Preseason Training Thread - 2014

[GH213]

Rance's F-bomb when beaten by Griff (hooray) in a drill would have been heard in Fitzroy. He's such a hard trainer, Rance, and was wearing something that looked like a hat camera. Then he pretended to be a ballet dancer. Odd cat..

Lost. My. Shit! Hahaha grat stuff UTG much appreciated

 

[Morro]

UpTheGuts thank you so much again mate.

3 Votes.

 

[juss]

McDonough my highlight. He's going to be a player.

He seems to be very highly rated from his efforts on the track and at VFL level.
What is it you like about him?

 

[TheAnt]

He seems to be very highly rated from his efforts on the track and at VFL level.
What is it you like about him?

Don't know what Guts likes about him but here's his stats for the last three games of his VFL season..
26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 8 clearances, 5 tackles, six inside 50s, 2 score assists per game.

 

[UpTheGuts]

He seems to be very highly rated from his efforts on the track and at VFL level.
What is it you like about him?

As ever, we are all fascinated by younger players. What might they become, haven't seen them be hopeless so they must be as awesome as their draft highlights, but he looks like he could become the real deal.

Disposal is a delight, but his workrate today was obvious and he was often the one taking on an opponent, driving long to a lead or switching with precision. His best is a way off yet, and he's still maturing from a boy into a man, but he was frantic in the tackling drills and seems to have a clear idea of what he needs to do to get his name considered for selection. The video on the club site supports that.

Like most, I saw his recruitment as one that might in time help us out with our small forward needs. Once he stated getting 25+ possessions and 10+ clearances a game in the VFL last year, that changed everything. He's not tall, lightning fast or mercurial, though he knows where the goals are. He has work to do on his physique and probably lots of other things that better judges than me would notice.

What he is, is a sure handling, superb kicking and increasingly tough, hard running midfielder. Both sided (a lazy 50m left foot torp after 1 drill today was spooky good). His video has him saying that he is looking at a small fwd role. That might be where he starts, but this guy has a bright future in and around the packs. I'd hazard a guess that inside 2 years he'll be our midfielder who our forwards would most prefer to be kicking them the ball.

Little steps, and small fwd is a hard role. Sign him up for 3 years now, and graduate him to the midfield ASAP.

 

[JR82]

great reporting again mate, much appreciated as always.
was McDonough doing drills etc with the midfield group or flanks? or with the fwds?

 

[Bojangles17]

Cheers uug great read

 

[captain blood 17]

Once again, many thanks.

 

[UpTheGuts]

great reporting again mate, much appreciated as always.
was McDonough doing drills etc with the midfield group or flanks? or with the fwds?

Apart from the big forwards and backs doing 10 minutes of 1 on 1 marking contests, there really wasn't that level of segregation today. Big forwards leading up in drills, with fairly token marking from defenders, but McDonough was certainly the last kick I50 a few times. He does seem to be partnered with/ opposed to Ellis quite a bit though.

He was good, but I'm not saying an Ablett clone or anything.

I really liked Axel's training, too. But it wasn't a stellar session, with some players (S Edwards trying to nail stabs 40m across the body in a way that was just not %) almost taking the piss. A bit surprised there wasn't more feedback from the coaching staff actually.

Again, Orren was a much better runner and lead-up than I knew he could be. Obv insurance, but he's not just turning up for his cheque.

He's always been good on the track, but Newy was in everything. Last year, you'd suspect, but it doesn't look like he's fading in training.

AFL would be a great comp to be awesome in, but seeing McBean lie in the gutter for 2-3 minutes after a sprint was to see that it's also a lot of hard work.

I'm away for 3 weeks now but I look forward to reading other impressions. Under 5 weeks to first nab game.

 

[Toadvine]

Did you notice McIntosh at all UpTheGuts ?

 

[TheAnt]

I'm guessing it was a shorter session seeing as they also went to the pool?

 

[UpTheGuts]

Did you notice McIntosh at all UpTheGuts ?

Yeah I did. Much bigger. He was on Griffiths' tail when Ben missed a lead up mark he really should have taken (cue Griff punching his hand). Solid kick, though he's pretty much starting again given his 2013

 

[El Tigre]

Really enjoying the updates. Good work utg.

