Training Pre Season - Who's deadset training the house down 2024 style.

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Is Fox playing in the forwards to cover the Hayward role? I've read hayward is being managed with shin issues, not sure if he's recovered yet.

I can see us only having one genuine KPD against smaller sized/mobile opposition forward lines. An inform Rampe & Blakey gives us that luxury imo. It'll be interesting times with team selection & strategy. Our board will blow up at selections a few times this year

All this upbeat talk about Ladhams from pre-season training, I've bought a ticket on his rollercoaster. Hopefully it's going up & not down. Feel like Mclean & McDonald are locks, so it's him v Amartey for the 3rd tall. He would also give us genuine ruck relief.

Trials start next week!!!

spot on I reckon about tailoring our backline to the forward set ups adopted by other Clubs.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Lots sleeping on Sheldrick, he’ll be best 22 all year.
He’s that good they’ll find a way to make sure here plays.

Bucks gave him a big rap this morning

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Lots sleeping on Sheldrick, he’ll be best 22 all year.
He’s that good they’ll find a way to make sure here plays.

He was un-droppable last year prior to injury.

Then won the club Rising Star Award.

I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t named come Round 1.

I can’t quite reconcile how some pundits have Jordon in & Sheldrick out of the best XXIII.

 

[caesar88]

He was un-droppable last year prior to injury.

Then won the club Rising Star Award.

I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t named come Round 1.

I can’t quite reconcile how some pundits have Jordon in & Sheldrick out of the best XXIII.

Different positions?

Jordon is vying for a wing spot against three players - McInerney, Campbell & Warner Jr. - who aren't exactly amongst the most guaranteed members of the team.

Sheldrick is vying for an inside spot against quite literally all of the coaches favourite players - Parker, Rowbottom, Warner, Gulden - plus a new big-name recruit in Adams.

If he manages to earn a spot, that would be great. Shouldn't at all be a surprise if he doesn't though.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Different positions?

Jordon is vying for a wing spot against three players - McInerney, Campbell & Warner Jr. - who aren't exactly amongst the most guaranteed members of the team.

Sheldrick is vying for an inside spot against quite literally all of the coaches favourite players - Parker, Rowbottom, Warner, Gulden - plus a new big-name recruit in Adams.

If he manages to earn a spot, that would be great. Shouldn't at all be a surprise if he doesn't though.

I take your point, which is well made. But I suspect Errol might be first picked on the wing. Mc I & Campbell will surely be in the side too - but whether its in the mids or across half-back remains to be seen.

I think the midfield line-up is fascinating. There's plenty of available combinations & I think Horse will just pick the best players and fit them in.

On that basis, I stand by my original point - I think shiny new toy syndrome has struck. Jordon may well improve, but he'll need to, because I didn't see anything yet that suggests he's a walk up best XXIII.

 

[bloodsbigot]

I take your point, which is well made. But I suspect Errol might be first picked on the wing.

Just put him near the ball and let him do whatever he wants.

 

[caesar88]

I take your point, which is well made. But I suspect Errol might be first picked on the wing. Mc I & Campbell will surely be in the side too - but whether its in the mids or across half-back remains to be seen.

I think the midfield line-up is fascinating. There's plenty of available combinations & I think Horse will just pick the best players and fit them in.

On that basis, I stand by my original point - I think shiny new toy syndrome has struck. Jordon may well improve, but he'll need to, because I didn't see anything yet that suggests he's a walk up best XXIII.

I dunno DQ, I've never seen Horse as the kind you describe in the bolded. To me that sounds more like a Luke Beveridge - we've got all these gun midfielders, let's put one on a wing, one at half forward, one in a back pocket etc. Horse seems to prefer his specialist players and I think lets his desire for certain attributes guide him towards the player who will bring them, rather than trying to guide the player he likes towards the attributes he desires.

That relates to Sheldrick because let's be honest, even if he is in the best 22, he's not gonna be on the inside as much as Parker, Adams, Rowbottom and Warner. He'd have to spend a fairly large portion of games off a flank or a forward pocket or something. The question Horse & co would then be asking is what Sheldrick will offer in the say 40% of time he spends inside going to be worth the 60% of time he spends forward instead of a pressure specialist like Wicks, or on a wing instead of a running specialist like Jordon.

Would be an interesting match selection committee to be a fly on the wall of!

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Different positions?

Jordon is vying for a wing spot against three players - McInerney, Campbell & Warner Jr. - who aren't exactly amongst the most guaranteed members of the team.

