Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[twhowler]

Bruce is a big unit isn't he.

Fort is such a rangey looking player, listed as 9kg lighter than Oscar. He got absolutely thrown around by Briggs but Grundy just didn't bring that physicality did he?

Would not surprise me if he is the third target in the forward line. He has excellent hands i reckon.

 

[Saucery]

And call it Chaos. The ball would never get out of the centre

Perfect title. Reveling my nerd alt this is exactly how Elder Scrolls Online main battle ground works.

Three teams starting at three points on a triangular map duke it out to crown the emperor.

Alliances ebb and flow as each team tries to undermine the other two.

It's a constantly changing game of subterfuge and surprise, more like poker than chess, focusing on individual brilliance rather than strategies.

There's even a round ball version which seems to operate pretty much the same way, watch it on 'YouTube' it's rather a laugh!

 

[Coastal Lion]

Perfect title. Reveling my nerd alt this is exactly how Elder Scrolls Online main battle ground works.

Three teams starting at three points on a triangular map duke it out to crown the emperor.

Alliances ebb and flow as each team tries to undermine the other two.

It's a constantly changing game of subterfuge and surprise, more like poker than chess, focusing on individual brilliance rather than strategies.

There's even a round ball version which seems to operate pretty much the same way, watch it on 'YouTube' it's rather a laugh!

A three alliance zerg battle at nikel in midyear mayhem eso would be a fair scenario also

 

[jjami15]

Any watchers able to give any insights on Ty Gallop? I would assume he would be on limited pre-season being a first year though. Looking forward to measurements coming out as over summer (sounds weird I know, going off my two teenage boys) boys/men seem to grow more than at other times of the year.

 

[Dalions]

Any watchers able to give any insights on Ty Gallop? I would assume he would be on limited pre-season being a first year though. Looking forward to measurements coming out as over summer (sounds weird I know, going off my two teenage boys) boys/men seem to grow more than at other times of the year.

Too much pudding?

 

[twhowler]

It was interesting to hear on the Roar Deal that Whiting really emphasised how many were in the rehab group.

Off the top of my head:

Hipwood - time didn't fix his groin so he had to have surgery, sounds like he will be racing the clock for OR. Big issue with Daniher already gone
Neale - sounds like again it has been a pretty slow recovery
Oscar - Whiting sounded unsure about when exactly he would be available. 4 months out would have him back in full training by what start of Feb?
Mccluggage was mentioned - i didn't catch his injury but sounded like he is still in rehab
Levi had shoulder surgery in October
Smith was mentioned as having had surgery.
Then we have all the players coming back from ACLs - Kiddy and Doedee you would think would be okay for OR if no major setbacks. Gardiner and McCarthy would be right on 10 months by OR so if anything is not linear in their recovery could be unavailable.

I know every side has players in. But from what Whiting was saying the rehab group is quite large for mid december, so that combined with a very early start to the season (March 6 - eg our last non OR season we started on March 18) we could start slowly.

We have good depth apart from our key position forwards, so i hope it is used - ease back Coleman in the 2s if needed, ditto with Neale if he is not fit.

If we can snare a win v Geelong that would be huge. The next week v Sydney away will be very tough, but then we get WCE at home and Richmond at the mcg. So win that first game and we should all but guarantee 3-1, with a month of footy under our belt and players eased in.

If we lose v Geelong i think 2-2 would be our best outcome. Not a disaster as we have learned haha, but we will be slightly behind the 8 ball and have used up our only games vs WCE and Richmond. I also think North will finally improve this year with so many players getting to that 50 or so game mark, and we cop them at Hobart which is a tricky venue.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Mccluggage was mentioned - i didn't catch his injury but sounded like he is still in rehab

Multiple radio coverages of the Grand Final noted he was struggling with a hamstring. But by that stage we had enough of a lead that it wasn't really a factor.

 

[Grasshopper17]

If we lose v Geelong i think 2-2 would be our best outcome. Not a disaster as we have learned haha, but we will be slightly behind the 8 ball and have used up our only games vs WCE and Richmond. I also think North will finally improve this year with so many players getting to that 50 or so game mark, and we cop them at Hobart which is a tricky venue.

Agree with most of this... I think if we are 2-2 after 4 rounds we will have to wear and be happy with this. Geelong will spend 5 months preparing for us and will no doubt pull a few surprises on us. It will be nice if our ruckman, whoever they are, can get through a full game against them!

And then Sydney with a new coach bounce and playing at home will be very tough.

