Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Section 5]

I hope not. He's our best key back depth

Andrews or Payne could get injured at any time. I know Joyce is used to stepping up by now, but Dizzy is clearly the better player. Better that he stays where he is.

Our biggest hole this year is Daniher retiring.
I expect we play Day before Smith but that is it for KPF depth being one of those guys who misses out.
I really don't rate Ryan on his 1 AFL appearances for us last year. He is break glass for me, but he could improve.
We have the untried draftee in Gallop. Then Lloyd who played forward, defense and wing in the VFL last year.

Gardiner played forward in 2024 until he did his ACL and was replaced with Morris.

Joyce proved last year he is more than capable of taking the big KPF if Andrews or Payne have to miss.
Then you have Doedee or Lester. One of those may miss out so one would be depth.
Gardiner has played defense for a long time so if he trains/plays forward as in 2024 it would be fairly easy for him to go back to defense if we have a few too many injuries in that area.

 

[dlanod]

Seems we might be missing Charlie for one of the pre-season games next year.

Xavier Clarke to coach Indigenous All Stars, big names expected to take part in exhibition match

It's all planned - we're sending him to get in the ear of JUH.

 

[T Rick]

It was reported that we had 16 players in the rehab group at Monday's training. My starting guess at the list:
1. Oscar McInerney (shoulder)
2. Linc McCarthy (ACL)
3. Tom Doedee (ACL)
4. Darcy Gardiner (ACL)
5. Eric Hipwood (groin)
6. Lachie Neale (foot)
7. Hugh McCluggage (achilles)
8. Kiddy Coleman (ACL)
9. Shadeau Brain (shoulder)
10. Levi Ashcroft (shoulder)
11. Henry Smith (?)
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Our biggest hole this year is Daniher retiring.
I expect we play Day before Smith but that is it for KPF depth being one of those guys who misses out.
I really don't rate Ryan on his 1 AFL appearances for us last year. He is break glass for me, but he could improve.
We have the untried draftee in Gallop. Then Lloyd who played forward, defense and wing in the VFL last year.

Gardiner played forward in 2024 until he did his ACL and was replaced with Morris.

Joyce proved last year he is more than capable of taking the big KPF if Andrews or Payne have to miss.
Then you have Doedee or Lester. One of those may miss out so one would be depth.
Gardiner has played defense for a long time so if he trains/plays forward as in 2024 it would be fairly easy for him to go back to defense if we have a few too many injuries in that area.

I don't consider Lester or Doedee key backs more third talls.

We have Day and Smith as ruck forwards, Hipwood and Ryan as tall, mobile marking targets, I guess Dizzy could be depth for Morris but we have plenty of mobile marking targets who could take that spot

Dizzy is an AFL standard key back/third tall defender. I'd play him 100 times out of 100 ahead of Joyce if Andrews or Payne got injured but I can't see a path for him to play as a forward

 

[M Malice]

It was reported that we had 16 players in the rehab group at Monday's training. My starting guess at the list:
1. Oscar McInerney (shoulder)
2. Linc McCarthy (ACL)
3. Tom Doedee (ACL)
4. Darcy Gardiner (ACL)
5. Eric Hipwood (groin)
6. Lachie Neale (foot)
7. Hugh McCluggage (achilles)
8. Kiddy Coleman (ACL)
9. Shadeau Brain (shoulder)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

I had a look through our list and couldn't see anyone obvious, maybe just managing/assessing some other players with minor niggles.

 

[buttermuffs]

It was reported that we had 16 players in the rehab group at Monday's training. My starting guess at the list:
1. Oscar McInerney (shoulder)
2. Linc McCarthy (ACL)
3. Tom Doedee (ACL)
4. Darcy Gardiner (ACL)
5. Eric Hipwood (groin)
6. Lachie Neale (foot)
7. Hugh McCluggage (achilles)
8. Kiddy Coleman (ACL)
9. Shadeau Brain (shoulder)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Levi is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Carter Michael may be delisted but he takes up the rest of the spots.

 

[Dalions]

It was reported that we had 16 players in the rehab group at Monday's training. My starting guess at the list:
1. Oscar McInerney (shoulder)
2. Linc McCarthy (ACL)
3. Tom Doedee (ACL)
4. Darcy Gardiner (ACL)
5. Eric Hipwood (groin)
6. Lachie Neale (foot)
7. Hugh McCluggage (achilles)
8. Kiddy Coleman (ACL)
9. Shadeau Brain (shoulder)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Henry Smith apparently.

 

[Gabba Gate 33]

I don't consider Lester or Doedee key backs more third talls.

We have Day and Smith as ruck forwards, Hipwood and Ryan as tall, mobile marking targets, I guess Dizzy could be depth for Morris but we have plenty of mobile marking targets who could take that spot

Dizzy is an AFL standard key back/third tall defender. I'd play him 100 times out of 100 ahead of Joyce if Andrews or Payne got injured but I can't see a path for him to play as a forward

You have to give credit to Joyce, he really improved after an extended run with the side. Dizzy was slow before his injury and his biggest deficiency is his ability to apply pressure with his lack of speed. This was before he tore his ACL.

Lot of people here throw Joyce under the bus, I see him as a real asset and a surprise packet.

 

[buttermuffs]

You have to give credit to Joyce, he really improved after an extended run with the side. Dizzy was slow before his injury and his biggest deficiency is his ability to apply pressure with his lack of speed. This was before he tore his ACL.

