Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Dalions]

I hope you are not meaning GC to win the 2025 Premiership?

 

[briztoon]

I hope you are not meaning GC to win the 2025 Premiership?

GC means it.

 

[martinson]

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.

We've got quite a long rehab list. I can't see Fagan rushing any of these guys back.

 

[Dalions]

GC means it.

Tell em their dreamin!

 

[Pommylovescarlton]

This was recommended on YT earlier; never come across this guy before, but good on him for putting himself out there, seems no less knowledgeable than some of the gooses on Seven and Fox and not a bad analysis. Well done PommyinOz

Thank you so much for the kind words! Made My manic Thursday better!

So much respect for what the lions have built and what you will continue to build!

Looking forward to watching you defend the title

 

[Clarkythelion]

The Bears and Fitzroy training tops are mint this year - not so sure about Lachie's shades but each there own.

Many years ago now, back in Leigh Matthews time I had a girl working for me who's brother was an optometrist that worked with the Lions. He had these training glasses the players would wear that had dots in the middle which forced players to use more of their peripheral vision. Not saying Lachie's are, probably not they look more like the glasses I have for golf.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Lachie had a pretty nasty poke to the eye at the end of last season. Maybe related to that? Will he be rocking the Mason Cox goggles next season?

 

[Berrygood]

We've got quite a long rehab list. I can't see Fagan rushing any of these guys back.

I hope that's the case, I hope we learnt from last season. I think we rushed a cpl of injured players back early or played underdone players to start the season. We have great depth in most areas. Players like Brain, Bruce n Joyce proved themselves reliable. We don't need to do that this season.

My only depth concern is tall fwds. I don't think there's any doubt that Fages will want to continue playing 3 tall fwds. Hippy's groin surgery and recovery is vital. He's the last player that should be rushed. If that means he has a delayed start to the season so be it. This also means that the fitness of Day to start the season is so important. If Hippy doesn't get up for the start, Day's experience will be needed. I think with a fit Day and Morris we can test out Ryan or a Lloyd early. With Joe gone I see Hippy moving to the deepest fwd role. A role I think Ryan could fill short term. This could be the year that Ryan stands up and like Brain, Bruce and Joyce, proves some reliability. I'm not a fan of Gardiner as a fwd, especially after the ACL. He won't come back as quick as he was, not that he was a real speedster anyway, so he will be relying on natural instinct to read n follow play. Much easier to achieve as a back. We don't need another witches hat fwd like Gunston was.

I'm not too concerned with the best 23 discussion. The team will change through the year depending on form and injury. As long as the teams we pick are fit and in form we will be OK.

There are players I look forward to seeing an improvement in this year. It's the first preseason that Berry hasn't had an injury problem for many years, I think he can really turn it on in 2025. A fit Bailey is exciting. Sometimes you have to carry a player capable of brilliance, and he is. If we can develop a spread n run game from stoppages, ala Richmond n the young Hawks, he will explode. He still needs to improve his tackling. He gets there to make a tackle but gets shrugged off or pushed away. It's a technique problem more than a desire problem.

A great season ahead of us no doubt. A great squad and great potential from our younger brigade. Can't wait for it to start.

 

[Section 5]

I hope that's the case, I hope we learnt from last season. I think we rushed a cpl of injured players back early or played underdone players to start the season. We have great depth in most areas. Players like Brain, Bruce n Joyce proved themselves reliable. We don't need to do that this season.

My only depth concern is tall fwds. I don't think there's any doubt that Fages will want to continue playing 3 tall fwds. Hippy's groin surgery and recovery is vital. He's the last player that should be rushed. If that means he has a delayed start to the season so be it. This also means that the fitness of Day to start the season is so important. If Hippy doesn't get up for the start, Day's experience will be needed. I think with a fit Day and Morris we can test out Ryan or a Lloyd early. With Joe gone I see Hippy moving to the deepest fwd role. A role I think Ryan could fill short term. This could be the year that Ryan stands up and like Brain, Bruce and Joyce, proves some reliability. I'm not a fan of Gardiner as a fwd, especially after the ACL. He won't come back as quick as he was, not that he was a real speedster anyway, so he will be relying on natural instinct to read n follow play. Much easier to achieve as a back. We don't need another witches hat fwd like Gunston was.

I'm not too concerned with the best 23 discussion. The team will change through the year depending on form and injury. As long as the teams we pick are fit and in form we will be OK.

There are players I look forward to seeing an improvement in this year. It's the first preseason that Berry hasn't had an injury problem for many years, I think he can really turn it on in 2025. A fit Bailey is exciting. Sometimes you have to carry a player capable of brilliance, and he is. If we can develop a spread n run game from stoppages, ala Richmond n the young Hawks, he will explode. He still needs to improve his tackling. He gets there to make a tackle but gets shrugged off or pushed away. It's a technique problem more than a desire problem.

A great season ahead of us no doubt. A great squad and great potential from our younger brigade. Can't wait for it to start.

