Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

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Does anyone see Bailey MacDonald being tried on the wing at some point. He has good speed and kicking skills. I watched him live a couple of times in the VFL this year. He isn’t afraid to take the game on. I think he could excel in that role. We already have a plethora of half backs. There’s less competition for spots on the wing than there is across half back.
 
At the hawks aflw best and fairest last night I was talking to Dylan Moore.
Said that strength training has pretty much been thrown out of the window this preseason (to date), instead Sam told them on day 1 that the focus is going to be match sim. Moore said it has been probably 20% strength and conditioning compared to 90% in previous preseasons
 
parsons nose said:
What did you draw from the Watson/BMac matchup? If anything?
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Watson had one moment where he was trying to put a move on Sicily (he was facing the wrong way and trying to create some space with Sicily closing him down) - he then got a short kick off which was well read by Macdonald (I believe it was him).

Macdonald had a nice spoil thanks to his exceptional closing speed.

Watson wrapped Macdonald up in the follow-up play after the spoil.

There weren't any other contests between the two from memory.
 

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Blackhawk42 said:
Calsher is a BOY.

The discussion becomes silly and gets done to death, but there's every possibility he becomes a monster as his body matures. No wonder other clubs had reported interest. Could develop into absolutely anything.
Click to expand...
Is already deceptively big imo, and very strong for his current size based on his contested work.

Those legs tell the story of where he's going to end up weight wize, already has the bottom half of the frame just about built.
 
Mackenzie was the player that stood out most in the match simulation for mine. He was against Day for the most part.

He got his hands on the ball in most of the stoppage contests (not necessarily winning the contest, but was at the ball drop or competing at ground level) and had some excellent kicks once he broke into space, which are an absolute joy to watch.

Edit: will do a bit of a summary of the session later
 
Last edited:
Judd2Sewell said:
Mackenzie was the player that stood out most in the match simulation for mine. He was against Day for the most part.

He got his hands on the ball in most of the stoppage contests (not necessarily winning the contest, but was at the ball drop or competing at ground level) and had some excellent kicks once he broke into space, which are an absolute joy to watch.

Edit: will do a bit of a summary of the session later
Click to expand...
Still stand by he will be a 40 touches and a goal a game player, looked that good in his first few games before he didn’t have the fitness later in the year
 
CHUBBSS said:
Still stand by he will be a 40 touches and a goal a game player, looked that good in his first few games before he didn’t have the fitness later in the year
Click to expand...

He looks like he's trimmed down.

In the running drills later he was keeping up with CJ, Ward, Weddle (who were top three), followed by MacDonald and Mackenzie.
 
Mitchell Madness said:
At the hawks aflw best and fairest last night I was talking to Dylan Moore.
Said that strength training has pretty much been thrown out of the window this preseason (to date), instead Sam told them on day 1 that the focus is going to be match sim. Moore said it has been probably 20% strength and conditioning compared to 90% in previous preseasons
Click to expand...
Wow, find that hard to fathom. Lots of young bodies, I would have thought strength and conditioning would be the key to avoid injuries. I have a son in an elite training program (different sport) and preseason S&C is the main focus to avoid season ending injuries. I get the game plan is important, but you need healthy bodies to implement it.

I actually don't think the footballers train nearly as hard as they could, I wonder how many hours a week they are doing high quality intense training? Other sports put them to shame, I am talking sports like athletics, swimming, rowing etc the elite level in these Olympic sports have huge training loads compared to footballers.
 
CHUBBSS said:
Still stand by he will be a 40 touches and a goal a game player, looked that good in his first few games before he didn’t have the fitness later in the year
Click to expand...

He will be a player we want to get the ball into the hands of at every opportunity. One thing I noticed was he quickly scans the field before receiving the ball when marking it, so once he gets it he was off.

