Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[tommyk72]

Yeah, those shoes tell the story, he will be a big boy...

Maybe they're not that big and he just has small hands?

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Rundown of the session:

I got there late so when I arrived they were just about to start the full ground simulation.

The ball was moving around quickly from D50 to D50. There wasn't really any plays that finished with a shot at goal that I can recall - the play was stopped and the ball was thrown in from the boundary or there was a ball up. The throw ins from the boundary happened frequently.

As I said above, Mackenzie was the standout for me in this drill. He was matched up against Day. He was the busiest player at the stoppages and got off Day multiple times, and he didn't miss a target by foot.

Ward and Newcombe also stood out more than others. I thought Ryan had a few nice kicks too.

Having said all that it was hard to keep track of specific players, especially when the play was along the other side of the field and the ball was moving quickly.

After that they did a drill, I assume, designed to work on defensive running after a turnover in our F50 primarily. 4 players + Mitchell set up with the ball, two were positioned on the forward half points of the centre square, and two were on the flanks in the D50, with Mitchell essentially in between them. There were two assistants with bags deeper in the F50.

Mitchell would start off the play with a kick to either pocket, and they would need to work the ball up the ground through switching and long kicks forwards. Simpson was joining in too to provide a running option.

The other team had 6 players and their job was to pressure as much as they could and then stream back to affect the ball as it was kicked to the guys with the bags (generally launch it onto their heads).

At the start it was Ryan and Watson flanking Mitchell, with Mackenzie on the HFF on the near side. Not sure who was on the other HFF. Ryan had some nice kicks out to Mackenzie and some nice switches. Eventually Mackenzie swapped to play as one of the defenders. Again his kicking is sublime. On one play Weddle was able to gallop back and affect the kick as it came to one of the bag carriers.

Whilst this drill was going on others were doing some drill on the far side forward pocket. I couldn't see what they were doing so have nothing to offer about that.

Once they finished up this drill they broke into four smaller groups and played some mix of european handball, which involved a footy as well. Once the handball was moved up for a score a football would be introduced, and then vice versa. I didn't bother watching the two teams on the far side.

Out of the players on the near side I thought MacDonald, Scrimshaw and Newcombe looked the sharpest.

They did a series of of running drills after this. In short Weddle, Ward and Finn were the standouts here, followed by MacDonald and Mackenzie. You could tell by the end the young guys were getting tired.

Players not training - McCabe, D'Ambrosio, Reeves and maybe one or two more.

Just doing running the entire time - Amon, Chol, Gunston and one other player, not sure who it was though. They spent most of their time doing running up the far end.

 

[killerspud]

This is just my theory... Scrimshaw is clearly naturally talented and since he's joined the Hawks he's largely been able to overcome his early injury woes and complete pre-seasons to improve his fitness and conditioning. But over that same period (since he joined end of 2018) the team strength has collectively been on a downward trajectory.

His natural improvement mixed with the decline of performance of the collective list created the illusion in his mind that he's improving rapidly and the level of effort he's putting into improving his game must be high.

But now we're starting to see the emergence of quite a few younger players and the list strength is rapidly increasing again. These players are very hungry to improve and get success and it's showing that the work rate to improve of guys like Scrim wasn't as high as it could have been.

In short, my theory isn't that Scrim hadn't been working hard. Only that he thought he had been because he was quickly rising up the ranks. And that he's now being challenged to find that next level.

Of course he was also carrying that foot injury last year, perhaps a result of trying to push to that next level or maybe just unfortunate timing.

My theory is scrim plays better when CJ is in the team

 

[MadDawg]

A mate of mine went to training today and provided me with a very comprehensive report and a few pics:

With respect to Axeman's jazz, this is hopefully some sort of fill.

Parking, Kenneth Luke Drive.
The weather was overcast and then worked its way to a lightly sunny day. Warmish by the end.
Ground, a treat for the players when they slide around to trap a stray ball, Newcombe did so in one motion with a full body dive on one F50 play.

Obviously, I couldn't see everything so hope this captures things in some way. I hope I didn't miss bits or get names wrong.

Rehab group, Gunston, CJ, Massimo, Chad (just walking), Chol, Lewis, Amon. Reeves came out in the second half and did not partake.

First drill I saw was ground balls where players had swimming noodles to hit them as they came through.

Ginni talking with Sam in the forward pocket, discussing snaps and different types of kicks, around the corners and trick kicks. Later on Sam had the attention of about 20 people and said he would snap one without looking and then went on to miss, nobody said anything... .