Sheldrick is vying for an inside spot against quite literally all of the coaches favourite players - Parker, Rowbottom, Warner, Gulden - plus a new big-name recruit in Adams.

If he manages to earn a spot, that would be great. Shouldn't at all be a surprise if he doesn't though.

ludicrous if that is the case

another fine player will likely be lost to the Club

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I dunno DQ, I've never seen Horse as the kind you describe in the bolded. To me that sounds more like a Luke Beveridge - we've got all these gun midfielders, let's put one on a wing, one at half forward, one in a back pocket etc. Horse seems to prefer his specialist players and I think lets his desire for certain attributes guide him towards the player who will bring them, rather than trying to guide the player he likes towards the attributes he desires.

That relates to Sheldrick because let's be honest, even if he is in the best 22, he's not gonna be on the inside as much as Parker, Adams, Rowbottom and Warner. He'd have to spend a fairly large portion of games off a flank or a forward pocket or something. The question Horse & co would then be asking is what Sheldrick will offer in the say 40% of time he spends inside going to be worth the 60% of time he spends forward instead of a pressure specialist like Wicks, or on a wing instead of a running specialist like Jordon.

Would be an interesting match selection committee to be a fly on the wall of!

If Horse puts Gus in the forward pocket ever again, I will immediately call for a referendum, seeking a change to the Constitution of Australia banning such acts. I don't care if Albo is over referendums. This one would be critical to the future of Australia.

But .... the fact that Horse DID put Gus in the forward pocket kinda supports my "Horse picks the best players and squeezes them in" argument.

Ugh, I wish team selection for Round 1 (or Round 0, or whatever the damn thing is called this year) would just hurry up.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I dunno DQ, I've never seen Horse as the kind you describe in the bolded. To me that sounds more like a Luke Beveridge - we've got all these gun midfielders, let's put one on a wing, one at half forward, one in a back pocket etc. Horse seems to prefer his specialist players and I think lets his desire for certain attributes guide him towards the player who will bring them, rather than trying to guide the player he likes towards the attributes he desires.

That relates to Sheldrick because let's be honest, even if he is in the best 22, he's not gonna be on the inside as much as Parker, Adams, Rowbottom and Warner. He'd have to spend a fairly large portion of games off a flank or a forward pocket or something. The question Horse & co would then be asking is what Sheldrick will offer in the say 40% of time he spends inside going to be worth the 60% of time he spends forward instead of a pressure specialist like Wicks, or on a wing instead of a running specialist like Jordon.

Would be an interesting match selection committee to be a fly on the wall of!

Horse has often started mids in their careers spending time in other positions with less pressure on them. Mills by far the longest but Warner, Roberts, Sheldrick all started forward briefly. Just to pick up the speed of the game I believe.
I think Warner is less an inside mid than Parker, Rowbottom and Adams and can be used more like Gulden, which I reckon would be great. But that would be the role Jordon would be aiming at. I think he misses out. McInerney and Campbell will be the pure wingers.
If we need a 4th purely inside mid Sheldrick will be the man but it all depends on the structure we adopt.
Interesting preparing Fox for the Hayward role if he's not fit. Really like that. Also Roberts learning to be a small/medium defender, even if he never plays there.
Great preparation for putting out a very good side EVERY week.

 

[caesar88]

Horse has often started mids in their careers spending time in other positions with less pressure on them. Mills by far the longest but Warner, Roberts, Sheldrick all started forward briefly. Just to pick up the speed of the game I believe.
I think Warner is less an inside mid than Parker, Rowbottom and Adams and can be used more like Gulden, which I reckon would be great. But that would be the role Jordon would be aiming at. I think he misses out. McInerney and Campbell will be the pure wingers.
If we need a 4th purely inside mid Sheldrick will be the man but it all depends on the structure we adopt.
Interesting preparing Fox for the Hayward role if he's not fit. Really like that. Also Roberts learning to be a small/medium defender, even if he never plays there.
Great preparation for putting out a very good side EVERY week.

For sure, Horse is prepared to play guys in positions that aren't their preferred positions, but on all evidence it seems he'll only do it if the player in question can offer more than others in that position. In the case of Sheldrick, he could play forward or on a wing, but will he be as effective as others in those roles? It's doubtful to me.

Re Warner, I just posted Buckley's thoughts on our midfield in the media thread. He said Warner and Gulden need to be more on the fringes of the contest rather than inside it. I said this last year as I felt Warner's run just wasn't that effective from the thick of the contest. If we opt for this and run Warner through the wings as well, that may create an opening for Sheldrick.

