Training 2025 Pre Season Thread

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JJ’s injury is a high grade hamstring tendon tear. Minimum 12 weeks recovery at his age/requirement for a slow approach due to history.

They may put him on the LTI list to open up another spot? Unsure on the behind the scene requirements for this to occur or if it is possible, others may be more aware of the SSP rules surrounding this.
 
JJ’s injury is a high grade hamstring tendon tear. Minimum 12 weeks recovery at his age/requirement for a slow approach due to history.

They may put him on the LTI list to open up another spot? Unsure on the behind the scene requirements for this to occur or if it is possible, others may be more aware of the SSP rules surrounding this.

He always struggles with soft tissue injuries on return after long lay offs too.
 
JJ’s injury is a high grade hamstring tendon tear. Minimum 12 weeks recovery at his age/requirement for a slow approach due to history.

They may put him on the LTI list to open up another spot? Unsure on the behind the scene requirements for this to occur or if it is possible, others may be more aware of the SSP rules surrounding this.
If he moves to LTI can we put both Brew and Crossley on the list?
 

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Just tap JJ on the back and get him to retire get both in

Crossley would be the main one now sadly for Brew as good as a story as he is Gards as our back up ruck is not exciting when English is the main
 

THE WESTERN Bulldogs have invited former Gold Coast ruckman Brayden Crossley to play in Sunday's intraclub in Maroochydore during the club's pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Crossley underwent a medical with the club on Wednesday and will be permitted to train with Luke Beveridge's squad under pre-season supplemental selection period rules.

It is understood that Crossley has only been offered the opportunity to join the captain's run on Saturday and scratch match on Sunday, but the Bulldogs are open to extending the trial for the duration of the camp – and potentially back in Victoria.

The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the premier ruckmen outside the AFL across the past few years, leading Southport to a Grand Final this year after being included in the VFL Team of the Year squad.

Crossley played 10 games for Gold Coast after being recruited from the Suns' Academy, before being delisted at the end of 2019 after being handed a 12-month anti-doping suspension.

Since joining Southport for the 2021 season, the 198cm ruckman has become a star in the VFL, putting his hand up for another AFL chance in 2024 during a phenomenal finals series where he amassed 69 hitouts in the Grand Final, a week after registering 71 against Footscray in the preliminary final win.


So this is very interesting, he's always struck me as happy to just stay in the state leagues with the lower standards for training and not having his entire life be about football. He certainly doesn't lack the talent to be a great ruck.
Happy with this, means we are committed to Lobb down back and don't want Darcy doing anything but chop out minutes in the ruck.
 
Crossley training with the dogs during our camp..

Don’t mind it. Think it’s needed. Our ruck depth is cooked.
Love Crossley. Showed a bit as a forward/ ruck at the Suns before he went off the rails a bit.
 
Just tap JJ on the back and get him to retire get both in

Crossley would be the main one now sadly for Brew as good as a story as he is Gards as our back up ruck is not exciting when English is the main
Yeah. Unless we find a LTI from somewhere between now and final list lodgement date, which is sadly likely.
 
With Bruce's career ending more than 12 months ago, there was a vacancy for another moustache to enter the kennel. That's still the case 12 months on.

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I'm all for Crossley. He's a better centre bounce ruckman than English, of that I have no doubt. Definitely more aggression which we need. He was huge for Southport last season.

Make it happen.

P.S. Is there room for both Brew and Crossley? I don't know how the logistics work. That would be cool having the two best players from the VFL grand final on our list for 2025 :)
 
I think it might actually be because of JUH, at this point we can't afford to move Darcy out of full forward so need another ruckman.
Crossly would be a footnote to history if it wasn't for the weird infatuation that the media had with him and their desperate need to build a cult hero out of whole cloth and his mums apparent attractiveness... An infatuation that lasted as long as a nervous teen in a knock shop.

If we're worried about the short to medium term future of JUH, then getting somebody straight outa palookaville with a level of fitness that has never withstood the rigours of the AFL as means of shuffling the deckchairs to cover other issues is not ideal.

Id suggest that if Crossly does any more than add another undersized ruck option during our Queensland sojourn then it's more a reflection of how far Smith is off the pace. Given he is the next designated ruckman on a list that is full to overflowing with tall options but thin on the ground when it comes to genuine backup ruck options. To be fair, I have no idea if Smith is injured or participating in full training, but the lack of discussion around his status since news of English's injury is a bit concerning. Indeed there has been more talk of Ryan Gardner as the break glass option since news of English's injury broke early this week.

I'll be genuinely concerned if this offer extends beyond this short contract. As it would be a good indictor as to the severity of English's injury something that would nobble our season before it starts.

We shall see.
 
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Happy with this, means we are committed to Lobb down back and don't want Darcy doing anything but chop out minutes in the ruck.
Crossley made his AFL debut in round 7 of the 2018 AFL season against the Western Bulldogs.[10] He kicked a goal on debut and recorded thirteen disposals, seven hit outs and five tackles.[citation needed]

On 25 May 2019, Crossley tested positive to cocaine by ASADA on a match day ahead of a NEAFL game between Gold Coast Suns and the Sydney Swans, in which he played in a kicked two goals

Maybe his friends with Bailey Smith :)
 
Crossly would be a footnote to history if it wasn't for the weird infatuation that the media had with him band their desperate need to build a cult hero out of whole cloth and his mums apparent attractiveness... An infatuation that lasted as long as a nervous teen in a knock shop.

