Training 2020 Training - pics, reports etc

[Jabba73]

Not footy related but Karen Khachanov (playing Kyrgios tonight) is deadset the lost Hemsworth brother.

Mrs Jabba thought so too.

 

[Arr0w]

Continuing the player YOY series as some seem to have liked it.

19. Betts. I don’t remember much but I do know he couldnt run. Still can’t. Worst endurance at the club. But that’s no change. He still seems to be Eddie to me. The chance down tackling. The vacuum hands. The freakish reactions. I expect a big year.

20. Plowman. I never notice him. Which is good. He’s a lock down defender. Seems in great shape. Don’t recall him missing a session. He came 3rd in the B+F last year. Something of a surprise to me but he’s going to play at that level again for sure.

21. Martin. I’m a bit with a few others here. He doesn’t show up a lot, which is a little surprising. Sure he took a nice mark yesterday. Bit of pressure. No mistakes. Good decisions. Good ball use. Just wouldn’t mind a bit more ‘impact’, ya know? But yeah it’s Jan....

22. Marchy. Looks like he could run 400 for Australia to me! Jesus he can run. I’d like to see him play....has missed way too much footy. But look they’ve been conservative and he’s too important to risk.

23. Weiters. Jesus. The session yesterday said it all. Casboult embarrasses Goddard in Q1. Weiters chumped Casboult in Q3. YES he will be AA this year. Come at me. He’s a beast. He knows where the ball is going before the opponent kicks it. His marking is great. Body positioning great. I’m super pumped about his year.

24. Newman. Had my doubts when we picked him up. Dispelled. Had them again when he missed chunks of this preseason. Dispelled. He’s in great condition. He gives us a lot of switch, a lot of attack off half back. He’s better than most think one on one. Not as slow as I thought. Close to a cert now.

25. Fisher. What a preseason. What a preseason. Huge effort son. Massive lift in endurance. Even bigger lift in core strength. He stands up in tackles now! He’s got his zip back. Punch in kicks. I’m pretty excited to have him in he side.

26. Wish I could say more than ‘he’s running well’.....

27. Pittonet. As advertised for mine. Solid backup. Will not displace Kreuzer. He’s not quite mobile enough. He’s very good at boundary throw ins. Not as good at centre square. I like him. Just not amazing.

Agree with you on Weitering, will have a massive year and will definitely make the AA squad. Anything is possible from that point

 

[therubbernub]

Agree with you on Weitering, will have a massive year and will definitely make the AA squad. Anything is possible from that point

Leme see ..... We now have Jones Weitering Docherty all AA's, we just need another 3 to step up and we have a full set.

 

[Arr0w]

Leme see ..... We now have Jones Weitering Docherty all AA's, we just need another 3 to step up and we have a full set.

Never mentioned Doc and Jones, but dont think it's in conceivable, especially if we rise to the verge of the 8

 

[Christou2Kouta]

Leme see ..... We now have Jones Weitering Docherty all AA's, we just need another 3 to step up and we have a full set.

They will be especially effective if they have the midfield we expect to see ahead of them being hard working, super fit, two way runners who don't produce shocking turnovers.

 

[therubbernub]

Never mentioned Doc and Jones, but dont think it's in conceivable, especially if we rise to the verge of the 8

was referring to the collective on BF.

 

[mediumsizered]

Philp knows how to find the ball but some of his decision making and execution weren't quite on the mark yesterday.

This was the knock on his game in the first half of last year, but he improved on this in the 2nd half of the season. It may well be a confidence/belief thing which should improve as he starts to feel like he belongs at this level.

 

[mediumsizered]

and the time he took a bottle of coke regular instead of zero out of the 7/11 fridge..........

I'm not even sure why he looked in that fridge when the next fridge contained the much tastier Pepsi Max.

 

[HARKER]

At this stage should all be available come round 1 (and they won't be) but ......

Simpson Jones Plowman
Docherty Weitering SPS..............Marchbank or Plowman but maybe not both.
.
Kreuzer Cripps Murphy
Walsh Setterfield ECurnow..........Happy with this

Cuningham CCurnow Fisher
Betts McKay McGovern................Happy with this too

Gibbons Dow JSilvagni Stocker....There's some hardness here and some may serve a specific role purpose.

