Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Section 5]

The Cameron, Lohmann ,Ah Chee small forward set up was in large part what got us to the GF and we all saw what they did on GF day. They kept getting goals and helping each other sharing the offensive and defensive roles.

You'd have to be insane to mess with that.

I was not advocating anything regarding Charlie
Just replying to briztoon about his form which was still good and who are the only replacements.

There are posters on BF that want Linc in their side but who do you drop for him to come back in
A great position to be in as a club not so much if you are the player missing out.
Thats one reason why premiership teams regularly lose player to other clubs for more opportunity.
Others see the writing on the wall and move while their form is still good.

 

[Elixuh]

Zac Bailey out, Levi in, would be the closest to a like for like swap.

Going to controversial here, but Cameron should be the player on notice, as I feel his performances have really dropped off.

Too soon Briztoon. I just opened my Charlie Cameron face car air freshener. It smells like raw papadums.

Anyway, Charlie’s role has changed drastically from the Charlie Cameron you’re thinking of. He is much more team orientated now and gets up the ground. Despite this and taking into account he also had the yips with set shots, he still kicked 44 goals. He is also commercially invaluable to the club.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Too soon Briztoon. I just opened my Charlie Cameron face car air freshener. It smells like raw papadums.

Anyway, Charlie’s role has changed drastically from the Charlie Cameron you’re thinking of. He is much more team orientated now and gets up the ground. Despite this and taking into account he also had the yips with set shots, he still kicked 44 goals. He is also commercially invaluable to the club.

Plus, I would not like to see Kai Lohmann's attempt at growing a mo.

 

[Elixuh]

Re Doedee you have to play him if he is fit and the form looks good in the VFL. It’s why we got him here.

Lester will get first crack because I don’t imagine doedee will be ready to go round 0 and they’ll probably want to play him in the VFL after such a long stint on the sidelines.

Lester's greatest strength in 24 was his footy iq, positioning and reading of the play. Hard to pick against him at the moment on exposed form. Whether he can keep it up at 32 going on 33 is the question.

 

[mpal6]

Neale is 32 this May and I'd give him as many breaks as possible to get the body right for second half of season than play him injured going forward.

We have the depth and need to start looking at the next wave of midfielders, first few rounds may be a good opportunity for fit youngsters to take over the middle and show what they've got. Ashcroft brothers, Fletcher, Lohmann etc alongside McCluggage, Dunkley, Berry, Rayner and so on.

 

[Clarkythelion]

I think Jaspa plays, but suspect a fully fit Doedee gets the nod over Lester. There's if Doedee gets fully fit of course.

I think your right, I'd just add the word 'eventually' Doedee gets over Lester but Doedee plays 5 or 6 VFL games first to get his rhythm back and prove the knees are stable to himself and the coaching team.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Zac Bailey out, Levi in, would be the closest to a like for like swap.

Going to controversial here, but Cameron should be the player on notice, as I feel his performances have really dropped off.

I agree with you. Somewhere I read or saw an interview the Charlie spend last years concentrating on his defence and getting up the ground to help out. Makes sense after Linc was injured as he is a great defensive forward. I got a snippet from somewhere Charlie might have been sacrificing his attacking game for defence and team play and he certainly was better all over the ground. With Ling back maybe Charlie concretes some energy for all out attack but agree his is the small forward probably on notice to kick more goals and to fix his accuracy from right in front.

 

[buttermuffs]

Fish must be drunk on hot cross buns; seriously squeezing Jaspa out, a specialist wingman one of our better finals series players over someone who has never played an AFL game or any other ins is seriously laughable.

And then Doedee over Lester; rightio, one has barely put a foot wrong in 12 months and played in a GF and the other has barely got on the park in two years and is the preferred option.

When he made one late last year he said on the roar deal that it was incredibly difficult to do and he felt bad leaving players out. The margins are very thin when it comes to who makes the final couple spots in the best 22. I don’t think he meant it as a slight to any of the players that missed out.

