Training Pre-Season 2023 (First game 18/3 v North)

[PremiershipNo4]

We certainly could. Collingwood is the prime example from 2021. But you need:

-team fit and available
-new gameplan that sticks in the first month or so of the season
-young guys able to play roles to give some depth

We managed it in 2011 and also 2012 (to an extent).

If it happens, we'll like bounce up and then back out of the 8 as the vets retire

You forgot to mention Collingwood having a new coach. I think that’s kind of important.
We’ve got Simmo locked in until 2025

 

[bzparkes]

You forgot to mention Collingwood having a new coach. I think that’s kind of important.
We’ve got Simmo locked in until 2025

And a whole raft of new off-field appointments since the end of 2021, with a noticeably different game plan towards the end of the season.

People talk as if the club wants to maintain the status quo since the end of '19, when all the messaging and action indicates that they are attempting to implement big changes to the current program.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Geelong’s grand final team was the oldest team to ever play. I feel like if we can manage them properly through pre-season and regular season they can make a big impact. We just need our younger leaders like Duggan, Allen, Cole, Ryan, Kelly etc to step up and have good seasons as well so the 30+ guys don’t need to play every week. Then if you add a breakout of Hough, Bazzo or BWilliams it could be exciting. Conscious this is all best case scenario and I’m sure we’ll cop some injuries as soon as match sim starts.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Scott and Simmo have very different approaches to match committee.

Scott looks to where he will rest his players to have them right for finals.

Simmo has been on record to say he will pick the best team to firstly qualify for finals and then get as high up as possible.

Therefore
Geelong MC is strategical
West Coast MC is tactical

 

[Nuffington Post]

Scott and Simmo have very different approaches to match committee.

Scott looks to where he will rest his players to have them right for finals.

Simmo has been on record to say he will pick the best team to firstly qualify for finals and then get as high up as possible.

Therefore
Geelong MC is strategical
West Coast MC is tactical

The problem is you need a fit list to be able to manage players which we haven’t really had for two years. Agree Simmo hasn’t really bought into the managing players philosophy but maybe the Geelong flag could change his mind.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bh90210fan]

Scott and Simmo have very different approaches to match committee.

Scott looks to where he will rest his players to have them right for finals.

Simmo has been on record to say he will pick the best team to firstly qualify for finals and then get as high up as possible.

Therefore
Geelong MC is strategical
West Coast MC is tactical

We have to be though. Any team based outside of Victoria have to finish top 2 to have a realistic shot at a flag, any lower and you’re having to win multiple finals on the road to get there.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

The problem is you need a fit list to be able to manage players which we haven’t really had for two years. Agree Simmo hasn’t really bought into the managing players philosophy but maybe the Geelong flag could change his mind.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Both clubs have been consistently using their approaches longer than 2 years. Like the club, you raise up injuries as an excuse. Simmo 2022 - admitted Yeo Kelly and Shuey not fit but used their AFL return games hoping that would get their fitness up. Tactics like those are Dumb Sheed like.

 

[Ochre]

You forgot to mention Collingwood having a new coach. I think that’s kind of important.
We’ve got Simmo locked in until 2025

Plus they won six games (including beating the eventual premiers) and had a % of 85. We won 2 and were under 60%. You couldn't have two more different 17th placed sides.

 

[FKASC]

Geelong’s grand final team was the oldest team to ever play. I feel like if we can manage them properly through pre-season and regular season they can make a big impact. We just need our younger leaders like Duggan, Allen, Cole, Ryan, Kelly etc to step up and have good seasons as well so the 30+ guys don’t need to play every week. Then if you add a breakout of Hough, Bazzo or BWilliams it could be exciting. Conscious this is all best case scenario and I’m sure we’ll cop some injuries as soon as match sim starts.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Unlike our old blokes, a few of those older Geelong players had never won a flag though, so were hungry.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Apples and oranges.

Our team of leaders has routinely waltzed off the bus and haven't fired a shot in so many games. Geelong rarely do that. How long is the away record vs Geelong and Sydney now? 16 years?

I find the Richmond covid grand final win of 2020 to be more impressive. Even away from home they still got themselves up, found the hunger and 3rd flag in 4 years. A grand final win at the Gabba no less. Yeah it's not as impressive as an interstate team winning at the MCG, but you've got to admit it was still a fair crack.

Meanwhile we couldn't even make a preliminary in 2019 and have fallen off the wagon completely since then. Injuries and covid get used as an excuse like it hasn't affected the whole competition for the past 3 years.

