Preview Pre-Season 2015 - Training, Pics etc

[PP34]

Hmmm. I did work experience at the Blues. Want to head down there soon. Reckon Mick would think a youngster is an opposition spy?

 

[ctacp]

Man who cooks in dark...Not necessarily chef

man who paint toilet not actually shithouse painter.

 

[reg_lower91]

I honesty really do think we'll surprise quite a few people this year. Haven't felt this way since the (heartbreaking) 2011 season.

 

[ctacp]

5

The irony is many a time over the last decade I would have loved the opportunity to draw the shades at some of our games so I did not have to see any more!!

50 shades of rubbish. new movie out soon !

 

[Old navy]

Personally... I think that Yarran needs to be moved onto the wing this season. He needs to be used as a link player and spend more time running lines through the midfield. His defensive game has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years and the time is now for him to take it to the next level.

We have all seen Gibbs take the step up when shifted into the midfield where he belongs. I think that the same needs to be done to Yarran. SuperFooty has apparently rated our midfield and after Gibbs, Murphy, and Judd... our midfield depth falls away quickly and lacks speed and polish. Shift Yazz and 1AW into the midfield and you can bet that all the pundits would suddenly be raving about the quality of our mids.

As for Gaz, he spent 4 years in the forward line before making the shift into the midfield permanently. The worst thing about Carlton is that with two of our brightest midfield prospects in the last 10 years... we have left them stagnating in defence for too long before shifting them into the midfield. Yazz needs to make the move into the midfield this year to step up to the next level.

I think that this year Yarran will be unleshed into the midfield/wing. Watching him in a drill from the latest train vid
It looked like he was been tagged. He looks ablostely Massive.
Imagine if Mick can weave some more of his magic on Yazz. The same way he did with Daisy.
Turns talented flashy players into genuine midfield guns.

 

[reg_lower91]

I think that this year Yarran will be unleshed into the midfield/wing. Watching him in a drill from the latest train vid
It looked like he was been tagged. He looks ablostely Massive.
Imagine if Mick can weave some more of his magic on Yazz. The same way he did with Daisy.
Turns talented flashy players into genuine midfield guns.

Have always said that Yazz belongs on the wing but I'm not quite sure he's strong enough in aerial contests yet to play there. Perhaps I'm wrong, as some stints down back have no-doubt helped improve his contesting of the ball in the air. But in terms of being a marking option (not just a spoiler) I'm not sure he's quite the right fit...... yet. I sure hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Old navy]

Have always said that Yazz belongs on the wing but I'm not quite sure he's strong enough in aerial contests yet to play there. Perhaps I'm wrong, as some stints down back have no-doubt helped improve his contesting of the ball in the air. But in terms of being a marking option (not just a spoiler) I'm not sure he's quite the right fit...... yet. I sure hope I'm wrong though.

Don't know about that..when we played Yazz forward his contested marking was great. As a junior he played as a forward mid. We drafted him @6 with a view that he would become a forward/mid. The problem so far has been getting his tank up to standard.
Since we drafted him he has had all kinds of reasons that have kept him out of perseasons.
But last year he manged to get threw one, he credits this as to one of the reasons why he had a good year.
So this preseason so far so good. Yazz has stated a desire to play in the midfield as recently as the last few rounds last year.

Yarran has all attubutes to become one of the most exciting players in the game. Not many players have that mix of speed and sublime football skills to match. It's a rare combo. I really think opposition teams would struggle to contain all of Gibbs Murphy Judd Thomas and Yarran.

 

[Bring on Vinnie]

Yazz should make the interchange wing his own (ala Doug Hawkins). Short sharp, devastating bursts and regular breathers. If he's going full tilt down his wing with 15-20 possessions from 70% game time, that's going to result in at least 15 very dangerous inside 50's and a few goals. So quick, so evasive and such good disposal, he could be a weapon like no other side has.

 

[Feva]

View attachment 107498

Those damn opposition spies................the red hat always gives them away

Good find Harker ... that is actually me! Didn't realise I looked so obvious with that bloody red hat on.

In all honesty though I didn't know it was a closed session. Maybe the fact that I was the only person in the stands should've pricked my ears though!

