Training 2022 Pre-season

[Warwick]

That’s a crazy looking boot there.

Looks like a Game Ready polar care / compression sleeve. Hopefully just a mild sprained ankle.

 

[scoman]

I'm not familiar with the players the Vic clubs have as top ups. Our top ups are mostly in the 20 to 22 age bracket and would be considered some/most of the best young talent in the state not on an AFL/VFL list.

Options for Queensland lads wanting to play high level football have dried up over the last few years for sure. Southport is now the only stand alone club in tier below AFL. What's worse is they aren't exactly known for playing local talent, the side being a who's who of recently delisted AFL players from around the country. So for a Queensland lad who misses out on the drafts, its either enjoy some club footy at QAFL level or pack the bags and to play VFL, SANFL or WAFL, which isn't a guaranteed gig for a young player, unproven at senior level. The top up situation has provided a handful of lads another option which is cool.

I'm not sure the lads we have recruited compare very favorably to a best 22 VFL player at many of the other clubs, but they should be stronger than the half a dozen, very green top ups we used last year.

 

[briztoon]

Options for Queensland lads wanting to play high level football have dried up over the last few years for sure. Southport is now the only stand alone club in tier below AFL. What's worse is they aren't exactly known for playing local talent, the side being a who's who of recently delisted AFL players from around the country. So for a Queensland lad who misses out on the drafts, its either enjoy some club footy at QAFL level or pack the bags and to play VFL, SANFL or WAFL, which isn't a guaranteed gig for a young player, unproven at senior level. The top up situation has provided a handful of lads another option which is cool.

I'm not sure the lads we have recruited compare very favorably to a best 22 VFL player at many of the other clubs, but they should be stronger than the half a dozen, very green top ups we used last year.

Half of our top ups this year, were half of our top ups last year. Triffett, Reville, Bowes, Abberley and Arnold were all part of our VFL top ups from last year.

I have no idea what GC are doing, as they don't appear to have signed any top ups for their VFL side. I know they have an extended rookie list, but it's just an extra 5 players, where as we've signed 10 VFL top ups.

You're right about Southport. We've watched quite a few GC ex academy kids head to the SANFL, and they do alright down there.

Personally I'd rate Reville and Colenso as pretty equal to any of the undrafted Vic kids from their draft years. I believe Colenso suffered from not going through the academy system, in terms of not getting the recognition he should have. When he did play for GC's academy as a 19 year old against the Lions, it was pretty obvious he was in the top 2 or 3 kids from both teams, on the ground.

Again, I don't know the quality of senior VFL top ups at the Vic clubs, but I'd say our kids would match up with similarly aged kids on VFL lists, just going from memory of the last three years of Vic kids who have missed the draft. The real unknown will be the Vic kids who missed out on the draft last year. There's potentially half a dozen kids that might show they deserved to be drafted, but I don't know if they'll be playing NAB League of VFL.

 

[briztoon]

As an aside to this discussion, from a list management point of view, I don't know if I'd sign any of our VFL players to a SSP rookie contract. I'd probably keep that rookie list spot open for the mid season draft.

 

[Mighty Lions]

The guy I am looking forward to most this year is McFadyen. Last year preseason the Fox Footy analysts were pushing this new role of the "striker". Essentially bigger body midfielders that could also play as an undersized mobile key position forward. The archetype for this role were Bontempelli, De Goey, Dusty, Cripps, Fyfe etc. The idea being these guys would play at midfield stoppages and then slip out the front causing a mismatch in the forward line as either a smaller mid or tall back would have to go on them. They could then use size or agility to take advantage of the mismatch or use it to create more space and less contest for the true kpf. The role would also cause miscommunication errors when the midfielder and back would have to handover the assignment.

Raynor was built for this role. However, McFadyen has the exact same attributes. He is tall and rangy but also big in the shoulders and hips. He can go aerial or contest at ground level. He always looked a level above at NEAFL level before his ACL. If he can pair with Cam then that means we can keep the height in our forward line whilst rotating Omac through the bench. Oscar plays so much better when he is not fatigued. Instead of playing another ruck for rotation, we could go with Joe in the ruck with Cam, McFadyen and McStay as the talls for 5 minute spells.

So far (fingers crossed) this is Mc Fadyen's first full pre-season since he's been at the club so realistically I think ***'s & Co just want to see something from him that confirms he has potential. As for being a regular in our best 22, at the moment he is a fair way off but that doesn't mean his progress can't be fast tracked should he really show some significant form. At this stage I would say McFadyen just needs to stay un-injured and show some incremental growth as an afl footballer.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Probably missed out on match sim last week due to recovery from his broken nose surgery a week or two ago in training.

