Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

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It's not a crazy idea. Obviously not his best position but he is a big body that could get the ball to ground. I think it may have been spoken by someone else here that the problems with him being a tall forward replacement was his shoulders in marking contests.
ETA: In theory at least, he could run a key defender absolutely ragged over a game and take advantaged of a knackered opponent.
Part of my thinking is that by the end of last season his shoulder seemed “better” or at least not bothering him as much.
 
It's not a crazy idea. Obviously not his best position but he is a big body that could get the ball to ground. I think it may have been spoken by someone else here that the problems with him being a tall forward replacement was his shoulders in marking contests.
ETA: In theory at least, he could run a key defender absolutely ragged over a game and take advantaged of a knackered opponent.

Yeah, if he was to play a forward lockdown roll on their major rebounding defender (like he shut down Oliver that time), then the mids will be loving him all day long.
 
I don't think Berry plays anywhere else but wing and maybe a midfield run with role on occasions.

It has taken Berry a few years to become the winger he now is.
He was our best winger 3 years ago when we did not have many options.
He has got better learning that wing role with each year.
Still our best winger and because of his role and style i have him a top 5 winger in the AFL for season 2024.
Next year i see improvement again for him.

Not many media have a best winger list, but The Mongrel Punt has a Robbie Fowler wingman of the year and of course Berry did not make the top 10.

Jarrod Berry - 193cm 89kg (20.0 average disposals)


Season 2024

1 – ERROL GULDEN (SYDNEY) - 175cm 77kg (27.1 average disposals)

2 – JOSH DAICOS (COLLINGWOOD) - 178cm 77kg (24.9)

3 – MASSIMO D’AMBROSIO (HAWTHORN) - 178cm 80kg (21.1)

4 – BLAKE ACRES (CARLTON) - 193cm 92kg (22.4)

5 – BRADLEY HILL (ST KILDA) - 182cm 81kg (19.4)

6 – ED LANGDON (MELBOURNE) - 182cm 78kg (20.4)

7 – LACHIE SHOLL (ADELAIDE) - 186cm 87kg - (21.6)

8 – BAILEY SCOTT (NORTH MELBOURNE) 186cm 77kg (20.3)

9 – FINN CALLAGHAN (GWS) - 192cm 86kg (22.9)

10 – OLLIE DEMPSEY (GEELONG) - 187cm 74kg (17.4)
 

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I don't think Berry plays anywhere else but wing and maybe a midfield run with role on occasions.

It has taken Berry a few years to become the winger he now is.
He was our best winger 3 years ago when we did not have many options.
He has got better learning that wing role with each year.
Still our best winger and because of his role and style i have him a top 5 winger in the AFL for season 2024.
Next year i see improvement again for him.

Not many media have a best winger list, but The Mongrel Punt has a Robbie Fowler wingman of the year and of course Berry did not make the top 10.

Jarrod Berry - 193cm 89kg (20.0 average disposals)


Season 2024

1 – ERROL GULDEN (SYDNEY) - 175cm 77kg (27.1 average disposals)

2 – JOSH DAICOS (COLLINGWOOD) - 178cm 77kg (24.9)

3 – MASSIMO D’AMBROSIO (HAWTHORN) - 178cm 80kg (21.1)

4 – BLAKE ACRES (CARLTON) - 193cm 92kg (22.4)

5 – BRADLEY HILL (ST KILDA) - 182cm 81kg (19.4)

6 – ED LANGDON (MELBOURNE) - 182cm 78kg (20.4)

7 – LACHIE SHOLL (ADELAIDE) - 186cm 87kg - (21.6)

8 – BAILEY SCOTT (NORTH MELBOURNE) 186cm 77kg (20.3)

9 – FINN CALLAGHAN (GWS) - 192cm 86kg (22.9)

10 – OLLIE DEMPSEY (GEELONG) - 187cm 74kg (17.4)

Gulden is a fake winger who really spends most of his time as one of the featured 3 mids. He’s not really tasked with doing the defensive cover for the obvious reason that it’s a waste of his time.
 
Gulden is a fake winger who really spends most of his time as one of the featured 3 mids. He’s not really tasked with doing the defensive cover for the obvious reason that it’s a waste of his time.
Indeed.
1738345418871.jpeg
 
I remember hearing on the radio about when the AFL ran the last study on reducing the interchange cap down, it was meant to be a pretty comprehensive evidence based study that overwhelmingly came to the conclusion that it reduced injuries more than the other options (staying the same or no caps). Ie you might get some more fatigue issues but it was worth it for the reducing the pace and impact ones.

Apparently the AFL board were accepting of it, but were overwhelmed by the coaches and players (or some other internal stakeholders) rejecting it.

