Sweltering conditions again greeted the Parramatta squad as the team assembled at Old Saleyards for an early morning field session. Despite the oppressive heat, the players tackled their work in tremendous spirit.

Conditioning and Skills

The conditioning involved sets of interval running, with the feature being the talk amongst the players. There was a chorus of encouragement and reminders about body language. Both Gordon and Gutherson were standouts amongst the backs with Schulte and Cornish also impressing with their efforts. In the forwards, Peats, Pritchard and Mannah were among the strongest performers.

KPIs – Kaysa Pritchard impresses yet again.

It might be standard practice, but I’m a huge fan of basic ball work drills, such as draw and pass. This was again an early part of today’s training, and for mine it maintains the essence of the player being a footballer, not just an athlete who tucks the ball under the arm for a hit up.

Kick Chase

Using shortened sets, the players work to a kick after only a couple of tackles. The emphasis is on the chase, with the promise of more interval running if standards aren’t met. It was great to hear Mannah bark out orders to the players moving to a different field for this drill, with Alvaro the man charged with the task of reminding the players. We were all impressed with “Polar Bear’s” surprise chip and chase.

#1 – Gordon was peerless today as the mercury rose to gruelling levels.

Opposed Work (the Michael Gordon Show)

Every session sheds more light on the “value added” brought by our recruits. As expected, Foran and Norman impressed in guiding the team around the park, but today Michael Gordon really stood out.

Without doubt, “Flash” Gordon gives the impression that he is a man with a point to prove. His ability to position himself for kick returns and set up his outside man was on display and he continues to forge a formidable combination with the halves. He moves confidently around the field which gives me great optimism about the custodian role this year.

Naturally, it is not possible to report on any Parramatta pre-season training without referencing Foran. “Foz” is a class player and has been varying his plays during the opposed work, which should make it difficult for the opposition to shut down his role within the attacking structure of the team.

Author’s Note

My sympathies are extended to any player running at Beau Scott. His new team mates are surely developing an appreciation of this bloke’s uncompromising approach to the game.

Danny Wicks gets the Cumberland Throw award for the briefest shorts on the field. On a serious note, The Cumberland Throw members are massive fans of Wicksy. Thanks for sharing a couple of laughs with us after your work mate!

Further thanks to Jason, Nathan and Paul for their time today. We really appreciated our quick chat. Forty20 Is considering taking up Paul Devlin’s track work offer! Importantly, can someone please help Paul Devlin out with a bucket hat!

Finally, and bear with me as I use the aliases, it was great to share the viewing with Forty, Miatch, Chris and DK as well as Tom, Geoff and John.

#Parra2K16

Sixties

Credit to the Parramatta Eels for all images used.

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