Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[BuntonRules]

More analysis. More clickbait

 

[pod17]

After giving it some thought, I could genuinely see Zorko being a super sub for us this year. Will give us a lot of flexibility and allow us to prepare our lines for post-Zorko football. Keeps him playing, his body fresh and will undoubtedly have a big impact in the role.

He’d certainly be a great sub, and I can see it happening from time to time across the year to manage his body.

However, after an All Australian year - unless there is a considerable drop off in output (which is possible at his age) - I doubt he will be a regular sub option.

 

[Nunez]

He’d certainly be a great sub, and I can see it happening from time to time across the year to manage his body.

However, after an All Australian year - unless there is a considerable drop off in output (which is possible at his age) - I doubt he will be a regular sub option.

IMO we'd be much better to start him as sub if our best 22 are fit and bring him in for longer minutes/full time role if the younger guys can't get it done/get hurt.

 

[McLuggages]

IMO we'd be much better to start him as sub if our best 22 are fit and bring him in for longer minutes/full time role if the younger guys can't get it done/get hurt.

Came 2nd in our b&f and gives us so much drive. Not sure why we're relegating him to sub now.

No issue with subbing him off or resting him as the season goes on but he 100% starts in the team until he shows he isn't up to it or gets injured.

 

[McLuggages]

We aren't succession planning from r1. We're putting our best team out to win another. There are 6 months to adjust if it doesn't work out.

 

[Nunez]

We aren't succession planning from r1. We're putting our best team out to win another. There are 6 months to adjust if it doesn't work out.

What is the likelihood of a 36 year old footballers body holding up for a whole season? If he's best 22, is it best to play him at his fittest EARLY in the season or closer to finals?

6 months is a very long time to play football for younger bodies, let alone an older guy in Zorko. Not to mention, we have Coleman coming back and short, medium and long term he is our best 22. I'm not convinced both he and Zorko can fit comfortably together off half back.

 

[McLuggages]

What is the likelihood of a 36 year old footballers body holding up for a whole season? If he's best 22, is it best to play him at his fittest EARLY in the season or closer to finals?

6 months is a very long time to play football for younger bodies, let alone an older guy in Zorko. Not to mention, we have Coleman coming back and short, medium and long term he is our best 22. I'm not convinced both he and Zorko can fit comfortably together off half back.

If I had to pick one for r0 I'm picking AA premiership player, rather than the guy off an ACL.

I do agree that both may not work together but that's for Fages to work out. We did play Rich/Birchall together and Rich/Coleman.

 

[rye]

What is the likelihood of a 36 year old footballers body holding up for a whole season? If he's best 22, is it best to play him at his fittest EARLY in the season or closer to finals?

6 months is a very long time to play football for younger bodies, let alone an older guy in Zorko. Not to mention, we have Coleman coming back and short, medium and long term he is our best 22. I'm not convinced both he and Zorko can fit comfortably together off half back.

zorko has gone on record to say the ankle compaint that was causing him so many issues prior to last year is no longer troubling him. i dont see why he cant aim to play every game, half back is a lot more forgiving than trying to play him through the midfield. look at enright - he basically never missed games as a career half back and played to an all australian level well into his thirties.

if zorko needs to be managed id rather just omit him for a game than muck around with him as the sub.

its incumbent on others to push past the reigning all australian half back.

 

[Section 5]

What is the likelihood of a 36 year old footballers body holding up for a whole season? If he's best 22, is it best to play him at his fittest EARLY in the season or closer to finals?

6 months is a very long time to play football for younger bodies, let alone an older guy in Zorko. Not to mention, we have Coleman coming back and short, medium and long term he is our best 22. I'm not convinced both he and Zorko can fit comfortably together off half back.

You are correct in that not many play AFL after 34 years of age. If they do their form usually declines.
At a quick look the oldest ages for this playing year are Boak (23 games in 2024) and Goldstein (14) both 36 years, Zorko (27) is 36 years with Pendlebury (20) heading the list at 37 years.

Zorko's 35-year-old body held up well in 2024 being one of a few Lions who played every game last year.
He now plays half back, a position that is much easier on his body.
He has earned the right to hold his spot until his form drops off. At some stage it will.
Zorko started playing AFL the same year as Neale but there is 4 years difference in age.
Pendlebury just turned 37 and has played 6 more seasons than Neale and Zorko.

Zorko has defied the odds since being overlooked in multiple drafts.

 

[mpal6]

4 ACLs and nearly 5-6 coming back from some sort of surgery or reduced pre-season. Not to mention Grand final team / premiership mean we're starting another 6 weeks behind other teams in terms of players going under knife to get issues fixed.

Considering all above variables and Zorko returning from an All-Australian season, if Zorko's fit - he plays every week this year. Round 23 will get him to a well deserved 300 - can't wait !

 

[T Rick]

Came 2nd in our b&f and gives us so much drive. Not sure why we're relegating him to sub now.

No issue with subbing him off or resting him as the season goes on but he 100% starts in the team until he shows he isn't up to it or gets injured.

Agreed - are the Collingwood tribe relegating Pendelbury to sub this year?

 

[Nunez]

Agreed - are the Collingwood tribe relegating Pendelbury to sub this year?

Did their over reliance on Pendlebury hurt them in 2024?

 

[martinson]

Zorks would be an awesome sub at times if we could afford the luxury. The aim at his age is to have him fit and firing at the right part of the year and there's not much point in having him bash himself around in games we're going to win anyway.

