Training Report - Friday Jan 5th

[Cap]

Thanks to SA Stazza and WW for your reviews

It is good to have two point of views (even when you agree )

I’m sure most people on the board understand that a differing of opinion doesn’t mean one person in more correct than the other

 

[Drummond]

Sellar is exciting to watch, at times Pav-esque in his movement and general stance, the boy swallows marks like a fat kid all over a muffin!!!
His only apparent weakness was he found it difficult to repel close attention in concetrated tackling drills, but a few years in the gym and heavy core-strengthening will turn him into a one man wrecking-crew.

I can't wait to see this guy bursting through congested packs taking hangers, eventually becoming a sole reason for thousands upon thousands of people to venture to AAMI Stadium each week.. but it wont be anytime soon.

As a young KPP he needs time, and plenty of work ethic.. if he can perform consistently with the Bays over the next couple of years he will give himself every opportunity to become the premier player Adelaide believes he is destined to be.

Meesen was absolutely outstanding in all his efforts throughout training I certainly thought he was ahead of Maric and it will be very interesting to see these two compete for the number 2 ruck position in the NAB/Ansett/Wizard/Escort Cup come February.

There was one particular incident that caught my attention (and Ben Rutten's for that matter) when in a ruck contest played out with opposing teams vying for possession, Meesen won the tap, called for and got the ball, was tackled and lost possession, got the ball back again and was tackled by three players - all of whom he amazingly broke away from by twisting and contorting his body and proceeded to feed the running Shirley with a piercing left-handed give between two opposing midfielders.. all the players invovled and watching from the sideline let up a roar and cheered him for his efforts - 2nd and 3rd efforts like this from a guy his size is something to get excited about! Ben Rutten turned to a coach beside him and said "I think we've got a ruck spot here" I was standing metres behind the playing group on the boundary line when I heard him say it. It is becoming increasingly obvious to the players just how hungry Meesen is to break into the side and accept the responsibilty that will come with a permanent (albeit rotational in the near future) ruck position.

Last but not least.... I must make a special mention for the almighty one.. Van Berlo. This guy is quickly becoming a beacon of all that is beautiful in our fair game, his leadership qualities alone are far beyond most players of his age and unlike any I have seen at this stage in any one player's career. VB was born to play football, he continues to do the unthinkable and left me short of breath on many occasions as I watched in awe from the sidelines. He lead from the front all day, taking on 10 year veterans as if they were mere rookies and leaving others to ponder where they failed in their attempts to restrict his output. I can see VERY big things for this young man, my only hope is that they all come in a Crows guernsey

Great report!

These three are a huge part of the future of the AFC! Meesen will be a brilliant ruckman, there is no doubt.

 

[Alex99]

Sorry if I've missed it somewhere, but what are the training times for this week? They haven't been updated on the site yet.

AFC Training Times
Monday 8 January 2007
Monday, 08/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Wednesday, 10/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Friday, 12/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Saturday, 13/01/06 (6am): Conditioning, Uni ovals

The squad will then train at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 14/01/06 - 19/01/06

 

[Alex99]

Great report!

These three are a huge part of the future of the AFC! Meesen will be a brilliant ruckman, there is no doubt.

I don’t dispute what you are saying about John Meesen (and it would be fantastic if he had a huge season) but wasn’t he flying this time last year and hasn’t he a history of looking very good on the pre season training track?

I will be waiting until the games start to judge a few players on how they have improved over summer.

 

[Drummond]

I don’t dispute what you are saying about John Meesen (and it would be fantastic if he had a huge season) but wasn’t he flying this time last year and hasn’t he a history of looking very good on the pre season training track?

I will be waiting until the games start to judge a few players on how they have improved over summer.

Well last season Maric was the preferred ruckman in the NAB Cup. Meesen was played for Norwood during the pre-season with mixed results. So no I wouldn't say he has a history of flying through pre-season. All the signs are there though; he had a terrific year in 2006 with massive improvement and by all reports he’s having a tremendous pre-season.

 

[- PC -]

he had a terrific year in 2006 with massive improvement and by all reports he’s having a tremendous pre-season.

This is what I like to see...a Meesen who realises he is on his last chance and is having the mental ability to work hard on making sure he extracts everything he possibly can

 

[tribey]

He's a pretty good tagger and can get his own possessions. He's a pretty solid footballer who will carry out his job well without being special.

Precisely.

I'll wax lyrical about #12 until the cows stumble out of a cab at 4am and forlornly try to put key to lock by mobile phone light.

In the past two seasons he's finished #3 in HBGs (2005 - in front of Ricciuto and Goodwin) and #6 in our Club Champion (2006).

Not only is he our primary tagger but he's our best in-and-under midfielder - the amount of hard ball he wins and quick clearances he gets in the guts is woefully underrated here by the usual suspects who'd rather put an utterly unproven kid straight into his position purely because of their draft position and not because of the realities at hand.

Shirley has evolved into a top-notch player at what he does - and that's getting down and dirty where angels fear to tread. Not only does he put the brakes on dangerous opposition ball-winners, he also wins plenty of it for both himself and receiving teammates. Every club needs one and we're lucky enough to have had him step up right when we needed him to with the loss of Stenglein back to WA.

At only 26 (27 in June) he has plenty of quality football ahead of him and can still improve further with the near 50 games of invaluable front-line midfield experience he's gleaned over the past two seasons under his belt - so any talk of him having already plateaued is garbage.

To invoke a cricket comparison, he's much like Justin Langer.

