Bigman’s Training Reports

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On Tex, when he has done drills or match sim, has he looked good? There was that article where he said he's pain free having discovered Pilates. I'm wondering whether this year's program could just have less drills and more jogging.
He had a great week of training just recently, capped off by a very solid bit of match sim at Norwood.

I suspect it’s either a tight back or hamstring awareness. If so, it’s not ideal as it’s a recurring issue for two summers now.
 
Has Draper been training primarily as a midfielder? Has he spent much / any time with the forwards or backs? I'm wondering if they might have him learn his craft at half back or half forward if he's not yet ready for midfield? Or just keep him playing midfield in the SANFL until he's ready to step up to it at AFL level?
He’s been training virtually solely as a midfielder all summer. Definitely no time spent in defence, but when he does play I do expect him to spend some time forward out of necessity.

It’s still hard to gauge what we will do with him. No one (well, maybe Rankine) can touch him once he gets some space but in tight he’s getting clamped a lot. Makes me think they’ll let him work on his craft in the sanfl early on but who knows.
 

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Thanks for the brilliant report as per usual bigman. How has Laird tracked this preseason? Form was waning back half of last year, so I’d hope he’s considerably turned his form around if we’ve seemingly ceased playing Cumming off half back.
He’s been pretty good training solely as a defender. Half backs in general get a lot of the pill at training mind you. I’d be shocked if it doesn’t start round one though.

For me it’ll be two things that make or break his year - his ball use and his willingness to defend. He was a great defender from 2015-2019, but a lot of time has passed since.
 
Must admit I havent, but I still think he'd have more than enough to outmaneuvre most rucks in the game.
He’s huge now, it’s only natural he’s going to lose some mobility to when he was slight.

His strength in the ruck was his mobility and with his knee, plus what he can do up forward, we should grab a ruck than use him.
 
He’s huge now, it’s only natural he’s going to lose some mobility to when he was slight.

His strength in the ruck was his mobility and with his knee, plus what he can do up forward, we should grab a ruck than use him.
I'd rather we didnt use him in the ruck as well, not anything more than a pinch hit anyway.
 
It’s still hard to gauge what we will do with him. No one (well, maybe Rankine) can touch him once he gets some space but in tight he’s getting clamped a lot. Makes me think they’ll let him work on his craft in the sanfl early on but who knows.
This showed in his highlights videos too. He seemed to get stuck inside a lot, and struggled to be effective in tight.

Whereas his point of difference is his pace.

I would have thought he needs to be a second-touch player, or at least take the ball at pace so he he has a better chance of getting out of congestion.
 
He had a great week of training just recently, capped off by a very solid bit of match sim at Norwood.

I suspect it’s either a tight back or hamstring awareness. If so, it’s not ideal as it’s a recurring issue for two summers now.
One of the news articles said it was hamstring soreness, so... who knows.
 
It's just dawned on me that our team will very likely have 7 players that we've recruited in from other clubs the best 23 in round 1 (touch wood). Well 8 if you count Keane who was technically a Pie, even though we recruited him after he left them. That's over 1/3rd of the best 23.

Without trawling through historical round 1 sides, I would assume that would have to be the highest ratio of players recruited in right.

Might be time I give some kudos to Reid and the recruiting team

It's up there for sure, but not unprecedented. Depending on what you consider to be a traded in player (ie do they need to have actually played a game for the original club before being traded?) I count 7 from round 1 2004: McLeod, Massie, Bode, Welsh, Bassett, Carey and Clarke.
 
He’s been training virtually solely as a midfielder all summer. Definitely no time spent in defence, but when he does play I do expect him to spend some time forward out of necessity.

It’s still hard to gauge what we will do with him. No one (well, maybe Rankine) can touch him once he gets some space but in tight he’s getting clamped a lot. Makes me think they’ll let him work on his craft in the sanfl early on but who knows.
Personally would pick him rd.1 and see how he goes. Provided his body is ok.
 
It's just dawned on me that our team will very likely have 7 players that we've recruited in from other clubs the best 23 in round 1 (touch wood). Well 8 if you count Keane who was technically a Pie, even though we recruited him after he left them. That's over 1/3rd of the best 23.

