Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[susurrar]

interesting discussion. im still pretty confident that wally will be our best player within a few years, with a serious chance at being the best player in the league. i rate him slightly higher than sheezel and kerch.

its more likely that he becomes a borderline elite player next year than he goes back down to the vfl.

 

[JGreezy]

The results kind of do though

We haven't seen the results from the way that they are training this preseason, yet.

And they could have been training the right way for the last 1-2 years and still be behind the field, because they started so far back.

 

[DuckYeah]

Wardlaw in the vfl

Well there it is.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever read on Bigfooty

His form post bye or lets say the “knock” he received at training. His form really didn’t warrant being in the ones. Lets be real. We all know how good his best is, we know how damaging and aggressive he is. But those games, he should have been dropped HOWEVER we cannot drop George whilst we continue to play senior players not worthy of a game. Its a catch 22

 

[DuckYeah]

I reckon George could rest forward and apply tackling pressure in our F50.

Yes he could. Abso ****ing lutely. Imagine defenders knowing Wardlaw is around.. they’d shit em

 

[Devington]

There's serious midfield depth with Parker in and reports of Mckercher improving by leaps and bounds, Warlord's tank isn't great, and he hasn't demonstrated real versatility yet.

Pretty easy to surmise there's a chance at some VFL for the lad. Being the numero uno centre square in the VFL wouldn't be the worst thing for his development either.

Interesting times ahead. Hopefully in a good way... heh.

 

[JGreezy]

Parker will work wonders for Wardlaw. The perfect player to teach him the craft.

 

[JGreezy]

There's serious midfield depth with Parker in and reports of Mckercher improving by leaps and bounds, Warlord's tank isn't great, and he hasn't demonstrated real versatility yet.

Pretty easy to surmise there's a chance at some VFL for the lad. Being the numero uno centre square in the VFL wouldn't be the worst thing for his development either.

Interesting times ahead. Hopefully in a good way... heh.

If he's healthy he will be playing best 22. He's an absolute gun.

 

[Themanbun]

Parker will work wonders for Wardlaw. The perfect player to teach him the craft.

100%

Expecting him to line up against Wardlaw in the intras

 

[shintemaster]

There's serious midfield depth with Parker in and reports of Mckercher improving by leaps and bounds, Warlord's tank isn't great, and he hasn't demonstrated real versatility yet.

Pretty easy to surmise there's a chance at some VFL for the lad. Being the numero uno centre square in the VFL wouldn't be the worst thing for his development either.

Interesting times ahead. Hopefully in a good way... heh.

I think he could easily play forward as an impact small, high pressure, high intensity wrecking ball.

 

[GDUB07]

I think he'll spend a season or two learning off Luke Parker to eventually take that role off him. Wouldn't be surprised if he spends some time in the VFL being the main man while we wait. Time and the age of guys like Parker and Simpkin helps resolve the problem, but I'd hate to be below George in the pecking order if I'm aiming for good midfield minutes.

VFL, yeah right! He’ll rotate with Parker as the inside midfielder. Exactly what we need as he’s shouldering it himself this past year. But VFL, please, that’s completely stupid.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Do not necessarily agree that warlord will be playing a heap of vfl footy, but I think it would not hurt him to dominate at the second level for a game or two next year.

 

[Roscoe]

Roscoe will you be heading down to the Friday training session also?

any training reports from that and the this sunday one above will be greatly appreciated

Unfortunately I'll be packing my bags for a cruise but I hope that others will keep us informed.

 

[winalotroos]

All this talk about Wardlaw, will he play won’t he play he is ready, we have so many players that can rotate in the midfield is all very entertaining but I think we have a lot to look forward to in the next years, I hope the club picks the best mids depending on who we playing each week.

 

[Masked Avenger]

He's inside and outside and his best games would indicate that.

Absolutely no chance in the world he's not in the main rotation.

