Training Pre season training

[madfooty]

We only have 2 'best' inside mids - Steele and Macrae. No one else warrants being mentioned at this point.

The other options are either kids who only have a few genuinely good midfield games under their belt or mid-career guys who get a lot of excuses to justify their averageness due to our lack of other options.

Also Max Hall played in the middle with Eastern Ranges got runners up in B&F to soligo who plays in middle for Adelaide and got runners up for Adelaide this year
Just needs opportunity in middle
He could be the answer

 

[Veer Right]

Macrae Pou Garcia F1 F2 F3 <3

Transylvania D6

 

[Saintos The ITK]

I don’t think Lobby was knocking the dogs running at all. He was just saying it’s a change for him to be putting on the running shoes after main training as opposed to before.

 

[Joffaboy]

I’d be keen to hear supporters views on who you think are the best 5 mids for our side - not wingmen, inside mids:
I’ll start -

Steele
Macrae
Windhager
Clark
Phillipou

Same except Jones for Windy.

Yes I said Jones, all a bit one paces and Jones adds that dynamic pace through the guts.
Is he better than Windhager? Just feel it would be a better balance.

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[Nutsngum]

I don’t think Lobby was knocking the dogs running at all. He was just saying it’s a change for him to be putting on the running shoes after main training as opposed to before.

I dont think it was intended as any sort of knock on the dogs at all, but its clear that the extra running sessions were different to his previous seasons.

I mean, it makes sense. The Dogs dont have a heavy running game style.

 

[King_Steele]

I dont think it was intended as any sort of knock on the dogs at all, but its clear that the extra running sessions were different to his previous seasons.

I mean, it makes sense. The Dogs dont have a heavy running game style.

Look at Cordy.. Pretty obvious maybe if they did bring their fitness/running up to elite levels they might've won a few more flags

 

[L_W_P]

Tomlinson too slow, also 32…Marchbank perennially injured!

Agree on both counts.

I think if we ended up with say Travaglia & Berry with our picks (we supposedly didn't rate Smillie) and Barrat was snapped up before our 3rd pick, then we probably grab Cole as a rookie plus one of these two guys for a season, just in case something happens to Doogs or Wilkie.

As it is, the kids will likely be grown in the deep end of there's an emergency.

We could very well line up with Hammer, Barrat & Cordy as our tall defenders if the worst happens!

 

[Neil Elvis Winmar]

We only have 2 'best' inside mids - Steele and Macrae. No one else warrants being mentioned at this point.

The other options are either kids who only have a few genuinely good midfield games under their belt or mid-career guys who get a lot of excuses to justify their averageness due to our lack of other options.

I agree. Outside of Steele and Macrae. Big preseason for Poo, Clark, Windhager, Dow, Carrol, Garcia & Jones to fight it out for the other spots. Atleast we have good cover for injuries there which hurt us last year.


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[gringo2011]

Sharman maybe but why would you move him again after he proved that he has a future as a permanent key forward? Strange to me how some people don't want to move Caminiti back but would move Sharman back despite him being the one to actually show significant impact up forward. Some also mad at Ratten for how he never settled Battle in one position yet they want to do the same thing with Sharman

I feel like Wood would get beaten in every 1v1 contest he is faced with. It would be tactical suicide. Wood is only good in the air as the 7th defender off the wing - I can't see him having the speed off the mark to be able to man a tall whilst also being able to intercept in defence

Because he is still a fringe player and I'd rather him in the side every week. He's played that third tall interceptor role in the VFL well and he's almost like for like size and ability. I'd rather seamless than reinventing or starting an unproven kid.

We hopefully have a fit Max King and Hammer to try to fit in. Playing those two and Owens is getting a bit tight for spots. Wood might be able to free up his spot for Schoemaker as a mobile HHF/wing. Play a similar attacking role off HBF but doubling as an intercepting third accountable tall. It fits his skill set well.

It also allows us to potentially bring in Keeler too.

 

[L_W_P]

Do we have any indication on how Collard is tracking?

I know most of us have been down on him given his very slow start but I can't shake this nagging feeling that he's going to explode one day.

Normally the clubs play pretty nice with NGA kids, especially later in the draft, but we deliberately picked this kid right before the cutoff knowing the Eagles couldn't match.