He starts in the 22 and once we get a good idea of how the season's going and how he is we should manage him if we're able to.

He had to play all the games last year because it got to the stage where they were all must win games. He's a freakish player who would've won a few more AA's had he played at a top club . At 36 it makes sense to look at all options to get the best out of him.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Zorko to be our new Clark Keating - Mr September.

 

[Gadzorks]

Did their over reliance on Pendlebury hurt them in 2024?

There's the difference- we do not rely on zorko, or any one player. We are a team, and Oscar will be there to ensure we stay that way.

 

[Kambo]

Hello brissy forum,
I come in peace.
I have fested interested in one of your players and curious to get the opinion on how Henry Smith is training, and all of your outlook on where he is placed this year moving forward. Do you think he has a spot in that forward line and to potentially split ruck duties?

How is he fairing at training? At this point, i think he should be looking to surpass Darcy Fort in the pecking order at the very least.

 

[Perrip]

I have fested interested in one of your players and curious to get the opinion on how Henry Smith is training, and all of your outlook on where he is placed this year moving forward. Do you think he has a spot in that forward line and to potentially split ruck duties?

I see him as the eventual replacement for Fort or McInerney. In the VFL, when Fort wasn't there, or in the AFL, when McInerney was on the bench, he played his best footy as the main ruck.

 

[Elixuh]

Hello brissy forum,
I come in peace.
I have fested interested in one of your players and curious to get the opinion on how Henry Smith is training, and all of your outlook on where he is placed this year moving forward. Do you think he has a spot in that forward line and to potentially split ruck duties?

How is he fairing at training? At this point, i think he should be looking to surpass Darcy Fort in the pecking order at the very least.

This guy Supercoaches.

 

[Dalions]

Zorks would be an awesome sub at times if we could afford the luxury. The aim at his age is to have him fit and firing at the right part of the year and there's not much point in having him bash himself around in games we're going to win anyway.

He starts in the 22 and once we get a good idea of how the season's going and how he is we should manage him if we're able to.

He had to play all the games last year because it got to the stage where they were all must win games. He's a freakish player who would've won a few more AA's had he played at a top club . At 36 it makes sense to look at all options to get the best out of him.

Personally I think that if he starts coming up a bit sore and struggling to get up for games, we will start playing him as a Sub or give him a rest every now and then but he will be in the 22 if he is coming up well after games.
If he goes well this year, I could see him playing next year as well.

Edit: With 2 really good years he could go close to surpassing both Marcus Ashcroft (318) and Simon Black (322) games records.

 

[Saucery]

Hello brissy forum,
I come in peace.
I have fested interested in one of your players and curious to get the opinion on how Henry Smith is training, and all of your outlook on where he is placed this year moving forward. Do you think he has a spot in that forward line and to potentially split ruck duties?

How is he fairing at training? At this point, i think he should be looking to surpass Darcy Fort in the pecking order at the very least.

Yeah, I guess he will just scoot past a premiership ruckman, why not?

 

[Saucery]

For god's sake don't tell 3KZ I've said this, or I'll never hear the end of it; but I think IF Doedee gets his body right then Lester could be an amazing sub. With the heat out of a game his leg speed won't mean a thing and all of his other attributes that make him the consummate allrounder/utility will come to the fore. Tall, small, back, middle or forward he will have an impact due to his outstanding football nous, leadership and courage.

 

[BuntonRules]

Considering all above variables and Zorko returning from an All-Australian season, if Zorko's fit - he plays every week this year. Round 23 will get him to a well deserved 300 - can't wait !

Apart from his impact, some games as sub will help him get there, and help set us up for life post Zorko. Much better option than "rotating" - or flogging - him.

 

[McLuggages]

Went down to training again this morning - a bit of a different session with a heavy focus on taking corridor kicks and inside 50s.

A lot of the guys in rehab last week trained almost fully today.

No training - Doedee, kiddy, smith
Laps/skills - Mcclugage, Rayner, Starc, Gardiner, hipwood - Levi a little more but still very limited.
Almost full training - linc, Neale, Ashcroft, brain

A few specific thoughts/observations:

• I think Bruce is in the 23 currently. Looks in great shape and is a great kick. They split off in to line groups and either coincidentally or not the 'a midfield ' was Neale, Dunkley, Ashcroft and Bruce ..
• Likewise I think Sam Day has Joey's spot sown up. He's a great size and presence and exactly what we need.
• Berry and Answerth have put a heap of work in to their kicking over the past few years and it's noticeable - I would've said both were poor kicks previously and now they're good/safe.
• McKenna training with the forwards
• Same as last week, Lohmann and Willmott look
• Charlie looked great today too, his field kicking in particular- thought he was a bit off last week. Ah chee looks great also.
• Levi is there everyday and does non contact training but I think he's really getting held back. Haven't seen what he can do yet.
• A couple of nice moments from Sam Marshall but he's quite small. He's evasive and skillful but it's a tough team to break in to.
• Payne, Andrews, Lester and Joyce training fully (and ZZ) and look reliable as ever.
• Will machlachlan has put on a fair bit of size but it'll be tough to get a game. Could play the Rayner 3rd tall role perhaps?

Any other questions let me know.

 

[Perrip]

McKenna training with the forwards

Ah yes, the key forward we've been looking for, Conor McKenna.
AA breakout year

 

[Happy_Neale]

Why?

I always like when players take over a club legends number after starting in a different one. Makes me think they're really committed and driven to succeed. I guess we already knew that about Fletcher but I still thought it was interesting.