Between Rounds 11-15 he was ranked in the top 15 players in the competition averaging 24 touches and 7 clearances a game, including a stack of CP, tackles and defensive acts.

He's miles ahead of any other young mid we have had at 19/20 years old at the same age over the last 20 years not named Sheezel.

He leaves both LDU and Cunners for dead comparatively at 20.

George is your ignition switch. He'll set the tempo. He won't be peripheral to anything.

 

[DunderHead]

Wardlaw would only play VFL to regain form or build conditioning and touch post injury.

As others have pointed out, if he is limited in midfield rotations then they will play him forward. This is too important a year to leave a guy of his talent out of the line up for anything less than a forced reason.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Did Wardlaw play some shit games between his Rd 24 20d 6 tackle 4 clearance 1 goal game and now, that I missed?

How has he suddenly gone to not even making the bench for some people?

 

[Horizons_00]

Wardlaw will be a better player than Davies Uniacke. Bookmark it.

Apple and oranges

 

[Outtatym]

Right now I see serious midfield depth in our team and I’m loving it.
I’d personally rate in terms of locks for centre bounce clearances the following on-ball options:

1st choice:
LDU
Sheezel

2nd choice (one to move into starting 3)
Parker
Wardlaw

3rd choice (first rotation)
Simpkin
McKercher
Powell

4th choice (depth as per injuries, form and game requirements)
Phillips
O’Sullivan

When you list it like that WilPhil has a huge mountain to climb.

I also wonder about what Powell (I love him) offers elsewhere on the field if he isn't seeing bulk CBA's.

 

[shinboner magic]

Parker will work wonders for Wardlaw. The perfect player to teach him the craft.

Was coming to post this exact statement
Parker will help to do more of the bullocking work and this will allow George to seek / destroy.

 

[Val Keating]

Second hand report,

Spoke to a mate of mine on Monday who is a staunch North person, but probably one of the most critical of North that I know outside of this forum. He often goes to watch North train and he’s always very critical….anyway when I saw him on Monday he came up to me telling me that he went to training the previous week, he was very excited by what he saw. Couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about the training standard.

Honestly, this bloke used to complain constantly that our blokes weren’t doing enough. For example, he always complained about Zurhaar…but he was saying he was giving 100%, believe me, that’s like Nostra saying that Bailey Scott should be captain.

 

[Themanbun]

Did Wardlaw play some shit games between his Rd 24 20d 6 tackle 4 clearance 1 goal game and now, that I missed?

How has he suddenly gone to not even making the bench for some people?

No.

But between then and now we did pick up an AA premiership winning captain and one of the smartest mids in the comp, and some nobody called Colby McKercher has put in one of the best off season shifts I've seen in my time following this club.

 

[Themanbun]

Do not necessarily agree that warlord will be playing a heap of vfl footy, but I think it would not hurt him to dominate at the second level for a game or two next year.

Yep it's not the end of the world

 

[Frank Thring]

Can't wait to see Wardlaw next year with a full preseason under his belt. My prediction is top 3 in the Syd.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

100%

Expecting him to line up against Wardlaw in the intras

I recall Parker and Wardlaw have already lined up on each other in the real stuff and it was an interesting encounter to say the least - no backward steps from Wardlaw at all so I am sure the mutual respect is there.

 

[zoomba23]

Second hand report,

Spoke to a mate of mine on Monday who is a staunch North person, but probably one of the most critical of North that I know outside of this forum. He often goes to watch North train and he’s always very critical….anyway when I saw him on Monday he came up to me telling me that he went to training the previous week, he was very excited by what he saw. Couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about the training standard.

Honestly, this bloke used to complain constantly that our blokes weren’t doing enough. For example, he always complained about Zurhaar…but he was saying he was giving 100%, believe me, that’s like Nostra saying that Bailey Scott should be captain.

Brutal that I only half-believe him. I treat pre-season hype these days with more cynicism than I do an LNP billboard. Been such a dire few years. Hope to God he's right