Then the club saw fit to give him the #4.

That's not a small thing.

We also know that Ross really wants another goal kicker next to Higgins and that Butler's spot is up for grabs if someone can kick goals as well as play defensively inside 50.

Maybe I'm just trying to 'zag' against the grain here but I kinda wanna see Collard come out and just smash the pre-season and blow up all our 'Best 23' predictions...

 

[phantom13]

We only have 2 'best' inside mids - Steele and Macrae. No one else warrants being mentioned at this point.

The other options are either kids who only have a few genuinely good midfield games under their belt or mid-career guys who get a lot of excuses to justify their averageness due to our lack of other options.

Our centre bounce set up should ALWAYS have one of those two in there, every bounce (unless were trying some weird small ball shit) because as you say, they are the only two first choices.

I actually think we have a decent balance now with two genuine first touch ball pigs, some emerging inside mid talent then a plethora of good movers and users.

We lack a star (or stars) but were well balanced.

 

[phantom13]

Because he is still a fringe player and I'd rather him in the side every week. He's played that third tall interceptor role in the VFL well and he's almost like for like size and ability. I'd rather seamless than reinventing or starting an unproven kid.

We hopefully have a fit Max King and Hammer to try to fit in. Playing those two and Owens is getting a bit tight for spots. Wood might be able to free up his spot for Schoemaker as a mobile HHF/wing. Play a similar attacking role off HBF but doubling as an intercepting third accountable tall. It fits his skill set well.

It also allows us to potentially bring in Keeler too.

Barratt seems to be big enough to play second tall (Dougal as true FB) making Wilkie the Battle role.

If Barratt manages to just lock down and start to develop his intercept game out backline structure and defensive wingers should be sufficient coverage i think.

 

[The Punter]

Agree on both counts.

I think if we ended up with say Travaglia & Berry with our picks (we supposedly didn't rate Smillie) and Barrat was snapped up before our 3rd pick, then we probably grab Cole as a rookie plus one of these two guys for a season, just in case something happens to Doogs or Wilkie.

As it is, the kids will likely be grown in the deep end of there's an emergency.

We could very well line up with Hammer, Barrat & Cordy as our tall defenders if the worst happens!

If they are rated internally. Van Es and Allen didn't end up playing a game, Clavarino barely played. We'll go small before playing someone because we don't have anyone else available.

No reason to think they won't make it, but if they come in and then are not rated, they won't play. Just like their project KPD predecessors.

 

[gringo2011]

Not sure if I've ever actually heard this bloke speak before, definitely an under-the-radar type operator. Have had him my supercoach team almost every year too hahaha

He's the most low profile dominant player I can think of. I can remember telling a mate that he'd broken the record for the most disposals ever in a season and he didn't now who he was. Pretty sure he was already a multiple AA at that point. You never really hear much from him or about him.

 

[Neil Elvis Winmar]

Because he is still a fringe player and I'd rather him in the side every week. He's played that third tall interceptor role in the VFL well and he's almost like for like size and ability. I'd rather seamless than reinventing or starting an unproven kid.

We hopefully have a fit Max King and Hammer to try to fit in. Playing those two and Owens is getting a bit tight for spots. Wood might be able to free up his spot for Schoemaker as a mobile HHF/wing. Play a similar attacking role off HBF but doubling as an intercepting third accountable tall. It fits his skill set well.

It also allows us to potentially bring in Keeler too.

This maybe an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think you need two 200cm forwards in the current game. Hurts too much on turnover. I think Max and Caminetti play the same role and actually don’t play that well together. My preference would be Sharmen to replace Membreys more mobile role to compliment Max.

If Max goes down injured you can throw Hammer down forward.

Thats just my opinion though.


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[gringo2011]

Barratt seems to be big enough to play second tall (Dougal as true FB) making Wilkie the Battle role.

If Barratt manages to just lock down and start to develop his intercept game out backline structure and defensive wingers should be sufficient coverage i think.

Wilkie is such a good stopper I'd rather leave him on the best forward. Realistically a 18 yo key position player isn't even likely to get a game in his first year let alone take over from Wilkie. That's why I'm suggesting playing an established player until then.

Dougal seems to get CHB or outside the square because he's not a great one on one player. He's better out in space where his closing speed and spoiling are used.