Hale ran the first main drill. Players split on corners of the centre square. The ball started on loose half-backs who hit someone on the wing before a cut inside to CHF or a straight I50. Ginnivan caught the eye on my wing, just tidy continuous play around that middle of the ground area and read the play well. Has some nice athleticism/spring.

Zane was full of praise for one O'Sullivan finish inside 50, he was happy with himself as well (later on seemed to struggle with yips on the set shot, you could see how much pressure he was putting on himself and it was like he was going to miss even as he was collecting the ball for another go. Expects a lot of himself. Seems to have got chunkier around the shoulders, not looking like a kid anymore).

Generally, training was drills of about 10-15 mins: Agassi, Baz Ball, Money ball up for grabs were some of the names on the digital board. One match sim, goal kicking and then lots of running.

Couldn't work out some of the rationale of the individual running - CJ did a lot of running and then some drills, Massimo only running, Sicily dropped out of drills to run with Simpson. One run was something like Ward, Nash and Butler maybe, not for long though. Finn did some very light laps at one stage while the rest of the top runners were being flogged. Butler was the consistent runner, first or the first few (group running), one stage Ward tried to overtake but couldn't get him. Butler beat Finn in one run where it was just those two up front.

Just about all coaches did some running with Hale maybe doing a hammy and Sam getting a head start and encouragement for his top runners, my gosh does he stand out as un-athletic! Small steps that go nowhere, not sure he will make it. Just seems like a good environment. Players telling each other they love it when gasping for air, not sure they did!

Finn is ripppppped.

In the match play I really liked DGB (full back position) being vocal a few times to organise things and did so with a lot of confidence. Knew exactly what was needed and teammates listened quickly. DGB is no bigger for those wanting to know.

Players who caught my eye were:

Blank - he was composed in competitive drills, nothing special but allowed the play to be continuous when I would have thought he was a weak point for opponents to lick their lips.

HH - I don't get this guy, he is just so tall and doesn't act that way! He just blends into a very tall squad, not a great runner (Jai and Day seemed similar) but is such a natural. Freakishness in IQ, I hope he is watching the Bont.

Weddle - you have seen it all before, was last on the computer at the end, probably looking at his GPS or something.

Butler - always at the front of running drills and looks really muscly for a player in his second preseason? In two years, he will be a finished product from a bulk perspective and he must have trained all the way through as he bounces around with some athleticism and a few players went up to him to do a congrats pat on the back for his running, respect stuff. Set shot practice, he was doing a Josh Kennedy sewing machine and I think it was Moore who told him so.

Serong - I can't see him being a gorilla defender but if you want a body size guide, very similar to Gunners right now. Also looks trim and took a nice intercept mark but it was from a stationary Frost. He and Scrim look to be after the one spot?

Connor McDonald - looks super cut (still another season away from his final AFL body) but is always in the top few of all the drills and running. I think he did get stitched up by Stephens at one point though, hospital offload from someone.

Scrim - did his bit, can't remember what but he looked to take the game on.

Watson - not bc he is box office. He reads the play well. He was half back with Sam Mitch on the other (I assume he was coaching him in a sense, copy me on the other side of the ground type thing). I think he was loose but in a sense quarterback and one time came through a gap of two people and then cut inside, opening up the play and didn't overcomplicate it and hit a short target (got praise). Watson tends to do shorter kicks (Ginnivan also), and wondered if he had bigger ones in him and how he looked doing them. During some dead time he easily kicked a 50m goal when kicking from the line, so not over the mark and it cleared the line quite well. I hope he can build leg strength to make his bag of tricks from further out. My two cents worth, he must have done some training in martial arts as the way he falls to the ground in a roll and then gets back up is very much part of his x-factor, barely any momentum is lost. Very happy to do a nicely weighted no look handpass that hit the mark. Huge leap to intercept a handball and at other times, mid air very comfortable handballing it on, other x factor. I'd guess 50% of his work is from a spring in the air.

Mackenzie - the natural we know he is.

Ryan - taller than expected, I hope he turns into a Grimes type. Sic understudy just seems obvious. Like how he and Watson stuck out the running, shows how much of a freak Weddle is.

Why no 40+ set shots? Maybe it is a heavier training time and they do more of it closer to games.

