Training 2023 Pre-season thread

[pulpdriver]

Maybe I was underestimsting him when I said Kiddy was our 2nd most important

Such a weapon. Will have to get used to some serious attention from opposition sides this year though, especially if we intend to utilise him further up the ground.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Lions: 15.9.99
Swans: 8.6.54

Swans have completely ran out of gas. Daniher in the pocket scraps through a cheeky goal.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Game over...

 

[Gadzorks]

Lol Joe.

 

[p4p1]

It does sound like an interesting one with Cam down back. Could be the absolute making of him - whether its permanent or just a great learning experience for a little while.

But it does seem to suggest he is best as a more medium third tall. And with our love of three tall forwards (and guys like Linc and Cameron who like to play tall at times) it makes it hard from him to play that role a lot

Completely agree. I think one of Cams best games for us was when he had to play as our #1 or #2 tall last year. It showed just how good and how versatile he could be. I think if we didn't land Gunston we may have looked at playing Cam in that role. I was a big supporter of the switch to defence when I first heard about it and I'm happy to hear it is going well. The more we can have him in play, in any role the better for us.

 

[Sproj]

We looked pretty good and the side is yet to gel. I imagine a number of other teams are scared of us this year.

 

[Toffee Lion]

FT Score:

Lions: 15.9.99
Swans: 8.6.54

First half was quite even, 3rd quarter was all Brisbane, kept the Swans goal-less. Swans had a crack to start the 4th but the Lions settled and took control once again to cruise home.

Best on for me: Ashcroft, Coleman, McCluggage, Cameron (2nd half), Gunston (1st half), Dunkley.

Good signs from Rayner in defense, Wilmot & Tunstill had some moments. We struggled in the ruck unfortunately. Daniher looks fit and moved well. Lachie got crunched early and didn't have a big impact on the game, not injured though. Didn't get much out of Berry. Dev Robbo was good in patches. Dunkley was solid.

 

[martinson]

Maybe I was underestimsting him when I said Kiddy was our 2nd most important

Unlikely they'll let him do what he was doing today in the real games . Still , there's a few that probably need to be tagged.

 

[scott_the_man]

Coleman with 4 shots on goal and who knows how many inside 50's. Rayner deep in defence frees up Coleman to roam forward. Rayner can be the distributor from the last line. Worked very well but will be interesting to see if they stick with it.

 

[Section 5]

Thanks to all posters that gave us updates during the game.

 

[martinson]

Coleman with 4 shots on goal and who knows how many inside 50's. Rayner deep in defence frees up Coleman to roam forward. Rayner can be the distributor from the last line. Worked very well but will be interesting to see if they stick with it.

It worked today.

 

[KissKiss]

Completely agree. I think one of Cams best games for us was when he had to play as our #1 or #2 tall last year. It showed just how good and how versatile he could be. I think if we didn't land Gunston we may have looked at playing Cam in that role. I was a big supporter of the switch to defence when I first heard about it and I'm happy to hear it is going well. The more we can have him in play, in any role the better for us.

Maybe after a year down back he could look at taking on that role in the future. Could be great learning from a guy like Gunston on how to lead and position yourself

 

[Flossie32]

Is Harris the captain? Or just for today?

 

[notliondown]

As one who has wanted change and feared rinse and repeat, I like the Rayner to defense move. We've all talked up his potential and I guess we assumed it was to be forward or mid. But if he finds his purpose in the back half I could care less... he looked good there today and definitely adds a bit of grunt back there.

We needed to change up our look and rely less on the down the line fall back and I think players like Kiddy and Rayner are just not programmed to play it safe all of the time like Rich has become. That alone means it's a win for me and I hope we stick with it.

Might make Dizzy's absence a bit easier to live with too.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Now for the real stuff - the VFL curtain closer!

 

[Toffee Lion]

We needed to change up our look and rely less on the down the line fall back and I think players like Kiddy and Rayner are just not programmed to play it safe all of the time like Rich has become. That alone means it's a win for me and I hope we stick with it.

Yeah I didn't notice the ol' down the line today. We definitely aimed to move the ball naturally. Only when the Swans had some momentum did we look to slow the game down with some kick to kick around the back half but not a lot of hoofing it down the wing, thank god.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Is Harris the captain? Or just for today?

Just for today as things stand. Probably between him and Lachie.

 

[Pride of lions]

Defence was good,Rayner,Payne,Andrews & Coleman all played well. McKenna ok,Starcevich had a poor game. Rich ok,only played half.
Midfield also good,Ashcroft,McCluggage,Dunkley,Bailey & Neale all played well.
Wings: Wilmot,Tunstill,Prior good,Berry & Sharp didn’t do a lot.
Forwards: All played well although McCarthy didn’t do much.
Rucks: pretty average, although I thought we looked better when Fort was in the centre bounce.

 

[On the quiet]

Defence was good,Rayner,Payne,Andrews & Coleman all played well. McKenna ok,Starcevich had a poor game. Rich ok,only played half.
Midfield also good,Ashcroft,McCluggage,Dunkley,Bailey & Neale all played well.
Wings: Wilmot,Tunstill,Prior good,Berry & Sharp didn’t do a lot.
Forwards: All played well although McCarthy didn’t do much.
Rucks: pretty average, although I thought we looked better when Fort was in the centre bounce.

First time seen Ashcroft play and I was impressed, not because of the commentators comments, they were poor, didn't even know Payne played the first half despite several possessions. Constantly called players incorrectly. Ashcroft is IMO absolute lock for round 1, and a big IF (for a first year player) but if he maintains his form, Lyons does not play other than covering injuries.
I still think Cam plays forward, but next week's game will be a better indicator as a possibly third tall role, arguably offers more than what Gardiner has delivered the past couple of years.

