Training 2025 Preseason Thread
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Crimson Azure
Premium Platinum
has there been an official sighting of Clarry yet?
jhong
Old man yelling at clouds
Yes , and Trac as well .
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PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
Training down at Mansfield i see on Tuesday. Only an hour away for me, might pop down and have a look. Could squeeze it in before having to get back for work in the afternoon
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
Alright i have been waiting years to do one of these training reports. Got up at 7:30am and drove around 45 minutes down the midland highway. Arrived at Mansfield recreation reserve at around 8:40am and the boys where already started ahead of the advised 9pm start. Was a normal Mansfield like day with rolling clouds on the hills, a bit of rain around. But mostly fine although Muggy due to recent heat
When i got there they where doing circle work in the 50s at both ends. Just working the ball around and inside the 50 with defenders. Goody was at my end alone with Bassett. It was mostly uneventful, defenders rarely got a touch although when Petracca was defending spoiled coming back with the flight on AMW very much like against the Hawthorn game and got an applause. AJ was present in this drill, like everyone else clunked everything despite the humid and wet conditions. I overheard some goodyisms one being "If you're tired, clear space" which i hope means get out of the way and not hoof the ball if you have possession. Bassett was also over here with Goody, very engaged and instructive as well. (Side note i know goodwin has a good relationship with his players but you can see that at training. It doesn't mean i like his coaching, but you can see he has a good connection and is very vocal at training.). Melksham was very vocal as well, as was Petracca but Melksham had a lot more instruction with his talk, i can see why us and them pretty much see him as almost an on field coach
Another Goody quote and one a lot of the players where running with this session was "Simple Brilliance" I heard Petracca say it about as much as Goody. I presume it's a focus on getting the simple things right and letting the players know that ticking off the little things gets team rewards. Or at least that's how i interpret that phrase. I would be interested to know if anyone goes to the city trainings if it's quoted over the off season
Team sprints through the square from wing to wing
Team huddled up then split off into three groups. One group was two lands, a ground ball was rolled down and picked up, the player at the other end would then tackle with the ground ball player either evading or getting the hands up after collecting the ball. Another group on the far wing did clearance work. The final group did two lands of wrestle marking, a coach would throw a ball up and a pair would wrestle then one would mark. I overhead Goody talking to AJ as they were going over to the wrestle marking. I didn't hear what AJ said but it must have been a confident bit of banter with goody on his marking skills. Goody very playfully gave back "You haven't been here that long and you're already giving me lip"
Came in for a huddle again
Split back out into three groups. One group in the 50 did a short inside kick from the boundary, give the hands to another group and the receiver goes to a switch kick, then repeating from the other side of the 50. The next group did a modified bowtie. Goes down the line, that player kicks to the middle but then has to follow up to receive a handball and then give it off to the player that kicks down the line to repeat on the other side. Found it interesting, because normally for me the player that gives to the middle cone normally doesn't get it back, and that middle group goes straight to the player running past, nice variation i might 'borrow' (Clarry also munged a kick on this drill and wasn't happy with it). Half way through they brought one of the side cones in, that group that receives to long kick has to still kick to the middle cone but it's become a weave, will follow up for a receive along with the other group, but the player waiting out the front makes the choice of which two players running past to release too. Finally the last group of the 3 did a handball drill with two teams one and one without vests, just flicking it around but when the whistle went it turned into mad ball and the team in possession had to work through it
After this it was more running. 4 groups on 4 points around the square (Boy do i hate this one, but it's good to see everyone no matter the level does the same shitty running). Sprint to one point, jog to the next point and start again. Always constantly ticking them over
Split off into 2 groups. Transition up and down the wings, both groups to a wing. Had to go to a coach waiting at either 50, up and back with defenders rotating on bibs. Jones was at my 50 in this drill, very encouraging and instructing when needed. Called Bowey to hold his width at one point.
