Training 2023 Pre-season thread

[Kwickhatch]

Swans goal after a few skill errors. Notably starch dropping an almost sitter. Looks like he spent it before he got it

 

[Warwick]

It’s such a shame Matho doesn’t have just a little more poise and awareness with the ball because he looks our best extractor when he’s on.

 

[Berrygood]

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.

I disagree that with 3 talls Cam doesn't fit in. We have played 3 talls pretty much all the time over the last few years and he fit in. Midfielders went fwd too and he still fit in. I like Cam fwd and thru the middle, and now he shows some potential down back, but maybe not against the real tall fwds as you mentioned.

 

[On the quiet]

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.

Yes fair point re Starc, I think MacDonald outmarked him when matched up against him and there were a couple of other occasions. Starc was a bit below his good standard today but confident he bounces back. I was more thinking with Cams leap he might be able to play a little taller and possibly third tall defender, otherwise you are right in that we will need Dizzy.

 

[Section 5]

From Whiting

New Lions dominate Swans, Neale cleared of serious injury

Jack Gunston, Josh Dunkley and Will Ashcroft were sensational in Brisbane's 45-point win over Sydney

www.afl.com.au

 

[Section 5]

 

[Clarkythelion]

Gee young Ashcroft looked great, without putting pressure on the kid this early he looks a ripper. The run down the wing and some of his slick hands around the ground he is ready to go. More silk than when Rowell bust out of the blocks for the Suns with his grunt work.

 

[mattsmob]

Thought we played a really good game today, not really any complaints and thought most performed well. Can't say I'm sold on McKenna at this stage though, showed good speed at times but skills were horrible and I'm not convinced that it's just rust. Wonder whether he is the one to move out of the backline once Gardiner is ready rather than Rayner. Really liked Wilmot on the wing and think he should start there round 1.

 

[BangyBangy]

How goods this?

Get to knock off work, sit in some air con, poor an ice cold beer & watch some footy.

Been a long time coming for those of us that have been a bit disillusioned and unsatisfied with the Aussie test team this summer.

 

[Maverick]

How goods this?

Get to knock off work, sit in some air con, poor an ice cold beer & watch some footy.

Been a long time coming for those of us that have been a bit disillusioned and unsatisfied with the Aussie test team this summer.

Yep. On the train home from work now.
As soon as I get home I’ll be doing the same.

Only difference..I’ll be downing a Carlton Draught…you’ll probably be sucking on a Great Northern.

 

[mpal6]

Thought we played a really good game today, not really any complaints and thought most performed well. Can't say I'm sold on McKenna at this stage though, showed good speed at times but skills were horrible and I'm not convinced that it's just rust. Wonder whether he is the one to move out of the backline once Gardiner is ready rather than Rayner. Really liked Wilmot on the wing and think he should start there round 1.

McKenna to me was rebounding and overlapping from backline a lot more, although in a reckless and unpredictable way. Many of those mistakes on kayo appeared to be him trying to play at a breakneck speed. He appears to play a style which is unique compared to the rest of our defensive smalls - Keidean is silk and more pinpoint, Wilmot is a lot more defensive minded, Rich when on gives you those bullet passes to kickstart from defense, Starce is lockdown and McKenna would be just pure dare and take the opposition on at all costs.

Cut down some of those mistakes, he'll make our defense more dynamic. My 2c.

 

[Berrygood]

How goods this?

Get to knock off work, sit in some air con, poor an ice cold beer & watch some footy.

Been a long time coming for those of us that have been a bit disillusioned and unsatisfied with the Aussie test team this summer.

Mate, our test team is terrible atm.

There's a saying I like, can't remember where I heard it but it's, Hard times create hard men. Hard men create soft times. Soft times create soft men. Soft men create hard times. At the moment there's a lot of soft men in the test team creating hard times. The coach and captain are two of the softest. As soft as 10ply toilet paper. (Acknowledgement to the best show on TV, Letterkenny, for the 10ply reference).

