Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[Billy Not Really]

AFL captains aren’t much more than mascots imo. They just need to be good enough not to get dropped and responsible enough not to appear on the back page for the wrong reasons.

The leadership/mature age group as a whole is far more important. That’s why we’ve been poor.

They have been bad enough to get dropped. I could count multiple instances where LMac should have been benched but our depth and list has been so poor we opted not to do so.

We also deliberately, never dropped Jack Ziebell once in his later years knowing his form was WAY off and his run as captain was overdue for a change (Probably due to the lack of incumbent leaders; see how rotating our leadership group has been since 2016)

I don't think captains are glorified mascots, they actually should as a bare minimum deliver a standard stat sheet, make 1 effort that affects the momentum of the game, and have a presence on the field that isn't just "I'm the guy who points fingers about positioning and yells a lot to 'man-up'" -- again, as a bare minimum and I don't feel we get any of that in any meaningful way from not 1 captain, but 2!

 

[amaz199]

For a second and admittedly this is a masochistic exercuse, imagine the alternate track had we prevailed.

All our youth (and some older guys too) taking out the reigning premiers.

We haven't knocked down a previous or upcoming premier since 2019. And that was a new coach anomaly.

I'm convinced we would've taken 2-3 more scalps and really finished with momentum.

Now we have to generate our belief ALL from within rather than know we've produced objective signposts towards success. That takes a lot more mental strength, to find confidence in something you're yet to demonstrate.

North Melbourne-ing ourselves on repeat has gotta be shaken off. It's become so predictable and tiresome to watch the same mistakes happen. Kills so much of the confidence that grows when we look a million dollars.

Rather than leaving it to chance, we gotta become a football team that can perform even when the vibe is off.

The best teams win regardless of the emotional part of it.

 

[Boro]

Yeah blind Freddy can tell Jy and Luke have struggled to lead the side the past couple of years, but damn the constant sniping of them is becoming a bit much. Let's hope that they both show improvement as the team inevitably improves as the young kids become men. Luke showed he was a solid player when he had good players around him when we were making prelims and Jy has also shown in the past he can be a good player. The captaincy would have weighed heavily on both. Jy also copped a huge concussion last year that seemed to hurt his output for half the season, but he showed in the Eagles win what he is capable of. If not for him we lose that one as well. Everyone is welcome to their opinion of course, but I'm hopeful that the likes of Parker, Daniel and co will help Jy and Luke become good contributors again. I also think Jy will Captain the side next year...I guess that's a wait and see.

 

[Junk yard]

The risky fast ball movement worked in one half of footy against Fremantle.

The excitement in the ground at half time was palpable.

It also worked at times vs Carlton on Good Friday.

Unfortunately the backline of Biggy, Pink, K. Dawson and early season Corr simply couldn’t handle the reverse pressure. Add in the undersized back flankers (Colby, Fisher and Sheezel) and we couldn’t handle the ball coming back the other way.

We also had a group of mids and wingers (of various abilities) not known for defensive accountability and two way running: LDU, Stephenson, Stephens, CCJ, Wardlaw and Powell. Some out of laziness, some out of softness, some out of lack of tank.


Yes we slowed the ball down in the second half of the season but we also got more solid because:

Backline improved with:

• Comben
• Logue
• Archer being what Luke McDonald should be
• Corr’s form improving

Midfield improved with:

• Sheezel coming in and dominating
• Phillips sometimes doing defensive roles
• Colby moving onto a wing

The close losses to Collingwood and Melbourne were our best performances

We definitely have the potential to improve a lot next season with:

• Darling upgrade to Pink as second tall forward
• Daniel upgrade at half back flank
• Parker and Jy as competitive half forwards with good defensive instincts
• FOS defensive accountability and tank in whatever role he takes (likely wing)
• Natural improvement from at least some of Wardlaw, Sheezel, Colby, Powell and Duursma

I think we now have the players to better cover turnovers if we do try to move the ball fast again.

Colby on a wing? Where has this come from? He could've played wing last season if that's where we saw him playing. You don't stick a contested player that bursts and spreads from contests on the wing.

 

[JGreezy]

Yeah blind Freddy can tell Jy and Luke have struggled to lead the side the past couple of years, but damn the constant sniping of them is becoming a bit much. Let's hope that they both show improvement as the team inevitably improves as the young kids become men. Luke showed he was a solid player when he had good players around him when we were making prelims and Jy has also shown in the past he can be a good player. The captaincy would have weighed heavily on both. Jy also copped a huge concussion last year that seemed to hurt his output for half the season, but he showed in the Eagles win what he is capable of. If not for him we lose that one as well. Everyone is welcome to their opinion of course, but I'm hopeful that the likes of Parker, Daniel and co will help Jy and Luke become good contributors again. I also think Jy will Captain the side next year...I guess that's a wait and see.

Some criticism is a bit harsh but I don't think that it's harsh to point out that they aren't experienced at winning AFL games and especially at leading sides to wins, and they're not our best players.

If the game is in the balance then I'm listening to Luke Parker to tell them how to get over the line. Parker will be the leader and Sheezel will make sure that it happens.

 

[The Dingrel]

So supporters then as opposed to members?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

I'll spell it out for you. QLD based members, who buy full club membership as opposed to the cheaper "interstate membership which entitles you to a game in your home state......BUT the club hasn't played any games in QLD last season or next.

 

[Ichiro #51]

They have been bad enough to get dropped. I could count multiple instances where LMac should have been benched but our depth and list has been so poor we opted not to do so.

