Training TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ponsdale]

Funnily enough, on Trade Radio this year, Wallace went into detail about how he does actually watch 9 games a week ... which is pretty impressive around multiple media commitments.

That's their job - they're paid to do that. Even with a few media commitments, there's still plenty of time mid week to catch up on the rest of the round and probably even re-watch key quarters.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

If your program and nutrition are spot on and Even you could do it in 8 weeks

No, I don’t believe that would be and possible

 

[Demon bhoy]

No, I don’t believe that would be and possible

Ha Ha I think I need to start proof reading my posts, but with the right program and nutrition adding lean muscle is not hard and should be especially easy for someone in an elite football environment with the time and motivation

 

[Franky_024]

Had a look at the teams we fielded in round 1 and round 23, apart from Hibberd we were pretty much injury free to kick the season off.

Harmes, Pederson, Weideman, Smith and Stretch were the shuffled chairs, personally I wouldn't have any of these in the first 18 picked

 

[Topkent]

Ha Ha I think I need to start proof reading my posts, but with the right program and nutrition adding lean muscle is not hard and should be especially easy for someone in an elite football environment with the time and motivation

Except they aren't in an elite football environment they are on holidays

 

[Proper Gander]

Ok so this is weird. I'm at the cafe at AAMI grabbing a takeaway coffee before training starts, and the guy who ordered coffee right after me was Lleyton Hewitt.

He's gone to the toilet now while they make his coffee. I'll update further if he does anything interesting like add sugar to his long black.

 

[Proper Gander]

Tim Smith is running laps of the perimeter. Looks to be in good shape, though he just said g'day fellers how's it going, so his eyesight may be a bit questionable.

 

[00Stinger]

Wallace did his best 18 for us on SEN in 2018.

B: Neville Jetta, Oscar McDonald, Michael Hibberd

HB: Jayden Hunt, Jake Lever, Angus Brayshaw

C: Bernie Vince, Nathan Jones, James Harmes

HF: Mitch Hannan, Sam Weidemann, Christian Petracca

F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald

R: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney

Can't say I agree with only two talls down back, Harmes and Vince in the 18 and Weideman starting.

Wallace actually has more knowledge about every team than most analysts, he cops a lot of stick but I genuinely believe he does his own research. Just a bit off the mark with that 22 for us unfortunately.

TBF to old Wallet he did say Melbournes depth was unbelievable and that made picking the starting 18 extremely hard as there were alot of close calls.
Also went on to say that Melbourne need Weideman to stand up at AFL level and that he wasn't quite there atm

 

[Demon bhoy]

Except they aren't in an elite football environment they are on holidays

Didn’t realise they weren’t still AFL footballers during the off season, let’s take for granted then that they aren’t given off season programs and goals that have to met and that no one from the club is in contact with anybody else and that individual players don’t take it upon themselves to use the time to make gains.
It’s still very easy to add muscle and strength in an 8 week period with the right program and sound nutrition, if your taking 8 months to add 4 to 7 kgs your not doing it right

 

[Topkent]

Didn’t realise they weren’t still AFL footballers during the off season, let’s take for granted then that they aren’t given off season programs and goals that have to met and that no one from the club is in contact with anybody else and that individual players don’t take it upon themselves to use the time to make gains.
It’s still very easy to add muscle and strength in an 8 week period with the right program and sound nutrition, if your taking 8 months to add 4 to 7 kgs your not doing it right

It's not just about adding muscle or else every draftee would be huge in their second year.

 

[Russian Demon]

Adding muscle fast can kill a players ability to know how to balance and move. I agree you can stack it on, but all the rest of the puzzle that makes your movement smooth and fast gets out of whack.

See Woewoewoedin after he moved to Collingwood.

On SM-G930F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

Got to training this morning about 10am, and they were in the middle of a torp kicking drill. No joke! I don't know it was all about, but lots of cheering when someone got onto one.

I don't want to get too technical, but this was followed by lots of running, some drills, lots more running, some more drills, then lots more running.

The group is looking very fit and ready to smash it; I especially liked the looks of Tyson, Nibbler and Maynard. Maynard appears a lot bigger close up than his listed 185cm. Melksham was working super hard.

Jones and Bugg were doing laps and Hannan was doing a bit of specky practice and kick-to-kick on the far side. Lever was seen briefly, walking the boundary, as was Daisy Pierce and Mel Hickey. No sign of Weideman, Hibberd, Lewis, Vince, TMac or vandenBerg.

Hogan needs to work on his field kicking!

 

[Proper Gander]

Without delving further into the interesting area of the relative merits of adding bulk v drinking beers while on holiday - here is my general impressions of training. Also Starc just got Jake Ball’s wicket, which is nice.

