Bigman’s Training Reports

[George Kramer]

All I can say is anyone engaged in this shouldn’t throw stones about my shitfights going forward

 

[Eric The Red]

I've said it before - our failure to recruit another ruck since Strachan is just outright negligence on the part of our list management staff. And Strachan is only 2 months younger than ROB, so even if he was up to AFL level we'd still have to be looking at replacing them both around the same time anyway.

At this point we're not in the market for a ruckman. We're in the market for at least THREE ruckmen. Like you said, a #1 option, an AFL ready backup, and a developing option - we need all 3.

I doubt they’ll want to carry the salary cost of two No 1 ruck options. ROB would be earning alright and an interstate option at that level could cost a fair bit in wages. I might be optimistic here, but I suspect the club has a plan. Fairly sure they can see what we can (lack of ruck moving forward). I am hoping they have an ‘iron in the fire’, a plan

 

[Eric The Red]

Perhaps you'd like to explain why we made such strong overtures to the Suns young developing ruck Ned Moyle before he re-signed with the Suns if that was the case? Extend Strachan please tell me you're not serious?

Staying put: In-demand ruck confirms new deal

Ned Moyle has turned down rival interest to recommit to the Suns

www.afl.com.au

Just because he was there… they will explore any opportunity that presents itself in case it represents a shortcut.

 

[spenze]

You honestly think if Strachan wasn't good to go against Sydney Nicks would have played him with ROB perfectly fine to play? I don't. That would be like Nicks cutting off his nose to spite his face.

Nicks has his faults but I don't think he's downright stupid.

Do you think owning up to errors is one of Nicks' strengths?

All I'm saying is that for some unknown reason, going into his sixth year as a senior coach, the club thought it was prudent to appoint a Senior, Senior Assistant Coach to work with Nicks

 

[Eagleboy2011]

All I'm saying is that for some unknown reason, going into his sixth year as a senior coach, the club thought it was prudent to appoint a Senior, Senior Assistant Coach to work with Nicks

Called covering your arse.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Anyway, I'm tapping out.

I believe it's more likely he was carrying an injury during those two weeks than he suddenly became unfit.

I also don't think he has much of an AFL level future, but I don't expect an enormous amount from the minimum wage backup.

Unbelievable you were still arguing over an alleged injury for a player you admit is not up to AFL standard.

Good that you are finally moving on from this most pointless argument of the preseason.

Honestly there are far more interesting issues to discuss.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Called covering your arse.

It's taken the club that long to realise Nicks doesn't have much idea about match day strategy nor do his assistants.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

He trained. He wasn't injured. Strachan played a full game in Week 2.

The problem was he wasn't good enough. Nicks realised that but stuck with his decision stubbornly for one more week because he's an idiot. That way way he could say ROB earned his way back in with SANFL performances, rather than it being a selection screw up.

So if AFC realised Strachan was not up to AFL level, why the heck did they not pay him out & bring in a capable backup ruckman for next season...

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

You don't need a developing ruck. You only need a ruck.

The issue comes if we can't get a ready to go ruck to replace ROB.

these two sentences are contradictory

 

[1970crow]

After dropping ROB and being told they were wrong to do it by Kane and the Adelaide media?

No, Nicks is always incredibly quick to say "I was wrong, let's make the change back."

I don’t disagree, but you know that’s a very serious accusation to level at the club. You’re saying that we have a culture that favours optics and politics ahead of performance. And we’re a club that competes at the highest available level. Are you sure you don’t want to walk back that accusation? You’re basically finally agreeing with posters that you’ve argued vehemently against for years.

 

[Vader]

So if AFC realised Strachan was not up to AFL level, why the heck did they not pay him out & bring in a capable backup ruckman for next season...

For the same reason they didn't pay out Smith's contract.

They had already filled the 2024 salary cap, with as much money as possible being brought forward from future years. This allowed us to make winning offers to Peatling, Cumming and ANB.

On SM-A5360 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

For the same reason they didn't pay out Smith's contract.

They had already filled the 2024 salary cap, with as much money as possible being brought forward from future years. This allowed us to make winning offers to Peatling, Cumming and ANB.

On SM-A5360 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Smith I understand as would be on decent money... but not Strachan as would be on peanuts & we are not 100% of the cap.

It could have been done if we wanted to.

 

[FR0GGY]

So if AFC realised Strachan was not up to AFL level, why the heck did they not pay him out & bring in a capable backup ruckman for next season...

Maybe we haven’t realized that yet.

 

[Eric The Red]

Exactly

Crows list management have been very aware that we need a developing ruck this whole time.

They just won't spend the money, draft capital or can't get deal/s done and it's not good enough. Forgivable if it only happened during one season/draft period, but it's been a need for a long time now.