Bolded are the players I'm most confident about -

We know that Newnes and Martin will be likely starters but I'm just not convinced about either......for now.
I'd love to have Williamson there but just feel more assured with what's in place.

This was the knock on his game in the first half of last year, but he improved on this in the 2nd half of the season. It may well be a confidence/belief thing which should improve as he starts to feel like he belongs at this level.

It could well be the case. I mean, he wasn't awful by any means and maybe we're starting to expect too much, but the mind just seems to be a fraction of a second too slow and the speed isn't showing up as express just yet.
Having said that though, he does look good when he takes off and gives the impression that something good will come about.

 

[ctacp]

Do you live in Footscray?

Nar gisborne. Seems to be rugs in all suburbs..

 

[ctacp]

View attachment 810247

anyone know who this is?

Nicknames “mumbles” - no one understands a word he says...

 

[myblueroan]

A Morton is a wig in my book. Also an Irish (jig). I know because I can spot one from a neighbouring suburb. My elbow actually gets itchy if I’m in the same room as one.

Sure you don't mean a merkin?

 

[ctacp]

And Kyrgios could podium in a Glenn Manton lookalike contest...

& Glen Manton could substitute On the “Bolt report”....

 

[DollarsandSense]

Introductory Comments:

• This is the most Thylacine list I’ve ever seen. DEPTH. It’s amazing. Just bow at the alter of SOS and pray.
• The amount of ‘gee that was good’ moments I had today was simply off the charts.
• The overall fitness of this group is just superb. An amazing improvement in 12 months. Fair play to Soapy- he called it a year ago.
• The number of disappointments were, well it was probably only one and I don’t want to hammer him so I won’t feature it too much.
• The balance is so good. Mature. Middle age. Developing youth. The brand new kids can just take their time.
• They just really like each other this group. They have fun.

Let’s clear off the protocols. Injuries etc.

• rehab group was SPS (who did no running at all), Kennedy (who did slow running and had a knee strap), Kemp, then 3 who did a fair bit. MCG, Jack and McKay. McKay is flying. And huge. Did more running today than last time. And kicking which is great to see for someone coming back from groin problems.
• Jack is in great shape. He kept giving MCG a 10m head start in 150m runs and ran him down. Not that MCG looked bad either.
• Macreadie and Marchy still in rehab. I timed Marchy at a 20 sec 150 which is the fastest I’ve clocked anyone this summer. In superb shape running wise. Must be close to rejoining. Macreadie also fit.
• Ed C seemed to be there at the start of training then left and I don’t know at what stage (but def early) or why
• Kreuzer, Murphy, Newman, Gibbo: all players with question marks from previous sessions all participated fully the whole day. No issues. Great to see. Kreuzer looking super lean and fit.

———
The main group had a number of players I don’t know attend. Johnson from the Northern Blues was def one so I gather the others are also from there. Maybe 5? Making up numbers for the game simulation.

—-
They started drills in three groups. Agility drills.

One on one marking drills. Tackling and evasion drills. Not much to report here. Quite liked the first drill: lead and mark, then leading player push back and defend on a lead back to goal square. Newman way too good for Honey was about all that stood out.

—-

Then the real excitement began. 3 x 15 mins of match play. I’d say they went at 90 percent. No bone jarring hits etc but pretty full on.

It was simply outstanding play. Keep in mind no McKay, CC or MCG. Yet some of the play was breathtaking. Elite.

The first quarter was largely Possibles Vs Probables. Dow and LOB were in the Possibles which was interesting. And for my only real negative of the day: LOB showed why. He was fumbly, his body was a bit weak in the tackle, and his kicking was average. I’m going to pass it off as rust, but it was a shame as he’s had such a good preseason. The other two quarters the teams were thrown around.

Positionally the players were as expected: Weiters, Newman, Jones, Plow, Simmo and Doc the backline. Crippa only played mid. Ed started mid then I lost him. Eddie and Martin forward with Levi. Murph a bit forward and mid. Dow the same. Cunners Mid in the ‘Probables’ and that will never happen again....more on him later. Setters and Lob on a wing. Walsh played mid, wing and forward. Newnes wing and half back. Kreuzer Pittonet and TDk all shares the ruck. Casboult no ruck time.

Just a quick notes dump for you...

