Training 2024 training updates.

[Vicky Park]

I have no idea about Eyre’s time at Essendon. But I love the idea of adding him to our list and then he goes bang, to spite Essendon. Like Oleg with Carlton last year.

 

[Harry O]

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.

Hopefully has more luck getting a spot on list than that kid from Queensland we all had anointed as the next big thing a few years ago

 

[Jen2310]

Hopefully has more luck getting a spot on list than that kid from Queensland we all had anointed as the next big thing a few years ago

Yeah, in hindsight, Eyre has more talent than what we thought of Briskey (who was more raw potential than anything else), who hasnt done much since. He's now gonna play for coburg after a lack of opportunities at port melb.

 

[manicpie]

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.

We'll find out because I think he and Sofranidis are going to get the chance

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

We'll find out because I think he and Sofranidis are going to get the chance

Do you think Sof will get picked up?

Do you think we'll pick 3 players? Which one of the mids?

 

[Mollythedolly]

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

His marking was also listed as a strength in his draft profile unless I’m mistaken.

 

[manicpie]

Do you think Sof will get picked up?

Do you think we'll pick 3 players? Which one of the mids?

Not sure about the mids mate. With Fin and possibly Allen showing they can play some good senior footy next year, they might hold back till mid season. But Eyre looks like he could be a valuable back up defener and Sofronidis has that awkward body shape and height and pace, which can be turned into a valuable defensive weapon. I've played against some of those rangy players and they are a nightmare to match up on. They also have more strength than people think. We all laugh about WHE having no body but I bet you or I couldn't bump him off balance. I could be so wrong but you never know

 

[Mollythedolly]

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.

Apart from a period of time when the Bombers tried to turn him into a key forward he’s played almost exclusively as a key defender. Even his father described him as a defender in his chats with Jen. Why should we try to turn him into something he isn’t?

 

[Mollythedolly]

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

Like Checkers and Langdon (among a heap of others league wide) who were late starters you mean?

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Not sure about the mids mate. With Fin and possibly Allen showing they can play some good senior footy next year, they might hold back till mid season. But Eyre looks like he could be a valuable back up defener and Sofronidis has that awkward body shape and height and pace, which can be turned into a valuable defensive weapon. I've played against some of those rangy players and they are a nightmare to match up on. They also have more strength than people think. We all laugh about WHE having no body but I bet you or I couldn't bump him off balance. I could be so wrong but you never know

Yeah he's reminded me of Wilba in body shape & size..and also from the little I've seen of match sim via Jen's videos.

Hosk just throws his body at the contest, similar to Leggy. Both have saved us so many times in crucial games, and they both have slighter frames. So Sof makes sense in that regard if the coaches see him along those lines.

I think we have 4 spots available don't we if Dan (most likely) goes on the LTI list. So maybe pick 2-3 now & 1 for MSD..?

But who knows what they're looking for. I'm trying not to get attached to any of them just yet, lol.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

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

He's only just turned 21. Look at the success we've had with players much older than 21, who were not getting games at the highest level.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Apart from a period of time when the Bombers tried to turn him into a key forward he’s played almost exclusively as a key defender. Even his father described him as a defender in his chats with Jen. Why should we try to turn him into something he isn’t?

When I saw the bit of video today of Eyre opposed to Murphy in what looked like match simulation I made the assumption he was being tried as a forward.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Like Checkers and Langdon (among a heap of others league wide) who were late starters you mean?

Although if he is only 21 and has come from a stint at Essendon, he could hardly be called a late starter. Actually, if he is only 21 and 198cm, I am very surprised Essendon did not persevere with him. Seems unusual to not allow a tall KPP time to develop.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

When I saw the bit of video today of Eyre opposed to Murphy in what looked like match simulation I made the assumption he was being tried as a forward.

Sometimes I think they have 2 players in marking/spoiling exercises & whoever wins stays in to compete against the next player..so it can end up being any players competing against each other. I could be wrong, but I think that's what that footage was of.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Although if he is only 21 and has come from a stint at Essendon, he could hardly be called a late starter. Actually, if he is only 21 and 198cm, I am very surprised Essendon did not persevere with him. Seems unusual to not allow a tall KPP time to develop.

