Hey guys, Struggletown & Evo from PRE, and myself headed out to Vic Park today (Friday) to watch training...amongst the chatter about trivial net stuff, we actually watched a bit of what went on.
Struggs filed the report, which he gave me permission to re-produce here, for those who don't read elsewhere. I also took a few pictures, a sample of which are located below the report. As before MT, if you want to load them on the secure server and resize them , that would be cool.
[Ed. Cheers fwoy. Done 
]PS. I got burnt like you wouldn't beleive out there today! I actually look like this guy now -->
Oh well, on with the report...
Sorry its late,been enjoing the beers and beautiful sunshine with my co reporters and all round good guys Evo and Fwoy.
Training was at Vic Park,which is now nothing short of a dilapidated ruin.If you thought it was bad,you ought to see it now,a shambles unworthy of DVFL 2nd division.
The players were on the track at 11am in 30 deg sunshine.
The players who looked fittest included all the big guys,Richo,Simmonds..he's massive,Rix also a monster and even Morrison looks lean and fit.
After a few laps and sprints Brian Royal took the reins.
The players had a short kicking drill(20-25mtr),like lane work.
Then followed a longer (40mtr)kicking drill.
More sprints followed and it seemed light and easy with all players excelling so far.
The players then did a drill that was kamakaze handball,about 20mtrs from goal.
When Royal blew his whistle,the guys with the footys had to snap at goal,and most were on their left foot.
The kicking for goals was a little average to be honest,with some easy misses.The vocal level was good with lots of encouragement.
The guys then did 3 seperate drills all based on goal kicking under pressure.
The first was 3 players running in parallell lines toward goals about 50-60m out,with 2 guys facing the group putting on pressure.
Good drill,but it slipped into a shocker with 8 consecutive misses at one stage before BR stopped the drill and berated the players.
The 2nd part was much better,with improved goal/point ratios.
The next drill was a kick from full back to a lead.
The ball was marked and handballed to a running player for a shot on the run from 45-50m out,with the handballing player buttering up to chase and harrass the player shooting for goal.
In this drill Hyde and Raines were the most impressive.
The following drill was more snaps at goals,after series of handballs of one step.
Luke Mc Guane did very well and was the only player not to miss.
I must add the wind was tricky and blustery which didn't help.
The worst culprits at goal kicking were Hilton and Pattison,who were both shocking shots on the run.
The standouts were Hyde,Raines,Brown,Tambling and Tommy Roach looked a bit bigger and more confident in himself.
Some of these shooting at goal drills were swapped from each side of the ground to ensure that both sides of the body were used,a terrific idea.
Royal marshalled the troops magnificently.
He was vocal,lavishing praise when due,and criticising lazy or unprofessional work when it was due.
From what ive heard,and what I saw today,he is unlucky not to have a coaching job for himself.
The players not present during drills were
Hartigan,who ran laps and sprints all session with the physio.
Shultz who ran laps with a cork thigh strapped up.
Jackson and Graham were absent for the drills,but appeared for the intra club hitout which followed.
The game was Greys Vs Yellows.
The yellows seemed to have most of the expierienced players,with an imposing forward line of
Simmonds(FF) opposed to Morrison
Richo(CHF) opposed to Rix (whos even bigger than Richo)
Campbell(Floating FP) opposed to Gaspar
and an intriguing battle between Brown and Jackson,who was Brownies shadow.
David King was more involved now too,urging on players and demanding the voices be heard.
The game was a resonably good standard,with only turnovers spoiling it.Funnily enough the main offenders were the older more expierienced guys!
The young guys,Tambling,Raines,Roach and Hyde all had good games.
Knobel played well,and had the better of Stafford.I haeld no great hopes for Knobel,but he worked hard and did everything right,so good on him...he might do an important job for us better than expected.
Chaffey whom Ive criticised heavily had a very good match too,playing out of the midfield.He found the ball regularly and usually found his targets driving into the forward 50.
Tambling was VERY impressive.
His speed and poise are enough to excite the biggest doomsdayer,all class,and besides one easy miss from 10mts out was ultra impressive.
Hyde had a good match too,and his kicking was far better than I remembered it to be.
Raines was almost BOG.Found plenty of his own ball,had great vision on the run and good balance like his father too.He set up 3 or 4 goals by himself.
Now the big story....the smoky of the game!!
A young blond mop top kicked 4 goals,made space brilliantly,marked under pressure and kicked beutifully...his name....Mc Guane!!
The boy killed 'em!!
He's light and skinny,but looks like a good long term propect.
The more inexpierienced 'greys' beat the Yellows by probably 3 or goals.
Other positives.
Jackson chased and harrased Brownie,and at least broke even...he even got under Brownies skin!
Cogs completed the whole training session,without starring but looks as cut a figure as can be.
Krakoer crumbed a great goal from under Richo,and did some good things.
Tivendale ran hard and impressed with ball delivery when he got into space.He played in a wide wing role which I reckon suits him.
Rodan kicked a goal from 50mtrs out!! amazing!!
Pettifer took a terrific diving mark,and followed up by slotting a nice goal from a tight angle.He was stood by Delidio,who didnt have much of an impact in a defensive role.
Tuck and Thursfield slugged out a tie for the FF/FB for the greys.
Thursfield is all skin and bone,really scrawny.
Meyer was good in the goal kicking drills but didnt impose himself in the intra club...very light as well.
Highlights...
Jackson running with the flight of the ball,seemingly nowhere near it...then marked and accelerated into goal splitting the sticks...it was fantastic to watch.
Tamblings foot and hand skills.A joy to watch.His tackling is grat too.
The game of Andrew Raines...awesome.
Negatives.
Few.
Simmonds didn't do much.
Delidio was played defensively,so we didnt get to see his wares like we hoped.
Krakoer still seems to lack concerntration and fitness,does some great things,then goes missing and lopes about half hearted.
Gilmour,didnt play the intra club,told us he had a sore quaddie.
The 3 of us getting confused who the players were in their singlets,some guys looked the same,and we were getting Polo,Meyer,Limbach and McGuane mixed up for ages!
Good hard hitout in hot conditions,but entertaining and well competed.
We were suprised Wallace had so little to say to the players,merely observing the drills,and plucking out players for brief chats,BR and DK did nearly all the troop marshalling...Alessio did nothing at all!
We then departed the scumhole to the wondeful London Tavern to file this report...sory for the delay and for its dis-jointedness.
D-Rod shoots on goal
Organised Chaos??
Full size image:
click hereGilmour, McGuane, Tambling, Deledio and Thursfield/Limbach??
Full size image:
click hereSimmonds shoots on goal