 

[akaifu]

Because he is still a fringe player and I'd rather him in the side every week. He's played that third tall interceptor role in the VFL well and he's almost like for like size and ability. I'd rather seamless than reinventing or starting an unproven kid.

We hopefully have a fit Max King and Hammer to try to fit in. Playing those two and Owens is getting a bit tight for spots. Wood might be able to free up his spot for Schoemaker as a mobile HHF/wing. Play a similar attacking role off HBF but doubling as an intercepting third accountable tall. It fits his skill set well.

It also allows us to potentially bring in Keeler too.

I think he cemented himself in our best 22 with his finish to last season

He's played the role in VFL but him up forward is so much better than him in defence. Don't fix what isn't broke

FB: Wilkie, Doug, Caminiti
FF: Sharman, King, Keeler, Owens

It makes so much sense. Once Caminiti develops his craft, him and Doug frees up Wilkie to intercept more. I don't think Sharman has the ability to play that shutdown role due to lack of size and agility

Keeler as the 2nd ruck, Sharman as the stay at home forward, and King as the CHF roamer is a good combo imo. Sharman has shown he thrives when he has space to work his forward craft and lose his defender on the lead. King showed early in the season that he is a monster when played up the ground. The other thing is that these two can easily swap their roles if something isn't working

Owens is a unicorn key forward who plays like a small - we can afford to have him alongside 3 other talls. Membrey + Sharman + Caminiti + Owens beat Geelong, smashed Richmond, smashed Essendon, smashed by Brisbane (was an overall bad performance by the entire team) so we can just replace Membrey and Caminiti with King and Keeler who are arguably just as mobile as a duo. Barrat/Tauru can also play forward so it could be Barrat/Tauru + King for Membrey + Caminiti

 

[gringo2011]

This maybe an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think you need two 200cm forwards in the current game. Hurts too much on turnover. I think Max and Caminetti play the same role and actually don’t play that well together. My preference would be Sharmen to replace Membreys more mobile role to compliment Max.

If Max goes down injured you can throw Hammer down forward.

Thats just my opinion though.


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You need two KPFs realistically. Size is irrelevant. One close to goal one more mobile marking player around the 50 meter line to create a contest. One in the square as a spiller or marker. King is probably best as that outside player and Hammer as a the side the square spiller. To me Sharman is competing with Owen as that third tall forward option. Snags and Butler the smalls. Hill, Wood etc the high HFFs that move up with the play like wingmen.

 

[SteeleSaints]

I’d be keen to hear supporters views on who you think are the best 5 mids for our side - not wingmen, inside mids:
I’ll start -

Steele
Macrae
Windhager
Clark
Phillipou

If Clark remains in our top 5 we are in trouble... He does some good things, but just cant run out games or pressure on turn over. His lack of speed or run becomes a liability too often for me.

 

[jimmytigs]

Macrae Pou Garcia F1 F2 F3 <3

have 8 keeper forwards in my st.kilda team in vfl league,6 of them are dpp,happy days
hill
pou
wilson
garcia
wood
m.kennedy(import)

other 2 are owens and humphrey(import)

can really only fit 2 more in and need last 2 import slots for 2 backs or a back and a ruck,going to cry when i release jake rogers from my squad to,so keeping a watch on
higgins
ming
henry
hall
carroll
said

tried to trade peatling and then m.kennedy to footscray for macrae,but he denied without any dialogue,pissed that i beat him in gf i guess

 

[gringo2011]

I think he cemented himself in our best 22 with his finish to last season

He's played the role in VFL but him up forward is so much better than him in defence. Don't fix what isn't broke

FB: Wilkie, Doug, Caminiti
FF: Sharman, King, Keeler, Owens

It makes so much sense. Once Caminiti develops his craft, him and Doug frees up Wilkie to intercept more. I don't think Sharman has the ability to play that shutdown role due to lack of size and agility

Owens is a unicorn key forward who plays like a small - we can afford to have him alongside 3 other talls. Membrey + Sharman + Caminiti + Owens beat Geelong, smashed Richmond, smashed Essendon, smashed by Brisbane (was an overall bad performance by the entire team) so we can just replace Membrey and Caminiti with King and Keeler who are arguably just as mobile as a duo. Barrat/Tauru can also play forward so it could be Barrat/Tauru + King for Membrey + Caminiti

You need a couple of the forward roles given over to runners. Camiiti does nothing for me as a third tall back. I think he's in competition with Howard and Cordy as a KP back if he's there. I guess he frees Howard or Wilkie but Howard is the more natural interceptor but I'd probably only play one of him ad Hammer. Put another player in as a interceptor. Maybe McLennan if we are just going for a marking option.

