Training 31/1/03

[Cam Crognale]

Just a few observations about this mornings training session.

Watched Callam Urch carefully. Surgeon with the footy. Gun left foot. Has surprising speed, Has a footy brain. Will be a very good player in 2 years time. This does'nt mean he won't player a few games in between, just needs to build up his fitness base. Will only happen with time and another pre-season. David Hale is in the same boat. Physically not ready. Gun of the future.

Daniel Wells was another who really impressed me. In a game situation he will dominate, he is like a gazelle, might not be ready physically, but will get through games because of his speed and superior awareness. This kid can really play. Bigger things to come next season, after another pre-season.

Kriss Shore is a kid who will become a very handy, hard to match player. Again, needs a couple of pre-season to Strengthen his body. Got a bit of everything.

Joel Perry was a player l studied carefully last friday. Reminds me a lot of Darren Crocker, posture wise, simular size, and handy skills. Hopefully won't be as injure prone. Has a lot of raw energy, was very impressed in the tackling drills. Really went hard, showed a lot of determination. Again this kid will take a couple of years before he matures. Don't expect much from him in his first season. Still needs to learn the game.


This is my first post, hello to you all, sorry about my punctuation and spelling mistakes.

 

[Kimbo]

Originally posted by Cam Crognale
Just a few observations about this mornings training session.

Watched Callam Urch carefully. Surgeon with the footy. Gun left foot. Has surprising speed, Has a footy brain. Will be a very good player in 2 years time. This does'nt mean he won't player a few games in between, just needs to build up his fitness base. Will only happen with time and another pre-season. David Hale is in the same boat. Physically not ready. Gun of the future.

Daniel Wells was another who really impressed me. In a game situation he will dominate, he is like a gazelle, might not be ready physically, but will get through games because of his speed and superior awareness. This kid can really play. Bigger things to come next season, after another pre-season.

Kriss Shore is a kid who will become a very handy, hard to match player. Again, needs a couple of pre-season to Strengthen his body. Got a bit of everything.

Joel Perry was a player l studied carefully last friday. Reminds me a lot of Darren Crocker, posture wise, simular size, and handy skills. Hopefully won't be as injure prone. Has a lot of raw energy, was very impressed in the tackling drills. Really went hard, showed a lot of determination. Again this kid will take a couple of years before he matures. Don't expect much from him in his first season. Still needs to learn the game.


This is my first post, hello to you all, sorry about my punctuation and spelling mistakes.

Welcome and thank you Cam! From a non-Vic Roo supporter all Roo news is much appreciated.

Good to have another perspective on the training, given that different observers "see" different things. I'd say more, but it would belong on the guys gutter thread.

Particularly interested to read some reports on Shore and Perry, and to a lesser extent Urch, as these guys haven't got as much coverage as Wells, of course. You've backed up what my intuition is telling me about Urch and Shore in particular. What, in your opinion, will make Shore difficult to match up on? Any observations of Grima?

 

[tashibatts]

Hello- welcome to bigfooty

Thanks for the trainin report

Go Roos

 

[GoRoos]

Disappointing to see Rod Crowe hurt his knee at training this morning.

He was tackled from behind in one of the mock game drills and had his knee driven into the turf.

Looks like he will be in a brace for up to six weeks. I know that he was off to see the Doctor this morning to get an x-ray and MRI scan, which will determine how much damage he has done (hopefully less than first diagnosed). The phsio said max 6 weeks in a brace and Rod should be fine thereafter. My fingers are crossed.

This is a shame as he is one of the guys that I fully expected to step up this year and play some really good footy for us. Also due to the fact that he is a genuinely nice bloke...........always willing to say g'day and have a chat. Not all AFL footballers are nearly as friendly as Rod.

Also, John Baird rolled his ankle too...........thankfullly not badly though. I am waiting to get an update on this injury; I am told that it is nothing to worry about. Bairdy is looking so much bigger and stronger..........Mrs Go Roos wanted to take him home!

Interesting to see some of the boys getting a bit agro with one-another during contract drills this morning. Shagga was one example when he took exception to one of the Port Melbourne boys slinging him to the ground. He got up quickly wanting to go on with it..........good to see! It was also fun to watch Stevo and Danny Harris trying to pull each others jumper off during a contested ball drill. Interesting also to see Shannon Watt using his strength to man-handle Hamish. Hamish is big, but as yet doesn't have anywhere near the strength to play AFL (I'm sure this will come with time, as he is only a youngster). Dylan Smith also starred in this drill, beating all comers (including the senior players!) I was pleased to see Shannon Motlop using his smarts to make Arch look ordinary in this drill..........until Arch got sick of looking ordinary and really started to use his superior strength to out bussle Shannon. However, all and sundry were amazed with Shannon's footy smarts and his big bag of tricks; good fun to watch.

