Training Pre-Season 2025 - The boys are back in town.

[Dockernut]

I am nursing a hammy so I didn't get too carried away.

Spewing. I had 2 tickets I couldn't give away.

Ended up leaving them with the duo playing at the sail & anchor.
All my friends are neck deep in parenting & responsibilities..

Feel free to message me next time mate. Sounds like it was a good night.

 

[2big2strom]

can't believe I'm wishing for the shingled butthole posts to come back at this point, more chance of a tidbit of info

 

[freo84]

can't believe I'm wishing for the shingled butthole posts to come back at this point, more chance of a tidbit of info

 

[Dump Truck]

There was a fair bit of weed smoked in the pit

Next time let me and mesc know and we can make a night of it

Every good mosh has that one dude with a super long pony tail blazing away, always happy to share his wares.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

I agree with all this from King Huski. Late training report here. Havent done one for a far while. i arrived at the start of the match sim. Hot blustery conditions. Skills were really good considering the conditions.

Its really difficult to identify all the players as many wear hats but some of my observations includded:
A few positional changes I noticed Voss playing forward and back. Oscar McDonald played a bit forward too. Ollie Murphy playing mostly forward. His definitely put on some muscle.

Like others have said Murphy Reid looked all class and seemed to gather a lot of football off half back.

Erasmus was everywhere early on. His repeat running is exceptional. He is soooooo much improved at spreading from a contest. My tip to be our most improved player in 2025. Id have NOD and Erasmus ahead of Johnson if training form is a guide. Ive only seen two sessions but Erasmus was in my opinion the best player in match sims both times and NOD looks fantastic bar an occasional errant long kick.

Banners played well but Im pretty sure he was matched on Worner who had a shocker out there today with a couple of turnovers to go with having goals kicked on him.

Walters was doing rehab but looked great and would have to be close. I think Jackson and Amiss only joined in the match sim briefly. I know people have talked about Amiss adding muscle but so has Luke. Defending our three talls going to be super difficult for the 3rd tall defender thats for sure.

I went to watch from the middle of the ground for a bit to have a closer look at draftee Aiden Riddle going head to head in the ruck with Reidy. Riddle's stronger than I thought as he matched Reidy at boundary throw ins. He moves really well for a big man too. Im really happy he's on our list as he shapes as a very good development player who in a few years could be a contributor.

For a player Kane Cornes seems to think could miss the year Sean Darcy sure looked great watching him live 30metres away. He ran a ton of laps to finish the session and also joined in training drills bar the match sims. His trip overseas was preplanned as part of his recovery months ago was what I got told by one of the regular training watches I spoke to. According to him the person we're sending him to (same person who helped Chapman) is a body balance specialist who specialises in plans to give strength to the muscles that support the parts of the body recovering from injury.

As far as training the house down I think Wagner deserves an honourable mention. He was doing the kick ins and he looked great doing them. Wagner's had his two preseasons on our list ruined by injury. I think he could be a big improver in 2025 too. He looks very decisive with ball in hand at training. Josh Draper also looked fantastic off half back in my opinion. Geez he looked like a young Michael Johnson with his posie with ball in hand at times.

Freddy and Walker also look ready to take their games to a new level if training is anything to go by too. Freddy and Bplton boboth look super exciting with ball in hand. A couple of Bolton's passes from the centre were sublime.

Anyway thats my take in my first training report for a few years.

Here's a few extra points to add to what I said in my original training report.
I said this in the injury thread but its also relevant here.
In regard to the Darcy comments.
For whats its worth Im quoting a person who spoke to our new ruck coach Sam Naismith numerous times during training breaks last session when Sam was watching the ruck contests in match sims on the wing near me and Sean was running laps. He said he knew Sam via family connections. He also said Sam was very impressed with Riddle's ruck work in training as he was seen as more of a forward who could ruck when drafted.

Other observations
Alex Pearce looks in the best shape of his career. He was right up the top of the repeat 1kms including winning one was what I got told and his defence on Cyclone was exceptional in the match sim.

Cox hasnt missed a session and looked to be moving really well. He looks lean compared to last year.

Isaiah Dudley is very small and I havent seen any attributes that make me confident there is an afl standard player there. I'll happily say I was wrong if proven otherwise.

Bailey Banfield kicked one of his goals because of a mix up with defenders leaving him unmanned.

Others have said this but Sharp is another who's hit the gym over summer. hE looks set for a big year in my view.

Chappy was superb on Bolton when he was forward. He looks a bit stronger but also very quick. Ive changed my mind on his best position, I think a defender who can play on pretty much anyone is a great attribute for our backline. I predict hell have a massive jump this season in terms of performance. He looks to be tracking brilliantly.

Cooper Simpson has put on muscle and looked good in match sims as well. His kicking was terrific but you'd still want him winning more of the ball to play regularly at afl level.