Then finally sprints up and down the ground. Some of the players dropped out of this one before it started. Someone wearing the number 12 jumper for us dropped out midway through (I didn't know who it was, it wasn't any of the new guys that i could see, i don't think it was one of our draftees but it could have been Sharp, but there was a blonde running around with no number so i have no idea who this 12 might be) Tmac was one that didn't participate or dropped out at one point, he cramped up bad. Langdon and Gawn didn't do these final sprints running laps around the oval instead
SPEAKING of jumpers all draftees and traded players (Minus this mystery number 12) had no numbers on their back. That's a given, but similar to what i heard on the jumper number thread, Kolt was also wearing a numberless training top. Make of that what you will. All other players that have been on the list the previous season all had numbers. (I did get some signatures and haven't combed through them yet but there might be some clues because i think most players signed with a number, although draftees could just use junior number i suppose)
Anyways they did their cool down as a group. Anyways little side notes
AJ as i said fitting in well, it's like his been there for years. Moves alright and gets along with everyone with some cheeky lip. The more it went on the more confident and comfortable he seemed to get. I can see him becoming a cult figure, very likable
Bassett was pretty involved ran and introduced a couple new drills. The odd bowtie i mentioned got Tmac completely off guard not realising he had to get the handball back from the middle group
In contrast i saw Brown and Verrall next to each other. Verrall looks huge. Brown however still looks very light
Now the boundary line runners during training! I'm naming names. When i arrived it was Lever and Lindsay running up and down the boundary, Lever left and Lindsay kept going for a while. Lever did not join training. Mentha later came out and ran on his own up and down, i think he reintegrated back into training, Lindsay although i can't confirm and certain didn't train, but Lindsay did the most off all the boundary running. Later Fritsch started jogging on his own and then was joined with an older player i later identified as Campbell, these two had left the main group after a bit of training but re-joined for the end. Campbell looks and is like one of those old 2s players (but of course fit). Extremely friendly though, talked to anyone, kept pushing Fritsch along. Kinda knows what he is, been on a journey but smiles and laughs about it with people. Can see why everyone says he's a ripper bloke, he's certainly a guy I'd hang round with after a game
Spargo was not sighted, although i did eventually see him doing signings with everyone else. He did not train or run
Jones looks alright as a coach, really didn't bat an eye really. As a captain i found him to be a very teaching/informative captain and a tad experience working on the bench in 2020 he seems to have slipped back into the AFL mindset well. Doesn't over coach, but gives guidance and instruction as he has done, Just seems back in a weird way even though he's not playing. It's funny though as i know he's been out of the game for a bit but it must feel weird to come to these community events now and pretty much become invisible to the public. All the coaches grabbed a coffee from the canteen and where ignored mostly, i think the Mansfield footy club president got into a long chat with Goody. Jones sat on a bench with the others while i stood by wondering if i should get something. Mark Williams, man can he tell stories that just pull everyone in, all the other coaches where hanging on his every word and laughing.
Bassett also yeah looks alright, you can tell it isn't his first time doing any coaching. Can really feel his experience when he take control or does explains a drill
Richardson was hanging around, stood next to me at one point but i didn't say anything. Co-ordinated a group photo with primary school kids (there where a good bunch of secondary school kids that decided to take the morning off). Seems okay at being involved in these little public engagement things
Left for home but stopped and got an egg and bacon muffin from the Mansfield coffee merchant first, a group of 6 players came in and booked a table (Yes langdon was one of them, of course!). Didn't chat or bother any of them, May did step right in front of me to size up some sandwiches on display (dw it's just coffee and Melksham wasn't there), I'm taller than him but he is an absolute unit
If you got any questions or queries on any particular players fire them to me and i'll try my best to remember while it's fresh. Meanwhile i'll see if i have any good photo's or videos to put up
When i got there they where doing circle work in the 50s at both ends. Just working the ball around and inside the 50 with defenders. Goody was at my end alone with Bassett. It was mostly uneventful, defenders rarely got a touch although when Petracca was defending spoiled coming back with the flight on AMW very much like against the Hawthorn game and got an applause. AJ was present in this drill, like everyone else clunked everything despite the humid and wet conditions. I overheard some goodyisms one being "If you're tired, clear space" which i hope means get out of the way and not hoof the ball if you have possession. Bassett was also over here with Goody, very engaged and instructive as well. (Side note i know goodwin has a good relationship with his players but you can see that at training. It doesn't mean i like his coaching, but you can see he has a good connection and is very vocal at training.). Melksham was very vocal as well, as was Petracca but Melksham had a lot more instruction with his talk, i can see why us and them pretty much see him as almost an on field coach
Another Goody quote and one a lot of the players where running with this session was "Simple Brilliance" I heard Petracca say it about as much as Goody. I presume it's a focus on getting the simple things right and letting the players know that ticking off the little things gets team rewards. Or at least that's how i interpret that phrase. I would be interested to know if anyone goes to the city trainings if it's quoted over the off season
