2025 Pre-Season chat

[CatToTheFuture]

Not that far away from our interest with genetics and father son.

That eugenics program hasn't provided an ubermensch in 20 years though

 

[longtimecat]

looks like Z Guthrie gets bigger every year, he looks big enough to be a key defender.

 

[My Tilly]

looks like Z Guthrie gets bigger every year, he looks big enough to be a key defender.

Remarkable persistence.
Put my hand up as I wrote him off early on. Thought he got a pass because of his older brother but he's not only displayed excellent leadership qualities through those early turbulent years, he has become the complete footballer.

In fact, there is a reason why we have the luxury of moving Tom Stewart through midfield and that's due to how proficient Zach has become down back.

 

[BORIS332]

Remarkable persistence.
Put my hand up as I wrote him off early on. Thought he got a pass because of his older brother but he's not only displayed excellent leadership qualities through those early turbulent years, he has become the complete footballer.

In fact, there is a reason why we have the luxury of moving Tom Stewart through midfield and that's due to how proficient Zach has become down back.

Spot on. I don't think many would dispute the fact Zuthrie was better than Stewart down back in 2024. No one would've believed that was possible only a few years back.

 

[dazbroncos]

Hey everyone, I hope you're all well. I just came in to check on some pre-season news.

Anything exciting?

im cooking marshmellows out my windows driving down Sunset.

GO Catters

 

[The rabbi]

Remarkable persistence.
Put my hand up as I wrote him off early on. Thought he got a pass because of his older brother but he's not only displayed excellent leadership qualities through those early turbulent years, he has become the complete footballer.

In fact, there is a reason why we have the luxury of moving Tom Stewart through midfield and that's due to how proficient Zach has become down back.

Has anyone considered whether Guthrie the Younger should have a run through the midfield?
After all Guthrie the Elder started his career as a back flanker before moving to the middle.

 

[My Tilly]

Has anyone considered whether Guthrie the Younger should have a run through the midfield?
After all Guthrie the Elder started his career as a back flanker before moving to the middle.

Definitely thought it myself. I guess we lack that really strong mid-sized defender. Humphries is coming along nicely but still raw.
Duncan and Bews are not good enough in aerial contests. Kolodjashnij is the next best option and he is often isolated.

It seems like Zach is the one who can fill the void for whenever Stewart shows signs of declining.

 

[cats_09]

For those unaware

 

[cats_09]

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

im cooking marshmellows out my windows driving down Sunset.

GO Catters

Stick 'em on a car bonnet here to cook.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I was in the not draft him camp, he didn't really stand out to me. He had a few intangibles mainly around application of pressure around the stoppage but pick 8 was way too early for that. I don't like how he didn't really break away from or through congestition. His ball use wasn't particular interesting.

We have a lot of competition for inside mid rotations, and we already play an extra mid then most. Pulling him out of the midfield rotations is for the best, get him a little more well rounded, a hope with a few years on the running track and in the gym, he becomes useable at AFL level. I think he'll get games and like Parfitt, some of them will be good ones. Wouldn't surprise me if he is traded in the short term.

I wasn't sold on him when we picked him either to be honest. It wasn't like Holmes where even on his extremely limited highlights I couldn't believe he wasn't snapped up before we got him. I didn't see obvious standout traits with Clark.

My big hope is that his footy IQ is elite. He showed glimpses of that last year. But with his lack of obvious physical gifts it will need to be to become a quality mid.

Realistically we'll know this year whether he's any real chance of making it in a big way. Plenty of gun mids have taken until their 3rd season to make an impact. Not many who weren't locked in to the best 22 by the end of their 3rd year came good after that.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I wasn't sold on him when we picked him either to be honest. It wasn't like Holmes where even on his extremely limited highlights I couldn't believe he wasn't snapped up before we got him. I didn't see obvious standout traits with Clark.

My big hope is that his footy IQ is elite. He showed glimpses of that last year. But with his lack of obvious physical gifts it will need to be to become a quality mid.

Realistically we'll know this year whether he's any real chance of making it in a big way. Plenty of gun mids have taken until their 3rd season to make an impact. Not many who weren't locked in to the best 22 by the end of their 3rd year came good after that.