I think it was Narkle who did some nice things with ball in hand. I didnt notice him a lot but I think he only joined in for a brief period.

Oh yeah I'll further explain my comment on Riddle. He actually looked fantastic going against one of the better rucks at state league level in Reidy. I think his leap and skills below his knees for a big man are very promising signs for a young tall.

 

[freo_leo29]

Training is on Saturday this week

Will be a good to see a match sim before the Indigenous game

 

[theGav56]

Here's a few extra points to add to what I said in my original training report.
I said this in the injury thread but its also relevant here.
In regard to the Darcy comments.
For whats its worth Im quoting a person who spoke to our new ruck coach Sam Naismith numerous times during training breaks last session when Sam was watching the ruck contests in match sims on the wing near me and Sean was running laps. He said he knew Sam via family connections. He also said Sam was very impressed with Riddle's ruck work in training as he was seen as more of a forward who could ruck when drafted.

Other observations
Alex Pearce looks in the best shape of his career. He was right up the top of the repeat 1kms including winning one was what I got told and his defence on Cyclone was exceptional in the match sim.

Cox hasnt missed a session and looked to be moving really well. He looks lean compared to last year.

Isaiah Dudley is very small and I havent seen any attributes that make me confident there is an afl standard player there. I'll happily say I was wrong if proven otherwise.

Bailey Banfield kicked one of his goals because of a mix up with defenders leaving him unmanned.

Others have said this but Sharp is another who's hit the gym over summer. hE looks set for a big year in my view.

Chappy was superb on Bolton when he was forward. He looks a bit stronger but also very quick. Ive changed my mind on his best position, I think a defender who can play on pretty much anyone is a great attribute for our backline. I predict hell have a massive jump this season in terms of performance. He looks to be tracking brilliantly.

Cooper Simpson has put on muscle and looked good in match sims as well. His kicking was terrific but you'd still want him winning more of the ball to play regularly at afl level.

I think it was Narkle who did some nice things with ball in hand. I didnt notice him a lot but I think he only joined in for a brief period.

Oh yeah I'll further explain my comment on Riddle. He actually looked fantastic going against one of the better rucks at state league level in Reidy. I think his leap and skills below his knees for a big man are very promising signs for a young tall.

Excited about the comments regarding the next rung down players including Chapman and Sharp. Next rung down meaning players with capacity for further development.

And really looking forward to adding Cox in his return given your comments. He clearly wasn't ready when he came back last season, and I feared he may have some bigger issues. In form and fit he is formidable.

 

[Quazar2]

Excited about the comments regarding the next rung down players including Chapman and Sharp. Next rung down meaning players with capacity for further development.

And really looking forward to adding Cox in his return given your comments. He clearly wasn't ready when he came back last season, and I feared he may have some bigger issues. In form and fit he is formidable.

I thought Sharp was a bit hit & miss in his first season. That being said, he didn't play a lot of senior footy before leaving Gold Coast in his final years there. There's clearly a very capable player developing.

At times last season he would drift forward and find himself in space, receive a pass only to miss his set shot, which was kinda deflating. The miss against Collingwood also seemed to dent his confidence a snag too.

On the flipside, he kicked 10 goals as an attacking winger; no mean feat in Freo colours, especially in a first year there and coming off minimum games from your former club - some of them mega bombs outside 50 off a step too. He's got a booming kick; in forward area play, this could become an absolute weapon if accurate. I was hoping Wilson when he crossed from GWS might 'dop' a few like this because his highlights showed that in GWS colours, but think he only kicked 1 goal for the Dockers during his career here (?? CORRECTION: just checked, 2). Know he was coming off the halfback line, but he had attacking traits and was more than capable.

So if Sharp getting physically stronger and better means he can kick 15+, it will probably be off the back of a marked improvement. Hoping he can evolve in that manner

 

[Tbonefreo]

Me and Huskii caught up mate, damn shame we couldnt have all connected and had a beer. Next time.

Count me in next time!

 

[theGav56]

Count me in next time!

Sorry guys, count me out. I don't want to scratch my Zimmer frame in the pit or anything.

 

[King Huskii]

Sorry guys, count me out. I don't want to scratch my Zimmer frame in the pit or anything.

You can watch Sepultura with a Zimmer frame

 

[Cesoir]

Sorry guys, count me out. I don't want to scratch my Zimmer frame in the pit or anything.

I could come on my gopher and turn it into a mush pit

 

[King Huskii]

I could come on my gopher and turn it into a mush pit

That QLD sun must have aged you 2 decades

 

[fnerd]

Sorry guys, count me out. I don't want to scratch my Zimmer frame in the pit or anything.

Don’t worry Gav, don’t need to see sepultura to get loose and a scratched Zimmer frame when you can just head down to Luigi’s every Monday!