2025 Pre-Season chat

[Hamingja]

2pm start in Feb. What could possibly go wrong?

They will just bring it forward to 10am with no public access or telecast

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Big year for O'Sullivan and Neale I hope

This has to be neales year without competition for his spot (and in a contract year too) this is where he makes a genuine fist of being a quality afl player (he could go either way at this point).

I hope knevitt and Clark take big steps forward this year and I am pretty confident they will.

 

[Tex]

This has to be neales year without competition for his spot (and in a contract year too) this is where he makes a genuine fist of being a quality afl player (he could go either way at this point).

I hope knevitt and Clark take big steps forward this year and I am pretty confident they will.

All 4- O'Sullivan, Neale, Knevitt, Clark are in my '2025 team'.

 

[Lana]

We have a new club president, it is telling how few waves that makes

 

[The rabbi]

We have a new club president, it is telling how few waves that makes

Your post was the first that I have heard of it.
It caused me to check the Cats web page.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Huh - if only i was capable of cornering any housing market ! Anyway, like both the SA lads recruited this year - probably slow burners but both have the physical tools and skills so should go well in our development system. I have spoken to people who know both of them and they are really humble, hard workers, so that’s about all you can ask for at this point.

It was a joke. The SA market cornered itself. They never prepared for this level of population growth

 

[CatToTheFuture]

We have a new club president, it is telling how few waves that makes

Drummond gave a pretty long run up though, and he himself was fairly anonymous.

I wonder if there's any conspiracies we can spread about Boston consulting and the club?

We can can it the Angolan angle

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/bcg-admits-it-paid-bribes-to-win-consulting-business-in-angola-20240902-p5k7aj&ved=2ahUKEwjf1vWZqrOKAxX_UWwGHXgGBKgQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2TUWvaNwiOblQr2kJBRYj0

 

[Lana]

Drummond gave a pretty long run up though, and he himself was fairly anonymous.

I wonder if there's any conspiracies we can spread about Boston consulting and the club?

We can can it the Angolan angle

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/bcg-admits-it-paid-bribes-to-win-consulting-business-in-angola-20240902-p5k7aj&ved=2ahUKEwjf1vWZqrOKAxX_UWwGHXgGBKgQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2TUWvaNwiOblQr2kJBRYj0

He who cheats wins

 

[Lingsface]

All 4- O'Sullivan, Neale, Knevitt, Clark are in my '2025 team'.

Who misses out?

 

[ShadowCat]

Who misses out?

Atkins, Bowes, Stanley, Duncan - once he hits 300 - Bews, Rohan and Tuohy, for mine (Neale already solidified his spot taking over from Hawkins).

Essentially -

B. Smith / T. Atkins
O'Sullivan / Stanley (via SDK to the ruck)
C. Guthrie / Duncan
Knevitt / Tuohy
Clark / Bowes
J. Martin / Rohan
S. Neale / T. Hawkins

B: J. Henry, C. O'Sullivan, Zuthrie
HB: T. Stewart, Kolo, L. Humphries
C: Dempsey, Danger, Miers
FO: SDK, B. Smith, Holmes
HF: O. Henry, J. Cameron, J. Martin
F: Stengle, S. Neale, Close
INT: Blicavs, Knevitt, Bruhn, C. Guthrie
Sub: J. Clark,


EMG: Conway, Duncan, T. Atkins, Bowes

This won't happen immediately, but I think it could happen at some point in 2025, if the development continues for Knevitt, O'Sullivan and Clark. Neale's spot is locked.

 

[Lingsface]

Atkins, Bowes, Stanley, Duncan - once he hits 300 - Bews, Rohan and Tuohy, for mine (Neale already solidified his spot taking over from Hawkins).

Essentially -

B. Smith / T. Atkins
O'Sullivan / Stanley (via SDK to the ruck)
C. Guthrie / Duncan
Knevitt / Tuohy
Clark / Bowes
J. Martin / Rohan
S. Neale / T. Hawkins

B: J. Henry, C. O'Sullivan, Zuthrie
HB: T. Stewart, Kolo, L. Humphries
C: Dempsey, Danger, Miers
FO: SDK, B. Smith, Holmes
HF: O. Henry, J. Cameron, J. Martin
F: Stengle, S. Neale, Close
INT: Blicavs, Knevitt, Bruhn, C. Guthrie
Sub: J. Clark,


EMG: Conway, Duncan, T. Atkins, Bowes

This won't happen immediately, but I think it could happen at some point in 2025, if the development continues for Knevitt, O'Sullivan and Clark. Neale's spot is locked.

