Training Pre season training

[Phillip Poo]

I don't know how you've determined already that he's a spud. Won the Magarey Medal, 8 best on grounds out of 18 games, 100 more clearances than anyone else in the comp. By the training reports he's a massive unit. Surely worth a shot and you seem a bit dog with a bone about this.

When I got to Moorabbin on Friday morning I noticed several things that really stuck out:

• many signs warning that dogs are not permitted on the oval;
• contrary to the above, a seeing eye labrador running around with big boyd;
• contrary again, a groodle comfort dog running around with big Harry;

Despite all of this, I still found it difficult to rule him out as an afl standard player from one 2 hour training session….

 

[diddley1984]

All this talk about Goober’s mum, and I have no idea what is going on?
A quick google has provided nothing as well.
Anyone want to enlighten me?

 

[Dr Spaceman]

All this talk about Goober’s mum, and I have no idea what is going on?
A quick google has provided nothing as well.
Anyone want to enlighten me?

 

[Diehard Saint]

Chill guys, Boyd is a Campbell replacement and a break glass option.

Chatting to a supporter yesterday and he was insisting we should have given Heath a go. My view was that Heath was not ready and I stick to that.

So far this season he has shown signs of improvement in his tank and football craft. He like many big ruckman is a slow burn. We almost got Cox from WCE at around 25 as he couldn't get a gig because of Gardiner. Gardiner did his knee and we eventually ended up with him and he was a great recruit. Point is Cox was seen as a second rater at 25, but became a premier ruckman.
Not comparing Heath to Cox or Gardiner just that his development is slow but progressing. However...

He needs to show he is ready this season
Keeler, while getting a rucks body is more a relief ruck
Dodson is 18.

So if Roh goes down, is suspended or just needs a rest, we need a player with ruck craft. I think we should give Boyd a go before bagging the crap out of him.

There’s been more angst on here about Boyd than there ever was on Hickey v Longer - and that’s saying something.

He’s a stopgap at worst.
He’s free.
He’s cheap.
He’s the 45th player on the list
And he’s probably on a one year contract

…..and he’s not even been signed yet.

Definitely a strange hill to die on afaic.

 

[maanco]

I wonder why we needed to include him in next year’s cap (talking 2025) rather than just biting it off for ‘24? Wouldn’t we have so much space that they could have thrown a bunch of cash out the window?

I'm hoping that was the problem, i.e. we had so much cap space we had to put it somewhere to
meet minimum salary cap requirements.

It could mean that we have 2+Million Spare to spend at Free agency

 

[Neil Elvis Winmar]

I for one wouldn’t mind seeing Boyd given a go to see if he can translate any of that dominance at SANFL level to AFL with us. I think he’s probably the best available and he is a different type of ruck to what we have with his strength in the Briggs from GWS mould.

Since the change to the straight arm ruck rule at contests these type of rucks can be really effective especially ruck contests around the ground.

I think Heath needs a full year in the 2nds to prove he can be a dominant ruck at that level as he’s still only 22. Ease Dodson in to support him there.

And my final comment is that we are probably going to throw the kitchen sync at De Konig at the end of next year anyway so this just allows us flexibility in 12 months time.

 

[FraserFridays]

If Wilkie is the exception then what is Bergman?

Who cares though? He isn't in our team. Not sure why it matters.

On SM-G996B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[The Cobra]

I really don’t know why we spend the big bucks on a team of recruiters when we can hire a bloke sitting in a recliner in his undies, while smashing a box of cheezels, who can instantly identify talent after watching a single game on TV.

And you wonder why we are in this position

What - no slab of Woodstock Bourbon?

 

[beside the seaside]

There's a good chance Heath doesn't make it. He has been given a one year deal, if we thought he was better than 75% chance to become a good ruckman then he'd be given more years.

Last year was his best year, he showed signs in the VFL for sure but at this stage he doesn't have the tank to be an AFL ruckman.

I reckon at this stage the chances of him making it are less than 50%.

This Boyd guy has serious chops coming from dominating the SANFL. That's how we picked up Hayes and he could play, but was wrecked by injury.

