Just got back from watching training this morning. I popped in at around 10.45 but they actually trained from 9-12. No rehab group today although Connors did appear with his moonboot still on. Julz, Moi and Steph would have been happy. A warm day means shirts off.
Mostly tackling and close in work today. The NRL guys were helping out with the tackling drills. A couple of new and odd drills too. In one drill one player had to lie down on the ground while another laid on top with his shoulder pressing down and him rotating around. Miller said it's designed to build-up strength. Another drill was where they would pair up joined by an elastic rope tied around their waist. One player had to evade while the other tried to catch him. Greg said this was designed to improve their agility. While they were paired up they were also doing one where they would face each other and press their shoulders into each other alternating between left and right shoulders.
David King was taking groups through close-in kicking and handballing.
Later on the session Royal took Graham, Patto and the midfielders to work on ball-up set-ups. Foley, Tuck, Cogs, Edwards, Blingers, Cotchin, Collins, Hyde were some of the mids involved IIRC. I'll need to check my photos when I get home tonight.
Fanning, Putt and Sullivan (I think he was one wearing #48) did ruck practice with Monkhurst.
As for the newbies, Cotchin, Rance and Putt all trained. Putt has the Southern Cross (Aus flag style) tattooed on his back. Rance has a blonde streak at the back of his head. Looks a good size already. About Jack Riewoldt's height and solid looking. He looked comfortable at training. Showed no sign of first day nerves or anything. Very clean skills.
Silvester and Callinan were at training too. I didn't notice the others today that were on the permission to train list. No sign of Richards or Pfieffer. I was told a rumour that the club thought Richards was too slow. Another rumour has it Lachlan McKinnon broke his toe so that's why he no longer isn't training with us.
I didn't see the older blokes - Richo, Browny, Sugar and Joel so they either may have left early or didn't train today.
I took a couple of photos. Hopefully some are close-up as most of the time the squad trained away from us. I'll post them sometime tonight when I get home.