I like it but Bowes looked like a real force towards the end. Also I just love Atkins grunt I think Knevitt and Clark need to lift another level to be worthy of their spot.

 

[Tex]

Who misses out?

Kolo SDK J Henry
Stewart O'Sullivan Zuthrie
Holmes Dangerfield Dempsey
Close Cameron Miers
Stengle Neale O Henry
Conway Smith Bruhn
Humphries Clark Knevitt Bowes

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Kolo SDK J Henry
Stewart O'Sullivan Zuthrie
Holmes Dangerfield Dempsey
Close Cameron Miers
Stengle Neale O Henry
Conway Smith Bruhn
Humphries Clark Knevitt Bowes

You forgot mannagh.

 

[Tex]

You forgot mannagh.

No, I didn't forget him. He's not in my team.

 

[bombersboy]

No, I didn't forget him. He's not in my team.

Going into the season Mannagh plays before Clark, Knevitt and Bowes all day, every day. He is a lock best 22 for the next 2-3 years. He could go to the next level this year and be in All Australian discussion having had 1 years experience at AFL level.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

No, I didn't forget him. He's not in my team.

He will be in the 22 without a doubt as he should be.

 

[Mattttty]

He will be in the 22 without a doubt as he should be.

Yeah, this is a good call. And it points to just how wonderful a recruit he was.

Mannagh is a potential star in my books and no way on Earth I'd leave him out of best 22 next year. He was our most valuable player on the ground more than once from memory. And he does both the attention-grabbing things - goals, assists, nice decision-making and creative execution - as well as the other important things - chasing hard, tackling, getting into good spots to receive and support. By all accounts he's also a very good team man and plays a leadership role of sorts with the other early years players who are quite a bit younger than him.

With a proper AFL pre-season under his belt, I'm excited to see what he might be capable of!

 

[Phill Hendo]

Kolo SDK J Henry
Stewart O'Sullivan Zuthrie
Holmes Dangerfield Dempsey
Close Cameron Miers
Stengle Neale O Henry
Conway Smith Bruhn
Humphries Clark Knevitt Bowes

Lots of young guys I think everyone has high hopes for in your side. Every one has opinions and maybe Knevitt and Clark push Mannagh and Atkins out. Your backline is also very tall I would say.

You leave out Mannagh and Atkins, others leave out Bowes and Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie are still around too. Not a bad position for the Cats to be in.

 

[Lingsface]

Yeah, this is a good call. And it points to just how wonderful a recruit he was.

Mannagh is a potential star in my books and no way on Earth I'd leave him out of best 22 next year. He was our most valuable player on the ground more than once from memory. And he does both the attention-grabbing things - goals, assists, nice decision-making and creative execution - as well as the other important things - chasing hard, tackling, getting into good spots to receive and support. By all accounts he's also a very good team man and plays a leadership role of sorts with the other early years players who are quite a bit younger than him.

With a proper AFL pre-season under his belt, I'm excited to see what he might be capable of!

Couldn’t agree more love the way he plays.

 

[Lingsface]

Lots of young guys I think everyone has high hopes for in your side. Every one has opinions and maybe Knevitt and Clark push Mannagh and Atkins out. Your backline is also very tall I would say.

You leave out Mannagh and Atkins, others leave out Bowes and Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie are still around too. Not a bad position for the Cats to be in.

If you told me we had this much midfield depth 2 years ago I wouldn’t of believed you.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

If you told me we had this much midfield depth 2 years ago I wouldn’t of believed you.

Little overstated IMO.

The club has done an exceptional job to build a real quality group of young talent over the last few years, and navigate the transition from the abyss to a seemingly bright future with this crop.

With that being said, our midfield depth looks better on paper/name brand value than it actually is. For instance:

Mitch Duncan - Unfortunately, he's Mitch Duncan in name only these days, and wouldn't even be classified as a midfielder. Still flashes moments of brilliance, but through no fault of his own, he's running on fumes.

Cam Guthrie - Jury is still out purely through a lack of data, but until he can prove he can actually stay on the park, he's a tier below Duncan IMO.

Jhye Clark & Mitch Knevitt - Some real promise here, but by that same token we'd want them to be cementing themselves in the 22 this year in order to expect long careers out of these two. I rate both, but in 2024 there needs to be production rather than promise.

