Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[shinboner magic]

Courtesy of GL on FB

"
Managed to get down to training for about an hour this morning. The first part was mainly just drills and they are never easy to gauge how any particular player is going. It didn't feel like there was any real urgency during the drills and it did seem a little low energy. Hopefully that just reflects more upon how I was feeling rather than the push to improve from the squad.

The second half of my visit was much more interesting. 2x 6 minute match simulation quarters with official AFL umpires controlling the play. The emphasis on these quarters was structure and play from throw ins. One thing is dominantly clear - we intend to run, run, run and use handball strings to keep the ball moving forward with pace. At every opportunity there was wave upon wave of runners waiting for a quick hand off and they also worked on finding a marking target quickly whenever the chain of handballs was looking under pressure from the opposition.


Let's talk specific players:
Sheez - Whilst it may be hard to imagine he appears to have gone to another level in the middle. Last year he was good, but he was learning. This year he looks very confident. His decision making, side stepping, fast, accurate handballing and dart like kicking leaves me in no doubt that he will be our number one midfielder in 2025. Hands down. Easily.
Colby - Spending much more time around the ball, whilst still dropping back when the play calls for it - he looks fabulous. He's put on some muscle but lost no agilty or speed. His lightning hands and burst of speed are still powerful weapons and his decision making and accurate kicking makes me believe he will be vying for the position as our number two midfielder alongside LDU (yup, big call I know).

LDU seemed to be in half gear and maybe is building towards being ready for the season.
Surprise packet - and a player I have high hopes for, is Luke Urquhart, he is so solidly built he is ready to get deep into the packs and feed the ball out Cunnington style. His kicking sometimes lets him down, his pace is decent but none of that matters if we plan to have him at the bottom of every pack. Can't wait to watch his development this year and I think he'll get some headlines as the "draft smokey".

FOS, was clean fast and made some good plays but it still feels a little like he is learning to fit in. That's ok, he has plenty of time.
Brayden George - the Birthday Boy looked fabulous on the sidelines working with the recovery players. Movement, agility and strength all look to be unimpeded and I look forward to seeing him return to full training soon. Also on sidelines were Daniel, Duursma, Corr, Wardlaw among others but from all reports our injury list is tracking fine.

Luke Parker was a General on the field really pushing the players to maintain their shape, be in the right places and using his strong body to give players time and space to make their play. I think his addition alone will lead us to being far more competitive for longer.

Goad and Xerri were the main ruck pairing and Goad was not taking any backward steps. He’s clearly going to make sure Xerri keeps pushing his own development. Having said that Xerri was clean, took some pack marks, took the ball out of the ruck a little too much for my liking (it really disrupts our mids and puts them out of position) but that just seems to be his style.

Logue was looking for and strong whilst Corr was on the sidelines and wearing a protective hand/arm covering.
Chom was loving really well, spoiling well from the packs.

In the forward lines Larkey was leading very well, as was Zurhaar and Darling looked ok too but was playing on the opposite team to Larkey so no real chance to see how those two work together.


Go Roos!!
"

Got to love the good feedback about Goad.

He’s going up against are hardened body in X and doesn’t sound like he’s taking a backward step.
Huge improvement on his vfl form.

 

[the big lebowski]

Is B.George expected to be available for round 1? Potentially a pre season game?

He’s out for most of, if not all of the year

 

[Kanga Glory]

hairline of a 50yr old

For all us 50+ year Olds - Get stuffed

 

[speedy]

Oh my god, Bailey Scott grew a tricep!

Take note for posterity… 13/01/25 - The turning point.

It’s happening people!

 

[The Dark]

There was a great Hansen jnr run down tackle on ldu where ldu burst through the stoppage and on the wing and hansen jnr ran him down from hff and pinged him.

Thanks for the excellent report - reckon RHJ is on an insane development curve myself.

Every chance we get the AFL version of the 17 year old RHJ that got him into the WAFL.

 

[My Left Foote]

thought after the last couple weeks on this thread needed a real effort to purge that shite.

What this thread need was an exorcism.

 

[krakouers]

What this thread need was an exorcism.

 

[Waynesworld]

Is B.George expected to be available for round 1? Potentially a pre season game?

No.

 

[maddiemelb]

Just posted photos from today’s training sesh on my personal account if anyone’s interested!

 

[FAILTOSUCCEED]

Just posted photos from today’s training sesh on my personal account if anyone’s interested!

LDU looking even trimmer?

 

[ferball]

hairline of a 50yr old

Is that River or Geordie Payne?

 

[sacrilecious]

No.

When is he expected to play?

 

[RightWingRoo]

When is he expected to play?

Seems like he's roughly on schedule, so probably mid year

 

[Gasometer]

The thread pic has been changed!

 

[Gasometer]

 

[year of the roo]

marklovesbeer can you change the pic back?

 

[Rod Stroker]

The call outs of Urqs are interesting. When I saw them train at Southport just before Xmas, he was definitely one who grabbed my attention. Didn't like look a freshly drafted kid at all, knew where to be and moved around like a bloke that belonged. Would not be surprised if he got games in the first half of the year.

 

[Junk yard]

Whoopee ****ing do

When you’ve been around here as long as him, you too can do as you please

Didn't realise there was a pecking order, there you go. I'm educated now, I apologise. So how long before I'm allowed to start a thread for my birthday?

 

[Shack18]

I spent about an hour at training today. The exorcism has covered the session very well so will just list some of my observations.

• Powell moving really well, was impressive
• sheezel very special
• Parker was the general, trained really hard with intensity and precise with his decision making and skills. No doubt sets a great example
• Xerri,very imposing!!
• thought Zurhhar trained really well, looks very fit and covered the ground well
• Phillips very solid and worked really hard
• young River moved well and hit some nice kicks, reckon he will fit into afl running patterns well.
• Bergman still looks too small, not sure what his point of difference is,just don’t think he has the athleticism
• McKercher going to be a very very damaging player, just suits the modern game
• wardlaw doing running whole time I was there, very solid boy and looking fit, has lost some puppy fat
• thought Simpkin looked good, moved well and hit some good kicks

All in all they do look fitter and bigger than last couple of years

 

[king of the road]

Didn't realise there was a pecking order, there you go. I'm educated now, I apologise. So how long before I'm allowed to start a thread for my birthday?

Mate, this thread just got back on track with talk about NMFC players on the track.

Be great if we can keep it that way.

 

[Chadwiko]

Mate, this thread just got back on track with talk about NMFC players on the track.

Be great if we can keep it that way.

 

[Hatchy1992]

Just posted photos from today’s training sesh on my personal account if anyone’s interested!

Thanks Maddie! They look amazing!

 

[Junk yard]

Mate, this thread just got back on track with talk about NMFC players on the track.

Be great if we can keep it that way.

Talk to old mate, keeps polluting the joint with his apologies for being wrong about Xerri.

 

[Junk yard]

Quality input, how's the captaincy announcement looking? Haha.

 

[Junk yard]

Good to see you keeping busy big red.