Without trawling through historical round 1 sides, I would assume that would have to be the highest ratio of players recruited in right.

Might be time I give some kudos to Reid and the recruiting team

It's up there for sure, but not unprecedented. Depending on what you consider to be a traded in player (ie do they need to have actually played a game for the original club before being traded?) I count 7 from round 1 2004: McLeod, Massie, Bode, Welsh, Bassett, Carey and Clarke.
Equal Record is 8? Round 1 2005 IIRC, Welsh,Bode,McLeod, Hudson,Clarke,Begley,Stevens,Bassett
 

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I think when you are looking at the midfield mix, Crouch may find his way to the SANFL if Peatling gets in and shows his stuff. Reckon his lack of versatility will count against him the longer the season goes.

All depends on injury but he'd be a handy 23-28 player on the list.
 
I think when you are looking at the midfield mix, Crouch may find his way to the SANFL if Peatling gets in and shows his stuff. Reckon his lack of versatility will count against him the longer the season goes.

All depends on injury but he'd be a handy 23-28 player on the list.
Really depends how Draper comes along this year. Sounds like R1, the mix will be Dawson/Rankine/Crouch/Soligo/Peatling

I can’t see anyone else jumping him at this stage
 
Would be lovely to see Draper make an instant impact, but it seems he is gong to be eased into this season and we shouldn’t expect a helluva lot from him?
I was thinking the same thing. At first I was wondering why we keep holding him out of drills. But the more that I think about it, with a Kid like him, we probably have to keep from over working himself, especially with his recent injury history.

While I'd love to see a round 1 debut. I'll not be disappointed if he's made to earn his stripes and potentially be protected from himself in his early career
 
Really depends how Draper comes along this year. Sounds like R1, the mix will be Dawson/Rankine/Crouch/Soligo/Peatling

I can’t see anyone else jumping him at this stage

Wouldn't happen round 1 but if Davis is worth his salt, he'd be questioning why our midfield is going with the approach it has. We have scope to run a few guys through the middle but that is the result of us having flexibility.

Of course, Matt could play really well and put the discussion beyond doubt but if Peatling starts pushing past him it will make it hard to justify having an inflexible mid in the set up
 
I'm at risk of turning it to a full blown Dan Curtin fanboy at this rate (and I'm ok with that).

But its hard to curb. Every bit of footage I see of this offseason he looks more like a player that was created in a Video game.

I want a 197cm midfielder that's built like a brick s**house, who breaks tackles with ease, still has good agility points and a precision kick. Oh and also can play tall defender or lead up forward.
 
He’s huge now, it’s only natural he’s going to lose some mobility to when he was slight.

His strength in the ruck was his mobility and with his knee, plus what he can do up forward, we should grab a ruck than use him.
Playing Thilthorpe in the ruck is like buying a Ferrari and then entering it in a demolition derby. You buy a cheap old banger to throw into that kind of crash and bash situation.
 
It's just dawned on me that our team will very likely have 7 players that we've recruited in from other clubs the best 23 in round 1 (touch wood). Well 8 if you count Keane who was technically a Pie, even though we recruited him after he left them. That's over 1/3rd of the best 23.

Without trawling through historical round 1 sides, I would assume that would have to be the highest ratio of players recruited in right.

Might be time I give some kudos to Reid and the recruiting team
I reckon Geelong would be up there with recruited players
 
He’s been training virtually solely as a midfielder all summer. Definitely no time spent in defence, but when he does play I do expect him to spend some time forward out of necessity.

It’s still hard to gauge what we will do with him. No one (well, maybe Rankine) can touch him once he gets some space but in tight he’s getting clamped a lot. Makes me think they’ll let him work on his craft in the sanfl early on but who knows.
Brisbane have been very open in stating that they will introduce their top end, 2024 draft pick, Levi Ashcroft, by giving him a role across half forward. I suspect we will do the same with Draper, coupled with giving him a short burst every now and then in the middle.
 

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