Official Pre-Season Training Times, Photos and Discussion Thread

[Dan]

He's an AFL footballer.

He only has to walk outside his house to pull a bird now.

That's true

 

[shintemaster]

I wondered though whether there would be a good market for NM rashie - nearly every child wears them at the pool or beach these days and many adults - I would definitely buy them if available.

This is a top idea. Twinkletoes post one of your make it happen Euge's.

 

[Old Skool]

WTF is a "rashie?"

If it's what I think it is then I remember having one when I was seventeen and all I got was a shot of penicillin in the arse.

I can't see these being very popular.

 

[Twinkletoes]

This is a top idea. Twinkletoes post one of your make it happen Euge's.

You just did it yourself. Euge can spot his call sign from a mile away through clouds.

Originally Posted by Old Skool
WTF is a "rashie?"

Exhibit A:

So I presume it's one of these training tops:

Long Sleeved

Short Sleeved

Singlet

 

[TheKanga]

The gel has to go. It's ****y and it reeks of teenager. He's a young man now and he needs to present himself as a young man.

Jack followed my advice and made the change and now Kieran has to follow suit.

I expect Boomer will grab him this week and whip him down to Pinos Mens Barbers in Errol street for a nice number two.

If i remember correctly i think he had the shaved hair earlier in 2011?

 

[Daz]

If i remember correctly i think he had the shaved hair earlier in 2011?

Kanga lotto victim.

 

[THE MOEMAN]

Hamish McIntosh says new team-mate Brad McKenzie has the talent to become a star at Aegis Park in the coming years.

Speaking on SEN Radio on Saturday night, McIntosh spoke highly of North Melbourne’s first draft selection.

“All the young kids are going really well, but Brad would be the one that stands out most. His skills are impeccable,” McIntosh said.

“He’s got some of the best skills I’ve seen come into the club in the ten years that I’ve been there.”

Having arrived just over two months ago, McKenzie has previously said he’s got plenty of work to do before debuting, but the big ruckman believes he could have an immediate impact.

more here:http://www.kangaroos.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4912/newsid/128110/default.aspx

Pretty big compliment from big H saying that McKenzie has some of the best skills he has ever seen at the club.
Can't wait to see McKenzie in action in the NAB cup!

 

[Husk]

more here:http://www.kangaroos.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4912/newsid/128110/default.aspx

Pretty big compliment from big H saying that McKenzie has some of the best skills he has ever seen at the club.
Can't wait to see McKenzie in action in the NAB cup!

I was saying earlier in the year, his ability to play wont be as much about his strength, as it is his agility which tested quite high in camp if I remember correctly.

If he can find space like he has at the lower levels, he will still be a weapon. Look at a guy like Heppell. Not quick, but his smarts and quick first step let him find time and space. McKenzie uses the ball so well, he will be damaging even with a handful of possession.

 

[GarnerSmash]

So Atley training with the defensive group, Harper with the mids.

Good to see the kids getting a good, rounded develoment.

 

[MaddAdam]

They played an unofficial intra club today. I happened to catch most of it.

Things I really noticed: Cruizer is killing it. Would be one of the first picked if we were playing Rd1 this weekend.

Sammy Wright has indeed got quicker. He ran down chased someone - think it was Basti - in a great effort and it was noticeable that he was quicker.

Lachie Hansen played at CHB and looked excellent. Christ that kid takes a brilliant contested mark.

Lindsay Thomas playing ON THE BALL and looking amazing.

Narni and Flash Campbell both looked very good and are over their injuries fully you'd say.

Jack Ziebell is a great monstrous beast of a midfielder with truly elite disposal by foot. Nafan Buckley like today playing a sort of quarterback role. Breaking tackles at will too.

Atley looked very good and has an amazing first few steps. Played on half back and looked the goods.

Azza looks ever fitter and trimmer than last season too.

Only downer was Cunners who sat out and appeared have done something to himself. DO NOT PANIC - this is just what I saw 0- there were no crutches or ambulances or anything. It may be nothing.

Can't report on new blokes as couldn't recognise them.

 

[Old Skool]

Excellent work mate.

I'm very much looking forward to Feb 17.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Super work DoP.

Really appreciate the report. How'd Black travel?

Only two weeks to the 'official' intra-club game. Can't wait.

 

[Passmore]

Nice work DoP.

Can't wait until Thursday to get my first live look at the lads for 2012. Christ, I'm getting so toey a trip to the 'rat is on the cards for the intra club.

Not sure if I can hold out until Feb 17.

 

[MaddAdam]

Super work DoP.

Really appreciate the report. How'd Black travel?

Only two weeks to the 'official' intra-club game. Can't wait.

Can't say I noticed Black but it was actually pretty hard to recognise guys as they weren't wearing numbers and plenty were wearing caps etc.

They were really going at it too. I mean, it wasn't the 1945 Grand Final with blokes poleaxing each but it defintely full contact. Speighty got a knock to the head off Loose and had to go and get it bandaged up. Wells didn't play and was like a caged panther on the sidelines.

