Training Training Thread 2023

[Ligma]

 

[Sphynx]

Who do you think our bottom 5 are?

At the moment?

Edwards, Lazzaro, Spicer, Turner, Bergman.

 

[Ligma]

Lovely open ball grip

 

[The Y Factor]

At the moment?

Edwards, Lazzaro, Spicer, Turner, Bergman.

Interesting. I haven’t thought much about it but reasonable.

I think Miller has huge potential and the best of the lot. Edwards too early to know, he’s only just turned 20 and a growing lad. Charlie I think has a work ethos that gives him a chance but he’s a way off it currently.

I think Turner can play at the level but not adding much and Spicer not up to it.

Good luck to the lads!

 

[Ligma]

 

[Sphynx]

Interesting. I haven’t thought much about it but reasonable.

I think Miller has huge potential and the best of the lot. Edwards too early to know, he’s only just turned 20 and a growing lad. Charlie I think has a work ethos that gives him a chance but he’s a way off it currently.

I think Turner can play at the level but not adding much and Spicer not up to it.

Good luck to the lads!

I'm fairly confident in calling Edwards done.

I've seen hours and hours and hours of him now.

It's absolutely nothing to do with his body size. Comben was probably smaller than him 2 seasons ago and showed genuine promise in all facets of his game.

Edwards has no footy IQ in terms of his running patterns, is very timid, doesn't really attack or demand the ball etc. He's a good mover, sure, he's not an absolute freak in that regard like someone like Majak though.

He gets completely out positioned, out bodied and run off by every opponent he has at training. He never gets the ball and he hasn't been a major standout at VFL level either.

I'm normally fairly conservative with these calls, as you normally see a glimpse here or there, he's simply going to be nowhere near good enough. In fact I think he will be back in the Ammo's in 18 months.

He certainly showed enough in those 6-7 games for Sandringham to be taken where he did in the MSD, but he's no different to that player than he is now 20 months down the track.

It would have to be a turnaround of epic proportions imo.

You would be absolutely ropable if you spent a top 15 pick on him at the end of that draft, for that we can be thankful, it didn't cost us anything in draft capital.

 

[My Left Foote]

View attachment 1593360

Ratts looking noticeably trimmer and healthier than when he first joined us.

 

[Val Keating]

Young Arch is a chip off the old block in that he refuses to be beaten. There was a bit of play when he was completely outsized by Hamish, and though Hamish ended up kicking a goal, Arch gave him hell and almost beat him. The kid is all heart

 

[Ligma]

 

[hilly]

LDU isn't winning the Brownlow. $67 is unders.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[DesertRoo]

Kayne been binging peaks blinders in the off season I see.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Watching today, I thought the same thing. Some stand out players and glimpses of great plays, but I still think we will struggle.

If you think not making finals is struggling, then yes, we will struggle. If you think finishing in the bottom 6 is struggling, then yes, we will probably struggle. If you think struggling is getting belted most weeks, coming last, and winning 2 games or less, then no, we ****ing won't struggle.

 

[Reginald0]

This is probably my way of thinking. Unless the majority of players we have recruited/traded for are duds with limited upside despite being high draft, then basic logic would tell we would have to be significantly more competitive.

We have a number of early draft picks approaching 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons, surely under Clarko they start to take decent leaps forward. The only way I see us having another wooden spoon season is if we once again cop a heap of injuries.

6-8 wins is my prediction.

2022 turned into a disaster for a few reasons
High on the list was the Defence blowing up after Taz left And Ats and Froggy were moved on
Corr, I hope, wasn’t fully fit and then BMac fell over
Add trying to get Perez up to speed, Bonar often injured and JZ getting difficult matchups
Just horrible

Looks a lot better now

 

[4cunningTonneTruck]

At the moment?

Edwards, Lazzaro, Spicer, Turner, Bergman.

I thought Bergman was solid today. I'd have him over Mahoney

 

[lockheed]

This is probably my way of thinking. Unless the majority of players we have recruited/traded for are duds with limited upside despite being high draft, then basic logic would tell we would have to be significantly more competitive.

