2023 Preseason

[707]

Now THAT, Bloodspirit, is what I call a report!!

Excellent stuff that I'm sure we all enthusiastically digest, thanks so much for taking the time

[joeykanga]

I watched Flynn and Jezza from GWS run 12 mins for 3km at the GWS Academy at 17/18yrs of age

I watched Jezza say to Mark McVeigh say "anyone else want to ruck this guy" when at the Academy.......Hezza gave up against a muscle bound yound 17yr old ruck 194cm tall

Are Jezza and Hezza the same person and you watched Jezza say to Mark McVeigh say to who?
Alas ....What does this all mean

[Mel_C]

Awesome update Bloodspirit. These reports are gold for those of us who live outside of Sydney.

I agree...thanks for the update Bloodspirit.
All we got down here on Channel 7 news was that Buddy missed training because of finger surgery.

[Scottee]

Thanks Bloodspirit.

Did you see what Sheather was up to?

Sent from my SM-T865 using Tapatalk

[bloodspirit]

I didn't quite finish one sentence: it should have been "Most of the training was kicking and marking drills and handpassing games." The handpassing games looked exhausting, at least when combined with the other running they did.

I also think Harry deserves a nod for finishing top 10 in the time trial (ahead of no less than Mills, Corey Warner and Florent).

The other thing that stood out is that the numbers of coaches and trainers and physios etc is bulging back out to pre-pandemic levels. There were over 20, maybe even 30, club staff there either directing training (a few coaches), running water bottles, standing by in case of injury, chatting or just observing. Apart from Tom Harley and Charlie Gardiner being there, Kate Mahony (head of the AFLW program) was there too curiously. She said she was just there to check it out and chat with the other staff (I was curious).

I also met our new media guy, Tom Chadwick, who started at the club about 6 months ago. He works in the team headed by Loretta Johns and with Andre Cupido (who usually did the team selection videos during the season). He was previously based in Melbourne and spent about 3 years at Channel 7 News.

- - - Updated - - -

Sheather was there. Not certain if he did the time trial. He is almost (but not quite?) completely rehabbed after his injury.

[Bloods05]

Are Jezza and Hezza the same person and you watched Jezza say to Mark McVeigh say to who?
Alas ....What does this all mean

So it isn't just me then.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Lol

Maaan I have to check my phone forum messages

Ooopsala

I watched Flynn and Jezza from GWS run 12 mins for 3km at the GWS Academy at 17/18yrs of age

Ie terrible stat's yet both play a fair bit of snrs now ie Jezza being Jeremy Finlayson

I watched Jezza say to Mark McVeigh "mate anyone else want to ruck this guy" when at the Academy.......Jezza gave up against a muscle bound bound 17yr old ruck 194cm tall ie same height as Jezza and couldn't hack it and walked off

Moral of the story:

Wow what we witness at 17 and 18yrs of age can be very different a few years later

[MattW]

Thanks bloodspirit - I logged onto this site in the hope/expectation that you'd post that very report. Perfect; thanks!

[dimelb]

Thanks blood spirit - exceptional reporting!

[AB Swannie]

I was interested and slightly surprised to notice that the fastest time was over 6:15 for 2 km, which is slower than the fast draftees go at the combine and slower than I reckon Dyl would have run back when he did the combine. I rationalise it this way: since running was always his strength (and still is) Dyl (and probably other elite running draftees) focus on building up their strength, and they stack on some weight, and so it is harder to maintain their elite running times. Is one of you well placed to comment?

I'm not well placed to comment but this is the Internet so I will add my 2 cents anyway.

Firstly, I think you are spot on with your rationale - Stephens et all will have focused more on adding muscle and strength rather than a 2km time. In addition to this, the draftees spend probably a month purely training for the athletic testing of the combine. I don't think they even do handball/kicking tests anymore. Meanwhile, AFL players have a decent break with some maintenance fitness being done. Although, they are really fit right now, they are not at their peak fitness in the first session back. I reckon Dyl would run quicker in February if they were to do the time trial again but that's not the point of it I suppose.

[mcs]

Great report - thanks Bloodspirit.

Though maybe a little harsh on Francis :P sounds like he will have to get his head down and working hard, but I'm sure he probably expected that anyway. Hope our club can change his luck and his fortune, as there is definitely a good footballer lurking in there somewhere!

[bloodspirit]

I'm not well placed to comment but this is the Internet so I will add my 2 cents anyway.

Firstly, I think you are spot on with your rationale - Stephens et all will have focused more on adding muscle and strength rather than a 2km time. In addition to this, the draftees spend probably a month purely training for the athletic testing of the combine. I don't think they even do handball/kicking tests anymore. Meanwhile, AFL players have a decent break with some maintenance fitness being done. Although, they are really fit right now, they are not at their peak fitness in the first session back. I reckon Dyl would run quicker in February if they were to do the time trial again but that's not the point of it I suppose.

Thanks for that. Game to venture a comment on Parker and Roberts' relatively slow time trials?

[AB Swannie]

Thanks for that. Game to venture a comment on Parker and Roberts' relatively slow time trials?

Again, I think you would be largely correct in that the time trial has an element of speed to it. It doesn’t give a complete indication of fitness. I suspect that the club uses it as a benchmark for each player to see how much fitness they have gained or lost and the times are measured against their previous efforts rather than against each other. As the training continued for a fair time after the time trial, if Roberts and Parker are still training hard towards the end, then I would suggest that they are fit enough to get from contest to contest as an inside mid but just don’t have the speed and power to break away from those contests.

[Nico]

How much should we take notice of 2km time trials? 6.15 minutes was our best. In the HUN yesterday there was a spread on Richmond pre season and I think it was Taranto who won and recorded 6.13 minutes!

[Auntie.Gerald]

All with all skills, fitness, traits etc the 2km is "part of the picture"

Like the YoYo or beep test
Like the 20m sprint
Like the vertical jump

As we all know just because u move from contest to contest efficiently doesn't mean you have the most impact at a contest......Luke Parker is such a great example of someone who doesn't show up on the radar of probably any fitness test but creates havoc at a contest.

Power and tenacity

I'm guessing Diesel would have been the same....... game day contests these guys devour Like lemon meringue pies ???? ???? ????