The Eels have re-located this week’s training to the beautiful NSW Central Coast. The Cumberland Throw is fortunate to have our coastal correspondent, Milo, on hand to catch Tuesday’s field sessions.
Our thanks to Milo for this report:
Mingara sporting complex has been the venue for Eels training this week, so I ventured down on Tuesday to check out the boys training. For those not familiar, Mingara complex is 10 mins from Bateau Bay/Shelly Beach and east of Tuggerah along Wyong Road. The conditions would have been very familiar to the team – warm and humid.
The spectators take up their spots at the back.
The first thing I noticed was the presence of spectators, including several supporters carrying their own seats who took up residence in the mini grandstand. They were prepared for the long haul and were joined by another 8 – 10 fans catching the team at work. Parra on the coast – how good is this!!!
The session began with the mandatory warm ups and stretching, while the coaching staff organised the field. The field itself is in superb shape, with a running track around it, and well maintained grass. I drive past this oval each day traveling to and from work, so it’s great to see our Eels in action there.
Here’s what I observed:
Shuttle Runs and Opposed Work
The squad was broken into two groups for the shuttle runs. This consisted of the normal 400m and 300m respectively. My attention deviated from the leaders to the players staying together and the encouragement shown from the coaching staff.
Will Smith was superb, and his fitness looks very good; I think it was Mahoney who also looked to have a good stride going. The shuttle timing of each group seems pre-determined and is used to keep each group maximising their effort. It’s a fascinating insight into stamina / speed and recovery which is all needed in games.
Following some of the runs, the boys transitioned into opposed work, with BA leading and Joey Grima refereeing. I might add Joey’s refereeing was superb in the 10m and the calls – I could hear the calls from the opposite end of the field along with the local birdlife of kookaburras and butcher birds…..ahh the central coast and the serenity.
I have only seen the team train a couple of times over the summer but on each occasion I’ve noticed (as 60’s and co have) the voices in training. The calls for encouragement and the positioning of the plays was outstanding.
Norman and Moses looked on-song. There was a lot of shift after settles and some good sharp plays with forwards involved in tip ons and lateral movement.
The challenge of tracking players when they’re not up close
BA would call out sets from varied positions i.e. penalty / restart etc. and the players would go from there. The plays would evolve and sets played out before they would swap sides / vests. As Sixties has mentioned, it can be challenging to work out who is who with such changes – unless you look similar to Polar!
More shuttle runs followed the ball work, with 2 groups running across the field in a W shape. The group’s encouragement of each other and their composure in the runs highlights the team bonding that the staff would be looking to see in match conditions. No doubt this featured in their planning.
Following this, the squad resumed their opposed work. Unfortunately, this was my cue to depart for my paying job part of the day.
I was informed the players followed the field work with a gym session at Mingara and that this would again be the plan Wednesday.
Thursday is meant to be the hills session further up at Soldiers beach, which we hope will be covered on the Eels site later in the week. It’s superb to have the squad and the staff (including Big D) up on the coast.
There was definitely no break in the intensity of Eels training, but I’m sure they welcomed the break away from Sydney.
Cheers
Milo
Thanks Mitchy, you lucky bugger.
He’s a good bloke too!
Believe me Pou it’s a pleasure watching and being up here…
The Throw never sleeps, and it’s everywhere! If you guys weren’t so nice, it’d be the stuff of nightmares.
Thanks Trouser. There’s quite a few TCT readers, and indeed quite a lot of Eels fans on the Central Coast. The Roosters and Manly have done their best to tap into that area. I think it’s a pity that the Bears’ relocation didn’t work out.
Thanks Mitchy for covering the sessions in Mingara. I get excited by the day reading about our boys. Can’t wait for the first game. Keep up the great work Mitchy
It was good and a pleasure Ecniv. Belive me it’s a good spot to view training. Even if it was humid…
Thanks for the update mitchy
Pleasure mate. Always good to help out 👍
Mitchy, have you guys got a chat room or have you thought about one?
I am just a contributor mate – Sixties, 40 and TCT would be able to answer that
Thanks Mitchy.
Gee, there is one more reason I miss the CC, and that is to get to see the eels train at a closer location. The bird life and their sounds, I think they are also eels supporters with their noise as well.
Great stuff, and it will be interesting to see the lineups on a paddock.
Col thanks mate, and after growing up in western Sydney it’s a change, but we enjoy it. Longer commute as you would know to games. But there are pros and cons
Mitchy
Thanks for the reort. I live at the Entrance and would have loved to have gotten over to Mingara but I am in Sudney on Mon and Tues for Grandpa duties.
I might make an effort to go to Maitland for the trial, see if I can’t catch up with Col
Ahh nice part John.
I’m near Bateau Bay. May also head to trial if I can mate – would be a good one to see as I think most in squad may play.
Had my kids at Mingara pool several times last week. It’s a pity that it was a week before the eels trained there, I would have loved watching them go around. Damn that pool was good though in 30c plus temperatures!
Great update Mitchy. It made me feel live on the CC just as Sixties reports make me feel I’m at Old Saleyards mate.
Anyway, as I was reading your report it came to me, “How am I going to make DITTO to all the other praises and platitudes” that will inevitably come in the comments of my peers? So, cautiously I started on the comments hoping for an opportunity to debate, question or just note some observation, unique or challenging that may have alluded my fellow fans.
And then, there it was, frightening but true and out of the blue(and gold) came the request to turn this website into something that might resemble something else. Where fools and fake fans abound. Fortunately electronic communication can appease with ease. No need for harsh and critical retort but with a deft IT version of “a flick o’ the quill” Sixties had put down the revolution without offending anyone.
Bravo TCT.
Ha interesting Rowdy; mate i was just happy to be able to send some notes through. I dont think there’s any issues with debate mate, as its healthy and informative.
It’s time to continue to eat those dates off the calendar……mind you they dont taste too good. Cheers