Yeah, that is kind of true. But if you look at the number of games we have ‘jeopardised’ so far with the current strategy, I’d say it’s been a fairly low number. Just doing probabilities. Historically the Crows have taken the low budget option on that position in the past IMO. So instead of resourcing up on rucks the club has freed up list spots and developed other positions. Most likely very deliberately. They would run stats on injury risks of rucks and so far have taken a gamble on under resourcing. From here on the risk increases as ROB gets on a bit, so they’ll be looking at that closely. A young ruck might take too long. Wouldn’t be surprised if the trade one in soon and recruit a young development option for the future. Watch this space in next 1-2 years.

 

[Eric The Red]

Only one ruckman named in the 2025 SANFL Academy squad North Adelaide's Taj Murray who is actually from Darwin (Nightcliff FC) so I think he'll again be tied to the Allies for the Nationals. Also a member of the 2025 AFL Academy squad under Tarkyn Lockyer and formerly a member of the 2024 Marsh AFL National Futures squad.

# Edit
The Gold Coast getting first dibs on NT talent has expired hasn't it?

View attachment 2209933

Certainly got long levers...
View attachment 2209935

Looks a bit like a young Shaun Rehn

 

[Mutineer]

these two sentences are contradictory

What could have been with sound list management....and cheap too

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/st-kilda-track-watch-mattaes-phillipou-and-ssp-recruit-harry-boyd-star-in-match-sim/news-story/c5ce020e3a1ed4ab612b23c9942584c0

St Kilda track watch: Mattaes Phillipou and SSP recruit Harry Boyd star in match sim​

Rowan Marshall sat out St Kilda’s match-simulation session on Friday, leaving Harry Boyd to make his mark – and his brilliant work with a young midfielder could be a sign of things to com

Harry Boyd and Max Heath go head-to-head at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

RUCK AROUND​

With Rowan Marshall unsighted during training, the newest Saint duelled with a rotating cast of rucks.

Boyd performed strongly against Alex Dodson, Max Heath and Cooper Sharman, who all spent time grappling with the SSP signing.

Boyd is tipped for major ruck duties from the start of the season, with a growing expectation that Marshall will play major minutes forward of the ball.

 

[1970crow]

Anyway, I'm tapping out.

I believe it's more likely he was carrying an injury during those two weeks than he suddenly became unfit.

I also don't think he has much of an AFL level future, but I don't expect an enormous amount from the minimum wage backup.

I don’t think anyone expects an enormous amount from minimum wage backups. More importantly, should players you expect little from remain on your list for 6+ years? We can recruit players we expect little from that might actually improve to bring worthwhile.

 

[1970crow]

Where have I commented on his character unlike another poster with selected players...

I'm strictly commenting on Strachan's 2 2024 AFL games that were abysmal.

That groin strain so serious he was running laps 4 days later the Monday and trained the Wednesday and Friday prior to the Sydney game, the way you're talking you'd think he was one step away from having his leg amputated.

Abysmal in terms of ruck contests won, but the equivalent of ROB in every other aspect. Pretty savage assessment of ROB’s post ruck contest output, care to expand on that?

 

[Mutineer]

Abysmal in terms of ruck contests won, but the equivalent of ROB in every other aspect. Pretty savage assessment of ROB’s post ruck contest output, care to expand on that?

Nope, pointless exercise, you aren't changing my mind and it's obvious you aren't changing yours either.

 

[CrowToon]

I’ll take a back to back premiership whipping boy any day

Wouldn't we all?

So if we win back to back with a team full of good players and no stupid selections, why would there be whipping boys?

And don’t come back with some silliness like that’s what this board does. Name the good players who have been whipping boys.

Because humans, George. Had we won in 2017 supporters were still going to bemoan Mackay's presence in the 22. Happens at every club. You are always going to look at the bottom 6 with scrutiny and 1 or 2 of them will be a bit of a whipping boy. Richmond fans savaged Castagna during their run of 3 flags in 4 years. People are being very sensitive to my comment. I said this board but I could've applied that to any anon forum.

Who were the whipping boys in the flag years?

Not old enough to have been tuned into supporters' sentiments at the time.

See that's where you're wrong. You make it sound like there's a whipping boy quota we've got to meet each year regardless, when in actual fact, it's much simpler than that - in any given year, we've just got some players who are on our list who shouldn't be and/or are routinely making the starting 22 that shouldn't be.

If we had 44 Max Michallaney's running around on the list, none of them would be singled out as designated whipping boy - you've still got to earn that title.

See my response to George. Its just what humans do, particularly when anonymous. It wasn't meant to be some attack on the board, it's just how things happen.

And so long as we have a salary cap you'll always have a few players you'd rather not - that's why teams always have to make those players into very specific role players.

