Training 2024 training updates.

[sr36]

Pre-season Training - January 15th.

A late start this morning, not til about 9:40am or so.

A strong set of numbers. Only Josh Daicos was missing.
McStay made an appearance, doing some kicking for goal (right leg) some handballing, chatted to some fans, who he mentioned he would be back next January.

Checkers still away from the main group doing some running, but did participate in a light kicking drill early on.

Carmichael did some drills, but then spent the rest of his time running with Maynard and Mihocek.

Today's session was focused on fluid ball moment, and it was slick. The skills are getting better every session, and moving the ball in quick unison. Forming good connection between mids. backs and forwards.

Howe was back in defence.

During match sim, it went as followed.

• Pendles played at half back in match sim
• Crisp also back in defence
• Ryan was in the middle.

Eyre v Teakle
Hustwaite v Jordy
Fin v Lippa
Nick v Allan
Ryan v Bytel

Eyre had another impressive session, making him one of the front runners for a spot on the list. He did lots of spoiling from contests, and he actually is a real booming nice kick for his size.
Hustwaite and Bytel did some nice things
Sofronidis got involved a little more than usual, and had some nice kicking during some plays.

Teakle did a little bit ruck in some parts of match sim, but mostly spent his time forward with Eyre for company.

Pendles just defying his age, and moving like he is 20, not 36.
Bobby showed some tricks.
Fin was very impressive through the midfield, and pushed forward and kicked a few goals, one to finish off match sim from 40 metres.

Harrison was busy up forward, getting on the end of some good passages of play which resulted in him getting some shots on goal.
Both Cox and Cameron performed strongly in the ruck and forward.

It's going to be interesting to see who of our fringe forwards get opportunities this year. McInness, Harrison and AJ all need games. But not many spots likely to be available.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

Good to hear something about Macrae. Seems more times than not to be overlooked in the 'standouts'. I'm hoping he's able to muscle into the side, it's clearly his make or break year.

 

[Ted Parker]

Pottentially Louis Emmett 198cm and Tom Gross 180cm (above) from 2024 Victorian talent hubs and Oakleigh Chargers

Still has a bigger build than Will Hoskin-Elliott

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Hopefully Josh’s foot injury not too serious. Also hopefully it’s managed with utmost caution. His old man’s career was at the crossroads when he suffered his foot injury.

 

[Jen2310]

Josh said on the news, its something he has had for several years, just about managing it now so it doesnt affect the year.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Good thing Fly doesn't crucify players for mistakes.

The poster is however correct in saying that Eyre's marking has been cited as a weakness prior to training with us.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Eyre seems very light on for size and bulk

Call me strange but I like my key position types to do big man stuff well and have the size and muscle to battle against seasoned opponents

Good movement and kicking skills are nice benefits to have but I worry about his size

Given McStay’s injury I agree we have to list him but there are concerns there

The fact he is available should in itself raise some question marks about his ability to compete at the highest level.

 

[Ctracks]

The poster is however correct in saying that Eyre's marking has been cited as a weakness prior to training with us.

Eyre seems to be doing a lot of of perfectly executed spoiling in pre-season training.

 

[magpiewarrior]

The fact he is available should in itself raise some question marks about his ability to compete at the highest level.

Do you mean the same as Markov?

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Eyre seems to be doing a lot of of perfectly executed spoiling in pre-season training.

I would have thought we'd be wanting to use him as a forward rather than defender, where marking the ball as opposed to swatting it like a fly would be the more appropriate action at training.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Do you mean the same as Markov?

We are specifically referring to a player's ability to take an overhead mark not whether he is able to resurrect a career that seemed dead, though granted there is a bit of both involved with Eyre. What I thought we wouldn't need given McStay's loss is another Frampton.

 

[Ctracks]

I would have thought we'd be wanting to use him as a forward rather than defender, where marking the ball as opposed to swatting it like a fly would be the more appropriate action at training.

At the moment, he is playing in the back 50 - I believe that is where he was playing in the VFL.

