2025 Pre-Season chat
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I am sneaking a look at training myself tomorrow so can update first hand without relying on my normal track watcher. Also with 40 degree temp maybe I am not going to see much!
The track watcher feedback from last week had a few points of interest.
Notably, given discussion on past couple of pages, Knevitt has had an excellent January. Played inside mid (mainly on B team although last week they mixed up the teams) and been “dominant”. Against the 2024 first choice. Strength improvement is notable. He needs to carry that through the pre season games and if he does he could leap front given his height.
Mullin continues to impress. Might spend more time on wing so he can play that tagging role.
SDK had his first match sim crack post rehab. Looked great. Mostly ruck. (Blitz is going to stay backline in 2025 so I expect to see SDK a lot in the ruck). (Conway not doing match sim)
Mannagh still working through foot issues and MOC about to commence match sim.
Smith does come in and out of games but when he is on it is a big addition to the team. Notice his strength in contest (which has suprised).
If they do any sort of contest work tomorrow I will be watching in particular those mentioned above along with Guthrie, Dempsey, Scratcher, Clark, Bruhn to see what I can learn…
The track watcher feedback from last week had a few points of interest.
Notably, given discussion on past couple of pages, Knevitt has had an excellent January. Played inside mid (mainly on B team although last week they mixed up the teams) and been “dominant”. Against the 2024 first choice. Strength improvement is notable. He needs to carry that through the pre season games and if he does he could leap front given his height.
Mullin continues to impress. Might spend more time on wing so he can play that tagging role.
SDK had his first match sim crack post rehab. Looked great. Mostly ruck. (Blitz is going to stay backline in 2025 so I expect to see SDK a lot in the ruck). (Conway not doing match sim)
Mannagh still working through foot issues and MOC about to commence match sim.
Smith does come in and out of games but when he is on it is a big addition to the team. Notice his strength in contest (which has suprised).
If they do any sort of contest work tomorrow I will be watching in particular those mentioned above along with Guthrie, Dempsey, Scratcher, Clark, Bruhn to see what I can learn…
Thanks for the insights.
If Knevitt brings his best VFL output to the seniors, he could be a nice player. Has looked low on belief and composure at that level but maybe something has clicked for him. Could it push Bowes to the wing or half back?
SDK in the ruck is exciting because he can still learn and improve in the role a lot, after already getting 20 odd disposals a game with it last year. Blicavs as the senior tall defender is the right choice I think.
Mullin on the wing is interesting. There are some dynamite wingmen to tag or maybe he follows a mid around the ground outside of centrebounces. Humphries has the attributes for wing play as well, so that could be a rotation when we need Mullin tagging in defence.
Could we end up with a line up like this?
FB: Zuthrie J.Henry Kolo
HB: Stewart Blicavs Humphries
C: Dempsey Dangerfield Mullin
R: SDK Smith Holmes
HF: Miers Cameron Mannagh
FF: Stengle Neale O.Henry
IC: Close Bowes Bruhn Knevitt C.Guthrie(sub)
Love the IG clip of the three up and comers, Clark, Knevitt and Clohsey. The GFC basically saying to us, keep an eye on these boys, they are the future.
Look at Clark, they are basically throwing games into him to increase his experience. They know he will make it. He’s only 20 and playing against seasoned midfielders, very few can do that so early.
Knevitt had a spot last year but was overtaken by Dempsey - hard to argue with that decision.
Clohsey has only played 3 games in two years. They’ll try to give him another 6 to 10 this year. I love the way the club find a way to build them slowly and then suddenly they “burst” onto the scene. As Scott once dryly said about SDK, he’s been a 3 year overnight sensation…
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Look at Clark, they are basically throwing games into him to increase his experience. They know he will make it. He’s only 20 and playing against seasoned midfielders, very few can do that so early.
Knevitt had a spot last year but was overtaken by Dempsey - hard to argue with that decision.
Clohsey has only played 3 games in two years. They’ll try to give him another 6 to 10 this year. I love the way the club find a way to build them slowly and then suddenly they “burst” onto the scene. As Scott once dryly said about SDK, he’s been a 3 year overnight sensation…
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Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
All very interesting. What foot issue does mannagh have? Because the recent photos and vids have him training.
Is Conway injured still or is it purely a conditioning issue with him?
Blitz in the backline doesn't surprise me. He's slowing down plus if sdk plays ruck you either have to play blitz back there or put osullivan in as we don't have other key backs on the list.
The bigger issue is whether sdk can make it work particularly against the bigger brute rucks.