I like your post except the Ryan filling a role part. You did say with improvement which is the key for him.
He would have to improve his fitness by a big margin and speed around the ground.
He is fairly quick leading for the ball but no back up fitness to get to defend or to the next contest.
So, lead take the mark kick the goal type of player in 2024. Fagan is all about improving so hopefully Ryan does that.

I have not attended the running/training sessions yet this year. Will get down in the next few weeks.
Last year preseason Ryan was the slowest player by a margin in his 1st Lion's preseason. It showed in his AFL game
If he can improve his fitness a lot, then maybe he gets an AFL game.
Joe CHF/FF position possibilities: Day > Smith > Gardiner > Doedee> Gallop > Ryan. Maybe Fort if Day/Smith fail.
Doedee is there in case Day gets injured Smith and Gardiner just don't get the job done and Froggy holds his spot

I will need to see where they play Lloyd in the preseason.
He started forward in the VFL then defense then wing time later in the season.
He is the same size as Berry and i wonder where the club sees his position in 2025.

 

[McIvor]

 

[irel]

Nice Shagger

 

[Perrip]

 

[Bucking Beads]

Not very optimistic that we see much of Coleman until after the bye. Easy him back if there is any doubts.

 

[Berrygood]

I like your post except the Ryan filling a role part. You did say with improvement which is the key for him.
He would have to improve his fitness by a big margin and speed around the ground.
He is fairly quick leading for the ball but no back up fitness to get to defend or to the next contest.
So, lead take the mark kick the goal type of player in 2024. Fagan is all about improving so hopefully Ryan does that.

I have not attended the running/training sessions yet this year. Will get down in the next few weeks.
Last year preseason Ryan was the slowest player by a margin in his 1st Lion's preseason. It showed in his AFL game
If he can improve his fitness a lot, then maybe he gets an AFL game.
Joe CHF/FF position possibilities: Day > Smith > Gardiner > Doedee> Gallop > Ryan. Maybe Fort if Day/Smith fail.
Doedee is there in case Day gets injured Smith and Gardiner just don't get the job done and Froggy holds his spot

I will need to see where they play Lloyd in the preseason.
He started forward in the VFL then defense then wing time later in the season.
He is the same size as Berry and i wonder where the club sees his position in 2025.

Ryan does need improvement no doubt. Hopefully there is some. Our tall fwd structure, who plays where and what roles, will need manoeuvring. Morris, I think continues as he has. Does Hippy remain as CHF with Day playing FF, Joe's role. I guess that's the least disruptive to structure and game plan. Or does Hippy move to FF, where I think he's best suited to use the space with his pace, and Day take the CHF role. Some adjustment needed but I think best in the long run. The second ruck duties obviously Day, but I did notice Hippy having a go now n then deep in our fwd half. I'd say our best 3 tall option is Hippy, Day and Morris. Unlikely they will all play every game so back up strategies are needed. Day is the ruck/fwd but if he breaks down its Smith, Fort or young Gallop. Gallop could be a real surprise package if his games in the Vfl last year are anything to go by.

If Hippy is out we are very limited with pure fwds. I don't think we got Doedee to play tall fwd, if he's fit to play and has shown form in the Vfl (he'll have to), he plays in the backs. Gardiner when fit is next man up tall defender, his experience pips Joyce by a half head at this stage. He's also next man up 3rd tall back if Lester is injured and Doedee isn't ready. Gee's imagine the learnings ZZ is going to get with those guys in the seconds. Anyway I just don't see value in Darcy fwd unless we have no-one else.

We are in strife if both Day and Hippy are out. Smith, Fort, Ryan, Lloyd, Gallop, I'd play Lester fwd before Doedee or Gardiner. Having said that I reckon we could easily and successfully play a smaller fwd set up n 2 rucks or something other than a 3 tall plan. With Rayner, Morris, Lohmann, McCarthy, Charlie, Ah Chee, Bailey, I'd reckon something could be worked out.

Edit. Maybe a change of our fwd structure and game plan is what we need to keep ahead of the pack, keep them guessing. Make the other teams rethink the plans they have to better us.

 

[Saucery]

I hate it when these updates are on X, I just refuse to use that Nazi saluting a$$ hats propaganda machine.

 

[McIvor]

I hate it when these updates are on X, I just refuse to use that Nazi saluting a$$ hats propaganda machine.

Oh the dramatics; Musk be shaking in his boots.

 

[McLuggages]

Joe CHF/FF position possibilities: Day > Smith > Gardiner > Doedee> Gallop > Ryan. Maybe Fort if Day/Smith fail.
Doedee is there in case Day gets injured Smith and Gardiner just don't get the job done and Froggy holds his spot

I will need to see where they play Lloyd in the preseason.
He started forward in the VFL then defense then wing time later in the season.
He is the same size as Berry and i wonder where the club sees his position in 2025.

There's a chance we see more of Gallop than we expect - he's a big boy.

Lloyd has a back injury and isn't training - not expecting to see much of him early this year .