Yeah I looked at the link afterward. I'd already forgotten Ginbey was in the top 10
Training Pre-Season 2023 (First game 18/3 v North)
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When you look at any team, you look at areas where you need improvement and assess those areas where improvement can come from existing/previous B22, and those areas where refreshment is needed.
Small forward is one of the areas where refreshment is the only realistic option. We got a bargain from StK with Cripps, and we got the best out of his talent. But unless he is overtaken, we go backwards in the small forward area. Age beats everyone.
And he won a 2km time trial. So what. Doesn't make him quick.
Gaff has won multiple time trials. And while he is one of the elite endurance kings of the past 10-15 years (only Scully probably beats him), no-one has ever accused him of being quick.
And as much as I love Shuey and Hurn, I hope they also (especially Hurn) get overtaken in the B22 list this year.
Matera92
Brownlow Medallist
He's still plenty quick and our best pressure forward.
Rated elite in tackles in forward half (4 a game ) last year coming off a torn pec which cost him the first half of the season.
Season averages
Disposals – 13.8
Score involvements – 5.2
Tackles – 4
Inside 50s – 3.9
Goals - 1.3
All off a pre season ruined by injury with one of the all time most dysfunctional midfields in a starved for supply forwardline AND playing one of the hardest and least rewarding positions on the field HFF.
You're just plain wrong here.
Comparing Gaff and Cripps speed wise is...hilarious. The fact that he's coming in in such good nick should be lauded.
If he's forced out due to form, no dramas but as of now he'd still be one of the first names picked in 2023 and rightfully so.
What about....this...... deletes pic!
Who's giro?
Without Brayden this time, i'm not sure we stand a chance vs North tbh.
I’m a big advocate for fresh faces but Cripps would be a lock in my forward line.
The accusations you make surprise me as he has been very strong in the areas you criticise.
Simpson loves him and appreciates his work rate big time. Any criticism would be that he gets brought back without going through the WAFL but that is hardly his fault.
Darling, Allen, Ryan and Cripps are a lock for our forward line. Three others to spots to fight for. I’m tipping Long will be close to selection come March
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- Nov 18, 2017
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Just in support of this his last 6 games of the season he had 8, 4, 3, 6, 6 and 5 tackles. He was a bit light on early in the season coming back from injury but I'd say there's a pretty decent chance that's match fitness. In our woeful game against GWS he had 7 tackles.
Cripps can be a real selfish footballer at times, but that can sometimes what it takes to be an AFL forward. He sometimes isn't the cleanest handler of the ball but I don't think his work rate can be questioned. If youngsters want to work hard to go past him, great, but they've got they'll have to perform at a high AFL level.
He really had a purple patch in 2018 to the point he was certainly one of the best small forwards in the competition.
- Aug 14, 2019
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Pretty hard to pick a winner in a game that is still 6 weeks away before the respective teams have even been selected.
But the one reason i can see to pick WCE this far in advance is that we don't know what Norths approach to 2023 is going to be. We don't know if their absolute priority is going to be to win games or if that will be considered (in an unspoken way) to be of secondary importance with development of youth and another year of early draft picks considered to be more important. We also don't know if Clarkson will impose a game style on them that is total foreign to the players and demand they try and adapt to it no matter what the early results. On the other hand we can surmise by public statements and the recontracting of older players that winning games and improving ladder position does appear to be our number one objective for 2023 (rightly or wrongly).
Success depends upon what your intention is.
But the one reason i can see to pick WCE this far in advance is that we don't know what Norths approach to 2023 is going to be. We don't know if their absolute priority is going to be to win games or if that will be considered (in an unspoken way) to be of secondary importance with development of youth and another year of early draft picks considered to be more important. We also don't know if Clarkson will impose a game style on them that is total foreign to the players and demand they try and adapt to it no matter what the early results. On the other hand we can surmise by public statements and the recontracting of older players that winning games and improving ladder position does appear to be our number one objective for 2023 (rightly or wrongly).
Success depends upon what your intention is.
JDWCE
Norm Smith Medallist
I find it pretty hard to pick a winner to be honest.