 

[THE_GUN]

From all of UTG's Reports what takes my notice is the way 2012 draft selections are looking

Vlastuin - Looks like a 250 game players that will be 1 of the core players in our midfiels

McBean - KPF thats 202 cm and looking like really being a potent foward that plays like a small with good ground work

McIntosh - Kids listed at 192cm and 87 kgs but from UTG reports really has baulked up a fair bit so possibly 92/94 kgs now. My View is that he could be that Big Bodied midfielder that plays as the loose man in defence and takes the mid that goes foward (Newmans Replacement in 2015)

McDonough - Well this kid could be the bargain/Suprise of the 2012 draft if he gets to our now expcted level, They say Chapman like and eventually will have midfield ability - WOW

2012 nab draft looking like it could be a game changer

 

[UpTheGuts]

Plus Chaplin, Knights and Petterd.
And we exited Graham in 2012 too.

Check out the Wednesday workout vid on the club site and look at Vlastuin's upper body. He's an axe.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Great stuff once again UTG.

 

[W. Smithers]

Plus Chaplin, Knights and Petterd.
And we exited Graham in 2012 too.

Check out the Wednesday workout vid on the club site and look at Vlastuin's upper body. He's an axe.

Cayden Williams is also massive in the shoulders on that video.

 

[DeeKaay]

Does anyone have an injuries update?

 

[bananatigz]

OK, so I went to work via Punt Rd again. Hey, it's a hobby.

Conca sighted this time. Just laps but did a few swift 200's later. Obviously being ultra cautious, but he looks a good fortnight or so away from main group. I suspect that this time next year we will hear that he started 2014 behind the 8 ball because of his limited preseason. Seeing even McBean doing countless 300's, Reece just won't have the miles in his legs for some time.

More long kicking work today. Goalsquare to goalsquare stuff. Hard work, but I have to say that Griff had an ordinary session. Beaten 1 on 1 by Darrou, ran lines well but slapped a couple of marks there to be taken on the lead. Did some ruck work late.

Madonna impressed. On a hot and windy morning, there were quite a few ordinary kicks from the group, but he was spot on.

Thomas owned the tackling drills, though at one stage Cotch decided to tap dance away from him. He's good, that Cotchin.

No Lids that I saw and Houli did laps and spent time with the doc. There's an issue there, though he was moving freely when running. Hampson also not there, though I think he and Ivan just went inside early.

Lloyd was OK, but did the only real helicopter floater that I saw. Big step up for him.

Dusty looked great today, gliding around and bossing the midfield, demanding the pill and accurate disposal by foot.

Petterd blitzed a 3km trial, although there were only 5 in the group. Next came Williams, Knights, Foley and Banfield a distant last, and he was knackered by the end. I don't know if Petterd is usually a good runner, but he won by 30m at least. Axel was labouring, but did show real spark in drills and kicked a couple if lovely long goals.

Chocco spent a fair while with Elton afterwards. It genuinely looked like he was teaching Todd how to kick. 30m out, dead in front and Chocco flung the ball at him a couple of times, and used the pointy finger in a way I wouldn't like to receive.

McBean and King ran together. Kingy was pacesetter, and I must say it was great to see him urging Liam on time and again. A few times McBean collapsed in the gutter after a 300m. No spew, though.

Ellis was Ellis, Grimes did very little, they call Dea "Diesel", Batchelor sat out, and Rance's F-bomb when beaten by Griff (hooray) in a drill would have been heard in Fitzroy. He's such a hard trainer, Rance, and was wearing something that looked like a hat camera. Then he pretended to be a ballet dancer. Odd cat.

Helbig was first out there but otherwise not conspicuous.

Morris looks in top nick and trains as well as anyone. Voice, running and hits. One of the first picked.

I liked the work of Miles in the drills. Tackled well, often seemed to have the ball and was prominent. Remains no surgeon by foot, but no butcher either.

Jack ran. A LOT. Trimmer and it's clear what the strategy is here.

Overall, a much shorter session than Wednesday, and it was an average hit out. More precision by foot, surety with hands from our forwards and the kick into the corridor was missed too regularly for mine. Conditions were difficult, but much to do. Again, though, if preseason is mostly about improving fitness, then it was another step forward.

McDonough my highlight. He's going to be a player.

Loved that made me chuckle, you're a champ UTG

 

[TJTIGER]

Is it too early for post of the year nominations ?……Thanks for those insightful posts UpTheGuts , great reading. cheers

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

I love pre seasons reports this time of year, it really, really is appreciated when someone can post something, anything.

 

[captain cotch 9]

When is the next open session?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

When is the next open session?

When do we play GWS?

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Hampson looks absolutely huge in the workout vid on the website

 

[johnno77]

When is the next open session?

I would love to know this as well. RFC_Official?

Surely you'll be taking advantage of the tennis crowds walking past with a couple of open sessions to increase exposure?

I'm gagging for a bit of footy and couldn't make the pre-Christmas one.