Granted it's probably somewhat risky to take your eyes off the ball in real match situations, but when it pays off he was already a move ahead. Reminds me of Ødegaard in that regard - always scanning before receiving the ball, knows what his next move will he or who he can immediately pass it off too.
 
Beandip said:
Yeah, those shoes tell the story, he will be a big boy...
Click to expand...
Also explains the confusion about his height. Only needs to stand on the balls of his feet to add 10cm of height.
 

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WWSD said:
Does anyone see Bailey MacDonald being tried on the wing at some point. He has good speed and kicking skills. I watched him live a couple of times in the VFL this year. He isn’t afraid to take the game on. I think he could excel in that role. We already have a plethora of half backs. There’s less competition for spots on the wing than there is across half back.
Click to expand...
100%.
 
Zurs said:
Wow, find that hard to fathom. Lots of young bodies, I would have thought strength and conditioning would be the key to avoid injuries. I have a son in an elite training program (different sport) and preseason S&C is the main focus to avoid season ending injuries. I get the game plan is important, but you need healthy bodies to implement it.

I actually don't think the footballers train nearly as hard as they could, I wonder how many hours a week they are doing high quality intense training? Other sports put them to shame, I am talking sports like athletics, swimming, rowing etc the elite level in these Olympic sports have huge training loads compared to footballers.
Click to expand...

I can tell you right now, the most match fit and conditioned I ever was came after a pre-season coached by an ex-AFL player where we played intra-club matches from the first week of training.

The other 2 nights would be a mix of fitness and skills, with 1 legs weight session on a Saturday morning.

If Peter Burge is in charge then we should have full confidence that they know what they're doing.

Also, the younger players are generally eased into the high intensity training as it is.

I don't know a lot about other sports, but Australian rules football requires so much cross-fitness that it may actually be harder to quantify vs other sports.

The fact these guys run between 75% and 100% pace for 2 hours of game time every Saturday while jumping, tackling and wrestling means whatever training they're doing is of a high quality.
 
WWSD said:
Does anyone see Bailey MacDonald being tried on the wing at some point. He has good speed and kicking skills. I watched him live a couple of times in the VFL this year. He isn’t afraid to take the game on. I think he could excel in that role. We already have a plethora of half backs. There’s less competition for spots on the wing than there is across half back.
Click to expand...

Player Watch - 2022 AFL National Draft Discussion - read the pinned post

National AFL draft Monday November 28(first round only). All other selections to be held on Tuesday November 29. The pre-season and rookie drafts will then take place at 3pm (AEST) on Wednesday November 30.
www.bigfooty.com www.bigfooty.com

I've rated him highly since before the draft, got the speed and is building his endurance base.
 
toomanysquibs said:
Is already deceptively big imo, and very strong for his current size based on his contested work.

Those legs tell the story of where he's going to end up weight wize, already has the bottom half of the frame just about built.
Click to expand...
His old man was an absolute unit, was built like the proverbial outhouse (especially through his core).

It's why he could play Ruck at only 190cm.
 
Newmo89 said:
Calsher Dear
Click to expand...

Someone get this kid a few bargain buckets.

Seriously disappointed at our KFC sponsorship. These kids should be slugging down Zingers til they bleed brown and gold grease.
 
smish said:
Do we know if/when the height & weight stats will be updated?
Click to expand...

Our club is notoriously terrible at height and weight stats.

I remember Schoey was in pics looking like he was competing at Mr Olympia still listed as an 80 kilo scrub.
 
update from training today:
highlight of the session was the mini scrimmage/match sim! also finished with a gruelling 40+ minutes of suicides and interval running.

