Training Pre season training

[aussierulesrules]

Our big improvement will come from less injuries. Last year we really struggled to get every one fit and firing.

Been that way every year since 2020, when we had a charmed run. Haven’t really been close to full strength since and it’s amazing how many have gone down in the weeks leading into R1 the last two seasons.

Last season we went into that first game v Geelong minus I thought 8 of our preferred 23, then we lost Crouch half way through that game, then the week after we lost Wood and Henry for extended periods each.

And that was IMO the straw that broke the camels back.

We almost beat a near full-strength Geelong, then had a terrific win over Collingwood, but being that short of full strength for the weeks after that just made it too hard to beat good teams- especially away, where most of our games then were) and it wasn’t until we got enough numbers back later in the year before we got rolling again.

We wouldn’t know ourselves if we were actually able to field a full-strength team.

Think we’ve tried to shed most of the injury-prone guys, so it’s probably part of the reason we haven’t had many have offseason surgery this time.

We’ll need a good injury run next year, because over a quarter of our list is now under 20yo (12 of them). We won’t have as much “plug-and-play” depth as we’ve had in recent years.

 

[jimmytigs]

If his injury issues continue it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if we went with Garcia in that role.

Has the tank and the speed to be able to go with anyone and with his terminator-like focus and insane willingness and abilty to tackle, I’d hate for him to be following me around all game.

hope he becomes the next creepy crowley,used to just watch the start of freo games to watch the 4 oppo players waiting in the middle for the 4 freo players,the oppo ruckman laughing at the 3 on ballers saying"well its not gonna be me"knowing that one of them was going to have a lovely 2 and a half hours with creepy

 

[jimmytigs]

Anyone know what time Darcy would have done his 3km in?

you robbed me of the 2014 melbourne cup trifecta,i had it with 200 or so to go

 

[jwint43]

Nas is an interesting conundrum. I see him as pretty similar to Trent Alexander Arnold and how he plays at Liverpool.

Of course it's a very different sport, but their roles within their teams have strong similarities. They are both nominally defenders and (for now) best used behind the centre but with licence to be attacking, in fact depended upon to be a major attacking weapon. They are also occasionally a little unaccountable in the defence with a capital D; loose on their direct opponent, easier to get past, inconsistent at tracking back compared to other more meat and potatoes defenders.

Both teams are set up for this and the key backs - or CBs in Liverpool's case - know they will have to pick up the slack. In St Kilda's case luckily we have Wilkie to help out who is so accountable that he actually used to be an accountant, but just as with Liverpool, occasionally oppo coaches target their area as the most vulnerable and it sometimes pays off.

Both Nas and TAA have a unique remit that belies the traditional nature of their position; if you make him more dangerous you're essentially turning him into a midfielder and you'll need to bring on an extra defender or accept the extra vulnerability. If you make him more destructive and round his game out more, you're probably limiting how effective he can be as a weapon.

So do we really need "more" from Nas? What kind of "more"?

This isn't to say he can't possibly improve, he isn't the finished article yet, but it will be interesting to see if we keep using him in defence the way we have, or whether he'll eventually transition to the midfield fulltime. I think TAA was used more as a midfielder in Klopp's last year with mixed results, but there were other reasons for that and anyway they are two different players. I think it's worth a try, especially if we can get a decent replacement on that right HBF.

NAS also has the burden of being very good straight away. It's a gift and a curse. Some players get by on potential before breaking out at 24-26. Petracca didn't become elite until he was 24 and Dusty's first truly great year was at age 25.

Jack Darling was good from game 1 of his career and kicked 53 goals in his second season. He maintained this level throughout his career and never had a real "breakout season" because he didnt need to, while some other forwards get praise heaped upon them when they finally kick 50 goals after 6 seasons in the system. It's just the way it works, the media and fans are always looking for the next big thing.

NAS has been great for us from his few few games on and already went to an elite level this season. Sinclair made AA and i'd argue NAS had a better year. It's now about continuing to improve year on year incrementally and improving defensively like you touched on.

 

[SaintKing23]

Luke Davies-Uniacke
James Worpel
Tom De Koning
Brayden Maynard
Ed Richards
Oscar Allen
Kane Farrell
Brayden Fiorini
Dom Sheed
Jack Silvagni

It’s a bullshit list made to fill column inches.

LDU is the only one worth targeting there, aswell as De Koning.

 

[SteeleSaints]

LDU is the only one worth targeting there, aswell as De Koning.

