Training 2025 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[kazzooka]

Unless there has been a change to the rules I am unaware of - I don't think Brisbane get priority access if he is in their academy - they would just have equal access and it would be up to Cooper to nominate either us or Brisbane. Frustrating, yes. Favouritism, not so much.

It is favouritism that cooper has a choice. By priority I mean that Cooper can nominate him and even if a side has pick 1 Brisbane of Hawthorn (whoever he nominates) has priority access to him.

Under father son rules of 100 games that is a well liked sentimental tradition. It's understandable why Hawthorn is entitled to it, just like Collingwood was with Daicos of Brisbane with Ashcroft and Blakey (oh wait no academy rort there too).

Brisbane have no legitimate reason why they should get that priority rights. If they get the son of an NRL legend in their academy, well done. But we're talking about a guy born in Melbourne to an AFL legend, he didn't need an academy to choose football.

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[kazzooka]

As I said elsewhere, the thought of Ramma possibly becoming the 'new Hale' gives me a chubby....

While I like the idea, mabior plays the Hale role nearly as good as storm did and offers a hell of a lot more forward pressure. Just isn't that strong body in the packs.

Ramma I know early on said that he and the club were trying to develop him to be a forward first and do relief ruck. But from box hill last year it seemed like his best position is as the main ruck.

Ruck is a hard spot, as you cannot go into a game with only 1 player that can ruck. But you also can't go in with more than 1 player who can Only ruck.

Last year we generally has 4 players that could ruck including 1 who can Only ruck in meek (Chol, Weddle and Nash the others. Dear won't ruck again I don't think)

So unless Meek, Reeves or Ramma prove that they really can play other roles better than the next best option only 1 is in the side.

If Lewis and Dear are fit and firing, Ramma would need rapid improvement to take the 3rd tall/ relief ruck spot from Chol.

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[Simon Crawshay]

While I like the idea, mabior plays the Hale role nearly as good as storm did and offers a hell of a lot more forward pressure. Just isn't that strong body in the packs.

Ramma I know early on said that he and the club were trying to develop him to be a forward first and do relief ruck. But from box hill last year it seemed like his best position is as the main ruck.

Ruck is a hard spot, as you cannot go into a game with only 1 player that can ruck. But you also can't go in with more than 1 player who can Only ruck.

Last year we generally has 4 players that could ruck including 1 who can Only ruck in meek (Chol, Weddle and Nash the others. Dear won't ruck again I don't think)

So unless Meek, Reeves or Ramma prove that they really can play other roles better than the next best option only 1 is in the side.

If Lewis and Dear are fit and firing, Ramma would need rapid improvement to take the 3rd tall/ relief ruck spot from Chol.

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All this talk of Hale makes me remember how tough old Mega Head was. Ive never seen a ruckman scrap as hard for a ground ball the way that Hailstorm used to.

He really was as tough as a cats forehead which was a common theme across our "role players" in the three peat years (Goo, Duryea, Stratton, etc).

 

[Siri]

Newmo89 what did you make of Hodge's interactions with the boys?
How'd he go fitting in?

From what I saw, the young lads remained fairly isolated from the playing group for large parts of training. They participated in goal kicking and other non contact drills, but remained with one of the trainers during match sim & contact drills, largely observing. It appeared to be more about exposure to a professional environment & learnings rather than 'try before you buy'.

 

[rei154]

From what I saw, the young lads remained fairly isolated from the playing group for large parts of training. They participated in goal kicking and other non contact drills, but remained with one of the trainers during match sim & contact drills, largely observing. It appeared to be more about exposure to a professional environment & learnings rather than 'try before you buy'.

Grouse- I forgot this is his bottom age year, too.

 

[tl92]

All this talk of Hale makes me remember how tough old Mega Head was. Ive never seen a ruckman scrap as hard for a ground ball the way that Hailstorm used to.

He really was as tough as a cats forehead which was a common theme across our "role players" in the three peat years (Goo, Duryea, Stratton, etc).

One of my favourite Hale highlights was in the dying minutes of the 2013 prelim against Geelong, ball gets kicked into the centre of the ground, contest between Hale and Blicavs. Hale has no right to win it, but if he doesn’t, cats are out in a crucial time of the game. Hale absolutely throws Blicavs away and forces a ball up. See 12 seconds >

 

[Newmo89]

Talking Hawks Take 5 piece

Take Five – Tim’s Match Sim Takeaways – Talking Hawks

bit.ly

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Grouse- I forgot this is his bottom age year, too.

