Training 2025 Pre-Season

[AFC979810]

You'll let me know when the Crows list Murray as a developing ruck won't you?

From the Crows website...

View attachment 2205027

Yes - convincing argument.

The same website that can't even match the players names to faces?

Adelaide Crows AFL team | Player Profiles | Adelaide Football Club

Player profiles, news and video from the Adelaide Crows' AFL team.

www.afc.com.au

The same website that lists ANB as a midfielder?

Wasn't this the same website that was telling us all (less than 12 months ago) that Rachele and Rankine were going to be midfielders and the club still has them as forwards?

 

[Mutineer]

In his interview after the Draft, an irritated Reid, when questioned on rucks, mentioned Toby as one of our ruck-capable options.

Thus far Toby's not done very much ruck in the SANFL....and we are talking needing a replacement for ROB long term and a replacement for Strachan as a back up possibly as soon as the final list lodgement in May similar to what Port are doing with Todd Marshall's list spot and definitely at year's end I would hope when he's out of contract.

Do we seriously believe Toby Murray could come in early in the season and be competitive at AFL level should ROB go down?

 

[Coopers]

Do we seriously believe Toby Murray could come in early in the season and be competitive at AFL level should ROB go down?

If he's like his brother, then yeah.

 

[AFC979810]

Thus far Toby's not done very much ruck in the SANFL....and we are talking needing a replacement for ROB long term and a replacement for Strachan as a back up possibly as soon as the final list lodgement in May similar to what Port are doing with Todd Marshall's list spot and definitely at year's end I would hope when he's out of contract.

Do we seriously believe Toby Murray could come in early in the season and be competitive at AFL level should ROB go down?

If the club feels Toby can't, then we need to sign McAndrew.

 

[Mutineer]

If the club feels Toby can't, then we need to sign McAndrew.

We absolutely do need to sign a decent replacement for Strachan but whether McAndrew is the best option in that regard is very much up for debate. McAndrew's acquisition as a SANFL ruck replacement was an afterthought obviously when Strachan's issue surfaced and him already being at Norwood for their SANFL program.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

We absolutely do need to sign a decent replacement for Strachan but whether McAndrew is the best option in that regard is very much up for debate. McAndrew's acquisition as a SANFL ruck replacement was an afterthought obviously when Strachan's issue surfaced and him already being at Norwood for their SANFL program.

Unless ROB gets a significant injury, I gather there is no rush to assess who is best to pick as Strachan's replacement.

 

[Mutineer]

Unless ROB gets a significant injury, I gather there is no rush to assess who is best to pick as Strachan's replacement.

You would hope so, that search should not be restricted to Lachlan McAndrew unless he impresses in the SANFL.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

You would hope so, that search should not be restricted to Lachlan McAndrew unless he impresses in the SANFL.

Yes, would hope we take our time & assess early season form before making a decision. May end up being a sanfl or vfl bolter.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

If the club feels Toby can't, then we need to sign McAndrew.

No !

 

[1990crow]

Interesting Welsh listed as 192 on crows website. So still growing.

For relevance to the thread, maybe he could ruck now.

 

[1970crow]

Is it better, though?

Stacking your list with players who can't play together and you only need one or two of at a time - I think any more than three rucks on a list is a mistake.

Swans were arguably wasting a spot when they had Grundy, Ladhams, McAndrew, Green, McLean and Buller all as potential rucks.

I know you'll fervently disagree, but I think too many rucks can be a genuine list issue too.

Yep, we're right and 17 other clubs are wrong. And we've got the history of success to prove it.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Is it better, though?

Stacking your list with players who can't play together and you only need one or two of at a time - I think any more than three rucks on a list is a mistake.

Swans were arguably wasting a spot when they had Grundy, Ladhams, McAndrew, Green, McLean and Buller all as potential rucks.

I know you'll fervently disagree, but I think too many rucks can be a genuine list issue too.

