Training 2025 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[Sirlemsip]

I hate to say it, and I’ll hate it even more to see it, but with our backline stacked to overflowing like it is, if he gets himself fit, I wouldn’t be surprised if he went looking for opportunities elsewhere

I'd be surprised if both Blanck and Serong are at the club in 2026.
Not because they don't want to stay, but because they'll get offers from elsewhere.

 

[TFFM]

Took the young bloke down to training after seeing it was on this morning. With lots going on (took some notes) here are some observations:

Calsher walked some laps with trainer.

Mackenzie, Sicily, Watson, Ginni (looking lean), Mraz doing some basic agility type drills separate to main group initially.

Lewis, Frost, Blanck also separate in a rehab group.

Time type trials for main group (separated into 2 groups) running laps for a specific time period.

1st group: Harry led after 3 laps, Serong took lead after 4. Hill at rear battling given encouragement from some others to keep up, after 5 laps Ramma led and the time trial finished not long after.

2nd group: This had more of the running guns. As per previous posts, initially lead by Weddle, with CJ, Finn, Battle just behind. Then CMac, Amon, Moore. Day in the middle of the pack and overtaken by Meek. Finn took lead after 3 laps, then CJ took lead after 4. CJ lost right at the end as Amon stormed home.

Reeves looking lean.

Group then split into 2 again with one doing ground balls, the other doing kicking drills. After 10 mins swapped. Lots of talk/encouragement.

Then all together as a group with Sam talking to them all.

Next was end to end kicking, passing, hand balling with multiple balls in play. Seemed to switch the ball to the middle a lot coming out of defence/wing.

Watson separately doing laps didn't really train with main group. Didn't see Ward at all.

Ginni also separate practicing leading from square and goal-kicking.

Then they broke off into 4 groups doing different groundball work this time with tackling. Focus to get hands free and dish off. Day involved in drill, even tackling Newcombe a few times.

Then a playing sim with the whole group. Hardwick playing forward. Battle, McCabe, Serong, CJ playing back. Ramsden FF playing on Barrass.

Then some more group based sims around stoppage and clearance. Then more kicking practice while moving at speed.

Some light kicking to wind down - session around 2 hours.

Young bloke got photos with all the new recruits. Barrass "thanks for coming down to training". Nice.

 

[Fleabane]

Apparently Karl Amon won the time trial ahead of CJ and Josh Weddle which, knowing their ability, is incredibly impressive. I wonder if this is improvement from Karl or whether the change in format to a time goal instead of distance suited him more. Would be amazing if he was still making these sort of jumps this late into his career!

Fantastic stuff. Very impressive from Karl.

 

[Manila_Hawk]

Blancky looking man-mountain-esque....

And the Wizard looking mole-hill-esque ?

 

[Roddy]

And the Wizard looking mole-hill-esque ?

 

[TONYC3163]

Took the young bloke down to training after seeing it was on this morning. With lots going on (took some notes) here are some observations:

Calsher walked some laps with trainer.

Mackenzie, Sicily, Watson, Ginni (looking lean), Mraz doing some basic agility type drills separate to main group initially.

Lewis, Frost, Blanck also separate in a rehab group.

Time type trials for main group (separated into 2 groups) running laps for a specific time period.

1st group: Harry led after 3 laps, Serong took lead after 4. Hill at rear battling given encouragement from some others to keep up, after 5 laps Ramma led and the time trial finished not long after.

2nd group: This had more of the running guns. As per previous posts, initially lead by Weddle, with CJ, Finn, Battle just behind. Then CMac, Amon, Moore. Day in the middle of the pack and overtaken by Meek. Finn took lead after 3 laps, then CJ took lead after 4. CJ lost right at the end as Amon stormed home.

Reeves looking lean.

Group then split into 2 again with one doing ground balls, the other doing kicking drills. After 10 mins swapped. Lots of talk/encouragement.

Then all together as a group with Sam talking to them all.

Next was end to end kicking, passing, hand balling with multiple balls in play. Seemed to switch the ball to the middle a lot coming out of defence/wing.

Watson separately doing laps didn't really train with main group. Didn't see Ward at all.

Ginni also separate practicing leading from square and goal-kicking.

Then they broke off into 4 groups doing different groundball work this time with tackling. Focus to get hands free and dish off. Day involved in drill, even tackling Newcombe a few times.

Then a playing sim with the whole group. Hardwick playing forward. Battle, McCabe, Serong, CJ playing back. Ramsden FF playing on Barrass.

Then some more group based sims around stoppage and clearance. Then more kicking practice while moving at speed.

Some light kicking to wind down - session around 2 hours.

Young bloke got photos with all the new recruits. Barrass "thanks for coming down to training". Nice.

Two points of Interest, Ramma at FF and Hardwick playing forward.

 

[Newmo89]

Training report
No show: Ward - crook according to Storm
Rehab: Frost, Blanck, Lewis and Mraz
Dear walked laps which was a positive sign
Wiz and Ginni ran laps of the oval - Ginni did lots of work leading and kicking goals.

Running:
Stand outs were Karl Amon who powered over the line to beat CJ and Finn.
Max Ramsden chased down Harry Morrison and Jai Serong to win his group
Jasper Scaife has increased his fitness and was looking as fit as he has been.
Matt Hill has some of the fastest feet and is still working on his endurance.
Jaime Uhr-Henry has improved his running. Spent time over the Christmas break running with Dylan Moore and Will Day and has impressed with how quickly he is improving.