Probably the main question is how we use the rucks if they're all fit. Heath probably needs to be playing ruck at least 50% of the time to improve his craft. He will only make it as a first ruck, not a forward. Then Dodson has to also get some time.

Still, this is an issue facing most AFL sides, many of which have multiple quality rucks on their list. Max needs to beat the door down now or he will be gone.

 

[saintmike65]

Yeah I get that argument. But with no Boyd what would you do if ROMA goes down?

Heath just has to step up to the plate

 

[saintmike65]

The two elephants in the room for me - our tweeners in the forwardline, and replacing Battle.

Owens and Sharman. We all love them and consider them Best 22, however I think they are hurting our structure on two fronts - an inability to provide pressure and lock the ball into our forward line, and not being able to play a clear supporting ruck option.

King is locked in, you'd have to say Higgins is too based on performance, leaves 4 spots for pressure forwards and a 2nd ruck support, and I think having both Sharman and Owens are crippling one or both of these.

I must say, unlike others, I consider these two specialist forward roles as critical in a modern structure, whilst others won't have that view.

I won't harp on about the Battle replacement because others have covered it well. I actually thought the most important free agent for us to lock up next year was Balta until he re signed.

Thoughts on the Owens/Sharman point?

Your Owens/ Sharman point has merit…if we’re going with a forward/ruck it needs to be Caminiti or Keeler..

 

[From 45]

What - no slab of Woodstock Bourbon?

Nah … Marsala and coke.

 

[Leap of Faith]

Heath just has to step up to the plate

Yeah but if he doesn’t? He’s totally untried at senior level and hasn’t exactly looked like he’s going to make it. Speculative at best. Still young but jury is well and truly out. And if Roma is unavailable and Heath gets smashed, what then? Gotta have some kind of back up.

 

[akaifu]

The two elephants in the room for me - our tweeners in the forwardline, and replacing Battle.

Owens and Sharman. We all love them and consider them Best 22, however I think they are hurting our structure on two fronts - an inability to provide pressure and lock the ball into our forward line, and not being able to play a clear supporting ruck option.

King is locked in, you'd have to say Higgins is too based on performance, leaves 4 spots for pressure forwards and a 2nd ruck support, and I think having both Sharman and Owens are crippling one or both of these.

I must say, unlike others, I consider these two specialist forward roles as critical in a modern structure, whilst others won't have that view.

I won't harp on about the Battle replacement because others have covered it well. I actually thought the most important free agent for us to lock up next year was Balta until he re signed.

Thoughts on the Owens/Sharman point?

Owens Sharman King Caminiti/Keeler can definitely work as long as we have a specialist small forward (Butler)

Which is why Butler is so critical to our structure and why we suffered when he was injured/underdone early in the year. Need Collard to bring that intensity alongside his talents to displace Butler

Also need King to not have a shot knee so he can contribute to F50 pressure. Owens with a proper pre-season where he doesn’t overcook it should also help fitness and second effort wise

 

[sammm]

The amount of fun a psychologist would have with this above statement

Whether Boyd succeeds or fails, it's sure going to be hilarious to see your out of control ego at work either way

Exactly. Having faith in Heath and accepting Boyd's potential recruitment are not mutually exclusive - I believe in Max but I also believe we can't force pressure onto him just because it seems like its time for him to step up. Everyone knows big men take time

We need a mature ready-made backup for the worst case scenario where Row goes down and Heath/Keeler/Dodson are all not ready. People saying we need to give Heath more opportunity are obsessed with the idea that he is ready this year without seeing any ounce of evidence of that being true - its an ideal-world, not reality

Give Boyd one year to be the last resort option. If Heath comes on, then Boyd is delisted at the end of 2025, just like Bonner was. If not, Boyd gets another year and Heath is delisted instead

So if Boyd is playing for Sandringham, will it be a problem for Heath? Will he then have the same problem as on the this yearcwhere TC was dominant

 

[thekizzler]

So if Boyd is playing for Sandringham, will it be a problem for Heath? Will he then have the same problem as on the this yearcwhere TC was dominant

Not necessarily. He wasn't performing well enough to take TC's spot. He will need to perform better than Boyd (if we sign him) to be no.1 Sandy ruck. If he isn't, he will be no. 2 Sandy ruck. It's pretty simple.