I expect we will see a fair bit of him during school holidays for the next couple of years

 

[Jimmy the Ghost]

All this talk of Hale makes me remember how tough old Mega Head was. Ive never seen a ruckman scrap as hard for a ground ball the way that Hailstorm used to.

He really was as tough as a cats forehead which was a common theme across our "role players" in the three peat years (Goo, Duryea, Stratton, etc).

Bigboy says hi

 

[Coburghawk]

There hasn't been a change to the rules but there damn well should be. Northern academies were established and funded to source talent that wouldn't otherwise be exposed to footy. Having direct access to the son of a champion footballer is a f$&king rort.

Really sick and tired of this bullshit misunderstanding of Northern Academies. They are NOT designed to lure non AFL players to AFL. They are the elite pathways for junior footy in NSW and QLD. Blame the AFL, they don't fund any pathways in NSW or QLD. They outsource this to the Northern teams and pay them back by giving access. Cooper would not have a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he was not in the Brisbane academy as this is the only elite coaching and development option in QLD.

If the AFL was serious, they should fund these academies and introduce them into the Coates U18 talent league. That way they kids up north get equal quality coaching and elite pathways to that in Victoria. That is not possible at the moment without the academies.

I have a son in an academy so am pretty well versed on how these work.

 

[VernonSpots]

Really sick and tired of this bullshit misunderstanding of Northern Academies. They are NOT designed to lure non AFL players to AFL. They are the elite pathways for junior footy in NSW and QLD. Blame the AFL, they don't fund any pathways in NSW or QLD. They outsource this to the Northern teams and pay them back by giving access. Cooper would not have a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he was not in the Brisbane academy as this is the only elite coaching and development option in QLD.

If the AFL was serious, they should fund these academies and introduce them into the Coates U18 talent league. That way they kids up north get equal quality coaching and elite pathways to that in Victoria. That is not possible at the moment without the academies.

I have a son in an academy so am pretty well versed on how these work.

But don't the AFL already 'fund' GWS, Gold Coast, Lions, etc? I am prob OK with GC and GWS getting academy spoils as they have nil chance of father son for another 15+ years. It is a joke that lions and swans get the double dip of their own father sons as well as other father sons (eg blakey).

Don't think anyone is having a crack at clubs taking advantage..they are doing what we would do if we had the chance. It's AFL led method to keep giving the northern teams leg up for tv $$$

 

[Coburghawk]

But don't the AFL already 'fund' GWS, Gold Coast, Lions, etc? I am prob OK with GC and GWS getting academy spoils as they have nil chance of father son for another 15+ years. It is a joke that lions and swans get the double dip of their own father sons as well as other father sons (eg blakey).

Don't think anyone is having a crack at clubs taking advantage..they are doing what we would do if we had the chance. It's AFL led method to keep giving the northern teams leg up for tv $$$

No, the Northern clubs get increased equalisation payments from the AFL. The academies are self funded by the clubs with sponsorship and charging parents to be in the academy. It cost's over $800 a year to be in them.

 

[Mr Lizard]

fair: Cooper Hodge gets to choose

 

[KermitJagger]

Really sick and tired of this bullshit misunderstanding of Northern Academies. They are NOT designed to lure non AFL players to AFL. They are the elite pathways for junior footy in NSW and QLD. Blame the AFL, they don't fund any pathways in NSW or QLD. They outsource this to the Northern teams and pay them back by giving access. Cooper would not have a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he was not in the Brisbane academy as this is the only elite coaching and development option in QLD.

Cooper wouldn't be a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he wasn't in the Brisbane academy? Come on. The academies have been around since 2010. Last year there were 5 players selected from the Northern Academies in the draft, in 2009 there were 5 players selected from the QAFL, NEAFL and other interstate leagues.

To imply Cooper would be lost to football without the academy system is nonsense.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Bigboy says hi

View attachment 2210492

Yeh Big Boy as well, we certainly had a pair of tough as rocks rucks with those two. Maybe not the most athletic rucks but geez they could play footy.