Ball work was very good and impressive - not many mistakes which is important leading into the last 6 weeks before our first game.

Match simulation
Ramsden and Scaife were forward and playing on Barrass. Barrass' ability to halve or win a contest is unreal - will be a massive asset. Josh Battle's ability to hit a target on both feet will be invaluable from defence.
Gunners kicking for goal was splendid - his action and routine looks back to his reliable best.
CJ's one touch marks and pick ups at speed were tremendous - has done a lot of work over the break to improve his game. Nash looks ready to take his game to another level, while Cam Mackenzie has bulked up and is stronger - palmed off a few players today in a tackling drill.

Interestingly when they finished training, Weddle was kicking goals with Hardwick, Scaife and Ramsden - might see him as a forward more often.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Interestingly when they finished training, Weddle was kicking goals with Hardwick, Scaife and Ramsden - might see him as a forward more often.

I was near the goals at that time and I heard Adrian Hickmont asked Weddle in Hardwick's presence "what will you do if you marked the ball from that tight spot".
Hardwick confident as he is says he will take his time and do his goalkickikng routine.
Weddle said he will quickly play on and find a better spot to kick the goal .

 

[Roddy]

What are we reading into Weds practising goalkicking, if anything?

 

[moginie]

What are we reading into Weds practising goalkicking, if anything?

Versatility.

 

[Fleabane]

So has Weddle come back to the pack fitness wise or the pack have improved or he's not feeing 100%? Or it's a time trial which doesn't suit him quite as much? Used to him being streets ahead so just curious.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Some more pix from this morning's training.
The Dads, Gunners and Punky having a run.

Mraz watching Sic and Amon on some drills.


Sam instructing Ginni and Butsy in the forward line


Moorey being interviewed by Channel 10.
I overheard him saying that Battle and Sic might take turns in playing forward.

 

[VandoHawk]

So has Weddle come back to the pack fitness wise or the pack have improved or he's not feeing 100%? Or it's a time trial which doesn't suit him quite as much? Used to him being streets ahead so just curious.

It was a 6 minute time trial which doesn’t play into Weddle’s strength of running all day. He still finished fourth and both Finn & CJ are also elite runners.

I’d take it more as an indication that Amon has really primed himself but I’ve always been glass half full.

 

[Manila_Hawk]

Pinoy Hawk ... thanks for the awesome photos... much appreciated !!!

 

[Beandip]

Pre-season with an exciting group.... geez it's infectious, I'm floating on the air - almost time for footy season boys!

 

[Fleabane]

It was a 6 minute time trial which doesn’t play into Weddle’s strength of running all day. He still finished fourth and both Finn & CJ are also elite runners.

I’d take it more as an indication that Amon has really primed himself but I’ve always been glass half full.

Makes sense. Good way to be.

 

[Elhawko]

Makes sense. Good way to be.

I'm not sure about that?! I think the standard time trial has always been a 2km run which the elite players can complete in around 6 minutes. I'm sure Weddell used to street the others over that distance so that would be the same as beating them over 6 minutes too. Maybe he's bulked up now and so has lost some speed?

Ramsden also used to do the 2k time trial in 6.03 or 6.06 from memory, but he seems to have fallen back as well, presumably because he is also carrying more weight now.

 

[cryptor]

It was a 6 minute time trial which doesn’t play into Weddle’s strength of running all day. He still finished fourth and both Finn & CJ are also elite runners.

I’d take it more as an indication that Amon has really primed himself but I’ve always been glass half full.

Weddle is also a different build to those other 3. CJ and Amon are carrying a lot less mass relative to their height. Finn maybe more similar to Weddle in body composition but he's not as tall so comparatively less weight to move over the length of the time trial.

Weddle is a bit of a freak given the balance of size, power, speed and endurance he has.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Near the end of each training, one of my favourite spot to hangout is somewhere near the goals.
Why? It is because most of them practise their goalkicking.
It is also the time when you can hear their banters and placing some bets on who can score the goals.
From coffee bets to lunch bets, but I am not really sure if they really stay true on those bets.
One of the bets I heard this morning (sorry I haven't got the pix or video) is between Moorey and Punky, Punky missed both of his shots (Moorey made his) which makes Moorey the winner.

I remember Chol told Calsher around the same time last year to do not worry about making the hard goals but instead to worry in getting his first ever afl goal.

This morning, I heard Chol making some comments again ... this time against Tom Barrass :

Tom Barrass went near the goals and want to practise his goal kicking, Chol said "Do you know what you're doing here" twice ... the first instance was not caught on my video but the 2nd was

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Day vs Frenchie



One on one marking/positioning battles.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

The Impster evaded the Beast.

 

[Newmo89]

Some photos from training this morning

For those interested, here is the link for the full 410 photos and videos from today!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12Y6eZJCkVbGa5LUajP-GWO0JLs7WNMLK

#gohawtho#gohawthornype="full"]2200523[/ATTACH]

 

[Baz_hawk]

Loving all the training reports and pics/vids. Appreciate you all for taking the time.

Sounds like the drive to improve is still very much there for the entire list. Excited to see the competition for spots heat up as we head towards round one.

 

[phlogiston]

The Impster evaded the Beast.
View attachment 2200501

OK, so I am curious as to when the HV pylon was replaced. I always wanted to submit a shot of a pylon with e grandstand in the background to Pylon of the Month but looks as though I may have lost my chance.

 

[threesixpio]

Interestingly when they finished training, Weddle was kicking goals with Hardwick, Scaife and Ramsden - might see him as a forward more often.