A morning of training at Fremantle

by LES EVERETT

WE'VE made a slow start to our preseason at australianrules.com.au but we did get down to Fremantle Oval this morning for a look at the Dockers.

dockers

Fremantle players set off on a run at Fremantle Oval. Photo by Les Everett

The first bit of information I gathered from an insider was that the players have been "working their arses off". This is the sort of news that gladdens the hearts of supporters.

Next came the tip that draftees Rhys Palmer and Clayton Hinkley had accepted three-year contracts. Palmer is a gun. He played 14 league games for East Fremantle this year, kicked 14 goals and polled seven Sandover Medal votes. At the AFL 18s carnival he kicked nine goals in three games, including five against Vic Metro, and was twice named as best player for WA, which dominated the competition. He was, of course, made an All-Australian.

Hinkley, from North Ballarat, is among the elite when it comes to running. He's been impressive, hence the three-year deal.

One player not among the elite runners is Caleb Mourish who was drafted last year, delisted and rookie drafted this year. He simply couldn't keep up in one running drill involving the whole squad. Mourish looks a million dollars when he gets the ball but you have to stick around a while waiting for him to get it - East Fremantle fans also needed to get to the footy early during the past season because Mourish finished up in the reserves. It was interesting to see his teammates encourage and support him. Actually at the completion of the exercise it looked like Mourish's arse was going to fall off.

Earlier in the session the players took part in a middle distance run. Ryan Crowley established a big lead on the pack but then rookie Chris Smith broke away from the peloton and nabbed Crowley right on the finishing line. It was stirring stuff.

During a whole-oval kicking drill the ball didn't hit the ground for about 10 minutes. I reflected on training sessions in 2001 when kicks sailed over heads, marks were dropped and ball spent more time on the grass than in hands.

And for those interested in such observations Luke Webster spent most of the session on an exercise bike, Heath Black and Matthew Carr did some kicking and running away from the main group, Robert Warnock and Scott Thornton trained mainly alone and Shaun McManus broke away from the main group early.

19 December 2007

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