We have a number of early draft picks approaching 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons, surely under Clarko they start to take decent leaps forward. The only way I see us having another wooden spoon season is if we once again cop a heap of injuries.

6-8 wins is my prediction.

For a while, I feel that we've performed less well that the sum of the talent of our players. It may take Clarko more than a few weeks to turn this around.

 

[4cunningTonneTruck]

If you think not making finals is struggling, then yes, we will struggle. If you think finishing in the bottom 6 is struggling, then yes, we will probably struggle. If you think struggling is getting belted most weeks, coming last, and winning 2 games or less, then no, we ******* won't struggle.

We will see. All I'm saying is from today it didn't look that impressive. Lot of skill errors, poor kicking for goal and a lot of bombing it long still. That being said a few stand out players. Maybe it will click when we have our best 23 on the same team vsing an opposition.

 

[Ligma]

Wednesday morning saw the Kangaroos conduct a more structured, four 15-minute quarter match simulation, again under the searing sun.

Fielding the more experienced line-up of the two was the 'Blue' team which was headed up by Jy Simpkin, Ben Cunnington, Luke Davies-Uniacke and bookends Ben McKay and Nick Larkey, while the 'Yellow' side was led by Todd Goldstein, Hugh Greenwood and Tarryn Thomas and featured several VFL-listed players.

Paul Curtis set the tone right from the first bounce with a sweeping handball clearance out wide to Charlie Lazzaro who used his pace to get the ball forward for 'Yellow'.

Paul Curtis at training on Wednesday, January 25. Picture: North Media
With a focus on drawing the man and releasing a player into space, it was Lazzaro and Miller Bergman for 'Yellow' who were often able to penetrate their opposition's defence.

Stepping up for 'Blue' early on was Eddie Fordwho kicked the first goal of the morning. He was ably supported by a lively Kayne Turner on the forward flank who was getting into good positions and using the ball effectively.

In the absence of Aaron Hall and Luke McDonald, who were both running laps, Jack Ziebell claimed kick-out duties for 'Blue'. The former skipper spent the entire match sim in the backline, reuniting with the position he shone in back in 2021.

Jack Ziebell at training on Wednesday, January 25. Picture: North Media
Jamie Hope (VFL) opened the account for 'Yellow' in the second term, but key forward Larkey answered with back-to-back majors, the first of which was set up by a long, deep ball from Harry Sheezel.

The prized draft pick managed to hit the scoreboard in the following quarter, converting a set shot from distance after claiming a contested mark. Goals from Simpkin and Cam Zurhaar for 'Blue' ensued, while Tristan Xerriused his size and mobility to take some strong grabs around the ground. As did Callum Coleman-Jones for 'Yellow' who added a goal later in the contest.

One of the more exciting plays of the morning came courtesy of ruckman Hamish Free(Yellow). While being checked closely by Jackson Archer deep in the pocket, Free used his speed to keep the ball in play before gathering it and finding the VFL-listed Jack Watkins with a dribbling handball into the goalsquare, resulting in Watkins' second major. His cleverness and execution earned praise from the coaches and teammates that surrounded the area.

Simpkin, Cunnington and Davies-Uniacke showed their class throughout the match as the more experienced midfield trio, and were complemented by Will Phillips who was able to slice up 'Yellow' with his disposal as well.

Ben Cunnington at training on Wednesday, January 25. Picture: North Media
Aside from Sheezel impressing with ball in hand, it was his workrate that perhaps stood out even more. With energy levels among players approaching depletion in the dying stages, Sheezel tore down the ground from the back pocket to the goalsquare at the opposite end, gathering disposals and hitting targets along the way.

He closed out the simulation with some midfield minutes, while Phillips made the switch from 'Blue' to 'Yellow' as the fourth quarter kicked off. The 2020 No.3 draft selection was used off half-back as Thomas, who had been playing as a defender, shifted into the 'Yellow' midfield where he made an immediate impact.