I love Sharman and just want him in the side. Not concerned where we play him.

 

[The Cobra]

Do we have any indication on how Collard is tracking?

I know most of us have been down on him given his very slow start but I can't shake this nagging feeling that he's going to explode one day.

Normally the clubs play pretty nice with NGA kids, especially later in the draft, but we deliberately picked this kid right before the cutoff knowing the Eagles couldn't match.

Then the club saw fit to give him the #4.

That's not a small thing.

We also know that Ross really wants another goal kicker next to Higgins and that Butler's spot is up for grabs if someone can kick goals as well as play defensively inside 50.

Maybe I'm just trying to 'zag' against the grain here but I kinda wanna see Collard come out and just smash the pre-season and blow up all our 'Best 23' predictions...

Good question - seems more engaged this year. Absolutely knows where the goals are (can’t train it), great crumber & a great kick & tried to take mark of the year at Monday’s training.

But very slight, fitness (?), defensive mind set (seems better from the couple of trainings I’ve been to) and just query whether he can actually get involved enough to make a difference.

Jury is out - get the feeling confidence is a big issue for him - if he could string together a few good games then he could easily take the next step. Will be a very interesting watch in full match sim and practice matches.

 

[gringo2011]

I’d be keen to hear supporters views on who you think are the best 5 mids for our side - not wingmen, inside mids:
I’ll start -

Steele
Macrae
Windhager
Clark
Phillipou

Macrae
Steele
Windhager
Dow
Jones
Clark
Phillipou

Matteus could be the absolute best off the lot by the end of ext year and Hugo Garcia not far behind that. His end to the season showed he's got the potential to be an absolute star.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Do we have any indication on how Collard is tracking?

I know most of us have been down on him given his very slow start but I can't shake this nagging feeling that he's going to explode one day.

Normally the clubs play pretty nice with NGA kids, especially later in the draft, but we deliberately picked this kid right before the cutoff knowing the Eagles couldn't match.

Then the club saw fit to give him the #4.

That's not a small thing.

We also know that Ross really wants another goal kicker next to Higgins and that Butler's spot is up for grabs if someone can kick goals as well as play defensively inside 50.

Maybe I'm just trying to 'zag' against the grain here but I kinda wanna see Collard come out and just smash the pre-season and blow up all our 'Best 23' predictions...

Just from reading the training reports it sounds like the penny may have dropped for Lancey Boy. I reckon someone has been in his ear and he’s realised just how privileged he is to be making good coin and playing on an afl list. Sounds like he’s feeling a lot more comfortable in his own skin and at the level leading into his second year.
I think he has a bit of suspension to serve doesn’t he? Bit really hoping he pushes for selection really quick especially with Henry being injury prone. Could fill a gap nicely.
Looks to have put on a bit of size too in the photos I’ve seen although still pretty tiny.

 

[akaifu]

You need a couple of the forward roles given over to runners. Camiiti does nothing for me as a third tall back. I think he's in competition with Howard and Cordy as a KP back if he's there. I guess he frees Howard or Wilkie but Howard is the more natural interceptor but I'd probably only play one of him ad Hammer. Put another player in as a interceptor. Maybe McLennan if we are just going for a marking option.

I love Sharman and just want him in the side. Not concerned where we play him.

The runners are Hill/Wilson and Butler

Due to rotations I think only 3 of the 4 key forwards (inc. Owens) will be on-field at a time, which allows for Higgins Butler runner

Caminiti is arguably elite overhead and has a mature body. Once he learns how to push out opposition defenders, he'll be intercepting for days. His kicking is fine, its just his decision making is terrible atm but that'll improve with more experience behind the ball and with some education from two excellent defensive half ball users in Rivers and Enright. Ideally he can play full back with Doug in Battle's role - that's how our team thrived in 2020 when Carlisle was full back and Doug was CHB