If we are fortunate enough like Brisbane to make the grand final, but lost ROB to injury in the preliminary final, what do we do?

 

[1970crow]

In his interview after the Draft, an irritated Reid, when questioned on rucks, mentioned Toby as one of our ruck-capable options.

"Ruck-capable" is not the same thing as a developing ruck. Toby is developing to be injury cover for the Tippett/JJ/TT/Berg/Burgess style key forward/main ruck breather role. He's not being developed to become a lead ruck. Swans and Lions both have young developing rucks on their lists.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

"Ruck-capable" is not the same thing as a developing ruck. Toby is developing to be injury cover for the Tippett/JJ/TT/Berg/Burgess style key forward/main ruck breather role. He's not being developed to become a lead ruck. Swans and Lions both have young developing rucks on their lists.

However should we be fast tracking Murray as a potential ruckman. See how he goes leading the sanfl team... given it's a depth issue for us now.

 

[1990crow]

However should we be fast tracking Murray as a potential ruckman. See how he goes leading the sanfl team... given it's a depth issue for us now.

I don't think so. We need someone post Tex and as much as I want Welsh to come good he needs to become a better athlete first.

2025 could be Walkers last season, and then we are left with needing to find a third tall.

 

[1970crow]

However should we be fast tracking Murray as a potential ruckman. See how he goes leading the sanfl team... given it's a depth issue for us now.

If they're plann8ng for cover should ROB go down for any stretch of time, I reckon they'll prefer the Swans discard purely due to his extra preseasons. Gut feel is that they don't see Toby as a viable option in that role. Burgess at 194cm was meant to be a viable back up ruck too, but I reckon it was his uselessness that saw us take T Murray on.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I don't think so. We need someone post Tex and as much as I want Welsh to come good he needs to become a better athlete first.

2025 could be Walkers last season, and then we are left with needing to find a third tall.

Think you have forgotten about Curtin!

I'm looking forward to the Thilthorpe, Fogarty & Curtin combo when Tex is rested next season.

 

[1990crow]

Think you have forgotten about Curtin!

I'm looking forward to the Thilthorpe, Fogarty & Curtin combo when Tex is rested next season.

Maybe, Curtin could also develop into a mid going by reports on here.
Who knows.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Maybe, Curtin could also develop into a mid going by reports on here.
Who knows.

Reports have been that we have been developing him both as forward & midfielder.

Who do you think we play as our 3rd forward when Tex is managed?

 

[1990crow]

Reports have been that we have been developing him both as forward & midfielder.

Who do you think we play as our 3rd forward when Tex is managed?

Yes. That's my point.
I don't know if Tex does get managed. Maybe for only 2 or 3 times during the season, so likely inconsequential in terms of planning for 2026 where you need to lock in preferred first choice player roles.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Yes. That's my point.
I don't know if Tex does get managed. Maybe for only 2 or 3 times during the season, so likely inconsequential in terms of planning for 2026 where you need to lock in preferred first choice player roles.

Club has said Tex will be managed much more next season, particularly where we have longer travel.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think Murray is a little overrated around here. And before I get bombarded, I think he's been pretty good and his development curve was genuinely exciting. I just reckon a lot of people rate him currently as if the improvement had already occurred or was certain to occur. We've had a lot of players flatline after locking away their spots in the best 22. Reckon both Murray or Keane can go to another level and Butts is a solid player when not injury hampered.

Hard to say what he may be by now without the ACL

Still needs to take the next step , good he got half a season in last year as should help for this year

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Yep, I’d be shocked if Crouch isn’t going to be given first crack as I’m pretty sure he’d be our best clearance winner, as long as he’s farming it out to one of our explosive players like Rankine, Peatling, Dawson then he’ll be doing his job.

If we have a new recruit who excels at stoppages then we might not need Crouch. Seems Draper could be that player as he likes to give away the quick handball but can also burst away. But he won’t take over from rd 1.

