I didn't think I could go today but luckily at the last minute I was able to head down to training. It was at bright sunny and warm Vic Park this morning. They started the session around 9.15am and the session went for about two and half hours.
Six Tigers were in rehab - Cotchin, McGuane, Meyer, Thursty, Howat and Graham. Thursty had a bandage around his right knee. They all basically did aerobic boxing drills while the main squad trained. Cotch and McGaune could pack a good punch but Gus was hilarious. The trainer made them box with one arm for about 10 minutes straight. By the end of it Gus would've struggled to knock over a feather (and copping a good ribbing for it too) lol. Connors and Simmo only did half the session all up. Gourdis stayed out of the tackling stuff with the Melbourne Storm boys to work on his kicking.
As for the main squad there was actual no scratch match today but they did do match-like drills first up. The squad split up into two teams with one side wearing our black claw preseason guernseys and the other wearing greeny singlets over theres. The midfielders paired up into attacking and defensive mids would start at different positions around the ground at a stoppage (ball-up in the centre, defence or throw-in on a HBF) . The attacking side would then need to work the ball forward. If they scored a goal it was a win for them; if there was a turnover then it was a win for the defenders. Once again the forwards and backs were pretty much as they were on Friday. Everyone stayed within their forwards and backs grouping but match-ups were rotated and only 6 forwards/backs were on the field at once.
F: Richo Polak Riewoldt Patto Browny Collard Hughes Petts Edwards Lids
B: Tuck Schulz JON Rance King Moore Morton Bowden Polo Silvester
Mids: Cartledge and Putt dueled in the ruck. Rotating through the midfield were Jordy, Foley, Tambo, Tivs, Sugar, Newy, Raines, Jackson, Cogs, Hyde, White, Casserly, Collins.
Terry was up in the Sherrin Stand videoing proceedings. Rawlings had the forwards, Royal the mids and King the defenders.
Special Mentions:Tambo - impressive again at the stoppages as an "attacker" as well as working hard to get back and help the defenders and cut off a pass. We spoke to Chocco and he's rapted with Blingers' progress this preseason.
Browny - good to see him moving so freely and being heavily involved. Made one stuff up (a kick across the forward 50 was intercepted by JON) but was buzzing around and took several marks on the lead.
Hyde, Tivs and Sugar are much maligned but they played well today. Tivs also kicked one of his trademark long left foot goals. I wish he do it more in the real stuff.
Collins got praise from Joel for his efforts in the centre. Edwards was handy to inside 50 and kicked a goal.
Morton off a HBF should please supporters with his field kicking if today is anything to judge by. One of the trainers commented that he's a good kick. Another trainer quipped back that at least we've got one :ssh.
Everyone loves Kingy because he's a little mongrel who annoys the heck out of his opponent lol. Richo one time shoved him away
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Cogs didn't have a starring role by any means but it was good to see him finally back in the midfield. He had an icepack on his knee after training but it looked only precautionary as he didn't seem too fussed about it and walked off the track fine.
Jordy said after training you can judge how we're going in round 1.
Overall the midfield and defensive work was very good today. Clean possessions and delivery over distance. Probably the only criticism was some of the final passes to the leading forwards were still too Richmond-like (going over heads or leading at a leading forwards feet).
After the match simulation drills, Robbie Kearns from the Storm came by and took the squad through some tackling and wrestling drills. Simmo didn't participate and did some kicking on his own with a trainer and then Gourdis. For the first drill the players had to pair up to wrestle starting on their knees. Next one player had to tackle a whole line of players one at a time running at him. Richo loved this as he would dump everyone to the ground lol. For the final drill you had to try and stop them getting past you. Poor Rance still struggles at this when he has to tackle the nimble Foley and Polo.
The remainder of the session was then a run-a-thon for about 30 minutes. Whitey, Edwards and Tambo were first home most times. The boys not surprisingly were pretty stuffed afterwards.
I took some photos today so I'll post them up later. Not sure how they'll turn out as it was very glarey.
Any questions just fire away. I'll try to answer them when I get a chance.
