Western Bulldogs 'exposed' as cameras catch AFL players in bizarre training stunt

[bornadog]

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The Western Bulldogs have been caught out conducting a somewhat bizarre training stunt ahead of a media conference on Thursday.

As journalists descended upon their home base at Whitten Oval, cameras managed to capture vision of AFL players in action during their Thursday session masked by blindfolds.

Coach Luke Beveridge then faced reporters and may have thought the club was going to get away with the kooky drill as he responded to questions about out-of-favour big man Rory Lobb and returning half-back Ed Richards.

But it was only a matter of time before the questions turned to the unusual blindfolds.

?Was hoping you wouldn?t ask me about that,? Beveridge said.

?Josh Piterman, the Phantom of the Opera (star), said he sort of concentrates even more when he puts on the mask, so we figured if we have both eyes shut it would make our boys concentrate a little bit more,? Beveridge said before quickly adding, ?I?m taking the p***, obviously.?

?When I saw him (the camera operator) standing over there with the camera, I said to (assistant coach) Matty Spangher the timing couldn?t be worse,? Beveridge said.

?So there are bits and pieces that Johnno (goalkicking specialist coach Brad Johnson) and Matty Spangher (forwards coach) are doing with the forwards just to make them think about different things.

?Obviously, it goes against logic, you actually watch the ball onto your boot on a set shot so in a significant way (kicking with the blindfold on) helps remind you that you need to do that.

?You know, it?s really hard to kick when you?re blindfolded ...?

Beveridge said they tried not to coach the players ?too far outside the box?, but admitted the blindfolds were as ?left-field? as anything they had experimented with.

?And it?s exposed us with you guys here with the cameras,? he said.

Beveridge confirmed that dashing defender Richards would play in the Gather Round clash against Geelong on Saturday night, and said livewire forward Cody Weightman would also be named after dislocating his elbow in Round 3.

Beveridge also addressed questions about Lobb who is again playing VFL this weekend and facing renewed trade speculation.

According to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, Lobb could be on his way to a fourth AFL club at the end of the year as the club looks to prioritise All-Australian ruck Tim English (who is a restricted free agent).

?If Tim English stays I expect other clubs to come hard for Rory Lobb,? Cleary said on Talking Footy.

?He was linked to St Kilda a couple of seasons ago when he made the move initially to the Kennel, so watch this space on Rory Lobb.

?At the age of 31 I think he does have some footy left in him and I think rival clubs will begin to ask the question of a player of his quality.?

Beveridge said ?alarm bells? were not ringing over Lobb?s career, and predicted he could play for six more years.

?As a guy in his early 30s, he didn?t play a lot of footy as a teenager, and if anyone?s gonna have a long career, it?s Rory Lobb,? Beveridge said.

?So I see him as having another half-a-dozen years in the game and I think he?s got a really long period in his career ahead of him.?

[Pleather Sole]

Worked for Dennis Lillee and Brett Lee to counter the No-Ball fiascos. Also to help bowlers regain or reset their action and rhythm/feel.
Not uncommon coaching-wise in various fields to remove a sense or tool that you rely on to highlight other aspects. Or to zone in on being present in your body, how things are auto-pilot or are effected by variables. I like it.
The expression "could do it with their eyes closed" is oft used for good reason.

[Jeanette54]

There used to be some "golf glasses" in which you looked out of a couple of "life savers", set at what was said to be the correct angle to address the ball. Epic fail, though they probably sold a million to Sunday afternoon hackers like me. Maybe I got a pair for left handers by mistake.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

J54 I read and practised a golf technique of making a mental sound when you think you'll hit the ball.
I wondered if the tennis grunters came from this school.
Instincts become involved when we lose a sense. Always good to hone your instincts.
He's a blind deaf, dumb pinball wizard.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Next session to be one arm tied behind the back.

[GVGjr]

Next session to be one arm tied behind the back.

Wax on , wax off then the crane kick.

[ledge]

Next session to be one arm tied behind the back.

Handball practice ?

[Rocket Science]

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The Western Bulldogs have been caught out conducting a somewhat bizarre training stunt ahead of a media conference on Thursday.

As journalists descended upon their home base at Whitten Oval, cameras managed to capture vision of AFL players in action during their Thursday session masked by blindfolds.

