This report compiles three training sessions into the one post. Hopefully it also illustrates how one session builds on the previous. As a former teacher, I’ve found the structure and content of this early part of the Eels preseason to be…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 18 & 19, 2024: What Does The Fox Say!
I’ll make this guarantee about Josh Addo-Carr – you’ll always know when he’s out on the field! The work started early on Tuesday morning and the Foxx provided the big energy in the skill drills. It would be no surprise…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 14 & 15, 2024: SAS Parra (Speed, Agility, Skills)
That headline of mine could be the title for a reality TV show. In this instance, it’s the moniker I’d assign to Parra’s preseason thus far. Though it’s early days, a pattern is emerging. Hopefully you’ve kept up your compulsory…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 13, 2024: The Boys Are Back In Town
And so it truly begins. Today was day one of the preseason for the full Eels NRL squad, and they took to the training track alongside the younger players who had started their journey last week. I didn’t operate off…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 11, 2024: Gutho’s Final Visit
Attending Eels training this morning presented me with an unexpected opportunity – the chance to say thank you and farewell to Clint Gutherson. It wasn’t until he entered the complex with a “hey fellas” that I realised he was walking…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 8, 2024: Defence, Defence, Defence
Yesterday I titled my training report “The Learning Curve”. It wasn’t an attention grabbing, “clickbait” headline, but on reflection it perfectly described these early days of the preseason. Here’s why. For the players it’s self-explanatory as they are a very…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 7, 2024: The Learning Curve
What a learning curve these young Eels players are experiencing. As I mentioned in yesterday’s report, the pathways fellas are being given every opportunity to succeed. When I arrived at Kellyville this morning, the field markers told the story of…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 6, 2024: Welcome Joash Papali’i
Thirteen became fourteen today when Joash Papali’i made his first appearance in Eels training gear at Kellyville. And the Bulldogs recruit didn’t waste any time in becoming a voice in the group. A number of games, or competitive elements, were…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 5, 2024: Continued Focus On Skills
Day two of preseason training fell on Melbourne Cup Day and though the players weren’t sent off on a two mile gallop, it would turn out to be a longer field session than day one. There were no additions to…
Eels Pre-Season Training Report – November 4, 2024: New Beginnings
Walking in to Eels preseason training today, I didn’t know what to expect. Perhaps there would be an element of that for the players too. In the eleven years that I’ve reported on preseason training under Brad Arthur, there were…