Which will really make the West Coast and Richmond games must-win. The Richmond game already has 2005 Round 4 Hawthorn v Brisbane vibes about it, simply thinking about all the new draftees the Tigers might trot out that day.

Our first 4 opponents really are going to be unknown quantities for a variety of reasons, and that's why I'm really reductant to buy into the whole story about our "easy draw".

 

[Perrip]

Mccluggage was mentioned - i didn't catch his injury but sounded like he is still in rehab

Clug had heel surgery. He's in a moonboot currently.

 

[twhowler]

Agree with most of this... I think if we are 2-2 after 4 rounds we will have to wear and be happy with this. Geelong will spend 5 months preparing for us and will no doubt pull a few surprises on us. It will be nice if our ruckman, whoever they are, can get through a full game against them!

And then Sydney with a new coach bounce and playing at home will be very tough.

Which will really make the West Coast and Richmond games must-win. The Richmond game already has 2005 Round 4 Hawthorn v Brisbane vibes about it, simply thinking about all the new draftees the Tigers might trot out that day.

Our first 4 opponents really are going to be unknown quantities for a variety of reasons, and that's why I'm really reductant to buy into the whole story about our "easy draw".

I think the cats are not a terrible opponent. Still seem to rely a lot on Dangerfield who will be on the verge of 35yo by then. Went deep in to the finals like us - they are a good side no doubt but they caught the comp napping in 2024 off their non-finals season in 2023. Agree Chris Scott is a very good coach. Their small forwards always worry me - I hope we keep Answerth in there. Hoping we are pumped up to unveil the flag and that has a huge crowd getting us going!

Sydney won't be so much burning for revenge against us but totally determined to show they are not flakes.

Gee that Hawthorn game still lives in my brain! I was there and it felt like the lowering of our team in to the grave. With Sherman kicking goals and celebrating as if we had just won the granny haha

I would think Richmond have lost so many key players and the first year players won't be that good early on. They do have a few draftees that have been there for 3 years so they could be better than people realise. Especially if Tom Lynch gets fit.

 

[Dalions]

 

[McIvor]

Our first 4 opponents really are going to be unknown quantities for a variety of reasons, and that's why I'm really reductant to buy into the whole story about our "easy draw".

Can't say I've heard that; we have by far the hardest draw of the comp, not sure why Collingwood didn't cop that after winning their GF, but I have my theories; so don't know where the "easy draw" aspect has come from.

 

[McLuggages]

It was interesting to hear on the Roar Deal that Whiting really emphasised how many were in the rehab group.

Off the top of my head:

Hipwood - time didn't fix his groin so he had to have surgery, sounds like he will be racing the clock for OR. Big issue with Daniher already gone
Neale - sounds like again it has been a pretty slow recovery
Oscar - Whiting sounded unsure about when exactly he would be available. 4 months out would have him back in full training by what start of Feb?
Mccluggage was mentioned - i didn't catch his injury but sounded like he is still in rehab
Levi had shoulder surgery in October
Smith was mentioned as having had surgery.
Then we have all the players coming back from ACLs - Kiddy and Doedee you would think would be okay for OR if no major setbacks. Gardiner and McCarthy would be right on 10 months by OR so if anything is not linear in their recovery could be unavailable.

I know every side has players in. But from what Whiting was saying the rehab group is quite large for mid december, so that combined with a very early start to the season (March 6 - eg our last non OR season we started on March 18) we could start slowly.

We have good depth apart from our key position forwards, so i hope it is used - ease back Coleman in the 2s if needed, ditto with Neale if he is not fit.

If we can snare a win v Geelong that would be huge. The next week v Sydney away will be very tough, but then we get WCE at home and Richmond at the mcg. So win that first game and we should all but guarantee 3-1, with a month of footy under our belt and players eased in.

If we lose v Geelong i think 2-2 would be our best outcome. Not a disaster as we have learned haha, but we will be slightly behind the 8 ball and have used up our only games vs WCE and Richmond. I also think North will finally improve this year with so many players getting to that 50 or so game mark, and we cop them at Hobart which is a tricky venue.

Pretty sure Whiting or maybe Dany Daly said all of the following are out to round 3 or 4 - Oscar, Henry Smith, Linc and Doedee. Levi won't play in preseason but aiming for Opening round (shoulder).

I'm not too stressed - from our Grand final team it should only be out Joe + 1, in Day + Kiddy, plus any preseason flyers and Levi if he gets up.

