2025 Pre-Season chat

[Pure_Ownage]

Yeah, I think we've had some state league players out with us. I think I saw Ajang Kuol Mun in one of the other vids.

Ajang signed for Port melb didn't he?

 

[Turbocat]

Just on Baz from a Dogs' perspective: he was always one of the hardest trainers at the club. Similar to Ben Cousins (not implying substance addiction, though he’s been known to dabble occasionally), Baz would push himself to the point of complete exhaustion.

Socially, Baz never truly connected with his teammates. During the COVID hubs in Perth, where we made the GF, he rarely interacted with the group despite being confined to a hotel 24/7. Instead, he spent most of his time sunbaking.

There’s a noticeable “me, me, me” element in his game. For example, he craves adulation when he scores a goal but shows little reciprocation when teammates do.

From a football perspective, Baz’s physical tools are perfectly suited to the modern game. His elite combination of pace and endurance puts him in the top 1%. Regarding his knee injury, I wouldn’t worry—by Round 1, it will have been 15 months post-op, and recovery success rates at that stage are very high.

Baz thrives as an elite handball-receive/meters-gained player, which is his primary strength. He consistently performs this role at a high level. Another elite aspect of his game is tackling—even the most powerful players in the competition struggle to break free from him.

However, there are misconceptions about the type of player Baz is. He’s not an inside midfielder, as he struggles to win his own ball at stoppages and is a significant defensive liability. This stems from three key issues:

1. He lacks an understanding of body positioning, such as where to stand at stoppages or whether to be in front of or behind his opponent.

2. Even when positioned correctly, he either loses concentration or gets out-bodied.

3. He tends to shy away from contact. Winning the ball often comes down to desire, and Baz frequently comes out second best.

His best role is as a high half-forward who rolls up to stoppages to receive the first or second handball. Bevo rarely trusted him in center-bounce scenarios because he’d often get lost and didn’t attack the ball with intent.

Skill-wise, Baz is a decent kick on the run, but his poor decision-making often creates the impression that he’s inaccurate. He gets overexcited and kicks long when better options are available—though this seems coachable. His set shots are inconsistent:

0-30m: Decent but not reliable.
30-50m: Likely a point.
50m+: Surprisingly better due to less pressure and expectation.
On the run: Good without being exceptional.

His handballing ability depends on the situation. In stoppages, he tends to panic and deliver hospital balls. In open space during transitions, however, he is much more effective.

Overall, in the first 12-18 months, Baz will likely be seen as an excellent pickup. Few players possess his physical tools, which are ideal for the modern game. However, his mental health challenges, tendency to fall in and out of love with football, and lack of maturity could lead to ups and downs beyond that period.

Insightful.

Any comment on Smiths situation and JUH being compared in the press ? Id have thought two different situations.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Insightful.

Any comment on Smiths situation and JUH being compared in the press ? Id have thought two different situations.

View attachment 2208697

Just the media scratching around for a raw nerve to hit.

 

[dangerwood]

In relation to Baz I do wonder how much of the alleged attitude stuff is exaggerated because of who he is. He obviously has some vanity, cares about appearance and that particularly rubs men up the wrong way (when it's too obvious) and makes people like Baz very easily unlikeable.

I can easily see people reporting that Baz is "soft" and teammates sharing the sentiment because he can just easily rub people up the wrong way. It could be a simple as him checking himself out, maybe getting attention from women way more easily than teammates that can easily lead them to view him slightly negatively.

If he puts in the work for the team that's where he will have their respect. There was lots of friction amongst our dynasty era but they all knew they'd fight for the team out on the field.

It's not hard to see how people could be quickly put off by Baz but I wonder how much of it is their own insecurities. If he helps as a teammate it will all be fine.

In the footage shared by the club I've seen him helping a team mate get back on his feet and also helping Fred Wooler walk up the stairs. It's not much to go off, but it's a small indication of looking out for others.

 

[catswhiskers]

Just above he is celebrating his or JUHs goal.

Let his footy talk.

 

[STPer18]

 

[BORIS332]

I'm not going to claim 2025 is Knevitt's year after he burned me last year, but...

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I'm not going to claim 2025 is Knevitt's year after he burned me last year, but...

View attachment 2209032

Give that man a crossbow because he's ready for the battle of Hastings

Am I doing it right CatRiot?

 

[The rabbi]

“Start coaching him harder”: The two shifts Josh Jenkins wants to see at Geelong in 2025​

By Nic Negrepontis

The story is predominately about Sam De Koning.


https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/01...xaDYFgaropIXH-ELDQ_aem_RTD7BMxblzmh7rp4ppZtRw

 

[FootyLad0]

It's not hard to see how people could be quickly put off by Baz but I wonder how much of it is their own insecurities. If he helps as a teammate it will all be fine.

In the footage shared by the club I've seen him helping a team mate get back on his feet and also helping Fred Wooler walk up the stairs. It's not much to go off, but it's a small indication of looking out for others.

It's cause people have tall poppy syndrome.
They want players/teams to suceeed until they actually do and then they turn to irrational hatred to justify shitting on said teams/players that they don't like like...even if originally they wanted them to succeed.

Cats going into 2007 GF was everyone's "team"...until they kept winning and by 08 Grand Final everyone wanted them to lose and it's been that way ever since.

Just you watch, everyone will turn on Brisbane...no one cared when they got Will Ashcroft for nothing and they came from the bottom to competing, but now that they won the whole thing AND got Levi Ashcroft for a packet of chips the outrage started...won't be long until everyone is praying on their downfall.

 

[dangerwood]

It's cause people have tall poppy syndrome.
They want players/teams to suceeed until they actually do and then they turn to irrational hatred to justify shitting on said teams/players that they don't like like...even if originally they wanted them to succeed.

Cats going into 2007 GF was everyone's "team"...until they kept winning and by 08 Grand Final everyone wanted them to lose and it's been that way ever since.

Just you watch, everyone will turn on Brisbane...no one cared when they got Will Ashcroft for nothing and they came from the bottom to competing, but now that they won the whole thing AND got Levi Ashcroft for a packet of chips the outrage started...won't be long until everyone is praying on their downfall.

I didn't like Brisbane before they won and was going for Collingwood (spew) and Sydney, but your point still stands and I agree.