Training 2023 Preseason + training discussion

[Square Peg]

No pretty much most.

A quick summary, Henry's been slated for:
Being lazy.
Not committed enough on the training track.
Arrogant.
To vain for weight gain.
Asking to be traded.
Poor skills (kicks).
Trying to be too flashy.
Doesn't get the ball enough.

I think other than the lack of possessions, the others are created from whole cloth, had the story select the facts or outright contradicted by the evidence.

I haven't read some of these accusations on here, agree some are stupid if they were made e.g. too vain to put on weight wtf?
But the most objective evidence of all is that round 1 this year a spot in the 22 was his to lose, and in one game he lost it. For whatever reasons, that don't include the bizzaro ones on your list. You don't get many better chances from the coaches than being selected for round 1. I hope he makes the most of it if he is in 2023

 

[Bigger]

One of my sons was down at Kings Park last Saturday for colts training and he reckoned Caleb Serong, Heath Chapman and a couple of other Freo boys were down there, doing their own training.

Caleb Serong is 21 years old.

What were you doing on a Saturday off when you were 21?

 

[Taylor]

e.g. too vain to put on weight wtf?

When you strip away all the context and nuance of a possibility being floated they tend to look silly.

 

[SupermanCapes]

You can give him "whipping boy 2023" award already; the fact he has been brought up so much on this forum since the end of the season highlights that there are posters out there already lining up to start ripping into him 1st WAFL/AFL game he plays in next year.

There were even posters who were complaining that he was going to turn up out of shape (ie. that he needed to put some muscle on) and that he has no dedication etc. etc. unlike all the other players who were out there training in the off season, and now that he has turned up to the new season looking in some okay looking shape they are claiming it is the wrong shape. Some of them were also the same posters who were blaming him for team losses during the year when he wasn't even in the side and just generally going at him all season at random times of the year and/or since he has been at the club, to the point where if you collated their posts on bigfooty, you could see that the majority of their negative posts for the year were about Liam Henry.

I hope some of the moderators actually watch out for this in 2023, because if you continually have a "go" at a player well above and beyond any other player expectations and often on the basis of no evidence surely that constitutes abusive behaviour, even if the player may/may not be able to read it? And I am certainly no SJW but surely that is not a place we want to be as a board of posters, particularly when said player has a particular background that is already considered marginalised and a victim of bias within the AFL?

I totally agree with these points, we need to give Liam a chance to actually fail before we get too stuck in. While he hasn't blown us off the park, I think the best comparison out there is Dylan Stephens at Sydney (similar age, build, field position and draft pick) - by last season he was getting pretty regular games with a Grand Finalist, so ahead of Liam, but he's not being marked as a star of the game.

In terms of the bolded text, I'm all for jumping in and calling out racism when it's there. But labeling things as potentially racist, when it's not clear what the motivation behind the comments is, often does more harm than good.

As a board I think we're mature enough to call a spade a spade when it's justified, but getting too trigger-happy with the labels just gives those that are legitimately racist an excuse to say "oh, well everything is called racist these days, I'm just getting caught up in that". If someone says something about any of our players from minority groups that is legitimately problematic, let's call that out and have the conversation.

 

[JunglistPosse]

Hi Folks,
Just to be clear, I am yyou but I have changed workplaces, given back a laptop & lost log in details, so am now using an account I set up for my sone a long time ago.
I just wanted to be up front about it as I am sure there are a lot on here who have me on ignore.
Happy Xmas to all & of course, Go Freo!

yyou the Clancee Pearce fan?

 

[Sully90]

One of my sons was down at Kings Park last Saturday for colts training and he reckoned Caleb Serong, Heath Chapman and a couple of other Freo boys were down there, doing their own training.

Caleb Serong is 21 years old.

What were you doing on a Saturday off when you were 21?

Recovering from Friday night.

 

[King Huskii]

One of my sons was down at Kings Park last Saturday for colts training and he reckoned Caleb Serong, Heath Chapman and a couple of other Freo boys were down there, doing their own training.

Caleb Serong is 21 years old.

What were you doing on a Saturday off when you were 21?

Smoking blunts and punching on with mates

 

[freo_leo29]

One of my sons was down at Kings Park last Saturday for colts training and he reckoned Caleb Serong, Heath Chapman and a couple of other Freo boys were down there, doing their own training.

Caleb Serong is 21 years old.

What were you doing on a Saturday off when you were 21

Does working the Saturday count if it was my day off from uni lol

 

[Wobbly Punt]

When you strip away all the context and nuance of a possibility being floated they tend to look silly.

