Ford Fairlane
Moderator
- Feb 21, 2002
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- #1
Caught a fair chunk of training this morning. In general, they are looking fit, and should be as training looked demanding. There’s been a lot of talk about the weights program, but you could see how hard their running is being worked in this session. Not endless laps (well for a couple ) but good high intensity match type work. There were a couple of end to end match drills and in between some hard running, 20m type repeat sprints overseen by Falloon who pushed them (“You’re f***ing joking, run through the finish line!). He really makes himself heard out there, which Comerford wasn’t so good at from what I saw (heard). And if not that, there were groups of players doing repeat 60-70m running drills along the boundary. Not sprints, but a decent pace. Pretty much perpetual motion, not much huddling around to talk over drills. After the 20m sprints, players had to jog back to the start and hit hard into bumping bags held by the assistant coaches.
Some players are looking noticeably bigger, others not so, but there’s some real definition across the back and shoulders (lats, traps and delts for the technically minded) of most players. Those are the hard to hit areas, so there’s some real work going on there. Even Kane has biceps now. It’s probably more noticeable on the senior players with more mature bodies.
Salter and Trengove ran laps and then shorter interval runs while I was there. For a guy with a supposedly bad leg, Trengove’s a running machine. He just kept running and running and looked very fit. Salter looks in great shape. Trimmed down around the torso, and obvious muscle definition through the arms and shoulders. Sal was running too, as was Pete Burgoyne - he looked solid, especially in the thighs and upper body. Seems to have acquired some new ink over the break too.
The match drills were interesting, a lot of focus on pressuring the ball carrier through the play zones with the coaches exhorting players to push up. And there was an emphasis on either a switch for quick release and then push forward, or finding a target upfield to release the play. But it had to be done quickly otherwise players were shut down by the zoning opponents (people will be pleased to note that the zoning meant the ball carriers had support too, and these players were shepherding, not running off for a soft sideways receive). The emphasis seemed to be on getting the ball going quickly forward with minimal possession. At one stage Choco spat it at the execution and sent the whole squad on a lap of the oval, then back into the drill.
There was also an emphasis on tall targets inside the F50. The mids would take the ball outside 50 and then hit one on one targets inside the F50. M Westhoff, Redden, Lobbe, Giles were used a fair bit. Just a quick comment on Redden (I will get back to him) – my thought was, “Can’t run, but sh*t can he mark”. He looks like he has very sticky fingers. Dawson had a run up there too as a support small marking forward and took a nice grab on the lead.
Individually, tried to get a good look at the young guys. Overall, as it looked from draft stats, they are a physically impressive crew – should fit in well and develop quickly. I was surprised at Broadbent, he already looks like a senior SANFL sized player – he has that Cochrane-type build (but Broady’s skills are way better ). Didn’t see much of Hartlett, but he was out in the middle of the match drills working away. He has a very impressive raking kick on him. Trengove, as mentioned, ran and ran, good smooth mover, and when he gets into the weights will fill out nicely. Broadbent does look a solid blue collar defender who rebounds well off half back. Banner, he’s short and solid, and works hard. Buzzed around the midfield, his kicking was better than some have suggested, but he jagged a calf during the session and went off. Redden took a couple of monster grabs one on one with Broadbent. Made front position, stuck the butt out, arms out in front of the eyes and one grab. Thanks for coming. But fitness wise, Giles would be pleased he’s there, because Gilesy now has someone to beat in running. Poor Redden, was doing the repeat runs on the boundary and after about 5 of them I was sure he was going to throw up – he was doubled over sucking in the big ones. He hung on but when he walked back to the match drill it was on rubber legs. But then he took some big grabs, so he recovered quickly. The fitness will come. Dawson, saw a little bit of him, pale and wiry, but looks like he will muscle up well. Has nice clean hands and moves well. Davenport is a strong body with good burst speed and seemed to be launching off between wing/half back, carry the ball and drop it long into the danger zone. He seemed to kick a couple of up and unders, but they were to Redden who just swallowed them and either made them look good or they were meant for him like that.
The spirit/camaraderie of the session was good. The senior players were really supporting the newbies, and the sophomores were using their voices. Grew and Broges were sympathetic to Redden’s distress in the repeat runs, and kept encouraging him.
Just a few brief observations of some players
Tredrea looks in great shape, the monolith is a big man. He did some forward line work with Ebert. Ebo did about half the session, then did the repeat boundary runs with Senior Burgs. Ebo’s looking a ball of muscle.
Brogan is another huge guy. And good voice, encouraging the young players (especially Redden).
Giles is a big unit now, and Lobbe is not far behind. I can believe Lobbe is over the 90kg mark now. His movement was good and was sound overhead as a marking forward target in a couple of drills.
Krakouer you wouldn’t recognise if you hadn’t seen him since he first arrived at 66kg. Some real muscle gain across the chest and shoulders, but maybe not the hardest runner on the track.
Matty Thomas ran well, good run across the midfield and disposal looked sharp.
Marlon Motlop looks AFL fit now, lean and strong. Gave Kingers a sneaky bump in the training drill. I don’t think Kingers thought it was as funny as Marlon did.
Shaun did the whole session, looks to be having a good pre-season.
Saw Josh Carr briefly (they often worked in two groups at either end of the ground, and he was in the group further away from me) - still has such clean hands at ground level.