 

[dlanod]

That said, there’s always injuries. FWIW there is absolutely zero chance for mine that Fletcher misses out. He surprisingly didn’t get the kudos he deserved from many - some of his work under pressure in the Geelong game (marking cleanly running back with the flight and dishing off to Wilmot for example) was fantastic.

Jaspa (and Callum too) both had a more invisible/fairly vanilla and replaceable regular season. Both had fantastic finals series - Callum moreso, but Jaspa was very good too. But when people are taking it as "someone has to go out for Levi", a good finals series does not necessarily invalidate that a player was on the chopping block if there was anyone appropriate available to play his role but there wasn't.

I think there's going to be a lot of questions asked in preseason. There's not going to be a lot of "hey I just played in a premiership for you" credits going around with some of the pressure coming from the returnees and draftees.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Doedee needs a good month of footy in the ressies just to get his confidence and body back to where it needs to be. He has plenty of time to play for us. Lester absolutely deserves to be in the side. He has been phenomenal.

There is nothing wrong with starting Levi in the ressies if we have no room for him. I don't think that will happen much but we are pretty stacked.

The likes of Neale, Andrews, Zorko and some others should be expected to get rested a bit more this year.

 

[Elixuh]

You don't drive a Ferrari on a dirt track. Levi never sets foot in the VFL.

 

[pod17]

Jaspa (and Callum too) both had a more invisible/fairly vanilla and replaceable regular season. Both had fantastic finals series - Callum moreso, but Jaspa was very good too. But when people are taking it as "someone has to go out for Levi", a good finals series does not necessarily invalidate that a player was on the chopping block if there was anyone appropriate available to play his role but there wasn't.

I think there's going to be a lot of questions asked in preseason. There's not going to be a lot of "hey I just played in a premiership for you" credits going around with some of the pressure coming from the returnees and draftees.

I think that Callum was very solid as a forward. Almost 30 goals after only really settling there after the Adelaide game in Round 9. If he keeps that output up, he’s a lock in the 22 for me. I also feel that Jaspa, being in his 3rd year with 40 odd games under his belt, is about to really hit his straps. Dropping him back to the twos when we need a specialist wingman wouldn’t be ideal for his trajectory.

I agree with you re your point around a good finals series not guaranteeing a spot if there are others available, and the premiership ‘credits’. However, my personal preference is that those that produced be given first crack (barring injury or unforeseen pre season issues) to hold their spot.

I just think it would be a big call to play Levi ahead of those guys. I am sure he will put forward a compelling case over the pre season, and put egg on my face once he has 30 and two goals on debut!

 

[mpal6]

You don't drive a Ferrari on a dirt track. Levi never sets foot in the VFL.

Ferrari did go on the dirt track last season and proved we'll be foolish to put it back there ever again

Future Lion dominates VFL debut

The future is bright at Brisbane with these brothers!

www.zerohanger.com

 

[martinson]

I reckon the guys that got us the flag , not just through their work in the GF , but in the preceding run of games leading up to and in the finals deserve to run out when we unfurl the flag. I can't see any of them not putting in in the pre season looking at their history.

But what's the chance of all 22 (leaving out Joey ) being fit and well ? Around 10-20% chance I'd say. Things happen in pre seasons as we know. So there'll be a spot for Levi, otherwise have a good problem.

Every time we lost a game for the last few years the players people seem to want to drop are Lester ,Ah Chee, and Zorko. Hipwood and Rayner used to get a lot of stick as well (I plead guilty to the latter )

As I see it Lester has been phenomenal, he's playing his best footy. Ah Chee has been pivotal ever since we gave him a permanent role, instrumental in us winning games , and he dishes it off plenty of times as well. Zorko's 36 this year so maybe he's a hammy or a calf away from missing out. But if he's fit he's a lock.

It'll be a lot clearer by March. In the meantime we're speculating as if everyone will be available.

 

[irel]

Ferrari did go on the dirt track last season and proved we'll be foolish to put it back there ever again

Future Lion dominates VFL debut

The future is bright at Brisbane with these brothers!

www.zerohanger.com

He proved that we have an all terrain Ferrari.

