Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[hawkheart]

James news is very disappointing. Yet each season one or two players seem to take the next step and quickly feel like they belong (think Seamus, Josh Weddle). Hopefully this season that player can be a defender (Serong?).
In any case, dominate the middle and kick to a newly potent forward line and the backs won't be under nearly as much pressure as they have been in the past.

 

[Strebi3]

Who other than Ethan Phillips would we consider?

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Let’s see how the mids have improved in their defensive play before we get too upset about things. We got rolled badly last year (Richmond, Freo) when the mids got overwhelmed and the ball came into too fast and too clean.

As the Brownlow indicates, a team lives or dies in the midfield. Ours showed some offensive chops last year. This year I hope they show some defensive chops. If the mids can slow attacks a little across the middle then defending i50’s becomes much easier. If the ball comes flying in like artillery on the Donbas then our backline will be walking with a 1000 yard stare again.

We really don’t get a view of midfield defense in the intraclubs. I’m hoping I’ll see something encouraging against the Doggies next week. Last year’s pre-season hit out against the Kitties down in Geelong showed that we were going forward no matter what and would be cut up by a seasoned side, which we were. If we can tie up the Dogs a bit then I’ll be driving home pretty encouraged.

All good points.

I am still flat about potentially not having Sicily roam free of half back though. He is the best I have ever seen at doing that role.

 

[Flukey!]

FAAAAARRRRRKKKKK. Poor Blancky.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm obviously not an elite athlete (far from it) and I've had it and was similar to Phillips

Could barely get out of bed and the days I could I had little to no energy. Didn't feel back to 100% for 6-9 months

Sounds very much like CFS. Which is defined by 6+months of post viral symptoms.

 

[VandoHawk]

Who other than Ethan Phillips would we consider?

I can’t answer that question but it would be madness not to sign Phillips. Has already trained with us and is part of the Box Hill system. Has arguably the best resume of any state league defender. Only 25. Ticks all the boxes.

 

[Sturty]

Phillips, come on down.
Gutted for Blancky

 

[Mercy Seat]

Gutted for Blanck. He would have felt that this was his year.

Phillips makes the most sense

 

[H00t]

Blanck’s upper body strength next year going to be insane

Going to come back looking bigger than Schoey?

 

[Franko Armani]

Backline depth severely depleted now ((

 

[TazHawk15]

Who other than Ethan Phillips would we consider?

Chris Langford.

 

[Roddy]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

 

[Sturty]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

 

[daniel23]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

And you think Curtin could play full back round 1

 

[SSSSSS]

5 ACLs already this preseason across the AFL. Still only Feb.

 

[WWSD]

It’s time to put as many games into Grainger-Barras & Serong as possible. Forget about Frost.

 

[Roddy]

And you think Curtin could play round 1 full back

He's more likely to play senior footy this year than Blanck is....

 

[Mitchell Madness]

You lot taunted the curse, and now the curse taunts you!

 

[TazHawk15]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

W️

 

[Sturty]

He's more likely to play senior footy this year than Blanck is....

Give yourself a swift uppercut champ.

 

[RoughysMullet]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

Curtin’s a midfielder/loose defender- would do nothing to fill the vacancy left by Blank…

Watson showing great signs and will help fill the void left by Moore so seems a great pick so far…

 

[kirbatron]

Rather the Wiz even with today's events.

silly posts

 

[Mitch75]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

Yeah, dumb comment. Curtin wouldn’t have solved our problem

 

[Blackhawk42]

Hate to say I told ya so, everyone's a genius in hindsight, blah blah blah, but I said all along we should/should have grabbed Curtin...

This is wrong on so many levels I don't even know where to begin.

 

[SSSSSS]

Hope I don't jinx it but this seems to be the healthiest our list has been in late January in a long time.

Ok, everyone, if we suddenly get a spate of debilitating long term injuries, we know who to blame ^^^^^^^^^