Training Pre Season ‘25

[tiger_tough]

yeah and the 1847 locomotive is faster than that midfield

And who is he keeping out of the midfield that has pace?

 

[tiger_tough]

respectfully disagree they only facts you have given is an unfounded stat. Hoops is not our future.

It's not an unfounded stat, it's a fact.

He is not long term future, sure. But he is crucial right now, along with Taranto in teaching and protecting McAuliffe, Hotton, Lalor and Smillie coming through.

 

[Groupie_]

And who is he keeping out of the midfield that has pace?

peter farkakarkis

 

[Morro]

Amen brother, a ****ing men.


Amen brother, a ****ing men

That’s pretty good.

Old splinter ass strikes again.

 

[getthefooty]

If they stay injury free (big if) there’s a chance Hopper and Taranto are playing for our next flag tilt. That’s why I didn’t think it was that bad a trade as the media made it out to be, at the end of the day they should still have quite a few years left

 

[richoatthedisco]

Hopper's knee is rooted. He's a human sandbag in terms of what he will provide for us when he can get on the field. Can't run.

 

[juss]

If they stay injury free (big if) there’s a chance Hopper and Taranto are playing for our next flag tilt. That’s why I didn’t think it was that bad a trade as the media made it out to be, at the end of the day they should still have quite a few years left

Taranto is 27 this Jan, Hopper is 28 this Feb, they'll be 32 and 33+ at absolute best and that's extremely ambitious to the point it's just not realistic that we're genuinely contending in 5 years. Sure we might play finals, but that's a long way from winning a flag.

If a 32 and 33+ Taranto and Hopper are in our best midfield at that time, we aren't flag contending, they're just not good enough and aren't going to be at their peak at that age.

 

[Boxo004]

Taranto is 27 this Jan, Hopper is 28 this Feb, they'll be 32 and 33+ at absolute best and that's extremely ambitious to the point it's just not realistic.

If a 32 and 33+ Taranto and Hopper are in our best midfield at that time, we aren't flag contending, they're just not good enough and aren't going to be at their peak at that age.

Would you have said the same about Dangerfield Duncan Zorko etc.. not necessarily full time midfielders but good contributors well into their 30s in a premiership team

 

[juss]

Would you have said the same about Dangerfield Duncan Zorko etc.. not necessarily full time midfielders but good contributors well into their 30s in a premiership team

2 of them are vastly better players than TT and JH.

Seriously, Dangerfield is like an 8x AA and Brownlow medalist or something isn't he? Zorko is a 300+ game dual AA and multi B&F winner.

Duncan is 33 atm, but that assumes we're contending in about 5 years. We just won't be. We'll be contending when the guys we drafted now are in their peaks at 25/26, when TT and JH are likely retired.

 

[getthefooty]

Taranto is 27 this Jan, Hopper is 28 this Feb, they'll be 32 and 33+ at absolute best and that's extremely ambitious to the point it's just not realistic that we're genuinely contending in 5 years. Sure we might play finals, but that's a long way from winning a flag.

If a 32 and 33+ Taranto and Hopper are in our best midfield at that time, we aren't flag contending, they're just not good enough and aren't going to be at their peak at that age.

I agree it’s unlikely, but not entirely out of the realms of possibility. Even if they’re not in our full strength midfield it wouldn’t be the worst result to have two guys as professional as they are banging down the door and keeping them honest (as well as all the leadership, experience etc they would bring).

 

[Coach_Required]

Hopper's knee is rooted. He's a human sandbag in terms of what he will provide for us when he can get on the field. Can't run.

Agree, you got to wonder if we did our due diligence on him. GWS couldn't get the papers signed quick enough.

 

[KimKershaw1959]

If they stay injury free (big if) there’s a chance Hopper and Taranto are playing for our next flag tilt. That’s why I didn’t think it was that bad a trade as the media made it out to be, at the end of the day they should still have quite a few years left

Twio years on from the 2022 draft, the Taranto trade 12 + 19 doesn't look bad.

It;s a very ordinary draft after the first five selections

 

[Stigmata]

Overpriced for what it is? Do you have a Garmin?

I loved the idea of whoop but the Garmin virtually does the same and is a one off.. I just brought the 965.

But my research suggests Coros is the best. When you take price and functionality into account.

 

[tiger_tough]

Hopper's knee is rooted. He's a human sandbag in terms of what he will provide for us when he can get on the field. Can't run.

Agree, you got to wonder if we did our due diligence on him. GWS couldn't get the papers signed quick enough.

Serpell will sort it.

 

[energyquant]

I didn’t have the time to go back to the original post. But I assume this is about Hopper.

Hopper is a big strong body to protect the likes of Smilie, Mcauliffe and co. Throw them too into the midfield by them selves and they will get eaten. Yeah they might get some touches and look good. They will have big bodied mids smashing into them, risking them getting hurt or not getting the development into their games that’s needed.

You have Hopper in there to win that hard contested ball, protect the young mids from the seasoned veterans from other teams.

If you have ever played senior footy you would understand the importance of having seasoned/older players in the team.

