Just got back from a sunny but cold Punt Rd Oval. Training started at 11am and went for about an hour and a half. The centre wicket area was such a mudheap that it was almost like a skating rink. You could see the boys watching their feet so not to end up in it.
The actual training was of quite a high standard especially as there was a number of pressure drills rather than the usual circle work. Not all good news though. Hyde hobbled off with some sort of leg/knee injury midway through. Richo is still hampered by that ankle he twisted late in the St Kilda game. He was doing some jogging kick to kick but midway through the session he too limped off into the rooms. He came back out 15 minutes late but couldn't jog and only did some handball work with Wayne Johnston before watching the remainder of the session.
In the rehab group were Knobel, Cogs and Collins. Cogs and Knobel just did some handball with Collins and Patto for about 20-30 mins. Cogs was swamped by the mass of kids watching training as he went up the race. Collins also did some boundary running. The only absentees were Razor and Polo. Krak didn't train. He appeared briefly and was still limping due to his ankle injury. Don't think he'll be back this week.
As for the main group they did a number of drills today. They firstly had Robbie Kearns down from the Storm again for some tackling practice as well as handballing under pressure drills. The senior players weren't required to do this so Sugar, Newy, Simmo, Richo, Kingsley did some non-contact running kick to kick and handball receiving. They were joined by Browny and Cass. Next up was the usual run and carry in 3s drills except today each group had a "defender" putting pressure on them. Good stuff. They finished off with stoppage work (ball-ups and throw ins) with the squad split in two on each side of the ground and each group subsequently split into opposing teams. Each team had to work the ball and eventually kick it to or through a marked square. Once again pretty well done and good to see pressure based drills on our kicking and handballing in our training. Overdue. Obviously designed with North in mind this week who are a physical side. Just a note on Danny here. He actually trained well and his work in tight in the stoppages was very clean and smart and he didn't wait off the pack for a soft possession either. Maybe at Coburg they should try him as a inside player instead of on a HFF and see how he goes.
The highlight of the day was a friendly stouch between Newy and Howat. After Howat got Newy a bit high in a tackle and brought him to ground, Newy rolled on top and pinned Cam to the ground with his arm. As they got up Cam kept hold of Newy's jumper and then picked up his cap and chucked a Newy. Nothing malice in it but it gave everyone a laugh
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Any questions just fire away
