Training Report: Monday Dec 8

[Neil Appleby]

Training Report: Monday Dec 8, 2014

Players were out on the field early today. When I arrived at 9:25 they were being fitted with tracking devices. Seemed to be almost the entire list in attendance; we missed only one player and that was Ben Reid.

Players began by doing some supervised stretching and then some 50 metre runs. Macaffer was the only player not to do the warm ups. He walked a few laps with the psychologist and then went inside.

Matthew Sharenberg did the stretches and the run throughs with the rest of the boys and then went to his personal trainer where they consulted a prepared sheet. He did a time trial and then ran laps for the next hour. It was particularly pleasing to see him on the track and working so very hard.

Cloke and Swan also joined in this part of the training, before moving off to do individual training. Swan trained very hard. He ran laps, did 50 metre and 100 metre sprints and ran a slalom course through witches hats all the while keeping a close eye on his watch - for personal times that is!

New boys Jordan DaGoey, Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard and Matt Goodyear were in attendance and joined in all of the drills. Rookie pick, Michael Monteit was also training and the boy ran his heart out. It reminded me of the new boy in class, out to impress. He�s bigger framed than Goodyear who looks like a twig. He needs a few summers in the gym! Couldn�t spot Brenden Abbott.

Players then did some 50 metre sprints. Jono Marsh wore a top-knot today, but has shaved off his scraggy beard. Ben Sinclair has grown one.

Players then moved to the club house side and gathered listening to Bill Davoren. Then they were off in a time trial.

Sidebottom quickly took the lead (see pics) and was closely followed by Freeman and Armstrong. That�s how it stayed for the 4 laps, with the only change being the lead by Sidey, who won in a canter. Sharenberg took part! Hallelujah! Jono Marsh, Broomhead, Swan, Seedsman, Greenwood, Cloke, Goldy, Brown, Williams and Swan did not do this time trial.

Sharenberg finished last as you�d expect, only just behind Karnezis who fell away in the final lap. Brodie Grundy was third last.

The top 20 was something like this:
Sidey, Freeman, Armstrong, Varcoe, Manteit, Crisp, Adams, Young, Keeffe, Seedsman, Pendles, Fasolo, Ramsay, Tooves, Da Goey, Blair, Goodyear, Elliott, Sinclair, Maynard.

Players then did a warm down, changed into boots and then did some more exercises. The remainder of the session went in similar fashion to last week.

-Players do kick to kick with a partner.
-Buckley yells to all players, �Put up your hand where you want it delivered.� Kicking for accuracy.
-Players now in groups of 5, 3 black shirts v2 pink shirts who try to apply pressure. Kicking for accuracy whilst under pressure.
-Goodyear might be a Twiggy Dunne in physique right now but one thing I noticed was his poise in traffic and his use of the ball. Didn�t see one miskick. If he�s the worst kick of the draftees then he�s miles ahead of Dwyer, Adams, Sinkers and Thomas.
-Players then in groups of five around ground in simulated match conditions running and kicking.
-The 3Ms - Maynard, Manteit and Moore look very polished with ball in hand.
-A few players then left the main group to do specialized training � Seedsman, Moore, Marsh, Oxley
-Seedsman then had some physio work done on his left thigh.
-Main group broke up into two groups, Black v Pink in simulated match conditions. Emphasis on clearances.
-Maynard will be mistaken for Pendlebury I reckon; look similar on the field.
-Armstrong prominent in these drills.
-Grundy tackled after hospital kick by Armstrong. The Goodyear tackle is rewarded with a free kick.
-Adams turns it over to Mason Cox, who gives to DeGoey, Varcoe, Ramsay. Keeffe smothers Ramsay but loses the ball and smashes his fist into the ground and swears in frustration.
-Corey Gault awarded bonus shot on goal from 50 and slots it to the delight and cheers of his Pink team mates.
-Sharenberg now running laps with Broomhead and keeps up with him; I�m impressed.
-Swanny, Cloke and Marsh run 100m run throughs.
-Neil Balme appears on the sidelines at 10:40.
-Now players in three teams. One watches whilst two teams play (Pink V Yellow).
- Armstrong in back pocket gets the ball, hesitates, called to move it by umpire, handballs to Williams. Williams waits, hesitates, plays into trouble (this reminds me of the Coll V Ess game with our backs turning it over every time!)
-Williams to stationary Armstrong who is tackled strongly by De Goey who earns a free from Umpire Robert Harvey. De Goey to shoot for goal. He wobbles it for a behind.
-Williams to Adams and Adams turns it over to Cox. Some things never change.
-Cox kicks to White who marks strongly, hand passes to Elliott who goals.
-Lots of cameramen and three TV crews here. Must be a presser to follow training.

Impressions:
All of the summer trades and draftees did well in the time trial, which is terrific.
First day for Manteit was impressive. The boy worked very hard.
De Goey looked stuffed after training; this boy has a work ethic. Goodyear and Maynard trained impressively too. Moore must have left the field early as I didn�t see him in the match practice sessions.
Marsh is on a controlled programme with the likes of Brown, Broomhead, Swanny, Greenwood, Cloke, Seedsman and Williams.

�Karnezis worries me. I know he was injured for a lot of last year, but I get the impression he�s a bit fragile. To finish virtually last in the time trial is disappointing for somebody I had hoped could take a run through the midfield. That looks a long time away to be honest. In fact, Karnezis beat just one player over the line and that was Sharenberg.

The team trains again on Wednesday and then there is the Open Family Session on Friday morning.

Nearly forgot to mention Freeman; this boy has spent a year in the gym I think. Very big and strong in the arms and shoulders.

Pics link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98725876@N02/with/15973713955

[GoWoodsmen]

Hey Neil, thanks again for such a detailed report.

You didn't mention Ben Reid after the initial paragraph. Did he train or was he not there at all?

On Karnezis, I'm surprised about the comment on him possibly being a mid. My impression is that he's a very laconic type of character but very smart with the footy. Knows what's going on around him and really knows how to find the goals. I didn't think he was being looked at as a mid at all. Just curious where that thought came from.

Again though... great write up. A bit worried that even in simulated match practice our backs are performing the same as last year (turnovers, poor options etc). Fingers crossed that gets fixed in the next 10-12 weeks eh!

[CarringbushCigar]

Outstanding thankyou

Is jamie's tt placing any concern?

[Neil Appleby]

[Neil Appleby]

[BHPIE]

Onya neil,

[Bob Sugar]

You're approaching legend status with these awesome training reports Neil. Wicked reading, keep em coming man.

[Bob Sugar]

I'm a bit surprised by Pendles placing in the time trial, iirc he normally does better, do we put it down to the shoulder surgery?

[watt price tully]

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen.

Thanks again, lovely to to read.

I understood Abbott was due to arrive in Melbourne today from WA. Then again like his namesake there could have been a last minute backflip

[Az]

[Neil Appleby]

Just realised I didn't spot Langdon. A lot of the boys were wearing white caps so may have missed him, but I don't think he was out there.

[think positive]

Brilliant report, ta.

Caringbah, I was trying to work out what Jamie's TaTtoos placings meant! (Time trial, duh!)

And defender, I believe PENDLES was just running, not walking on his hands!

Cheers, can't wait til footy starts again!

[stui magpie]

Cheers for the report mate, great stuff as usual.

[Geek]

Thanks for the detailed report Neil. A great read.

And yeah Karnezis also blitzed it in the middle during the Lions' nab cup win a few years ago. Was hoping he could reproduce some of that for us.

There's been a bit of flu going around at the moment (had it myself last week). Hopefully that's all that was holding him back

[Bob Sugar]