Just got back from training at a sunny Vic Park. A good day to be relaxing in the sun watching some footy. Training was meant to start at 10am but Terry and the coaches had the squad in a conference for ages going through presumably set-ups for the drills and team structure. I got there at about 10.30 and they didn't start training until 11. Today they did heaps of work on their set-ups around stoppages(ball-ups and throw-ins).
The rehab group contained JON, Petersen, Casserly, Razor, Richo, Schulz, Kingsley and Cogs. Hyde did just over about half the session with the main squad then joined rehab. I don't recall Thursty being there and Simmo popped down to watch for a little while.
For the first drill, the squad split up into groups of six spread around the ground. Each ground practiced ball-up and throw-in structures with the senior player within each group as instructor and the tallest bloke the ruckman tapping to the smalls. The closest two groups near us were Joel's and Gas' with Graham and Clever doing the tapwork respectively. With Joel's group they worked on defensive aspects.
The second drill was a foot passing one from one end of the ground to a short option in the middle who in turn passed it to someone at the opposite end and then repeated. The drill wasn't done at any frenetic pace but it was clean done by everybody with only one noticable errant kick from what I saw.
Next up was more work around stoppages with the squad split into 4 groups of yellows vs whites with two on each wing and the others 20-30m out from goal at either end. Not only did they work on ruck taps to rovers from ball-ups and throw-ins but also encouraged a third man to come in and punch the ball into space for a teammate to run onto. Riewoldt showed his footy smarts by timing his punch perfectly to Moore in space who then drilled a goal
. Good intensity and talk from the boys in this drill and fairly physically. Polak and Patto had a good duel going in their fairly even ruck contests. Tambo as he was going to ground snatched the ball away from Petts just a Kayne thought he had it in his hands (a loud "eff" could be heard lol) then had the composure and awareness to dish off a long handball to a teammate in space on the outside of the pack
. Others who did well with the clearances were Tuck, Foley and White. Lids played as a defender in this drill.
After that drill had been completed a search began for Clever's mouthguard. I presumed they found it as he later played in the short scratch match. As the next drill started Hyde joined the rehab ground. Midway through it Collins came off with a knock to the knee which needed a ice pack.
The next drill was an extension to the previous one. The idea being to use the knowledge they gained in a more game like situation. From a stoppage on the wing, each side (yellows vs whites) competed to get the footy down to their 3 forwards. The forward line for the yellows down our end were Petts vs Joel, Riewoldy vs Polak and White vs King. This drill was very well done IMO. Highly skilled and with good intensity. Of the newbies Edwards received praise for a pinpoint pass to Riewoldt while Jack himself showed what good hands he has on the lead under pressure. Of the regulars Tucky had one of his best training sessions. All this stoppage work was right up his alley. Browny although just another solid session from him is showing he's ready to fire.
To finish off about half the squad joined the rehab group (Mostly the newbies and older guys - Joel, Sugar, Tuck, Knobel, Gas, Browny plus Moore) to stretch and warm down while the remaining guys had a quick two 5 minute quarter 10 vs 10 scratch match. It was a shame it was only short as having fewer players on the park made for a quick attacking game with hardly any stoppages. Lids almost repeated his goal he kicked against Adelaide this year when he collected the game from the tap, put on the afterburners and ran and bounced his way to 50. Sadly he missed (he kicked the ball straight but his body (and hence leg) was facing the right behind area so it sailed in for a point. Lids spent the first quarter at FF then moved into the centre for the second. Tambo also enjoyed the extra space running hard all over the ground while Petts continuedly provided good leads. Polo was best in the clearances overall followed by Foley.
Match-ups (Yellows vs Whites).
Yellow F: Petts Jacko Harts
White B: Newy Clever White
Yellow mid: Patto Tambo Foley Polo
White mid: Graham Krak Tivs Howat
Yellow B: McGuane Raines King
White F: Polak Lids Meyer
ScoresYellows 3.2 (G: Petts, Jack, Tambo)
Whites 0.2 (B: Lids, Meyer)
And that was it. For the OER Ladies, Richo and Cogs were showing off their beach muscles at the end. What a shame my camera battery had ran out by then
.
I'll post what photos I have later tonight.
