Training Pre-Season 2024

[maxlilly]

Jeff, curtin played exclusively in defence and only featured in some of the drills although the kids were brought in for the final part of the ‘match sim’ section.

Didnt get a heap of the ball today and appears to be mostly learning about positioning and playing as a kpd. Can’t help but wish he was being used further up the ground but it’s understandable given theres a spot in defence especially with burgess used up forward

Did see him use one of his patented side steps at one point which was nice to see and has that easy relaxed kicking action ala Dawson. Expect to get him confused with daws and in particular worrell come game time!

Side note, curtin still wearing some light strapping on his left knee like he did throughout the season. Doesn’t appear to be overly hindered but curious as to why nonetheless.

I can see Curtin and Worrell looking like twins out on the field.
Smooth movers with the raking left foot

 

[GROTTO]

How is Crouch looking?

Played a crucial role for us in the midfield in the 2nd half of the season.

If he can maintain that and possibly go to another level, it really improves our chances of making the 8 in 2024.

 

[cleanhands]

Hmm mine got deleted ………… a racist complaint, must have missed this

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Hows Soligo looking Bigman?

 

[Danger_zone]

I honestly think these are the most talented kids/young core we’ve had on our list ever!

Things are looking very bright.

 

[1990crow]

I honestly think these are the most talented kids/young core we’ve had on our list ever!

Things are looking very bright.

2011 we had a very good young core. That peaked in 2016/17 minus Danger

Dangerfield, Walker, Talia, Smith, Crouch, Sloane, Tippett

Current:

Curtin, Rachele, Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Rankine, Soligo, Pedlar, Murray, Michalanney

Bats deeper in talent but can't take away how good Tex, Danger, Sloane, Talia, Tippett talents were at the time.
Unfortunately Tippett and Danger left which ultimately probably hurt us in the end.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

2011 we had a very good young core. That peaked in 2016/17 minus Danger

Dangerfield, Walker, Talia, Smith, Crouch, Sloane, Tippett

Current:

Curtin, Rachele, Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Rankine, Soligo, Pedlar, Murray, Michalanney

Bats deeper in talent but can't take away how good Tex, Danger, Sloane, Talia, Tippett talents were at the time.
Unfortunately Tippett and Danger left which ultimately probably hurt us in the end.

This time we have most of our best young talent signed up long term, but granted they can still leave.

However, there does appear to be a strong bond amongst the group.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Last year Laird said he put on a couple of KG's to physically match it with other MIDS ....I noticed a drop-off in his 2mtr speed and commented that instead of getting to the drop of the ball 1st ....he was 2nd, thus laying a lot more tackles

Laird's #1 wood is that 2mtr speed .....at 29 YO, is he losing a bit of that toe .....just posing the question

 

[El Doederino]

2011 we had a very good young core. That peaked in 2016/17 minus Danger

Dangerfield, Walker, Talia, Smith, Crouch, Sloane, Tippett

Current:

Curtin, Rachele, Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Rankine, Soligo, Pedlar, Murray, Michalanney

Bats deeper in talent but can't take away how good Tex, Danger, Sloane, Talia, Tippett talents were at the time.
Unfortunately Tippett and Danger left which ultimately probably hurt us in the end.

Can add Welsh to that group soon and I’m convinced Lukosius comes to us when his free agency is up, and by then he’ll be at his peak.

 

[1990crow]

Can add Welsh to that group soon and I’m convinced Lukosius comes to us when his free agency is up, and by then he’ll be at his peak.

I don't disagree. This is probably going to be our best prolonged premiership window ever.

Does that translate to grand final appearances and a flag?
A team still needs to become a team, 2017s game plan made us better than the rest.
We will need something that works for us.

 

[119others]

I honestly think these are the most talented kids/young core we’ve had on our list ever!

Things are looking very bright.

certainly since the early 90’s with the combo of generous draft concessions when entering the league combined with an extraordinary influx of talented SA youngsters at the time. Those early years hearing about Hart dominating underage footy as an athletic freak 1-2 years before we got him, King Kerley going to the Riverland to watch a 16/17 yo Roo playing for Waikerie in the Seniors (IIRC GF) and kicking a LAZY 10 (from the wing from memory).

Roo
Hart
Rehn
Jarman (from Wellman trade)
Mc Leod (from Groom trade )
Smart
EDIT - Godra. And as sacrilegious as this may be, i rate him well below all of the above players - except 1993. He often let us down in big games post 1993, was actually a little softish on many occasions (went down like a sack of spuds) and we wouldnt have won the 97 prelim if he hadnt gone off injured with the ACL early, therefore substituting Jars to forward line. Without doubt that our first 'superstar' (like hasnt been repeated), the most spectacular highlights reel and one of the greatest high flying marks the game has ever seen.

all absolutely elite


then other very talented Pitman (not that “pathetic” after all), Liptak, Jameson, Trigger Tregenza. Plus the wasted talents due to motivation (Adam Saliba), or injury curse (Seb Packer, Peter Turner, Matthew Kelly) and a few more I can’t immediately recall.

