Training Report - Friday 14th December - Optus Oval
The boy's were put through a really tough session mainly consisting of ballwork, endurance and team work exercises.
Having started 40 minutes earlier than the 10am advised (due to heat) the first half hour was light ball.
x x x <---------------> x x x
I noticed Kosi still did not take part in any part of the session, and was getting intensive physio off the field, while having a good laugh with the boys in the modified training group which includes King, Gardnier, Harvey, Bally, Bakes and Schnider.
Steven King appears to be in very good shape with his endurance work, and body looks to be holding up, as where Gardy seemed to be grasping for air alot, and stopping throughout his running program, and seems still to be carrying some injury niggles.
One stand out of the session for me was Charlie Gardnier who was very clean and a dead eye dick when it came to goal kicking.
Overall the session was only of a fair standard due to continual goal kicking misses, and poor marking which Ross Lyon was not happy with in the slightest. Three times he singled out the new kids, Ejay got the majority of the burst (laps, pushup's etc), which was good to see, welcome to AFL!!!
Anthony Rock and SOS did take major parts of training and worked mainly with individual groups of players. Sam Gilbert has bulked up is a sporting some new tan LOL, hopefully he hasnt lost any of his endurance and pace from last season that set him apart from the rest.
Lenny seemed to be moving freely and looking good with his running, as with Armitage who did a lot of midfield work, roveing from Riewoldt's marking attempts.
Sam Fisher is a another who looks to up built up even more and is an chance to be a future leader given his vocal role on the track.
G-Train was just running laps, and will be heading back overseas in the next week or so.
Of the other drills, the circle work was of a good standard, with good run and intensity. Our new rookie kids all except (Chivers - nickname: JT (cry me a chiver) were all running laps which was good to see.
Overall the session was very intense, and a good learning experience for the younger kids. The boys still have plenty of work to do on the skills front, but essentially that is what preseason is for to refine our skills for match day pressure.
Interesting to see Cain Ackland hanging around with the boys for a good half an hour after training, and FEV sitting down and talking to Hayes, Dally and Rooey, he really does wanna be a Sainter.
Dal was off to get a facial while the other boy's went to Port Melbourne for lunch.
Gram has a new number one fan also which I was talking to behind the goals, sorry riccardo your out of luck mate.