Jack Bowes, Tom Atkins, & Mark O'Connor - Whether these guys are actually considered 'depth' or not depends almost entirely on what the previously mentioned names provide us in 2025. It's highly unlikely that all of the names in this post are considered depth at any given time.

*************************

I'd say we're somewhere around about league average.

Some veterans who may or may not be cooked, and some kids who aren't yet ready/potentially aren't any good.

Of course that's all got the potential to change. Clark & Knevitt (or Clohesy) could break out in 2025. Duncan & Guthrie could squeeze whatever juice is left in the orange for one last hurrah, and we suddenly have an oversupply of riches.

On exposed form though, that's not what we're dealing with.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Little overstated IMO.

The club has done an exceptional job to build a real quality group of young talent over the last few years, and navigate the transition from the abyss to a seemingly bright future with this crop.

With that being said, our midfield depth looks better on paper/name brand value than it actually is. For instance:

Mitch Duncan - Unfortunately, he's Mitch Duncan in name only these days, and wouldn't even be classified as a midfielder. Still flashes moments of brilliance, but through no fault of his own, he's running on fumes.

Cam Guthrie - Jury is still out purely through a lack of data, but until he can prove he can actually stay on the park, he's a tier below Duncan IMO.

Jhye Clark & Mitch Knevitt - Some real promise here, but by that same token we'd want them to be cementing themselves in the 22 this year in order to expect long careers out of these two. I rate both, but in 2024 there needs to be production rather than promise.

Jack Bowes, Tom Atkins, & Mark O'Connor - Whether these guys are actually considered 'depth' or not depends almost entirely on what the previously mentioned names provide us in 2025. It's highly unlikely that all of the names in this post are considered depth at any given time.

*************************

I'd say we're somewhere around about league average.

Some veterans who may or may not be cooked, and some kids who aren't yet ready/potentially aren't any good.

Of course that's all got the potential to change. Clark & Knevitt (or Clohesy) could break out in 2025. Duncan & Guthrie could squeeze whatever juice is left in the orange for one last hurrah, and we suddenly have an oversupply of riches.

On exposed form though, that's not what we're dealing with.

I'll take a Mitch Duncan on fumes any day of the week please

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Little overstated IMO.

The club has done an exceptional job to build a real quality group of young talent over the last few years, and navigate the transition from the abyss to a seemingly bright future with this crop.

With that being said, our midfield depth looks better on paper/name brand value than it actually is. For instance:

Mitch Duncan - Unfortunately, he's Mitch Duncan in name only these days, and wouldn't even be classified as a midfielder. Still flashes moments of brilliance, but through no fault of his own, he's running on fumes.

Cam Guthrie - Jury is still out purely through a lack of data, but until he can prove he can actually stay on the park, he's a tier below Duncan IMO.

Jhye Clark & Mitch Knevitt - Some real promise here, but by that same token we'd want them to be cementing themselves in the 22 this year in order to expect long careers out of these two. I rate both, but in 2024 there needs to be production rather than promise.

Jack Bowes, Tom Atkins, & Mark O'Connor - Whether these guys are actually considered 'depth' or not depends almost entirely on what the previously mentioned names provide us in 2025. It's highly unlikely that all of the names in this post are considered depth at any given time.

*************************

I'd say we're somewhere around about league average.

Some veterans who may or may not be cooked, and some kids who aren't yet ready/potentially aren't any good.

Of course that's all got the potential to change. Clark & Knevitt (or Clohesy) could break out in 2025. Duncan & Guthrie could squeeze whatever juice is left in the orange for one last hurrah, and we suddenly have an oversupply of riches.

On exposed form though, that's not what we're dealing with.

Also, if you told me a year ago we'd be calling Tom Atkins depth by now I'd fall off my chair

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I'll take a Mitch Duncan on fumes any day of the week please

Fair enough, the point was more so that he's not a midfielder though.

Also, if you told me a year ago we'd be calling Tom Atkins depth by now I'd fall off my chair

He's not, at least not in my view anyway.

We'd need one of Clark, Knevitt, or Clohesy to really kick on, potentially even two of them to get him out of the side.

The OP left had those names on the fringes, so that's what I went with.

The point was in reality it's highly unlikely all of those guys are considered 'depth' at once, including MOC, Bowes etc too.

They only all become depth if they get replaced by Smith and the youngsters come on, which remains to be seen.

 

[Tony Barber]

I'll take a Mitch Duncan on fumes any day of the week please

Fat load of good that did us in the prelim. He gave zero.
His time is already up.