Bigman’s Training Reports

[cmndstab]

The equation for Thilthorpe seems pretty simple to me. Start near the goals, and if he's dominating, stay there. If he's struggling to get the ball (or if the ball is barely getting there) then roam up the ground for a while before working back towards goal.

No need to make it any more complicated than that.

 

[Big Dub]

There's no spot for Edwards

He needs a bunch of injuries, a bunch of losses or both

Oscar Ryan in the same boat

I can see Ryan getting a game in the first 10 rounds.

Edwards has got the tools, but needs to work his way past others currently ahead of him. Like it sounds like Ryan has done.

 

[Trigger13]

I give it the same answer every time. Riley will be one of the top big men in the competition. Must not be pigeon holed. He’ll go wherever he feels he needs to impact the game. Forward, running through the centre, ruck, or taking relieving marks in defence when the crows are 1 point up with 15 seconds to go.

Just enjoy having him.

The only caveat is that he has suffered a major knee injury that causes degenerative issues, particularly for big men. His meniscus injury was a particularly bad one and will most likely affect his career in some way, shape or form.

 

[FR0GGY]

The only caveat is that he has suffered a major knee injury that causes degenerative issues, particularly for big men. His meniscus injury was a particularly bad one and will most likely affect his career in some way, shape or form.

Hopefully can scratch out a career like McLeod

 

[Brenton Davy]

Yeah I wasn’t seriously thinking that a haircut was going to change his skills

Rory Atkins thread

 

[Ham]

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Edwards has got the tools, but needs to work his way past others currently ahead of him. Like it sounds like Ryan has done.

What do we make of Edwards training with the defenders? I haven’t seen much of him

 

[Cromulant]

What do we make of Edwards training with the defenders? I haven’t seen much of him

Nicks likes his midfielders to have other strings to their bow, probably only Crouch is a pure midfielder.

Not sure he's going to end up a defender, would be a strange move.

 

[Mutineer]

What do we make of Edwards training with the defenders? I haven’t seen much of him

Very different from his junior pathway at school and CTL levels in recent years where he's played mostly forward and later midfield when his Sandy Dragons teammates got called up to the Vic Metro squad for the Nationals. Mind you Edwards was eligible for Vic Country but didn't make the cut. It was his midfield games that really brought him into notice during the Nationals with the likes of Levi Ashcroft, Murphy Reid, Sam Marshall etc missing from the Dragons line-up.

Tested well for endurance, speed and agility and certainly has a good kick all good attributes for a running defender so could be the thinking?

 

[bigman]

Noticed when I passed aami early this morning that there was some equipment out, so came back around 9 and indeed the lads were training for the first Saturday session I can recall.

With the time trial done and dusted on Thursday, there was a bit more footy to watch today and some exciting moments to take out of it.

Pleasingly the list seems really healthy at the moment, which wasn’t the case a month ago. Hinge made his return after missing Thursday’s session and seemed unencumbered, meaning Strachan was the only player not training at all. Cumming continues to run laps while Draper and welsh were again held off from sections of training. Butts and Thilthorpe completed most of the session but were held off from a couple of drills.

I can’t help but get excited about how Curtin is tracking at the moment. He looks so much more fluid and confident out there than he did last pre season after the knee injury, and I would say he’s right up there with the most impressive this summer. In any of the match sim-style drills he always seems to get involved in transition and he has a genuine physical presence now, whether it’s laying a big tackle or breaking them. At times he’s on another level than most of the other players out there.

More and more I think he might be our answer at CHF in a post-Tex world. He’s a natural at finding space and providing leads up the ground, plus it would give him the space to use his lovely foot skills and lateral movement.

I think it’s always interesting to track which position the coaches currently have each player in and whether or not these change throughout the pre season. Courtesy of the big electronic screen they were listed as follows:

Backs: Murray, Edwards, Michalanney, Ryan, Worrell, Nankervis, Laird, Milera, Smith, Borlase, Bond, Butts, Keane

Midfielders: Jones, Berry, Crouch, Curtin, Rachele, Dawson, Soligo, Taylor, Rankine, Peatling, Schoenberg, Dowling, Sholl, McAndrew, O’Brien

Forwards: Keays, Murphy, Thilthorpe, Pedlar, Walker, Cook, Welsh, Burgess, Neal-Bullen, Fogarty, Gallagher, Drury, Murray

Draper, Cumming, Hinge and Strachan weren’t listed.

Should note it was quite a physical session with some pretty hefty tackles being laid and the boys definitely went that little bit harder at the ball and man. Keane took it a bit too far giving Toby Murray a clip around the ear during a marking contest that left him dazed for a bit. Certainly not the first time the big Irishman has ruffled some feathers during training.

Also noticed once again that some sections of the ground are noticeably sandy and a few players lost their footing at times. Not ideal and I hope they address this as it’s not ideal.

Some player thoughts:

Murphy - the board’s favourite small forward trained well. Put on some excellent chases and tackles and his ball use was on point. Up against it with Nibbler now in the squad but can’t fault him today.

Rachele - continues to have a great summer and it’s his kicking that has stood out the most. There have been phases in his career where his foot skills have deserted him, but they’re pristine at the moment and he’s hitting some serious kicks through the corridor.

Edwards - really hope we don’t persist with his as a defender as he does have some natural midfield flair. Had a great moment in the middle where he accelerated out of a stoppage and took a couple bounces. More of that please.

Walker - had his best session for the year, which wouldn’t be hard mind you as he spent most of December on the sidelines. Looked a bit more free in his movement and ball use was as you’d expect. Laid a brilliant tackle on Worrell.

Soligo - after a slightly inconspicuous start to his summer, he’s really starting to hit his straps and is running more on top of the ground. Looks in great shape.

Cook - needs to get involved more. At present Gallagher is getting a lot more of the ball at training which says a bit. Elite when he has it but the same issues persist.

Peatling - once again I was impressed by his kicking. Didn’t think it was a strength of his but seems I may have been wrong. Gets a lot of depth on them too and kicked a lovely goal on the run from 50.

Dowling - seemed to get more involved last year, at the moment he’s struggling to get into it. Perhaps just getting a bit unlucky but I’d like to see him up the intensity a bit more. At present I don’t think he makes the round one side.

Keane - ear massage aside he was once again very good today. Cut off a number of forward entires with some lovely intercept and the ball seems to follow him back there at times.n

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

The Daniel Curtin updates have been my highlight of these training reports

 

[The Smith Revolution]

Can we all just take a moment to acknowledge Bigmans love of this cause. So very impressive and I would like to meet you and buy you a drink of your choosing my Crows friend.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Can we all just take a moment to acknowledge Bigmans love of this cause. So very impressive and I would like to meet you and buy you a drink of your choosing my Crows friend.

Definitely the most anticipated poster on this board by a long stretch... giving us so much insight to training.

 

[Chances Are]

I don't know how close you watched the SANFL last season but I can see a player in him for sure especially the last few games where he actually got to use some of the speed we hadn't really seen early on. I'd much sooner persevere with Edwards for a few seasons than the likes of Schoenberg or Cook if they don't lift big time this season.

Damn, you nailed it re Edwards. I watched the Sanfl closely last year and he was our best midfielder especially like you said in the last few games. I rate him way higher than Shoey, Cook, also Pedlar which will upset a few. At 191 cms he's got great height for a mid. To me, he definitely becomes an AFL player.