Training Pre season training

[StCicatriz]

He's a real boom bust type. He's focussed and distractible but has as much talent as anyone on the list. If he can find a way to be engaged for 20 minutes a match he could be lethal. The type that turns 5 touches into 5 goals.

100%

 

[Tommy Wigs]

If you've read any of my training reports, he's one I've been keeping a close eye on.

This kid could become anything, it really is up to him. He makes footy look super easy, and his skills are next level. Probably one of the most exciting prospects on our list but needs to still do a lot of work.
His general demeanour is of a kid who is laid back, relaxed, almost too relaxed. He strikes me as a kid who is not a huge footy head, and probably enjoys playing more than training. He has definitely improved this pre-season in terms of his fitness levels. On Monday, in one of the drills he nearly took mark of the year - just couldn't hold on the ball.
I know I'm going to get criticised for this comparison, but there's a lot of Shai Bolton about him. Both in the way he plays, but also his attitude. He is super exciting.

He really has all the tools of a Charlie Cameron.

But I’m not sure he’d expend 60% of the energy of the others in a session. It doesn’t look so much as laid back to me, but in a running drill either completely stuffed or something else, or in a match sim situation and the oppo has the ball in front of him, there’s really little intensity to close down.

Anyway, I could be wrong. I am surprised he isn’t doing anything other than running. Also surprised that there’s really no extra push from the assistants. So either I’m wrong ish or they’re trying not to push him over the edge.

 

[saintmike65]

I wasn't comparing him to Allison , I was saying some posters were hyping up Allison last pre season like they are Hall this year and some blokes are just Guns at VFL level but cant take the next step to AFL , we have all seen that a million times

Hyping up Hall…most of you hadn’t even mentioned him until very recently!

 

[The Jack]

What I really want to see from King is some desperation to do the one percenters and be the leader of the forward line.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Bringing the ball down to ground in the contest more regularly
• Applying pressure, making run down tackles, being physical
• More intensity on the lead
• Getting up the ground and then wheeling back inside 50 to the space to be a target

My theory on why the forward line has functioned better without King in the past two seasons is intrinsically linked to the above attributes. Yes, the delivery can be better inside 50. But there is no doubt we give up way too many intercept marks when the ball is in King's vicinity. I also believe the forward line has functioned way better as a defensive pressure unit without him. The defensive side of his game could use a hell of a lot of improvement. I saw defenders regularly taking him on with a baulk, as they knew they would face one half-hearted effort and then be free. King showing more conviction and being more demanding on the lead will help also. For me, there is a whole lot of moving slowly and finger pointing where he wants to football, instead of attacking the space and forcing the kicker to hit him. I also believe he has played some of his best football getting up the ground. It throws out opposition defences, creates space for other forwards and also allows him to get separation from defenders zoning off as he charges back into the 50.

All these parts of his game will bring confidence that will further aid what we want - more goals from him and the team.

A caveat to all of the above is hopefully these things weren't occurring because he was injured the last two seasons. If it's not injury causing it, then it's a real concern because it's effort-based. If that's the case, he needs to turn it around.

I just want to see him play 20 or more games. Kick over 60 goals and bully and or squash defenders.

Surely that's not too much to ask.

 

[saintmike65]

I just want to see him play 20 or more games. Kick over 60 goals and bully and or squash defenders.

Surely that's not too much to ask.

Big Max is 106kg now…no excuses for the big boy!

 

[CaptainRisky]

Hyping up Hall…most of you hadn’t even mentioned him until very recently!

Not sure what you getting at , I know you are on his wagon

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Mason Wood is my favourite recruit story at the Saints for years. We have had Cal Wilkie become AA, a short but extremely sweet venture with Paddy Ryder, Timmy Membrey and Roberton as DFA who have been great successes.

Wood was something else rising 28 when delisted by North, however for years I had watched him and often wondered if we could get him to the Saints. Always seemed to kick a few against us. Then we picked him up as a DFA and I thought, worth a shot. He kicked 4 against North in 2021 and hasn't looked back.

Has been a really great wingman, runs all day, not afraid to go when it is his turn and is an automatic first 23. His problem at North was his constant injuries, never could get a run at it. His highest number of games for North over 7 seasons was 18 with only 3 times in double figures.
Since becoming a regular in 2022 he has gone 19, 24,18 games. He has played a total of 135 games with 70 or over half in the four years at the Saints. Consistency and a run of games is everything in football.