Not 100% sure with mannagh. Apparantly he had something same time last year which did hamper his fitness early in the season. But was fine at end of year. Hoping something similar. Will be watching out today
With Toby I think still going through rehab.
At moment players just doing runs and kicks. Thunder and lightning and heavens have opened up so may not get the skills I was hoping to see.
Will update after first match sim session which I think might start in next half hour or so
I have loved watching Ted in VFL. Will be watching today at training as I understand he was “almost best on ground” at Fridays match sim. Hard to see how he squeezes in to best 23 as he is similar to atkins Clark Bruhn etc. but looks like he will give it a crack!
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
If it's similar it sounds like plantar fascitis maybe? No way would they let him train if he was at risk of say bone stress in the foot he would be on the alter G instead. Hopefully it doesn't hamper him this is a big year for him (contract and otherwise) and I'm hoping for big things.
Have you heard how far away Toby is from unrestricted training?
Thanks for braving the heat today.
If SDK is playing mostly ruck in match sim with Blitz key back, it pretty much confirms SDK is rucking this season.
Blitz to hold down key back until COS is ready perhaps.
I can't say I'm confident that Conway will do much this year already... I hope he gets a good run of health eventually and we can see what he has (still young for a big ruckman).
Maybe we have just decided with Stanley cooked (but still on list), Blitz aging, Conway always rehabbing + Edwards and Molier too young to take the ruck that it's gonna have to be SDK going forward.
Blitz to hold down key back until COS is ready perhaps.
I can't say I'm confident that Conway will do much this year already... I hope he gets a good run of health eventually and we can see what he has (still young for a big ruckman).
Maybe we have just decided with Stanley cooked (but still on list), Blitz aging, Conway always rehabbing + Edwards and Molier too young to take the ruck that it's gonna have to be SDK going forward.
So first match sim done. 30 minutes. Will do my best but found it hard as so much to watch!
Firstly about 8 players not running around. Mannagh (foot) Toby, Martin (hammy) Reece (shoulder) new Irish boy, Jack Henry, Kolo and Tyson (away). So a few vfl top ups.
it wasn’t strictly a vs b team so actually much more interesting. At one end had afl first team forwards vs afl first team back.
At the other mostly b team with notably MOC Guthrie and Duncan at that end.
Middle was interesting. Blue team ruck was Edwards (more on him later). Pike and SDK sharing duties for Orange (SDK has yellow hat on meaning not full contact).
Knevitte smith and atkins did most of starting for blue team with dempsey and max on wing. But max and smith rotated a lot (which was exciting!). Danger played forward the whole qtr.
Bruhn and Clark in orange team with Bowes and chloshey in middle.
Blue team dominated the middle as you would expect. Edwards seriously is exciting. No doubt Blitz replacement over time. The way he moves.
Smith exciting. Tackles and moves. And with him swapping with Max you didn’t miss a beat. I can see that happening all year.
Mitch Knevitte good out of the middle. He brings something different. Couple of good grabs and hard at it. I can see him breaking out.
AFL backline was on top. Danger did very little and Jeremy a cameo. Scratcher unsighted. Ollie Henry made an impact. But best forward was the wingman! Dempsey was very clever and would have had 5-6 score involvements including 3 himself.
Will do more later as second session just started (with a Jezza poster and then a dempsey steal to other Ollie for a goal)
Firstly about 8 players not running around. Mannagh (foot) Toby, Martin (hammy) Reece (shoulder) new Irish boy, Jack Henry, Kolo and Tyson (away). So a few vfl top ups.
it wasn’t strictly a vs b team so actually much more interesting. At one end had afl first team forwards vs afl first team back.
At the other mostly b team with notably MOC Guthrie and Duncan at that end.
Middle was interesting. Blue team ruck was Edwards (more on him later). Pike and SDK sharing duties for Orange (SDK has yellow hat on meaning not full contact).
Knevitte smith and atkins did most of starting for blue team with dempsey and max on wing. But max and smith rotated a lot (which was exciting!). Danger played forward the whole qtr.
Bruhn and Clark in orange team with Bowes and chloshey in middle.
Blue team dominated the middle as you would expect. Edwards seriously is exciting. No doubt Blitz replacement over time. The way he moves.
Smith exciting. Tackles and moves. And with him swapping with Max you didn’t miss a beat. I can see that happening all year.
Mitch Knevitte good out of the middle. He brings something different. Couple of good grabs and hard at it. I can see him breaking out.