If we're worried about the short to medium term future of JUH, then getting somebody straight outa palookaville with a level of fitness that has never withstood the rigours of the AFL as means of shuffling the deckchairs to cover other issues is not ideal.

Id suggest that if Crossly does any more than add another undersized ruck option during our Queensland sojourn then it's more a reflection of how far Smith is off the pace. Given he is the next designated ruckman on a list that is full to overflowing with tall options but thin on the ground when it comes to genuine backup ruck options. To be fair, I have no idea if Smith is injured or participating in full training, but the lack of discussion around his status since news of English's injury is a bit concerning. Indeed there has been more talk of Ryan Gardner as the break glass option since news of English's injury broke early this week.

I'll be genuinely concerned if this offer extends beyond this short contract. As it would be a good indictor as to the severity of English's injury something that would nobble our season before it starts.

We shall see.
The ruck position has reset over the past few years both in terms of what you pay them and what you need out of them. Someone else will quote it but how many premiership teams over the past 20-30 years have had an absolute A grade ruck? Would be less than 5%.
 
The ruck position has reset over the past few years both in terms of what you pay them and what you need out of them. Someone else will quote it but how many premiership teams over the past 20-30 years have had an absolute A grade ruck? Would be less than 5%.
Gawn the clear outlier as a genuine top 5-10 ruckman since 2010:

Fort/D.Cameron/Stanley/Gawn/Nankervis x 2/Lycett/Nankervis/Roughead/McEvoy/Bailey/Mumford/Ottens/Jolly
 

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Crossly would be a footnote to history if it wasn't for the weird infatuation that the media had with him and their desperate need to build a cult hero out of whole cloth and his mums apparent attractiveness... An infatuation that lasted as long as a nervous teen in a knock shop.

If we're worried about the short to medium term future of JUH, then getting somebody straight outa palookaville with a level of fitness that has never withstood the rigours of the AFL as means of shuffling the deckchairs to cover other issues is not ideal.

Id suggest that if Crossly does any more than add another undersized ruck option during our Queensland sojourn then it's more a reflection of how far Smith is off the pace. Given he is the next designated ruckman on a list that is full to overflowing with tall options but thin on the ground when it comes to genuine backup ruck options. To be fair, I have no idea if Smith is injured or participating in full training, but the lack of discussion around his status since news of English's injury is a bit concerning. Indeed there has been more talk of Ryan Gardner as the break glass option since news of English's injury broke early this week.

I'll be genuinely concerned if this offer extends beyond this short contract. As it would be a good indictor as to the severity of English's injury something that would nobble our season before it starts.

We shall see.
Our current mature aged back up ruck is Ryan Gardner...
 
I think Brew's spot on the list has no ties to the trial of Crossley.
At this stage Crossley hasn't been promised anything and is just making up numbers in a scratch match. I'm a massive fan of his and believe at only 25 (looks 50) he still has the capability to turn himself into a quality AFL level player. Hopefully he takes the opportunity with both hands.
Looks likely we have another list spot open but may decide to leave it vacant for mid season.
 
Our current mature aged back up ruck is Ryan Gardner...
Yes.

Its why I brought him and Smith to the conversation.

This is a problem that all list managers face when they have a gun ruckman. They really have limited options given the lack of versatility that most second tier rucks present. They can Bring in a journeyman like Darcy Fort who is content to play second banana and hope that it pays off should their No1 get injured. Bring in a raw developing ruck who will be years away and hope that he is content to bide his time or doesn't jump ship because he isn't. Or shuffle what you have and go with a makeshift lineup and wait on the return of your number 1. What they cant do is have multiple rucks. More than one or two is a waste of space in the modern game.

Can anybody shed any light on whether Smith is on the tack?
 
Can anybody shed any light on whether Smith is on the tack?
Based on match sim, Gardner is well ahead and has been English's main opponent. Smith has been resting forward then providing chop outs like second ruck
 
Based on match sim, Gardner is well ahead and has been English's main opponent. Smith has been resting forward then providing chop outs like second ruck
Thanks.

I understand that he's young and very raw, but I don't see it with Smith. But I never saw much of anything with Sweet.

So what would I know?

Given what Power has said on SEN about English being expected to return for the first pre-season game the Crossley discussion seems a bit moot.
 
Thanks.

I understand that he's young and very raw, but I don't see it with Smith. But I never saw much of anything with Sweet.

So what would I know?

Given what Power has said on SEN about English being expected to return for the first pre-season game the Crossley discussion seems a bit moot.
Should still be relevant because if Tim misses a month during the season what then? Blood an absolutely underdone Smith or try our luck with Gardner and that spoiling fist in the ruck?
 
Surprised we would consider Crossley as he doesn't fit Bevo's ideal ruck mould.
Am a big fan of our off season so far.

Brew or Crossley would add a hard edge, something we've needed in finals lately.
 
Are we forgetting about Darcy.

He’s an AA ruck in waiting and could comfortably cover the role if needed.

Smith and co are irrelevant in this discussion.
 
Are we forgetting about Darcy.

He’s an AA ruck in waiting and could comfortably cover the role if needed.

Smith and co are irrelevant in this discussion.
Given Jamarra's struggles we need to be doing all in our power to keep Sam out of prolonged centre bounces for anything other than chop out minutes.
 
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