Matty Westhoff (and this is dangerous territory) looked to be getting some shape to his body. Probably won’t look much bigger than last year unless you compare pics, but I thought he had gained a bit. Justin is different – his body shape doesn’t seem to change. There’s definitely some muscle definition there and he may well be heavier, but his basic shape doesn’t change, so it’s hard to tell with him. But he moves well, very sharp.
All in all, I found it an interesting session. Seemed to be different to last season, focusing on a different on-field style, and very intense physically, with all the running filling spaces between game drills.
Happy to field questions.
Some players are looking noticeably bigger, others not so, but there’s some real definition across the back and shoulders (lats, traps and delts for the technically minded) of most players. Those are the hard to hit areas, so there’s some real work going on there. Even Kane has biceps now. It’s probably more noticeable on the senior players with more mature bodies.
Salter and Trengove ran laps and then shorter interval runs while I was there. For a guy with a supposedly bad leg, Trengove’s a running machine. He just kept running and running and looked very fit. Salter looks in great shape. Trimmed down around the torso, and obvious muscle definition through the arms and shoulders. Sal was running too, as was Pete Burgoyne - he looked solid, especially in the thighs and upper body. Seems to have acquired some new ink over the break too.
The match drills were interesting, a lot of focus on pressuring the ball carrier through the play zones with the coaches exhorting players to push up. And there was an emphasis on either a switch for quick release and then push forward, or finding a target upfield to release the play. But it had to be done quickly otherwise players were shut down by the zoning opponents (people will be pleased to note that the zoning meant the ball carriers had support too, and these players were shepherding, not running off for a soft sideways receive). The emphasis seemed to be on getting the ball going quickly forward with minimal possession. At one stage Choco spat it at the execution and sent the whole squad on a lap of the oval, then back into the drill.
There was also an emphasis on tall targets inside the F50. The mids would take the ball outside 50 and then hit one on one targets inside the F50. M Westhoff, Redden, Lobbe, Giles were used a fair bit. Just a quick comment on Redden (I will get back to him) – my thought was, “Can’t run, but sh*t can he mark”. He looks like he has very sticky fingers. Dawson had a run up there too as a support small marking forward and took a nice grab on the lead.
Individually, tried to get a good look at the young guys. Overall, as it looked from draft stats, they are a physically impressive crew – should fit in well and develop quickly. I was surprised at Broadbent, he already looks like a senior SANFL sized player – he has that Cochrane-type build (but Broady’s skills are way better ). Didn’t see much of Hartlett, but he was out in the middle of the match drills working away. He has a very impressive raking kick on him. Trengove, as mentioned, ran and ran, good smooth mover, and when he gets into the weights will fill out nicely. Broadbent does look a solid blue collar defender who rebounds well off half back. Banner, he’s short and solid, and works hard. Buzzed around the midfield, his kicking was better than some have suggested, but he jagged a calf during the session and went off. Redden took a couple of monster grabs one on one with Broadbent. Made front position, stuck the butt out, arms out in front of the eyes and one grab. Thanks for coming. But fitness wise, Giles would be pleased he’s there, because Gilesy now has someone to beat in running. Poor Redden, was doing the repeat runs on the boundary and after about 5 of them I was sure he was going to throw up – he was doubled over sucking in the big ones. He hung on but when he walked back to the match drill it was on rubber legs. But then he took some big grabs, so he recovered quickly. The fitness will come. Dawson, saw a little bit of him, pale and wiry, but looks like he will muscle up well. Has nice clean hands and moves well. Davenport is a strong body with good burst speed and seemed to be launching off between wing/half back, carry the ball and drop it long into the danger zone. He seemed to kick a couple of up and unders, but they were to Redden who just swallowed them and either made them look good or they were meant for him like that.
The spirit/camaraderie of the session was good. The senior players were really supporting the newbies, and the sophomores were using their voices. Grew and Broges were sympathetic to Redden’s distress in the repeat runs, and kept encouraging him.
Just a few brief observations of some players
Tredrea looks in great shape, the monolith is a big man. He did some forward line work with Ebert. Ebo did about half the session, then did the repeat boundary runs with Senior Burgs. Ebo’s looking a ball of muscle.
Brogan is another huge guy. And good voice, encouraging the young players (especially Redden).
Giles is a big unit now, and Lobbe is not far behind. I can believe Lobbe is over the 90kg mark now. His movement was good and was sound overhead as a marking forward target in a couple of drills.
Krakouer you wouldn’t recognise if you hadn’t seen him since he first arrived at 66kg. Some real muscle gain across the chest and shoulders, but maybe not the hardest runner on the track.
Matty Thomas ran well, good run across the midfield and disposal looked sharp.
Marlon Motlop looks AFL fit now, lean and strong. Gave Kingers a sneaky bump in the training drill. I don’t think Kingers thought it was as funny as Marlon did.
Shaun did the whole session, looks to be having a good pre-season.
Saw Josh Carr briefly (they often worked in two groups at either end of the ground, and he was in the group further away from me) - still has such clean hands at ground level.
Matty Westhoff (and this is dangerous territory) looked to be getting some shape to his body. Probably won’t look much bigger than last year unless you compare pics, but I thought he had gained a bit. Justin is different – his body shape doesn’t seem to change. There’s definitely some muscle definition there and he may well be heavier, but his basic shape doesn’t change, so it’s hard to tell with him. But he moves well, very sharp.
All in all, I found it an interesting session. Seemed to be different to last season, focusing on a different on-field style, and very intense physically, with all the running filling spaces between game drills.
Happy to field questions.