Pocket, 5 metres in boundary line scrimmage - 3 vs 3. Ball rolled in and one team tries to score while the other tries to exit between two cones to be a D50 get out. Sicily and Blank kicked goals when their team were forwards. Butler got Sicily’s approval with one thing he did, I think he put someone into space.

Nash fended Weddle in the face I think it was, the rehab group felt it when they heard it.

Chol, really good goal kicking routine and confidence from different areas of F50, I hope he finds his spot suits him as he and Lewis seem to be a similar size and would be good twin towers.

One time Finn had Ward and Moore on the ground, one under each arm. Hulk stuff!

Not sure if O’Sullivan or Bennetts stopped play through injury. I thought O'S but Bennetts seemed to leave limping when going past in the car park.

Moore and Wizard got into a non-aggressive tangle on the ground.

Ryan, Dear sitting out big end running. Seamus also sitting out, not sure he trained.

Dear snaps from the boundary, very comfortable. Set shots seemed to sometimes kick 40 well and others seemed a bit far so wondering if he is trying something new, did some stuff with Sippos.

Nash and Meek finished off with over shoulder handballs, stuff you see deep in a pack.

Hardwick has taken his karate kicks to a higher level, what is he doing! They well and truly work though, one was around someone trying to smother!

At the end they all crowd around the computer, looking for feedback which shows how much they want that instant feedback. I heard Sam very clearly say, "get off BF, Axeman has moved interstate".

Sorry for typos with my probably arthritic hands.

 

[Mississippi]

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.

His dad didn’t have legs.

Just 2 tree trunks.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

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.

There has been a lot of talk in AFL circles that conditioning has overtaken what football is. Maybe Sam, along with the strength and conditioning coaches believe that being match conditioned means more than being gym conditioned?

 

[threesixpio]

Rundown of the session:

I got there late so when I arrived they were just about to start the full ground simulation.

The ball was moving around quickly from D50 to D50. There wasn't really any plays that finished with a shot at goal that I can recall - the play was stopped and the ball was thrown in from the boundary or there was a ball up. The throw ins from the boundary happened frequently.

As I said above, Mackenzie was the standout for me in this drill. He was matched up against Day. He was the busiest player at the stoppages and got off Day multiple times, and he didn't miss a target by foot.

Ward and Newcombe also stood out more than others. I thought Ryan had a few nice kicks too.

Having said all that it was hard to keep track of specific players, especially when the play was along the other side of the field and the ball was moving quickly.

After that they did a drill, I assume, designed to work on defensive running after a turnover in our F50 primarily. 4 players + Mitchell set up with the ball, two were positioned on the forward half points of the centre square, and two were on the flanks in the D50, with Mitchell essentially in between them. There were two assistants with bags deeper in the F50.

Mitchell would start off the play with a kick to either pocket, and they would need to work the ball up the ground through switching and long kicks forwards. Simpson was joining in too to provide a running option.

The other team had 6 players and their job was to pressure as much as they could and then stream back to affect the ball as it was kicked to the guys with the bags (generally launch it onto their heads).

At the start it was Ryan and Watson flanking Mitchell, with Mackenzie on the HFF on the near side. Not sure who was on the other HFF. Ryan had some nice kicks out to Mackenzie and some nice switches. Eventually Mackenzie swapped to play as one of the defenders. Again his kicking is sublime. On one play Weddle was able to gallop back and affect the kick as it came to one of the bag carriers.

Whilst this drill was going on others were doing some drill on the far side forward pocket. I couldn't see what they were doing so have nothing to offer about that.

Once they finished up this drill they broke into four smaller groups and played some mix of european handball, which involved a footy as well. Once the handball was moved up for a score a football would be introduced, and then vice versa. I didn't bother watching the two teams on the far side.

Out of the players on the near side I thought MacDonald, Scrimshaw and Newcombe looked the sharpest.

They did a series of of running drills after this. In short Weddle, Ward and Finn were the standouts here, followed by MacDonald and Mackenzie. You could tell by the end the young guys were getting tired.

Players not training - McCabe, D'Ambrosio, Reeves and maybe one or two more.

Just doing running the entire time - Amon, Chol, Gunston and one other player, not sure who it was though. They spent most of their time doing running up the far end.

Awesome thanks J2S

 

[KermitJagger]

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.

6 pages on DGB, you've added another essay to it and haven't added anything that hasn't been said 1000 times.

 

[FB19]

Here you go.