Team sprints through the square from wing to wing
Team huddled up then split off into three groups. One group was two lands, a ground ball was rolled down and picked up, the player at the other end would then tackle with the ground ball player either evading or getting the hands up after collecting the ball. Another group on the far wing did clearance work. The final group did two lands of wrestle marking, a coach would throw a ball up and a pair would wrestle then one would mark. I overhead Goody talking to AJ as they were going over to the wrestle marking. I didn't hear what AJ said but it must have been a confident bit of banter with goody on his marking skills. Goody very playfully gave back "You haven't been here that long and you're already giving me lip"
Came in for a huddle again
Split back out into three groups. One group in the 50 did a short inside kick from the boundary, give the hands to another group and the receiver goes to a switch kick, then repeating from the other side of the 50. The next group did a modified bowtie. Goes down the line, that player kicks to the middle but then has to follow up to receive a handball and then give it off to the player that kicks down the line to repeat on the other side. Found it interesting, because normally for me the player that gives to the middle cone normally doesn't get it back, and that middle group goes straight to the player running past, nice variation i might 'borrow' (Clarry also munged a kick on this drill and wasn't happy with it). Half way through they brought one of the side cones in, that group that receives to long kick has to still kick to the middle cone but it's become a weave, will follow up for a receive along with the other group, but the player waiting out the front makes the choice of which two players running past to release too. Finally the last group of the 3 did a handball drill with two teams one and one without vests, just flicking it around but when the whistle went it turned into mad ball and the team in possession had to work through it
After this it was more running. 4 groups on 4 points around the square (Boy do i hate this one, but it's good to see everyone no matter the level does the same shitty running). Sprint to one point, jog to the next point and start again. Always constantly ticking them over
Split off into 2 groups. Transition up and down the wings, both groups to a wing. Had to go to a coach waiting at either 50, up and back with defenders rotating on bibs. Jones was at my 50 in this drill, very encouraging and instructing when needed. Called Bowey to hold his width at one point.
Then finally sprints up and down the ground. Some of the players dropped out of this one before it started. Someone wearing the number 12 jumper for us dropped out midway through (I didn't know who it was, it wasn't any of the new guys that i could see, i don't think it was one of our draftees but it could have been Sharp, but there was a blonde running around with no number so i have no idea who this 12 might be) Tmac was one that didn't participate or dropped out at one point, he cramped up bad. Langdon and Gawn didn't do these final sprints running laps around the oval instead
SPEAKING of jumpers all draftees and traded players (Minus this mystery number 12) had no numbers on their back. That's a given, but similar to what i heard on the jumper number thread, Kolt was also wearing a numberless training top. Make of that what you will. All other players that have been on the list the previous season all had numbers. (I did get some signatures and haven't combed through them yet but there might be some clues because i think most players signed with a number, although draftees could just use junior number i suppose)
Anyways they did their cool down as a group. Anyways little side notes
AJ as i said fitting in well, it's like his been there for years. Moves alright and gets along with everyone with some cheeky lip. The more it went on the more confident and comfortable he seemed to get. I can see him becoming a cult figure, very likable
Bassett was pretty involved ran and introduced a couple new drills. The odd bowtie i mentioned got Tmac completely off guard not realising he had to get the handball back from the middle group
In contrast i saw Brown and Verrall next to each other. Verrall looks huge. Brown however still looks very light
Now the boundary line runners during training! I'm naming names. When i arrived it was Lever and Lindsay running up and down the boundary, Lever left and Lindsay kept going for a while. Lever did not join training. Mentha later came out and ran on his own up and down, i think he reintegrated back into training, Lindsay although i can't confirm and certain didn't train, but Lindsay did the most off all the boundary running. Later Fritsch started jogging on his own and then was joined with an older player i later identified as Campbell, these two had left the main group after a bit of training but re-joined for the end. Campbell looks and is like one of those old 2s players (but of course fit). Extremely friendly though, talked to anyone, kept pushing Fritsch along. Kinda knows what he is, been on a journey but smiles and laughs about it with people. Can see why everyone says he's a ripper bloke, he's certainly a guy I'd hang round with after a game
Spargo was not sighted, although i did eventually see him doing signings with everyone else. He did not train or run
Jones looks alright as a coach, really didn't bat an eye really. As a captain i found him to be a very teaching/informative captain and a tad experience working on the bench in 2020 he seems to have slipped back into the AFL mindset well. Doesn't over coach, but gives guidance and instruction as he has done, Just seems back in a weird way even though he's not playing. It's funny though as i know he's been out of the game for a bit but it must feel weird to come to these community events now and pretty much become invisible to the public. All the coaches grabbed a coffee from the canteen and where ignored mostly, i think the Mansfield footy club president got into a long chat with Goody. Jones sat on a bench with the others while i stood by wondering if i should get something. Mark Williams, man can he tell stories that just pull everyone in, all the other coaches where hanging on his every word and laughing.
