Training 2024 Pre-Season discussion

[geelong_crazy26]

I think we'd be about zero chance of landing him

Why not?? We can easily out bid Brisbane and will have the space.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Why not?? We can easily out bid Brisbane and will have the space.

He's vice captain, been a part of building Brisbane into a near successful team from a basket case. They're close to a premiership.

 

[Willo_]

Maybe, I have a feeling there's life in the old battle axe yet

Danger? Absolutely... My view on last Friday was that when he decided he wanted the ball he still got it, he just jogged around for a bit... First half of the 3rd he cranked it up and basically dominated around the ball and looked a level above, then he sat out as Bowes and co got a chance.. But there's a fair bit of life in him yet

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Danger? Absolutely... My view on last Friday was that when he decided he wanted the ball he still got it, he just jogged around for a bit... First half of the 3rd he cranked it up and basically dominated around the ball and looked a level above, then he sat out as Bowes and co got a chance.. But there's a fair bit of life in him yet

Yeah, I think if we can just swing him in as a low TOG% part time mid it's s like being an average boxer with a killer right hook. We plug away with Holmes/Bruhn/Clark/Atkins/Guthrie/Blitz and then we plug the old man in and thwack the oppo midfield is seeing stars

 

[CHAWKTS]

That's conformation of selection if ever I've seen it

I was going to say the same thing.

Best predictor of those who will debut soon has been the coverage from Geelong Media team!!!

I know he has already debut but I suspect this is confirmation he will play round 1 (I have been smashed for this view before - I am NOT saying media team picks the team or gets told!! But they have proven to have finger on the pulse).

I am just waiting over the next 48-72 hours to see a Dempsey highlight package and then I can relax

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I was going to say the same thing.

Best predictor of those who will debut soon has been the coverage from Geelong Media team!!!

I know he has already debut but I suspect this is confirmation he will play round 1 (I have been smashed for this view before - I am NOT saying media team picks the team or gets told!! But they have proven to have finger on the pulse).

I am just waiting over the next 48-72 hours to see a Dempsey highlight package and then I can relax

Yeah looking at it as a whole he looks to me like he's playing the full game and not sub too

Jeez selection is hard

 

[geelong_crazy26]

He's vice captain, been a part of building Brisbane into a near successful team from a basket case. They're close to a premiership.

Money talks. Loyalty is meaning less and less in todays market.

I think much like geelong living in Brisbane has become an idealistic lifestyle in contrast to the overpopulated unaffordable melb and Sydney real estates. I really do think Brisbane has cashed in on the geographical appeal.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

He's vice captain, been a part of building Brisbane into a near successful team from a basket case. They're close to a premiership.

Are they? If they don't win it this year, the window is getting very close to closing.

Daniher, Neale, Cameron, & Zorkyo aren't young. Hipwood, Rayner & Berry are just battlers, they can't pick up the slack once those guys are gone.

They'll be a good side for a while, I'm not saying a cliff is coming. Ashcroft & Fletcher coming through, and Dunkley, Andrews, & McCluggage have a while left...but it's now or never in terms of a premiership IMO.

Not many clubs hang around for 5+ years in that window. Geelong are the only ones, and they're not in the Geelong category in terms of success and trust from the top down.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Are they? If they don't win it this year, the window is getting very close to closing.

Daniher, Neale, Cameron, & Zorkyo aren't young. Hipwood, Rayner & Berry are just battlers, they can't pick up the slack once those guys are gone.

They'll be a good side for a while, I'm not saying a cliff is coming. Ashcroft & Fletcher coming through, and Dunkley, Andrews, & McCluggage have a while left...but it's now or never in terms of a premiership IMO.

Not many clubs hang around for 5+ years in that window. Geelong are the only ones, and they're not in the Geelong category in terms of success and trust from the top down.

Well you can't get much closer without cinching it than their 2023. I don't think talent or depth is an issue for them.

 

[CatRiot]

Quite unassuming in size this fella, but have to admit he's a very good user, and a bit nippier than I expected. Looks very similar to James Kelly in style of play to me.

 

[CatRiot]

Are they? If they don't win it this year, the window is getting very close to closing.

Daniher, Neale, Cameron, & Zorkyo aren't young. Hipwood, Rayner & Berry are just battlers, they can't pick up the slack once those guys are gone.

They'll be a good side for a while, I'm not saying a cliff is coming. Ashcroft & Fletcher coming through, and Dunkley, Andrews, & McCluggage have a while left...but it's now or never in terms of a premiership IMO.

