Training Official Essendon Preseason Thread

[Nifft]

yeah fair point. I hope they still have Duursma as one of the main wings though. felt like he got moved more to half back by end of year to accomodate jones/cox but I think he is the most natural winger we have. He just naturally gets where he needs to position himself both offensively and defensively.
Unrelated to wing discussion but also felt like our "groundball gets" numbers fell off when he and Hobbs got injured.

Agree about Duursma. I'm hoping he and Martin are the main wings. I think we have enough half back coverage now to let Martin get back to being a Wing/Forward, and also free up Redman a bit more in the backline.

I'm also not sure about Jones on the wing. If he's there fulltime I think he'll get found out like Cox did. Rotating between half forward and wing (maybe swapping around with Martin?) might suit him though.

 

[faible]

Top 5:

Clarke
Martin
Menzie
Durham
McGrath

 

[Happyskeret]

Bombers training by a blues supporter from a few days ago.

 

[Keystone agony]

Whatever your opinion on Menzie you cant say he doesnt give his all. From memory wasnt a top end endurance athlete and is now finishing top 3. He wont leave any stone un-turned. Big year for him. Almost if he has a good season he atleast gets another year then that gets him through to Tassie, so it could be almost a good year worth 3-4 years of AFL salary

Anyway track watchers. I saw defenders on forward. Prior on Perkins, Hayes on Caddy and then i saw Zerrett on Kako in one v one

 Did everyone do that drill or is that a sign. Just perked my interest

I see our best move as training Zerrett across half back all PS and then if were fit in the middle (Parish, Hobbs, Tsatas, Durham, Caldwell) and Hobbs, Tsatas have had a good PS then we open the season that way

 

[Keystone agony]

How did Archie Roberts go last year in the 2km time trial?

How did he go this year? Obviously not top 5. Did he run it? Cox and Mckay ive heard are in rehab, but not Roberts

He ran 10 seconds quicker than what Angus Clarke did at the combine. Would just be a good player to compare the group off

 

[fishardansin]

I like having two 200cm wingmen floating up and down the wing. They can help out with intercepting wide in defence and provide a target coming out of defence. They can also push forward to give an extra option to kick wide. They can also help build the wall as we lock it inside 50.

As long as we play half forwards who have some forward craft, but can also run like midfielders. That would be Martin and Perkins.

 

[astrowizzle]

Can't tell me red dog has no leadership qualities. That was such a great to watch and hear the encouragement for the young feller

 

[crackers65]

Leaders don’t need to be named in leadership group to lead. Being a good team mate is as important.

 

[TheUnicorn]

 

[Atavistic]

Angus Clarke looks like a 15yo.

 

[ant555]

Can't tell me red dog has no leadership qualities. That was such a great to watch and hear the encouragement for the young feller

Still has a bit to go on game day and during games.

 

[FlyingV]

All eyes on the 3-4 year players stepping up this pre-season. Which of the following do you have confidence will be good-very good AFL players?:
Cox, Perkins, Hobbs, Davey, Reid, Jones and Tsatas?

They all might be good-very good… they all might be average - not at the standard.

Big big big preseason for them all.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

All eyes on the 3-4 year players stepping up this pre-season. Which of the following do you have confidence will be good-very good AFL players?:
Cox, Perkins, Hobbs, Davey, Reid, Jones and Tsatas?

They all might be good-very good… they all might be average - not at the standard.

Big big big preseason for them all.

Im most confident in Hobbs. I think there has been a focus on competitiveness and leadership with this years draft group and I think Hobbs has these two qualities in spades. I think he can join Durham and Caldwell as the third Bash Brother if he gets a clean run with injury.

 

[jdstorm]

All eyes on the 3-4 year players stepping up this pre-season. Which of the following do you have confidence will be good-very good AFL players?:
Cox, Perkins, Hobbs, Davey, Reid, Jones and Tsatas?

They all might be good-very good… they all might be average - not at the standard.

Big big big preseason for them all.

Most confident
Tsatas and Hayes

Have been performing well at VFL level and their biggest issues have been a. Lack of physical development. Which they have progressed well with along their age curve.

Mostly confident
Perkins and Hobbs

Perks been a pretty good half forward for 3 years, had some moments in the midfield but struggled last year for a variety of reasons. Expect a bounce back year not playing mid.

Hobbs is a good AFL level mid. Just starved of opportunity and worse then Caldwell, Parish and Sheil.

Will be bog average and take it to the bank

Harry Jones- lock him in as 22nd man for a decade

 

[ant555]

Dons mid builds after hip surgery, talls backed off due to niggles

Jye Caldwell is expected to be fit to play in Essendon's pre-season games in February

www.afl.com.au

 

[TheUnicorn]

Don’t rush Caldwell back.

Ffs Cox.

Zach Merrett off of half back sounds pretty spicy.

 

[ant555]

New Bomber names two young standouts from his first few days at the club

Jaxon Prior is excited for a fresh start at Essendon.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Rick Ross]

All eyes on the 3-4 year players stepping up this pre-season. Which of the following do you have confidence will be good-very good AFL players?:
Cox, Perkins, Hobbs, Davey, Reid, Jones and Tsatas?

They all might be good-very good… they all might be average - not at the standard.

Big big big preseason for them all.

Reid (if not injured) looks the most solid upgrade to the team.

Perkins is the only one who has shown a really high ceiling (start of 2024) so he’s the guy I think can explode if he gets it going.

The rest… good solid role players if they get it right.

 

[crackers65]

Don’t rush Caldwell back.

Ffs Cox.

Zach Merrett off of half back sounds pretty spicy.

Yep, soft is injured already.

 

[Yoda_]

Watched some short videos on socials and already into match sim and comeptivie type work.. Haven't seen us go this early since, well. Forever

Looks like a few lads were enjoying throwing bodies around too. Bodes well for 2025 imho

 

[ant555]

Watched some short videos on socials and already into match sim and comeptivie type work.. Haven't seen us go this early since, well. Forever

Looks like a few lads were enjoying throwing bodies around too. Bodes well for 2025 imho

Well since last year anyway
Probably was not as much vision on the socials. But it is a lot more physical than what we have done in the past.

 

[Keystone agony]

Ahh the Zac Merrett news love the moves being considered. Just makes sense

Still not sure about Perkins forward, not totally against it. No room onball unless he becomes a jet there. Still dont want to see him a lock best 22 fwd

Nik Cox position another in the biggest challenge category. Too tall with Reid Ridley and Mckay? Dont think anyones plaued 4 x 200cm back

Wing, not doing heaps there but maybe worth persisting. Martin and Duursma hold them pretty strongly though then maybe an Archie Roberts/El Hawli may push in front

Probably wont lock him into one spot. I expect a Back/Wing training/early PS playing spot

 

[jannissary]

hopefully there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes for the full 120 minute~ game fitness. it's something that we've been needing for a long time.

 

[Keystone agony]

hopefully there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes for the full 120 minute~ game fitness. it's something that we've been needing for a long time.

What were at scores per quarter? And compared to other teams around us?

 

[GDM]

I feel that we start pre - season too early. Which then leads to injuries throughout the next season and the eventual fadeout for the end of the year.

Season is a marathon not a sprint to round 10.

Players should obviously stay in shape from end of season till pre season starts on their own accord anyway.

Come back 2nd Jan 2025 for contact and resume training.

Whats the risk in doing so??? only winning 7 games for the year instead of 11? Lol