We also deliberately, never dropped Jack Ziebell once in his later years knowing his form was WAY off and his run as captain was overdue for a change (Probably due to the lack of incumbent leaders; see how rotating our leadership group has been since 2016)

I don't think captains are glorified mascots, they actually should as a bare minimum deliver a standard stat sheet, make 1 effort that affects the momentum of the game, and have a presence on the field that isn't just "I'm the guy who points fingers about positioning and yells a lot to 'man-up'" -- again, as a bare minimum and I don't feel we get any of that in any meaningful way from not 1 captain, but 2!

I agree with you on Ziebell to an extent, and agree that I wouldn’t have Lmac as a candidate from here on - not a guaranteed best 22 player at this stage.

Clubs don’t succeed by having a good captain though - I would put forward Carlton and Cripps as example 1a.

They succeed by having a strong senior group over a number of years.

This has been a club wide issue particularly in terms of player types we trade in - both pre and post Brady - until this year that is.

 

[Danni_Benson]

Few flags, all aus and bnfs in this pic View attachment 2174909

Harry must be counting his blessings…. I am!

 

[Danni_Benson]

Just cause Luke Mc is a bit of a spud footballer doesn’t mean he isn’t a decent leader in the day to day around the club. Just isn’t great at driving standards or performance but likely has other qualities to allow a coach like Clarko and the board
to endorse the captaincy

If it was purely popularity and Curtis Taylor won the vote last year you think Clarko would say yep let’s go

LMac, as we know, was not a standout performer on the field, but in a challenging season with few wins, he was the one to help keep spirits high, helping the team remain positive and supportive environment. To maintain morale and foster camaraderie in such a tough season(s) would have made it much more manageable for the players. Now that can’t be underestimated! Effing huge effort!

 

[shinboner magic]

Shinboner1 are you at training yet

 

[Lomas]

LMac, as we know, was not a standout performer on the field, but in a challenging season with few wins, he was the one to help keep spirits high, helping the team remain positive and supportive environment. To maintain morale and foster camaraderie in such a tough season(s) would have made it much more manageable for the players. Now that can’t be underestimated! Effing huge effort!

Luke is a great clubman, full of encouragement, and I think this is the reason he was teamed with Jy who is more a training standards, one on one guy. The problem this year, and last, was that for various reasons we didn’t get the game day leadership.

 

[shintemaster]

I drove past Arden st the other day, I’ve been there many, many times and this is probably a stupid question but, we all know how hard it is to park around that area, where exactly do the players park? Just wherever they can get? They know all the good spots like a good local
should? Do many of them live close in like Kensington and walk or car pull? I’d hate to be running late looking for a space around Arden St.

Mofo's can buy a nice house and catch the Metro after next year.

 

[Junk yard]

Luke is a great clubman, full of encouragement, and I think this is the reason he was teamed with Jy who is more a training standards, one on one guy. The problem this year, and last, was that for various reasons we didn’t get the game day leadership.

Reckon that's because neither of them can play.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I lub Parks already.

 

[Shinboner1]

Shinboner1 are you at training yet

Yes

 

[giantroo]

 

[perplexed]

Reading all this talk of leadership makes me think that many here have forgotten how badly we were picked apart in the first half of the year. It wasn't leadership, it was the game plan. Hodge and Voss would barely have made a difference. Freo worked us out after half a game. By the Hawthorn game in round 6 teams were taking the piss. These games were lost in the coaching box before they even started.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Reading all this talk of leadership makes me think that many here have forgotten how badly we were picked apart in the first half of the year. It wasn't leadership, it was the game plan. Hodge and Voss would barely have made a difference. Freo worked us out after half a game. By the Hawthorn game in round 6 teams were taking the piss. These games were lost in the coaching box before they even started.

The first half against Freo was deadset electric.

From that point, the season was complete filth, with a couple of shiny patches amongst it.

 

[Tiberius]

I personally am not even disgruntled. I am sick of being shit as a fan.

I don't want to be pedantic, but that's literally what disgruntled means.

 

[My Left Foote]

Distinct lack of training reports this morning, where are all the track watchers?

 

[year of the roo]

Distinct lack of training reports this morning, where are all the track watchers?

Nostrils said he was going down, so everyone else stayed away.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Nostrils said he was going down, so everyone else stayed away.

lol cringe

Would be mildly amusing if i did actually say that...

 

[king rising]

I went and had a look. Not much to report, medium intensity session from what I observed.

• Goad appears to have a future. Certainly see how people rave about his athleticism. A lot to work with
• Concerns on Hardeman’s disposal, McDonald like almost.
• Toby Pink should not play games for us next season
• Caleb Daniel’s kicking was a complete standout
• It’s obvious that Sheezel, McKercher and Simpkin are our best trainers.
• Darling and Parker only did half sessions
• Larkey is in career best shape
• No sign of Fisher, Comben, B George or Phillips on the track.
• I’ll save my Davies Uniacke comments for another day.

 

[Clarke is King]

• I’ll save my Davies Uniacke comments for another day.

Why?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I went and had a look. Not much to report, medium intensity session from what I observed.

• Goad appears to have a future. Certainly see how people rave about his athleticism. A lot to work with
• Concerns on Hardeman’s disposal, McDonald like almost.
• Toby Pink should not play games for us next season
• Caleb Daniel’s kicking was a complete standout
• It’s obvious that Sheezel, McKercher and Simpkin are our best trainers.
• Darling and Parker only did half sessions
• Larkey is in career best shape
• No sign of Fisher, Comben, B George or Phillips on the track.
• I’ll save my Davies Uniacke comments for another day.

He’s woefully overrated and you’re happy for him to leave?