I got down to today's training session at Gosch's paddock. It was nice day to be outside in the sun, catch up with friends and get a footy fix for a couple of hours.
The squad was huge with all the ring-ins so it was hard to follow everyone but in the rehab group were:
Thursty
Schulz - he had a stretch bandage around his right knee.
McMahon
Cotch - apparently is still feeling the affects of the achillies on the 'good' leg (not the foot he broke) from training too hard when he returned. I still think he did some running on the main oval with Connors and Patto? while the others trained on the Melbourne Storm practice pitch.
Tambo - a friend said he was told it was OP
but I couldn't get a confirmation.
Moore
Petts - was walking unaided.
Silvester - copped some leg injury on Monday and was limping as he walked.
Gus - had an op on his hip and ankle but he should be right now for the rest of preseason.
Putt - had a stretch bandage around his calf but he was still doing running.
As for training itself it was a mixture of fitness (running) and skills work. Some kicking, handball and team/game drills. The 1-on-1 team stuff was spotting up and passing to teammates leading towards the ball carrier. The skills weren't too bad for December. Hands cleaner than feet. The popped over to the main oval for a short while as well but I was talking to friends at this stage so I didn't head over to watch. From a distance it looked like they did some more 1-on-1 team/game drills. When they came back to where we were, they formed small groups and did some 1-on-1 contesting with 2 in the centre and the others in each group circling the two while handballing to one Tiger in the centre while the other tried to stop him getting it. Lukey and Kingy were pretty funny to watch with Kingy holding on like a dog lol. Whitey and Foley were an even competitive match-up and weren't treating it as a training session. About half the squad including most of the newbies left after that and the rest finished off with some sprinting. The shirts had come off by this stage so Julz and Moi would have been in heaven
.
Some individual reports:
Jacko - I was told he had come back in the best shape out of everyone which impressed the coaching staff.
Whitey - looked really good using his pace to break lines in the team drills. Likewise Lids with his shaved head. They'll be going head to head apparently next Friday in a sprint at the fans training day.
Sugar is still wearing #17 and Newy #1. The oldies - Simmo, Richo, Sugar, Joel and Browny - took short breaks while the others trained. Joel said he'll feeling good. The others were 100% too.
Cogs - trained well and for the full session. He actually looked a fraction lighter in the body. Maybe to help boost his speed(?).
Rainesy - trained fully and moved well. No sign of injuries which plagued him in 2008. Another one who needs a big year in 2009.
Putty and Rance look more solid in the body this summer. Putty was definitely noticeably bigger from the skinny beanpole he was this time last year. I was told they are given a bucket of protein to drink to bulk up.
That's it for now. I'll probably remember more when I look back at the photos. My camera was playing up
so hopefully at least some pics come out and I'll post them.
