Training Report - 28/4/08

By You Shall Be Smoten

Yesterday I went to my first ever training session so I figured I would write up a report. Bear in mind that because I’m not a regular it is difficult for me to say if things were better of worse than other weeks.

Also bear in mind that I stayed at the club for the player sponsors night and had a few wines, so my memory is a little fuzzy.

Absent: Lee, Dempsey, Davey, Reimers

Modified Group: Dick, Fletcher, Hislop, Hocking, Lonergan, Lucas, McVeigh, Neagle, Pev, Pears, Winderlich

Full training: Everyone else, notably Gumbleton and Jetta

Training was scheduled to start at 3 p.m., but the at 3 there was no sign of the players. evidently there was some sort of team meeting where the playing group discussed where they are heading etc. I was standing in the corridor looking at some of the kids murals when Alwyn left via a side door and walked briskly away from the club. He had a slight limp and as I hadn’t heard the news yet I was filled with some hope.

The team came out and the modified group stayed in the forward pocket doing some handball drills around a circle. I found it funny that Scott Lucas was leading these drills. The players looked pretty sharp to me which is a general comment for the whole session. I don’t know if it’s always this good but I felt that our skills on the whole were very good.

I was surprised to see some of the players in that modified group. From reading other reports I would suggest that it’s typical of player management for some players to spend some time in there and still be available for selection. The group spent time handballing at close range to each other and then separated a little to start kicking to each other. There was one player in that group who continued to handball at this point. I don’t want to start a mass panic that he could have another injury so I won’t mention his name. Maybe it’s a leg injury, maybe he is just practicing handballing.

The main group ran through a lot of running / kicking / handpassing drills over larger distances to the modified group. It was heartening to watch Gumbles in action and his kicking skills looked great, as did Courtney Johns. The only player who I was disappointed with was Leroy, who has a reputation for excellent skills but missed a few passes to leading players by a significant distance.

I was also impressed by how vocal a lot of the players were at training with their calling for the ball.

The main group then ran some competitive drills which simulated rebounding from defence and delivery into the forward line. There was some practicing of the huddle and crumbing from the forwards who were only trying to bring the ball to ground. It looked like the kind of drill that would help improve our kick-ins, finding space in the center of the ground and also covering an opponent.

The modified group went in after about 45 minutes to cycle in the gym and the main group went in after nearly an hour and a half.

Some individual players….

Houli: Excellent skills and worked really hard

Myers: Is a big unit. I know there is some hype about the guys we didn’t select but give him a little time to get his fitness back and I think he’ll be a good pickup. Very broad shoulders. A similar size to Jobe but slimmer.

Dick: Was bigger than I expected

Jetta: Was smaller than I expected and missed a few of his kicks. Could do with a week in the twos before playing seniors.

McPhee, Lucas and Lloyd: Showed a lot of leadership at training.

Knights: didn’t get too involved. Watched a lot and had a few chats to individual players on the side.

Hickmont: Loves to get involved in the drills and the players seemed to like pushing him around.

GO’D: Looks like he could still play

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Posted 29 April 08 in News Training Report