 

[Shueygod]

Apples and oranges.

Our team of leaders has routinely waltzed off the bus and haven't fired a shot in so many games. Geelong rarely do that. How long is the away record vs Geelong and Sydney now? 16 years?

I find the Richmond covid grand final win of 2020 to be more impressive. Even away from home they still got themselves up, found the hunger and 3rd flag in 4 years. A grand final win at the Gabba no less. Yeah it's not as impressive as an interstate team winning at the MCG, but you've got to admit it was still a fair crack.

Meanwhile we couldn't even make a preliminary in 2019 and have fallen off the wagon completely since then. Injuries and covid get used as an excuse like it hasn't affected the whole competition for the past 3 years.

Can you name another team that hasn’t had their starting midfield since 2019?

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Can you name another team that hasn’t had their starting midfield since 2019?

Fremantle missed a huge number of games with Fyfe out

Cats likewise with Danger, Selwood, Duncan and Menangola

Adams and de Goey have had long stints out

Josh Swans Kennedy has been out for heaps

Midfield is a combative position so injuries are expected

In the above cases, others have stepped up

No IFs and no maybe - our injury list has been harsh but those that were left did not stand up when needed

 

[Truckosaurus]

Freo have been a better side without Fyfe for the last few years (ditto Swans and Kennedy), Cats haven't lost all their players at the same time and Collingwood had to trade away most of their midfield. Our problem hasn't just been injuries to midfielders, it's that two get injured for every one that returns from injury.

The other issue is that none of the replacements step up in their absence. Kelly, Shuey, Yeo, Sheed and Gaff are all still (when fit, and despite form declines) better than anyone else we've tried. And (despite what this board would have you believe) others have been tried - even when their WAFL form didn't merit it (because we had no one else).

 

[Kegs15]

Fremantle missed a huge number of games with Fyfe out

Cats likewise with Danger, Selwood, Duncan and Menangola

Adams and de Goey have had long stints out

Josh Swans Kennedy has been out for heaps

Midfield is a combative position so injuries are expected

In the above cases, others have stepped up

No IFs and no maybe - our injury list has been harsh but those that were left did not stand up when needed

Agree with all this - would add that in addition to not standing up our midfield setup has been reliant on all the players executing their role's Plan A - Shuey is the one supposed to break from stoppages, Yeo is the one supposed to drag himself through two tacklers, Kelly is the one supposed to get space and deliver I50, Gaff is the one supposed to link up across the ground etc. Backchat podcast talked in one of the episodes about our midfield's focus on 'one woods' - which is positive to an extent but limits us when we then need to rely on Gaff as an inside mid for availabilities sake.

Take one of those players out and there's holes too big/particular for the others to fill. Geelong have multiple players who are kind of 7/10 in everything needed of a mid and allow say Selwood/Danger to have a rest from the bash and crash or say Smith/Duncan from having to run themselves into the ground every game. Our depth has kept us reliant on our stars to perform to their strengths constantly - which worked in 2018 cause we had Sheed to take over Gaff's strength but wasn't sustainable enough for a dynasty. Makes us easy to break down (if Kelly or Shuey is tagged out there goes an entire facet of our game).

Have hope in Knights/Schofield addressing this (last year wasn't enough time/didn't have the cattle to automatically fix that). They haven't had the time to address this from a list build or development perspective so I'm personally not in any sort of 'sack the coaches' mindset just yet. But it's a general reason I'd love us to pick up a contested ball winner this draft rather than think Culley will tick that box by himself. Hopefully with Sheed/Chesser/Hough/Ledwards we at least have some outside leaning mids with a few other individual facets of their game to be more comfortable with that area

 

[amazingjoshy]

Scott and Simmo have very different approaches to match committee.

Scott looks to where he will rest his players to have them right for finals.

Simmo has been on record to say he will pick the best team to firstly qualify for finals and then get as high up as possible.

Therefore
Geelong MC is strategical
West Coast MC is tactical

As smug and sanctimonious as he is, Scott doesn't really get his dues as a really top line coach.

The best strategic coach in the league imo. Adapts their gameplan to the opponents and the game circumstance more than any other team.... rather than the old "we'll play our way" under any circumstances.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Can you name another team that hasn’t had their starting midfield since 2019?

Our "starting midfield" is deadset ****ing average these days.

Our "starting midfield" often are the ones who fail to fire a shot and we find ourselves obliterated after the first quarter. Sydney game last year. Hurns 300th. All the times we've played at the SCG or Kardinya.