More than that he has been a great clubman, won best clubman in 2022 or 2023 and has helped new recruits settle in. Apparently was instrumental in keeping NAZ at the club. Does a tonne of behind the scenes work with the kids, (video reviews etc). It is obvious the club sees his worth with the 3 year deal he got.
He has been a great get by the club.

Totally agree and I hope we can keep him on as a development coach once his playing days are done.

 

[CaptainRisky]

So Ross was right.

Wonder if he's on some sort of modified running program for some reason. He did have a few injuries last year.

And he had 8 weeks to get over them if true so I would doubt he is on a modified program

 

[saintmike65]

Not sure what you getting at , I know you are on his wagon

Means he never got a mention or included as a mid option..
Confident he’ll debut in ‘25, as will most draftees plus Keeler!

 

[CaptainRisky]

He really has all the tools of a Charlie Cameron.

But I’m not sure he’d expend 60% of the energy of the others in a session. It doesn’t look so much as laid back to me, but in a running drill either completely stuffed or something else, or in a match sim situation and the oppo has the ball in front of him, there’s really little intensity to close down.

Anyway, I could be wrong. I am surprised he isn’t doing anything other than running. Also surprised that there’s really no extra push from the assistants. So either I’m wrong ish or they’re trying not to push him over the edge.

Christ I hope that's not the case that he is not that precocious , shouldn't be treated and different to anyone else on the list

 

[sasaint]

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

I think it may fall this way

Steele
Macrae
Phillipou
Carroll
Windhager

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Hall will be a gun. He has so much natural talent and class - we saw it on show in the latter part of the VFL season, is a lot of what we thought Hotton would be. Just hasn't been able to put it together with such limited continuity and has been extremely unlucky

If he goes injury-free this year, could easily play 10+ games as cover for the half forward/mid role behind Henry, Wilson, Hill, Byrnes etc.

Seems like you're going early there. In 7 games with Sandy he didn't crack 20 disposals once and only kicked multiple goals twice. He's not even a gun at VFL level yet - haven't seen anything to suggest he's a high percentage chance of making it at AFL level

 

[akaifu]

Seems like you're going early there. In 7 games with Sandy he didn't crack 20 disposals once and only kicked multiple goals twice. He's not even a gun at VFL level yet - haven't seen anything to suggest he's a high percentage chance of making it at AFL level

So what if he didn't crack 20 disposals? It's what he does with the ball that matters

Was a forward half threat every time the ball was in his hands and was able to set up attacking chains more often than not

Then there's his trend of improvement. After years of injury and disuptions with COVID, he was one of the biggest improvers in the VFL last year before being drafted by us - when he started playing out of position to develop his versatility and to teach him the game plan

 

[SteeleSaints]

Seems like you're going early there. In 7 games with Sandy he didn't crack 20 disposals once and only kicked multiple goals twice. He's not even a gun at VFL level yet - haven't seen anything to suggest he's a high percentage chance of making it at AFL level

Hall was restricted by a back injury during his few games which eventually ruled him out. People are seeing him train unrestricted and are getting excited by him which is reasonable. He may not become a star but if he can contribute as a first 23 player it would be great for everyone.

 

[Joffaboy]

Mentioned the other day, hard to gauge how good and how vanilla a lot of our players look this year.
Hall, Carroll, Dow, Hastie, Irish, McLennon, Garcia, Boxshall, Said all seem to be the same type of player, quick, neat, good disposal, good tank runs all day, has football iq and just look like AFL footballers.
I might pop over to a Bulldogs training session soon to try and get a handle on intensity and running etc compared to the Saints.
Many are talking up Hall, but honestly to my mug punter untrained eye he is as good as half a dozen others.
One thing is for sure, there are no 'project' players in the recently recruited or drafted. All have skills and all can run.

Jake from SaintsTV came up with some astonishing numbers for our distance covered and sprints for 2024, the last 8 games we covered more distance and outsprinted every team we played.
The absolutely astonishing stat was Darcy Wilson having 9 of the top 25 distance covered in AFL history in his firsts season.
Saints had 5 of the 25 most distance covered in AFL history in 2024.
This is why I can't get a handle, the lot of them all run and train very similarly.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Sarcoidevo]

Big Max is 106kg now…no excuses for the big boy!