Not many clubs hang around for 5+ years in that window. Geelong are the only ones, and they're not in the Geelong category in terms of success and trust from the top down.

There is another Ashcroft coming through isn't there? And supposed to be a gun, potentially no1 pick...

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Are they? If they don't win it this year, the window is getting very close to closing.

Daniher, Neale, Cameron, & Zorkyo aren't young. Hipwood, Rayner & Berry are just battlers, they can't pick up the slack once those guys are gone.

They'll be a good side for a while, I'm not saying a cliff is coming. Ashcroft & Fletcher coming through, and Dunkley, Andrews, & McCluggage have a while left...but it's now or never in terms of a premiership IMO.

Not many clubs hang around for 5+ years in that window. Geelong are the only ones, and they're not in the Geelong category in terms of success and trust from the top down.

I feel like Brisbane has honestly had the absolute arsiest luck when it comes to injuries… how often have their top line players been injured consistently?? It’s rare any of them get injured. Last year their b22 went almost unscathed the entire darn season.

Surely it can’t continue.

I feel like they are a Charlie Cameron and dunkley injury away from a premiership campaign gone.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

There is another Ashcroft coming through isn't there? And supposed to be a gun, potentially no1 pick...

Yes… almost unbelievably unprecedented.

 

[michelzing]

Danger? Absolutely... My view on last Friday was that when he decided he wanted the ball he still got it, he just jogged around for a bit... First half of the 3rd he cranked it up and basically dominated around the ball and looked a level above, then he sat out as Bowes and co got a chance.. But there's a fair bit of life in him yet

Agreed - I think Danger could be like the 150K+ fast bowler who comes on for 2-3 overs and gets a quick wicket/softens up the opposition
He'll be great for some real intense blasts - particularly later in quarters when the opposition are beginning to tire

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Well you can't get much closer without cinching it than their 2023. I don't think talent or depth is an issue for them.

You're not wrong, but that has virtually never equated to a team actually winning a premiership.

We fall into this trap of thinking "They got really close, they'll just go one better, surely?" - And it doesn't really happen. So many variables take place in even making the GF, let alone winning it, which rarely occur twice.

Hawthorn did it, and then when on to win 3. A very rare case, with a core who had mostly already won it 5 years prior.

St Kilda couldn't do it (and in the 90s too) You could make an argument Collingwood in 2018, although it was a 5 year gap, with a new coach and many new pieces.

Fremantle never got back there. Collingwood post 2011 didn't, neither did their '02-03 side.

I'm not saying they can't do it, but there are enough question marks on them (Travel hoodoo, age, Fagan) that I'm more inclined to go with history on this one.

If you're trying to replicate arguably the greatest side ever in the three-peat Hawks and saying "See!! It can be done!!" it's not exactly the path I'd be taking. Are we even convinced the Lions are that good?

 

[geelong_crazy26]

You're not wrong, but that has virtually never equated to a team actually winning a premiership.

We fall into this trap of thinking "They got really close, they'll just go one better, surely?" - And it doesn't really happen. So many variables take place in even making the GF, let alone winning it, which rarely occur twice.

Hawthorn did it, and then when on to win 3. A very rare case, with a core who had mostly already won it 5 years prior.

St Kilda couldn't do it (and in the 90s too) You could make an argument Collingwood in 2018, although it was a 5 year gap, with a new coach and many new pieces.

Fremantle never got back there. Collingwood post 2011 didn't, neither did their '02-03 side.

I'm not saying they can't do it, but there are enough question marks on them (Travel hoodoo, age, Fagan) that I'm more inclined to go with history on this one.

If you're trying to replicate arguably the greatest side ever in the three-peat Hawks and saying "See!! It can be done!!" it's not exactly the path I'd be taking. Are we even convinced the Lions are that good?

The question I ask about the lions side is how could things possibly go more right for them than it did in 2023?? Absolute dream run with injuries, probably the best run in the league.

avoided the MCG until grand final day…

I am not sure the improvements of their kids will offset the potential declines or injuries that are likely to finally strike in a normal capacity or worse.

 

[numbwombat]

You're not wrong, but that has virtually never equated to a team actually winning a premiership.

We fall into this trap of thinking "They got really close, they'll just go one better, surely?" - And it doesn't really happen. So many variables take place in even making the GF, let alone winning it, which rarely occur twice.

Hawthorn did it, and then when on to win 3. A very rare case, with a core who had mostly already won it 5 years prior.