not training: reeves, seamus, mccabe (calf problems), wingard (besides a few walking laps)
light load: gunston, lewis, massimo, amon, chol
non contact but in everything else: impey, cj


positives:
  • fitness blew me away, pretty physical skills session followed by a lot of running straight after (when i thought it was about to end, they just started running again)
  • everyone getting around each other, pushing each other to work hard - dylan moore’s “let’s see a smile boys, this is good shit” when all of them are utterly exhausted, about to do the final run of the session, was awesome
  • -weddle helping the group of guys who don’t excel in endurance through their session, showing leadership already
  • breust is a machine, keeping up with, and even beating many of the kids with his endurance, didn’t even look tired!
  • final run for one of the groups found cmac and ward right next to each other at the end, cmac found that extra edge to lift and beat him by a metre or two, this his year for midfield minutes in my opinion
  • meek’s running impressed!
  • maginess just did continuous laps AFTER the suicides, while everyone else was doing intervals with 60ish second breaks in between - crazy, he can't be stopped
  • poor newcombe, he was going great, but nearly puked between one of the runs
  • despite being exhausted accuracy at goal was pretty decent (dear has a decent set shot, watson not as much from 30m+)
  • most of the under 24s were thrown around in the match sim (except it was notable dgb stayed down back)
  • day’s vision is even better…i don’t even know how that’s possible but i saw it right in front of me….and has improved his set shot routine, the rest of the comp needs to seriously watch out
  • i don’t think dear stays skinny forever, he’s solid through the waist down - just gotta build those arms
  • tyler brown (brother of calum brown) is training with us (he was the only non-listed player at this training)
  • bmac was impressive in the few contests he had directly against breust
  • chad doing some walking laps, although noticeably limping a little
  • ginni, if he wants to tackle, he can!
  • -chol a good shot on goal

negatives:
  • plenty of sore blokes around including nash and o'Sullivan having to get a few massages mid-training
  • poor josh bennetts looks like he may have got concussed? definitely looked like he was going to have the test
  • what’s up with seamus and reeves? didn’t like them not training…hopefully precautionary
  • ginni only did about an hour or so, he went off not feeling well (headache, earache or something like that)
  • i was hopeful for DGB, and i love his character, but it’s rough - one of the most unfit in the group, him and clay tucker (1st AFL preseason) were on par - denver was fumbly, kicked the ball to player’s feet, hand balled behind and doesn’t look like he’s put on much muscle, of course though, it’s early days…
  • few that i wanted to stand out, didn’t (e.g. stephens, mckenzie, hmo)

funny occurrences:
  • cj pretending to have done a hammy after kicking a goal from 40m….too soon man…you could here collo laughing “rats nearly shit himself”
  • nash hopping the fence to….urinate on one of the concrete apartment walls, just right in front of everyone
  • everyone laughing at david hale for not being able to run 50m without getting a cramp


let me know if you want any other info, i took notes on most players
 
smithomode said:
update from training today:

i was hopeful for DGB, and i love his character, but it’s rough - one of the most unfit in the group, him and clay tucker (1st AFL preseason) were on par - denver was fumbly, kicked the ball to player’s feet, hand balled behind and doesn’t look like he’s put on much muscle, of course though, it’s early days…
Click to expand...

This is why there are 6 pages on DGB

He remains unfit.

The club, I'd imagine, haven't commented on his times, because they haven't got better or worse.

Now to be 100% clear - I cannot think of any reason at all why DGB would be lazy, not train properly, not eat properly, or not try to gain more fitness in the off-season.

I haven't seen one suggestion he isn't trying.

It may just be one of those unfortunately thing where he just cannot improve his tank, and this is as good as his body will let him get.
Maybe that will change, but when you reach your ceiling - that's it.

If track watchers are commenting the DGB upon return to training is as unfit as Clay Tucker, then that is an issue for DGB and the Club.

It may just be a matter of time, but how long is too long?