I genuinely hope the new crop could almost equal that level but it’s A VERY hard ask. If we go past it…bloody amazing and multiple flags likely.


i did sent this to Reidy in recent days about the list offering him my snapshot (general BF consensus I would say):

(email was me responding to a Reidy email about the Curtin trade)


Thanks mate,

My one minute analysis (feel free to ignore!) and no more from me until well into next year..

Very exciting times ahead and as much projected elite talent - which I deem as consistent AA squad calibre potential - as the early 90s (fuelled with extraordinary draft concessions) so genuinely great job by list management/drafting team building from the ground up after the depths of 2018/2019.

Elite/very likely elites being Rankine, Dawson, Rachele, TT, Curtin, Pedlar, Max, and also the next level down of potential elites Worrell, Hinge, Soligo, Murray (fingers crossed after ACL) and even Jones and Milera having career best years. Edwards and Dowling not sufficiently exposed form for me to analyse. All interstate boys locked away for years (2-6 years) or SA boys. Hinge perhaps the only big contract end of 2024 as he will always be a FA at end of each contract after being acquired as a DFA from my understanding. Perhaps moving to Redman type level of compo.

Unfortunately, its a pretty barren 2024 FA list with (an almost impossible to obtain) McCluggage the standout and perhaps Hayward as a peripheral piece.

Besides perhaps one more elite mid – LDU as a pre-agent or Phllipou (both would cost circa 2 x first rounders I imagine) or bundling up picks to get a top 5 pick next year for Draper, or even Hargrave lower down, and it seems like the obvious year to use our 2025 1st to bundle up and get ahead of the Welsh bid (hopefully he goes 10-18, and not top 6/7 players picked). So one more elite mid – however obtained - and planning for an upgrade/replacement to ROB and squad build looking close to finished in my humble view.

All the best man and have a great well deserved break. PS I do appreciate you acknowledging my emails historically as you certainly don’t need to do this (inc this last email) but I certainly appreciate feeling ‘heard’ as an extraordinarily passionate fan since day one.

Cheers

 

[119others]

2011 we had a very good young core. That peaked in 2016/17 minus Danger

Dangerfield, Walker, Talia, Smith, Crouch, Sloane, Tippett

Current:

Curtin, Rachele, Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Rankine, Soligo, Pedlar, Murray, Michalanney

Bats deeper in talent but can't take away how good Tex, Danger, Sloane, Talia, Tippett talents were at the time.
Unfortunately Tippett and Danger left which ultimately probably hurt us in the end.

Mate good email but also think our bottom 5-7 this time likely to be materially better than say the 2012 Prelim team which included a number of plodders:

Petrenko (Vader WAS definitely right on with this one!)
Wright
Callinan
(those 3 small forwards compared to Rankine, Rachele, Peds and Murphy..)

Henderson (before he became half decent)
Luke Thompson (just shocking)
And lower ceiling types VB, McKay and Douglas (the sort that almost always fail in big finals)

 

[1990crow]

Mate good email but also think our bottom 5-7 this time likely to be materially better than say the 2012 Prelim team which included a number of plodders:

Petrenko (Vader WAS definitely right on with this one!)
Wright
Callinan
(those 3 small forwards compared to Rankine, Rachele, Peds and Murphy..)

Henderson (before he became half decent)
Luke Thompson (just shocking)
And lower ceiling types VB, McKay and Douglas (the sort that almost always fail in big finals)

Yeah of course re 2012. For comparison sake 2016 and 2017 were more realistic windows than 2012

 

[GROTTO]

I don't disagree. This is probably going to be our best prolonged premiership window ever.

Does that translate to grand final appearances and a flag?
A team still needs to become a team, 2017s game plan made us better than the rest.
We will need something that works for us.

GF appearances and winning the flag for non-Vic teams is two different things.

I think this squad is going to be good enough to get to a GF.

It takes something special to get over a Vic team on GF day at the G.

Eagles did it just in 2018 inside the last 5 mins.

In 2023, Charlie had the Lions in front with about 5mins to go.

 

[119others]

Hmm mine got deleted ………… a racist complaint, must have missed this

Cleanhands, if I read this correctly recently you have a Chinese partner? If so, have you had the chance to “experience” some of the food types available at many large, well regarded restaurants in Chinese major cities? It’s almost like anything goes….

Snake soup/snake fritter type things
scorpions
diverse range of small-medium birds
genitalia of various animals

one restaurant in Guangzhou, which was just of a mind blowing scale (6/7 stories, 5,000 seated customers at once and 500 chefs/cooks catering) would nightly slaughter a crocodile in the foyer at 6-7pm allowing hungry adventurous clientele to order it (certainly not me). Slaughter happened on the same level that the restaurants owner showed off his 3 most prized possessions - Ferrari, Lamborghini and something similar or even more impressive. It’s almost the most capitalist country in the world in some ways..

