Richmond Training, January 12th 2011

Here are some of the notes from the session. I went with a mate (Richmond supporter), so I was able to spot out a few more players.

• The main group were doing light ball drills (kick to kick etc) for a warmup. One thing I noticed was that Nason stood at the back of the line, feeding the ball to on-coming players rather than joining in.
• One group was doing lighter work. Using the ground ladder for run throughs. Astbury, Cotchin, Foley, Mcguane were apart of this group.

•  Webberley, Nasan, Mitch Farmer not training with the main group.
• Astbury seems to have filled out.
• Cotchin, Mcguane, Foley and Post did a low lap.
• The next drill involved one side of the field stacked with players. A stoppage would form in that 50 and the players would try and play to their side of the ground.

• Match-ups: O'Reilly on Vickery, the Goo on Riewoldt, Rance on King. Looks as though Grimes is playing as a loose backman, as is Houli.
• Other side were: Thursfield on Miller, Mccguane on Leppitsch, Astbury on Westhoff.
•  To the person who commented on my Monday report, Mitch Morton didn't train with the main group. Rather standing and watching with Nason, Webberley and Farmer. Didn't see him do anything.

• Cotchin decided to enter the drill after standing out for much of it.
• Post goes into the Gym, haven't seen him do much work.
• Griffo not spotted throughout the day.
• The drill is very congested at the stoppage end.
• Lids seems to be running the show. Can't stop finding it and picks out passes with ease. Like a quarter-back, every play is going through him.
• Bachar had a shot from 55, lovely shoe!
• Derickx (mate kept calling him x-man) was rucking against Browne. Browne looked to be winning most of them.
• Newman played a kick behind in the drill. Patrolling the defense, and leaving his man to fill the holes or create a contest.
• Haven't spotted Troy Taylor.
• Conca didn't train either as shown below. Only time I noticed him. I really want to have a look at this kid!

• Cotchin was continuously told to engage by Hardwick (who sat at the top of the Jack Dyer stand)
• King has strapping around his left upper-arm.
• The next drill involved the players working around the outside of the ground. Starting at the pocket, working it's way around and ended by a kick for goal. 
• Cotchin and Foley sat out of this drill.

Collingwood Training, Wednesday January 12th

I nearly didn't get out of bed after hearing the rain crash down onto my roof, but I pulled through. Here are some of the notes from the mid-week session.

• Wellingham, Shaw, Swan and Tom Young back at training (didn't think I spotted him on Monday). 
• Started off with our usual kick to kick.

• Red = midfield, Black = backline, Blue = forwards
• Leon was placed as a defender yet again. Didak was in red and trained with the main group.
•  J Mac walked/jogged along the boundary through the duration of the session with Ceglar right beside him. Ceglar looks like he needs lots of filling out to do. A few more years in the gym will do him wonders!

  

• Caff did the warm up drill with the main group (just light run throughs) however he did them a lot slower than the rest.He ended up walking/running around for the duration of the session.
• The main group started off with lane work, the coaches being on the end of each group feeding the ball out as well. The players are touching lots of pig skin.
• After that we had a 4 different drills going around each side of the ground.
• One was a simple 5 point, mark-pivot-kick style drill. Nothing intense.
• The drill right in front of me was split into three teams (separated by colour) of three, who would each try to handball the ball into their own net.

 

• The one closest to the far goals focused on goal kicking. Snaps, running shots etc.
• The last was very simple keepings off.
• Strapping was still on Nathan Brown's shoulder

• Trainer did not seem too happy with the first group. Along the lines of, "f***** wake up, this is Bull****".
• Fasolo seems a touch off the pace fitness wise. Not sure if he worked extremely hard before I really looked at him properly. I like the look of him though. Has impressed me this pre-season. Has a nice build for his age and seems a confident type.
• Wood and krak told to work harder "you are sleeping".
• Krak lifts after that spray.. He is very evasive around congestion.
• Wood continuously told to work harder.
• Shae's agility questioned by the trainer as Swan basically walks around him.
• Rounds did well in that drill from what I saw.
• After four rotations, the drills end.
• Same as on Monday, the boys split up into their three colours.
• One group working on their one on one leading. Noticed Leon (defender) vs Heater (forward). Leon was smashed. 
• The other two groups were in a a drill where the midfielder would play a stoppage, whilst the forwards pair up and become forwards and backs.
• Both Ugle and Seedsman left early (10:17)
• I had a closer look at the Midfield group at the stoppage. Didak would always play loose behind the play and would be fed the ball.
• Jolly way too strong for wood. Always has the best position and wins most of the taps.