Coach Luke Beveridge then faced reporters and may have thought the club was going to get away with the kooky drill as he responded to questions about out-of-favour big man Rory Lobb and returning half-back Ed Richards.

But it was only a matter of time before the questions turned to the unusual blindfolds.

?Was hoping you wouldn?t ask me about that,? Beveridge said.

?Josh Piterman, the Phantom of the Opera (star), said he sort of concentrates even more when he puts on the mask, so we figured if we have both eyes shut it would make our boys concentrate a little bit more,? Beveridge said before quickly adding, ?I?m taking the p***, obviously.?

?When I saw him (the camera operator) standing over there with the camera, I said to (assistant coach) Matty Spangher the timing couldn?t be worse,? Beveridge said.

?So there are bits and pieces that Johnno (goalkicking specialist coach Brad Johnson) and Matty Spangher (forwards coach) are doing with the forwards just to make them think about different things.

?Obviously, it goes against logic, you actually watch the ball onto your boot on a set shot so in a significant way (kicking with the blindfold on) helps remind you that you need to do that.

?You know, it?s really hard to kick when you?re blindfolded ...?

Beveridge said they tried not to coach the players ?too far outside the box?, but admitted the blindfolds were as ?left-field? as anything they had experimented with.

?And it?s exposed us with you guys here with the cameras,? he said.

Beveridge confirmed that dashing defender Richards would play in the Gather Round clash against Geelong on Saturday night, and said livewire forward Cody Weightman would also be named after dislocating his elbow in Round 3.

Beveridge also addressed questions about Lobb who is again playing VFL this weekend and facing renewed trade speculation.

According to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, Lobb could be on his way to a fourth AFL club at the end of the year as the club looks to prioritise All-Australian ruck Tim English (who is a restricted free agent).

?If Tim English stays I expect other clubs to come hard for Rory Lobb,? Cleary said on Talking Footy.

?He was linked to St Kilda a couple of seasons ago when he made the move initially to the Kennel, so watch this space on Rory Lobb.

?At the age of 31 I think he does have some footy left in him and I think rival clubs will begin to ask the question of a player of his quality.?

Beveridge said ?alarm bells? were not ringing over Lobb?s career, and predicted he could play for six more years.

?As a guy in his early 30s, he didn?t play a lot of footy as a teenager, and if anyone?s gonna have a long career, it?s Rory Lobb,? Beveridge said.

?So I see him as having another half-a-dozen years in the game and I think he?s got a really long period in his career ahead of him.?

Can we be sure it was set shots they were practicing here and not forward entries?

[bornadog]

DOGS GOAL KICKING COACH JOHNSON EXPLAINS THEORY BEHIND BIZARRE BLINDFOLD TECHNIQUE


Western Bulldogs forwards consultant Brad Johnson has revealed why the club is getting players to wear blindfolds while practising their set shot routines.

Channel Seven?s cameras caught the bizarre technique on camera at Whitten Oval last week and Johnson says it?s all to enhance the other senses as players kick for goal.

With their vision gone, Johnson says that the blindfold tries to get players to lean more into the ?feel? of their set shot routines with how they hold the ball, the ball drop and the connection off the boot big focuses.

While the Bulldogs are ranked 4th out of 18 in goal kicking accuracy so far in 2024, Johnson hopes the training technique helps the side improve further in the key aspect of the game.

?First off, the blindfold is just part of the set of episodes or structure that we've created from the goal kicking program that we've introduced at the club,? Johnson told SEN Sportsday.

?With the blindfold, I experienced this as a player, that's why I love this and love trying to teach it because you've got your routine and your set routines, but it really becomes just that feel (with the blindfold).

?You feel the Sherrin, you feel it on your boot, your ball drop, you start to understand those things without actually visually seeing it so it can become second nature to you.

?Then if you are kicking and you're just off a little bit, you start to understand in your mind why that is the case.

?It's just an element. They put the blindfolds on, they could just close their eyes and do it as well, but the blindfolds are just a little bit of a layer to add a bit of fun to what we're trying to achieve.?

The Bulldogs have converted 53.3% of their attempts at goal so far in 2024.

They?ll put their goal kicking to the test when they face Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.