 

[GROTTO]

Can add Welsh to that group soon and I’m convinced Lukosius comes to us when his free agency is up, and by then he’ll be at his peak.

I think by then there will be many more Suns players that they will want to keep ahead of him, their salary cap will be bursting.

 

[119others]

Yeah of course re 2012. For comparison sake 2016 and 2017 were more realistic windows than 2012

Ok sorry, yep fair call. We had very strong team those 2 years. Deserved a flag 2017 IMO but ultimately we choked on the day - was shattering to be there - , combined with crappy weather favouring Tiges, badly selected side (far too many immobile marking talls) and CC injured early. Plus all the normal disadvantages of Umps, crowd etc.

2017 - not many weaknesses besides some flaky wingers (Aitkins, Mackay), Hartigan was only Butts like and hopefully Murray/Curtin/Worrell will pass our previous KPD. Our on ball brigade led by Sloane who had a shocker (with his 5 game Tagger kicking 3 whilst keeping Rory ineffective) was useless and Douglas was truly horrid. Both Crouch boys did Ok.

i know I go off on tangents (sorry)..are you thinking our current side is projecting to be better than 2016/2017?

 

[119others]

This time we have most of our best young talent signed up long term, but granted they can still leave.

However, there does appear to be a strong bond amongst the group.

One thing hopefully we can all agree on is the culture appears better than ever. Players love Nicks and the club. This certainly wasn’t the case with ultra smart but less relatable Pyke and obviously Birdbrain the less said the better

 

[cleanhands]

Cleanhands, if I read this correctly recently you have a Chinese partner? If so, have you had the chance to “experience” some of the food types available at many large, well regarded restaurants in Chinese major cities? It’s almost like anything goes….

Snake soup/snake fritter type things
scorpions
diverse range of small-medium birds
genitalia of various animals

one restaurant in Guangzhou, which was just of a mind blowing scale (6/7 stories, 5,000 seated customers at once and 500 chefs/cooks catering) would nightly slaughter a crocodile in the foyer at 6-7pm allowing hungry adventurous clientele to order it (certainly not me). Slaughter happened on the same level that the restaurants owner showed off his 3 most prized possessions - Ferrari, Lamborghini and something similar or even more impressive. It’s almost the most capitalist country in the world in some ways..

Yeh a certain poster thought it was racist………… I have never seen so many Porsches, Ferrari, and Lamborghini in one place as Guangzhou, and you are correct as to animal genitaliayou just don’t ask, there is no waste, my wife is from a place called Baise, very traditional not a lot of tourism, so very authentic Chinese cooking, restaurants small and large great experience

 

[WetCrow1991]

Imo 2016 was a bigger choke than 2017, still had Lyons, forward line was performing better.

Ok sorry, yep fair call. We had very strong team those 2 years. Deserved a flag 2017 IMO but ultimately we choked on the day - was shattering to be there - , combined with crappy weather favouring Tiges, badly selected side (far too many immobile marking talls) and CC injured early. Plus all the normal disadvantages of Umps, crowd etc.

2017 - not many weaknesses besides some flaky wingers (Aitkins, Mackay), Hartigan was only Butts like and hopefully Murray/Curtin/Worrell will pass our previous KPD. Our on ball brigade led by Sloane who had a shocker (with his 5 game Tagger kicking 3 whilst keeping Rory ineffective) was useless and Douglas was truly horrid. Both Crouch boys did Ok.

i know I go off on tangents (sorry)..are you thinking our current side is projecting to be better than 2016/2017?

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Yeh a certain poster thought it was racist………… I have never seen so many Porsches, Ferrari, and Lamborghini in one place as Guangzhou, and you are correct as to animal genitaliayou just don’t ask, there is no waste, my wife is from a place called Baise, very traditional not a lot of tourism, so very authentic Chinese cooking, restaurants small and large great experience

There is a google translation for that name.

 

[cleanhands]

There is a google translation for that name.

Oh dear

 

[119others]

Imo 2016 was a bigger choke than 2017, still had Lyons, forward line was performing better.

You mean the last minor round game vs Eagles at home? Yeah shocking choke. Both games were poor efforts. It’s just with a GF it’s one you never ever forget - like Kangas mates I have that will never get over 1998 first half kicking for goal

 

[119others]

Yeh a certain poster thought it was racist………… I have never seen so many Porsches, Ferrari, and Lamborghini in one place as Guangzhou, and you are correct as to animal genitaliayou just don’t ask, there is no waste, my wife is from a place called Baise, very traditional not a lot of tourism, so very authentic Chinese cooking, restaurants small and large great experience

Much to get up to when in Baise? Variety of activities giving a memorable experience? How long do you recommend you do Baise for?

I’ve only been to the main 3 cities and Nanjing and one other industrial centre.

 

[cleanhands]

Much to get up to when in Baise? Variety of activities giving a memorable experience? How long do you recommend you do Baise for?

I’ve only been to the main 3 cities and Nanjing and one other industrial centre.

Baise is near the Vietnam border nearest capital city Nanning population about 7.5mil