Hopper has a big frame and also is a pretty decent player when he’s up and going. He will do things on the field that the young fellas will see and potentially add to their own games.

Smilie is also capable of playing in the backline or up forward with rotating in the middle. Having Hopper in the middle allows quality players like Smilie to fill roles around the ground.

it’s not about Hopper being the future, it’s about Hopper filling the gap as a inside contested ball winner that we currently lack. Smilie is the future and playing next too/under a fearless contested player like Hopper will do wonders for his development.

Just like the past with players like, Troy Chaplin, Daniel Jackson, Steve Morris etc.

Those players protected the young players like Rance, Cotch and Vlastuin coming through. The same can be done with Hopper and Smile/Mccauliffe and co.

Or, in pictures....

 

[juss]

I agree it’s unlikely, but not entirely out of the realms of possibility. Even if they’re not in our full strength midfield it wouldn’t be the worst result to have two guys as professional as they are banging down the door and keeping them honest (as well as all the leadership, experience etc they would bring).

They're not that good, legit our midfield is the worst in the comp largely because they are our best 2 mids (or the aging Prestia).

We're a disaster if they're 33 and worth a spot in the side. We should be miles better by then and well past them.

 

[Danog]

Twio years on from the 2022 draft, the Taranto trade 12 + 19 doesn't look bad.

It;s a very ordinary draft after the first five selections

Imagine if we did the Taranto trade, but then did the Bowes trade instead of Hopper.

Could've had Bowes, plus Ginbey/Phillipou/Weddle, and McMullin/Dowling in 2022

Then Curtin/Caddy in 2023 (or trade for WCE F1)

 

[Sol23]

Taranto is 27 this Jan, Hopper is 28 this Feb, they'll be 32 and 33+ at absolute best and that's extremely ambitious to the point it's just not realistic that we're genuinely contending in 5 years. Sure we might play finals, but that's a long way from winning a flag.

If a 32 and 33+ Taranto and Hopper are in our best midfield at that time, we aren't flag contending, they're just not good enough and aren't going to be at their peak at that age.

How do you know we might not challenge in three years? You just never know

 

[Muddiemoose]

How do you know we might not challenge in three years? You just never know

Yeah free agency has really changed the game in that regard
Next year and the year afters trade period I can see us heavily investing similar to Hawthorn over the past 3 seasons

the difference between the real contenders and the teams making up the numbers isn’t star power… its depth and being able to cover any injury’s with almost like for like players

When you go back and look our our list during our flag years our depth was insane and enabled us to keep getting wins during the season even when our stars missed games

 

[juss]

How do you know we might not challenge in three years? You just never know

Because I'm sensible and realistic.

 

[Coach_Required]

Can't wait until about round 12 when all you campaigners are whinging why we haven't played the kids yet.

 

[Coach_Required]

Or, in pictures....

View attachment 2182665

Hopper can't run so this drill is a waste of time unless footy is now just about standing next to your opponent.

 

[Coach_Required]

When does Yze's footy cricket start?

Lalor gunna dominate

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Yeah free agency has really changed the game in that regard
Next year and the year afters trade period I can see us heavily investing similar to Hawthorn over the past 3 seasons
the difference between the real contenders and the teams making up the numbers isn’t star power… its depth and being able to cover any injury’s with almost like for like players

When you go back and look our our list during our flag years our depth was insane and enabled us to keep getting wins during the season even when our stars missed games

It is now...
Having so many Teams in the Comp diluting the talent pool and with the longer playing Season it has thrown more focus on maintaining your own Team players' ability to get on the ground...
As a playing Team this year...we were totally destroyed as a competitive unit...with all our injuries...

 

[docko911]

Taranto is 27 this Jan, Hopper is 28 this Feb, they'll be 32 and 33+ at absolute best and that's extremely ambitious to the point it's just not realistic that we're genuinely contending in 5 years. Sure we might play finals, but that's a long way from winning a flag.

If a 32 and 33+ Taranto and Hopper are in our best midfield at that time, we aren't flag contending, they're just not good enough and aren't going to be at their peak at that age.

We could win a flag in 2 years. It’s not likely but we could rebound quickly and push for a flag with most of our experienced players going around another year. Prestia and McIntosh are probably the only ones almost certain to go after 2025. Nank and Lynch could play on if their bodies hold up.

Our backline is strong, especially if Brown keeps developing, Gibcus gets on the park and Short recaptures his best form with Rioli gone.

Wings are 50/50 but the young ones made big strides in 2024.

Midfield needs continuity and Ross/McAuliffe to develop. Smillie and Lalor have the bodies to contribute from the word go.

Forward line is suspect but much better if Lynch is fit. MRJ or Mansell need to take on Boltons role, or one of the others. We’ll also need at least one or two other talls to contribute, I like Armstrong and when Hotton comes right we may get a shock how good he is.

It might be optimistic but it is no more unrealistic than everyone saying it’s going to be a 400 year rebuild. The 2010 team was a pile of shit, we were just lucky to have the elite players we did. This time around the team is not a pile of shit and we may have just drafted the elite players + the couple we get next year.