Or when you add paper thin pop-psych with other thoughtless fluff around an even more ridiculous point lacking in any substance and then deliver it as a broader fact that may relate to an AFL player sometimes people still see through it and some will even call you out on it.

 

[Joao]

yyou the Clancee Pearce fan?

Who isn't a Clancee Pearce fan?

 

[MadDocker]

Smoking blunts and punching on with mates

 

[Taylor]

Or when you add paper thin pop-psych with other thoughtless fluff around an even more ridiculous point lacking in any substance and then deliver it as a broader fact that may relate to an AFL player sometimes people still see through it and some will even call you out on it.

Potentially, but I'm not too fussed about the offended opinion of people who believe that AFL S&C department are able to enforce programs on players as if the entire field of sports psychology is irrelevant.

If people need the 85% answer that's fine, if some people want to know about more fringe potentials then they can read what I said.

 

[BettercallSaul]

One of my sons was down at Kings Park last Saturday for colts training and he reckoned Caleb Serong, Heath Chapman and a couple of other Freo boys were down there, doing their own training.

Caleb Serong is 21 years old.

What were you doing on a Saturday off when you were 21?

I was helping the poor and making a difference in socieTy….. no wait…..I was drinking a lot… yes that’s right…drinking….

 

[wakojako]

I was helping the poor and making a difference in socieTy….. no wait…..I was drinking a lot… yes that’s right…drinking….

You were taking alcohol off the streets

 

[King Huskii]

Training report coming up! Lesh go!

 

[Grape Bear]

Training report coming up! Lesh go!

 

[SHill Shall]

That was an exhilarating read! Thought they'd been off this week.

Match Sim report 21 December

Read the report from Wednesday morning's Match Sim

www.fremantlefc.com.au

 

[King Huskii]

Training Report
First time down for preseason. My two children running around the grassed embankment having fun while I watched on.

I arrived just after warm ups. The squad separated into backs mids forward for the main drills.

I mostly watched the backs as they were closest to me before all players transitioned to a full ground drill in two halves.

Most players trained today with a few not joining in on the full match sim including Fyfe.

Brayshaw played more of a defensive mid/half back extractor. Possibly to give the younger players a go through the middle. Serong dominated. He ran hard and linked up perfectly. He reads the midfield battles better than anyone. A few of his kicks could be tidied up but next captain is his for the taking.

Young pushed up the ground a little and kicked a very classy goal. He looks ready to take the game on. Possibly wing with NOD looking good on the wing too. He got caught in the middle once by Serong and was holding the ball. You don't just waltz past Serong.

Ryan trained well. He isn't unfit and out of shape. Henry playing outside and looking mean. May be a bit proppy at the end of training.

Hamling looks a very handy back up. He trained well with Moose and Cox looking prominent.

Tabs was a good target up forward and pushing through the wing. The new ruck/ forward from country Vic Liam Riedy looks very strong and composed.

Sturt looks ready for more game time. Very mobile up front. I was also impressed with the gut running of Conrad. He looks like a late fine. Could surprise a few people.

I'm not posting negatives as I'm a half glass full kinda guy but a few kicks into our forward half could have been better. Walters also with elbow strapping. Might have taken a knock in a previous session.

Johnson and Eurasmus stepping up. They look hungry.

Great session!

Peace, love and hope Santa drops in for a few beers on Christmas day

Love Huskii aka Lord Goat

 

[Wobbly Punt]

Potentially, but I'm not too fussed about the offended opinion of people who believe that AFL S&C department are able to enforce programs on players as if the entire field of sports psychology is irrelevant.

If people need the 85% answer that's fine, if some people want to know about more fringe potentials then they can read what I said.

Oh, I hadn't considered those who disagree with you are just not smart enough to understand your elevated and more rounded thinking and therefore lack the ability to assess fringe potentials. Fair enough.

Although, as I reflect now…your fringe potential suggests an elite athlete would ignore putting on muscle mass due completely, or in part, to a vanity driven focus on his 6 pack. If true, not only are you suggesting he is shallow but also stupid enough to put that vanity above the effectiveness and longevity of a career he has currently devoted his life too. Likely? I do wonder.

I don't think many would argue the phenomenon you referred too is evident and even possibly common in the general population of people that age, some of whom possibly flog themselves in the gym for self-esteem or vanity reasons only. Your inference was Liam was one of those. That connection is spurious at best and maliciously unfair at worst. In your specific case I'd guess it was just poorly thought through. Not a huge crime by any means at all, but to then suggest those being critical of it are just unable or unwilling to understand it does make it worse. It suggests an arrogance of mind much more strongly than a solid 6 pack in Liam suggests an out of control vanity.