Notable absentees were Jack Viney and Michael Hibberd (unless he was in the rehab group on the far side, and I never saw him, but I don’t think he was there).

In his own group, doing the special older guy with 4 premierships routine was Jordan Lewis who was doing laps early on checking his time every now and again. I gave him a supportive smile every time he passed that he totally ignored, which pleased me no end. He left soon after 10 AM and wasn’t seen again.

The rehab group being tortured by Crossey for the day consisted of Kent (shoulder), Jones (something), Filopovic (why not), Lever (post premiership loss related angst), Joel Smith (things), Tim Smith (other things), Weiderman (eating disorder), Wagner (who knows), TMac (surgery for things) Buggy (pest patrol) and anyone else who was in the rehab group that I have forgotten. I think Jeff didn’t join the main group today - I saw him running a bit with the rehab guys at one point but he seemed to have left the field by the second hour so he probably went to have beers with Jordan to talk about how to get 4 premierships. TBH this group started early, and were doing things with Crossey with music on the far side of the field next to Punt Road, so I never got that good a look at them unless they were running the perimeter.

The main group rocked up at about 9:35 - 9:40. Tardy buggers.

Now to add a further layer of complication to the who is big, who is small debate for Topkent to argue about, my body shape observations are that other than Kent who looks to me much as he ever has only with bandaged shoulder, everyone appears to have come back in decent shape with some looking very good indeed. Max Gawn, as reported elsewhere, is leaner. Stretchy is really hard looking - this was evident last off season too. He seems to have one of those body types that shows muscle definition clearly. The ripped award goes to Joel Smith who was running with TMac at one stage, both wearing those silly GPS bra things. He looks like one of those Olympic sprint swimmers - washboard belly with clear 6 pack - and makes Tommy look portly if that was ever possible. Wagner in great shape too, but when is he not? His concerns do not include skin folds, which is just as well because in my view he has other issues to contend with.

Channel 7 reported Petracca as ‘lean’ a few weeks back, which to my mind is media puff because he looks much the same to me. He is a big lad who has borrowed May West’s thighs, after either winning or losing a bet depending on your POV. He trains really well and is generally smiling, except during running drills where he looks like a guy hefting around 90 plus kilos who still has endurance work to do. The coaches are all over him, and Mitch Hannah who also struggles with running drills, but Ancient said Trac has improved already from a few weeks back where he was struggling to keep up, so maybe he can spend the summer shadowing Ollie shadowing Stretch and create a kind of domino effect premiership side.

Clayton Oliver looks like a different person to the guy we drafted. He’s lean and has muscles and stuff, and is very focussed and effective all through the session, and the big surprise is none other than Mitch King who really has gone from ‘LOL you’re kidding’ to the heights of an interesting theoretical possibility. Hogan looking good and has come back relatively lean, in a big forward type way, and Pedo looks heaps better than last year post surgery when he was puffing his way though hours of Crossey type punishment.

Goodwin also absent, but I think the draft might be held in Sydney this year so he’s probably heading there.

I am now going to make a cheese sandwich and will return with more once I’ve eaten it and can recall some drills and stuff.

 

[Proper Gander]

Got to training this morning about 10am, and they were in the middle of a torp kicking drill. No joke! I don't know it was all about, but lots of cheering when someone got onto one.

I don't want to get too technical, but this was followed by lots of running, some drills, lots more running, some more drills, then lots more running.

The group is looking very fit and ready to smash it; I especially liked the looks of Tyson, Nibbler and Maynard. Maynard appears a lot bigger close up than his listed 185cm. Melksham was working super hard.

Jones and Bugg were doing laps and Hannan was doing a bit of specky practice and kick-to-kick on the far side. Lever was seen briefly, walking the boundary, as was Daisy Pierce and Mel Hickey. No sign of Weideman, Hibberd, Lewis, Vince, TMac or vandenBerg.

Hogan needs to work on his field kicking!

View attachment 439861
View attachment 439863

Looks a bit like Trac is skipping there. Not impossible.

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

Looks a bit like Trac is skipping there. Not impossible.

Taking a shot, missed to the near side, "F**K!"

Actually, I did see TMac and Smith, but was on a work related phone call (I've booked my time to project admin, **** off campaigners), so didn't catch who it was in the black bras. Also saw Jeffy signing a couple of autographs before disappearing.

I found it interesting that every time the players completed an interval in their running that the coaches were all saying, "Get around each other. Congratulate someone. Remember your body language." and other such things.

 

[Proper Gander]

Taking a shot, missed to the near side, "F**K!"