St Kilda couldn't do it (and in the 90s too) You could make an argument Collingwood in 2018, although it was a 5 year gap, with a new coach and many new pieces.

Fremantle never got back there. Collingwood post 2011 didn't, neither did their '02-03 side.

I'm not saying they can't do it, but there are enough question marks on them (Travel hoodoo, age, Fagan) that I'm more inclined to go with history on this one.

If you're trying to replicate arguably the greatest side ever in the three-peat Hawks and saying "See!! It can be done!!" it's not exactly the path I'd be taking. Are we even convinced the Lions are that good?

9 of the last 20 premiers had lost a GF in the preceding 3 years. Including us in 2022.

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

9 of the last 20 premiers had lost a GF in the preceding 3 years. Including us in 2022.

You’re talking West Coast 06 (lost 05), Geelong 09, 11 (lost 08 but had won 07), Hawks 13, 14, 15 (lost 12 but had won 08 with the core of the threepeat team) West Coast 18 (lost 15), Geelong 22 (lost 20 but we had Selwood). It’s only 8 and remarkably the same 3 teams multiple times and we’re counting multiple wins after one loss during two dynasties where a win had proceeded it.
So really it’s only happened 3 times in 20 years to teams that hadn’t already won one.
In saying that, Lions are my flag favorites (other than us of course!)

 

[The Unforgiven]

I still get angry about Boris 300

It was one of the most insipid performances I've seen over the last 20 years.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Damian Barrett​

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Hawthorn
Moving up: Geelong
Set to fall: Port Adelaide
Club under the most pressure (and why): Gold Coast, because it sacked Dew to get Dimma, and now won’t stop talking about finals
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Chad Warner
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron
AFL Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Ollie Henry
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Def Leppard and Motley Crue
Headline you'll see: Melbourne: We Don’t Have A Drug Culture
Headline you won't see: Gold Coast: We Knew We Had Dimma Even Before 2023 Started
Big call: Suns Pick Up Buddy In Mid-Season Draft

Barrett's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Geelong
3. Sydney
4. Greater Western Sydney
5. Collingwood
6. Carlton
7. Melbourne
8. Adelaide

9. St Kilda
10. Fremantle
11. Port Adelaide
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Essendon
14. Gold Coast
15. Richmond
16. West Coast
17. North Melbourne
18. Hawthorn


I take it all back. You're an amazing journalist Damo, a fitting replacement for Sheehan, and one of the greatest of this generation.

You're also a very handsome man, and an incredible bloke at that.

Unless of course you jump off the Cats later this year, in which you will be dead to me.

Kind regards, Kobe Gryant

 

[And_ROOS]

Random preseason tidbit that popped up in my facebook memories this morning, my friend mocking me (Hawks fan) because we lost a 2011 preseason match to Port Adelaide 51 to 135 and then it being bumped about 8 months later when we beat them in the QF then being bumped again when we won the flag

 

[goyoucatters]

Random preseason tidbit that popped up in my facebook memories this morning, my friend mocking me (Hawks fan) because we lost a 2011 preseason match to Port Adelaide 51 to 135 and then it being bumped about 8 months later when we beat them in the QF then being bumped again when we won the flag

Disturbing news, that, in the light of us winning both our preseason games this season. Added to the knowledge that Port finished 16th in 2011, it seems like bottom four beckons for us in 2024...

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Random preseason tidbit that popped up in my facebook memories this morning, my friend mocking me (Hawks fan) because we lost a 2011 preseason match to Port Adelaide 51 to 135 and then it being bumped about 8 months later when we beat them in the QF then being bumped again when we won the flag

Lesson being… pre season games mean jack shit.

 

[And_ROOS]

Disturbing news, that, in the light of us winning both our preseason games this season. Added to the knowledge that Port finished 16th in 2011, it seems like bottom four beckons for us in 2024...

In 2009 we won all our preseason matches and went on to win the flag (at St Kildas expense).
In 2024 we won all our preseason matches and will go on to win the flag (at St Kildas expense).
Geelong 2024 Premiers

 

[goyoucatters]

In 2009 we won all our preseason matches and went on to win the flag (at St Kildas expense).
In 2024 we won all our preseason matches and will go on to win the flag (at St Kildas expense).
Geelong 2024 Premiers

I guess this would have been somewhat plausible as a portent, if not for the suggestion that the Saints will make the 2024 GF. Miles off that standard, in my view.

Still, going off their preseason form this year, I guess they're right in the mix...