 

[ferrisb]

Feva actually is a spy. Just passes on secrets to the Blues bf board rather than the opposition...

 

[Old navy]

Yazz should make the interchange wing his own (ala Doug Hawkins). Short sharp, devastating bursts and regular breathers. If he's going full tilt down his wing with 15-20 possessions from 70% game time, that's going to result in at least 15 very dangerous inside 50's and a few goals. So quick, so evasive and such good disposal, he could be a weapon like no other side has.

Yazz booted 21 goals plus 12 goal assists last season playing off a half back Flank .
He averaged 16 touches at 71%DE with about 35% of them contested possessions.
Last year he averaged 80% game time.
If Yazz could average 20-25 touches a game particularly forward of centre, he would be one of the most damaging players in the league.

 

[LanceRomance]

Feva actually is a spy. Just passes on secrets to the Blues bf board rather than the opposition...

I remember there used to be a poster on blitz that used to be a trainer at the blues.

 

[PuffDragon89]

Maaaaaaate... for what his job is, he is A-grade. Who are the better line-breaking flankers in the comp? There's not too many. Could you imagine if Yarran was getting 30+ possessions a game? With the way he delivers the ball and how damaging he can be, people would call him the greatest player ever.

 

[Deep Blue]

Personally... I think that Yarran needs to be moved onto the wing this season. He needs to be used as a link player and spend more time running lines through the midfield. His defensive game has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years and the time is now for him to take it to the next level.

We have all seen Gibbs take the step up when shifted into the midfield where he belongs. I think that the same needs to be done to Yarran. SuperFooty has apparently rated our midfield and after Gibbs, Murphy, and Judd... our midfield depth falls away quickly and lacks speed and polish. Shift Yazz and 1AW into the midfield and you can bet that all the pundits would suddenly be raving about the quality of our mids.

As for Gaz, he spent 4 years in the forward line before making the shift into the midfield permanently. The worst thing about Carlton is that with two of our brightest midfield prospects in the last 10 years... we have left them stagnating in defence for too long before shifting them into the midfield. Yazz needs to make the move into the midfield this year to step up to the next level.

Purely in statistical terms a midfielder is around the ball more often so it makes sense to have your best players in the midfield and your quality depth in the midfield ranks - no wonder primary focus at Melbourne under Roos is the midfield. With Juddy probably with us for no longer than two more years now, it's time for a few more midfield options to shine this year - few strategic positional moves from Mick to get more quality around the midfield area for a larger percentage of game time (perhaps Yarran, Walker, Docherty, Thomas (now he's fit), even Tuohy with his long-kicking?) and the emergence of a few youngsters (Cripps, Wiley, Graham, Tutt and Boekhurst?). We have more potential midfield depth than most of the journos would have you believe and I think we'll see a few players break-out this year and things really start to click.

 

[Draft Buster]

Purely in statistical terms a midfielder is around the ball more often so it makes sense to have your best players in the midfield and your quality depth in the midfield ranks - no wonder primary focus at Melbourne under Roos is the midfield. With Juddy probably with us for no longer than two more years now, it's time for a few more midfield options to shine this year - few strategic positional moves from Mick to get more quality around the midfield area for a larger percentage of game time (perhaps Yarran, Walker, Docherty, Thomas (now he's fit), even Tuohy with his long-kicking?) and the emergence of a few youngsters (Cripps, Wiley, Graham, Tutt and Boekhurst?). We have more potential midfield depth than most of the journos would have you believe and I think we'll see a few players break-out this year and things really start to click.

Yeah agree DB, really like what Mick and all the other assistant coaches are doing with this team, building a Champion Team not team of champions.
Appears that they are building the team around real hard work, mateship and defensive grunt also with a forward line that won’t be predictable, can’t wait bring it on

 

[therubbernub]

Purely in statistical terms a midfielder is around the ball more often so it makes sense to have your best players in the midfield and your quality depth in the midfield ranks

This is why I am positive about the Betts/Thomas "swap" If thomas gets back to his best then its a no brainer who is of most value to us as a team. And now that we know that Eddie is 55 years old its even better value

 

[Funk]

The irony is many a time over the last decade I would have loved the opportunity to draw the shades at some of our games so I did not have to see any more!!