How good would that be to get both of them, as unlikely as it might be.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

LDU, TDK and Brayshaw are the three. Assuming we have huge offers to all three, and considering we'll need to pay for the likes of Nas and Pou in coming years, in the extremely unlikely event they all say yes, how many of the three could we realistically afford?

 

[akaifu]

LDU is the only one worth targeting there, aswell as De Koning.

Ed Richards would be elite for our midfield too

Allen for our forward line depending how Caminiti/Sharman/Keeler develop this year and whether his knee holds up

 

[dudeintheswamp]

I would say there's more chance of me cutting my dick off than us recruiting Oscar Allen.

Hopefully neither occur.

 

[TheJackal]

LDU, TDK and Brayshaw are the three. Assuming we have huge offers to all three, and considering we'll need to pay for the likes of Nas and Pou in coming years, in the extremely unlikely event they all say yes, how many of the three could we realistically afford?

If we are smart enough with our salary cap, there's no reason why we can't afford everyone. We've been paying it forward for a decade, surely we can figure it out.

 

[saintmike65]

Probably why we picked so many extra backs this year….

If we are smart enough with our salary cap, there's no reason why we can't afford everyone. We've been paying it forward for a decade, surely we can figure it out.

There could well be a domino effect..if we get one to commit, the others could follow!
What a coup that would be, make Essendon’s FA recruiting look second rate!!

 

[saintmike65]

NAS also has the burden of being very good straight away. It's a gift and a curse. Some players get by on potential before breaking out at 24-26. Petracca didn't become elite until he was 24 and Dusty's first truly great year was at age 25.

Jack Darling was good from game 1 of his career and kicked 53 goals in his second season. He maintained this level throughout his career and never had a real "breakout season" because he didnt need to, while some other forwards get praise heaped upon them when they finally kick 50 goals after 6 seasons in the system. It's just the way it works, the media and fans are always looking for the next big thing.

NAS has been great for us from his few few games on and already went to an elite level this season. Sinclair made AA and i'd argue NAS had a better year. It's now about continuing to improve year on year incrementally and improving defensively like you touched on.

If we used Nas further up the ground I’d back Travaglia in to fill the spot

 

[sammm]

We’re not allowed to post full articles so maybe a bunch of us who have access to it post 1 paragraph each!

that would be great, thanks lol

 

[sammm]

A mate of mine who is a mad Carlton fan said he was surprised they let him go and said he had all the tools and attributes, and at times was brilliant in games. The only knock was that he’d go missing, so for him consistency was the issue.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

but he is pretty young, and also had a number of games where he was sub.

 

[austinnn]

There could well be a domino effect..if we get one to commit, the others could follow!
What a coup that would be, make Essendon’s FA recruiting look second rate!!

You're paying Essndon's list management a HUGE complement calling it second rate.

 

[saintmike65]

Been that way every year since 2020, when we had a charmed run. Haven’t really been close to full strength since and it’s amazing how many have gone down in the weeks leading into R1 the last two seasons.

Last season we went into that first game v Geelong minus I thought 8 of our preferred 23, then we lost Crouch half way through that game, then the week after we lost Wood and Henry for extended periods each.

And that was IMO the straw that broke the camels back.

We almost beat a near full-strength Geelong, then had a terrific win over Collingwood, but being that short of full strength for the weeks after that just made it too hard to beat good teams- especially away, where most of our games then were) and it wasn’t until we got enough numbers back later in the year before we got rolling again.

We wouldn’t know ourselves if we were actually able to field a full-strength team.

Think we’ve tried to shed most of the injury-prone guys, so it’s probably part of the reason we haven’t had many have offseason surgery this time.

We’ll need a good injury run next year, because over a quarter of our list is now under 20yo (12 of them). We won’t have as much “plug-and-play” depth as we’ve had in recent years.

I’d rather this than the 18 players 28 & over we did have!
Not ideal if you’re not contending

 

[The Cobra]

Never say never of course and not saying he'll reach the level of this superstar but Darcy Wilson is the best chance of not having 2nd year blues since the legend Harves.

I just looked back through the AFL tracker for this seasons games and Darcy's running stats would have had the football world in complete meltdown if he played for "insert overrated big Melbourne club name here". And oh he wins the ball at either end.

There was no one close that had 12 (plus) 15km games whilst having the most sprints at close to or above 30 each time. Hilly only beat him close to the end of the season when he had his "first winter" blues. He bounced back in the last few rounds to be metronomic again.

He may well get injured but just like Harves did once he started getting 30 disposals a game because of a workrate better than anyone else I'm convinced it would only be injury that will get Darcy. There is no "putting effort into him". Opposition coaches won't have the players to go with him and if they do they'll want their own player to do their own thing.