 

[mattsmob]

McKenna to me was rebounding and overlapping from backline a lot more, although in a reckless and unpredictable way. Many of those mistakes on kayo appeared to be him trying to play at a breakneck speed. He appears to play a style which is unique compared to the rest of our defensive smalls - Keidean is silk and more pinpoint, Wilmot is a lot more defensive minded, Rich when on gives you those bullet passes to kickstart from defense, Starce is lockdown and McKenna would be just pure dare and take the opposition on at all costs.

Cut down some of those mistakes, he'll make our defense more dynamic. My 2c.

It'll be a lot easier to see what was actually happening with better quality coverage. If we were to play Wilmot behind the ball I believe he would provide the unpredictable run and carry while also being more solid defensively and with ball in hand when he needs to be. Personally I think the run and carry from both Coleman and Wilmot alongside the kicking of Rich and the new 'quarterback' style of role from Rayner we've got enough avenues out of the backline. I also think guys like Dunkley, Ashcroft and Gunston are better at providing options for those little 20m kicks to start the transition.

 

[mpal6]

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.

Few pages back I made a call that this would be the year where Rayner may receive some tough love in holding his spot. On that note, him showing signs in defense is a really good outcome for us. We are thin back there and I'd rather Rayner have a go at establishing himself while Gardiner is recovering rather than fall back to Lester.

Between Dunkley, Ashcroft, Bailey and McCluggage we have the midfielder rotating forward now covered. It appears we are trialing Dev in there too who can play the role as well as be more versatile if needed covering inside mid and on the wing. Rest of the forward line picks itself in Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston, Cameron, McCarthy and Zorko resting forward. Next cab off the rank would be Lohmann.

Rayner may be given as long a stint as possible to establish himself as that third tall, just like Berry kept playing in the wing in 2022. If the third tall experiment comes off, it'll be Fagan's masterstroke for 2023.

 

[pulpdriver]

Mate, our test team is terrible atm.

There's a saying I like, can't remember where I heard it but it's, Hard times create hard men. Hard men create soft times. Soft times create soft men. Soft men create hard times. At the moment there's a lot of soft men in the test team creating hard times. The coach and captain are two of the softest. As soft as 10ply toilet paper. (Acknowledgement to the best show on TV, Letterkenny, for the 10ply reference).

Hard times create hard men.
Hard men create good times.
Good times create soft men.
Soft men create hard times.

 

[BangyBangy]

Yep. On the train home from work now.
As soon as I get home I’ll be doing the same.

Only difference..I’ll be downing a Carlton Draught…you’ll probably be sucking on a Great Northern.

Lol, Great Northern my arse.

My go to is Colonial Pale Ale. I think they're now called CBCo though, because anything colonial is taboo.

 

[mpal6]

Gee young Ashcroft looked great, without putting pressure on the kid this early he looks a ripper. The run down the wing and some of his slick hands around the ground he is ready to go. More silk than when Rowell bust out of the blocks for the Suns with his grunt work.

He seems to have that uncanny knack of able to out position his direct opponent, push off them while extracting the ball and move swiftly through traffic for the first 4-5 steps - do all of this in one go. I was astonished when he did that to Luke Parker in some stoppages. Waiting to see if he can replicate that in season proper.

 

[Tassie4ever]

Mate, our test team is terrible atm.

There's a saying I like, can't remember where I heard it but it's, Hard times create hard men. Hard men create soft times. Soft times create soft men. Soft men create hard times. At the moment there's a lot of soft men in the test team creating hard times. The coach and captain are two of the softest. As soft as 10ply toilet paper. (Acknowledgement to the best show on TV, Letterkenny, for the 10ply reference).

But But But!!!! Patty is so nice . I mean really, really nice. Really nice.

