Training 2024 Pre-Season

[paul_willo]

Who makes your midfield for Round 1?




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I'm backing in Windhager or Jones if Dow and Clark aren't fit.

How come you didn't mention Windhager, has he not been training with the mids?

 

[beside the seaside]

If Dow and Clark aren’t fir for round 1 Jones would have to be a chance for the midfield.

If those two aren't fit he's a lock. I would think Jones is almost a lock regardless as he's a point of difference for us.

 

[gringo2011]

Nice tidbit on Hastie, has got less attention in the training reports but looks like he has the attributes to do something!

I didn't take much notice of him in the draft but his highlights looked fantastic. Looked like Tom Stewart with more pace and evasiveness.

 

[saintmike65]

If Dow and Clark aren’t fir for round 1 Jones would have to be a chance for the midfield.

I’d have all 3 in my side!

 

[kick it lace out]

He’s got the tools but lacks body strength at this stage…he’ll be an interesting watch playing in defence!

100% agree with you saintmike.

 

[Moral Decay]

Here is my take on the draftees over the past two years.

Pou - Showed a lot as an under ager last year. Has grown into his body and is looking strong through the core, will fill out over the next couple of preseasons. Could be anything

Van Es - a big strong lad that just can't get a run at it. Not enough info to tell. Once back (in 6 weeks) a year of development

Hotton - over his back injury and is working hard at training. Not outstanding but needs to keep up his work standards. This will be a theme a bit, but personally think he is too small. Really needs to show his attributes in other ways. Like Van Es a year of development. Sneaky chance of a debut if his continues to develop. Basically his first preseason so no pressure.

Keeler - Has all the tools but is still physically underdeveloped. Is finding his feet and learning the game in the backline for this season. Miles of development ahead. Patience required.

Wilson - this years Pou, but with the biggest tank I have seen in one of our mids since Harves. Silky smooth with very tidy skills and a very good game sense and positioning. A very real prospect of debuting early in the season.

Collard - some absolute X factor here. Still small and showed little in early pre season drills. Come match sim last week he was possibly BoG. Was marking everything, had a four bounce run to hit the post, almost took spekky of the year and then kicked truly from 45. All in the space of 5 minutes. Could definitely debut early especially with Butler out.

Garcia - another speedster with very good skills. Never seen a kid so intense. Looks like he has Parkinsons disease with his continual resting bitch face. Never seen him smile. Like Hotton too small at the moment. Needs to develop his body to required standards before having a debut (IMO). Has lots of pace, skill and like I said if intensity is a marker for wanting to play seniors, he will get there.

Hastie - like Hotton and Garcia needs physical development, but another with pace and pretty mature skills for his age. He looks so tidy and assured. If he can develop I think he will make a great backman in the Wilkie mode. A year at Sandy.

Shoenmaker - despite the rumblings by know nothings on here, this kid has the chops to be a senior player. We have heard he got a kick up the arse by the coaches (be that for behaviour, or just attitude, nobody knows). From what I have seen he has responded in the most positive of ways, he was left to do laps by himself, while uninjured as the rest of the list trained. That for a start would have been a bit embarrassing and would have knocked out any big headedness out of him.
Last week he absolutely blitzed Jones and Crouch in repeat 400 metre runs. As saintmike65 said, he looks like he has trimmed down a tad and was moving across the turf very nicely. Yesterday was very involved in match sim/ball movement drills and ran as hard as anyone.
He is a nice mover, has good positioning and as reported a massive booming kick (one step from outside 50 yesterday, post height). His kicking can be huge for us. A year of development at Sandy will do him and us the world of good.

So out of the 9 from the past two years

Seniors
Pou
Wilson
Collard

Possible debut
Garcia
Hotton

Sandy development
Keeler
Hastie
Shoenmaker

Hard to tell because of injury

Van Es

In my opinion, there is not one 'dud' in the group, however some will take time to come on (someone like Keeler may not come on at all, who knows the future) and feel it is a good crop of youngsters to develop and move us forward with the current list.

Love your work. Any thoughts on Angus McLennen?

 

[Joffaboy]

Love your work. Any thoughts on Angus McLennen?

I am cool on McLennen, personally can't see it, however other track watchers can and think he has a future.
I hope I am wrong (usually am).

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[SaintersUnite]

Would anyone consider moving Jones into the forward line to occupy the pressure forward role until Butler is back? He does enjoy being an overly aggressive pest (in a good way).