AFL backline was on top. Danger did very little and Jeremy a cameo. Scratcher unsighted. Ollie Henry made an impact. But best forward was the wingman! Dempsey was very clever and would have had 5-6 score involvements including 3 himself.
Will do more later as second session just started (with a Jezza poster and then a dempsey steal to other Ollie for a goal)
Changes for second session
SDK to blue team in ruck (swapping with Edwards). Knevitte to orange. Bailey and max in first few cb. And Bowes in blue too (swapped with Ted)
eDIT
Most important change is the backline for blue is now afl first choice. So this looks more like a vs b
SDK to blue team in ruck (swapping with Edwards). Knevitte to orange. Bailey and max in first few cb. And Bowes in blue too (swapped with Ted)
eDIT
Most important change is the backline for blue is now afl first choice. So this looks more like a vs b
Has Bowes strictly been at stoppages or any time on the wing/half back?
Is Ollie Henry staying deep forward or half forward?
Who's looking better out of Bruhn and Clark? Seems like Atkins and Knevitt are playing both off the field?
How does Cam Guthrie look movement wise?
Bowes playing mid. First for Orange and now blue. Most mids are then rotating either to wing or off for a break (getting warm now)
Henry playing deep. Danger just in front of him. Jezza half forward (but scratcher is on bench and I think he was deep when on).
Haven’t seen much of Clark but it is hard to watch everything. Tanner going ok. In fact Tanner and knevitte have dominated this period for the Orange.
Clark playing off half back and then half forward in Orange.
Guthrie done some nice things but still work to get back to best I reckon
By the way osh coming out of backline with huge run to miers to Henry in goal square. Nice
Interesting.
I guess the midfielders suited to rotating on that second wing are Holmes, Smith and Bowes. I guess you could throw Knevitt in there too. So maybe that's where we see the spare midfielder go.
Whereas Bruhn and Atkins are kind of stoppage only options. That definitely doesn't leave room for Clark, which is why I guess they're trying him on flanks.
Exiting about Mullin. Hopefully he can model as much of his rebounding game off what Holmes did last year. Not saying he'd be anything close to that level, but just as a template to follow. Although probably with more of a defensive edge and less amount of ball winning.
small 4wards
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How do you think our best MF looks based purely on today? I'd love to see knevitt get a shot but it's hard to fit in him
That is a really good question.
I think I can cheat and add one wing (as I think they will rotate mid through there) and two on bench so I can have 6 mids!
Danger (despite today playing forward only) Holmes smith and atkins are certainties for me based on today. And then I would add Bruhn and knevitte.
I find it hard though to leave Bowes out so maybe he keeps Mitch out. I would then have Ted next in line. Also Guthrie came in for the last couple of stoppages and looked ok
Difficult to be honest. Maybe one gets to be sub so I can pick 7!
And Mullin had a run in the wing and his speed shone out in that role. I reckon he plays wing/MF more this year where we need to run with an opposition MF
- Dec 19, 2015
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For me I post about it because I don't want to be someone who says it after the event. At the time I said we should take Phillipou and lots of people got annoyed for stating it. If you question Clark, people get annoyed as well. They are both still young and at this stage it isn't proven that Phillipou will be better but it's my prediction.
I don't want to be the type of poster that if Clark doesn't make it and Phillipou does, that then says "I always questioned that decision" for the first time. I'm saying it now before it occurs.
If Phillipou does make it and Clark doesn't, I won't post about it or gloat, I'll stay quiet. On the flip side if I'm wrong, I'll own it and say I got it wrong and make my way to the "I got it wrong thread".
We are hear to share opinions and I'm sharing mine and try to do it in a fair way. What you don't see often though is the people that defend players ie all those saying Clark will make it, making their way to the I was wrong thread if he doesn't. Lots argued with me about Cooper Stephens, and I've never seen anyone admit they got that wrong.
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I don't mind SDK in the ruck but if fit I think Conway should be out more default pathway. TDK had a good year in the ruck but I actually at times TDK struggled against the more big and physically rucks and it was one weakness in Carlton's set up.
Thanks for all the updates! Less than a month to our pre-season game and it sounds like we're in good shape, with some new blood pushing the senior guys on (yeah, I know it's just match sim, but still).
And yeah, as much as I want to see Toby in the firsts, heard a lot last year about Edwards so I'm intrigued to see what he's capable of with an injury-free run (and another year of development).
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
Pre-draft he was described as Tim English with aggression and physicality.
In theory, if Tim English had aggression and physicality he'd just about be the best ruckman in the comp, so hopefully we've got a good one there in Edwards.