1st quarter quick thoughts:
Backline looked immense. Walsh and Cripps amazing. Hard to see how they can keep Cunners out of the side. A long way in front of Dow this quarter.
——-
Q2: Walsh to a wing. Super Impressive Fisher, Murphy, Cripps, Casboult chain.

Play of the day Cunners break tackle and 50m goal. He’s on FIRE. Fisher terrific. Hands. Standing up in tackles. Skills. Pressure

Newnes solid. Martin solid. Cunners. Amazing. Honey showed up well! Walsh strength in a tackle terrific. Overall just amazing.

Like this is the single best session I’ve ever seen. SO much to like. Especially Harry McKay running so powerfully.

Kennedy sore knee not at full pace. Macreadie who must be 37 years old now.

LOB disappointing so far.
——

Third quarter

Willo on wing now. Cunners showing same again. Dow a nice burst. LOB fumbled. Honey lots of power.

Stocker looks fit. Really nice centre clearance by stocker. Walsh looks super. Stronger. TDK actually looking good in ruck. Winning Hitouts. Lang moving the best he has at he club.

Philp showing nice signs. Nice size. Good pace. Stocker showing great signs.Weitering too good for Levi.

Dow showing good signs. Kicking is fine. Maybe needs more of it. Stocker good hands in close. Martin nice mark.

Newman continually running off half back. Fantastic Paddy Wow moment. Crumbed. Burst from a pack. Snap goal.

Dow burst. Gosh Finbar hasn’t been.....too bad???

In case you’re wondering...Eddie is stilll afreak. He kicked 3?

Setters just consistently good. Keeps getting the ball. Using it well.

——

After the game play finished they did more work.

5 min 3/4 field work x 3 I think? Transition practice. Some random guy showed a bit. Number 7. NFI who he is.

Cripps fitness is sensational. What stood out for me in the game and in general was that his running to contest has gone up a level. He’s SO fit now.

Philp really showed somehting then stuffed his kicks. Weitering looks sensational. Everything about Dow kicking is better. Refusing to be rushed. No more exaggerated ball drop. Neat low and punch.
——
Then they finished off with running of course. The painful 2 min, 90 sec, 30 sec and repeat drill they do.

Order:
Walsh and Cottrell killed it.
Doc
Newnes
Simmo
Goddard
Setters
Ramsay
Murph
Fish
Martin
Dow
Lang
Polson

——
That’s a notes dump. Now a collection of my general thoughts. I may do a Player By Player Year on Year review later.

Generally we are SO impressive now. Here’s why:

• Fisher, Walsh and Cunners can all stand up in tackles now. Especially the second two.
• The balance of the midfield group is outstanding. Want a bit of grunt? No problem. Cripps and Ed can get in there and get it. Stocker a watch here too! A few times in the midfield today he showed clean hands, a strong body and an ability to make sharp decisions.
• Want inside / outside? No drama. Cunners (I’m coming to him), Walsh, Setters can all do it.
• I love our link up play. It started to show up last year and I really see it being a strength this year. These guys are all great in a chain: Martin, Gibbo, Simmo, Doc, Walsh, Fish, Cunners, Setters, Crippa. Just super decision makers in close. Great users. They will string the ball together brilliantly as a group this year.
• Weitering and Jones in tandem is a sight to behold. Casboult destroyed Goddard in Q1 of the match play. But in Q3 they put Weiters on him and he was simply too good. I feel so safe with him on anyone now. Fantastic.
• We feel so much stronger all over the ground. Add the big three into the forward line and I feel we have no material weaknesses.

Some player thoughts. In order of ‘blew me away’.....Ok fine, it’s not a Sam Walsh moment....but Jesus H Christ Cunners is impressive. It’s not just his burst. Please I beg you to watch the hands. It happens WAY too often. He has the best hands at the club. Single best. No doubt. His reflexes are freakish. His hands at his feet are sublime. Then after the gather he can side step a small cargo ship. Then straight speed forward. He’s unstoppable. Then what? Lace put delivery that’s what. He’s strong in a tackle. Let’s stop kicking around here. fu** the forward pocket shit. Screw the high half forward rubbish. Put the kid in the guts and get the fu** out of his way. This is breakout city here. Like there is too much data on his positive attributes now. He has one residual weakness: he gets lost. Stanton called out at one point “what are you thinking Cunners?” A telltale sign of what they discuss and what he is still working on. He was just ‘watching’ the game at the time. Doesn’t worry me at all. I’ve said it before: Kouta had the same problem and it’s overcome by taking thinking out of it.