 

[Saints4ever]

Midfield ramblings.

The last few years we’ve really struggled to break even in the midfield let alone dominate.

I have to say thinking about who we have running through next year I think we have a little bit of hope.

Steele
Macrae
Pou
Windy
Garcia
Dow
Jones
Carrol
Clark
Wilson
Wood
Henry
Hill

I think their is some real potential their and we should be able to find a good mix of grunt and pace.

 

[St Steady]

i think the main fix on a backup ruck is an improved midfield group which we agree we have gone some way to building.

who it is is a mute point. we want to be focussing on who will take over as no.1 ruck, not whos best to add to be back up , camaniti etc can fill that role well enough for now

 

[akaifu]

i think the main fix on a backup ruck is an improved midfield group which we agree we have gone some way to building.

who it is is a mute point. we want to be focussing on who will take over as no.1 ruck, not whos best to add to be back up , camaniti etc can fill that role well enough for now

Caminiti has never played a full game in the ruck how can you say that with any sort of conviction? Additionally he’s yet to commence full pre-season so who knows how he goes this season with injury

It’s not a mute point because a young, underdone ruck would get torched if Row is unavailable which would lead to uncompetitiveness…and we all know how much this club loves those culture building wins…

Again, focusing on Row’s number 1 ruck successor is NOT mutually exclusive to having a backup to him in the present. We can do both, and we will do both

 

[Diehard Saint]

Yeah but if he doesn’t? He’s totally untried at senior level and hasn’t exactly looked like he’s going to make it. Speculative at best. Still young but jury is well and truly out. And if Roma is unavailable and Heath gets smashed, what then? Gotta have some kind of back up.

How many ruckmen have looked like they’re not going to make it….
until they do?
Probably our very own Ro, amongst others like Xerri and probably others on here can name more.

Yes, he’s been given a one year contract - but that appears to be the modus operandi at the club these days unless you are are pretty much a guaranteed senior player.

Nothing wrong with that, having to continue to improve and show something instead of gifting years like Allison and others in the past.

I don’t know much, but I do know the majority of rucks appear to come good around 25 years old and he’s nowhere near there.

We all better pray he does because Dodson is also going to be taking some years.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Not necessarily. He wasn't performing well enough to take TC's spot. He will need to perform better than Boyd (if we sign him) to be no.1 Sandy ruck. If he isn't, he will be no. 2 Sandy ruck. It's pretty simple.

Besides. Whenever we travel I’d guess Boyd, or whoever, would come along, leaving Heath to be the man at Sandy.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

How many ruckmen have looked like they’re not going to make it….
until they do?
Probably our very own Ro, amongst others like Xerri and probably others on here can name more.

Yes, he’s been given a one year contract - but that appears to be the modus operandi at the club these days unless you are are pretty much a guaranteed senior player.

Nothing wrong with that, having to continue to improve and show something instead of gifting years like Allison and others in the past.

I don’t know much, but I do know the majority of rucks appear to come good around 25 years old and he’s nowhere near there.

We all better pray he does because Dodson is also going to be taking some years.

I can certainly remember people posting on BF that Ro was never going to make it.

 

[St_Laz]

Boys not even signed yet. The club is having a look at him vs Heath at training for a couple of weeks.
If heath handles him well. We don’t need Boyd.
If heath can’t beat the SANFL ruck, then he’s not gonna cut it as Marshall’s back up, and we’d better sort something else out or we are in trouble if injuries hits.

Not that complicated really.


On iPhone using ][emoji6]][emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[wannabewinner]

What’s the read on Carroll? GOP or something else?

 

[TheJackal]

Cramp x2

Great news, Hugo doesn't really speak much but I managed to get an interview confirming as much.

Spoiler: Exclusive Garcia Interview