Training itself was pretty standard for this time of the year. Footpassing, handballing and marking followed by smaller group drills. The only difference is there would be a massive cheer and round of applause everytime they can near the race to have a drink. Makes a change from the usual 5-10 people who watch training. The news crews were moving through the crowd interviewing Tiger fans on their thoughts. One reporter was even asking if gaining Cousins means a premiership next year. Geez it's only December mate
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The first group drills were footy based ones starting with a stoppage on the wing between two teams of about 7 or 8 players each and then passing to a one-on-one contest inside the forward line. The skill level was very clean and crisp for December. Clean hands even when gathering the footy at pace on the tips of the toes. Jack from memory who was up forward at one stage took a spectacular mark in the tips of his fingers at full stretch
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For the next drill the main squad would split into three and they would do more game like activities under the instruction of an assistant coach. Once they finished with one activity the groups would rotate to the next one. The group closest to the fans was run by Cambo and it was handball game where the group would be split into two teams and the attacking team would have to handball their way playing keepings off until they were close enough to handball the footy through a hoop on top a stand. If a player was tackled/touched with the ball then it was an automatic turnover to the other team.
Some individual reports. First the newbies.
Cuz - trained well for his first full on training session with a club in over 12 months or whatever it is. Some fans were getting carried away cheering and clapping every possession he had but he got through the half session he was expected to do successsfully and injury free. He also seemed to gel with the rest of the players as training went along which was good to see.
Browne is a big boy
. Just from a size point of view he is virtually readymade. What would have impressed the coaching staff is he is good below his knees for a big kid. He's not a big inflexibile lug who will go missing once the ball hits the ground.
Nahas and Gilligan are slight and short. We'll need to see them in a game environment before judging if they can make it at AFL level. I didn't notice Nahas too much. He might have been in the rehab but I can't remember for sure. Tambo after training drove Gilligan home in his car. Good to see Richie taking care of the Alroy.
Gourdis' kicking technique is still hit and miss when passing to a teammate.
A mate who has been to more training sessions in the last couple of weeks told me he's been very impressed with Thomson.
Now onto some of the others.....
Lids - he's looking the best of out there IMO. Solid as in the upper body and classy as you'd expect.
Browny - a mate I was sitting with thought Browny looked like he could play more in the middle next year. I agreed. It's probably his first full preseason since breaking his leg and he's looking super fit. He and Rainesy had something going on during the handball game. They kept going on with it after a tackle pulling shirts and wrestling on the ground. Nothing too agro or anything like that but they were having fun having a go at and stirring each other.
Cogs moved as well as we've seen him. Still it's how he goes during a match especially once the ball clears out into space that will test whether he is back. I was told the club gets nervous about his knee when he's in pack situations because he has no fear and just throws himself in there without care for self preservation.
Edwards looks to have added muscle across the shoulders.
Gus - A friend asked him about his ankle(s) and he said they were fine. "Didn't you see me train out there today" lol.
Rance is another one who is a big boy now. I forgot to say before they also had him in the rebab group IIRC.
Good to Blingers even for half a session train fully. Seems the OP rumour was garbage after all. For the other half of training he trained on his own.
Kingy - Cambo had to give him the hurry up "push" a couple times when he was trailing the others in the handball game as they from one end to the other.
I'll post some photos that I took later on.
