Training Official Essendon Preseason Thread

[Godzke]

Great write ups Ant
Much appreciated

 

[Keystone agony]

Feel the plan with no injury will be to sub Bryan during the 3rd and have Draper fresh in the ruck to give us some strong drive from contest late in games

The 2 ruck thing to plan would likely only be 50%, and understand not everything goes to plan all the time

 

[andleanback]

Feel the plan with no injury will be to sub Bryan during the 3rd and have Draper fresh in the ruck to give us some strong drive from contest late in games

The 2 ruck thing to plan would likely only be 50%, and understand not everything goes to plan all the time

And then we lose draper a tall target in the forward line? A lot of load to put on caddy with games on the line

 

[jdstorm]

Every team in the comp picks 2 rucks. Some are just better forwards than others.

Surely the sub will be a versatile outside player who brings good energy

 

[Keystone agony]

And then we lose draper a tall target in the forward line? A lot of load to put on caddy with games on the line

It depends what else we play. If Harry Jones is there then definitly in play and considered far more

Id say it would be a popular consideration but there could be many reasons not to go that path aswell as the games played

Caddys far improved endurance and his natural decent body size would give the coaches more confidence

 

[Keystone agony]

Every team in the comp picks 2 rucks. Some are just better forwards than others.

Surely the sub will be a versatile outside player who brings good energy

If weve got the rest of our mids (Martin, Durham, Caldwell, Tsatas, Zerrett, Hobbs) then wont be against using it as a mechanism to build Parish into the season

 

[jdstorm]

If weve got the rest of our mids (Martin, Durham, Caldwell, Tsatas, Zerrett, Hobbs) then wont be against using it as a mechanism to build Parish into the season

I would That’s what the VFLs for.

I hope we stop picking underdone hurt guys

 

[Keystone agony]

I would That’s what the VFLs for.

I hope we stop picking underdone hurt guys

Basee on the articles im assuming were being cautious with building his loads through training

 

[Old Campaigner]

I would That’s what the VFLs for.

I hope we stop picking underdone hurt guys

I’m sure we will if there’s fit players available

 

[bombreys]

I’m sure we will if there’s fit players available

We literally didn't the last game we played, so it's certainly not a given.

 

[Zach Package]

Bryan, with no weight has a pure leap in the ruck.

The risk will be if they try and build him up to play ruck/F50 and switch with Draper that he gets too heavy and becomes ineffective.

They compliment each other well in terms of style

 

[faible]

Feel the plan with no injury will be to sub Bryan during the 3rd and have Draper fresh in the ruck to give us some strong drive from contest late in games

The 2 ruck thing to plan would likely only be 50%, and understand not everything goes to plan all the time

I doubt this will be the plan.

 

[DJ75]

Hi all,
Sorry to intrude, but I have a question (or two) about Archie Roberts.
I thought he looked good at the end of last year and have my eye on him for a SC keeper draft league. How has his preseason been? Does he look like starting at half back in the main side?
Thanks

 

[eth-dog]

Hi all,
Sorry to intrude, but I have a question (or two) about Archie Roberts.
I thought he looked good at the end of last year and have my eye on him for a SC keeper draft league. How has his preseason been? Does he look like starting at half back in the main side?
Thanks

Half back or wing we think. I'd grab him anyway.

 

[DJ75]

Half back or wing we think. I'd grab him anyway.

I'm pretty keen on him, he looked very good in those last few games.
Has he been training with the A's in match sim?

 

[eth-dog]

I'm pretty keen on him, he looked very good in those last few games.
Has he been training with the A's in match sim?

It rotates but I think so

 

[DJ75]

It rotates but I think so

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Best of luck for the season - it's about time both our clubs were back up at the pointy end!

 

[ant555]

We literally didn't the last game we played, so it's certainly not a given.

It will happen again at some stage. Coaches can not help themselves but the word is Vozzo has given the whole football department a bit of a smack with the rolled up newspaper including Scott after the end of last season. The message was basically sort this shit out. What that equates to going forward is the unknown for us. The fork in the road is looming.

 

[jdstorm]

It will happen again at some stage. Coaches can not help themselves but the word is Vozzo has given the whole football department a bit of a smack with the rolled up newspaper including Scott after the end of last season. The message was basically sort this shit out. What that equates to going forward is the unknown for us. The fork in the road is looming.

If history is anything to go buy.

Playing faster off HB and making the 8 off the back of good offence/mediocre defence. Followed by win now moves in the off-season and then the coach getting fired the year after when the team Disappoints

 

[JayJ20]

For those who followed the preseason, how is the attack looking?
Last year was decent when you only look at territory and volume of inside 50 entries, but our forward ball movement and conversion let us down.