FWIW, I wasn’t offended but I objected to your inference. At the same time, I am not only hopeful, but also completely sure the club has an idea or two about sports psychology, personality types, and individual internal prioritisations as they relate and impact on physical conditioning and performance. I'm also just as sure they even let sports psychs and the S&C department talk to each other. They may even be in the one department together? Maybe the club even allow them to talk to the player and coaches too.

Whilst holding those views, and disagreeing with your inference, I still don't think any of that means players are being forced into training programs that ignore any element of elite performance, especially psychology. Rather than back up your suggestion, these things add weight to the argument Liam is highly unlikely to be putting on weight - or not putting on weight - based on how good he thinks his abs look.

Concurrent with the above, I acknowledge AFL lists would contain some, maybe many, vain players keen to maintain a 6 pack or a flattering bicep profile or calves to die for. We all have our own preferences and body images sensitivities. But suggesting an elite level pro athlete would not only want too, but he would also get away with not adding broader mass to his physique after it had been identified as a requirement for him because he preferred to keep a 6 pack is a notion well worthy of being challenged. Such a view may even be ridiculed for it's lack of likelihood.

There is a chance you are right and those of us who disagree are lacking in the depth of our analysis or the intellect to understand you and the nuanced elements of your inference.

There’s also a chance your inference was rubbish and it added to an unjustified piling on to a young guy already copping a decent amount of unfair (and some fair) criticism. After which you’ve experienced the reasonable level of pushback along with some mild mocking an inference such as that may have deserved.

 

[King Huskii]

The club put there's up a little before I did. I feel there's some similarities in the players which I hope shows my accuracy to player prominence.

I think they did a better job however they may have written it up over an hour with camera footage. My kids running around me.

All good though.

 

[Waterhouzin]

The club put there's up a little before I did. I feel there's some similarities in the players which I hope shows my accuracy to player prominence.

I think they did a better job however they may have written it up over an hour with camera footage. My kids running around me.

All good though.

Thanks for the write up, some exciting little snippets in amongst it and def made my lunch break!!

Great to see some of the new blokes prominent too


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[King Huskii]

Thanks for the write up, some exciting little snippets in amongst it and def made my lunch break!!

Great to see some of the new blokes prominent too


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

You're welcome. I do post with positivity though and not into nit picking as I don't see the point.

I'd be extremely excited to see how JOM performs under our game plan.

 

[dockerfemme]

Training Report
First time down for preseason. My two children running around the grassed embankment having fun while I watched on.

I arrived just after warm ups. The squad separated into backs mids forward for the main drills.

I mostly watched the backs as they were closest to me before all players transitioned to a full ground drill in two halves.

Mist players trained today with a few not joining in on the full match sim including Fyfe.

Brayshaw played more of a defensive mid/half back extractor. Possibly to give the younger players a go through the middle. Serong dominated. He ran hard and linked up perfectly. He reads the midfield battles better than anyone. A few of his kicks could be tidied up but next captain is his for the taking.

Young pushed up the ground a little and kicked a very classy goal. He looks ready to take the game on. Possibly wing with NOD looking good on the wing too. He got caught in the middle once by Serong and was holding the ball. You don't just waltz past Serong.

Ryan trained well. He isn't unfit and out of shape. Henry playing outside and looking mean. May be a but proppy at the end of training.

Hamling looks a very handy back up. Ge trained well with Moose and Cox looking prominent.

Tabs was a good target up forward and pushing through the wing. The new ruck/ forward from country Vic Liam Riedy looks very strong and composed.

Sturt looks ready for more game time. Very mobile up front. I was also impressed with the gut running of Conrad. He looks like a late fine. Could surprise a few people.

I'm not posting negatives as I'm a half glass full kinda guy but a few kicks into our forward half could have been better. Walters also with elbow strapping. Might have taken a knock in a previous session.

Johnson and Eurasmus stepping up. They look hungry.

Great session!

Peace, love and hope Santa drops I for a few beers on Christmas day

Love Huskii aka Lord Goat

Thanks for the write up. Hope to see you in the new year on a Wednesday at Cockburn.

 

[Bad Brain]

Great report, King Huskii! Always very grateful for some offseason insights.

 

[Ge3ks]

That was an exhilarating read! Thought they'd been off this week.

Match Sim report 21 December

Read the report from Wednesday morning's Match Sim

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Indeed. Some great accompanying footage, too.

And this grab from Knobel. Wow!