Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[spurs]

I reckon. Nothing wrong with that.

IMO no VFL time, he needs as much exposure in the AFL as possible which is the best way to learn.

 

[SpiderBurton22]

VFL time?

Not a chance.

 

[Themanbun]

IMO no VFL time, he needs as much exposure in the AFL as possible which is the best way to learn.

We need to win and we'll be putting our best team on the park. At the moment, on form and condition, that includes Luke Parker in the midfield for leadership and intelligence.

We're renowned throughout the league as having one of the quietest midfield setups going around.

We've collected a bunch of good individual midfielders, don't be surprised if one of our 5-6 favourites misses from time to time.

 

[Clarke is King]

I will shit in my hands and clap if Wardlaw plays VFL

 

[King Corey]

Early indications:

• Parker will be a starting mid and probably rotate with Jy as the fifth coming in off the HFF.

• Sheez is in our best 3 mids and will start there.

• Wardlaw is no guarantee to be starting on the field in 2025 at this stage. Colby may just squeeze Wardlaw out of a spot as a starting mid, if they don't go with LDU, Sheez and Parker. Colby will also play skinny side wing.

• Powell will be rotating between mid and half back (I got smashed for suggesting this last year).

• In contrast to my concerns FOS seems comfortable as a small utility and is starting strong.

Lots to play out this pre season and in 2025 but I'd say our midfield pecking order currently looks like:

LDU
Sheez
Parker
Colby
Jy
Powell/Wardlaw

LDU, Sheez, Parker is clearly our best rotation with Colby rapidly closing that gap.

The midfield squeeze is very much on.

What do you see as best case scenario for Phillips?

What role and who does he displace?

 

[Themanbun]

What do you see as best case scenario for Phillips?

What role and who does he displace?

If he had offers elsewhere he should have signed elsewhere IMO.

Midfield depth at best I think. Which is a shame because I love the bloke.

There will inevitably be injuries/suspension so he'll get some game time at some point.

If Powelly takes off at half back that's one less for him to jump over as well.

 

[ferball]

The difference between Wardlaw and LDU and Cunners (especially LDU) at the same age, they were in and out of the side and not playing exclusively on-ball like Wardlaw is.

So the difference in stats between them isn't an indication of how good they are, but an indication of the opportunities they're being given.

From his second year LDU would have played every game in the firsts if he didn't have injuries. Warlord is in his third year next season. The only way he plays VFL is because of poor form imo.

 

[Themanbun]

From his second year LDU would have played every game in the firsts if he didn't have injuries. Warlord is in his third year next season. The only way he plays VFL is because of poor form imo.

We didn't have anywhere near the midfield depth then that we have now.

Higgo and Cunners were the locks but third/fourth/fifth were wide open.

 

[Passmore]

What do you see as best case scenario for Phillips?

What role and who does he displace?

Scott Boland is probably his best case scenario.

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[Themanbun]

I think you lot have been spoiled by just how bloody good Sheez, Colby and even GW have been from day dot.

You collect a lot of hugely talented midfielders it's no surprise, or insult, if one misses out here and there. This was the path that everyone wanted to go down with selecting best available (usually mids) with every top 5 pick we've had recently.

He'd be on the bench and in the rotations currently but it doesn't take a lot for that to result in some VFL time to get some touch.

 

[Passmore]

LDU, Sheezel, Simpkin, Parker, Wardlaw, McKercher...3 in the middle, 1 at hf, 2 having a breather....with McKercher potentially rotating across HB and wing at times.

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[King Corey]

We didn't have anywhere near the midfield depth then that we have now.

Higgo and Cunners were the locks but third/fourth/fifth were wide open.

Without going to the tape, who was in our midfield back then other than those guys?!

Basti, Swallow and Boomer had gone, Tarryn hadn't been drafted yet.

Dumont?

Ziebell?

 

[Themanbun]

LDU, Sheezel, Simpkin, Parker, Wardlaw, McKercher...3 in the middle, 1 at hf, 2 having a breather....with McKercher potentially rotating across HB and wing at times.

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Simpkin and Parker will split the half forward role if we continue with the extra on baller.

Kerch/Wardlaw/Powell probably competing for about 30-40% on ball time between them.