Do we see Draper and Bryan as legitimate forward options or is it more of the same?
How much do we believe Caddy's improvement and Kako's addition increases production?
How much is Stringer's absence going to hurt our attack?
Do we think Langford is back to his best?
I suppose Martin moving from HB is a huge bonus because he can certainly kick goals.

So many questions. Our midfield was fine without being spectacular last year and I expect more of the same, but our forward line was the reason we missed finals. So inefficient.

 

[Keystone agony]

For those who followed the preseason, how is the attack looking?
Last year was decent when you only look at territory and volume of inside 50 entries, but our forward ball movement and conversion let us down.

Do we see Draper and Bryan as legitimate forward options or is it more of the same?
How much do we believe Caddy's improvement and Kako's addition increases production?
How much is Stringer's absence going to hurt our attack?
Do we think Langford is back to his best?
I suppose Martin moving from HB is a huge bonus because he can certainly kick goals.

So many questions. Our midfield was fine without being spectacular last year and I expect more of the same, but our forward line was the reason we missed finals. So inefficient.

Were leaning toward Bryan Ruck with Draper FWD
Kako, Caddy and Martin may make up a bit of the 42 goal loss Stringer has left
Langford is travelling fine, he did still kick 40 odd last year

Parish injury is opening up a big opportunity for Hobbs imo as Tsatas seems in at the moment regardless

forgot about Shiel HBF replacing Martin, how long can that survive under say a ladder position of 95%

 

[ant555]

For those who followed the preseason, how is the attack looking?
Last year was decent when you only look at territory and volume of inside 50 entries, but our forward ball movement and conversion let us down.

Do we see Draper and Bryan as legitimate forward options or is it more of the same?
How much do we believe Caddy's improvement and Kako's addition increases production?
How much is Stringer's absence going to hurt our attack?
Do we think Langford is back to his best?
I suppose Martin moving from HB is a huge bonus because he can certainly kick goals.

So many questions. Our midfield was fine without being spectacular last year and I expect more of the same, but our forward line was the reason we missed finals. So inefficient.

Draper will play FF/Ruck to start with . Bryan will take first ruck. Not sure Bryan has a lot to offer as a forward other than being able to spend short stints at FF. Draper has been a multiple goal kicker in all the match sim so far.

Caddy's improvement will be more consistent over 4 quarters. I doubt he is kicking 40 plus goals . I think 20 odd is realistic. He is much fitter than this stage last year.

Kako will have an impact pressure wise. Think he will be around the 18 or o goal mark. Maybe a few more.

I do not see Stringer going hurting us. Think it will give us a better structure.

Langford has no injury issues so I would say he can kick his 40 goals.

Martin and Merrett have had forward time and are goal kickers.

Perkins looks super fit and really focused and will play half forward with some midfield.

So yes lots of question marks for sure but I do not see it being any worse because Jake is gone.

 

[Old Campaigner]

To a certain extent the bottleneck for goalkicking is further up the field anyway. If the midfield and half forward is getting their hands on the ball enough they'll find targets in attack. That's not to say a gun forward makes no difference but it certainly doesn't follow that removing a 40-goal forward from the list means we'll automatically kick 40 goals less for the season.

 

[JayJ20]

Draper will play FF/Ruck to start with . Bryan will take first ruck. Not sure Bryan has a lot to offer as a forward other than being able to spend short stints at FF. Draper has been a multiple goal kicker in all the match sim so far.

Caddy's improvement will be more consistent over 4 quarters. I doubt he is kicking 40 plus goals . I think 20 odd is realistic. He is much fitter than this stage last year.

Kako will have an impact pressure wise. Think he will be around the 18 or o goal mark. Maybe a few more.

I do not see Stringer going hurting us. Think it will give us a better structure.

Langford has no injury issues so I would say he can kick his 40 goals.

Martin and Merrett have had forward time and are goal kickers.

Perkins looks super fit and really focused and will play half forward with some midfield.

So yes lots of question marks for sure but I do not see it being any worse because Jake is gone.

Thanks for the breakdown. I forgot about Perkins. Sounds promising with all things considered.

 

[Mercurial89]

Without having seen it, I'm going to set the expectations pretty low.

When your coach comes out and says we have more options than we like, it shows no one (at least in the coaches eyes) is grabbing the positions.
It sounds like it will be games that decide it, instead of having a preferred structure that they are confident in.

When some of the key pieces are a guy who's confidence seems shot in Wright and who finished the year in the VFL, a ruckman that you are trying to make a forward and who may only be here one more year, a player in Perkins who everyone was screaming to drop last year, and a rookie in Kako.
I think the expectations should be well down.

It's certainly our most fascinating line going forward (pardon the pun). Would be great to make some real inroads this year at least from a structure perspective.