Go get it son!!!!!! Off my head excited at what he showed me today. And has all summer. Massive fan. Massive fan.

Crippa. He’s number two on the Windows Hall of Holy Shit. He’s......better. Yep. He’s better. His running and agility are 10 percent up. He’s overlap running- never seen that before. Numbers to the contest stuff. Getting on the outside. Pushing back hard to defence. He’s not Walsh like but shittttt.

Jacob Weitering is the AA CHB Locked in. Just forget it. He’s bigger. He’s stronger. He doesn’t look slow. His kicking, marking, general footy play is all off the leash. I can’t think of a defender I’d prefer. If the ball comes slow into our backline this year just forget it. He will halve it or win it back. He was too strong for LEVI today. Read that again. He was too strong for LEVI.

Sam Walsh comes in at number 4 on Windows’ Why We Can Make the Top 4 List. He’s got the body strength of a 25 year old now. You can’t bring him to ground. I thought his running had dropped off a tad. Nope. He pushed Cottrell ALL the way in the runs today. His kicking is better. His contested ball is better. This off his outstanding year last year. I wouldn’t swap him for any player under 25 in the game. Please don’t think of him as a ‘good young player’. He’s just a fu**en gun NOW. He’s elite NOW. He just makes me smile repeatedly. He does everything so so well. Clean hands. Smart decisions. Of course my fave is the slalom runs. At one point today he literally ran around in a circle inside 4 opponents and then mysteriously popped out on his own. Calm in the moment.

Think about this centre square setup and tell me you’re not excited: Kreuzer, Crippa, Walsh and Cunners. I’d back that group against ANY four in the Comp.

Like Zaccy Fisher is standing up in tackles. He’s getting to the outside. He is hitting up targets. And I’m not sure how to fit him in! Murph is Murph. Simmo is Simmo. Kreuzer is Kreuzer. Jones is (the new) Jones.

Newman just dispelled any rubbish thoughts I had about him not being best 22 today. Forget that shit. Laser left leg. Good one on one. Ran hard and created. Forget it. He’s a lock. Willo was good but has a bit to go. Btw willo murdered Kreuzer in their 150s.

I will do a player by player later but I’ve never been happier with our list. Sorry I just have too much to say. I have a lot on today so it’s hard to make this concise and I’ll add more later.

 

[The Blue Weirdo]

Nicknames “mumbles” - no one understands a word he says...

View attachment 811592

Curly, given your connection to BSOS. How would you describe his personality\disposition? Others here have mentioned his 'weirdness'. I'm curious, because I think it's healthy for a club to consist of a wide variety of characters, as opposed to everyone being robotic and over competitive.

 

[Gointocarlton]

At this stage should all be available come round 1 (and they won't be) but ......

Simpson Jones Plowman
Docherty Weitering SPS..............Marchbank or Plowman but maybe not both.
.
Kreuzer Cripps Murphy
Walsh Setterfield ECurnow..........Happy with this

Cuningham CCurnow Fisher
Betts McKay McGovern................Happy with this too

Gibbons Dow JSilvagni Stocker....There's some hardness here and some may serve a specific role purpose.

Bolded are the players I'm most confident about -

We know that Newnes and Martin will be likely starters but I'm just not convinced about either......for now.
I'd love to have Williamson there but just feel more assured with what's in place.

Your're not a fan of Newman?

 

[ctacp]

i wouldn’t say he’s “weird”. He’s just a kid living the dream so far. Got his mate Finbar there with him going thru ups & downs - 2 young kids living the dream. He (& Jack) probably understand more of the “bullsh*t” that goes with football than most so probably just tries to be himself. Probably just a 19 year old kid being a 19 year old & not taking himself too seriously. He’s very serious on the field though

Curly, given your connection to BSOS. How would you describe his personality\disposition? Others here have mentioned his 'weirdness'. I'm curious, because I think it's healthy for a club to consist of a wide variety of characters, as opposed to everyone being robotic and over competitive.
[/QUOTE

.

 

[HARKER]

Your're not a fan of Newman?

Forgot. Newman is good and may even occupy a wing ahead of O'Brien....maybe.

Must say - I have been impressed by his pre-season to date.