• Groups change around. Backs and forward rotate with 4 in each group. One group would play a zone, the other would try to get through it.
• Mids are doing clearance work. Instantly scattering as the ball is tapped.
• Cloke doing set shot practice with Rocca. Slightish angle. Missing a couple. Rocca seems to be explaining that both of his hands must be level during the ball drop. Cloke however is lowering his guiding hand (left).

  

• He missed that one. Kicking action looked very awkward.

• Drilled this one though.
• Hit about 75% of them. Which from that distance probably isn't too flash.
• After this the players who may ruck at some stage through the year did some light tap work. Jolly with Wood, Dawes with Leroy, Trav with Ceglar, Shae with Keefe.
• Left for Punt Road after this.

Richmond Training, January 10th 2011

Sorry in advance Richmond supporters for the lack of detail. I came late from Collingwood training thinking it was an 11am session. I was also told off by one of the Richmond officials for taking down notes and had to stop. Apparently other AFL clubs will use this sort of stuff (I'll bet).

• When I turned up the players were doing zonal type work, split up into three groups: orange, green and plain. One of the teams would stand out whilst the other two would try and keep possession of the ball and on occasions spot up the trainer at either side of the drill. The defending side would have one of their players stay out making it 9 attackers vs 8 defenders

• Man on the mark (defending team) would consistently call out "watch the middle" making the group with the ball play wide. 
• Plenty of talk, was impressed. Although the trainer had a go at Connors for not talking at one stage.

 

• Loved the desperation shown above.
• In one of the rotations I kept my eye on Taylor (Collingwood were heavily linked to him in the 09 draft), and he didn't get a sniff. At one point he was wide open but his team mate kicked over him. Not enough talk? I'm not sure, I still think he will be a good player if he wants to be.
• Here are some videos of the drill:

• Martin got plenty of it in the drill, as did tuck.
• I know this is pretty common knowledge for tigers fans, but far out Matt White is quick.
• Groups swap around
• Newman training today
• Noticed that it was more man on man at this stage
• Miller looked strong. Took a great grab and followed up with a tit bruising kick and more hard running into space for the next kick.

This is where I was approached by a Richmond official and basically told to piss off. He said that I would be in trouble if he saw me taking any more notes.

• After that they had two drills going, one was more on one one work with the trainer kicking it to pairs who would fight it out. The other was a midfield type clearance drill.
• Rance has a huge frame/upper body.
• Taylor did pretty well against his opponents from what I saw.
• One drill that intrigued me was one where four player would kick to each other, and hit Westhoff on the lead (who was practicing his leading, double backing etc) as the whistle blew. Westhoff looked pretty clean.
• King, Foley, Newman handballing with a trainer. Foley looked good all training from what I saw. Got plenty of it in the first drill.
• Tuck and white did some one on one evasive work with a trainer.
• King had some long shots on goal, he can kick a long way for a small lad.
• Westhoff finished off with some contested marking with the trainer. Looked solid.
• After this the players rapped it up, and the coaching staff had a game against each other, as they usually do.

Collingwood Training, Monday January 10th

The premiers are finally  back at training on a day that had Melbourne written all over it. Before they arrived at Gosch's however, they had their time trial (as they had done after every break thus far during the pre-season) at Olympic Park. Here's a few notes I put together.