Player Watch - Welcome to Hawthorn, Denver Grainger-Barras (delisted 2024)

Welcome to Hawthorn, John. 🙌

www.bigfooty.com

 

[crazywildhorse]

A mate of mine went to training today and provided me with a very comprehensive report and a few pics:

With respect to Axeman's jazz, this is hopefully some sort of fill.

Parking, Kenneth Luke Drive.
The weather was overcast and then worked its way to a lightly sunny day. Warmish by the end.
Ground, a treat for the players when they slide around to trap a stray ball, Newcombe did so in one motion with a full body dive on one F50 play.

Obviously, I couldn't see everything so hope this captures things in some way. I hope I didn't miss bits or get names wrong.

Rehab group, Gunston, CJ, Massimo, Chad (just walking), Chol, Lewis, Amon. Reeves came out in the second half and did not partake.

First drill I saw was ground balls where players had swimming noodles to hit them as they came through.

Ginni talking with Sam in the forward pocket, discussing snaps and different types of kicks, around the corners and trick kicks. Later on Sam had the attention of about 20 people and said he would snap one without looking and then went on to miss, nobody said anything... .

Hale ran the first main drill. Players split on corners of the centre square. The ball started on loose half-backs who hit someone on the wing before a cut inside to CHF or a straight I50. Ginnivan caught the eye on my wing, just tidy continuous play around that middle of the ground area and read the play well. Has some nice athleticism/spring.

Zane was full of praise for one O'Sullivan finish inside 50, he was happy with himself as well (later on seemed to struggle with yips on the set shot, you could see how much pressure he was putting on himself and it was like he was going to miss even as he was collecting the ball for another go. Expects a lot of himself. Seems to have got chunkier around the shoulders, not looking like a kid anymore).

Generally, training was drills of about 10-15 mins: Agassi, Baz Ball, Money ball up for grabs were some of the names on the digital board. One match sim, goal kicking and then lots of running.

Couldn't work out some of the rationale of the individual running - CJ did a lot of running and then some drills, Massimo only running, Sicily dropped out of drills to run with Simpson. One run was something like Ward, Nash and Butler maybe, not for long though. Finn did some very light laps at one stage while the rest of the top runners were being flogged. Butler was the consistent runner, first or the first few (group running), one stage Ward tried to overtake but couldn't get him. Butler beat Finn in one run where it was just those two up front.

Just about all coaches did some running with Hale maybe doing a hammy and Sam getting a head start and encouragement for his top runners, my gosh does he stand out as un-athletic! Small steps that go nowhere, not sure he will make it. Just seems like a good environment. Players telling each other they love it when gasping for air, not sure they did!

Finn is ripppppped.

In the match play I really liked DGB (full back position) being vocal a few times to organise things and did so with a lot of confidence. Knew exactly what was needed and teammates listened quickly. DGB is no bigger for those wanting to know.

Players who caught my eye were:

Blank - he was composed in competitive drills, nothing special but allowed the play to be continuous when I would have thought he was a weak point for opponents to lick their lips.

HH - I don't get this guy, he is just so tall and doesn't act that way! He just blends into a very tall squad, not a great runner (Jai and Day seemed similar) but is such a natural. Freakishness in IQ, I hope he is watching the Bont.

Weddle - you have seen it all before, was last on the computer at the end, probably looking at his GPS or something.

Butler - always at the front of running drills and looks really muscly for a player in his second preseason? In two years, he will be a finished product from a bulk perspective and he must have trained all the way through as he bounces around with some athleticism and a few players went up to him to do a congrats pat on the back for his running, respect stuff. Set shot practice, he was doing a Josh Kennedy sewing machine and I think it was Moore who told him so.

Serong - I can't see him being a gorilla defender but if you want a body size guide, very similar to Gunners right now. Also looks trim and took a nice intercept mark but it was from a stationary Frost. He and Scrim look to be after the one spot?

Connor McDonald - looks super cut (still another season away from his final AFL body) but is always in the top few of all the drills and running. I think he did get stitched up by Stephens at one point though, hospital offload from someone.

Scrim - did his bit, can't remember what but he looked to take the game on.