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[CursingFijian]

Here it is!

Absolutely can't wait until these 4 running machines are all playing together in the seniors.

 

[Otiman]

A bit tough on Byrnes…was a semi regular senior player last year..at pick 50 odd he’s a handy, reliable player

Agree now, but after 2 years on the list wasn't in this spot.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Agree now, but after 2 years on the list wasn't in this spot.

I thought Byrnes had a pretty good 2nd year.
I know some on here didn't rate him, but i doubt the club was ever going to let him go.

In 2022 he was probably competing with Daniel McKenzie and Windhager for a spot.
I rate him as the kind of GOP that's good to have on your list. Midfielder down, bring him in.
( Not to say he wont get better ).
Will be interesting to see how many games he gets this year. More competition with Dow , and hopefully fit Jones.

 

[saintmike65]

I thought Byrnes had a pretty good 2nd year.
I know some on here didn't rate him, but i doubt the club was ever going to let him go.

In 2022 he was probably competing with Daniel McKenzie and Windhager for a spot.
I rate him as the kind of GOP that's good to have on your list. Midfielder down, bring him in.
( Not to say he wont get better ).
Will be interesting to see how many games he gets this year. More competition with Dow , and hopefully fit Jones.

Jones and Dow are inside mids, Byrnes more of a winger type, so back up to aging Wood & Hill

 

[saintmike65]

Love your work. Any thoughts on Angus McLennen?

Gus seems to be a no nonsense, give him a job to do & he’ll do it type of operator.
Arguably Sandy Dragons best player in their 2022 premiership side, he’s had to deal with various injuries, which is why he fell to us as a cat b rookie.
He’s tough, a one grab mark, can intercept and uses the footy pretty well.
The ideal replacement for Webster when he calls it a day.

 

[St Neil]

Nice tidbit on Hastie, has got less attention in the training reports but looks like he has the attributes to do something!

Apparently Corey Enright was very keen on Hastie before the draft.

Shifter Sheehan said Hastie was the best player at the Geelong Falcons last year. Cats were very disappointed we nabbed him.

Hastie looks to have beautiful judgement, safe hands, elite evasive skills, good disposal skills and is a good decision maker. That will do me.

He still needs to bulk up and physically develop. But he is a lad who appears to have slipped under the radar. A genuine long term prospect.

I can see him cementing a position in our defensive 6 later in the year.

 

[Saint Ray]

You forgot caminiti who should be included in these groups.

He likely sits in between seniors and debutants.

McLennan??????

 

[stavro#4]

McLennan??????

Should have an opportunity in the practice games.

 

[stavro#4]

Apparently Corey Enright was very keen on Hastie before the draft.

Shifter Sheehan said Hastie was the best player at the Geelong Falcons last year. Cats were very disappointed we nabbed him.

Hastie looks to have beautiful judgement, safe hands, elite evasive skills, good disposal skills and is a good decision maker. That will do me.

He still needs to bulk up and physically develop. But he is a lad who appears to have slipped under the radar. A genuine long term prospect.

I can see him cementing a position in our defensive 6 later in the year.

SOS was telling me 2025-26 is when they are hoping for him to nail a position down.

Apparently they hoped Hastie would sit in a group of 10 kids who should be rotated in and out of the senior side throughout the season.

 

[Otiman]

Jones and Dow are inside mids, Byrnes more of a winger type, so back up to aging Wood & Hill

This is probably the best point on Byrnes. We were so desperate for inside mids/first recievers that we (supporters) tried to make him one.

 

[Cairnsman]

A bit tough on Byrnes…was a semi regular senior player last year..at pick 50 odd he’s a handy, reliable player

Aka fringe....as harsh as that is

 

[saintmike65]

Aka fringe....as harsh as that is

He played about 17 games last year…not too shabby!

 

[Cairnsman]

He played about 17 games last year…not too shabby!

Yes he did, but who does he keep out of the team this year assuming we don't have the same injury crisis and also in consideration of the new players at the club. If he plays 17 games this year it either means he's improved considerably or the players we bought in haven't improved us.

Harsh but the 2023 version of Byrnes isn't best 23 in a side that is still around in the final two weeks of finals.

 

[stavro#4]

 

[CursingFijian]

Love it when somebody has the courage to just put it all on the line.

 

[pebblesofsand]

I'm with you Eric.

 

[hangdog]

I'm with you Eric.

#necksoutforeric