Training 2025 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion
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H00t
Norm Smith Medallist
- Sep 28, 2019
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Frost provides more run out of defence than Dimma he just doesn’t have the kicking skills. Both are good at locking down small forwards which is more why Frost can replace Dimma
Dimma as a forward plays a lot more tall than small despite his height. Just need him to use his strength to make a contest.
We’d lose a bit of strength in the aerial contest but retain more of our groundball ability which was where our forward line shined this year. As Gunston doesn’t offer much there anymore and it’s far from a strength of Sicily’s.
There’s logic to it.
- Jun 11, 2013
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Dimma isn't a running defender that's Amon and Impey primarily. Frost's ideal position is as a flexible lockdown defender that can play big or small depending on matchup
And Calsher plays more like Gunston than a Lewis/Chol, which is exactly the way Dimma plays. Plus they share superior pressure and ground ball work than a typical KPF
Dealing with the loss of Calsher will take some tinkering especially if the above set up doesn't work but I'd suspect that's the most likely outcome for R1 barring injuries and pre-season form
- Oct 1, 2014
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Nah.
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude. (IIRC then repeat about 10 zillion times)
- Jun 11, 2013
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Which part? Both sam (lol, Mitchell) and frost have spoken about how he played out of position last year and he's more suited to playing on smalls-mediums because of his pace
I wanna pash Nash
Debutant
- Jul 8, 2024
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A stress fracture is the end result of a stress reaction. Importantly not all stress reactions end up being a stress fracture. It sounds like Calsh hasn't completely fractured otherwise it would be 12 weeks no load minimum and probably anything before the bye is very optimistic return to play.
Bone breaks two ways, either a high amount of force over a very short period like Butler last year (acute fracture). Or when you have a low level of force over a long enough period of time without enough recovery (stress fracture).
You develop bone stress anytime you load a bone, it's needed for adaptation. But if it builds up over time you get what they call a bone reaction. Sounds like Dear has had a bit too much load without enough recovery and he's entered the awkward grey area of needing some time off to let it settle.
How much time will be up to his body and how effective his recovery modalities are. These are frustrating for fans because there isn't a concrete timeline (see Day's foot last pre season).
Bone breaks two ways, either a high amount of force over a very short period like Butler last year (acute fracture). Or when you have a low level of force over a long enough period of time without enough recovery (stress fracture).
You develop bone stress anytime you load a bone, it's needed for adaptation. But if it builds up over time you get what they call a bone reaction. Sounds like Dear has had a bit too much load without enough recovery and he's entered the awkward grey area of needing some time off to let it settle.
How much time will be up to his body and how effective his recovery modalities are. These are frustrating for fans because there isn't a concrete timeline (see Day's foot last pre season).
- Oct 31, 2023
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With the hoohaa about defenders going forward there is one bloke not mentioned - esp with Dear going down.
Sam Frost.
He could alternate with Chol in taking the 2nd ruck chop-out.
The two big plusses from that is:
1) It keeps Weddle well away from the ruck
2) Sic is free to take probably the 3rd or even 4th forward as opposition, meaning he could dominate across CHB.
Forward
Macdonald Frost Watson
Ginnivan Chol Frost
On 'Bench': Gunston / Breust plus rotating mids (Moore, Newk)
Back
Hardwick Barrass Impey
Sicily Battle Scrimshaw
On 'Bench' or rotating: Amon, Weddle.
Frosty has rucked very well before but hasn't had any meaningful forward exposure at AFL level, hence only kicking 9 goals!
Frosty is quick off the mark, a good height and is very good in man-on-man contests - but most importantly of all can play short or tall.
If Frost goes forward, Sicily absolutely dominates down back, and as we saw last season can launch 55m attacking kicks from half-back to absolutely open up the opposition.
I'd be interested to hear from track watchers where frosty is training when he returns to contact drills.
Oh - MERRY XMAS TO ALL
Sam Frost.
He could alternate with Chol in taking the 2nd ruck chop-out.
The two big plusses from that is:
1) It keeps Weddle well away from the ruck
2) Sic is free to take probably the 3rd or even 4th forward as opposition, meaning he could dominate across CHB.
Forward
Macdonald Frost Watson
Ginnivan Chol Frost
On 'Bench': Gunston / Breust plus rotating mids (Moore, Newk)
Back
Hardwick Barrass Impey
Sicily Battle Scrimshaw
On 'Bench' or rotating: Amon, Weddle.
Frosty has rucked very well before but hasn't had any meaningful forward exposure at AFL level, hence only kicking 9 goals!
Frosty is quick off the mark, a good height and is very good in man-on-man contests - but most importantly of all can play short or tall.
If Frost goes forward, Sicily absolutely dominates down back, and as we saw last season can launch 55m attacking kicks from half-back to absolutely open up the opposition.
I'd be interested to hear from track watchers where frosty is training when he returns to contact drills.
Oh - MERRY XMAS TO ALL
Dewnior
Brownlow Medallist
- Dec 22, 2007
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I'm tipping Croc to be biggest improver in 2025. I reckon the bloke is ready to explode.
extractasam
Club Legend
Do you think he will spend more time in midfield rotations next year?
For some reason I don’t think Sam has Croc pencilled as a centre bounce mid whatsoever. He had 8 cba’s for the whole season.
Maybe a half forward that drifts up and back and loses his opponent on transition. But I wonder what the next step for him is, I feel Dylan Moore is already playing the role Croc needs to be in to really explode.
- Jan 30, 2014
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big footy cyril
Team Captain
- Sep 16, 2009
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Being an off season thread and all, Merry Christmas mofos 
Dewnior
Brownlow Medallist
- Dec 22, 2007
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Is elite for his position in everything but goals. Watch him kick 40+ next year.
- Jun 28, 2013
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He’s a great kick for goal. To me he is more of play maker that can roost where there are no better options
Nothing wrong with 2 Dylan Moore’s
HedgeFund
Norm Smith Medallist
So would Nash, but he doesn’t play forward either. Why?
A: neither of them have much goal sense.
They’re both big bodied midfielders who run hard and use their bodies well in traffic.
Finn kicked 3 goals once in a game.
Otherwise he has kicked a single goal 7 times and no goals 37 times.
That’s not a realistic forward option in my book.
CaptainWorpedo
Premiership Player
- Feb 15, 2021
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Yes, because players don’t look to improve or take on new roles ever aye.
extractasam
Club Legend
Oh absolutely I’d take it.
More just who’s cba’s are you taking away to achieve it. Do you halve dyl Moores, do you take away a small portion of all the mids currently getting the majority? I wouldn’t be keen to see Cam McKenzies minutes in there reduced.
Its interesting to see where the balance will end up and I’m excited for it
Newmo89
Club Legend
- Jul 27, 2021
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Six Points: Burning Questions Part 2, 2025 by Talking Hawks
Ollie and Tim discuss six burning questions they have after the first block of Pre Season training ahead of Hawthorn's tilt for a flag in 2025. Player sponsor experience: https://bit.ly/3x7frj6 Give TH a 5-star review! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingHawks Follow on...
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Talking Hawks Podcast - Burning Questions #2
HedgeFund
Norm Smith Medallist
Finn has played in the forward line when he has been assigned a player to run with (eg. Daicos).
By all means you can ask Sam and the coaching staff why they’ve continued to play Finn as a midfielder.
Initially as a negating one and now with a bit more offensive licence.
Nash’s performance at AFL level improved once he was settled in a discrete role, rather than being tried in multiple positions by Clarkson.
Neither of those guys have the forward nous required to play there full time.
Still- it’s not like our coaches know what they’re doing though….is it.