Actually, I did see TMac and Smith, but was on a work related phone call (I've booked my time to project admin, **** off campaigners), so didn't catch who it was in the black bras. Also saw Jeffy signing a couple of autographs before disappearing.

I found it interesting that every time the players completed an interval in their running that the coaches were all saying, "Get around each other. Congratulate someone. Remember your body language." and other such things.

They’re taking up the slack for Wattsy I guess.

I heard Dom say - “great Harley ... really light on those feet mate” during one of the odd cones-in-a-square drills, so I’ve decided he is the heart and soul of the group and a future leader.

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

They’re taking up the slack for Wattsy I guess.

I heard Dom say - “great Harley ... really light on those feet mate” during one of the odd cones-in-a-square drills, so I’ve decided he is the heart and soul of the group and a future leader.

LOL, I did take a good look at him (Balic) - seemed a bit flatter than the rest of the group, though he was keeping up with the running. He also sprayed a few when they spent that 15 minutes having shots on goal. He's not going to make it.

 

[Proper Gander]

LOL, I did take a good look at him (Balic) - seemed a bit flatter than the rest of the group, though he was keeping up with the running. He also sprayed a few when they spent that 15 minutes having shots on goal. He's not going to make it.

I thought he looked okay but I didn’t look closely. But that’s all good because he looks like mint player sponsor material.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I am now going to make a cheese sandwich and will return with more once I’ve eaten it and can recall some drills and stuff.

How was the sanga PG?

 

[ponsdale]

he looks like mint player sponsor material

Lock it in, Admin.

 

[Proper Gander]

How was the sanga PG?

Not bad. I had cheese with pickles, then a cup of tea and two chocolate chip biscuits.

The cricket has gone to shit again, so I will continue.

The main group warmed up on some silly drills. They played soccerish stuff with a round ball which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our best soccer player is head-and-shoulders James Harmes who was having a Beckham-like blinder, and Dom Tyson isn’t bad either. Welcome to the next International Rules match boys. Then they play cone dancing for a bit - kind of footspeed, balance drill with players in turn having to skitter inside a diamond of different colour cones towards the colour cone yelled by a coach. Everyone okay at this. Of course there is the routine hilarious moment where the coach yells “red!” And everyone falls over their feet because there is no red cone. Wacko. What with the soccer drill then the invisible cone dance this all looks to me like a super way to do an ankle. By now I take two paracaetamol because my temper has taken a sudden nose-dive for no good reason.

Then some real drills in ball movement. Interestingly with a spot of light body work, so we’re ahead of the curve, but no full tackling, just some friendly nudges. The players have split into three rough groups which are the defenders, forwards and mids (loosely speaking). I was closest to the mids. Thinking back to preseason a few years back, we look a much sharper, more experienced and generally better unit then back then. Plus Dawes isn’t here which is a relief and works even better than the paracaetamol on my head. Harmes is killing it in the midfield for sharpness and intensity. I’m pleased about this. His best footy is really valuable - read 1st quarter against Saints last we played - but like a true demon his consistency hasn’t been great. But he looks the real deal ATM so I’m hoping for a big year. Also he has terrible tats and his hair is achieving new heights of dodgy so I’m thinking breakout, Dusty type Brownlow year for the Horse.

I check out Balic’s work and thought he looked okay, certainly not out of place. He has a good size and body shape for midfield, though looks a bit softer than some of our returning players which is hardly surprising given he is pretty young and hasn’t had much of a run at AFL game time as yet. I will watch with interest. He has an awesome totally deadpan expression, like a police officer reading from his notebook in the Federal Magistrates. His flat affect will no doubt drive Bigfooty posters to extremes during the year and I’m looking forward to it. Given he was a low pick, injury riddled past, only a year contract, and isn’t best 22 yet he seems totally the perfect character for a Melbourne sponsorship. Whoever goes to the BBQ has exactly 1 hour to make him smile or pay everyone here $50 (photo or it didn’t happen).

We also did some full team drills where the Simon Goodwin changing lanes special is on full display. Skills are pretty sharp overall, though as Sir Hugh pointed out Jesse did some real worm burners from time to time. I like to think it was intended to sharpen the ground ball skills of his teammates, such is his generosity. But on the whole we look like a functioning unit rather than a group of randoms who showed up for a spot of kick-to-kick which is encouraging. Petracca is loud and somewhat ADHD but a few more running sessions quieten him down eventually (his recovery is very good - he is a complete goose again before home time). Track also does his tongue out thing at seemingly random times, so I’m now convinced it is totally unconscious. I hope he doesn’t get a surprise tackle while like that. All in all, I think we can be reasonably confident that the change lanes thing should be executed well in 2018. Hopefully in the season we can add in the taking marks thing, the not spoiling each other thing, the kicking goals thing and not going missing during random quarters for no obvious reason thing.

