Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[Flukey!]

I know this isn’t the DGB thread, but two questions..

Is it fact he has a “tank” problem or just an urban myth that has grown here?
How did he do in the Yo Yo?

 

[Dewnior]

How do the club view Blanck Tops?

Obviously not enamoured with them given they went with the gold ones.

 

[Dewnior]

Another 'Thanks Clarko for winning a useless ROund 23 game against Suns which cost us Logan McDnonald'

Jury still out on McDonald. I reckon DGB will end up being the better player.

 

[Dewnior]

Reeves has come back in great shape, in for a huge year

Isn't he in the rehab group at training?

 

[Topiary]

Jury still out on McDonald. I reckon DGB will end up being the better player.

Not sure DGB does, but McDonald far from becoming a quality player. Far from it.

 

[joeyhawker]

I might be stating something unpopular or against the grain but I think DGBs issue is not his tank but his approach. He consumes far too much energy trying to be somewhat a faux tough guy, ie he appears to me to be focusing too much on aggression rather than using footy nouse....I'm curious whether this has been raised with him and/or whether he has had any sports psychology sessions..... but don't get me wrong I love aggression but when it's aimed at the ball....

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Fluro Boots]

DGB needs to improve quickly, I know talls take more time but at the current rate it’s not a happening thing. Hope to see a strong body from Denver in season 2024, doesn’t need to be a monster but needs to be able to play a man’s game as a big fella

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I might be stating something unpopular or against the grain but I think DGBs issue is not his tank but his approach. He consumes far too much energy trying to be somewhat a faux tough guy, ie he appears to me to be focusing too much on aggression rather than using footy nouse....I'm curious whether this has been raised with him and/or whether he has had any sports psychology sessions..... but don't get me wrong I love aggression but when it's aimed at the ball....

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

How much energy is really spent acting like that though? I believe that he should really shelve that behaviour until he's established himself, and spend more time worrying about actually playing. But I don't think he does it to the extent that it gasses him out.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Sicily almost 30 and McCabe is only 18 and raw. If DGB can play the role to the level we thought he might when drafted, he’ll get his chance to lock in a spot.

Sis is 28, Do not think he will be to happy with you aging him quicker than required lol. 29 on 6th Jan 2024 (born 1995).

 

[Alite]

Thanks Tops, great insight. I can't understand it as Blanck seems to have all the tools to be a capable KPD.

The cupboard looks bare for OOC/FA options next year too.

I am a fan of Blanck. He is young and developing and has already shown us that he can sway the result of a game.
As far as I am concerned, he is our FB until he is usurped.

That said, Ben King could win a Brownlow at CHB (his schoolboy and natural position) and is a pre-FA at the end of 2024 = they often move.
If the Suns again disappoint then he may be willing to move. The Sun’s have been a graveyard of highly talented players underachieving while the Hawks have had lesser rated players excel. Ben King would be stupid to not come to he Hawks.

GWS’s Sam Taylor is out of contract and a RFA at the end of 2025. IF we have a measured (read front-ended) salary position then we could out bid GWS and every other team for his services at a time the Hawks are truely ready to start the next period of dominance. Again this likely relates to GWS’s success or lack there of.

My point smish is that the cupboard is full of options.

I am loving this rebuild. Patience is a virtue and knowledge with direction provides purpose.

Blank is either a transition player or a rock defender. … that is up to him.

Options are available. And the Hawks are building nicely

 

[kazzooka]

Sis is 28, Do not think he will be to happy with you aging him quicker than required lol. 29 on 6th Jan 2024 (born 1995).

So he starts the season at 29... that's nearly 30 dude. It means that 2025 he starts at 30 and some players play great till 35 or even go till 38 but we don't know yet. Some players just hit a cliff. Brad Sewell went from personal best year year in 2012 and one of our best in the grand final. to out of the side by the end of 2014.

Stratton did similar had his best season in 2018 them fell off a cliff.

 

[Alite]

So he starts the season at 29... that's nearly 30 dude. It means that 2025 he starts at 30 and some players play great till 35 or even go till 38 but we don't know yet. Some players just hit a cliff. Brad Sewell went from personal best year year in 2012 and one of our best in the grand final. to out of the side by the end of 2014.

Stratton did similar had his best season in 2018 them fell off a cliff.

Stratton and Sewell were role players that had a cliff that they fell off, while Sic is… so much more. Sic, with his skill set, IMO is a good chance to play to the age of 34.

 

[Mercy Seat]

Sis is 28, Do not think he will be to happy with you aging him quicker than required lol. 29 on 6th Jan 2024 (born 1995).

I said almost 30 which is pretty accurate given he’s 29 in a couple of weeks.

Point remains, we should be finding DGB’s best position for him, even if it’s a similar role to Sicily. You never know what might happen, injuries, another ACL god forbid, etc. At the very least, DGB’s best footy will surely come from the role he’s most naturally suited to.

