Collingwood Training, January 28th

I was finally back at Gosch's to see Collingwood train after a few sessions off. Here are a few notes I took down.

• Players Come out at 10:13. Much later than usual, they are usually out by 9:30.
• They are split up into black and blue tops. Teams seem very even for the intra-club.

• Maxwell still with tape on the right shoulder.
• Wood and Jolly wore shin pads on one of their legs for rucking in the upcoming match.

• Start off with the usual kick-to-kick.

• Ceglar, Shae-mac and J-mac go off with the trainer for handballing as the players have a kick. Strapping around Shae's left hammy. I reported an issue last week. Obviously it wasn't something as minor as the soft tissue concern he had last year (early pre-season).
• Main group into a lap/stretches.
• Shaw has the legendary headband on. Haven't seen this since last pre-season.
• Criss-cross hanballing in the goal square after the lap.
• Then into a marking/hanballing drill using ground ladders. Four groups with 2 coaches each group feeding the ball out 20m apart.

• Ceglar, Shae and J-mac run a lap as the umpires begin to warm-up in the middle.
• One thing I've noticed is that Macaffer is with the main group. You can tell he hasn't touch much of the pig skin this pre-season though. A few fumbles.
• Shae continues to run laps as the main group moves into various skill drills.
• Ceglar has the left knee strapped. It seems as though there is a bit of discomfort, as he talks to the trainer.
• The match finally kicks off at 10:58.

Intra-club

• Davis starts in the backline on Ball who is a high half-forward.
• Fasolo starts in the center.
•  N Brown leave at 11:00 as the game begins.
• Simon Buckley taking a few of the kick-ins.
• Harry-O starting forward on Johno.
• Gordon playing loose in the backline. They are obviously trying to take advantage of his lovely left boot. Seems a bit lost however.
• Leroy kicks the first two goals playing at FF from the goal-square. Stong marking against his opponent Keefe.
• Swanny with a lovely goal on the run from a tight angle. 
• Krak given a go in the guts after about 5 minutes playing forward.
• Macaffer moving freely up forward. Doesn't seem 100% fit and up to scratch hands-wise, but plays very well as a lead up forward. 
• Seedsman also impressed me. He took a very strong mark. Didn't think he had it in him.

Bests = Fasolo, Pendles, L Brown, Swan, Beams

• Second third begins. Harry starting forward again. Leon still down back with Shaw on a wing.
• Shaw kicks a 65m drop punt straight through the big sticks. What a goal!
• Lovely play from Leon and Shaw down the wing. Linking up with 3 possessions each. The chain ends with a Macaffer goal.
• Shaw finding an absolute tonne of this quarter. As is Krak and Leon.
• Shaw kicks his second of the quarter. He loves playing on the wing. Gives him the ability to kick a sneaky goal here and there.
• Leon has taken a few of the kick-ins this third.

Best = Shaw, Leon, Krakouer, Pendles, Ball

• First sign of Tarrant. Staying in the goal-square with Maxwell watching on. They both didn't take part in any of the match.
• Harry down back now.
• Toovey goal. Set up by a great pick-up and dish-off from Fasolo. Working hard in the pocket after spending a lot of time in the middle.
• Krak is a clearance machine. I've counted about 5 this third. Reads the tap so well and is silky smooth in close.
• Jye Bolton goal. I've seen a bit of him today.
• After three 15 minute thirds, the players walk off together. Good signs from the squad.

Best = Krakouer, Harry, Thomas, Pendles

For me, the 2 players that impressed me most during the game were Fasolo and Krakour. Krakour is just a ball magnet and collects so man clearances. He also uses it quite well. So much class! Fasolo looks like he is ready to find a place in this side. One thing I did notice was that he was easily bumped off the ball in a marking contest from Wellingham, causing him to fall to ground. I still believe however, he will push for a place very early in the season. The coaches gave him plenty of time in the center today.

Goals 

Leroy - 3
Swan - 1
seedsman - 1
Beams - 1
Shaw - 1
Macaffer - 1
Toovey - 2
J Thomas - 1
Blair - 1
Bolton - 1