2021 pre-season training

[bloodspirit]

Excellent account, SeanM. Sounds reasonably good to watch. Any comments about any of the players?

They've posted an interview with Will Gould on the Swans website: Gould: It would mean everything to debut (sydneyswans.com.au). He says that last year he was being developed by Brett Kirk and Kirk and Horse identified a few areas that he needed to improve. One of these was his running (I wonder what the others are) and the interviewer mentioned he was one of the most improved in the time trial. He also looked a lot leaner. Gould said he is very much looking forward to playing at senior level but didn't make it sound like he was on the cusp of selection, saying he just needs to take it one session at a time.

[SeanM]

The next two groups started around 10am and finished around 11.30am
Group 3 - Fox, Ling, Malachy, Rampe, Lloyd, Gould, Melican, McCartin and O'Connor.
Group 4 - Parker, Hewett, Hayward, Dawson, Gray, Hickey, Sinclair and Reid.

Group 3 did a similiar session to the first two groups. Though there was a lot more coaching during the drill where they move the ball upfield.

They had 6 attackers vs 3 defenders moving the ball upfield from the goal square. The coach would give feedback after each repetition. I was far away but heard him mention "movement" and "opening up space". I think it was because this group was mainly defenders so the drill was more relevent to them in how they move the ball out from defence. Once the attacking team had successfully moved the ball upfield. They also quickly simulated a turnover. So the attacking team could practice marking up and adjusting after a turnover.

Group 4 did not do the running drills. They did more straight line running and agility drills instead. But they did the rest of the drills.

Group 5 came out last. It consisted of Taylor, Brand, Franklin, Mcinerney, Heeney, Naismith and Papley.

- They did skill drills. Passing a tennis ball back and forth. Short kicks and handballs back and forth.
- They did the drill where 5 players in a circle tried to kick the ball to 1 player in the middle.
- They did some agility exercises and then a lot of straight line running.

- Naismith was working with the physio on the sideline. He was doing things like squat jumps and holding his weight on one leg.
- Franklin was mainly doing straight line runs. He was also jogging on a angle kicking the ball back and forth with one of the coaches.
- Heeney looked ok. He did straight line running with frequent 45 degree changes in direction. Also did 1 on 1 drills with Laider where he was making leads and picking up ground balls and getting a shot away.

[bloodspirit]

Watching those pre-season training videos with the background music is really getting me pumped for the season (already!) and I'm so optimistic. Just wish we had more opportunity to train together to gel before the season starts. Love our team!

[TheBloods]

Excellent account, SeanM. Sounds reasonably good to watch. Any comments about any of the players?

They've posted an interview with Will Gould on the Swans website: Gould: It would mean everything to debut (sydneyswans.com.au). He says that last year he was being developed by Brett Kirk and Kirk and Horse identified a few areas that he needed to improve. One of these was his running (I wonder what the others are) and the interviewer mentioned he was one of the most improved in the time trial. He also looked a lot leaner. Gould said he is very much looking forward to playing at senior level but didn't make it sound like he was on the cusp of selection, saying he just needs to take it one session at a time.

I didn't quite understand the angst over Gould not debuting last year. He is listed as 191cm, and that was last year, possibly grown since then. Key defender. Not many of those types playing much if any footy in their first seasons. Good luck to Will.

[bloodspirit]

In relation to the 5 groups, I note that:

* (understandably) they are being consistent with how they are grouped from session to session

* Horse said in the Wednesday presser that the clubs expects to find out over the weekend whether they will need to continue training in small groups next week

* the groups seem to be divided possibly along the following lines: youngsters who are perhaps not closely contending for best 22 at present (group 1), midfielders (group 2), defenders (group 3), players on modified programs (more advanced) (group 4), and players on modified programs (further to go) (group 5). Does that seem plausible? Any better ideas? Obviously leaves out forwards altogether which is kind of a glaring omission. Also suggests that McDonald and Gulden are not currently contending to play round 1 but Campbell is and who knows if that's true, especially given there seems to be a need for tall forwards. I wonder if we might play Hickey, Sinclair and Reid in the same team round 1, assuming that Buddy and McDonald are not selected??

[bloodspirit]

I wonder if we might play Hickey, Sinclair and Reid in the same team round 1, assuming that Buddy and McDonald are not selected??

If we are going to play two rucks, I wouldn't mind the second one being McLean or Amartey, but Sinclair probably still offers more than McLean as a second ruck both in the ruck and forward so maybe not. Amartey however is a bit of a different proposition - more agile and better at jumping but less of a unit able to crash a pack or outbody his opponent.

[SeanM]

Excellent account, SeanM. Sounds reasonably good to watch. Any comments about any of the players?

I find it hard to make subjective judgments on individual players. Because they are mostly doing uncontested drills, I am a distance away and I keep shifting my focus.

From today I liked the drill where they moved the ball upfield. Even though it is 6 att vs 3 def or 5 att vs 2 def. It puts the players in a more realistic situation where they are under some pressure, need to be accurate with their kick and think about where they want to move to. I liked Gulden in that drill because he was always running hard to create a passing option further upfield and trying to stay involved in the sequence. He seems very driven so it would not surprise me if he got a debut fairly early.