 

[KissKiss]

Zac Bailey out, Levi in, would be the closest to a like for like swap.

I kind of agree about Bailey being the odd one out.

For a wing role I still see Berry and Fletcher ahead of him. Ah Chee plays the rotation well (and we have Marshall in the wings).

As a pure small forward Cameron, Lohman and Ah Chee have been fantastic offensively and defensively and we still have Linc to return.

Then the half forward rotation we have Rayner and McCluggage who are top of their games at the moment. We also have first option of Zorko returning there (if Kiddy comes into the team) or where Levi likely fits in.

Then as a pure mid I have him well down the depth list. Neale, Wash, Dunkley, McCluggage, etc

He is a good player but I struggle to have him first choice in most roles. Utility might need to be his main strength now

 

[greendiesel]

I think your right, I'd just add the word 'eventually' Doedee gets over Lester but Doedee plays 5 or 6 VFL games first to get his rhythm back and prove the knees are stable to himself and the coaching team.

Watching him in the VFL before his recent ACL.....he'll need more than half a season before he replaces
a premiership defender in reasonable form.

 

[martinson]

Watching him in the VFL before his recent ACL.....he'll need more than half a season before he replaces
a premiership defender in reasonable form.

I agree on Doedee. Not factoring him in at all until we see how his form is. He's only played a warm up game in going on to 2 years when the season starts so he'll need to build match fitness if his body holds up.

Of course we all wish him the best and hope he does come back to good form during the year because he's a quality player who's had a devastating run of bad luck.

 

[knaf]

I think the role of defensive small forward is becoming more important as teams develop and rely on the offensive half back. To me Ah Chee appears to have mastered the role, rather than just had a great final series. In modern football all small forwards (in fact all players) have to understand their role in team defence and be committed to it. But I think we are seeing the development of players who have the skills, physical attributes and understanding of the game to negate a player like Whitfield or Coleman, and still be damaging offensively. Ah Chee also has great flexibility in the rotations and has shown he can be given specific roles as a game changes.

I like Bailey, great offensive player when on, and probably our best player in finding space in traffic. I think the knock on him being poor defensively is overstated, but he just doesn’t seem to have the mind set and because he is not physically strong his missed tackles look bad. Not great defensively rather than terrible defensively. Thought he was good as the third player in the wing rotations during the finals, but not as good as Berry and Fletcher. I just think in a team stacked with talented offensive players, he is the one to miss out to give young Levi a spot.

As others have pointed out Levi’s one game in the VFL just about demanded promotion to the AFL. I think Levi will develop into a more rounded footballer than Bailey and we need to get games into him.

 

[irel]

I think the role of defensive small forward is becoming more important as teams develop and rely on the offensive half back. To me Ah Chee appears to have mastered the role, rather than just had a great final series. In modern football all small forwards (in fact all players) have to understand their role in team defence and be committed to it. But I think we are seeing the development of players who have the skills, physical attributes and understanding of the game to negate a player like Whitfield or Coleman, and still be damaging offensively. Ah Chee also has great flexibility in the rotations and has shown he can be given specific roles as a game changes.

I like Bailey, great offensive player when on, and probably our best player in finding space in traffic. I think the knock on him being poor defensively is overstated, but he just doesn’t seem to have the mind set and because he is not physically strong his missed tackles look bad. Not great defensively rather than terrible defensively. Thought he was good as the third player in the wing rotations during the finals, but not as good as Berry and Fletcher. I just think in a team stacked with talented offensive players, he is the one to miss out to give young Levi a spot.

As others have pointed out Levi’s one game in the VFL just about demanded promotion to the AFL. I think Levi will develop into a more rounded footballer than Bailey and we need to get games into him.

Well said.

The issue for Fagan is at who's expense? For Levi to come in, we are dropping a premiership player, unless he comes in for Joey and that is unlikely to happen as it would leave us a tall short. Fagan is unlikely to go in a game without a relieving Ruckman. Where would we have been if we did not have Joe when Big O went down in the Prelim.

I believe the premiership side starts the season. They are entitled some respect, after all we waited for twenty years for a side to get that elusive premiership. The side performed miracles during the finals and everyone played a blinder in the Grand Final.

