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

[LegendLewis]

Hey peeps, Good luck for the season!
Hope yours and mine aren't the cellar dwellers as predicted.
Curious why Culley didn't play on the weekend, liked him last year and from the reports of his 'demolishing houses' over the preseason I was keen to see him. Not injured is he?
Thanks

 

[Keys]

Hey peeps, Good luck for the season!
Hope yours and mine aren't the cellar dwellers as predicted.
Curious why Culley didn't play on the weekend, liked him last year and from the reports of his 'demolishing houses' over the preseason I was keen to see him. Not injured is he?
Thanks

Plenty on here similarly bemused as to why he wasn’t picked against Adelaide. He played in a scratch match between each sides reserves afterwards so he wasn’t injured

Supporters weren’t allowed to stay and watch so no idea how he played other than the Crows won comfortably

 

[Doashuey]

******* fantastic....

I really rate Rotham, we will miss him.

I really haven't rated Rotham. But...
I quite liked what he did on the weekend and having him as a secondary ruck makes our team more balanced than carrying 2 of NN, Bailey and Jamo.
Hope he recovers and maintains fitness as I'd like us to push on with that experiment.

 

[WCEswift]

Hey peeps, Good luck for the season!
Hope yours and mine aren't the cellar dwellers as predicted.
Curious why Culley didn't play on the weekend, liked him last year and from the reports of his 'demolishing houses' over the preseason I was keen to see him. Not injured is he?
Thanks

Our best guess is load management?

 

[WCE_phil]

Way too early to call, but say we come last and Harley Reid performs through the year how we expect.. what would be the price to slide back? Thinking that North have Port’s first rounder too, if that’s inside 10, do you think they’d be desperate enough to offer say 3 and 8 for 1? Would we take it?

Notice I said in particular if we finish 17th. Based on current form, being a bendigo boy which is proper Vic Country if we finished 18th Harley Reid would be one of the easiest selections for pick number 1 in the draft. Unless of course Ashton Moir spends a significant part of the year in the midfield and dominate there like he does in the forward line, then it might get interesting.

But yes at this stage if we finished 17th and harley reid was off the table I would absolutely accept 2 picks in the top 10. One would have to be top 5 (I don't care if it is pick 5) there are at least that many superstar talents in this draft pool. We'll see if one or two of them can really pull away or not. As of right now I'd probably have the draft 1. Harley Reid 2. Jed Walter. 3.Daniel Curtin 4. Ashton Moir 5. Zane Duursma.

Talls are always the enigma though, it tends to be their draft year that sorts the wheat from the chaff and even with such great performances this year by the two 4 tall underagers in Walter, Curtin, Edwards and Ethan Read you never know how the year will turn out. In February last year Harry Lemmey was considered based on the previous years form to be the highest level talent going into the year. A lot of bad things went his way some personal, some physical, some mental and he ended up being lucky to be drafted at pick 47.

At the very start of last year Tholstrup was if not the number 1 ranked kid in his age group he was certainly top 2 and now he's in that 15-20 bracket. So much changes between now and the championships and as I said last year as much changes after the championships as changes up to and including it.

It'll be the same this year. Some players will develop much quicker, some who were smaller or less developed will catch up, some who were early developers and have relied upon that will be watched very carefully to make sure they don't stagnate.

I've had a theory for quite a while now and while the numbers have improved I ran some numbers based on junior sports stars in a couple of other sports and how they progressed. 90% never made it as successful professional athletes. This was purely done on boys. Whether it was injuries, lack of further development, girls, drugs, lack of money involved or other interests 10% made the cut.

Now at the start of last year and even after the Academy vs Collingwood VFL game I had George Wardlaw best on ground just ahead of Jackson Broadbent and only based off of Wardlaws ability to change up his play style at half time and then dominate against men. If it was purely on the performance of 4 quarters It would have been 1. Broadbent, 2. Ashcroft, 3. Wardlaw or Clark.

