Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[archerboy]

Good to have that confirmed as it's pretty much what The Dark was hinting at earlier this week - we are getting to a phase where the football department's interests in holding back details of tactics, game plan, player positioning, and evolution of the team are more important than a few entitled fans wanting to see footage.

Fancy wanting to engage and take an interest in the club we love. Just shut up and buy a membership, right?

 

[Shermanator]

Goad his extra terrestrial type movement for a bloke who’s 200cm tall. Like watching Gumby on crystal meth.

 

[The Dingrel]

Hey Track Watchers could you please ease up on the minute-by-minute commentary I'm trying to get some work done.

Over rated!

 

[backtothedraft]

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed with notes from the match sim today

 

[ferball]

Yeah, thanks for the reports everyone.

 

[Ruckle]

Hi , I went along today and arrived late in 1st qtr. Agree with most comments, Powell was impressive and a bit annoying at centre bounces , a bit of attitude, good to see.

Goad is a freak and was surprised by his ball use, pretty good in passages of play and not like a bloke his size should be.
Doesnt yet know how big he is and if caught behind a contest will try and reach in basketball style to spoil which is ineffective but gee looks to have progressed from when I last got to training in November. A real interesting " project".

Pleasantly surprised by Cooper Harvey both effort and execution, was led to believe by this site he was cactus. He might not be.

Have a differing opinion to some on Finbar, has great hands and goes for it at the right time but with ball in hand decision making is a bit slow and unsure for me BUT is early days trying to work out how to play in defence no doubt.

When Fisher was on he was surprisingly good.

Darling did ruck a little and as an aside his family seem happy here.

Not much else to add that wasnt said earlier, Wilphil looked good and does give us something we dont have elsewhere in terms of in and under and clearance type stuff, or at least he might if given a good run.

Preseason though, always makes me think of Bruce Lee movies when the bad guy tries to intimidate him by bashing up a dummy or wooden rod and Bruce just says "they dont hit back"

 

[r00boy96]

I can't unsee WAP as wet ass pussy. I say it in my mind every time I read it on this thread, god damn

Powell lovely first clearance on wardlaw

Nice pass from WAP to sheezel

Finbar misses goal

 

[chubbspeterson]

They’re just doing run throughs

Argument settled. Goads the quickest

 

[Frank Thring]

I'll ask you because you'll give it to me straight, Frank. How's Darling moving? Stick in his arse still or moving freely? Any real pace on the lead?

He was moving very well. Got up the ground and did some nice bullocking work. Still early in the year but he looked fit

 

[Frank Thring]

Two questions:
1. Did the forward line, where Darling was playing, function better?
2. Has the delivery into the forward line improved?

The Blue team's forward line with Darling playing was more open and a lot of the inside 50's hit targets. Also noticable was Larkey running amok. The inside 50's was good but we were playing North Melbourne so I'll temper it a bit until we don't play us.

 

[Frank Thring]

I thought Darling could barely jumper today. Didn’t look great

He's not a jumper anyway but he presented and did a lot of the bullocking stuff. I thought he went okay to be fair, especially the second half

 

[Frank Thring]

Bergman and Hardeman went well in defence? Tucker as well?

Actually while I haven't mentioned him, Bergam was good across half back. He might be skinny but he goes in

 

[Frank Thring]

Why is Bergman playing on Goad. Goad should be kicking 10.

Goad lost his man and Bergman was forced to compete but gave away the free.

 

[Frank Thring]

I don't think anybody could not recognise Frank Thring. He's a rather distinctive looking thespian kind of fellow - dressed in black and flashing the bling.

Actually I was wearing a kaftan and a sombrero so I was not so recognisable today

 

[shinboner magic]

Thanks for the reports all.

Powell is on the LDU trajectory of building each season and by the sounds of it ready to explode.

WAP doing what I always thought he could do - now that the body is up n running.

Curtis is just improving and would have the highest per possession for score involvement.

Goad can’t believe he has come on so quickly after looking so meek last year.

Cooper looks to have woken up after nearly getting delisted - sounds like he had some good moments playing on ball.

Maley is building and with his kicking issues probably better suited down back.

To those there we’ve heard who played well but tell us who was disappointing thx

 

[Jonnoo]

I gotta say to the folks who attend these things in their own time, then tap away on the phone to give us updates, both live and summary versions, kudos and thanks to you. It is so appreciated.

 

[Liam Boy]

I refuse to believe Caleb Daniel wasn’t an extra in The Wizard Of Oz.

CD's goal song next year:

 

[Frank Thring]

One final thing I want to mention about today. Over the past 5 years when I have attended match sim/intra games there is always a bit of joking around, laughing etc but not today, it was purely business. Phillips/Powell and Wardlaw were really physical, so was Chom and Maley in the first half. Noone really held back. Xerri was physical with Goad and while he took the points, Goad didn't stop cracking in. This is what worried me about Goad, whether he had the hunger for the contest but on today's showing, this has been alleviated. Took a couple of crunches but kept getting up and going in. Also noticable was the accountability when a player took the wrong option or made an error, teammates were quick to put them in their place. On this front, the players who were very verbal were Parker, Powell, Chom, Darling, Jy and Larkey.

One player that has had much mention but I thought was very good was Hardeman, tough, good skills and nice kick. Would not be surprised if he is playing round 1.

 

[Frank Thring]

Obviously I hope you're correct, but I absolutely do not trust myself or anyone else to subjectively gauge who 'has it' after Lazzaro's meteoric rise during last year's preseason.

Yep totally get that but Cooper was impressive in the contest, outside the contest and his disposal. Just a natural footballer. He still has a way to go but he is heading in the right direction

 

[ansonholt]

Just some positional type stuff mate.
Did JD do any relief rucking? I think this will determine whether Brynn gets a run early.
Would you say Colby played more wing or half back? Who would be next in line after Scott for the other wing position?

JD played exclusively forward. And by that I mean deep forward. Rucks were Xerri v Goad 1st half, Goad v Teakle 3rd qtr and Teakle v Xerri 4th qtr.

Colby played off half back mostly. Looks like he'll do that this year too although Hardeman is coming on rapidly and might take his place. RHJ played a bit of wing time. Like him in that role. He runs so well and uses it.

It's nice to have flexibility I guess. The round 1 side selection will be very interesting at this rate.

 

[Passmore]

CD's goal song next year:

 

[sacrilecious]

Just on training reports. I think there is a genuine chance the Finbar goes past both Teakle & Darling by the mid point of this year.

His development curve from the start of last year to now has been nothing short of incredible.

Absolute cult hero in the making

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Just on training reports. I think there is a genuine chance the Finbar goes past both Teakle & Darling by the mid point of this year.

His development curve from the start of last year to now has been nothing short of incredible.

His contested marking is exceptional.

 

[Gasometer]

Tuesday Cooper Harvey’s career on BF…

Thursday Cooper Harvey’s career on BF…

 

[chubbspeterson]

Imagine giving up pick 15 for a project ruck who won’t play for 5 years, they’re two a penny when you need one. Ridiculous list management

It was outrageous. Apparently we should've traded him for Ivan Soldo.