 

[Blue Viking]

Forgot. Newman is good and may even occupy a wing ahead of O'Brien....maybe.

Must say - I have been impressed by his pre-season to date.

Nothing says depth like I forgot about a best 22 and still struggled to get them all in. Bounce the ball already, can't wait for round 1.

 

[JustaBattler]

The only thing missing from defensive structure is rebound run and kicking hurt factor a lot of breakdown for us in the past has been in transition play ie the second kick from defensive 50. If a couple of blokes can combine run and penetrating kick - to eliminate the need for that second kick (which gives opposition time to set up their press) I think it would be a game changer for Carlton - especially now that the forward line will be pretty stacked with factor X talent in Martin/Betts/Cuningham/McGovern.

To that end the players with wing responsibility will become even more important in 2020as they key link players. So far the best performer on a wing has been Walsh - a first year player and Murph when he is having a rest from on ball duties. Great expectations for LoB with his running ability and shows of penetrating kicking - but I can see Simmo or maybe Williamson getting a run on a wing - now that Docherty is back.

Happy to hear that Weitering is looking like a 'boss' out there - if he can regain the kind of arrogant ease he displayed in his first season and start to use his long kicking ability off CHB - rebound scoring for Carlton will become a feature rather than an impossibility - as soon as this side starts scoring easy goals - something that has been missing for years- look out competition.

 

[Jeremias]

You get a good look at what Ramsay (Simmo junior) can do at 8:30.

Yeah that was a nice bit of play. To be nimble and light-footed is a great trait to have, it can allow you to create space when there is none and buy that extra second to assess your options up-field.

It'll be interesting to see where Ramsay features early in the season, whether he plays outside or across half back or inside where he really pushed himself into draft calculations.

 

[The Grover]

At this stage should all be available come round 1 (and they won't be) but ......

Simpson Jones Plowman
Docherty Weitering SPS..............Marchbank or Plowman but maybe not both.
.
Kreuzer Cripps Murphy
Walsh Setterfield ECurnow..........Happy with this

Cuningham CCurnow Fisher
Betts McKay McGovern................Happy with this too

Gibbons Dow JSilvagni Stocker....There's some hardness here and some may serve a specific role purpose.

Bolded are the players I'm most confident about -

We know that Newnes and Martin will be likely starters but I'm just not convinced about either......for now.
I'd love to have Williamson there but just feel more assured with what's in place.




It could well be the case. I mean, he wasn't awful by any means and maybe we're starting to expect too much, but the mind just seems to be a fraction of a second too slow and the speed isn't showing up as express just yet.
Having said that though, he does look good when he takes off and gives the impression that something good will come about.

Jack Martin is in my best 22, plays before Gibbons and Stocker.

 

[Arr0w]

You get a good look at what Ramsay (Simmo junior) can do at 8:30.

Yeap, kid has some poise and class

 

[HaydossJ]

The only thing missing from defensive structure is rebound run and kicking hurt factor a lot of breakdown for us in the past has been in transition play ie the second kick from defensive 50. If a couple of blokes can combine run and penetrating kick - to eliminate the need for that second kick (which gives opposition time to set up their press) I think it would be a game changer for Carlton - especially now that the forward line will be pretty stacked with factor X talent in Martin/Betts/Cuningham/McGovern.

To that end the players with wing responsibility will become even more important in 2020as they key link players. So far the best performer on a wing has been Walsh - a first year player and Murph when he is having a rest from on ball duties. Great expectations for LoB with his running ability and shows of penetrating kicking - but I can see Simmo or maybe Williamson getting a run on a wing - now that Docherty is back.

Happy to hear that Weitering is looking like a 'boss' out there - if he can regain the kind of arrogant ease he displayed in his first season and start to use his long kicking ability off CHB - rebound scoring for Carlton will become a feature rather than an impossibility - as soon as this side starts scoring easy goals - something that has been missing for years- look out competition.

Gibbons.

 

[huddler]

I’m quite surprised that some posters have Jack Newnes close to best 22. We’ve seen plenty of him for St Kilda over the years to know there’s no more than a serviceable professional there, and one who St Kilda no longer had room for. I think he’ll be a good clubman at the Northern Blues and, barring an injury-ravaged first team, nothing more. Think Sam Kerridge, and with better players competing for a guernsey these days. Is this too harsh?