Bassett also yeah looks alright, you can tell it isn't his first time doing any coaching. Can really feel his experience when he take control or does explains a drill
Richardson was hanging around, stood next to me at one point but i didn't say anything. Co-ordinated a group photo with primary school kids (there where a good bunch of secondary school kids that decided to take the morning off). Seems okay at being involved in these little public engagement things
Left for home but stopped and got an egg and bacon muffin from the Mansfield coffee merchant first, a group of 6 players came in and booked a table (Yes langdon was one of them, of course!). Didn't chat or bother any of them, May did step right in front of me to size up some sandwiches on display (dw it's just coffee and Melksham wasn't there), I'm taller than him but he is an absolute unit
If you got any questions or queries on any particular players fire them to me and i'll try my best to remember while it's fresh. Meanwhile i'll see if i have any good photo's or videos to put up
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Bluelegs
Digging into the why
Sounds like my plans to head down tonight have been thwarted.
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
I have had a look at the signatures and there are unassigned numbers in there but i have no ****ing idea, i can't decipher who's names they are lol
But one i might have figured out. I think Kolt has moved to #12
But one i might have figured out. I think Kolt has moved to #12
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
Oops, i'm not used to being up so early
Theseventhhamster
Brownlow Medallist
Can't fathom how strict his diet would be to be that low in body fat. Dude would be a 110KG beast FF if he played 40 years earlier.
Theseventhhamster
Brownlow Medallist
Any standout youngsters? Early indications of a McVee type breakout?
- Nov 16, 2024
- 69
- 157
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
- Banned
- #17
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
McVee looked very clean. I didn't get to see many of the stoppage drills from so far away, but hit every target in the transition drill, good spacing
AMW seems a bit more comfortable, very clean in the keepings off drill in the 50, makes smart decisions
Windsor tracking well still, same with JVR
Jefferson looked quick in the transition drills, strides well, hit all his targets on the run. Stuck all his marks, most at the highest point
Didn't really see much of Taj, Brown, Sestan or Adams, no standouts other than as i said Brown still looks very lightly built. Then Kolt who i'm certain is number 12 at this point due to the signature and his hair being obscured by hat looked alright in the keepings off drill, but didn't finish the last set of sprints, still needs to build more of a tank
Sharp looks quick and uses the ball well from what i could see
Turner went alright, same with Bowey
I didn't catch a lot of Langford, but is a big kid and took some nice marks in the wrestle drill. Lindsay as i said running the boundary, but did the most running of the boundary runners
didn't catch Kentfield much
Laurie blended in, didn't look out of place but not noticeable
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
I should really put the signatures i got up in the numbers thread so you can all speculate who's numbers are who's
Fantastic work PerfectFooty.
I was going to make the trek up today but then it's started pouring and I couldn't be ****ed from that point on.
I was going to make the trek up today but then it's started pouring and I couldn't be ****ed from that point on.
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
Have some meh phone photos
I could not see those faded lines in person
I could not see those faded lines in person
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
Yeah i got up this morning and was contemplating it. The highway between Benalla and Mansfield is super shitty as it is along with the wet and loaded with roos
PerfectFooty
Perfect Cell
**** it have shitty video as well (probs best viewed in full screen)
Bowtie
Transition up and down the wing (Billings mungs a dart at the end of this one)
Transition up and down the wing (a good one)
Bowtie
Transition up and down the wing (Billings mungs a dart at the end of this one)
Transition up and down the wing (a good one)
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