Time Trial

• About to start the time trial. The group have a warm up lap followed by some light stretches.
• Notable absentees included: Shaw, Swan, Wellingham and Maxwell
• A few Soccer balls rolling around with Victory training on the grass inside the track, no prizes for guessing who starting playing around with one (Didak).
• There's a slight drizzle as the players warm up, and this turns into some decent rain as they are about to start.
• It was a 2km (5 laps)

Good = 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc
Bad = last, second last etc

Lap 1 :  Good / Reid, Thomas, Steele, harry, Johnson.
              Bad / Wood, Jolly, Sinclair

Lap 2: Good / Reid, Tarrant, Thomas, Steele, Harry
            Bad / Wood, Jolly, Sinclair

Lap 3: Good / Thomas, Tarrant, Steel, Harry, Dick
            Bad / Wood, Sinclair, Reed, Shae-Mac

Lap 4: Good / Harry, Thomas, Steele
            Bad / Wood, Sinclair, Shae-Mac
Lap 5: Good / Harry, Steele, Thomas, Pendles, Dick, Tarrant, Beams
            Bad / Wood, Sinclair, Shae-Mac

I was standing outside the fence at the start of the final 100m straight so there may be a few alterations with final placings etc. Harry took front spot at the start of lap four and just worked his ass off for 2 laps and won by  at least 50m. Wood struggled from lap 1 and was last by about 3/4 laps (300m). Someone I was impressed with was Keefe, was around the top 8 at lap four, not sure how he ended up but was doing nicely for his size. Whilst all this happened Cloke and Caff spent the time running in the opposite direction as the main group, ticking the legs over.


Gosch's

The players roll in at Gosch's 20 minutes later.

• The first thing I notice was how much Beams has bulked up. His Shoulders/arms are huge!
• They split into different coloured shirts. Yellow = Backs, Red = Midfield, Blue = Forwards.
• Two notable players with respect to their colour are pendles in blue (forward) and Leon in yellow (Backline)

Leon in the Backline

• Don't be surprised if you see Davis playing in the backline this year. I've seen him on numerous occasions (3-4 times) at training doing drills as a defender, especially drills where it only involved the Defensive group. Hopefully he can fit into this position nicely through the pre-season and he can rejuvenate his career, because really, we all want to see a premiership medal around his neck (a real one!). 

 

• Maxwell has been spotted. Not sure if I missed him at the time trial?
• Macaffer and Didak not in colour.
• Casual kick to kick, the usual.

 

• Throughout the session I've noticed Krak and leon with each other at every opportunity. Obviously formed a great bond.
• Nathan Brown turns up with strapping on his right shoulder
• Didak is having a kick with the trainer. Skills are perfection. 

• As you can see in that video, the main group were doing a weave type handball drill.
• Lappin running the next drill. Short passes. Good call bringing the cones out after 2 mins, it was way too congested. nathan Brown training with the main group and looks fine in this drill. Plenty of talk from all and great skills.

 

• Harry doesn't shut up! (in a good way)
• Tarrant with strapping on his left knee

• A bit more rain starts to come down and the skill level drops.
• That marks the end of that drill.
• Didak leaves at 10:14 (roughly 40 minutes since the start) after a very light session with the trainer.
• The main group split up into their colours, however Dick goes with the reds even though he has a blue jumper.
• One group keeps to one end of the ground and does some keeping off style work, whilst the other 2 groups look at zonal work.
• Firstly it's reds by themselves (separate drill), blues forming the zone and yellow starting with the pill. 
• Johno, Reid and Leon have shots at starting off the drill. Leon is playing very deep, usually the first line of players as the ball comes out. More signs of what may come in season 2011.

 

• Macaffer is running by himself up and down one side of the ground.

• Harry get's hold of one from about 50 out and goes BANG!
• Caff now off kicking with the trainer.
• Still in their colour groups, both drills end and switch around.
• Now it's the forwards working through the midfield's zone.
• Pendles lying deep forward.
• Get's onto one 30 out and sprays it wide on his non-preferred right foot, Beams gives it to him (jokingly of course)
• We're going quite wide with our kicks.
• They switch again and it's the midfield's role to get through the defenders' zone.
• Macaffer leaves at 10:30 with Cloke leaving straight after at 10:34
• Krak finished off a great play from the midfield with a goal. Let's hope that isn't the last time we something like that this year.
• Tarrant with a very nice smother.
• Whole group comes in as Bucks chats to them
• Midfield and Backline doing push-ups, not sure why.
• Kick to kick in smallish groups (2-4). The usual people paired up: Johno + Taz, Dale + steele, Krak + Leon etc.
• Scott Reed leaves early (10:46)
• After 10 minutes of kick to kick I decide to leave and make my way to Punt Road to watch Richmond.

