Just got back from training at Vic Park. A long long session today in very smokey conditions
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Training went for about 3 and half hours - 10am to 1.30pm. From the time I arrived at around 10.40am they played two quarters of a full scale practice match on top of the usual training drills. Everyone was in attendance today.
In the rehab group was Hyde, Razor, JON and Petersen. Sadly Schulz will be joining them for the next 2-3 weeks after doing a hammy on a lead right in front of us in the first 5 minutes of the practice game.
Cogs and Thursty joined in the ballwork drills but stayed out of the practice match (obviously not to risk twisting and turning with their knees). They then joined Edwards in doing some 100m sprints. Connors and Collins also didn't join in with the main squad. Riewoldt and Clingan trained with the main group and played one quarter. Tas needed to fetch for the ice after he was done.
Newman was with the main squad today and got through the whole session and practice match which was great to see. He didn't get much of the ball but no surprise if he's rusty.
Today's drills were about run and carry. Moving the ball the length of the ground with 2 players in support. Very well done with the ball hardly toughing the ground in a clean display.
Then the squad split into Blacks and Whites for the practice match. Some of the match-ups were:
White forward line:
Riewoldt - Hughes (first qtr) Richo - Polak Pettifer - Paddy
Schulz - Moore Browny/Tuck/Tambling v King
Black forward line:
Jackson - Raines Kingsley - Joel Hughes - Gas (2nd qtr)
Midfield (lots of rotations today):
Graham - Pattison (Simmonds only rucked for the first 10 minutes or so)
Tambling - Clingan/Lids
Casserly - McGuane and Hartigan - Newman on opposing wings.
Foley - Johnson
Polo - Meyer
Browny - Krak
Howat had a few opponents.
Tuck and Petts also had runs switching between playing forward and midfield.
As I said the match-ups were constantly rotated.
Rough scores: (missed some goals and goalkickers at the Yarra Falls end)
Blacks: 4.2 6.3 (Goals: Simmo from 50m on the run, Meyer snap and Jacko. 2nd qtr Hughes got both)
Whites: 4.1 8.1 (Goals: Richo 2, Tambling 2, Browny, Pettifer, Tuck)
Best:
Tambling - on fire in the centre. Either won he's on footy or ran hard for a handball receive and created his open space. Kicked two goals as well working hard pushing forward.
Howat - was very good too in the middle. He got a round of applause at the end. Sounded as though he got the best today from the coaching staff.
Tucky - did some nice things today. A couple of top passes to Jacko and Richo on the lead.
Riewoldt for his first hitout I've seen was impressive. He backed up his reputation for being a good clean mark. He said to us that he's been pumping it in the gym and hopes to add a couple of more kilos by the start of the season. Also hopes he can get a game next year. As for the points system he's down near the bottom as all of the newbies are.
Schulz - as mentioned he did his hammy. The poor bloke seems to cop a injury just when he's starting to look good.
Polak and Richo finished fairly even as did Joel and Kingsley although Raines also spent time in Kingsley.
Gas - hope he doesn't throw out those boots as his kicking was probably the best we've ever seen.
Overall a good standard although it was a pretty open game with not many stoppages.
That's about it. Fire away any questions.
Nice to catch up with Wez and Axel from Y&B again and to meet Tambo. My camera was out of action so Wez kindly took one of Petersen for us. I'll also post the one of Tas Clingan from last week now that I know what he looks like.