Our midfield this year is going to be very interesting to see how we shape up, we are now developing a bunch of decent mids but need 2-3 to be A graders to elite.

Dawson, Crouch, Soligo, Rankine, Draper, Curtin, Peatling, Berry, Taylor, Schoenberg, Rachelle are a decent bunch to work with and some tough calls to be made. Haven’t included Pedlar but could get in there as well if we saw him as a mid.

Selection with a healthy squad all over the ground is going to be a challenge, don’t know if Nicks and co are up to it. What we can’t do is have a mindset of a best 24 and persist even if some are out of form, 2 average games and you’re out, there’s someone now capable to take your spot. Keep the pressure to perform up, the only lucky player through poor list management that can escape that is ROB.

Further if we have an injury to a KPF, do not want to bring in Burgess at any cost, play 2 KPF and Curtin as a full time forward.

I think Crouch will have same role

Start on bench and play lowish TOG around 70%-75% but all midfield like last year

Short bursts at full energy seems to be how he plays best these days ,


got a feeling they like to keep him fresh until last quarter then he has a bit more time in rotation as a ‘fresh’ man as the game has slowed a bit , haven’t seen whether that’s true with stats but someone would know

 

[Mutineer]

If they're plann8ng for cover should ROB go down for any stretch of time, I reckon they'll prefer the Swans discard purely due to his extra preseasons. Gut feel is that they don't see Toby as a viable option in that role. Burgess at 194cm was meant to be a viable back up ruck too, but I reckon it was his uselessness that saw us take T Murray on.

I think it was much more than that with them knowing Himmelberg was gone at year's end, Toby is an ideal replacement i.e cheap KPF/Chop Out Ruck depth at the age and development level a chance to make a decent AFL player similar to his brother Nick.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

TRAINING REPORT

Just wandered down this morning …. it’s good now, you can stay in your car and watch with a coffee

I thought in a degree of hardness it was an average session, over 2.5 hours ….. pretty windy, so skills were a bit sloppy

bigman will explain the drills better than me …. but lots of of one on one stuff

So i’ll outline my views on some players

Draper ….. held out of a lot of drills, 1:1 he wasn’t strong enough against the likes of Dawson
But he has a unique ability to get in front of his opponent, using bodywork and just keeping the ball in front of him

Curtin, was most impressive today ….. strong in the 400mtr runs …. impressive with his bodywork in one on one contests
Certainly gone to another level ….. just imagining what another 12 months will produce

Milera …. the forgotten man … you can mark him down for R1 !
Looks a thoroughbred, a real bounce in his step, confident and moved very impressively

Pedlar ……. He’s back !
All the arrogance and speed was on show ….yes he got caught a few times trying to do too much, but we’d prefer he take on the game rather than be too conservative

Soligo … looks quicker and very classy

Rachelle …. great condition, and spending a lot of time in midfield drills
Because there was no match sim, it was hard to provide too much more analysis

Berry ….. obviously knows he has to fight for a spot ….. he was almost the best player at training IMO …. just went for it in every drill, and was quick and sharp

Some of the mature players just looked to do the session. ….. Dawson, Rankine, Laird, ANB, just looked like they were ticking another session off

Tex Walker ….. impressive condition … impressive in running drills …. he’s certainly not making up the numbers

Nankervis ….. he’s filled out really well, quite a solid boy now ….. and another impressive trainer

Nick Murray …. would be my standout trainer today …..what a physical specimen, and looks quicker than last year

Toby Murray …. i think he’s got it …. still looks a bit like a baby giraffe … another 12 months and we’ll have another good Murray

Maxy …. sorry, i didn’t see a big change in physique …. still rangey

Peatling ……wasn’t a standout today IMO …. i thought Curtin, Berry, Rachelle stood out more …. that said remember there was no match sim, and that can change opinions

Curtin sounds like he’s come back a different player this season , very exciting