Has surgery on his nose Monday. Out of action for a couple of weeks.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I had high hopes for McFadyen last year but was pretty disappointed. I would be very happy to see him make a big jump this year. I would like a solid medium, goal kicking, marking forward who could give us quality time in the midfield.

Thats Linc all day every day....one of the hardest tacklers we have with excellent disposal when the ball is with him.

 

[ManeMan]

He would be an absolute beast as a injury sub. Would come on with so much energy.

Mathieson really baffles me as a sub as all he can really do is inside mid. Possibly the worst tactical sub you could get.

Mitch has wing as his preferred role, but could easily play some inside mid, defensive forward.

And he'd be the sort of person not to sook about it.

Obviously you can't have a permanent sub but if he is not best 22 he should be sub as much as possible. Great player to come on in a big final.

Yeah, Mitch would be a fantastic sub. Great energy, versatile enough to play on any line. The other one I like there is Tom Berry, who would bring that pressure as well. Ah Chee's versatility make him a decent option also, but I want him in the starting lineup. I reckon he's got plenty of improvement in him yet.

 

[briztoon]

The AFL will have a contingency plan to bring in “top-up” players from the state leagues to ensure clubs can field teams in the event of excessive COVID cases.

The AFL will be encouraging clubs to consider top-up options – such as from their VFL or WAFL and SANFL teams – in preparation for a COVID outbreak that would otherwise mean they wouldn’t have the numbers to field a team.

AFL planning for ‘the replacements’ from VFL and other state leagues

Top-up players from other competitions may be used to ensure clubs can field a team amid a COVID outbreak.

www.theage.com.au

 

[KissKiss]

Yeah, Mitch would be a fantastic sub. Great energy, versatile enough to play on any line. The other one I like there is Tom Berry, who would bring that pressure as well. Ah Chee's versatility make him a decent option also, but I want him in the starting lineup. I reckon he's got plenty of improvement in him yet.

I've always thought Lester is a great option as well. Can cover a lot of roles in the team

 

[Dalions]

I've always thought Lester is a great option as well. Can cover a lot of roles in the team

I agree, but it is also why both Robbo and AhChee are good options as well.
It’s great to finally have some depth for all positions really, including the 23rd man.
Just a little thin on Key Position depth at the moment.

 

[Quigley]

I'm guessing that's what Rayner and Cockatoo are in the team for.

We've had the opportunity to draft one in the previous two drafts, but went in other directions.

I had actually hoped he would develop into a big bodied mid who could rest forward but the first step would be a forward who could go into the midfield. You are right that the latter is per Rayner and Cockatoo and with those two out for large parts of last year I had hoped that McFadyen would step up.

 

[POBT]

I think you can get away with someone like Matho as sub if you have positional flexibility already built into your 22. We do have that but the issue is that Matho is a bit like Neale and particularly Lyons in his strengths and certainly his weaknesses are more pronounced. If Lyons was someone like Bontompelli, who can play half a dozen roles, then Matho could be carried as the sub if he was seen as the next best player. Unfortunately, when you already have one and arguably two positionally inflexible inside mids in the 22, carrying a third as the sub is problematic.

 

[Dalions]

Fages will be hurting after this.

 

[Dalions]

I had actually hoped he would develop into a big bodied mid who could rest forward but the first step would be a forward who could go into the midfield. You are right that the latter is per Rayner and Cockatoo and with those two out for large parts of last year I had hoped that McFadyen would step up.

Didn’t he only just come back and play his first game after his ACL last year.
I think he needs to given a bit of leeway for last year, but this year he really needs to show something.

 

[briztoon]

Fages will be hurting after this.

Wonder if this means no training this afternoon.

 

[Mr Ripper]

One of DJ's lads was having a run this morning, believe it was Darryl Jr.

 

[Dalions]

Wonder if this means no training this afternoon.

Maybe not because of Friday nights intraclub at Morningside I believe.
If anyone can confirm?

 

[Dalions]

Looking how I feel.

 

[POBT]

One of DJ's lads was having a run this morning, believe it was Darryl Jr.

Well, that's interesting! William plays in the NBL so it makes sense it was Darryl Jnr. IIRC, Darryl is shorter.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Maybe not because of Friday nights intraclub at Morningside I believe.
If anyone can confirm?

 

[Lace Out]

One of DJ's lads was having a run this morning, believe it was Darryl Jr.

About time !

 

[Dalions]

One of DJ's lads was having a run this morning, believe it was Darryl Jr.

Is he the basketball player?

 

[briztoon]

One of DJ's lads was having a run this morning, believe it was Darryl Jr.

Training with the squad?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Is he the basketball player?

Both William and Darryl play basketball. William for NZ Breakers and Darryl is playing with the Redland team in the QBL (or NBL One North as it's called now)