 

[Pride of lions]

First time seen Ashcroft play and I was impressed, not because of the commentators comments, they were poor, didn't even know Payne played the first half despite several possessions. Constantly called players incorrectly. Ashcroft is IMO absolute lock for round 1, and a big IF (for a first year player) but if he maintains his form, Lyons does not play other than covering injuries.
I still think Cam plays forward, but next week's game will be a better indicator as a possibly third tall role, arguably offers more than what Gardiner has delivered the past couple of years.

We actually looked a bit short in defence at times,when Sydney went with 3 talls Starcevich was often caught out playing on a tall. If Gardiner can’t get back we could be a bit vulnerable there I fear. Cam looks like a good creative defender who can read the play and intercept mark pretty well so I think he will end up there. He couldn’t play on a third tall over about 195 cm though. And there isn’t really an obvious spot for him on the forward line now,Dunckley looks like a really good option there at times and withZorko probably playing forward as well,spots are pretty limited.

 

[Quigley]

A couple of thoughts on the team first before getting into some players. Firstly I thought we were outworked early and thought the Swans looked fitter and more prepared for the season to start. Then we ran out the game and they didn't. I am not exactly sure how things stand there. The thing which annoyed me the most on the day though was the tackling. Way too many arm tackles that the Swans just waltzed through. We really need to improve our technique there.

On players:

Ashcroft - looked great for a veteran let alone for a first year player. Excellent positioning at stoppages and excellent, extremely quick hands. Strong over the ball, nice burst and high hurt factor. A star from very early on.

Rayner - a bit of a mixed bag. Did some nice things (especially in the second half) but at times was out of position and showed his lack of experience at the back. When everyone is back I am not sure I include him in defence but a fairly solid game from him.

Payne - defensively he was very good and probably the best on that side of the ball over the course of the game. Spoiled as the first option for most of the game but worked a couple of intercept marks in there late in the game. He had one bad clanger that I remember but was otherwise solid with the ball. Overall I thought he looked right at home and comfortable at this level. I think we lose nothing with him in the side and probably gain in that it allows Andrews to go to a lesser match up.

Starcevich - was woeful. Defensively poor and turned the ball over a heap. Needs to concentrate on playing more within his capabilities.

Coleman - has firmly established himself as our biggest weapon coming out of defence. Had some nice forward 50 entries and he is very dangerous sneaking forward and creating chances for himself.

McKenna - did not seem to have the burst he showed at Essendon and his skills were awful. He gives us another veteran at the back but I would play him in the VFL a bit to regain a bit of form.

Wilmot - played on the wing most of the game and was getting up and back well. He lacks experience playing the position and it showed there was enough there to persist with. Got a reasonable amount of it in the first half but dropped off and his skills still need work. Shows nice attach though when the opposition as the ball.

Robertson - also played a lot of wing with a bit up forward. Was quiet early and I thought Wilmot was the better player in the first half. After half time though I thought he picked it up and looked pretty good. Covered a lot of ground. Dropped off a lot of tackles and not a heap of hurt factor in his disposals but he held his own. I still like him a lot more inside but at the moment you have to make the best of the position you are picked in and he certainly worked hard.

Neale - looked slow of foot and of mind early before going off after getting crunched. Got caught with the ball a lot.

Dunkley - what I expected. Got a good amount of it but not a lot of hurt factor. Dangerous when he went forward. Defensively the midfield looks better with him in it.

Bailey - had some really good moments in the game. Played quite a lot onball but also up forward for large passages. As he showed last year he is very dangerous around the ball up forward and there is no indication that this has dropped off. He is noticeably bigger which I found interesting seeing as there has been talk of his running improving a lot. Good strength through the hips and he used that well both onball and in the forward line. Skills were generally really nice.

Gunston - looked really good and has to be enjoying the service compared to what he has been getting the last few years. It is great to have a player who actually leads to space and he was rewarded today. I will be shocked if he doesn't lead our goal kicking.

Tunstill / Sharp - both got a run in the second half and did not look out of place.

McInerney / Fort - disappointing and outplayed by the young Swans rucks.

 

[Ad Astra]

Thought Hughie was b.o.g. So smooth and impressive tank. He seemed to be everywhere. Good to see Joe in the thick of it. Looks to be enjoying himself again. Coleman could be anything. Ditto Ashcroft. First time I’ve seen him in action and he looks completely at home. Creative and very good tackler. Gunston is a dream pick-up (and I’m a big fan of McStay.)

 

[Strato]

Very impressed with Coleman's game. A beautiful kick from one step and gets distance - their are very few players you have that skill. How dangerous was he when in forward line. How lucky are we to have him.

 

[Nunez]

Very high standard of footy for an unofficial practice game. Looking forward to seeing how we do next week.

 

[Berrygood]

Thanks to those giving play by play commentary.

By the sounds of it Rayner went well down back, Kiddy was special, and Ashcroft looks the goods. All very encouraging. Also sounded like defensively we were better. That's even more encouraging.

Some ordinary games from some by the sounds too. Starce, Berry, Rich, for example but I have confidence they will bounce back. They are too experienced not too.

Hopefully next trial match we get Dizzy n Zorks back for a run. I'd also like to see Joyce get a run too. I think we need to see what he can offer, to find out if he's up to first grade, how he can fit with Andrews, Payne, Dizzy. I'd rather find out now rather than during the season when points are on the line.