Surely every team has a player that pisses their fan base off no matter what they do (and because they do so much wrong or little at all)

 

[George Kramer]

Wouldn't we all?


Because humans, George. Had we won in 2017 supporters were still going to bemoan Mackay's presence in the 22. Happens at every club. You are always going to look at the bottom 6 with scrutiny and 1 or 2 of them will be a bit of a whipping boy. Richmond fans savaged Castagna during their run of 3 flags in 4 years. People are being very sensitive to my comment. I said this board but I could've applied that to any anon forum.



Not old enough to have been tuned into supporters' sentiments at the time.



See my response to George. Its just what humans do, particularly when anonymous. It wasn't meant to be some attack on the board, it's just how things happen.

And so long as we have a salary cap you'll always have a few players you'd rather not - that's why teams always have to make those players into very specific role players.

Surely every team has a player that pisses their fan base off no matter what they do (and because they do so much wrong or little at all)

Ever think we didn’t win the flag because we had some average players in the team like Dmack? Like Atkins? Like Hartigan? Like Knight?

All players that could be considered whipping boys because they weren’t very good. Replace them with quality players, win the flag and their replacements wouldn’t be whipping boys.

 

[SugarShane]

They could be delisted tomorrow and this board will find a new whipping boy within seconds. That will never change even if we went back to back.

The term whipping boy is often thrown around as a defence mechanism as if these players aren't deserving of the criticism they receive.

The worst players in a side will always be the most criticized. That is natural in every level of sport. They make the most mistakes, and often they cost you games. That's how sport works. The stars win games but your bottom end lose them.

Do you enjoy truly watching people like McHenry, Murphy, current day Smith play in our side?

 

[Ticktak]

What could have been with sound list management....and cheap too

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/st-kilda-track-watch-mattaes-phillipou-and-ssp-recruit-harry-boyd-star-in-match-sim/news-story/c5ce020e3a1ed4ab612b23c9942584c0

St Kilda track watch: Mattaes Phillipou and SSP recruit Harry Boyd star in match sim​

Rowan Marshall sat out St Kilda’s match-simulation session on Friday, leaving Harry Boyd to make his mark – and his brilliant work with a young midfielder could be a sign of things to com

Harry Boyd and Max Heath go head-to-head at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

RUCK AROUND​

With Rowan Marshall unsighted during training, the newest Saint duelled with a rotating cast of rucks.

Boyd performed strongly against Alex Dodson, Max Heath and Cooper Sharman, who all spent time grappling with the SSP signing.

Boyd is tipped for major ruck duties from the start of the season, with a growing expectation that Marshall will play major minutes forward of the ball.

Imagine if we lose in round 1 and Boyd smashes ROB.

The ground swell against list management will be like nothing we’ve ever seen.

 

[CrowToon]

Ever think we didn’t win the flag because we had some average players in the team like Dmack? Like Atkins? Like Hartigan? Like Knight?

All players that could be considered whipping boys because they weren’t very good. Replace them with quality players, win the flag and their replacements wouldn’t be whipping boys.

Are you just inventing things you think I'm saying? I used Dmac as an example of how IF we did win that day we wouldn't have suddenly stopped piling on him.

The term whipping boy is often thrown around as a defence mechanism as if these players aren't deserving of the criticism they receive.

The worst players in a side will always be the most criticized. That is natural in every level of sport. They make the most mistakes, and often they cost you games. That's how sport works. The stars win games but your bottom end lose them.

Do you enjoy truly watching people like McHenry, Murphy, current day Smith play in our side?

I haven't said a word about whether any player deserves the title or not. Only that there is always one.

Which is literally what you said in the bolded part. We are saying the same thing.

I'm not even going to respond to the last part because it's irrelevant to what I said.

Which is currently being extrapolated by other people.

I think some people are bored.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Ever think we didn’t win the flag because we had some average players in the team like Dmack? Like Atkins? Like Hartigan? Like Knight?

All players that could be considered whipping boys because they weren’t very good. Replace them with quality players, win the flag and their replacements wouldn’t be whipping boys.

Nah, when you look back, the game was sucked dry because of the umpiring. Its why no one in AFL circles ever talks about that game. Its an embarrassment. We didnt help ourselves by letting it get to us, but when everything is to a double standard and all three umpires are umpiring to a narrative and for affirmation its the ultimate home ground advantage. There are countless videos on youtube showing like for like incidences during the game from both Adelaide and Richmond and how only Adelaide was penalised. It was a clear joke when Hartigan was mid jump into a spoil, the richmond player clearly blocked him, he had no balanced and his legs flung in the air and hit the back of caddys head. Caddy got the free kick. By then every crows fan around me was just laughing. It was so predictable. Was a disaster for the umpiring department.