Training 2022 Training Reports

[BigRang]

Any thoughts on all of that goal kicking practice he seemed to be doing? I'm imagining a little goal kicking feast from Fyfe, Clark and Chapman.

I think It'll be more of the Dusty forward thing where he's given a license to run forward when he feels like it and we clear the 50 out for him.
Also, I think being a professional athlete with high standards he probably wasn't happy with his performance I50 last year and set about trying to improve. Plus recovering shoulder etc so more time to practice kicking etc.

 

[A New Hope]

Who would have thought, opinions on an opinion site.

Thats precisely my point.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

I do not understand the Meek over Lobb chatter.

People coloured by the fact Rory requested a trade; similar to how the opinion on Cerra has changed?

 

[Dockeroo]

I do not understand the Meek over Lobb chatter.

People coloured by the fact Rory requested a trade; similar to how the opinion on Cerra has changed?

Meek was better than Lobb in preseason scratchies.
Not saying he’s passed him out yet but if it’s just the Rory Lobb of 2020 and 2021 that appears again this year it won’t be much longer before Meeks upward trajectory surges him past Lobb.

Along with Chapman and Frederick, and maybe Nod, I’d say that Meek is the most improved player on the list since 2021.
Has Lobb improved? Doubtful

 

[Madas]

I do not understand the Meek over Lobb chatter.

People coloured by the fact Rory requested a trade; similar to how the opinion on Cerra has changed?

Meek puts in a lot more effort than Lobb in my opinion

 

[gungho]

BHilly nearly always swapped wings to ensure he was on the open (fat side), his skills were best on the open side.

As for trying to stop it…. Have you watch games in the last 2 years…. Yes they try and stop it.

SHilly however when he played on the wing was skinny side winger…

Except when he comes off the bench, grabs the ball sprints 100m and slots the winning goal against Galong… just saying!

In Stephen hills case the side of the wing he played had a lot more to do with being a left footer than anything else.

 

[JBMAN]

I do not understand the Meek over Lobb chatter.

People coloured by the fact Rory requested a trade; similar to how the opinion on Cerra has changed?

Lobb is just so inconsistent, has a good game in 5 or six, Meek hasn't the talent of Lobb but is on an upward trajectory and far more consistent.

 

[Square Peg]

Meek puts in a lot more effort than Lobb in my opinion

Yeah this. Lobb is a better forward and a crap ruckman cruising around thinking he won't be dropped, regardless of effort, because he's irreplaceable. This was the reason some of us were calling for Meek to replace him well before he wanted a trade.
Meek has his significant limitations unfortunately but Lobb annoys me so much I am prepared to reward Meek's effort.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Meek was better than Lobb in preseason scratchies.
Not saying he’s passed him out yet but if it’s just the Rory Lobb of 2020 and 2021 that appears again this year it won’t be much longer before Meeks upward trajectory surges him past Lobb.

Along with Chapman and Frederick, and maybe Nod, I’d say that Meek is the most improved player on the list since 2021.
Has Lobb improved? Doubtful

If Lobb plays a full season in the exact same form as he did last year he kicks approximately 35 goals. Given the fact he isn't coming off an ACL sprain I would definitely expect him to have a better year. And that 35 goals would establish him as one of the best ruck forwards in the competition - which he 100% is.

Meek puts in a lot more effort than Lobb in my opinion

I'd hope so given he only player a half coming in fresh against a tired nic nat who is clearly saving himself for the real season. Rory was fine in the first sratchie too beyond one missed mark.

 

[poshman]

If Lobb had floated a pass to Mundy under pressure instead of snap a goal, this board would roast him over it. Meek has come along very nicely, and as much as Lobbs consistency issues annoy me, he is significantly better up forward than Meek.

35-40 goals would be delightful.

 

[Bring back Drum]

Meek‘s ceiling I think will be a Ben McEvoy

7

Ben Mcevoy

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

4.7

2star

HB

6.9

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

8.5

2star

K

3.9

1star

HB

4.6

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.8

3star

G

0.4

3star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

type ruckman, capable of kicking 10-15 goals if resting forward. Can be dangerous in the forward 50, but doesnt have the mobility to impact further up the ground working outside the 50.

Yes you’ll get a better competitor in the ruck, but it’s not long enough on the ball to justify his inclusion over Lobb. After all the opposition has a 2nd ruckman as well & that’s when Lobb should be giving Darcy a rest.