 

[Themanbun]

Without going to the tape, who was in our midfield back then other than those guys?!

Basti, Swallow and Boomer had gone, Tarryn hadn't been drafted yet.

Dumont?

Ziebell?

Anderson, and that's pretty much it I think! Ziebell was forward at that point.

 

[King Corey]

Anderson, and that's pretty much it I think! Ziebell was forward at that point.

Crikey.

 

[year of the roo]

From his second year LDU would have played every game in the firsts if he didn't have injuries. Warlord is in his third year next season. The only way he plays VFL is because of poor form imo.

I'm not talking about injuries. They happen. And I didn't mention VFL either. I was talking about their respective roles in their first few years. LDU played a lot of games as a forward, which would effect his numbers. Wardlaw hasn't done that.

 

[King Corey]

Fwiw I think Wardlaw will be blooded games irrespective of form (within reason).

But his place in the overall ecosystem will be interesting to watch.

Remembering you'll have FOS trying to work his way in too and who's to say Urquhart doesn't fight his way into the blue collar role in the next few years.

 

[the big lebowski]

Wardlaw in the vfl

Well there it is.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever read on Bigfooty

 

[Themanbun]

Fwiw I think Wardlaw will be blooded games irrespective of form (within reason).

But his place in the overall ecosystem will be interesting to watch.

Remembering you'll have FOS trying to work his way in too and who's to say Urquhart doesn't fight his way into the blue collar role in the next few years.

Colby is the (good) spanner in the works short term.

He's flexible (like Sheez and Powell to an extent) which is a great thing but I don't think many expected him to be staking as strong a claim for a starting midfield spot as he currently is. We were all expecting a shift to the wing but he said **** that I wanna be in the main show. And good on him.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

If he had offers elsewhere he should have signed elsewhere IMO.

Midfield depth at best I think. Which is a shame because I love the bloke.

There will inevitably be injuries/suspension so he'll get some game time at some point.

If Powelly takes off at half back that's one less for him to jump over as well.

He’s absolutely cooked here.

The depth, and their ages, would say he’s got such a minuscule chance of jumping them.

As you say, Wardlaw is battling for that third spot with McKercher, Parker, Powell and Simpkin.

LDU and Sheezel are the lockiest of locks. The. Who knows what FOS produces. He’d run Wardlaw off his feet.

The depth is off the charts, as it should be with the level of investment we’ve made. Almost unprecedented outside of the expansion sides.

That’s also without including Judas and TT.

 

[Themanbun]

He’s absolutely cooked here.

The depth, and their ages, would say he’s got such a minuscule chance of jumping them.

As you say, Wardlaw is battling for that third spot with McKercher, Parker, Powell and Simpkin.

LDU and Sheezel are the lockiest of locks. The. Who knows what FOS produces. He’d run Wardlaw off his feet.

The depth is off the charts.

Spot on. None of what I've said is a poor reflection on any of these guys fwiw. It's just at some point we might leave one of our favourite Pokemon at the daycare centre so to speak.

Just speculating now but at least until the bye I suspect we'll want Parker in there as much as possible. He'll be commanding the setups and the play and helping Xerri, LDU and Sheez get ready to take the mantle in that regard. Seriously we can't understate what he's gonna bring to that midfield. Someone might actually speak in there, it'll be wild!

 

[Scottroo]

Phillips needs to dominate VFL for a month and wait for an injury or a mid to struggle.

 

[berniemccarthy]

Phillips needs to dominate VFL for a month and wait for an injury or a mid to struggle.

Needs to be able to tag. Brought in for specific players and clubs.

 

[Passmore]

Simpkin and Parker will split the half forward role if we continue with the extra on baller.

Kerch/Wardlaw/Powell probably competing for about 30-40% on ball time between them.

I think Sheezel will be part of the forward rotation too along with Simpkin and Parker. Not sure how much mid time Powell gets. May be more HB.

There's plenty of onball time for Wardlaw and McKercher.

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[Passmore]

Not sure there's any issue with who starts on the bench. It's not 1965. They're not going to be sitting there in a dressing gown until 3/4 time. Rotations will be happening from the first bounce.

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