 

[Ctracks]

Ash Johnson, McInness, Krueger, Teakle (backup ruck) are vying for McStay's spot in the forward 50.

 

[JuniorB]

The poster is however correct in saying that Eyre's marking has been cited as a weakness prior to training with us.

In his draft profile, his marking is listed as a strength.
Maybe it was so against other striplings, and perhaps he just needs to build his size, strength and confidence for it to be so again at AFL level.
He's still a kid after all.

 

[sr36]

Josh said on the news, its something he has had for several years, just about managing it now so it doesnt affect the year.

My bet is plantar fasciitis.

 

[sr36]

We are specifically referring to a player's ability to take an overhead mark not whether he is able to resurrect a career that seemed dead, though granted there is a bit of both involved with Eyre. What I thought we wouldn't need given McStay's loss is another Frampton.

We need another tall defender. Murphy's career may be short. Howe is nearly done and Frampton is still speculative.

 

[Ctracks]

We need another tall defender. Murphy's career may be short. Howe is nearly done and Frampton is still speculative.

Exactly.

 

[manicpie]

We need another tall defender. Murphy's career may be short. Howe is nearly done and Frampton is still speculative.

I have a feeling Sofronidis will be one of the players picked. We also have dean. Eyre would be earmarked for defence also but we probably need a quality development defender

 

[Jen2310]

I would have thought we'd be wanting to use him as a forward rather than defender, where marking the ball as opposed to swatting it like a fly would be the more appropriate action at training.

Nah, he is a defender, reads the play pretty well. He's a really good kick by foot I've noticed. Essendon made the mistake thinking he was a key forward. Fraser loves his defensive work and they view him that way.
Darcy working with him on the art of spoiling also. Which they all applauded him for during the session.

 

[Apex36]

The poster is however correct in saying that Eyre's marking has been cited as a weakness prior to training with us.

It was also cited as a strength prior to training with us too depending on who you talked to. Who to believe…?

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

It was also cited as a strength prior to training with us too depending on who you talked to. Who to believe…?

Sorry, I have missed any comment citing marking as a strength prior to him training with us. In any case, Jen assures me that he is to be used as a defender not a potential forward tall, so my comment is not terribly relevant anymore. Don't quite know where it is intended to play Frampton if Eyre is vying for a defender's role. Still leaves us then with only Johnson and Kreuger as potential McStay replacements. I don't see either Cox or Cameron filling in there unless every other option has been exhaused. But for some reason I thought Eyre was being considered for a role up forward.

 

[Ctracks]

I have a feeling Sofronidis will be one of the players picked. We also have dean. Eyre would be earmarked for defence also but we probably need a quality development defender

Could see twists and turns like Marcov last year. Collingwood to Carlton then back to Collingwood.
Eyre has the potential to be a FB/CHB.
Sofronidis is really interesting. I categorise him as a potential prototype.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I'm not sure that's what they said


And another post says this :

At least 2 of us have read in the forum that this opinion had been expressed by some Essendon supporters so I think there can be no doubt that someone has mentioned it before.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

The poster is however correct in saying that Eyre's marking has been cited as a weakness prior to training with us.

I'm not sure that's exactly what they said

To be honest Jen Eyre just dropped it for mine with Murphy having no impact. He had him cold.

While one skill error is hardly a hanging offence wasn't his marking seen by Essendon supporters as one area he needed to improve in during his time with them.

Sure I saw that posted by someone in most likely this thread.

And another post said this :

So at this stage he would be more of that intercept marking defender and not a lockdown defender on the opposition key forwards?
In the VFL last season, his marking was the feature of his game. He seemed to get into the right positions early, which shows he can read the play well and was very good marking above his head.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

At least 2 of us have read in the forum that this opinion had been expressed by some Essendon supporters so I think there can be no doubt that someone has mentioned it before.

I've since posted that reply with the relevant quotes. One poster said they were sure that was what Bombers supporters said .. whilst another poster saw Eyre play VFL & said marking was his strength.