 

[peetoo]

Sewell had offers post hawthorn he chose not to take up. He wasn’t quite finishad

 

[HedgeFund]

Lots of excuses being provided for DGB and lots of 'needs a few more pre-seasons'. The main question from me to those on here who are more experienced re talent spotting / maturation of players...Would DGB still be in the system if he had been picked up at Pick 70 vs Pick 6 or whatever it was? Feels like we keep giving more time in hope / desperation that the pick basically wasn't burnt.

Another 'Thanks Clarko for winning a useless ROund 23 game against Suns which cost us Logan McDnonald'

The irony that Hayden McLean has performed better than McDonald had at Sydney - despite being overlooked in 2 drafts and being a modest SPP pick up - shouldn’t be lost here.

I wish people would stop categorising players based on where they got picked in a draft.

Once we pick them, the club is primarily responsible for developing them.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

As Rob McCartney pointed out a month or so ago, the club is invested in getting CJ’s body fit and firing for 2024, and will be sending him overseas to do specific training.

 

[BobHawk]

I might be stating something unpopular or against the grain but I think DGBs issue is not his tank but his approach. He consumes far too much energy trying to be somewhat a faux tough guy, ie he appears to me to be focusing too much on aggression rather than using footy nouse....I'm curious whether this has been raised with him and/or whether he has had any sports psychology sessions..... but don't get me wrong I love aggression but when it's aimed at the ball....

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

This is a big concern. Saw him getting well beaten playing for Box Hill so he decided to put on the tough guy persona. I understand players get frustrated (Brereton used to do it all the time) but he looks pretty dumb and hopeless because he still wasn't getting the ball. He also had that game at the MCG where he went for half a game without a touch before he got subbed off. So, for all the talk of strength, endurance etc. his problem is he struggles to get involved. And that is a big problem.

 

[Mojo]

Stratton and Sewell were role players that had a cliff that they fell off, while Sic is… so much more. Sic, with his skill set, IMO is a good chance to play to the age of 34.

Sic has a little Jordan Lewis about him; takes the foot off the pedal a fraction and looks slow, laconic and disinterested.

I don't think there's too many players that aren't playing close to the cliff's edge, tbh.

 

[joeyhawker]

How much energy is really spent acting like that though? I believe that he should really shelve that behaviour until he's established himself, and spend more time worrying about actually playing. But I don't think he does it to the extent that it gasses him out.

It's the mental energy I'm referring too, seems to me like he's focusing his energy in the wrong way, perhaps could be from frustration too.... I'm not sure ...

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Topiary]

So he starts the season at 29... that's nearly 30 dude. It means that 2025 he starts at 30 and some players play great till 35 or even go till 38 but we don't know yet. Some players just hit a cliff. Brad Sewell went from personal best year year in 2012 and one of our best in the grand final. to out of the side by the end of 2014.

Stratton did similar had his best season in 2018 them fell off a cliff.

List Management preparation is very important.
We are preparing for the retirement of Luke Bruest.

 

[SSSSSS]

I might be stating something unpopular or against the grain but I think DGBs issue is not his tank but his approach. He consumes far too much energy trying to be somewhat a faux tough guy, ie he appears to me to be focusing too much on aggression rather than using footy nouse....I'm curious whether this has been raised with him and/or whether he has had any sports psychology sessions..... but don't get me wrong I love aggression but when it's aimed at the ball....

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

He isn't trying to smash people on the canvas in a German suplex. He might be doing a bit of push and shove but I highly doubt that's going to cause him to fade out of games.

 

[Yardie]

He isn't trying to smash people on the canvas in a German suplex. He might be doing a bit of push and shove but I highly doubt that's going to cause him to fade out of games.

My take on DGB is that he needs license to go for it. I think he has gone into his shell to minimise errors at the expense of taking the risk to get the ball. He needs to be able to fail to succeed.

 

[TazHawk15]

Good because we need to start seeing a return on our investment in CJ, lets hope they can get to the bottom of his injury concerns.

 

[dcutter]

I might be stating something unpopular or against the grain but I think DGBs issue is not his tank but his approach. He consumes far too much energy trying to be somewhat a faux tough guy, ie he appears to me to be focusing too much on aggression rather than using footy nouse....I'm curious whether this has been raised with him and/or whether he has had any sports psychology sessions..... but don't get me wrong I love aggression but when it's aimed at the ball....

On SM-G990E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Interesting point re DGB - I sometimes wonder if he's over trying or overthinking it too much.
I recall an interview in his draft year when he had just landed with us, he talked about wanting to be one of the best in the competition.

Sounded like a guy that really wanted to get the best from himself but just hasn't been able to put it all together as yet

Still recall a game in his first year against GWS at the G' and he was just killing it, thought we had absolutely landed one

Would love to see more of that

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

I said almost 30 which is pretty accurate given he’s 29 in a couple of weeks.

Point remains, we should be finding DGB’s best position for him, even if it’s a similar role to Sicily. You never know what might happen, injuries, another ACL god forbid, etc. At the very least, DGB’s best footy will surely come from the role he’s most naturally suited to.

A year is a long time in footy and life.