Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

Connor MacDonald

Is that new? Is it rearranging some letters in his name or is there some other back story to this?

 

[Sixpence]

Is that new? Is it rearranging some letters in his name or is there some other back story to this?

Just a nickname he has, that other players call him.

 

[MrPremiership]

Are you a time traveller, Mr P? All I have seen so far is changes in the list. I am hopeful, but reluctant to call improvement until I see the hard evidence in the 2024 W/L ratio

Improvement will be not scoring below 65 on 12 occassions next year. It won't all be on W/L

 

[grumbleguts]

If you see him standing in space and not manning up, I would say that's probably him doing exactly what the coach has told him to do. I thought your comment was pretty clearly critical of him saying he doesn't man up.

Edit: I'm not suggesting he's some amazing machine that doesn't make any mistakes, but I think he's not given credit for things he's good at because it doesn't fit with the way some fans want to view him as nothing more than a freakish athlete.

In his break out year he was our most tagged player, seems to be completely forgotten by many.

 

[HedgeFund]

There is a tacit understanding in your post that CJ is often out of position. I don't accept it. I don't hear our coaches saying or implying that he's a headless chook, as so many of our supporters seem to believe.

Our coaches don’t tend to talk openly about negatives under the current regime. Certainly not individual ones.

Hence people here get frustrated when players they see with an elite attribute here or there aren’t as central in the side as they feel they could / should be.

Coaches will talk about negative aspects of individuals games in private.

Which makes sense.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Our coaches don’t tend to talk openly about negatives under the current regime. Certainly not individual ones.

Hence people here get frustrated when players they see with an elite attribute here or there aren’t as central in the side as they feel they could / should be.

Coaches will talk about negative aspects of individuals games in private.

Which makes sense.

Go read LittleJohns reports, some of them have negative feed back.

He is actually very impressive in the reports given to the fans. Clearly sets a high standard.

 

[barbster]

Our coaches don’t tend to talk openly about negatives under the current regime. Certainly not individual ones.

Hence people here get frustrated when players they see with an elite attribute here or there aren’t as central in the side as they feel they could / should be.

Coaches will talk about negative aspects of individuals games in private.

Which makes sense.

You obviously missed the Tom Mitchell saga if you believe this.

 

[threesixpio]

Rob McCartney made it pretty clear we can expect CJ on a wing. He thinks DGB is a defender at heart, but mentioned that his ability to play there depends on whether he puts on some size this summer.

Season review suggested more time in forwardline

 

[threesixpio]

Round 21 vs Collingwood.

Josh Daicos - 19 disposals
Steele Sidebottom - 21 disposals
Harry Morrison - 21 disposals and 2 goals

He did have a great game

 

[HedgeFund]

Go read LittleJohns reports, some of them have negative feed back.

He is actually very impressive in the reports given to the fans. Clearly sets a high standard.

Agreed - but he only assesses the VFL / Box Hill players - and it’s only sometimes that he mentions a negative here or there.

Plenty of his assessments of players recently cut from the list would’ve suggested they’re long term players about to sign extensions. Didn’t happen .

We also don’t get that publicised assessment of the AFL players in any match report.

 

[naysayer]

Our coaches don’t tend to talk openly about negatives under the current regime. Certainly not individual ones.

Hence people here get frustrated when players they see with an elite attribute here or there aren’t as central in the side as they feel they could / should be.

Coaches will talk about negative aspects of individuals games in private.

Which makes sense.

Whether that's true or not is besides the point of whether CJ is defensively accountable. Have never heard it said or implied by anyone who would know, and have often heard the opposite.

He is regarded by our coaches and players as being central to our team. Yet to play 50 games, has shown a hell of a lot of potential. Get on board.

 

[Coathanger]

You obviously missed the Tom Mitchell saga if you believe this.

You obviously missed, Tom's a whiny little b!tch!

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

You obviously missed, Tom's a whiny little b!tch!

 

[smish]

 

[hawkmang]

CMac looks a lot bigger than start of 2023, broader through shoulders definitely

 

[WWSD]

I’m hoping to see Ramsden push for that second ruck spot next year, allowing Chol to play mainly as a key forward. The Reeves/Meek ruck combo doesn’t work and we’re better off going with a second ruck who has good forward instincts.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

You obviously missed the Tom Mitchell saga if you believe this.

Packages - go join Tom then.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

I’m hoping to see Ramsden push for that second ruck spot next year, allowing Chol to play mainly as a key forward. The Reeves/Meek ruck combo doesn’t work and we’re better off going with a second ruck who has good forward instincts.

I think Ramsden will end up taking Chols spot.

 

[HomerJayS]

This year Ramsden will take Gunners spot (rotation) and fill in for Chol or Lewis when they can’t get on the park. We should see a bit of him.

 

[rei154]

CMac looks a lot bigger than start of 2023, broader through shoulders definitely

If he can add size between years one and two that'll go a long way to him getting regular game time next year

 

[grumbleguts]

CMac looks a lot bigger than start of 2023, broader through shoulders definitely

Wait, is he CMac or CMac2? Or has OPCMac moved on to Croc? What is going on. Can we get a spreadsheet organised to keep track of who everyone is? Or would Essendon get their hands on it and it would vaporise into the infinity of drug-addled nothingness?

 

[Judd2Sewell]

His kicking action is a thing of beauty

 

[eldorado]

His kicking action is a thing of beauty

Unless he's kicking for goal...then he turns into Kosi after half a dozen Red Bulls...

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Unless he's kicking for goal...then he turns into Kosi after half a dozen Red Bulls...

Remember what Sam Mitchell's goal kicking was like from a set shot? Holy moly I hope he's not giving advice to any of the players.

 

[cs61]

I’m hoping to see Ramsden push for that second ruck spot next year, allowing Chol to play mainly as a key forward. The Reeves/Meek ruck combo doesn’t work and we’re better off going with a second ruck who has good forward instincts.

Would give us three targets around 200cm to put defense under serious pressure. All are pretty mobile, and Chol and Ramsden also have the advantage as been very good at ground level for their height. We also would have a lot of flexibility to sub off a ruck for a runner knowing we had three who could play ruck on the ground at once.

Lewis, Chol, Ramsden the tall targets for the high ball, with Moore, Ginnivan, CMac and hopefully Watson as the smaller players at the feet. Would be a very decent mix developing.