"Starting midfield" cooked us vs Collingwood in the 2020 home final at Optus we went down by 1 point as the much more fancied team.

The starting midfield IS the problem. Not the sole problem but they're a huge part. Recently it's been due their injuries or covid. Before that it was due to them phoning it in, even when they were fit.

Besides, why are players, our "stars" suddenly incapable of impacting a game unless their other mid counterparts are also playing with them?

 

[Shueygod]

Our "starting midfield" is deadset ******* average these days.

Our "starting midfield" often are the ones who fail to fire a shot and we find ourselves obliterated after the first quarter. Sydney game last year. Hurns 300th. All the times we've played at the SCG or Kardinya.

"Starting midfield" cooked us vs Collingwood in the 2020 home final at Optus we went down by 1 point as the much more fancied team.

The starting midfield IS the problem. Not the sole problem but they're a huge part. Recently it's been due their injuries or covid. Before that it was due to them phoning it in, even when they were fit.

Besides, why are players, our "stars" suddenly incapable of impacting a game unless their other mid counterparts are also playing with them?

Maybe cos it’s our starting midfield are all badly underdone? Use a bit of critical thinking mate.

 

[Shueygod]

Fremantle missed a huge number of games with Fyfe out

Cats likewise with Danger, Selwood, Duncan and Menangola

Adams and de Goey have had long stints out

Josh Swans Kennedy has been out for heaps

Midfield is a combative position so injuries are expected

In the above cases, others have stepped up

No IFs and no maybe - our injury list has been harsh but those that were left did not stand up when needed

Fremantle missed a huge number of games with Fyfe out

Cats likewise with Danger, Selwood, Duncan and Menangola

Adams and de Goey have had long stints out

Josh Swans Kennedy has been out for heaps

Midfield is a combative position so injuries are expected

In the above cases, others have stepped up

No IFs and no maybe - our injury list has been harsh but those that were left did not stand up when needed

Fyfe is a ****ing crab.

Cats are usually missing 1 at most, we are consistently missing 3-4.

Again missing 1 at most typically.

Kennedy has been done for 3 years.

Others have stepped up because they’re available.

Take the top 2-3 mids out of any team and they don’t make the 8.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Maybe cos it’s our starting midfield are all badly underdone? Use a bit of critical thinking mate.

And like I've just mentioned, they've been letting us down and dropping the bundle long before they were all "underdone" young fella.

 

[Shueygod]

And like I've just mentioned, they've been letting us down and dropping the bundle long before they were all "underdone" young fella.

Considering the injuries started in 2019 how?

 

[Truckosaurus]

Considering the injuries started in 2019 how?

2018 should have been our threepeat!

 

[Godfather32]

Considering the injuries started in 2019 how?

2019 is four seasons ago. Whatever you want to attribute our underperformance from 2019-2022 to, I think it's fair to say that our "starting midfield" is not up to the job anymore. I mean the most consistent performer in there just retired.
We need to focus the next two years on bringing the next generation through.

 

[bzparkes]

Fyfe is a ******* crab.

Cats are usually missing 1 at most, we are consistently missing 3-4.

Again missing 1 at most typically.

Kennedy has been done for 3 years.

Others have stepped up because they’re available.

Take the top 2-3 mids out of any team and they don’t make the 8.

It's great to be positive but gee...

Fyfe a crab? Come onn mate.

 

[WCErevival]

The midfield went downhill once Yeo started to break down. He has never recovered since the end of 2020 when he missed that Collingwood final with OP. Shuey started to get soft tissue injuries around then too.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Dunno, they were all there in 2020 before Yeo's breakdown and we were pretty bad. But of course, then it was the hubs being used as an excuse

Kelly, Yeo, Shuey, Redden, Gaff got flogged by Red bull Rowell and his kid mate's. Then by Port. Then again by the Lions. Didn't fire a shot in any game.


Shuey had 14 disposals in the home final that year. Kelly had 12. Sheed 17. Redden 18.

 

[ziad]

Dunno, they were all there in 2020 before Yeo's breakdown and we were pretty bad. But of course, then it was the hubs being used as an excuse

Kelly, Yeo, Shuey, Redden, Gaff got flogged by Red bull Rowell and his kid mate's. Then by Port. Then again by the Lions. Didn't fire a shot in any game.


Shuey had 14 disposals in the home final that year. Kelly had 12. Sheed 17. Redden 18.

We lead the field in excuses