 

[McIvor]

Pretty sure Whiting or mabie Dany Daly said all of the following are out to round 3 or 4 - Oscar, Henry Smith, Linc and Doedee. Levi won't play in preseason but aiming for Opening round (shoulder).

I'm not too stressed - from our Grand final team it should only be out Joe + 1, in Day + Kiddy, plus any preseason flyers and Levi if he gets up.

At least we have our premiership ruckman to lead the charge in the early rounds.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Could have Fort, Ryan and Day as our Ruck and key forwards for a few rounds at the start of the season

 

[McLuggages]

Could have Fort, Ryan and Day as our Ruck and key forwards for a few rounds at the start of the season

Please not Ryan. One of our few misses lately.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Can't say I've heard that; we have by far the hardest draw of the comp, not sure why Collingwood didn't cop that after winning their GF, but I have my theories; so don't know where the "easy draw" aspect has come from.

Oh, my comment was more about how the general sentiment (which I've read a few times here) is that the early part of our fixture is relatively easy, before we play the more challenging teams later on.

 

[Sproj]

Father-son.

 

[Section 5]

Oh, my comment was more about how the general sentiment (which I've read a few times here) is that the early part of our fixture is relatively easy, before we play the more challenging teams later on.

Pies, Hawks handed brutal starts: Your club's fixture breakdown

Check out when your club's easiest, and most difficult, stretches of the fixture are set to come in 2025

www.afl.com.au

The degree of difficulty is calculated using the finishing positions from 2024.

See below for the average ladder positions of who your club is facing through four different blocks in 2025.
.......................................................................

Looking at the below chart from the AFL article: 1-6 Reasonably Hard, 7-12 Easiest, 13-18 Hardest, 19-23 Hard.

 

[Perrip]

View attachment 2190419
View attachment 2190418

So, for the Lions that is:

1-6: Cats, Swans, Eagles, [Bye], Tigers, Dogs, Pies = 9.3
7-12: Saints, SUNS, North, Dees, Hawks, Dons = 12.2
13-18: Crows, GWS, Cats, [Bye], Port, Blues = 7
19-24: Dogs, SUNS, Pies, Swans, Dockers, Hawks = 8

 

[qlderlions]

So, for the Lions that is:

1-6: Cats, Swans, Eagles, [Bye], Tigers, Dogs, Pies = 9.3
7-12: Saints, SUNS, North, Dees, Hawks, Dons = 12.2
13-18: Crows, GWS, Cats, [Bye], Port, Blues = 7
19-24: Dogs, SUNS, Pies, Swans, Dockers, Hawks = 8

That is a very tough run from Round 13 to Round 24 - All those teams will be gunning to make finals in the back half of the season. However, on the positive side: How good would it be to end the finals chances of the Pies and/or the arrogant Hawks at the end of the season.

 

[Pns_blister]

That is a very tough run from Round 13 to Round 24 - All those teams will be gunning to make finals in the back half of the season. However, on the positive side: How good would it be to end the finals chances of the Pies and/or the arrogant Hawks at the end of the season.

Also, if we are worth our salt, perfect preparation for finals time. You want to come up against the best leading in to finals

 

[twhowler]

Pretty sure Whiting or maybe Dany Daly said all of the following are out to round 3 or 4 - Oscar, Henry Smith, Linc and Doedee. Levi won't play in preseason but aiming for Opening round (shoulder).

I'm not too stressed - from our Grand final team it should only be out Joe + 1, in Day + Kiddy, plus any preseason flyers and Levi if he gets up.

If we end up with no Oscar for the first month, no Smith or Fort as a Daniher option, and no Hippy (or very underdone) I think that could hurt us. It would be something like Ruck = Fort. Key forwards = Morris, Gardiner, Hipwood if fit? Ryan might be a chance given that side has no back-up ruck, but looked a fair way off it in his only game.

Funnily enough i remember looking at all of Carlton's outs before OR last year and thought wow great time to get them...

 

[Mayestro]

If we end up with no Oscar for the first month, no Smith or Fort as a Daniher option, and no Hippy (or very underdone) I think that could hurt us. It would be something like Ruck = Fort. Key forwards = Morris, Gardiner, Hipwood if fit? Ryan might be a chance given that side has no back-up ruck, but looked a fair way off it in his only game.

Funnily enough i remember looking at all of Carlton's outs before OR last year and thought wow great time to get them...

I think Day plays before Gardener and should be able to back up ruck.

 

[twhowler]

I think Day plays before Gardener and should be able to back up ruck.

Ah yes good point i forgot about Day!

Seems almost certain to play OR. Will be very interesting to see how he goes