I am incredibly conflicted. In my mind Levi starts because he is a generational talent and as you say we need to pump games into him. Prior to Christmas there was talk that our rehab group extended to 16 players. Some may not be fit for the opening weeks of the season. So, a spot or two may open up that way.

I see the season being one of the most competitive year for spots in the starting 23 in memory.
Really, one can mount a case just about for every single player on our list. What a dilemma to have?

 

[martinson]

I think the role of defensive small forward is becoming more important as teams develop and rely on the offensive half back. To me Ah Chee appears to have mastered the role, rather than just had a great final series. In modern football all small forwards (in fact all players) have to understand their role in team defence and be committed to it. But I think we are seeing the development of players who have the skills, physical attributes and understanding of the game to negate a player like Whitfield or Coleman, and still be damaging offensively. Ah Chee also has great flexibility in the rotations and has shown he can be given specific roles as a game changes.

I like Bailey, great offensive player when on, and probably our best player in finding space in traffic. I think the knock on him being poor defensively is overstated, but he just doesn’t seem to have the mind set and because he is not physically strong his missed tackles look bad. Not great defensively rather than terrible defensively. Thought he was good as the third player in the wing rotations during the finals, but not as good as Berry and Fletcher. I just think in a team stacked with talented offensive players, he is the one to miss out to give young Levi a spot.

As others have pointed out Levi’s one game in the VFL just about demanded promotion to the AFL. I think Levi will develop into a more rounded footballer than Bailey and we need to get games into him.

Not sure on Bails. He had a few ordinary games during the year but to his credit he was able to play a role for us right through the finals series and remained disciplined in his approach.

He had a few injury issues I believe and let's see how he goes with a full pre season. It's funny how sentiment changes isn't it . A couple of years ago we would've been devastated to lose him because he was one of the big hopes of being a superstar.

I think McKenna might be a lot better this year as well.

All this talk about an embarrassment of riches is fine but you can still only play 23 to win games. Things went our way in the finals series when we needed them to and maybe we're going to be overrated off the back of the GF. On paper we have a great team and plenty of options . It's all exciting and looks good but we still have to keep reproducing what we've shown we're capable of.

 

[Grasshopper17]

I think the role of defensive small forward is becoming more important as teams develop and rely on the offensive half back. To me Ah Chee appears to have mastered the role, rather than just had a great final series. In modern football all small forwards (in fact all players) have to understand their role in team defence and be committed to it. But I think we are seeing the development of players who have the skills, physical attributes and understanding of the game to negate a player like Whitfield or Coleman, and still be damaging offensively. Ah Chee also has great flexibility in the rotations and has shown he can be given specific roles as a game changes.

I like Bailey, great offensive player when on, and probably our best player in finding space in traffic. I think the knock on him being poor defensively is overstated, but he just doesn’t seem to have the mind set and because he is not physically strong his missed tackles look bad. Not great defensively rather than terrible defensively. Thought he was good as the third player in the wing rotations during the finals, but not as good as Berry and Fletcher. I just think in a team stacked with talented offensive players, he is the one to miss out to give young Levi a spot.

As others have pointed out Levi’s one game in the VFL just about demanded promotion to the AFL. I think Levi will develop into a more rounded footballer than Bailey and we need to get games into him.

Bailey has improved at corralling the ball carrier. The next phase in the evolution of his defensive attributes is knowing when to go in for the tackle. And being able to stick them when he does.

 

[Nunez]

Bailey has improved at corralling the ball carrier. The next phase in the evolution of his defensive attributes is knowing when to go in for the tackle. And being able to stick them when he does.

Also has to know when to sneak a gut punch in. Hasn't quite worked out the Butters technique.

 

[Elixuh]

Ferrari did go on the dirt track last season and proved we'll be foolish to put it back there ever again

Future Lion dominates VFL debut

The future is bright at Brisbane with these brothers!

www.zerohanger.com

Are you questioning me?

 

[Nunez]

Are you questioning me?

Did he stutter?