I’ll be at the Feb 20 one. If I got time I’ll pass on some notes.
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Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread
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Dalions
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I know this one is late to the party but completely agree. He played a 35 disposal, 1 goal game as a 17 year old in his sole VFL appearance. He isn't playing VFL if he is healthy, unfortunately someone has to make way for him. I suspect it won't be Jaspa. Unless we revert to two talls, which is unlikely, it has to be one of either Bailey, Rayner (0% chance), Ah Chee, Lohmann or Charlie. Based solely on last year, Bailey is the one who should be under the pump the most but I suspect, unfortunately for Cal, he may be the loser in all of this.
Nah . People are still looking at Cal as they always have. He's too valuable. I don't think they'd be looking at it that way internally.
Totally agree with this. Very potent forward with the ability to make the oppositions dashing defenders accountable. They don’t grow on trees.
Bailey did have a down year but carried an injury and showed some signs he was turning the corner late in the year. That said, IF Levi is to walk straight into the starting side after an injury in the preseason, Bailey could be the one that is vulnerable.
I still think it’s most likely he starts in the VFL or at best the sub until injury or form opens the door for him.
With Joe gone, Ah Chee becomes even more significant for our forward line. Cal was an absolute elite junior, clearly some of his footy at the back end of the year was elite AFL standard. I'm expecting him to become a dominant player on the ground in 2025.
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That's a bit personal for a footy forum isn't it?
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I'm hoping for the opposite in a way...
We've always been a team that's tended to cruise way too often but now they understand the reward for real effort.
We know they can do it, they know they can do it. Maybe 2024 creates the understanding of the results of real application now they have actually held the cup in their hands.
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Still think McCarthy could fill Zorko's spot and make it his own...
Bucking Beads
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Very good field kick. Be very interesting to see how we roll out this season. We are stacked with talent. An adjusted game plan would be required with out big Joe though.
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I think you're assuming neither can defend or lockdown as required. It is unlikely to work if they both play all out attacking HBF roles all the time but they're both capable as defenders, Kiddy more so than Zorks but being able to rotate the attacking role will cause headaches, especially if they can work to free each other up.
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Would be incredible for a guy who didn't play an AFL game until he was 23. Blacky had played 50+ games by the time he turned 23, Ashcroft just over 100.
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Someone is coming out for Levi, Cal, rightly or wrongly is the only one other than Lohman who has a history of being dropped.
We can say without a shadow of a doubt, unless injury strikes, it won't be Charlie or Rayner, which leaves, Cal, Kai and Zac. Cal's defensive role is very important going forward, I am not advocating for him being dropped. I just don't see Kai or Zac being dropped for Levi either.
Surely its McKenna out of the side for Levi with Bailey to play more midfield minutes. Levi takes the forward role and chops out in the mid when Bailey is off. Rayner 90% forward with the license to roam.
Also...its OR as in, opening round. No such thing as round 0
Section 5
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I wish the AFL would cancel the "spotlight on the northern states" idea.
Just play round 1 starting on the first Thursday in March so that the NRL does not have free air at that time of the year.
The 4 northern states can have home games to start the year if they want to go that way.
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I don't see Levi coming in to play sub. McKenna was a backman so it isn't a straight swap.
I would expect our starting Mids to line up as:
Berry Neale Fletcher
McInerny Dunkley Ashcroft/McCluggage (Wing/Mid)
Fowards to line up as:
Rayner (Fwd/Mid) Hipwood Ah Chee (DefFwd)
Cameron Day Morris
Int: Bailey (Fwd/Wing/Mid), Ashcroft/McCluggage (Mid/Wing/Fwd), Lohman (Fwd), Zorko/Wilmott/Answerth/Coleman (Def)
Someone from these lines needs to come out for us to field Levi, that is without factoring in Linc who as many have said, may struggle to break back into the side given the talent and age profile of the players he is competing for a spot against.
Fletcher could swap for Cllugg and start on the bench while Clugg is on a wing, chewing up Bailey's wing time.
Yes we will no doubt get an injury/ies to one of more of our mids and fwds that allows Levi to come in as a straight sway, but if everyone is fit and healthy for RO/R1 one of the non key positions will make way for Levi. We know who it won't be, which leaves one of Bailey, Lohman or Ah Chee.
ETA: All this is meaningless and easy to figure out if we go for two talls instead of 3. Hippy has the height to pinch hit in the ruck but I am doubtful that happens.
Easy enough to drop McKenna a play a front half or midfield player as the sub. Would allow us to start Levi. I don't think he plays any VFL if he is fit.