Of the players in group 5 Heeney looks in Ok condition despite injuring his ankle last season. He was running quick and doing changes in direction. He approached Laidler to do several 1 on 1 drills with him for at least 30 minutes. He was making leads on the turn and then with changes in direction. He would usually mark without jumping but sometimes he would do a small two footed leap. He also practiced picking up ground balls and getting a flat pass away. As well as picking up ground balls then having a shot 35m out under pressure or on the run . Then did agility stuff behind the goals with the fitness coach. I spent the end of the session mainly watching Heeney. He seemed self motivated.

Unsurprisingly Fox looks in very good physical condition. He could do the shuttle runs then immediately after sprint around the boundary at full pace. Also McCartin looked to be running well in the running drills despite looking very built in the upper body.

[SeanM]

In relation to the 5 groups, I note that:

* (understandably) they are being consistent with how they are grouped from session to session

* Horse said in the Wednesday presser that the clubs expects to find out over the weekend whether they will need to continue training in small groups next week

* the groups seem to be divided possibly along the following lines: youngsters who are perhaps not closely contending for best 22 at present (group 1), midfielders (group 2), defenders (group 3), players on modified programs (more advanced) (group 4), and players on modified programs (further to go) (group 5). Does that seem plausible? Any better ideas? Obviously leaves out forwards altogether which is kind of a glaring omission. Also suggests that McDonald and Gulden are not currently contending to play round 1 but Campbell is and who knows if that's true, especially given there seems to be a need for tall forwards. I wonder if we might play Hickey, Sinclair and Reid in the same team round 1, assuming that Buddy and McDonald are not selected??

The groups might not be precisely by position because they might need to distribute the fully fit players evenly.

Group 1 might be forwards and rucks. It might reflect us not having many first choice forwards/rucks fully fit.

If I was drawing conclusions from the makeup of group 1. Wicks/Ronke are probably in contention for a pressure forward spot. McLean/Amartey/Mcdonald would probably depend on the fitness of our first choice talls. Bell/Sheather might be seen as depth half forwards. They might be penciling in Gulden as a small forward and Campbell as a winger (Though he may not play straight away with Stephens, Florent, Mcinerney, and Blakey who can also play wing).

[bloodspirit]

[Ralph Dawg]

Happy NY RWO family.

Most significant thing I have gleaned from the club's 2021 posts is how lean Buddy looks. This is a massive positive and makes me feel optimistic he will be less injury prone and able to contribute more. He looks as lean as he did in his early days with the Hawks.

Also noted how lean Will Gould looks. I'm going out on a limb here - Gould will play early in 2021, will win a rising star of the week award and become a best 22 player.

[SwanSand]

Happy NY RWO family.

Most significant thing I have gleaned from the club's 2021 posts is how lean Buddy looks. This is a massive positive and makes me feel optimistic he will be less injury prone and able to contribute more. He looks as lean as he did in his early days with the Hawks.

Also noted how lean Will Gould looks. I'm going out on a limb here - Gould will play early in 2021, will win a rising star of the week award and become a best 22 player.

Gould will have to beat some incumbents to get there. Rampe, Melican, McCartin, mills, Lloyd, fox, Dawson
May happen if Mills starts attending a few centre bounces and spends 30% time in the middle and gets back when momentum swings to the opposition given he is good being a general down back.
Having competition for spots is always healthy and we need that with a developing team. Colin, Barry o Connor, brand, Gould and Ling. Decent backups I reckon.

[Ralph Dawg]

Gould will have to beat some incumbents to get there. Rampe, Melican, McCartin, mills, Lloyd, fox, Dawson
May happen if Mills starts attending a few centre bounces and spends 30% time in the middle and gets back when momentum swings to the opposition given he is good being a general down back.
Having competition for spots is always healthy and we need that with a developing team. Colin, Barry o Connor, brand, Gould and Ling. Decent backups I reckon.

Rampe, McCartain, Mills, Lloyd and Cunningham should all be certainties in our backline. Dawson likely to play up the field more. That leaves 1-2 spots in our backline rotation.

Leaves Melican, Brand, Fox, COR, Ling and Gould battling for the last 1-2 spots. Gould has the most talent and upside. From a team point of view, we need Gould to convert talent to form.

[Captain]

I would highly doubt Gould makes our round 1 team. He would need Mills to move to the midfield and possibly an injury to someone.

[stevoswan]

Round one, probably not.....but he will have well and truly debuted by the half way point of the season, possibly earlier. He has obviously fulfilled his off season requirements and as such, will be rewarded. His ongoing 'conditioning' last season was not. He now knows and respects what's expected of him. My two cents worth.

[Thunder Shaker]

I agree. We can only speculate about players' efforts. A good example of someone being held back at the moment is Heeney. Horse said as much in his latest comments released by the club. If we saw Heeney just jogging around during training, it's not because he doesn't want to go full tilt, he's been told to rein it in, so he's good for the whole season. The short end of it is, we just don't know.

If someone has a leg injury like a broken bone, it can take the best part of a year for the damage to heal completely. In that context, it is not surprising to see Heeney going a bit easy. The last thing anyone wants is for the injury to recur due to overconfidence.