haddrill have played together in their 5 seasons at the club, I'd say it wouldn't be too many considering how many games both of them have missed due to injury.

 

[dominguez]

http://fremantlefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=312323

 

[Cheetah]

Cheers Dom.

 

[theGav56]

I though Grover took a massive step forward last year, and I can't think of any forward line (barring our own) that we would struggle to match up on with Haddrill, Groves, McPharlin, Johnson, Parker, Hayden and Mundy on the park. We have someone for every type of forward plus strong rebounding capability. 3 talls, no problem. 2 small forwards and we have Parks and Hayden.

Solid.

All true. Well, almost; Sydney beat us in the forward line (and midfield of course).

But what about this scenario; An injured Hayden, and an ageless Parker suddenly caught by Grandfather Time. Suddenly we're think of bringing Walker back. Or Schammer's brain is being scrambled as he is asked to do a role he is not ideal for.

I would also like to see someone in our backline who intimidates, and I guess Solomon is the likely type to do that if required.

 

[dominguez]

I'd play Duffield in the back pocket ahead of Walker.

 

[Scham]

O' Brien would be another option for the BP if there's a few unavailable.

 

[Captain Pump]

All true. Well, almost; Sydney beat us in the forward line (and midfield of course).

But what about this scenario; An injured Hayden, and an ageless Parker suddenly caught by Grandfather Time. Suddenly we're think of bringing Walker back. Or Schammer's brain is being scrambled as he is asked to do a role he is not ideal for.

I would also like to see someone in our backline who intimidates, and I guess Solomon is the likely type to do that if required.

We didn't have Haddrill against Sydney, and Haddrill on Hall would have been interesting.

As others said, covering Hayden and Parks (for arguments sake) we have a few options. Outside of those I listed we still have The GST, Solly, Drum, Walker, Dodd, Duffield, and even The Rumbler (if we get a longtermer in defense then I am punting on his elevation). I am not to worried about depth!

If we need some forwards put down we can send Cookie in on a search and destroy mission.

 

[dominguez]

The GST

Thornton????

 

[Captain Pump]

Thornton????

The Great Scott Thornton. He always finds that extra 10%.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

I though Grover took a massive step forward last year, and I can't think of any forward line (barring our own) that we would struggle to match up on with Haddrill, Groves, McPharlin, Johnson, Parker, Hayden and Mundy on the park. We have someone for every type of forward plus strong rebounding capability. 3 talls, no problem. 2 small forwards and we have Parks and Hayden.

Solid.

As well as Thornton, you left out Heath Black who played brilliantly on a HBF during the last half of the season. If you watch some re-runs you'll notice his defending got better and better. Never strong overhead, he just always goes the spoil now.

Thornton is important because he is tall and lightening quick. Just ask Reiwoldt.

And I would never call Parker a nice player. He is as hard as nails in an old fashioned way. Never gives an inch and never has a cheap shot like the Daniel Kerr's and Adam Hunter's. Has been known to get stuck in. Remember his bashing Gehrig's knuckles.

 

[Captain Pump]

As well as Thornton, you left out Heath Black who played brilliantly on a HBF during the last half of the season. If you watch some re-runs you'll notice his defending got better and better. Never strong overhead, he just always goes the spoil now.

I can see your point about Black and i agree he got better on the defensive stuff towards the end of the year, but just in terms of matching up a forward line I still wouldn't put him into the equation. Just not a match-up kind of player, which is how a sweeper should be.

 

[stripes]

Two other guys ran laps for most of the session, one would have been Foster, the other was around 6"4' with blonde hair (Rumble??).

yeh i think that may have been smith, rumble was with the main group that day. i was wondering who it was and had to go through process of elimination. he is only listed as 184cm though but looks a good size.

 

[dominguez]

You may be right about Smith, he certainly did look a lot bigger than 184cm.

Smith and Rumble look quite similar in these photos.
http://fremantlefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=players&spg=rookielist

 

[newlander77]

Black will be out until at least round 1. It's unlikely he will get any pre-season games under his belt and he is unlikely to join the main squad for quite some time. He just had a hip operation.

While that's bad news for him, it's good news for some of the younger guys who will get an opportunity to get a few games under their belts.

 

[dominguez]

Cheers for the update Wombat.

Black seemed to be moving freely at training last week, although he didn't take part in any contact work.

 

[bushie]

i am not sure if I saw it in this thread.

But can anyone update me why Crowley is wearing a dirty big knee brace please?

 

[Ripper]

i am not sure if I saw it in this thread.

But can anyone update me why Crowley is wearing a dirty big knee brace please?

He hurt his knee in the 2nd Irish game.