JKH is training well, though I should point out that every time I have been to training he is going well - he’s very focussed and generally upbeat in training. But full marks for effort even though I’m not convinced he will make it as an AFL player - he won’t die not knowing, so good for him. Harmes is the dynamo of the day though - he is completely on and wins the intensity award. Also smiles a fair bit; but his teeth are pretty big so it’s probably just more comfortable to display bits of them from time to time and give his lips a rest.

Late in the session there is some goal practice. Jesse redeems himself with some excellent kicking in set shots from various angles. He is also putting a fair bit of time now and after the session in practicing snaps for goal, so maybe this year he has decided to shrink and become a crumbing forward in the hope of winning over Ando. Jake Melksham has paired up with Jesse and misses virtually everything. Someone needs to get in his head and tell him its neck and neck in the 4th. Christians 1 and 2 both look good. One quiet and one loud. I’ll leave it to you to decide which. Oliver goes about his business like a pro. There are some nice moments where everyone is lined up watching the goal kicker and generally sledging to put the man off his game. So its a general testosterone competition of gruff swearing and raucous HaHa-ing - passing dog walkers glance over thinking its international pirate day. Harmes hasn’t tailed off yet and his goal kicking is solid from all angles.

With some more running just for fun, the last bit consists of some positional work in pairs. Max has taken Mitch King off to one end and they do some light contested stuff. Max wins mostly but Mitch doesn’t look utterly out of place any more which is a step in the right direction. Jesse is working hard on getting some distance on his man (OMac), pushing off or out-bodying. He looks great now, and OMac not doing a bad job. Close by Pedo and Keilty are doing similar work but with more comedic misses and general pointless running about, falling over, scrambling etc, but who knows what the coaches are asking for so whatever they are doing could be perfect for all I know. So lets say it is perfect and give both a big hand.

Some other coaches are doing contested midfield work tapping it to players taking turns in offensive and defensive roles. This group are all travelling well, even Balic who looks like a footballer (but still hasn’t smiled or for that matter twitched). He is getting a fair bit of encouragement but that could have been to get his face to move.

And so it ends. I head off towards a tram. I try to hang by Christian Salem and Melksham who are in conversation to find out what interesting things footy players chat about. What I found out is that Jake reckons sessions like that are the pits for changing shoes from spikes to runners. He’s right. They all should get a pay rise. I slope off when both become aware that they have attracted a third person to their conversation and give me some WTF looks.

Overall the dynamic looks good and we will probably get a premiership this year.

 

[Demon bhoy]

It's not just about adding muscle or else every draftee would be huge in their second year.

Agree that’s why I said the right program and sound nutrition, If a professional footballer like Omac with the support of professional strength and conditioning staff can’t add a minimum 4kg while improving functional strength in 8 weeks they all need to look for new jobs.

Max Gawn has lost weight from all accounts I bet it wasn’t done by sacrificing muscle mass and overall strength, by the same token players don’t have to look like mike conlon from 1987 to have added size and strength

 

[rhaz]

Agree that’s why I said the right program and sound nutrition, If a professional footballer like Omac with the support of professional strength and conditioning staff can’t add a minimum 4kg while improving functional strength in 8 weeks they all need to look for new jobs.

Dude 4kg isn't a small amount

Just because they are professional athletes, doesn't mean they get some enhanced capability of adding muscle mass.

 

[Demon bhoy]

Dude 4kg isn't a small amount

Just because they are professional athletes, doesn't mean they get some enhanced capability of adding muscle mass.

Dude, using Omac as an example again he is listed at 196cm and 97 kgs, it is a small amount and once again if the program and nutrition is on point very easy to achieve, adding a small amount of size and functional strength can and does have huge benefits.

I’m not suggesting the players should or would come back looking like a Mr Olympia competiter in that time frame but the benefit to Mitch King from adding a little bit of size and increasing functional strength is obvious I would have thought

 

[Topkent]

Agree that’s why I said the right program and sound nutrition, If a professional footballer like Omac with the support of professional strength and conditioning staff can’t add a minimum 4kg while improving functional strength in 8 weeks they all need to look for new jobs.

Max Gawn has lost weight from all accounts I bet it wasn’t done by sacrificing muscle mass and overall strength, by the same token players don’t have to look like mike conlon from 1987 to have added size and strength

Liked for the great 1987 reference.
Those blokes in the late 80s early 90s were massive.