 

[freo_leo29]

If Meek plays forward instead of the Lobb then we are essentially one down in the forward line


The 2nd defender instantly doesn't have to mind Meek anywhere near as much, he has no contested marking prowess at all


It would directly affect Taberner and Treacy too


Meek looks good in the scratchies because he gets a lot more ruck time, in the real deal then we can't afford that ruck time for Meek, that's Darcy's bread and butter, Meek only gets games if one of the two go down.

 

[Serongadongdong]

I do not understand the Meek over Lobb chatter.

People coloured by the fact Rory requested a trade; similar to how the opinion on Cerra has changed?

No Rory is a pea heart and delivers 1 good game in 10


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[wakojako]

No Rory is a pea heart and delivers 1 good game in 10


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I'm happy to give him another chance this season. You never know how the impact of contracts and competition may impact hos performance.

 

[BarbieITFC]

In Stephen hills case the side of the wing he played had a lot more to do with being a left footer than anything else.

I was going to ask this. I grew up in the UK so have never played the game - but my assumption is that teams will naturally use one wing more than the other if the majority of players are either right footed or left footed. As someone who is predominantly right footed whenever I kicked a soccer ball from my hands (when I occasionally played as a goalkeeper) it tended to be easier to kicker it straight or more towards the left as I was facing - rather than to the right. So if we have a defence and midfield of predominantly right footers I would assume we would prefer to use the right hand wing so we don't have players always having to check back inside to kick it off their right foot. But that's just an assumption.

I also wonder whether TV also distorts reality because of depth perception - so the wing furthest from the camera always looks less congested than the near side to the camera??

 

[Taylor]

I'd be disappointed if the coach didn't instruct the team to use the wing on the far side of the ground from the interchange if the opposition is short on running power or injured.

 

[GingerDocker]

The fat side is usually the go to when attacking in any ball sport.

In the words of a famous coach "Space is an attacker's best friend, and a defender's worst enemy".

 

[wayToGo_]

The fat side is usually the go to when attacking in any ball sport.

In the words of a famous coach "Space is an attacker's best friend, and a defender's worst enemy".

That's not quite true in professional sport. Turn the ball over on the fat side and you are generally ****ed from the lightning quick rebound.

In professional ball sports the objective is to open space to attack into whilst still covering defensively behind the ball. It's a balancing act and is why fans (who don't have to worry about outcomes) get annoyed when teams move the ball slowly - to keep a defensive structure.

 

[arsesmart]

Given the strong opinions on him, there'll always be a fair percentage of pre-conceptions in interpreting how much effort Lobb puts in. It's a bit in the Mark Waugh zone too, where it's a bit "is he being laconic or lackadaisical?" I mean his ceiling (for this year at least) and what his role is, is higher than Meeks.

 

[Farmerwantsawife]

I am probably president of the Anti Lobb Club, but there no way I would have Meek in the side over him purely from a structural balance point of view.

Can only hope we see a better 2022 version of Lobb purely as its a contract year for him.

 

[GingerDocker]

That's not quite true in professional sport. Turn the ball over on the fat side and you are generally f’ed from the lightning quick rebound.

In professional ball sports the objective is to open space to attack into whilst still covering defensively behind the ball. It's a balancing act and is why fans (who don't have to worry about outcomes) get annoyed when teams move the ball slowly - to keep a defensive structure.

True.

Defensive positioning while attacking is important, but 95%* of attacking thrusts is open-field ball sports come from utilising space, rather than a lack of it.

*Source: no source, I just made it up to suit my argument.

 

[DeanS]

Are we in any danger of having a training report or two posted before this thred is closed down for the year? Pretty please.

 

[Bring back Drum]

I'm happy to give him another chance this season. You never know how the impact of contracts and competition may impact hos performance.

I don’t think it’s a case of giving him another chance, he is what he is & has been for 10 years. But he is the best option we have atm for that position as tall forward/2nd ruck.
The problem we have with all forwards is consistency over 4 quarters which is most likely caused by what’s going on up the field.
A real positive was the 21 inside 50 marks we had on the weekend, forget about goal kicking for now, but what it shows is a combination of quicker ball movement up the field, having more options in our forward due to having blokes stay home & our forwards able to get separation from their opponents due better cohesion from the forward group.
Pretty happy with Jaymie Graham’s work so far.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

I am probably president of the Anti Lobb Club, but there no way I would have Meek in the side over him purely from a structural balance point of view.

Can only hope we see a better 2022 version of Lobb purely as its a contract year for him.

Lobb is contracted for two more seasons

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Are we in any danger of having a training report or two posted before this thred is closed down for the year? Pretty please.

One the scratch matches start there’s not a lot to report except for rehab and skills sessions. Players are in full play/recover/repeat mode now.