Onto what they did today. To sum up they certainty worked on the things they didn't or wouldn't do on Sunday. The coaching staff must have read torch's post as there was plenty of drills working on our disposal under pressure; not that we suddenly stopped making the same skill and decision making errors as on Sunday
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When I got to Gosch's paddock around 2.30pm, the squad was split into 3 groups.
The first group were working on passing and marking inside our forward 50. Each midfielder would in turn start from just behind the centre of the ground and then try to spot up a lead from 3 choices. Schulz, Riewoldt, Jacko, Browny, White and McGuane were some of the forward/defender pairings. Mostly clean although there were a couple of kicks that fell short of the target. JON didn't bother passing as his pace took him to 50. A replay of the Essendon game.
This group then split into two with one heading down with David King at the far goals separated in two teams playing keepings off inside the 50 arc. Good talk and workrate and the execution was quite good. In this group were King, Thursty, Connors, Polak, Moore, Cass, Clingan, Cleve, Meyer, Rainesy and JON. The remainder did ste shot goalkicking practice.
The second group was on the wing with Brian Royal working on set-ups and structures at centre bounces (there's a centre circle on the wing at Gosch's paddock). In this group were Graham doing the tapwork with Sugar, Tuck, Foley, Tambo, Howat, Lids, Edwards, Polo and Tivs as midfielders. Simmo and Knobel watched on while Patto held the jumping bag. Graham and 3 of the midfielders would huddle to discuss their set-up then the 3 midfielders would pair up against another 3. Graham then would jump on a bag and his 3 teammates had to win the clearance from the tap. Good to watch as it was right by the fence railing and you got a close up view. They still need to work on their off the ball skills such as blocking to open up a corridor for a teammate. Tivs ran into his teammate Sugar at one stage
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Next up the squad came together to form two rows for the handballing under pressure drill Harry asked about last week. The standout today was Jack. Everything he did both with the ball and his defensive pressure and reading the play was excellent. You could hear the coaches praising him for his defensive efforts. Probably intercepted the footy about 3 times. As for the drill overall it was a mixed bag although the difference in pressure applied by us today and Sunday couldn't have been more poles part. The trick to the drill is to not overdo the handpassing. No different to getting in a muddle during a real game by going back and forth spirialing towards an inevitable mistake and turnover.
The next drill was about kicking and footpassing under pressure. The squad formed two separate squares with about 3 or 4 on each corner and a couple in the middle of each. The players on the corners had to footpass the ball to each while those in the middle tried to intercept or cause a miskick. Whoever made a mistake would go into the middle and become the chaser. About halfway through the sqaures would move out so the passes needed to be longer. Watching from the other side of the ground it looked like the drill was done fairly well. One obvious mistake was when Gas as a chaser almost copped one flush in the face (bounced off his shoulder). The coaching staff obviously thought like us that our skills under pressure are still bloody ordinary and need working on.
Next up was another footpassing drill where the kicker wasn't under pressure but they had to hit the receiver who had someone on his tail. This drill more than any other shows up where we need to improve and get to to become a highly skilled team. Even when a pass makes it to teammate it really should be classed as a potential turnover if the receiver has to stop, prop and wait for the pass or needs to change direction late to mark the pass. In a real game these passes would more often not result in our turning over the footy.
The boys then then split into white and yellow teams for a one quarter scratch match. The 4 of us watching had our radar out on skill and decision making mistakes and there were a few especially when passing inside 50 or when cutting inside. It's still only February but we need to iron out handballs that a slightly behind the receiver scotting pass into space and kicks inside or around the outskirts of the 50 arc to flatfooted teammates that are telegraphed and intercepted. It's those things that cost us goals in games. On a positive note the intensity and vocalness was good and it was a fairly evenly matched contest.
Scores:
Whites 1.5-11 G: Petts, Bhds: Patto, Tivs, Tambo, Sugar and Petts
Yellows 2.2-14 G: White, Collins (lovely long running goal), Bhds: Krak 2
* Sugar and Browny were everywhere and got heaps of it. Foley was also good.
* Meyer played in a BP.
* McGuane and Patto played FF respectively for each side.
* Joel played on a HFF up against Newy.
* Edwards run was impressive. Ran to the right spots that benefitted his yellow team. Set up the long goal by Collins and kicked deep inside 50 that resulted in a snap off the pack from Krak.
* Collins seems to have gained more confidence after his good game for Coburg on Sunday.
The session finished off with some more run and carry drillwork. I was chatting away with someone by this stage so didn't pay too much attention. They then warmed down headed off back to Punt Rd.
Sheesh this post is long lol. Just shows how much they did today.
Photos to come.