Now I know Jackson Broadbent 2 days before the draft was surprised he wasn't invited to Melbourne for the draft night and his parents were holding him a major draft party expecting him to be taken in the first round. As his mum is a friend of an unrelated but still family member of mine I asked for her number and had a very quiet, polite chat about tempering hopes and not expecting to be drafted on the first night but he was still a shot at being drafted late or in the rookie draft. Now Broadbents problem wasn't that he can't play football because he can. His problem was two fold. 1. He was a nigh on identical player at 18 as he was at 15 and 2. He didn't have a spectacular athletic profile.

 

[Cuzz09]

what if we come bottom and he's a sookie la la and won't wanna come to WA

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Truckosaurus]

what if we come bottom and he's a sookie la la and won't wanna come to WA

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

We either take the risk and draft him or pick the next best. We aren't tanking for him so it won't be like we gambled and lost by coming last.

 

[Cuzz09]

guess so.

At worst interview him and if he's adamant about not travelling then trade pick 1 for a gold mine

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[kane249]

I really haven't rated Rotham. But...
I quite liked what he did on the weekend and having him as a secondary ruck makes our team more balanced than carrying 2 of NN, Bailey and Jamo.
Hope he recovers and maintains fitness as I'd like us to push on with that experiment.

His best game for the club was in the ruck Vs St Kilda last year.

Did well around the club then pushed forward and kicked 2 goals.

Something you can get away with maybe against a non physical ruck like Marshall, but still sucked we didn't persist with it.

 

[Rowan18]

Notice I said in particular if we finish 17th. Based on current form, being a bendigo boy which is proper Vic Country if we finished 18th Harley Reid would be one of the easiest selections for pick number 1 in the draft. Unless of course Ashton Moir spends a significant part of the year in the midfield and dominate there like he does in the forward line, then it might get interesting.

But yes at this stage if we finished 17th and harley reid was off the table I would absolutely accept 2 picks in the top 10. One would have to be top 5 (I don't care if it is pick 5) there are at least that many superstar talents in this draft pool. We'll see if one or two of them can really pull away or not. As of right now I'd probably have the draft 1. Harley Reid 2. Jed Walter. 3.Daniel Curtin 4. Ashton Moir 5. Zane Duursma.

Talls are always the enigma though, it tends to be their draft year that sorts the wheat from the chaff and even with such great performances this year by the two 4 tall underagers in Walter, Curtin, Edwards and Ethan Read you never know how the year will turn out. In February last year Harry Lemmey was considered based on the previous years form to be the highest level talent going into the year. A lot of bad things went his way some personal, some physical, some mental and he ended up being lucky to be drafted at pick 47.

At the very start of last year Tholstrup was if not the number 1 ranked kid in his age group he was certainly top 2 and now he's in that 15-20 bracket. So much changes between now and the championships and as I said last year as much changes after the championships as changes up to and including it.

It'll be the same this year. Some players will develop much quicker, some who were smaller or less developed will catch up, some who were early developers and have relied upon that will be watched very carefully to make sure they don't stagnate.

I've had a theory for quite a while now and while the numbers have improved I ran some numbers based on junior sports stars in a couple of other sports and how they progressed. 90% never made it as successful professional athletes. This was purely done on boys. Whether it was injuries, lack of further development, girls, drugs, lack of money involved or other interests 10% made the cut.

Now at the start of last year and even after the Academy vs Collingwood VFL game I had George Wardlaw best on ground just ahead of Jackson Broadbent and only based off of Wardlaws ability to change up his play style at half time and then dominate against men. If it was purely on the performance of 4 quarters It would have been 1. Broadbent, 2. Ashcroft, 3. Wardlaw or Clark.

Now I know Jackson Broadbent 2 days before the draft was surprised he wasn't invited to Melbourne for the draft night and his parents were holding him a major draft party expecting him to be taken in the first round. As his mum is a friend of an unrelated but still family member of mine I asked for her number and had a very quiet, polite chat about tempering hopes and not expecting to be drafted on the first night but he was still a shot at being drafted late or in the rookie draft. Now Broadbents problem wasn't that he can't play football because he can. His problem was two fold. 1. He was a nigh on identical player at 18 as he was at 15 and 2. He didn't have a spectacular athletic profile.

Did broadbent get drafted in the end?

 

[CountryLad]

Did broadbent get drafted in the end?

No. He’s going to play for Sth Freo this year.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Did broadbent get drafted in the end?