After a shaky start to his career he really began to blossom - but always has his place in the side questioned and is too often written off as a limited defensive battler despite constantly putting runs on the board and evolving into a highly effective player in his own right.

Robert Shirley commands respect - he's earnt it.

 

[Alex99]

This is what I like to see...a Meesen who realises he is on his last chance and is having the mental ability to work hard on making sure he extracts everything he possibly can

I will still hold judgment on his improvement until he has played few games? It’s very easy to look like a gun player with witches hats, look at Luke Jericho

 

[Vader]

The squad will then train at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 14/01/06 - 19/01/06

Any details of their routine while at the AIS? I live 5 min & work 2 min drive away from the AIS. Would love to drop in and check them out. Could be the only time I get to see them in the flesh this year, given that they don't have an away game in Sydney in 2007.

 

[- PC -]

I will still hold judgment on his improvement until he has played few games? It’s very easy to look like a gun player with witches hats, look at Luke Jericho

No doubt. I was talking about an attitude. That doesnt need witches hats to surface

 

[Alex99]

Any details of their routine while at the AIS? I live 5 min & work 2 min drive away from the AIS. Would love to drop in and check them out. Could be the only time I get to see them in the flesh this year, given that they don't have an away game in Sydney in 2007.

Send the club an E-mail and ask for some details regarding the training program. Send it to the generic e-mail address (crows@afc.com) and then attention to: Office Assistant – Administration Kimberley Fryer

I sure you will get a response.

 

[Drummond]

I will still hold judgment on his improvement until he has played few games? It’s very easy to look like a gun player with witches hats, look at Luke Jericho

SANFL? 21 witches hats out there too?

 

[RoosterLad]

SANFL? 21 witches hats out there too?

actually only 18 witches hats on the field with 3 witches hats warming the pine

 

[Drummond]

actually only 18 witches hats on the field with 3 witches hats warming the pine

Correct.

Majority of guys seem to think there is no such thing as local league though.

 

[Alex99]

SANFL? 21 witches hats out there too?

I want him to succeed (please don’t get so defensive) and to be a very good player for the AFC but I will wait and see how he performs in a game situation.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I want him to succeed (please don’t get so defensive) and to be a very good player for the AFC but I will wait and see how he performs in a game situation.

C98 I agree sometimes, like with Jericho, you have to see them in a game situation.

However Meesen has all the ingredients and skill sets to be a wonderfull player ....you don't need to see him in a game situation to realize he'll make it. Some of his movements in the SANFL last sesaon confirmed he just needed a bit more development and body strength
It's the same as saying you have to see Bryce Gibbs in an AFL game before knowing he'll make it ...sometimes it's just plain obvious.

 

[Mad Dog]

Precisely.

I'll wax lyrical about #12 until the cows stumble out of a cab at 4am and forlornly try to put key to lock by mobile phone light.

don't ya hate that !!......

In the past two seasons he's finished #3 in HBGs (2005 - in front of Ricciuto and Goodwin) and #6 in our Club Champion (2006).

Not only is he our primary tagger but he's our best in-and-under midfielder - the amount of hard ball he wins and quick clearances he gets in the guts is woefully underrated here by the usual suspects who'd rather put an utterly unproven kid straight into his position purely because of their draft position and not because of the realities at hand.

Shirley has evolved into a top-notch player at what he does - and that's getting down and dirty where angels fear to tread. Not only does he put the brakes on dangerous opposition ball-winners, he also wins plenty of it for both himself and receiving teammates. Every club needs one and we're lucky enough to have had him step up right when we needed him to with the loss of Stenglein back to WA.

At only 26 (27 in June) he has plenty of quality football ahead of him and can still improve further with the near 50 games of invaluable front-line midfield experience he's gleaned over the past two seasons under his belt - so any talk of him having already plateaued is garbage.

To invoke a cricket comparison, he's much like Justin Langer.

After a shaky start to his career he really began to blossom - but always has his place in the side questioned and is too often written off as a limited defensive battler despite constantly putting runs on the board and evolving into a highly effective player in his own right.

Robert Shirley commands respect - he's earnt it.

nicely said. I've been very critical of Shirley's career early doors.....but the key is that Robert and the Club have assessed what it is that Rob can offer - and formed a role accordingly.

He is now a very important part of our club and one of the first picked each week.

 

[KUNG FU]

AFC Training Times
Monday 8 January 2007
Monday, 08/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Wednesday, 10/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Friday, 12/01/06 (9.30am): Football, Max Basheer Reserve
Saturday, 13/01/06 (6am): Conditioning, Uni ovals

The squad will then train at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 14/01/06 - 19/01/06

Great. I'll be there Wednesday. I can't wait.

 

[betterthanu]

^^ make another report after u do, They cure boredom

 

[Dandy_GO]

I'll do my best to get along to the wednesday session as well.

 

[-CG-]

Ooo I'll be there with a couple of my mates I will make sure to take mental notes

 

[Drummond]

So, did anyone go along?

 

[Dandy_GO]

I couldn't this morning, but I'll definately be there on friday.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Quality work once again WW!!

We may have to draft you from Victoria as a permanent track watcher based on your efforts this week!!

When Stiffy (the poster) logs in from Serbia or herever he is, he'll live up to his name when he reads your reports!!!

Stiffy is signing in

Great report WW. Nice to read that a few of the youngsters are doing well

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Didn't see Goodwin,McGregor, Gill, Vince or Tippett train .....Vince may still be having inside work arising after his knee op, Goodwin as I reported yesterday didn't look in tip top condition ...not sure if he's had some injury concerns.

Goodwin is carrying an injury, but reckons it will be OK for when it matters.