Watson - not bc he is box office. He reads the play well. He was half back with Sam Mitch on the other (I assume he was coaching him in a sense, copy me on the other side of the ground type thing). I think he was loose but in a sense quarterback and one time came through a gap of two people and then cut inside, opening up the play and didn't overcomplicate it and hit a short target (got praise). Watson tends to do shorter kicks (Ginnivan also), and wondered if he had bigger ones in him and how he looked doing them. During some dead time he easily kicked a 50m goal when kicking from the line, so not over the mark and it cleared the line quite well. I hope he can build leg strength to make his bag of tricks from further out. My two cents worth, he must have done some training in martial arts as the way he falls to the ground in a roll and then gets back up is very much part of his x-factor, barely any momentum is lost. Very happy to do a nicely weighted no look handpass that hit the mark. Huge leap to intercept a handball and at other times, mid air very comfortable handballing it on, other x factor. I'd guess 50% of his work is from a spring in the air.

Mackenzie - the natural we know he is.

Ryan - taller than expected, I hope he turns into a Grimes type. Sic understudy just seems obvious. Like how he and Watson stuck out the running, shows how much of a freak Weddle is.

Why no 40+ set shots? Maybe it is a heavier training time and they do more of it closer to games.

Pocket, 5 metres in boundary line scrimmage - 3 vs 3. Ball rolled in and one team tries to score while the other tries to exit between two cones to be a D50 get out. Sicily and Blank kicked goals when their team were forwards. Butler got Sicily’s approval with one thing he did, I think he put someone into space.

Nash fended Weddle in the face I think it was, the rehab group felt it when they heard it.

Chol, really good goal kicking routine and confidence from different areas of F50, I hope he finds his spot suits him as he and Lewis seem to be a similar size and would be good twin towers.

One time Finn had Ward and Moore on the ground, one under each arm. Hulk stuff!

Not sure if O’Sullivan or Bennetts stopped play through injury. I thought O'S but Bennetts seemed to leave limping when going past in the car park.

Moore and Wizard got into a non-aggressive tangle on the ground.

Ryan, Dear sitting out big end running. Seamus also sitting out, not sure he trained.

Dear snaps from the boundary, very comfortable. Set shots seemed to sometimes kick 40 well and others seemed a bit far so wondering if he is trying something new, did some stuff with Sippos.

Nash and Meek finished off with over shoulder handballs, stuff you see deep in a pack.

Hardwick has taken his karate kicks to a higher level, what is he doing! They well and truly work though, one was around someone trying to smother!

At the end they all crowd around the computer, looking for feedback which shows how much they want that instant feedback. I heard Sam very clearly say, "get off BF, Axeman has moved interstate".

Sorry for typos with my probably arthritic hands.


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Great work.

It would be good if the club could do something more like this once a week.

(if any club media are lurking)

 

[CD Xbow]

6 pages on DGB, you've added another essay to it and haven't added anything that hasn't been said 1000 times.

Too true. I think we need a special thread, which would come with a warning (DANGER! You may want to pluck your eyes out if you read this) and folks who want to can post as much as they like about:
- DGB - will he or won't he?
- Wiz - discussion about his height
- Roughie to CHB
- who ever becomes the scapegoat in 2024
- bagging players and coaches before the year has even started

 

[kazzooka]

Do we know if/when the height & weight stats will be updated?

It shouldn't be long for the club to add inaccurate information about the new players. Existing players will probably keep the existing incorrect figures.

 

[extractasam]

yep, remember that game well.. We lost by 1pt after being 7 goals down early! From what I saw that day I was certain DGB would be a 200 game key defender.

Someone from the forum compiled his highlights from that game at the time and it a great package to watch. Playing with confidence he was very good

 

[kazzooka]

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.

One of the hard things for him, and I think Sam mentioned it in an interview during the season. He wasn't drafted with a body that was ready to play the role he's best suited for. Sam specifically compared to Weddle who came in strong and the best runner at the club and unfortunately took that medium/tall defender role (we also had scrimshaw, CJ, Sicily doing similar). He isn't strong enough to play key back like he did in juniors, and would be suited to a 3rd man up intercept role but there isn't a spot for him doing that. He doesn't have the tank to play 3rd tall forward/utility role gunston does, or the running back role.

So he's being asked to bulk up to play on Tom Hawkins but increase his tank to be at AFL levels. The club would know his numbers, so they can track physical development.

 

[peetoo]

Too true. I think we need a special thread, which would come with a warning (DANGER! You may want to pluck your eyes out if you read this) and folks who want to can post as much as they like about:
- DGB - will he or won't he?
- Wiz - discussion about his height
- Roughie to CHB
- who ever becomes the scapegoat in 2024
- bagging players and coaches before the year has even started

Sicily will he be in our next flag?