That’s incredibly fascinating and I would have never thought of it like that.
 
We must be the last club to start intra clubs - I think I've seen something from everyone else (except GC).
Yes it seems that way doesn't it. I'll be interested to see the injury lists when clubs are finally required to submit/release them officially. We're seeing lots of high profile injuries reported from clubs in the traditional football states, but not as many from north of the Murray.

However, you and others have reported we have a fair few in "the rehab group" at present, and regardless of the fact that our game plan is fairly well bedded down by now, being one of the last clubs (if not THE last club) to start intra-club matches does put us behind the eight-ball a bit.

I might change my tune once I see the full injury lists of other clubs, but I think we should be prepared for a slow start to season 2025. If we can turn at 3-3 after Easter Thursday I think that will be a very good effort. The chat around being 4-1 after Gather Round I think is quite fanciful at this stage.

The most important thing will be to not rush blokes back into playing. If they've had surgery which has delayed their return to training, let them complete a "full preseason", even if that takes them through to April or even May. The early rounds shape as a tremendous opportunity for some of our younger players to earn some exposure at AFL level, but I feel we may need to temper our expectations accordingly, even though I'm comfortable with the depth we have on our list in most areas of the field.
 

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Excellent images as always Mr Ripper
Noticed Big O in a few shots. One a ruck contest. Is he back in full training? probably not.
I have not done much photography in the last 12 months but plan on going Monday or Friday next week or the week after.
Will wait and check out the weather forecast before i decide.
 
Excellent images as always Mr Ripper
Noticed Big O in a few shots. One a ruck contest. Is he back in full training? probably not.
I have not done much photography in the last 12 months but plan on going Monday or Friday next week or the week after.
Will wait and check out the weather forecast before i decide.
Think Oscar’s just about good to go.
 
Excellent images as always Mr Ripper
Noticed Big O in a few shots. One a ruck contest. Is he back in full training? probably not.
I have not done much photography in the last 12 months but plan on going Monday or Friday next week or the week after.
Will wait and check out the weather forecast before i decide.
from what I saw, he looked like he was only doing the ruck work with the other arm, looked like he was protecting it
 
Any thoughts on Beecken & McLachlan progression this pre season? Both showed a bit when they joined the VFL team for the second half of 2024 I thought.
McLachlan has put on a lot of size - he wasn't really noticeable in the drills when I watched - but I expect him to get a shot in the first ~28 or so for match sim and if he does enough the spot is there - but tough to break in.
 
out of all the guys who havent had a shot in the senior side im warming to day being the one im most excited for in preseason games. keen to see how hes integrated and whether he can get a good run at it - would be awesome for our structure if we could get a 30-35 goal full season from him as forward-ruck. i dont think thats unachievable and the smalls can pick up the rest of the slack left from daniher's retirement.
 
Any thoughts on Beecken & McLachlan progression this pre season? Both showed a bit when they joined the VFL team for the second half of 2024 I thought.
Beecken looks as if he’s going to be given a license to run off hb - and run he can. Shagga looks like he’s spent Xmas doing bicep curls. Absolute freak talent, though.
 
out of all the guys who havent had a shot in the senior side im warming to day being the one im most excited for in preseason games. keen to see how hes integrated and whether he can get a good run at it - would be awesome for our structure if we could get a 30-35 goal full season from him as forward-ruck. i dont think thats unachievable and the smalls can pick up the rest of the slack left from daniher's retirement.
I am all for Day getting the first crack as the KPF/ruck relief.
Hopefully our medical and conditioning staff can do their magic with Day.
Historically Day has not kicked a bag of goals over an AFL season. We know he has had lots of injury issues
As can be seen his best goal year was 2014 with 19.9 over 22 games.
I could be wrong but i see him more of the McStay type marking role plus ruck relief at the Lions.
So, around the 22-28 goal mark, with his marks around 85 over a 20+ game season.
Happy for him to kick more though and break into the 30+ goal mark.

Hippy to the Joe role but no ruck except maybe a couple in the forward pocket area.
Morris to just improve on his first season. If he does, then 30+ goals from him over his 25 goals from 19 games in 2024.

Next in line is Henry Smith with experience over inexperience winning out, to start with anyhow. It's a long season.

Below image from footywire on Sam Day

1738455878394.png
 
Beecken looks as if he’s going to be given a license to run off hb - and run he can. Shagga looks like he’s spent Xmas doing bicep curls. Absolute freak talent, though.
I didn’t want to enter peak Bigfooty preseason mode and comment on Will McLachlan’s muscle gains but far out the comparison from when he walked through the doors is truly remarkable.
 

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Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread


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