It may be the Cunners didn't play simply because Scott was worried he'd kill someone.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Good to hear.

Cheers again.

 

[MaddAdam]

Nice work DoP.

Can't wait until Thursday to get my first live look at the lads for 2012. Christ, I'm getting so toey a trip to the 'rat is on the cards for the intra club.

Not sure if I can hold out until Feb 17.

It was absolute dumb luck for me today. I was going for a swim at NM pool and thought I'll go and see if the boys are training. Literally as I got there they bounced the ball for an intra club.

Played about 10 - 15 minute quarters but was being umpired and all that kind of thing.

 

[Old Skool]

Speighty got a knock to the head off Loose and had to go and get it bandaged up.

Interesting that you point this out as it's probably only close watchers of Scotty that are aware of his fondness for handing them out.

He's not like Arch or anything, he is much more understated, but he's definitely got a streak of Lloyd Bridges in him.

 

[MaddAdam]

We also seem to be playing through the centre/corridor more.

 

[MaddAdam]

Interesting that you point this out as it's probably only close watchers of Scotty that are aware of his fondness for handing them out.

He's not like Arch or anything, he is much more understated, but he's definitely got a streak of Lloyd Bridges in him.

When they came for a break, Loose was proudly saying "I GOT HIM! I TOLD YOU I'D GET HIM!". It was a very hard and fair contest and Speight copped a whack and also copped it sweet, there was no ill feeling.

Some very good banter actually. Boomer kicked a brilliant goal on the run and someone from his own team, might have been Narni, shouts out "Hungry Boomer, hungry!"

 

[GarnerSmash]

We also seem to be playing through the centre/corridor more.

More Geelong and less Collingwood.

Nice.

Let's face it, at this stage we are not going to out-finesse anyone, so going hard and fast down the guts really suits our attributes. Increased fitness will allow us to get into better defensive position when/if the turnover comes.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Cheers for the report, however after reading anything short of Grand Finalists and I'll be disappointed..lol

 

[Old Skool]

More Geelong and less Collingwood.

Nice.

It's only January 23rd but this will be already be hard to beat for my post of the year.

Some of our overcooking of the ball in recent times has had me frothing at the mouth.

We've got arguably the best contested marking forward in the competition, an excellent leading foil, and a top fleet of small forwards, BLOODY WELL USE THEM!

If I see a player stream inside 50 this year, I want to see them shooting at goal. Otherwise, hit up Azza (and/or Hamish/Black/Pedo) from 60-80 out or bomb the thing on Big Drewies head.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thanks for the report DoP. 'Tis good reading this stuff in mid Summer with the NAB Cup almost upon us.

Originally Posted by DawOfPerception
Azza looks ever fitter and trimmer than last season too.

TOD's channeled me to say "Yep, and I expect Azza to AGAIN prove you remaining doubters wrong."

Most importantly DoP, you bastard being able to go for a swim on this magnificent hot sunny day (my first day back at work FFS)! It'd be days like this which would make you happy to be back from Glasgow eh? North unofficial intra club game and a swim on a hot January day.

 

[MaddAdam]

Most importantly DoP, you bastard being able to go for a swim on this magnificent hot sunny day (my first day back at work FFS)! It'd be days like this which would make you happy to be back from Glasgow eh? North unofficial intra club game and a swim on a hot January day.

Yeah. Beats trudging through the grey slushy snow in the dark at 3PM.

 

[Firrito24]

Just happened to be driving by and saw the boys were on the park.

Stopped and watched for half hr.

As mentioned previously, hard to spot a lot of blokes with caps and vests on.

But here are a few things I picked up.

* Hansen playing in defence but also pushed up a bit into the midfield. Did a reasonable job down back but made a few blunders. At one stage he nearly got LA killed with a hospital handpass.

* Speaking of Anthony, racked up heaps of the ball, as usual. Didn't notice any problems with his disposal. Garlett had plenty of the ball also.

* Matty Campbell looked silky in the midfield. Great evasive skills.

* Boomer and Adams looked to be going head to head off a wing.

* Goldy and H rucking against Mabon. McIntosh took the majority of centre bounces while Goldy played out of the square. H did push down at one stage, took a nice contested mark and goaled.

* Edwards looks lean and moving well. Harper was lively at half forward for one side, while Warren and Wright looked good at half forward for the other team. Wright's speed looked better. Warren's hands were good and he kicked a nice goal on the run from 40m.

* Swallow took himself off at one stage. Not sure what the problem was but looked to be a slight niggle.

* JZ and Grima were walking laps when I was there. Jack looked a bit stiff and sore. As mentioned, Cunnington sat out the whole game.

* McKenzie also walking laps. The kid has legs like twigs. Wouldn't expect much from him in first half of the season at least.

* Wellsy is looking mega buff. Got massive guns on him. He was running water along with Majak, Kennedy and Richo (I think).