YOUNG PIES PRESSING
January 19th 2007 09:03
Young Pies pressing
9:28:49 AM Thu 18 January, 2007
Luke Mason
for collingwoodfc.com.au
After another gruelling pre-season session in the sweltering Melbourne heat on Wednesday morning, Luke Mason was particularly impressed with a couple of unheralded young Magpies.
COLLINGWOOD PRE-SEASON TRAINING REPORT: 17/01/07
With Melbourne still throbbing from the sweltering heat which drove many civilians to distraction the previous day, and in the knowledge that another 37 degrees were promised for this afternoon, you could not have blamed Collingwood for opting to nurse their stars in the comfort of the air-conditioned Lexus Centre gym.
It was not to be, the players, led by Nathan Buckley and the rookie-listed Perth wingman Sharrod Wellingham, hit the track full of running at 8am, the conditions somewhat tempered by a slight breeze sweeping the leaves off the trees and across the oval.
As per usual, shoes were changed and warm ups began, the causal kick to kick taking place as some players fitted on their GSP tracking monitor.
Stretches followed, before the main group split up onto a series of laps, with ex-Carlton ruckman Chris Bryan remaining behind to chat with ruck coach Darren Flannigan.
The main group were soon lining up in lanes, gathering the rolling ball, dishing off to the assistant coaches before receiving the ball and drilling to the player at the end of the opposite line.
Converging in a huddle, the players received a briefing from assistant coach Guy McKenna before splitting up to restart some relaxed kick to kick, with Buckley teamed with Bryan slightly closer than their comrades, the skipper pummelling the leather with a thwack into the mitts of the strapping ruckman.
A new drill began, players focusing on quick movement of the ball, sending it to leading targets that showed no hesitation in farming the ball out by hand.
Another team meeting came and went, players now divided into four groups descending upon on all four pockets of the ground, perfecting their work from the stoppages, with the smaller players always with one eye on the big sticks that loomed close by.
Coach Malthouse also played his role in the drill, taking control of some of the less experienced forwards, lobbing the ball into space in which they were to lead into.
Players returned to the ball movement drills which were called to a halt half an hour prior, with more one-on-one match ups taking place.
Features of these drills were Danny Stanley and Ryan Cook, relative unknowns to all bar the Collingwood diehards, who spent their 2006 seasons fighting for a place in a strong Williamstown team. The pair has been overlooked by many who should know better, who have seemingly omitted the duo from their calculations of the Magpies in 2007.
Instead, both should be pressing for a role in the senior line-up, both bringing to the table something different, set to become crucial figures in the club’s future plans.
Cook, in particular, comes across as an in-between type, for he is 186cm and has been earmarked as a potential half forward-cum-wingman who is strong overhead for his size.
The former Dandenong Stingray could well fill a gap that has remained largely unfulfilled since the teaming of Rupert Betheras and Nick Davis in 2002, with Andrew Williams trialled in that position in the ensuing seasons. With his ability to belie his lack of height by plugging the role of the third tall forward, able to mark and crumb with aplomb.
Stanley, meanwhile, came under notice when drafted from the Geelong U/18 when he received the label of ‘a bull of a player’ from none other than Mick Malthouse. The man whose father is godfather of former fan favourite Jarrod Molloy has been earmarked to eventually succeed Scott Burns as the midfield enforcer, and has the build and fitness base to step up into the seniors in ‘07.
Shortly after, with the mercury already back on the rise, the players returned to the sanctuary of the gym, pumping iron into the afternoon, no doubt relishing the opportunity to share premises with the best tennis players the world has to offer.
9:28:49 AM Thu 18 January, 2007
Luke Mason
for collingwoodfc.com.au
After another gruelling pre-season session in the sweltering Melbourne heat on Wednesday morning, Luke Mason was particularly impressed with a couple of unheralded young Magpies.
COLLINGWOOD PRE-SEASON TRAINING REPORT: 17/01/07
With Melbourne still throbbing from the sweltering heat which drove many civilians to distraction the previous day, and in the knowledge that another 37 degrees were promised for this afternoon, you could not have blamed Collingwood for opting to nurse their stars in the comfort of the air-conditioned Lexus Centre gym.
It was not to be, the players, led by Nathan Buckley and the rookie-listed Perth wingman Sharrod Wellingham, hit the track full of running at 8am, the conditions somewhat tempered by a slight breeze sweeping the leaves off the trees and across the oval.
As per usual, shoes were changed and warm ups began, the causal kick to kick taking place as some players fitted on their GSP tracking monitor.
Stretches followed, before the main group split up onto a series of laps, with ex-Carlton ruckman Chris Bryan remaining behind to chat with ruck coach Darren Flannigan.
The main group were soon lining up in lanes, gathering the rolling ball, dishing off to the assistant coaches before receiving the ball and drilling to the player at the end of the opposite line.
Converging in a huddle, the players received a briefing from assistant coach Guy McKenna before splitting up to restart some relaxed kick to kick, with Buckley teamed with Bryan slightly closer than their comrades, the skipper pummelling the leather with a thwack into the mitts of the strapping ruckman.
A new drill began, players focusing on quick movement of the ball, sending it to leading targets that showed no hesitation in farming the ball out by hand.
Another team meeting came and went, players now divided into four groups descending upon on all four pockets of the ground, perfecting their work from the stoppages, with the smaller players always with one eye on the big sticks that loomed close by.
Coach Malthouse also played his role in the drill, taking control of some of the less experienced forwards, lobbing the ball into space in which they were to lead into.
Players returned to the ball movement drills which were called to a halt half an hour prior, with more one-on-one match ups taking place.
Features of these drills were Danny Stanley and Ryan Cook, relative unknowns to all bar the Collingwood diehards, who spent their 2006 seasons fighting for a place in a strong Williamstown team. The pair has been overlooked by many who should know better, who have seemingly omitted the duo from their calculations of the Magpies in 2007.
Instead, both should be pressing for a role in the senior line-up, both bringing to the table something different, set to become crucial figures in the club’s future plans.
Cook, in particular, comes across as an in-between type, for he is 186cm and has been earmarked as a potential half forward-cum-wingman who is strong overhead for his size.
The former Dandenong Stingray could well fill a gap that has remained largely unfulfilled since the teaming of Rupert Betheras and Nick Davis in 2002, with Andrew Williams trialled in that position in the ensuing seasons. With his ability to belie his lack of height by plugging the role of the third tall forward, able to mark and crumb with aplomb.
Stanley, meanwhile, came under notice when drafted from the Geelong U/18 when he received the label of ‘a bull of a player’ from none other than Mick Malthouse. The man whose father is godfather of former fan favourite Jarrod Molloy has been earmarked to eventually succeed Scott Burns as the midfield enforcer, and has the build and fitness base to step up into the seniors in ‘07.
Shortly after, with the mercury already back on the rise, the players returned to the sanctuary of the gym, pumping iron into the afternoon, no doubt relishing the opportunity to share premises with the best tennis players the world has to offer.
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