 

[Kiama Chris]

For sure, Horse is prepared to play guys in positions that aren't their preferred positions, but on all evidence it seems he'll only do it if the player in question can offer more than others in that position. In the case of Sheldrick, he could play forward or on a wing, but will he be as effective as others in those roles? It's doubtful to me.

Re Warner, I just posted Buckley's thoughts on our midfield in the media thread. He said Warner and Gulden need to be more on the fringes of the contest rather than inside it. I said this last year as I felt Warner's run just wasn't that effective from the thick of the contest. If we opt for this and run Warner through the wings as well, that may create an opening for Sheldrick.

I think that's more or less what I just said. I've said that about Warner many times. Get the benefit of his breakaway speed and forcefulness on the edges. Nice to know Buckley agrees with me!

 

[Dan87]

We chased Jordon for a couple years and gave him a three year deal. He's coming into his best footy. He's not someone we picked up because he fell into our lap we made it happen to fill a need. You should probably pencil him in because he'll be there in round one imo

 

[caesar88]

We chased Jordon for a couple years and gave him a three year deal. He's coming into his best footy. He's not someone we picked up because he fell into our lap we made it happen to fill a need. You should probably pencil him in because he'll be there in round one imo

It's a good point, we clearly rate him. I guess there's as much evidence to suggest we rate others, too. McInerney has had some elite performances and has got gun potential (admittedly been too few and far between recently.) Campbell someone we were willing to match a top five bid on and debut first game of his first season. Both were signed to four year deals, indications of the club's huge amount of faith in them.

 

[Kiama Chris]

It's a good point, we clearly rate him. I guess there's as much evidence to suggest we rate others, too. McInerney has had some elite performances and has got gun potential (admittedly been too few and far between recently.) Campbell someone we were willing to match a top five bid on and debut first game of his first season. Both were signed to four year deals, indications of the club's huge amount of faith in them.

Going to be some very good players with something to prove in VFL.

 

[Dan87]

If you tell player agents their free agent will get game time/is in their plans and then you don't name them your club gets a reputation

It's a bit different to convincing yourself Juzzy is a gun

 

[caesar88]

If you tell player agents their free agent will get game time/is in their plans and then you don't name them your club gets a reputation

It's a bit different to convincing yourself Juzzy is a gun

Horse & co aren't going to be held hostage to discussions they might've had six months ago. Players know the reality of footy. Jordon has to earn game time. That may require showing more than McInerney or Campbell.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

We chased Jordon for a couple years and gave him a three year deal. He's coming into his best footy. He's not someone we picked up because he fell into our lap we made it happen to fill a need. You should probably pencil him in because he'll be there in round one imo

Not sure the 3 year deal means a lot.

We gave Lewis Taylor 3 years.

 

[Dan87]

Horse & co aren't going to be held hostage to discussions they might've had six months ago. Players know the reality of footy. Jordon has to earn game time. That may require showing more than McInerney or Campbell.

They're not being hold hostage, they've followed his whole career and tried to recruit him for years to play him

Campbell is on a different level to McInerney

 

[Kiama Chris]

The one thing we can all agree on is that the match committee will have plenty to discuss. Let's hope the preseason games give them something to work with.

 

[caesar88]

They're not being hold hostage, they've followed his whole career and tried to recruit him for years to play him

Campbell is on a different level to McInerney

Based on what?

And if they recruited him to play him but then Campbell & McInerney perform better in the pre-season games. What then?

 

[Dan87]

Based on what?

And if they recruited him to play him but then Campbell & McInerney perform better in the pre-season games. What then?

Then we stuffed up our recruitment and Jordon should have stayed at Melbourne where he was a regular

He was an in demand free agent so his agent probably gave him bad advice too

 

[Kiama Chris]

Then we stuffed up our recruitment and Jordon should have stayed at Melbourne where he was a regular

He was an in demand free agent so his agent probably gave him bad advice too

Jordon was out of contract and nominated Sydney. That's all she wrote.

 

[Dan87]

Jordon was out of contract and nominated Sydney. That's all she wrote.

I don't really understand what this means

He would have acted out of self interest and made a decision based on earning potential after considering offers

 

[caesar88]

Then we stuffed up our recruitment and Jordon should have stayed at Melbourne where he was a regular

He was an in demand free agent so his agent probably gave him bad advice too

How can we have stuffed up by acquiring a player of his ability, even if he doesn't crack the 22? It's good depth.