Richmond Training, January 7th 2011

Pre-season training has finally recommenced, and what a day it was. Melbourne was hot, possibly too hot but this didn't stop the players hitting the track as hard as ever. A trip to Punt Road Oval saw me take down a few brief notes at Richmond's session.

• Cotchin (Achilles) and Foley (leg) sat out of training. Hardwick spoke at the time trial (on Wednesday), and stated that both were struggling with injury, and would resume full training as early as late January. As an outside you always want to see the best players push onto A-grade status, and possibly Elite Status. I just hope Cotchin can reach that, and not have his development delayed through injury. Hoping this won't effect his output in season 2011, I have high hopes.
• A kick to handball to drill. Something you see a lot at every club, whatever level. Skills are not up to scratch. Does not look like a top 10-12 team this year. Taylor, Nahas and Browne the main contributors to the lackluster drill. This is not the first time I have noticed this. Should improve as the squad develops over the next few years (or at least you would hope).
• Post Pulled up sore in this drill. Very stock standard drill as well. Possibly did not come prepared on Wednesday, and felt the grind of a run along the Tan? Looks hamstring/back related.
• Deledio looking as sharp as ever. Looks like a midfielder! Hopefully with the inclusion of Houli (who has impressed me over the Summer), it will free up lids to push up the ground and play as a permanent midfielder.
• Griffo, Grimes, Nahas, Connors leave early as well as what looks like Jake Batchelor? leave the ground early (11:00 am) and head into the sheds for what one would presume is Gym work.
• Miller doing a lot of work with the Assistant coaches especially Leppitsch. Simple rolling along the ground. It looks like Richmond are putting a lot of work into him and see him as a possible round 1 starter. I can definitely see it happening. He looks as fit as ever and very sharp. Hopefully not just a great trainer.

• The next drill involved the player running flat out across the field, stopping at the end and having a short rest (30 seconds). The players would then do this again until a whistle was blown half way through the drill, and they would then scatter in what looks like pairs. Keeping the corridor free would be the most obvious guess as to why this drill is being used. Angus Graham and Browne looked spent after every length, have to give them a break though.Taylor was at the back of his group at every sprint, as was Dustin Martin (have noticed his fitness level previously being not what it should be). Miller and Jake "the pushup" King led their groups in almost all of the sprints. Just another sign that Miller is taking advantage of his second chance at an AFL club. Tuck sat out of this drill, slowly stretching his hamstrings as his teammates ran past.
• Mitch Farmer also sat out of this drill (the sprints component) and entered the drill as the players scattered. This could mean one of two things. Under an injury cloud and is unable to sprint, or possibly looking to play loose in the backline?
• Drill finally ends after 15 minutes. Players are stuffed, not surprising.
• Grigg looks very fit. Solid build, massive upper body. Will add to their midfield...Hopefully not Coburg's though.
• Simple handball drills, groups of two or three. Jake King standing out of this one; rather running laps. Pushing himself with them too, wasn't just ticking the legs over.
• Bachar Houli and Deledio come off (11:18) and start to sign some autographs. From an outsider look, Houli seems a really nice bloke. I hope he succeeds at Richmond, he is a talented player.
• Edwards/Nahas/Connors momentarily out from the sheds signing autographs. 
• Various ball drills going around the ground. Does not seem too intense. A lot of the group is off the ground.
• More one on one work with Miller. Simple rolling the ball along the ground, throwing it into the ground or even looping it in the air for Miller to pounce on before he let loose from 30m out. Nailing them!

• Slips work with the pill. Three groups. Kicking floaters (asking for a dislocated finger) straight at the players. Very hard to stick these marks. Few too many dropped catches for me, a few of these blokes would be up for the Australian Test team after this.
• Half the squad comes racing into the sheds (11:33).
• Taylor has his shoes off as he comes off the field. He didn't train as well as he usually does from what I saw.
• Finishing up with a bit of fun and games, the usual at a Richmond training session.
• Cotchin and Grimes doing extra work. Still out on the track have a kick 20mins after everyone bar the coaches have left.
• Assistant coaches playing a mini game. Leppitsch looks in good nick, as does Hardwick.