Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[moginie]

The club doesn't share this view? Conor Nash has been kept in the senior side and persevered with in spite of his performances, at least up to last year, not necessarily warranting selection.

I can't think of a player who is more obviously in Sam's plans than Nash.

I think you've misunderstood.

I believe he means that the club does not believe they are VFL footballers, even if some people posting on these boards think that they are.

 

[Sixpence]

Where TF is this bizarre notion that Worps and Nash will play mostly VFL coming from?? Seriously, some people have zero clue...

I don't think you've followed the conversation, no-one has said that. Keystone just said that he can see the likes of Ward, Frenchy, Croc, HH etc overtaking Worpel and Nash, which is where we'll make a big jump up.

 

[Roddy]

I don't think you've followed the conversation, no-one has said that. Keystone just said that he can see the likes of Ward, Frenchy, Croc, HH etc overtaking Worpel and Nash, which is where we'll make a big jump up.

Worps and Nash are frontliners, best 22 every day of the week, the one and only way they will be replaced in the side is if one or more of the fringers improve enough to take their places. So it amounts to exactly the same thing.

Someone else said they should look elsewhere. Baffling.

 

[KermitJagger]

I think you've misunderstood.

I believe he means that the club does not believe they are VFL footballers, even if some people posting on these boards think that they are.

I can see this perspective but I'm not convinced.

 

[Sixpence]

Worps and Nash are frontliners, best 22 every day of the week, the one and only way they will be replaced in the side is if one or more of the fringers improve enough to take their places. So it amounts to exactly the same thing.

Someone else said they should look elsewhere. Baffling.

Again, the premise is that they're overtaken by the younger guys. No-one is questioning their current state of Best 23.

It's certainly going to be interesting to see how our midfield looks in 2-3 years time. There's going to be some unlucky blokes.

 

[Nathan Detroit]

I think it is highly unlikely Nash or Worpel become VFL footballers. They finished 3rd and 4th in the PCM (club b&f) last year and Worpel is a past winner. Trade maybe (Worpel has been linked to Geelong in the past because he comes from that area). Hustwaite is 195cm and good overhead so he can play as a utility.

You could make the case that we are overstocked with quality mids and small forwards but most have the athleticism and footy brain to play more than one position

Sounds like a logical replacement for Gunners when the inevitable retirement happens.

 

[flinchfree]

I really liked the speed and intensity of the match sim, especially the first half.
Players seemed to pretty instinctually know where they wanted to get going and move the ball to. Wasn't a tonne of stop, look at the field for 5 seconds and wait for an opening, instead those forward/around the ball were reading movement and turnovers and giving an option where the ball carrier would be expecting it.

I liked it. Alot.
And having fellas that can duke it, that's my cream. With Lewis, Chol, Gunners ever reliable, Weddle, Sic, Newk good at his height, Wiz can go get it, I mean that's how you overwhelm an opposition. By being able to pluck it enough to maintain control, give you shots at goal, or get you back the ball when the oppo have it and put it up in the air.....that'll help you dominate possession if you have the rest including elite fitness etc.

I loved this most recent era of Hawthorn greatness, but not quite as much as the 80's crew because they were absolutely ELITE in the air.
Would be a thrill to see this new gen come through and make the rest of the comp cry some more.
.

 

[thehardway]

No way. Watson, Ginnivan, Hardwick, Breust and Moore will all play.

Watson to kick 3 on debut.

I'm not disagreeing with you but when you add Croc, Lewis, Chol and Gunston to that list that makes 9 forwards. Just not sure how we fit them all in. Nice problem to have.

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

Ginnivan and My Man Chol looked superb.

Now I did bang my head on the door this morning - but in the footage - did I see Gunston down back?

 

[Sixpence]

Ginnivan and My Man Chol looked superb.

Now I did bang my head on the door this morning - but in the footage - did I see Gunston down back?

Yes, and interestingly, he kicked to Chol, who was also in the backline.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Bit of a Chol sceptic myself but he looks like he understands that he has the tools and this is his last real chance to become a good quality AFL player. Some of his highlights here, chase down tackles and whatnot, good stuff. Looks like he loves the group and the group loves him back.

The modern day guerra story?

 

[matey]

An all round midfield group needs to have grunt, size, toughness, skill, inside/outside types, gut runners, creativity etc. Worps, Nash, Finn compliment Newk, Day, Ward, Frenchie, Macca and co given what they bring to the table. Last season loved seeing Nash smashing into Patrick Cripps

9

Patrick Cripps

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

16.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

5.8

5star

CL

7.4

5star

D

21.0

5star

K

10.1

4star

HB

10.9

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

6.3

5star

D

12.6

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

7.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

types and Finn doing a number on Daicis/Oliver, Worps doing his don’t argues etc

Only two years ago most sides bullied us and I hated it. NOT ANYMORE…… now when oppo midfields line up at the first bounce they know they are in for a tough day on the back of Worps, Nash and Finn! Must bring a lot of confidence and make the whole side walk taller.

