Training Report-4/2/08

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Great report TD.

Just a few points to note;

* Grant continually impresses. Appears as though he's a great mark & a nice lead. Hopefully his kicking improves but he sounds promissing. How is Grant when the ball hits the ground?

* Welsh has been played down back in the few matches. I wonder why? Is it just giving Minson, Grant etc. more time to learn as playing as a KPF, is Eade testing Welsh's versatility incase we ever need it, or is Eade considering Welsh as a possible CHB whilst Williams continues to learn, and Wight trialed as a CHF? Perhaps he's even 'releasing' Hargrave to a wing? I'd be interested to know.

* Cooney & Aker from all reports are on fire. Great to hear. These two are genuine match winners and if they have big seasons, The Dogs will be barking!

[GVGjr]

Why would he be played back? Surely we didn't recruit him for that.

He is probably carrying an injury of sorts.

[hujsh]

He is probably carrying an injury of sorts.

Wouldn't he be better protected forward where he can move at whatever pace he likes?

[GVGjr]

Wouldn't he be better protected forward where he can move at whatever pace he likes?

He probably can run straighter lines in defence if it's something like a hamstring tightness they are trying to work through.

[Dry Rot]

Minson is not so much a full forward as a presence in the forward line. He seems to be running around getting involved in contests-his handballing is quite good under pressure-and making sure the ball stays in the forward 50. I'd like him to apply more physical pressure in terms of tackling but he's got a bad habit of bumping rather than trying to hold blokes in a tackle.

Murphy and Gilbee have been CHF and CHB on each other at the few sessions I've seen. It's terrific viewing and Murph's back to the acrobatic player he used to be.

Havent seen Ward to my knowledge-I'm sure he's been there. I'm not real sure what he looks like and there's more new faces than usual this year.

Thanks for this and your good report.

[gohardorgohome]

I can't recall seeing much here about Tiller. How is he going?

[Twodogs]

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* Grant continually impresses. Appears as though he's a great mark & a nice lead. Hopefully his kicking improves but he sounds promissing. How is Grant when the ball hits the ground?

Hard to tell. The way they ping the ball around in match practice if a player misses a mark or possy the ball tends to rebound a fair way and the runners swoop on it. He does lead his opponent to the ball almost every contest if that's any help.

[mighty_west]

Thanks for the report Twodogs.

[Twodogs]

Thanks for the report Twodogs.

My pleasure MW. Welcome aboard.

[Twodogs]

I can't recall seeing much here about Tiller. How is he going?

He's a lot broader across the shoulders, but again, he's spent a fair bit of time in defence learning how to spoil and punch the ball.

[Go_Dogs]

Thanks for the report, interesting comment about the game plan, it seems as though we're still interested in really running hard going forward, but perhaps refining the way we do it, and by taking a bit more time allowing for more options.

Everyone will need to be pretty fit, as it will be a pretty demanding game style.

[Cyberdoggie]

Are those comments on Addisons pre-season so far Cyber or based in the past two years VFL etc?

based on his 2 years of football with us.

He's got all the right attributes, can run in straight lines, seems to be a tough nut, can tackle, has a long kick and reasonable skills. But the one big thing is he can't really impose himself on a game. He played 1 decent game for werribee against a week tasmania side with jack riewoldt in the side a couple of seasons back but hasn't matched that level since.

He needs to get 15 kicks a game, he'd be lucky to get half that last year.

[Twodogs]

Thanks for the report, interesting comment about the game plan, it seems as though we're still interested in really running hard going forward, but perhaps refining the way we do it, and by taking a bit more time allowing for more options.

Everyone will need to be pretty fit, as it will be a pretty demanding game style.

A lot of the midfield group spent a lot of time in rehab last year. I honestly didnt think Cooney was a chance to play the first half of the season a week from the first game. Hahn, Higgins, Eagleton and Ray all had limited preperations. It's been the exact oppsosite this year all the running players have plenty of Ks in their legs and have played plenty of match simulation.

They all look up and running, Griff is bigger, I assume the bloke who always picks himself up from the bottom of packs is Cross if he isnt a blonde(then it must be Westy) and they get plenty of it, Cooney and Akermanis have been sensational, Hahn is relishing playing after only running last pre season, Higgins looks cut and is just cruising up and down the wing picking up touches, the brothers, apart from Hill (I think who has spent a bit of time in rehab), all look like they belong in the team and are improving every session, Eagleton has eased himself in gradually and is vital with his kicking, Ray looks stronger.


Aker and Cooney have been the standouts though.

[The Coon Dog]

I can't recall whether it was Noel or Eddie I spoke to on Friday (one of the trainers anyway) who said we've done alot of hill running this pre season. We didn't do any last pre season.

[Go_Dogs]

Yes, I think the fact that we have done a lot more distance running will probably hold us in good stead. The match-simulated running program of last year, combined with quite a few missing pre-season obviously held our fitness back from where it needed to be.

Hill sprints have to be just about the worse, along with stair running and wall squats.