David Teague was looking in fine form, taking marks over much bigger opponents and hitting targets easily. Pretty to watch.

David Hale does things with total ease, as does Danny Motlop and Danny Wells. As Big Kev says..........I'm excited!

Shannon Grant is the fittest I have ever seen him, as is Troy Makepeace. Speaking of which, Troy, Boomer and Danny Wells are about the fastest guys at our club. Along with Shannon Watt (not far behind), were supurb in covering the ground. I would also put Leigh Harding in this catagory too.

Leigh Harding has put on some size around the arms and chest and was also making whoever played on him (several opponents) look slow and ordinary.

I can't wait for the season, I am suffering badly from withdrawl symptoms....................bring it on!

Go Roos.

 

[great]

Originally posted by Cam Crognale
Just a few observations about this mornings training session.

Surgeon with the footy. Gun left foot. Has surprising speed, Has a footy brain. Will be a very good player in 200 years time. This does'nt mean he won't player a few games in between, just needs to build up his fitness base. Will only happen with time and another pre-season. Gun of the future.

Hmmmm , sound a bit like me in my prime.


Well done Cam , welcome aboard

 

[tashibatts]

Originally posted by GoRoos
Disappointing to see Rod Crowe hurt his knee at training this morning.

He was tackled from behind in one of the mock game drills and had his knee driven into the turf.

Looks like he will be in a brace for up to six weeks. I know that he was off to see the Doctor this morning to get an x-ray and MRI scan, which will determine how much damage he has done (hopefully less than first diagnosed). The phsio said max 6 weeks in a brace and Rod should be fine thereafter. My fingers are crossed.

This is a shame as he is one of the guys that I fully expected to step up this year and play some really good footy for us. Also due to the fact that he is a genuinely nice bloke...........always willing to say g'day and have a chat. Not all AFL footballers are nearly as friendly as Rod.

Also, John Baird rolled his ankle too...........thankfullly not badly though. I am waiting to get an update on this injury; I am told that it is nothing to worry about. Bairdy is looking so much bigger and stronger..........Mrs Go Roos wanted to take him home!

Interesting to see some of the boys getting a bit agro with one-another during contract drills this morning. Shagga was one example when he took exception to one of the Port Melbourne boys slinging him to the ground. He got up quickly wanting to go on with it..........good to see! It was also fun to watch Stevo and Danny Harris trying to pull each others jumper off during a contested ball drill. Interesting also to see Shannon Watt using his strength to man-handle Hamish. Hamish is big, but as yet doesn't have anywhere near the strength to play AFL (I'm sure this will come with time, as he is only a youngster). Dylan Smith also starred in this drill, beating all comers (including the senior players!) I was pleased to see Shannon Motlop using his smarts to make Arch look ordinary in this drill..........until Arch got sick of looking ordinary and really started to use his superior strength to out bussle Shannon. However, all and sundry were amazed with Shannon's footy smarts and his big bag of tricks; good fun to watch.

David Teague was looking in fine form, taking marks over much bigger opponents and hitting targets easily. Pretty to watch.

David Hale does things with total ease, as does Danny Motlop and Danny Wells. As Big Kev says..........I'm excited!

Shannon Grant is the fittest I have ever seen him, as is Troy Makepeace. Speaking of which, Troy, Boomer and Danny Wells are about the fastest guys at our club. Along with Shannon Watt (not far behind), were supurb in covering the ground. I would also put Leigh Harding in this catagory too.

Leigh Harding has put on some size around the arms and chest and was also making whoever played on him (several opponents) look slow and ordinary.

I can't wait for the season, I am suffering badly from withdrawl symptoms....................bring it on!

Go Roos.

Thanks

Fu*k- Crowe gettin injured is no good
Baird as well.. grr bugger.

All sounds very good- accept for the injured Hopefully it isnt 6 weeks for Rod, I was hopin he'd play pre-season. See him properly- for myself.

Go Roos

 

[myee8]

Wecome CC! Cheers for the great report. It's all non-vic North supporters like myself can rely on.