Nope he didn't.

 

[Rowan18]

No. He’s going to play for Sth Freo this year.

That must have been a very awkward draft party!

 

[Fatty rules]

Noah Long has a decent leap, could make a great backup ruck.

'Noah Long' is an oxymoron. Long he is not.

 

[ziad]

what if we come bottom and he's a sookie la la and won't wanna come to WA

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

early for that, I stlill thing 8-12th but that is still based on Yoe etc who say out 2022 having an effective year with some kids emerging.

An effort like the one against th Crows makes 12 look more much likely than 8, but again I thing the Crows will force their way into the 8.

 

[bUCKET__]

'Noah Long' is an oxymoron. Long he is not.

Don't want to hear about your sex life mate

 

[Cuzz09]

Just saw the scores for the 2nd round of trial games and pretty much every game was one sided.

Not a single close game.

Yes there was some bad signs but 8 other sides got belted this weekend so as of next week they all start the same position.

Hopefully we just get things right from rd1

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Free Agent]

Interestingly WCE have revised Hedwards height to 200cm.

200cm is pretty tall. Hasn't got much reach in the arms but he might become the first ever head knock ruckman.

Do you even call it a tap if he headbutts the ball instead with is gigantic melon of a head.

Statistic will be like
Tap Hit outs to advantage
Gawn 42
Edwards 0

Head hit outs to advantage
Gawn 0
Edwards 27

Can just picture it. His not getting much tap outs but his head is becoming one hell of a weapon.

 

[robertto]

Just saw the scores for the 2nd round of trial games and pretty much every game was one sided.

Not a single close game.

Yes there was some bad signs but 8 other sides got belted this weekend so as of next week they all start the same position.

Hopefully we just get things right from rd1

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yeah, that would be nice. But.... My take was we were blown away early last week and early this week when the game was at its hottest and most AFL pressure like. I think that bodes poorly for us. We couldn't win the ball, or move it out of d50, and were powerless to stop teams moving it against us.

Sobering reality check..... but I guess you can't rebuild in one year.

Ginbey looked so good though. Performed well above my expectations. But even he faded after a great start. Some green shoots but it's a long road.

 

[FKASC]

Don't want to hear about your sex life mate

Fatty > Longy

 

[FKASC]

200cm is pretty tall. Hasn't got much reach in the arms but he might become the first ever head knock ruckman.

Do you even call it a tap if he headbutts the ball instead with is gigantic melon of a head.

Statistic will be like
Tap Hit outs to advantage
Gawn 42
Edwards 0

Head hit outs to advantage
Gawn 0
Edwards 27

Can just picture it. His not getting much tap outs but his head is becoming one hell of a weapon.

Taps it headwards

 

[boondy]

'Noah Long' is an oxymoron. Long he is not.

Noah Long is Italian for short

 

[CountryLad]

early for that, I stlill thing 8-12th but that is still based on Yoe etc who say out 2022 having an effective year with some kids emerging.

An effort like the one against th Crows makes 12 look more much likely than 8, but again I thing the Crows will force their way into the 8.

No problem with what you are saying but just out of curiosity if we were to finish 12th who are the clubs that finish below us?

 

[DanWCE]

Noah Long is Italian for short

Yeah but it's French for yum

 

[ziad]

No problem with what you are saying but just out of curiosity if we were to finish 12th who are the clubs that finish below us?

gut feel only I am afraid, far too many variables to be precise.

I think North, Hawks, GC, and Bombers look possibilities to finish below us then two with a bad injury run. I have a bad vibe about GC and the Bombers this season. Saints could have internal reuctuions and tank regardless of injuries.

My ambitiouss feel is that Nic plays a decent number of games, Yoe and Shuey have strong years taking the pressure of Kelly and Sheed allowing them to be more effecticve. Allen develops well, Hough adds run of half back/woig as he has evidenced, Chesser pace and class. Ginbey looks a goer and we have a few other notables kids who should develop better and quicker than the past crop who unfortunately were not up to it.

I think new blood adds energy across the list.

A caviet is that palyers who missed a season will take a few week to gain touch and our commitment to the contest, mentally, will improve to match out improved fitness.