We know where he stands on climate change. Not so much where he stands on hard cricket. It's all to do with dodgy wickets. That would be the wickets that both teams play on. Mind you, the Tests don't last long enough to work out whether the said wickets might last the distance.

I clearly recall Ian Chappell was a dead set arse**le. But hard. Where is our next Ian Chappell??

 

[scoman]

Ashcroft is ridiculous.

Still not sure on our centre clearance work, I'm not sure Clugga and Bailey are that great in tight and it may take some weeks for Dunkley to gel with the others. However, Clugga is brilliant around the ground so you really want him on the ball as much as possible. Not sure what the right combo is really. I like the idea of Dev or Berry in there, but maybe we just need to set up better and back the group of Neale, Dunks, Clugga, Ashcroft and Bailey in. Leave Berry and Zorko as options if the opposition is getting on top?

 

[martinson]

Ashcroft has dynamic reaction speed when the ball is wobbling in dispute with 3 or 4 players trying to get it. Very rare quality.

I'm hopeful on McKenna . He needs time after what happened to him with covid but I don't think he's too far away.

 

[BangyBangy]

But But But!!!! Patty is so nice . I mean really, really nice. Really nice.

We know where he stands on climate change. Not so much where he stands on hard cricket. It's all to do with dodgy wickets. That would be the wickets that both teams play on. Mind you, the Tests don't last long enough to work out whether the said wickets might last the distance.

I clearly recall Ian Chappell was a dead set arse**le. But hard. Where is our next Ian Chappell??

And when you win the toss, it takes the 'doctored wicket' excuse out of the equation. If anything it puts you in the box seat. Well, it should.

Anyhoo, I'll stop with the derail now. About to watch the 2nd half.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

Wasn't stoked to hear Rayner being trialled in defence this pre-season, but from everything I've heard (and the limited amount I saw before the teacher saw my phone), he seems to be handling it well. Also, love to hear that we've given Coleman the licence to be a more attacking option with the ball - he's easily our best kicker and the more we have the ball in his hands the better.

 

[Grasshopper17]

What a rooster of a goal from Kiddy Coleman. Solid 55m, with the wind.

That was actually into the wind, according to the commentators. Pretty stiff northerly wind in Sydney today apparently.

If this game meant something the intensity wouldn't have dropped off in this quarter

It may have. Was the story of many of our second halves last season. Firstly when games were well and truly won, but later on it started happening even when they weren't! But we finished off well today which was great to see, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

I hate when we do it during the season. We really tend to give teams a way back in. I understand why we do it during preseason because we don't want any injuries, but I agree it's sets up the mentality that once we are up and about we can just coast the rest of the way

It's amazing we think that way at all given you'd think Round 23 of 2021 should still be so fresh in the memory of all at the club, and that mad scramble for that final behind with 14 seconds left in the match. Percentage matters! I yearn for the days the dynasty team were up by 60 at 3QT and would go on to win by 100.

 

[Grasshopper17]

My 2c worth on today's effort... Pretty good I thought. The control we had on territory through the first 15 minutes of Q3 was a feature, and then some desperate defence in the final 10 mins of the 3rd to keep them goalless for the term.

Annoying to give them a sniff early in the last, but we responded in the right way to finish them off good and proper, kicking the last 4 goals of the game and win going away from them.

Optimistic.

AND JOE DANIHER WAS SEEN MAKING MULTIPLE TACKLES

 

[scoman]

My 2c worth on today's effort... Pretty good I thought. The control we had on territory through the first 15 minutes of Q3 was a feature, and then some desperate defence in the final 10 mins of the 3rd to keep them goalless for the term.

Annoying to give them a sniff early in the last, but we responded in the right way to finish them off good and proper, kicking the last 4 goals of the game and win going away from them.

Optimistic.

AND JOE DANIHER WAS SEEN MAKING MULTIPLE TACKLES

Tackled with a bit of venom as well. Gave away a free or two, not that it mattered considering where it was on the field.