Opens the door for Lyons I reckon. From the photos I've seen he looks really fit. If he is running freely as well, he could be really handy this year.
Training 2024 Preseason training reports and discussion
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scoman
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Yeah its a shame for Dev and it could be Lyons who gets the nod. Another option is to give Rayner and Zorko more time inside and bring in another good runner like Prior.
Ben Thomas, from the Sunny Coast. He’s the mini Simon Minton-Connell.
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Lyons only played 2 full games last year out of his 10 in total.
Those two were in rounds 17/18 when Dunkley was out.
He did make the starting 22 in round 24 (McCarthy injured) but was subbed off (54% TOG) replaced by sub Lohmann.
In his other 7 games he started as sub.
It just felt like he would only get a game if Dunkley or Neale was injured except for that round 24 game.
That may be the case again in 2024.
My question would not be "is he running freely?", but has his run and spread actually improved so he is no longer a liability in todays current style of play.
Teams can really only play one inside mid with a limited running capacity.
Wouldn't the ability to run freely, no injuries,, being fitter, naturally improve his run and spread? I'm not saying its going to be as good as he was years ago but with Ashcroft out half the season and Dev likely to miss a few early with his wrist, Lyons could play an important role. Especially early in the season, those first few games, the maturity and calm head could see us avoid the patchy start like last season.
The rest of our mids have pretty good to very good running capacity, and if as you say a team can only play one with a limited capacity I'm OK with playing Lyons.
Realistically I could only see Lyons starting early till Dev is good, maybe a sub role after that till Ashcroft is back. But if an injury to Dunkley or Neale crops up, knowing a fit and injury free Lyons is ready to go certainly garners some confidence in our depth.
I think it more of a case of "what else can he do?", especially with the young or new players and especially during preseason match sims. However from the limited opportunities I've had to watch the ressies I think I can remember seeing Reville play a wing role on occasions. So it's probably not such a stretch seeing him on the wing in these exercises. Seeing some of our more senior players out of position in these sims is to cater to this assessment of the youth I reckon. As for Hippy n Gardiner swapping ends during these trial sims, to me, it's a fresh approach to a preseason for a cpl of players that have seen many preseasons giving them not only a taste of their opposite end but also giving some education to the kids while training.
On the quiet
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IMO Lyons plays to cover injuries to Neale or Dunkley, as you are alluding.
Arguably it is about time that Zac and Cam both drafted in 2017, and 25 years old this year step up and take a more prominent midfield role. I prefer Cam as our third tall with stints in the middle, but based on preseason reports from some posters, there is an argument that it must be time for a #1 draft pick to start spending more time in the middle.
I've got a bit of a different view on Cam spending more time in the middle. I just don't think he's cut out for longer stints in the middle ,he doesn't have that relentless drive and perseverance that all good midfielders have. He could be an exceptional burst player to break open the play in the forward half and occasionally attend centre clearances to give us some grunt there when we need it. I don't really fancy him around the ground for extended stints especially in the back half.
Bailey's a bit the same. If they were going to be midfielders they'd be doing it already. It doesn't mean they both can't be exceptional players but people seem to have this idea that if anyone's any good they should be playing in the midfield and as each year passes in the AFL it's becoming more apparent that your midfielders need to have a bigger tank and an increasingly consistent work ethic.
Bailey's a bit the same. If they were going to be midfielders they'd be doing it already. It doesn't mean they both can't be exceptional players but people seem to have this idea that if anyone's any good they should be playing in the midfield and as each year passes in the AFL it's becoming more apparent that your midfielders need to have a bigger tank and an increasingly consistent work ethic.
Perhaps hipwood training with the defense is a signal he is going to play as the "third tall" with Rayner moving into the midfield (and Fort / Ryan playing second tall), so he is training to take over the end of quarters sit in the hole and make role that Rayner was doing.
Bailey has clearly been the coaches next player to go into the midfield after Neale Dunkley McCluggage Ashcroft and Zorko. That's why he's talked about. Our midfield is the weakest part of our list, so that's why it gets the focus. If guys like Rayner and Bailey can be 50% more effect when they role through there so Neale and Dunkley don't have to play 90%+ on ball, we are looking a much more dangerous side.
That's some fine out of the box thinking there, I hope it doesn't happen. I hope they give that whole "drop a tall back to plug a hole in defense" plan a big miss. Didn't work when Gunston did it, didn't work when Rayner did it in the GF. All it does is give the opposition an extra man to move the ball quicker down the ground for an long shot just outside the 50 or a short kick into the 50. We did it in that game v Melb when the lights went out and they very nearly came back and beat us. I think that quick overlap run with the extra man in the GF led to Berry's brain fart trying to slow them down. I'd rather see us press up and make it difficult for them to get out of their half of the ground. To me it's like a boxer just covering up, taking the punches, hoping none get thru. Eventually one will and it'll knock you out.
I completely disagree that the midfield is the weakest part of our list. There's not a lot of teams that have the quality of Neale, Dunkley, Clugg and Ashcroft as their mainstays. With Dev, Zorko, Rayner, Bailey, Berry and even Fletcher rolling thru in support. And yes I do think we can play all in the same team. Lyons n Tunstill are very capable depth. I'd like another mid for depth but that will be fixed up next year when Levi Ashcroft and the other lad I can't think of get drafted. I do agree that we could get a bit more out of Rayner n Bailey but their fwd roles are their strengths and I think Dev can certainly be used more inside to give Dunkley a spell. If Dev can do that I could see Dunkley play some wing or even fwd.
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At Springfield do you know Mr Ripper or elsewhere? I remember they had a couple at other venues last year.
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On paper yes midfield top shelf.
In practice , maybe we faulter with out cohesion and understanding of each other.
have been caught out a few times getting too many sucked into the contest way too often.
not quite sure how it works in there , but certain players should be told to hold there width , let players like Lockie, Dunkley and especially Dev do the grunt work , not all at the same time, that is important.
Players like Clugga need to keep width either covering defence or getting ready to receive a handball. I am talking about center bounces and stoppages. Maybe it comes down to talking? You knoe like maybe yelling Yyour ball Dev get the ****er. Or if you see two of your players at the coal furnace then hold your width or cover the opposition outside players.
Watch Pendles , he shifts position and can get into space and keep width , gives a great option if they win the ball , as he is clear.
He is the master of when to do this and what patterns to run.
Patterns to run pffft, just knows how to be evasive.
If I had to put one word on it it would be awareness .
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I would be happy with round 5 it is a long year.
So who has been training the house down this off season?
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They have played at Aspley and Zillmere before. And Morningside but that's not Northside.
Mr Ripper won't be happy if they decide on returning to "The Burp"
I imagine one will be at BHA, the other could be elsewhere.
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Fish was talking up Fletcher today..reckons the midfield beckons
McCluggage. In one of the sessions he did half an hour of running in 23 minutes.
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It sounds good in theory but still we already struggle with our spread of mid time without Ashcroft in the team. While we struggle to have solid wing options most weeks.
If Fletcher moves more onball it might have to mean McCluggage wider again, or dropping Rayner/Baileys/Dev's mid time