Norfs midfield with Cunnington back will be a very tough assignment for our mids. Cunnington, LDU, Simpkin you'd assume are the first 3 at the bounce. Who would they be up against? Shuey, Kelly, Sheed? I know who my money is on to take it out of the middle. Our key position stocks are infinitely better though. So ying and yang. Definitely won't be a walk in the park and I'd wager Clarko will want to get some wins on the board early to pump some confidence into that team
Norfs midfield with Cunnington back will be a very tough assignment for our mids. Cunnington, LDU, Simpkin you'd assume are the first 3 at the bounce. Who would they be up against? Shuey, Kelly, Sheed? I know who my money is on to take it out of the middle. Our key position stocks are infinitely better though. So ying and yang. Definitely won't be a walk in the park and I'd wager Clarko will want to get some wins on the board early to pump some confidence into that team
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Monocle
And the rebuild begins.
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Correct.
However I am yet to watch or coach a decent small forward of any quality that wasn’t selfish.
It’s an essential character trait of being a good small forward.
From West Coast our two best small forwards have been.
Phil Matera
Mark LeCras
Both were as selfish as *
And the VFL/AFL’s most productive small forward ever.
Kevin Bartlett….was that selfish he earnt the nickname “ HUNGRY” from his own team mates ….. and the name described him perfectly.
The wily weagle
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That North game from last years angers me, because at least our top up guys played like it was their only chance (which it kinda was), whereas the senior guys that we had out there looked absolutely listless, jogging around, and overwhelming looking like they CBF
Monocle
And the rebuild begins.
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Good assessment.
Most of us tragic’s can handle it even when we are beaten IF the intent and the endeavour is there.
Trouble is the effort has appeared to be collectively sub par since we won our last flag.
It’s why we have played very few games since, in which we can say the team played for the full duration of every game and for the four quarters.
We give oppositions a start in the game and then we play catch up football to try to get back into the contest OR we work hard, amass a 6 goal lead, take our foot of the pedal and win by less than 9 points or even worse …. nightmare the St Kilda game two seasons ago we put the cue back in the rack when we were five goals up in the last quarter …… Saints got six unanswered goals on the run and won the game.
Anyone who has played sport knows that you never give up or concede momentum as once the ascendency is lost it’s near impossible to wrestle back again.
Complacency, inconsistency and slow starts have cost up far to many games since 2018.
Let’s hope that those days are over, as we approach a new season with a more steely resolve and mindset.
Cripps plays a role that is selfless but also alot like most small forwards tend to get greedy close to scoring positions. I reckon it looks more selfish cause he doesn’t real have the class of a lot of other small forwards
Assuming a continuation of the preseason for both teams (no major injuries, no more issues with individuals - both teams have had 1 player disrupt things a little), I'd think it is fair to think that with any sort of midfield pressure our key backs plus Hurn/Yeo should dominate the air.
Add in a bit more pace in the back half with Hunt and Cole (not super quick, but still faster than what we had last season) we should be able to transition the ball a lot quicker.
To counter our talls I would think Nth would need a pinpoint kicking gameplan (unless they want to go super-contested), and I don't believe that is something that can be rolled out in 1 preseason.
We really should expect to win this game.
Vic Eagles Member
Team Captain
We should be beating North and GWS. If we fail to win either of those it’ll be looking like a very long year as we then play:
Rd 3 v Freo
Rd 4 v Dees - optus
Rd 5 v Cats - AO
Rd 6 v Port - AO
Rd 7 v Carlton - Optus
Rd 8 v Richmond - MCG
Imagine it would be hard to make a case for us winning any of those if we can’t beat North and GWS
Rd 3 v Freo
Rd 4 v Dees - optus
Rd 5 v Cats - AO
Rd 6 v Port - AO
Rd 7 v Carlton - Optus
Rd 8 v Richmond - MCG
Imagine it would be hard to make a case for us winning any of those if we can’t beat North and GWS
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Oh ye of little faith. We're going to thump those Kanga Kents
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Thank God we're getting Geelong at AO and not KP... might only lose by 70+.
I imagine Cripps is leading our goal assists over the last 5 years.
He, like any good forward, can be a bit greedy in front of goals, but he's also a good, accurate kick, so it's not like he's wasteful.
He, like any good forward, can be a bit greedy in front of goals, but he's also a good, accurate kick, so it's not like he's wasteful.
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