Max has become a man .... he now looks like one .... not some skinny teens/early 20s young adult

It's time

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Yep fingers crossed, but a full season from Max would be bloody huge.

 

[SteeleSaints]

Mentioned the other day, hard to gauge how good and how vanilla a lot of our players look this year.
Hall, Carroll, Dow, Hastie, Irish, McLennon, Garcia, Boxshall, Said all seem to be the same type of player, quick, neat, good disposal, good tank runs all day, has football iq and just look like AFL footballers.
I might pop over to a Bulldogs training session soon to try and get a handle on intensity and running etc compared to the Saints.
Many are talking up Hall, but honestly to my mug punter untrained eye he is as good as half a dozen others.
One thing is for sure, there are no 'project' players in the recently recruited or drafted. All have skills and all can run.

Jake from SaintsTV came up with some astonishing numbers for our distance covered and sprints for 2024, the last 8 games we covered more distance and outsprinted every team we played.
The absolutely astonishing stat was Darcy Wilson having 9 of the top 25 distance covered in AFL history in his firsts season.
Saints had 5 of the 25 most distance covered in AFL history in 2024.
This is why I can't get a handle, the lot of them all run and train very similarly.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Its a real credit to Wilson and others and highlights how hard we were working. A lot of the running would be to guard space and drop back to help out our defence. When we start leading the time in possession and metres gained (with the ball) we will be getting full value out of our work rate. If we can turn that into corresponding possession numbers and scores we will take some stopping.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Seems like you're going early there. In 7 games with Sandy he didn't crack 20 disposals once and only kicked multiple goals twice. He's not even a gun at VFL level yet - haven't seen anything to suggest he's a high percentage chance of making it at AFL level

But 4 times in a row prior to being drafted by us. No idea if he makes it, but it does seem we weren’t the only one interested.

 

[_Maximus_12]

Christ I hope that's not the case that he is not that precocious , shouldn't be treated and different to anyone else on the list

It’s 2024 mate. Gone are the days of treat everyone the same.
Different people with different needs require personal approaches. If he requires more cuddling than most to succeed then so be it

 

[akaifu]

Rayner.

Owens wins contests. Much easier to do that man to man than in congestion where he gets loss. Massive strength. Think he can be that player for us forward of centre.

Yep Rayner. And the team he plays for won the premiership. Exciting!

 

[gringo2011]

Mentioned the other day, hard to gauge how good and how vanilla a lot of our players look this year.
Hall, Carroll, Dow, Hastie, Irish, McLennon, Garcia, Boxshall, Said all seem to be the same type of player, quick, neat, good disposal, good tank runs all day, has football iq and just look like AFL footballers.
I might pop over to a Bulldogs training session soon to try and get a handle on intensity and running etc compared to the Saints.
Many are talking up Hall, but honestly to my mug punter untrained eye he is as good as half a dozen others.
One thing is for sure, there are no 'project' players in the recently recruited or drafted. All have skills and all can run.

Jake from SaintsTV came up with some astonishing numbers for our distance covered and sprints for 2024, the last 8 games we covered more distance and outsprinted every team we played.
The absolutely astonishing stat was Darcy Wilson having 9 of the top 25 distance covered in AFL history in his firsts season.
Saints had 5 of the 25 most distance covered in AFL history in 2024.
This is why I can't get a handle, the lot of them all run and train very similarly.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

One of my son's footy coaches helped out with Bevo and reckons he's all about in close skills and empowerment. He believes that full time footballers should be fit as a baseline but touch and initiative can be trained in the small time they have together.

There is sense in his ideas. I like the way the Dogs play as a brand and it looks like his system works even if it looks like his message is a getting a bit tired now.

 

[saintmike65]

Hall was restricted by a back injury during his few games which eventually ruled him out. People are seeing him train unrestricted and are getting excited by him which is reasonable. He may not become a star but if he can contribute as a first 23 player it would be great for everyone.

He also didn’t get much of a run through the midfield but will in the upcoming season!

 

[saintmike65]

I think it may fall this way

Steele
Macrae
Phillipou
Carroll
Windhager

Hope you’re right, Carroll stepping up would be a bonus…don’t be surprised if Hugo takes a big leap!

 

[Remboy]

Big Max is 106kg now…no excuses for the big boy!

Must have been on Plugger66s dim sum diet.