Training Pre-season updates 2025.

[sr36]

We’ve seen over the last 12 months that the coaching staff want another key defender to support Moore alongside Howe and Maynard with Murphy gone. There’s far less evidence to support them changing up the structure to an undersized defence than there is to support them maintaining the 2 keys + Howe as the intercepting 3rd.

Melbourne used to play May, Petty and Lever, with Lever playing as the "third tall". It wasn't a ranking system. Pretty unlikely that they rated Petty above Lever as a kpd. Just as when we play Frampton, with Howe loose as 3rd tall, it doesn't mean we rate Frampton above Howe as a kpd.

We want 3 blokes defending the air and Howe plays 3rd tall really well, whereas Frampton doesn't. So sure, when we have 3 fit talls down back, Howe will play 3rd tall but that doesn't make him the 3rd best, just as Checkers isn't the 3rd best tall forward when both McStay and Cox are on the ground playing as the biggest targets.

 

[Apex36]

For certain, Moore sacrifices his game for the benefit of the team playing off his man almost akin to zone defence. That is our unfortunate reality in that we’ve not been able to find a replacement for Murphy, Reef isn’t a key position player either.

I’d query the aggressive positioning though, I think his run and carry and intercepts were down last year…I think he plays off his man as more of a defensive ‘Libero’ type strategy.

You need to remember that Murphy wasn’t a key position player either until he suddenly was.

Reef has almost an inch in height over Murphy and has supposedly put on bulk this preseason. How about you actually watch him play the role before declaring what he is or isn’t?

 

[sr36]

You clearly said that he's the greatest defender of all time and we should sign him up for 10 years.

I got what you meant, you think at the moment it looks like he's the front runner to be our second KPD with Howe as our third tall/interceptor. I also agree, and I'm not sure why everyone is taking it any other way.

Because the conversation was about "2nd best kpd" - not likely or potential role within the team.

Hopefully Reef can nail a kpd spot. It would be fantastic for the team, but if anyone is currently ranking him above Howe and Maynard for any role in our defence - from full back to running back and everything in between - they're dreaming.

 

[Think Goodly]

Pre-season training.

January 24.

9:30-12:30.

Absent:

• Reef
• Beau
• TJ

Rehab:

• Mitchell
• Johnson
• Sullivan.

Nick completed most of the session with lot of drills as he ramps up his progression from the foot injury.
Josh and Jordy completed 80-90% of the session. Josh will be back in full training next week when they return, and I wouldn't be surprised if Jordy is the same.

Thomas McGuane started his 2nd stint at the pies, as he begins his highly anticipated draft year. A few VFL players also participated in the session including the likes of Harry Mahoney and Curtis Taylor. Brady Grey and one other one, the same ones as last week.
Tom didn't look out of place. The way he uses his hands when kicking the ball, it's very Nick like. Has real composure and doesn't look outawed amongst the bigger bodies. Given his age, he still has a light frame, but thats to be expected at this stage.

He'll be at training next Wed-friday to complete his week before CTL resumes in Feb. This was about the same time of year as when Nick (And Dib) trained with the club at the start of his draft year. So this is the start of something special for young Tommy. He even wore the #34 for a bit of training today as well. Looks good on him.

Curtis Taylor did a run down tackle on bruz and got him HTB, how much was he on the other side of a tackle like that at north? I bet he felt happy he was able to give it back haha.

Harry Mahoney too didn't look out of place with the afl boys and the uptempo speed of the training. He is someone the club really like, and how he plays.

There was some conditioning, drills involving handballing to one another in a tight group. There was was the forwards and defenders moving around at FF trying to create space, and one player (Jordy or Houston - they donned the orange vests) being the deignated kicker inside F50.

There was also a ball movement drill and a shorter match play senario before in the last part of the session was a proper full ground match sim. They seemed to play for I'd say 20 mins, one quarter. As they start to ramp things up. I'd say we would be three weeks from the intraclub -- by the time they get back next week, it'll be closer to 2 weeks. So I would assume we would be seeing match sims every week (fridays most likely) as we head toward then.


I think we have a lock on who our wings will be.
Lippa and Sidey.
WHE I think will rotate with Lippa between wing and HF, as he was opposite wing to Lippa/Sidey through match sim today.

Midfield was Allan. Fin. Long v Pendles. Crisp. Perryman.
I'm very interested to see how they fit all of Pendles. Crisp. Perryman, Nick. Jordy. Mitchell?? into the mid rotations given Perryman is training and playing fully as a inside mid.

Obviously no Cox, he'll be back next week apparantely, so it gave Steene and Smit a good opportunity to be front and centre v DC.

All in all, it was a good session.

Thanks as always Jen - another great report. In the videos Crisp features a bit and to me it looks like he is leaner than last year and seems to be covering the ground really well. I know he works super hard on his fitness. Have you noticed any changes?

 

[Jen2310]

Thanks as always Jen - another great report. In the videos Crisp features a bit and to me it looks like he is leaner than last year and seems to be covering the ground really well. I know he works super hard on his fitness. Have you noticed any changes?

Not sure, possibly. I've always thought he was lean but strong in the arms and shoulders.

 

[Hardas]

It's gonna be hard to get into the team with so many near-certain starters, but I'm really hoping to see a bunch of younger players consistently knocking on the door from the VFL side in the early games.

 

[Jen2310]

It's gonna be hard to get into the team with so many near-certain starters, but I'm really hoping to see a bunch of younger players consistently knocking on the door from the VFL side in the early games.

injuries will happen. There will always be opportunity