His footy IQ is very very good and he has a will to win contests or at least halve them that you can't teach. The issue is his body is not there with his mind yet for the type of role he needs to play-ie you aren't easing him in as a small back or small forward where you don't need the same levels of physical strength or endurance. If we can get his body to where it needs to be he will be a very very good player but that is the IF. It's realistically too early to tell yet.

 

[iameviljez]

Stick 'em on a car bonnet here to cook.

I could toast one oddly specific marshmallow on my seatbelt buckle...

 

[Two Planks]

Thought I'd come down to training before work, gates open at 8.15 and just been told the players will be coming out at 9.30. To late for me.

 

[cats_09]

Hope those going to today's training enjoy

And I'm not expecting anything serious out on the training track, always happy for any updates

 

[Two Planks]

They've just announced its a light session as the main session was yesterday.

 

[iameviljez]

Thought I'd come down to training before work, gates open at 8.15 and just been told the players will be coming out at 9.30. To late for me.

Same here, and besides, Chris would probably say no before I can even join in properly, just like last time.

 

[longtimecat]

Is there any chance , we could keep George Stevens on our list and train him to play as a back pocket. He is a unit and reminds me of Josh Hunt.

 

[Johnny Cattery]

im cooking marshmellows out my windows driving down Sunset.

GO Catters

glad to hear from you Daz ... things looking pretty grim in your neck of the woods. Hope you're trusting your victorian fire smarts and not waiting for the official warnings .... impossible for the comms to keep up in those conditions.

 

[Kitcat]

His footy IQ is very very good and he has a will to win contests or at least halve them that you can't teach. The issue is his body is not there with his mind yet for the type of role he needs to play-ie you aren't easing him in as a small back or small forward where you don't need the same levels of physical strength or endurance. If we can get his body to where it needs to be he will be a very very good player but that is the IF. It's realistically too early to tell yet.

Clark was clean in his early games last season and looked like he would improve with more time, but then he started getting pushed aside and his confidence dropped, and fumbling crept in. It doesn't help that he lacks zip for a player of his size, but on the other hand, it didn't help that he was playing in a small midfield that was barely holding its own, and without a good ruckman.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

im cooking marshmellows out my windows driving down Sunset.

GO Catters

I saw some video of some palm trees burning while bent over sideways in the wind. Looked like someone put a bonfire in a wind tunnel

Stay safe Daz

 

[patience]

Daz, hope all is well with you and the family.

 

[small 4wards]

On Clark, I reckon if he sticks half of his failed tackles this year we'd be lauding his intent and pressure. He doesn't have the body for that just yet but once he does, I think his effort is really going to stand out.

 

[dazbroncos]

I saw some video of some palm trees burning while bent over sideways in the wind. Looked like someone put a bonfire in a wind tunnel

Stay safe Daz

160kph winds with 2 million embers like cricket balls in the breeze.

We've had bigger and badder fires at home but the intensity of this was unique and whats more is the population density made it worse.

And then add the complete lack of civilian fire safety awareness overall in the populated residential areas and it was never gonna end well.

Didnt matter how many trucks, water stations, planes and choppers ( that couldnt be up anyway) were there that firestorm wasnt being stopped.
Add the issues they all encountered and we have what we see now.

Fortunately im locaed in between Palisades and Eaton fire so with some luck and a little good management we'll continue to be ok. But we will see with the winds coming back tomorrow.

So thats my pre season update.

Thanks and be safe all

GO Catters and all the Fireys.

 

[D BRIDGE]

On Clark, I reckon if he sticks half of his failed tackles this year we'd be lauding his intent and pressure. He doesn't have the body for that just yet but once he does, I think his effort is really going to stand out.

They were bouncing off him in the guts this year.

After a bunch of games seeing it the coaching staff moved him to the outside and he was banished from centre bounces (and fair enough). Think he was hardly in the guts much in the VFL after that.

Hopefully he gets much stronger... He has intent (plenty of it)... but not a huge amount else at this stage.

Reckon he needs a couple more preseason IMO. I don't think he will break out this year.