 

[fruitbat]

excellent report those who cant get to training really appreciate everyones efforts to keep us in formed

 

[magoo]

thanks very much for the reports. any info is great, especially as we seem to be at the start of new things.

 

[NeoBlaze]

fantastic reports....great to hear about the progress our younger boys are making, and the ones we're all gunning for to take that next step

 

[windsock]

Interesting report on Motlop snr. I'm a bit of a Shannon Motlop fan actually. I have high hopes of him breaking the shackles upon Denis' departure, as I thought he handled him quite poorly.
A spot off half back or the wing beckons.

 

[Briedis]

Thanks for the great training reports Cam Crognale and GoRoos!

Welcome aboard Cam Crognale!

 

[Carlos]

Great stuff guys! And welcome Cam!

GoRoos, in regards to your report regarding S.Motlop and Archer going eachother, was that in that one-on-one wrestling type drill where they have to get the ball back to the trainer? You'd think Arch would kill him wouldn't ya? Very encouraging. S.Motlop is actually looking really strong, particularly around the chest and shoulders. Very encouraged if he could go on-one-one with Arch!

 

[speedy]

Originally posted by Carlos
Great stuff guys! And welcome Cam!

GoRoos, in regards to your report regarding S.Motlop and Archer going eachother, was that in that one-on-one wrestling type drill where they have to get the ball back to the trainer? You'd think Arch would kill him wouldn't ya? Very encouraging. S.Motlop is actually looking really strong, particularly around the chest and shoulders. Very encouraged if he could go on-one-one with Arch!

I think Motlop is being groomed to go one-on-one with the top opposition small/medium forward. I remeber last year when Matthew Lappin was giving us a bath, Pagan gave Makey, Cochrane and Motlop a go on him. The others got creamed but Motlop went pretty well and was able to stick with Lappin on the lead. For some reason, after 3/4 time (I think), Pagan went back to using Makey. I felt Shannon was really stiff, the budgie tongue really had something against him.

We really need a quick defender to mind these small specialist forwards who have always given us trouble in the past.
Hopefully Shannon is the man.

 

[tashibatts]

SC

Did you see Stuart Cooper at all? Has anybody who has been going to trainin seen Stuart Cooper- how is he going???

Go Roos

 

[GoRoos]

Croweys Knee

Better news on Rod Crowe's Knee (not that any knee injury is good news). He has a grade 2 strain and will be in a knee brace for about 3 weeks, which is better than the original prediction of 6 weeks.

I'm still terribly disappointed to see him get injured, but relieved that it hasn't finished his season before it even started. He should be right to go for round 1.

The other player I forgot to mention who stood out at training on Friday was Drew Petrie. He completed all of the run throughs without even puffing, leading the big men squad on each occassion! He is a big lad, over 100 kg's now and runs around like a bloke half his size. I can't believe how well he moves for such a big fella! He really stood out in pack contests with his ability to get in the best position and mark the ball. He's got such a big chassis that he's very hard to spoil when he is in front (which seemed to be the case in the vast majority of pack contests). As a Club we finished well down in the contested marking stat's last year, I believe Drew will really help our cause here (who can remember the last 5 minutes of the Dockers game up in Canberra last year...........all one grab marks!).

I really think we will surprise a lot of people this year with how well we go. I can't believe that we are favourites for the spoon according to some bookmakers' odds. I'm not expecting miracles, with a new game plan and our proposed youth policy but I think we should all look forward to 2003, as a year for positive growth and added experience for our younger guys. We have a terrific list with a lot of potential, which is a lot more than what I can say for many Clubs (Carlton being one of these Clubs).

Go Roos!

 

[tashibatts]

Very Happy To Hear About Crowes knee.. am eagerly anticipating his debut. Cant wait Pity he wont be able to play Preseason (unless we make it to the later rounds) GO CROWEY!!

And Drew sounds absolutely amazing.. I cannot wait to see his year unfold- he is going to have a HUGE year!! Sounds like he is somewhat benefitting from a coach who appreciates youngsters and what they can bring to a team..

Dont suppose you could say how Sav and Brown were doing in these run throughs? Where they were coming amongst our big men, Hale too..? Thanks if you can, thanks if you cant

I think it would be interesting watching Drew and Hale go one on one; it would be very interesting, very interesting indeed.

Go Roos

 

[tashibatts]

By the way- u said Crowe shoudl be ready for rd1- do u think he'll play round 1 {in the snrs}- if so- where {what possie}?

Go Roos