Lot of people here throw Joyce under the bus, I see him as a real asset and a surprise packet.

Gardiner looked and said himself that in that Gold Coast game he felt like things were finally clicking for him better up forward.

I’m all for him training forward to try and crack into the side that way since he’s spent a decade in defence and those skills won’t magically disappear if he’s needed there.

Adds even more competition and options for that third tall forward and backup ruck option.

 

[Nathan Barley]

You have to give credit to Joyce, he really improved after an extended run with the side. Dizzy was slow before his injury and his biggest deficiency is his ability to apply pressure with his lack of speed. This was before he tore his ACL.

Lot of people here throw Joyce under the bus, I see him as a real asset and a surprise packet.

I just remember Dizzy blanketing Curnow in 2023. He still has it as a backman but Payne surpassed him and we had other third tall options who offered more offensively

 

[Section 5]

I don't consider Lester or Doedee key backs more third talls.

We have Day and Smith as ruck forwards, Hipwood and Ryan as tall, mobile marking targets, I guess Dizzy could be depth for Morris but

Dizzy is an AFL standard key back/third tall defender. I'd play him 100 times out of 100 ahead of Joyce if Andrews or Payne got injured but I can't see a path for him to play as a forward

Agree Doedee and Lester are third KPD but i also class Dizzy as that now be it forward or defense.

I disagree with you in that i would 100% play Joyce over Dizzy if Harris or Payne went down
I thought Joyce had a big impact when called upon last year.
Thats just a difference of opinion and its good the Lions have options
He has improved with each season at the Lions and no reason that he won't improve again.

Dizzy has taken some big KPF names on occasions over the years but i think that time has come to a close
In my opinion Dizzy would be break glass as a KPP be it forward or defense now. As a third KPP he should be fine.

 

[M Malice]

Broncos getting some tips on how to win a flag coming off a heart breaking close GF loss.

 

[briztoon]

Broncos getting some tips on how to win a flag coming off a heart breaking close GF loss.
View attachment 2181485

Fix ya kulcha for a start.

 

[BuntonRules]

Lot of people backing Linc & Darcy are gunna be disappointed, IMO. This team has moved past them.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Lot of people backing Linc & Darcy are gunna be disappointed, IMO. This team has moved past them.

Are they? Not sure many have either in their best 23

 

[buttermuffs]

I think anyone who has Answerth out of the side knows how unlucky he is but the talent there is incredible. There’s four spots available in the back seven for non-tall players with his competition being:

Dayne Zorko, the current AA team player and second in the Merrett-Murray Medal.

Brandon Starcevich, an elite lockdown defender who was a top five player in this years grand final.

Darcy Wilmot, who came fifth in the Merrett-Murray Medal.

Kiddy Coleman, who was expected to be our best halfback this year and was our finals player of the year last year.

Like absolutely shit out of luck there. I could see the coaches not putting Kiddy in round one because Answerth absolutely doesn’t deserve getting dropped but I do think Kiddy is the better player and would work his way back in.

Linc suffers an even worse fate than Answerth in my opinion. With four spots available in the front seven for non-talls with them being:

Ah Chee and Lohmann, who both kicked four goals in a grand final and stellar finals campaigns.

Rayner, who had a good finals campaign and was in the AA squad.

Charlie Cameron, who was probably the worst of the four in finals yet it is not even close to appropriate to suggest Charlie be dropped.

It really highlights both the quality of our starting players and the quality of our depth players.

 

[Nuggo]

If you are on the list, you are a chance, particularly if Fages puts his trust in you.

 

[Harris Specter]

Do we know where they have released dates and times of pre season training? Would like to go and see them in action.

 

[Perrip]

Anyone know how Rayner is looking?

From the Lions socials today:

 

[Dalions]

Do we know where they have released dates and times of pre season training? Would like to go and see them in action.

If you get there around 7.30-8.00am on Monday and Friday you should get to see something.
Wednesdays may be afternoons but they may not go to afternoon training until the new year when they begin Match Sims.

 

[martinson]

Everyone's so bullish on 2025 about how we have this incredible depth and all that my sceptical radar has gone up.

 

[Dalions]

In the 5th photo here is it Sam Marshall or Reece Torrent or someone else I don’t recognise.
Maybe Torrent, best guess?
He has leaned up a bit if it is.

 

[rye]

In the 5th photo here is it Sam Marshall or Reece Torrent or someone else I don’t recognise.
Maybe Torrent, best guess?
He has leaned up a bit if it is.

its not torrent.

torrent has a fairly distinct forearm (?) tattoo

 

[Pns_blister]

In the 5th photo here is it Sam Marshall or Reece Torrent or someone else I don’t recognise.
Maybe Torrent, best guess?
He has leaned up a bit if it is.

It’s Will Mclachlan

 

[Elixuh]

Everyone's so bullish on 2025 about how we have this incredible depth and all that my sceptical radar has gone up.

I'm more bullish than I would have been had we lost the GF, by a fair margin. And not for the obvious reason that winning GF good, losing GF bad. I think losing the GF and Joe would have really tipped the mental strain for the group over the edge rather than galvanising them or creating hunger. I'm excited to see what they can do with a bit more freedom and with that stress valve released a bit. We have been the hunted for several seasons so that bit doesn't worry me either.