I really feel for the kid - sometimes your body just won't do what you want it to do.
 
smithomode said:
update from training today:
highlight of the session was the mini scrimmage/match sim! also finished with a gruelling 40+ minutes of suicides and interval running.

not training: reeves, seamus, mccabe (calf problems), wingard (besides a few walking laps)
light load: gunston, lewis, massimo, amon, chol
non contact but in everything else: impey, cj


positives:
  • fitness blew me away, pretty physical skills session followed by a lot of running straight after (when i thought it was about to end, they just started running again)
  • everyone getting around each other, pushing each other to work hard - dylan moore’s “let’s see a smile boys, this is good s**t” when all of them are utterly exhausted, about to do the final run of the session, was awesome
  • -weddle helping the group of guys who don’t excel in endurance through their session, showing leadership already
  • breust is a machine, keeping up with, and even beating many of the kids with his endurance, didn’t even look tired!
  • final run for one of the groups found cmac and ward right next to each other at the end, cmac found that extra edge to lift and beat him by a metre or two, this his year for midfield minutes in my opinion
  • meek’s running impressed!
  • maginess just did continuous laps AFTER the suicides, while everyone else was doing intervals with 60ish second breaks in between - crazy, he can't be stopped
  • poor newcombe, he was going great, but nearly puked between one of the runs
  • despite being exhausted accuracy at goal was pretty decent (dear has a decent set shot, watson not as much from 30m+)
  • most of the under 24s were thrown around in the match sim (except it was notable dgb stayed down back)
  • day’s vision is even better…i don’t even know how that’s possible but i saw it right in front of me….and has improved his set shot routine, the rest of the comp needs to seriously watch out
  • i don’t think dear stays skinny forever, he’s solid through the waist down - just gotta build those arms
  • tyler brown (brother of calum brown) is training with us (he was the only non-listed player at this training)
  • bmac was impressive in the few contests he had directly against breust
  • chad doing some walking laps, although noticeably limping a little
  • ginni, if he wants to tackle, he can!
  • -chol a good shot on goal

negatives:
  • plenty of sore blokes around including nash and o'Sullivan having to get a few massages mid-training
  • poor josh bennetts looks like he may have got concussed? definitely looked like he was going to have the test
  • what’s up with seamus and reeves? didn’t like them not training…hopefully precautionary
  • ginni only did about an hour or so, he went off not feeling well (headache, earache or something like that)
  • i was hopeful for DGB, and i love his character, but it’s rough - one of the most unfit in the group, him and clay tucker (1st AFL preseason) were on par - denver was fumbly, kicked the ball to player’s feet, hand balled behind and doesn’t look like he’s put on much muscle, of course though, it’s early days…
  • few that i wanted to stand out, didn’t (e.g. stephens, mckenzie, hmo)

funny occurrences:
  • cj pretending to have done a hammy after kicking a goal from 40m….too soon man…you could here collo laughing “rats nearly s**t himself”
  • nash hopping the fence to….urinate on one of the concrete apartment walls, just right in front of everyone
  • everyone laughing at david hale for not being able to run 50m without getting a cramp


let me know if you want any other info, i took notes on most players
Click to expand...

How shiny was the Halestorms head on a beautiful day like this?
 
HoldingThe Ball said:
This is why there are 6 pages on DGB

He remains unfit.

The club, I'd imagine, haven't commented on his times, because they haven't got better or worse.

Now to be 100% clear - I cannot think of any reason at all why DGB would be lazy, not train properly, not eat properly, or not try to gain more fitness in the off-season.

I haven't seen one suggestion he isn't trying.

It may just be one of those unfortunately thing where he just cannot improve his tank, and this is as good as his body will let him get.
Maybe that will change, but when you reach your ceiling - that's it.

If track watchers are commenting the DGB upon return to training is as unfit as Clay Tucker, then that is an issue for DGB and the Club.

It may just be a matter of time, but how long is too long?

I really feel for the kid - sometimes your body just won't do what you want it to do.
Click to expand...
yeah in no way did it look like he wasn't trying. he was giving it all he had, but, unfortunately, we haven't seen improvement yet. i suspect it could be a mental challenge (lack of confidence) just as much as a physical. just like many afl players have said, sometimes you start training as a kid and you think you're training the house down but you're not going the extra mile.
 

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