I wonder if Big Boy paid for a yacht for the owner of the company the Hawks buy their sports tape from looking at those pics

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Really sick and tired of this bullshit misunderstanding of Northern Academies. They are NOT designed to lure non AFL players to AFL. They are the elite pathways for junior footy in NSW and QLD. Blame the AFL, they don't fund any pathways in NSW or QLD. They outsource this to the Northern teams and pay them back by giving access. Cooper would not have a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he was not in the Brisbane academy as this is the only elite coaching and development option in QLD.

If the AFL was serious, they should fund these academies and introduce them into the Coates U18 talent league. That way they kids up north get equal quality coaching and elite pathways to that in Victoria. That is not possible at the moment without the academies.

I have a son in an academy so am pretty well versed on how these work.

You wouldn't have clue if this was the case

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

fair: Cooper Hodge gets to choose

And it won't be us

 

[VernonSpots]

No, the Northern clubs get increased equalisation payments from the AFL. The academies are self funded by the clubs with sponsorship and charging parents to be in the academy. It cost's over $800 a year to be in them.

$800 seems cheap and subsidised for proper coaching and elite development.

If what you are saying is correct and it's not a rort, why can't hawthorn, essendon, West Coast go and set up an academy (self funded). Would these clubs get priority access?

 

[BIGHAWK23]

And it won't be us

If he wants to play games

He will

 

[Coburghawk]

$800 seems cheap and subsidised for proper coaching and elite development.

If what you are saying is correct and it's not a rort, why can't hawthorn, essendon, West Coast go and set up an academy (self funded). Would these clubs get priority access?

It is subsidised by corporate sponsors.

I agree, at the moment it's two different pathways. Either go back to the zone system, essentially what the academies are or have a national junior pathway funded by the AFL with no club involvement anywhere.

 

[Coburghawk]

You wouldn't have clue if this was the case

The point is it would be diminished as he would not have the same level of coaching and development as the kids in VIC get in the teenage years.

 

[ahhhhhh]

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but it is extremely unlikely the Northern academies ever go.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

The point is it would be diminished as he would not have the same level of coaching and development as the kids in VIC get in the teenage years.

If you think the son of an AFL legend would have no access to elite training programs or be involved in the Coates league ala the Ashcroft boys if he shows even a glimpse of talent or promise, your naïve unfortunately

 

[kazzooka]

Really sick and tired of this bullshit misunderstanding of Northern Academies. They are NOT designed to lure non AFL players to AFL. They are the elite pathways for junior footy in NSW and QLD. Blame the AFL, they don't fund any pathways in NSW or QLD. They outsource this to the Northern teams and pay them back by giving access. Cooper would not have a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he was not in the Brisbane academy as this is the only elite coaching and development option in QLD.

If the AFL was serious, they should fund these academies and introduce them into the Coates U18 talent league. That way they kids up north get equal quality coaching and elite pathways to that in Victoria. That is not possible at the moment without the academies.

I have a son in an academy so am pretty well versed on how these work.

The thing is, some of these players from Brisbane academy and up going to private schools in Melbourne and playing for Sandringham Dragons. It's a rort that Brisbane get access to those players.

While I acknowledge that NSW and QLD don't have the same pathways available as kids in VIC, SA and WA doesn't mean that those clubs should have exclusive rights to run those academies. Why can't West Coast and Hawthorn run academies in QLD and NSW and give elite development in exchange for priority access too?

You cannot have 4 clubs allowed access to this but not all. That is what makes it unfair.

If you excluded those 4 clubs from also accessing the draft maybe it could be fairer.

Also if Cooper wanted to be an AFL player, he had more opportunity than most even without the Brisbane academy. Cyril Rioli moved from NT to Melbourne to go to Scotch College so he could be an AFL player. Cooper Hodge could have done the same. Joe bloggs from Currumbin maybe can't, but Cooper Hodge can.

 

[kazzooka]

Cooper wouldn't be a chance of playing father son for Hawthorn if he wasn't in the Brisbane academy? Come on. The academies have been around since 2010. Last year there were 5 players selected from the Northern Academies in the draft, in 2009 there were 5 players selected from the QAFL, NEAFL and other interstate leagues.

To imply Cooper would be lost to football without the academy system is nonsense.

Jason dunstall did okay without an Academy.