******* hilarious!
I unfortunately know the feeling.





*Mod edit - Don't avoid the swear filter

 

[gbatman]

Does Yarran have to play on the ball to be an A grade player? The half back line is basically a part of the midfield in modern football and he's been playing there and wing and doing it well. Teams need their playmakers coming from there. 1995 we had some super attacking backs/wings like Mckay, Christou, Hanna and Sexton and it was unreal the damage they did, things haven't changed. Yarran had a really good year last year and was one of the better half backs in the league. He'll probably play wing/half back again and a little forward most likely.

 

[Jabba73]

There are a lot of BF posters who have had a poor preseason and need to lift rather than coasting through on the occasional like instead of putting in the hard yards the old fashioned way.

A couple are jogging laps and doing stationary drills in the rehab group and a couple haven't even returned to training yet.

Starting to get a little nervous that some won't make it through the rigours of a full season with such little preparation.

Could get ugly if we get to finals and need them to lift the intensity.

Thank goodness there are a few professionals training the house down and setting the standards.

 

[Bluella]

meh.

 

[AceAndy]

meh.

Yeah what she said

 

[Bluella]

Yeah what she said

You changed my emoticon! I feel misrepresented.

 

[Jabba73]

You changed my emoticon! I feel misrepresented.

A lift in intensity, I like!!!

 

[AceAndy]

You changed my emoticon! I feel misrepresented.

Oops, not quite sure how that happened. My apologies here Bluella

 

[Bluey24]

Went for a run around Princes Park this morning and the boys were training. Walked in to have a watch and was asked to leave by one of the trainers as it was a closed session. Told me Mick had cracked that I was in there and wanted to know which club I was from!!!!

In the short time I was in there:
- Boekhorst is the main one I wanted to see. This kid just looks like he's running on top of the ground and effortlessly running through the faster drills with ball in hand. Not sure if that extends to his tank. Skills are good too. Surprisingly taller than I thought so could be one of those tough match ups for oppo
- Rainbow has a kicking style that you could watch all day, and accurate as well. Why is that left footers look so natural? Recruit more lefties I say!
- Dick has impressed me every session I've watched. Very hard worker and type of player you'd like to coach. I think he's trimmed down quite a bit since he got to the club. He's my smoky for some game time this year
- Dylan is explosive! His first five yards just looks so quick, and he doesn't shy away from any contest. I wish he had 4-5cms extra in height though as that is the area I query him in unless he can make a move into the midfield.
- As much as I love Yarran, is he the last of the poor trainers left that Mick has been gunning for. To his credit though, he seems to provide intensity when he needs to, but it's when he's not involved that we form our negative opinions of him
- Played a short intra club match today with official AFL umpires so understand why Mick wanted me out. Speaking of explosiveness, noticed an aboriginal player with hat on backwards put the burners on which really caught my eye as he was playing up forward ... Clem Smith
- Lachie now has some serious upper body strength as he has put on the size we need him to have in order to be our key go to man in the forward line
- Can't believe Mick hasn't told Whiley to get a haircut. Frustrates the hell out of me when I see players trying to get their out of their face during the game. Gibbs on the other hand had a very slick and tidy bun happening
- Jones was wearing a pink/red cap - trainer of the week?
- I hope I don't jinx him, but Jamo involved in everything. Looks to be in as good a shape as he's been
- not sure how Zach has been going this preseason as has really caught my eye, but his legs look very solid - almost too big. Could mistake him for an Irish Muay Thai fighter!
- Mick was out there in the thick of it today directing everything - preseason starting to get serious now
- Noticed just one player not involved in main training and doing running drills on far side but couldn't quite make out he it was - Walker?
- Watson collected the ball at half back on a few occasions during the first quarter but a bit confused as to what position we are genuinely grooming him for this season

I think it has been posted before, but what surprised me most was the crowd noise coming out of the speakers. Very loud and I could hear it all the way around Princes Park while doing my sub 13 minute lap! I don't know what others think but I honestly don't see the benefit of it. Simulating game type pressure is what us needed but can't not sure how you do that. On the flip side, if we gain 1% from it in the session than perhaps it is worth while.

Trainer advised me that next open session would be in Tuesday!

Oh mate, being stuck overseas these are the types of posts I treasure. Great effort!!