Lachie Young and Tarryn Thomas at training on Wednesday, January 25. Picture: North Media
Despite 'Blue' leading on the scoreboard as the session neared its end, senior coach Alastair Clarkson announced that the final two minutes would be dedicated to 'Blue' attempting to chase down a spontaneous four-point 'Yellow' advantage, encouraging both sides to adapt to the sudden change of situation.

Aidan Corr was running at a notable pace on the boundary line as he continues his calf recovery, while Griffin Logue progressed closer to a full return to training.

YELLOW 4.5 (29)
BLUE 7.11 (53)

GOALS
Yellow: Watkins (VFL) 2, Coleman-Jones, Hope (VFL)
Blue: Larkey 3, Sheezel, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Ford

TEAMS
Yellow: Greenwood, Goldstein, Thomas, Bergman, Lazzaro, Coleman-Jones, Powell, Curtis, Edwards, Harvey, Drury, Dawson, Free.
Blue: Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Cunnington, Phillips, Xerri, Goater, Archer, Perez, Bonar, Sheezel, Scott, Ziebell, Shiels, Young, Larkey, Comben, McKay, Turner, Ford, Zurhaar.

Absent from match sim: Mahony, Stephenson, Tucker, Hall, McDonald, Taylor, Corr, Spicer, Wardlaw, Howe, George.

 

[hoffseason gains]

We will see. All I'm saying is from today it didn't look that impressive. Lot of skill errors, poor kicking for goal and a lot of bombing it long still. That being said a few stand out players. Maybe it will click when we have our best 23 on the same team vsing an opposition.

We will most likely see vs Richmond in the first preseason match. When we got demolished by Melbourne last year, it should have been a sign to know we were going to be in for a long year.

 

[leighlee13]

Training report: Sharpshooter stars, prized pick puts hand up

Wednesday morning saw the Kangaroos conduct a more structured, four 15-minute quarter match simulation, again under the searing sun

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[zoomba23]

At the moment?

Edwards, Lazzaro, Spicer, Turner, Bergman.

Wasn't at training, but Bergman got a good wrap from whoever wrote the report. Bottom 5 seems harsh. I've already made clear my outspoken views on Spicer. The others, fair enough

 

[Ligma]

LDU isn't winning the Brownlow. $67 is unders.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

He is and we are going undefeated

 

[Passmore]

If you think not making finals is struggling, then yes, we will struggle. If you think finishing in the bottom 6 is struggling, then yes, we will probably struggle. If you think struggling is getting belted most weeks, coming last, and winning 2 games or less, then no, we ******* won't struggle.

I don’t think we’ll struggle to be “less shit” than last year. That’s obviously not setting the bar overly high, but after the shambles of the past 3 seasons, it’s a start.

All “less shit” really entails is a system the players can carry out, competing, not getting weekly flogging and winning a game here and there.

 

[Passmore]

Wasn't at training, but Bergman got a good wrap from whoever wrote the report. Bottom 5 seems harsh. I've already made clear my outspoken views on Spicer. The others, fair enough

Just needs an AFL body and he’s a chance.

 

[Sillygit]

One pre-season, a mid table or higher finish from stinking motherless last, does not make.

 

[4cunningTonneTruck]

From watching today, it seems like the gameplan is somewhat similar to what Noble was going for towards the end of 2021 when we would take on the corridor with fast link up plays. However, Hall isn't the only one with the pass to take it on and we don't exclusively go through the corridor.

We seem to flood the backline with extra numbers. Then we have deep numbers that handpass once or twice to an open player on the outside of the pack and they look for an open player around our defensive 50 meter mark to hit with a kick (usually a midfielder). Then, the runners from the backline start to surge with one of them getting the handball receive from the man that took the mark on the 50. Further up the ground the forwards (and deeper midfielders) then spread and provide options on the wing and in the corridor. The runners from the backline and midfield continue to run for another handball receive. This means that the forwards are often running back into the 50 just before the ball enters not allowing the opposition to flood our forward 50 allowing easy marks out the back. We also seem to keep a very deep defensive player 50 meters behind play, like a goal keeper (was Zieball today).