 

[hawkinoz]

The news people have been waiting for is out

 

[kazzooka]

Sicily will he be in our next flag?

Yes, he is signed on for 2024 and unless something really strange happens before the season starts will be captain.

 

[SSSSSS]

The news people have been waiting for is out

Damn Timmy O didn't make the graphic.

Didn't see this coming but he's got the WOW factor and the strut.

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

6 pages on DGB, you've added another essay to it and haven't added anything that hasn't been said 1000 times.

I was making the point that it simply might be genetic - I specifically mentioned about his standards as I didn't think that it would be fair if it was judges to be an application problem by some, which it clearly isn't.

I hadn't seen anyone post that it could be his natural ceiling - so I did.

Personally thought it was an ok post tbh

It's the pre-season, what else are we supposed to do - roll one Rd #1

Here's one for you:
Any idea what the pre-season format is in 2024?

be nice to play one or two games with a bit of edge in them, so I hope it won't all be intra-club stuff.

Any idea mate?

 

[Tony3163]

I was making the point that it simply might be genetic - I specifically mentioned about his standards as I didn't think that it would be fair if it was judges to be an application problem by some, which it clearly isn't.

I hadn't seen anyone post that it could be his natural ceiling - so I did.

Personally thought it was an ok post tbh

It's the pre-season, what else are we supposed to do - roll one Rd #1

Here's one for you:
Any idea what the pre-season format is in 2024?

be nice to play one or two games with a bit of edge in them, so I hope it won't all be intra-club stuff.

Any idea mate?

 

[CHUBBSS]

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.

we have a few players now that can genuinely play the front half quarterback with laser kicks, will become a real problem to contain ball movement if we have multiple outlets who can move the ball ridiculously quick by foot

Personally think football will end up feeling like the nfl with front half kicks into the 50 soon, natural progression in trying to find as much separation as possible, combine that with elite kicking and it would have similarities.

 

[threesixpio]

The news people have been waiting for is out

D+

 

[wahawk]

I was making the point that it simply might be genetic - I specifically mentioned about his standards as I didn't think that it would be fair if it was judges to be an application problem by some, which it clearly isn't.

I hadn't seen anyone post that it could be his natural ceiling - so I did.

Personally thought it was an ok post tbh

It's the pre-season, what else are we supposed to do - roll one Rd #1

Here's one for you:
Any idea what the pre-season format is in 2024?

be nice to play one or two games with a bit of edge in them, so I hope it won't all be intra-club stuff.

Any idea mate?

I’m so happy that you didn’t put the 3 letters in your post. We’d have another 6 page debate that’s been had 1000 times since the season finished.

As for the pre season format & I hope I’m posting this in the appropriate thread
We will play 1 Official prac game & another un-official game.
I haven’t heard who we play in either yet but that’s the format announced the other day with a journo (Ralphy?) complaining that poor old Collingwood & Brisbane wouldn’t have had much time off this year.

A bit like our players who didn’t get much time off in 2011, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16

 

[toomanysquibs]

Too true. I think we need a special thread, which would come with a warning (DANGER! You may want to pluck your eyes out if you read this) and folks who want to can post as much as they like about:
- DGB - will he or won't he?
- Wiz - discussion about his height
- Roughie to CHB
- who ever becomes the scapegoat in 2024
- bagging players and coaches before the year has even started

Easily the best post on this.

Extras for the list if open for suggestions:

- category for peeps who want can't help but randomly scold said posters every 2/3 pages.

-things that you weren't allowed to talk about last year, but are encouraged this year (tall midfielders etc.)

- grammar and punctuation

- Suckling doesn't deserve a place in the side

 

[toomanysquibs]

I’m so happy that you didn’t put the 3 letters in your post. We’d have another 6 page debate that’s been had 1000 times since the season finished.

As for the pre season format & I hope I’m posting this in the appropriate thread
We will play 1 Official prac game & another un-official game.
I haven’t heard who we play in either yet but that’s the format announced the other day with a journo (Ralphy?) complaining that poor old Collingwood & Brisbane wouldn’t have had much time off this year.

A bit like our players who didn’t get much time off in 2011, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16

Jon Ralph's insight is pretty much limited to what's right in front of him, at the point someone explains it carefully.

Otherwise he's just there for his creepy smile and hair.

A really poor man's Richard Wilkins for AFL, only a lot more difficult to listen to.