We have a beauty on our hands. Reckon I'm a fan?

Experience and development coaching (takes a little time) will see him run to the right/dangerous spots more often which results in more possessions or creates space for other players.

He is clearly a work in progress but the upside is huge.

 

[L_W_P]

hope he becomes the next creepy crowley,used to just watch the start of freo games to watch the 4 oppo players waiting in the middle for the 4 freo players,the oppo ruckman laughing at the 3 on ballers saying"well its not gonna be me"knowing that one of them was going to have a lovely 2 and a half hours with creepy

I miss the days of good taggers...

Crowley, Clint Jones, Kirk, Ling, Kornes, Peverill at Essendon, Rawlings at North, All the shit Selwood bros...

 

[CursingFijian]

LDU is the only one worth targeting there, aswell as De Koning.

Matt Rowell is out of contract 2025. Not a free agent, but worth throwing the kitchen sink at him too, I reckon.

 

[Barrels]

Matt Rowell is out of contract 2025. Not a free agent, but worth throwing the kitchen sink at him too, I reckon.

I’d rather his best mate…

Or…

 

[BigMonty]

I’d rather this than the 18 players 28 & over we did have!
Not ideal if you’re not contending

Remember reading JimmyJohnston's book about the back to back Cowboys superbowls in the early 90s. He took over an aging past their best Cowboys team of household names. He put the broom through them which caused a huge uproar with the fans.

He wanted to get an instant sugar hit and needed draft picks and GOP so he traded their only star in Dexter Manly from memory to the Vikings for 3 first rounders and 5? players as he called them 5 players called Joe! that were on effectively the Vikings second team....but were hungry to prove themselves and were champing at the bit.

End result they drafted players Emmit Smith Troy Aikman and others, and two of the 5 Joes became Probowlers, 2 played 5 years and were eeplaced by the draftees, and one was useless and cut.

Vikings on the other hand went nowhere.

Compare the pair StKilda v Essendon, think you can work out whose who in this analogy.

We have a young quick team just need some patience like we did with Sincs Wilkie NAS and Cooper and back dumpster buys Stocker Dow Carroll McRae and hope they give us Mason Wood and Tim Membrey (aka Joe from above) like upside.

Looking for to 2025 and 2026 and the players we discard going to Pies as they try to do a Jimmy Johnstone....and fail....

Tigers will be a watch in 2026 and 2027.

Essendon sadly zzzzzzzz nowhere heart bleeds for them.

On SM-S916B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[phantom13]

From what I have observed so far Bolton is intense and very direct in his delivery. Gives immediate feedback, could easily get players offside. Would instil a sense of urgency. Seems to know his stuff though

Zach Tuohy talking about Bolton in his book is alarming and hes not the only player ive seen talk about Bolton being a raging prick.

Hopefully his scope is limited and he sticks in his lane, he clearly knows his shit but the required interpesonal and player management skills seem to be a real weakness.

 

[Mr_R0b0t]

Luke Davies-Uniacke
James Worpel
Tom De Koning
Brayden Maynard
Ed Richards
Oscar Allen
Kane Farrell
Brayden Fiorini
Dom Sheed
Jack Silvagni

It’s a bullshit list made to fill column inches.

Has Andrew Brayshaw re-signed?

 

[Sully111]

Zach Tuohy talking about Bolton in his book is alarming and hes not the only player ive seen talk about Bolton being a raging prick.

Hopefully his scope is limited and he sticks in his lane, he clearly knows his shit but the required interpesonal and player management skills seem to be a real weakness.

It's concerning imo.

I don't dig him. It's a vibe thing, man.

 

[Barrels]

The disclaimer here is this is what I think the club will do to start the season, but perhaps with a punt or two included to keep structures from this year and so on… and of course assuming an injury-free start to the year.

That being said, step aside, amateurs…

cracks knuckles

SENIORS

B: Webster - Wilkie - Tauru
HB: Wang.-Mil. - Howard - Sinclair
C: Hill - Clark - Wood
HF: Wilson - Sharman - Phillipou
F: Owens - King - Henry
Foll: Marshall - Macrae - Steele

Int: Windhager Butler Byrnes Caminiti Higgins

RESERVES/SANDRINGHAM

B: Stocker - Cordy - McLennan
HB: O’Connell - Barrett - Schoenmaker
C: Travaglia - Dow - Hastie
HF: Carroll - Keeler - Hall
F: Collard - Heath - Said
Foll: Boyd* - Jones - Garcia

Int: Boxshall Armstrong Dodson​