Checkers - Port Melbourne; Eyre - Essendon…. Same - same.

Essendon had a heap of talls, he was just seen as the most expendable. His hamstring issues at the Bombers probably didn’t help his cause.

 

[Jen2310]

Checkers - Port Melbourne; Eyre - Essendon…. Same - same.

Essendon had a heap of talls, he was just seen as the most expendable. His hamstring issues at the Bombers probably didn’t help his cause.

also at essendon, it took them a year to discover he was a defender. And lets also remember he was drafted in a covid affected year in 2020, and being a tall, they take time as it is.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

also at essendon, it took them a year to discover he was a defender. And lets also remember he was drafted in a covid affected year in 2020, and being a tall, they take time as it is.

Exactly! So why would Essendon delist him so quickly?

 

[Jen2310]

Exactly! So why would Essendon delist him so quickly?

He was classified as unlucky at the time. Was the very last to be delisted on the very last day of list lodgement. Just came on the other side of things when they re-recruited Tippa and didnt have any list spots left. Probably didn't help they had a lot of talls as it was.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Checkers - Port Melbourne; Eyre - Essendon…. Same - same.

Essendon had a heap of talls, he was just seen as the most expendable. His hamstring issues at the Bombers probably didn’t help his cause.

It's not the same thing. Eyre was drafted as an academy player by an AFL club and is 21. Checkers played with a VFL club and was about 23-4 when picked up as a rookie.

 

[Jen2310]

It's not the same thing. Eyre was drafted as an academy player by an AFL club and is 21. Checkers played with a VFL club and was about 23-4 when picked up as a rookie.

Also to note, Eyre was technically an academy player, but also.. he wasn't. He wasn't even in Essendon's academy system. It was close to the draft that they discovered he was eligible with his heritage, and just listed him. They got him by chance. He might have been better if they let him go to richmond, who bidded on him at the time.

But hopefully things work out as they were meant to, and their loss, our gain.

 

[Fat Jesus]

Exactly! So why would Essendon delist him so quickly?

Essendon have to many talls on their list.
Main reason.
They felt he needed more time to make the grade.
Dunno but they saw him more as a forward.
Defending is likely what Eyre is better at.

 

[magpies42]

Essendon have to many talls on their list.
Main reason.
They felt he needed more time to make the grade.
Dunno but they saw him more as a forward.
Defending is likely what Eyre is better at.

He still could be a forward but either way, I’d have options on the whiteboard.

Everyone forgetting that Frampton was a bit of confidence off kicking 3 goals in a grand final. No reason why he couldn’t play him FF. Our system will kick goals we just can’t afford to be intercepted. Our 2018 almost premiership was similar with Cox bringing the ball to ground.

Krueger is similar to Eyre, if fit can contribute. Dean has also shown glimpses and we know what Mihocek and Moore are capable of.

We also have tow handy ruckmen that compete well in the air.

Granted we have limited A grade tall stocks…I think we have what we need to win.

 

[sam_e]

FWIW, refer “Strengths” p/Eyre’s Draft Rookie Profile.

Joshua Eyre Draft Profile

central.rookieme.com

 

[Apex36]

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.

I think they intend to play Frampton in the same role he played round 1 last year, in the VFL, assuming our key defence stocks are healthy.
I believe it’s been established that Reef is also competing for McStays spot. I know he’s not like for like (neither is AJ), but I think we’re going to have to accept that there will be a different dynamic to the forward line this year, and the coaches are obviously preparing the team to play as such.

 

[manicpie]

I think they intend to play Frampton in the same role he played round 1 last year, in the VFL, assuming our key defence stocks are healthy.
I believe it’s been established that Reef is also competing for McStays spot. I know he’s not like for like (neither is AJ), but I think we’re going to have to accept that there will be a different dynamic to the forward line this year, and the coaches are obviously preparing the team to play as such.

If Reef and AJ can find form we will still be the most versatile forward line in the comp. Our forward line strength is that we have small players who are all really hard to match up on.