 

[Tassie Cryptik]

The aesthetics of Dylan and Sam lifting the cup will look right too. The same height etc.

Give the captaincy to Reeves for the LOLs

 

[Tassie Cryptik]

Nash is here to stay.

 

[daniel23]

I see absolutely no issue having 8 guys that can role through the forward line, it will be hard work keeping tabs on all of them. Plus Croc is a certainty to split his time between fwd/mid this season

 

[number23]

Yes. Tall utility. He is one of those blokes who finds space and seem to stop time, unteachable stuff. I think he has some forward craft, I don't know if he has played back at all, but that's mostly teachable stuff.

HH has played as a defender before (see Analysis section here):

Henry Hustwaite Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Henry Hustwaite is one of the most classy and composed ball users in this year's draft crop.

central.rookieme.com

He has the size to play on taller forwards but his lack of pace would rule him out on the quicker forwards and of course his in close smarts and disposal efficiency could be wasted if he is not playing as a mid. Similar but different to Dan Curtin who is a CHB who wants to do more midfield work..

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Where TF is this bizarre notion that Worps and Nash will play mostly VFL coming from?? Seriously, some people have zero clue...

I was the biggest Nash doubter on here, and this time last season I had no faith left in Worpel either.

There is no way they play VFL unless someone like Hustwaite takes a monumental stride in his this season development, and/or someone like MacDonald looks so good as a midfielder that both force Nash and Worpel out. And even then I think we would just shuffle things around and they would be playing.

Both with play from game one, especially with Day being out for the foreseeable future.

 

[Topiary]

I know it is broken record, but depth is great problem to have. Hustwaite will make it. I have no doubt.

 

[burner1]

An all round midfield group needs to have grunt, size, toughness, skill, inside/outside types, gut runners, creativity etc. Worps, Nash, Finn compliment Newk, Day, Ward, Frenchie, Macca and co given what they bring to the table. Last season loved seeing Nash smashing into Patrick Cripps, Tom Green types and Finn doing a number on Daicis/Oliver, Worps doing his don’t argues etc

Only two years ago most sides bullied us and I hated it. NOT ANYMORE…… now when oppo midfields line up at the first bounce they know they are in for a tough day on the back of Worps, Nash and Finn! Must bring a lot of confidence and make the whole side walk taller.

Yep. Size and physicality around the contest seems a key focus under Sam.

It’s intersting that none of the next ‘wave’ of mids in Ward, croc, Mackenzie or HH have the physicality of Nash, worpel, Jai who like to hit bodies. Ward and croc have found role on wing/hff but interesting to see how we fit them and others in midfield. Rotations is fine in theory but means need to find second spots (and we’ve seen how average worpel is away from the midfield) and give up spots in 22 for more specialist forwards or backs etc. I don’t we we want to give up hardness around the ball.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Again, the premise is that they're overtaken by the younger guys. No-one is questioning their current state of Best 23.

It's certainly going to be interesting to see how our midfield looks in 2-3 years time. There's going to be some unlucky blokes.

I agree that Ward, Mackenzie and possibly MacDonald will eventually become better midfielders than Nash and Worpel - whether that means the latter get pushed out is another matter. None of them play similar roles really so I don't see why they couldn't all be in the same side. Nash and Worpel will just need to find another role to fall back on when they're not in the middle (which is their biggest issue).

 

[cryptor]

I know it is broken record, but depth is great problem to have. Hustwaite will make it. I have no doubt.

I'm way more worried that another club will poach him due to a lack of opportunity than I am over his prospect of making it.

 

[peetoo]

The club doesn't share this view? Conor Nash has been kept in the senior side and persevered with in spite of his performances, at least up to last year, not necessarily warranting selection.

I can't think of a player who is more obviously in Sam's plans than Nash.

It somehow got lost that I’m ridiculing the view. As far as I can see Mitchell regime is the same as Clarko regime, as the squad becomes elite, your only danger is being a one position player like Sewell was

 

[peetoo]

I'm way more worried that another club will poach him due to a lack of opportunity than I am over his prospect of making it.

In his brief appearances, he’s played forward and gone OK. But the fwd line appears as stacked as midfield now. But at least he’s two ways in

 

[number23]

It somehow got lost that I’m ridiculing the view. As far as I can see Mitchell regime is the same as Clarko regime, as the squad becomes elite, your only danger is being a one position player like Sewell was

I could see the Crows or Cats making offers to Nash and Worpel.