Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Dalions]

Zorks would be an awesome sub at times if we could afford the luxury. The aim at his age is to have him fit and firing at the right part of the year and there's not much point in having him bash himself around in games we're going to win anyway.

He starts in the 22 and once we get a good idea of how the season's going and how he is we should manage him if we're able to.

He had to play all the games last year because it got to the stage where they were all must win games. He's a freakish player who would've won a few more AA's had he played at a top club . At 36 it makes sense to look at all options to get the best out of him.

Personally I think that if he starts coming up a bit sore and struggling to get up for games, we will start playing him as a Sub or give him a rest every now and then but he will be in the 22 if he is coming up well after games.
If he goes well this year, I could see him playing next year as well.

Edit: With 2 really good years he could go close to surpassing both Marcus Ashcroft (318) and Simon Black (322) games records.

 

[Saucery]

Hello brissy forum,
I come in peace.
I have fested interested in one of your players and curious to get the opinion on how Henry Smith is training, and all of your outlook on where he is placed this year moving forward. Do you think he has a spot in that forward line and to potentially split ruck duties?

How is he fairing at training? At this point, i think he should be looking to surpass Darcy Fort in the pecking order at the very least.

Yeah, I guess he will just scoot past a premiership ruckman, why not?

 

[Saucery]

For god's sake don't tell 3KZ I've said this, or I'll never hear the end of it; but I think IF Doedee gets his body right then Lester could be an amazing sub. With the heat out of a game his leg speed won't mean a thing and all of his other attributes that make him the consummate allrounder/utility will come to the fore. Tall, small, back, middle or forward he will have an impact due to his outstanding football nous, leadership and courage.

 

[BuntonRules]

Considering all above variables and Zorko returning from an All-Australian season, if Zorko's fit - he plays every week this year. Round 23 will get him to a well deserved 300 - can't wait !

Apart from his impact, some games as sub will help him get there, and help set us up for life post Zorko. Much better option than "rotating" - or flogging - him.

 

[McLuggages]

Went down to training again this morning - a bit of a different session with a heavy focus on taking corridor kicks and inside 50s.

A lot of the guys in rehab last week trained almost fully today.

No training - Doedee, kiddy, smith
Laps/skills - Mcclugage, Rayner, Starc, Gardiner, hipwood - Levi a little more but still very limited.
Almost full training - linc, Neale, Ashcroft, brain

A few specific thoughts/observations:

• I think Bruce is in the 23 currently. Looks in great shape and is a great kick. They split off in to line groups and either coincidentally or not the 'a midfield ' was Neale, Dunkley, Ashcroft and Bruce ..
• Likewise I think Sam Day has Joey's spot sown up. He's a great size and presence and exactly what we need.
• Berry and Answerth have put a heap of work in to their kicking over the past few years and it's noticeable - I would've said both were poor kicks previously and now they're good/safe.
• McKenna training with the forwards
• Same as last week, Lohmann and Willmott look
• Charlie looked great today too, his field kicking in particular- thought he was a bit off last week. Ah chee looks great also.
• Levi is there everyday and does non contact training but I think he's really getting held back. Haven't seen what he can do yet.
• A couple of nice moments from Sam Marshall but he's quite small. He's evasive and skillful but it's a tough team to break in to.
• Payne, Andrews, Lester and Joyce training fully (and ZZ) and look reliable as ever.
• Will machlachlan has put on a fair bit of size but it'll be tough to get a game. Could play the Rayner 3rd tall role perhaps?

Any other questions let me know.

 

[Perrip]

McKenna training with the forwards

Ah yes, the key forward we've been looking for, Conor McKenna.
AA breakout year

 

[Happy_Neale]

Why?

I always like when players take over a club legends number after starting in a different one. Makes me think they're really committed and driven to succeed. I guess we already knew that about Fletcher but I still thought it was interesting.

 

[Grasshopper17]

For god's sake don't tell 3KZ I've said this, or I'll never hear the end of it; but I think IF Doedee gets his body right then Lester could be an amazing sub. With the heat out of a game his leg speed won't mean a thing and all of his other attributes that make him the consummate allrounder/utility will come to the fore. Tall, small, back, middle or forward he will have an impact due to his outstanding football nous, leadership and courage.

We've been through this...

Multiple times.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Went down to training again this morning - a bit of a different session with a heavy focus on taking corridor kicks and inside 50s.

A lot of the guys in rehab last week trained almost fully today.

No training - Doedee, kiddy, smith
Laps/skills - Mcclugage, Rayner, Starc, Gardiner, hipwood - Levi a little more but still very limited.
Almost full training - linc, Neale, Ashcroft, brain

A few specific thoughts/observations:

• I think Bruce is in the 23 currently. Looks in great shape and is a great kick. They split off in to line groups and either coincidentally or not the 'a midfield ' was Neale, Dunkley, Ashcroft and Bruce ..
• Likewise I think Sam Day has Joey's spot sown up. He's a great size and presence and exactly what we need.
• Berry and Answerth have put a heap of work in to their kicking over the past few years and it's noticeable - I would've said both were poor kicks previously and now they're good/safe.
• McKenna training with the forwards
• Same as last week, Lohmann and Willmott look
• Charlie looked great today too, his field kicking in particular- thought he was a bit off last week. Ah chee looks great also.
• Levi is there everyday and does non contact training but I think he's really getting held back. Haven't seen what he can do yet.
• A couple of nice moments from Sam Marshall but he's quite small. He's evasive and skillful but it's a tough team to break in to.
• Payne, Andrews, Lester and Joyce training fully (and ZZ) and look reliable as ever.
• Will machlachlan has put on a fair bit of size but it'll be tough to get a game. Could play the Rayner 3rd tall role perhaps?

Any other questions let me know.

Great stuff, thanks so much!

Working backwards from the practice matches that have already been scheduled, we can't be too far away from the intra-clubs starting up.

Reckon they'll be back from the sunshine coast camp and straight into em.

 

[Saucery]

We've been through this...

Multiple times.

View attachment 2207641

OK, I love mockery. Have a nice day.

 

[kortjsa]

Went down to training again this morning - a bit of a different session with a heavy focus on taking corridor kicks and inside 50s.

A lot of the guys in rehab last week trained almost fully today.

No training - Doedee, kiddy, smith
Laps/skills - Mcclugage, Rayner, Starc, Gardiner, hipwood - Levi a little more but still very limited.
Almost full training - linc, Neale, Ashcroft, brain

A few specific thoughts/observations:

• I think Bruce is in the 23 currently. Looks in great shape and is a great kick. They split off in to line groups and either coincidentally or not the 'a midfield ' was Neale, Dunkley, Ashcroft and Bruce ..
• Likewise I think Sam Day has Joey's spot sown up. He's a great size and presence and exactly what we need.
• Berry and Answerth have put a heap of work in to their kicking over the past few years and it's noticeable - I would've said both were poor kicks previously and now they're good/safe.
• McKenna training with the forwards
• Same as last week, Lohmann and Willmott look
• Charlie looked great today too, his field kicking in particular- thought he was a bit off last week. Ah chee looks great also.
• Levi is there everyday and does non contact training but I think he's really getting held back. Haven't seen what he can do yet.
• A couple of nice moments from Sam Marshall but he's quite small. He's evasive and skillful but it's a tough team to break in to.
• Payne, Andrews, Lester and Joyce training fully (and ZZ) and look reliable as ever.
• Will machlachlan has put on a fair bit of size but it'll be tough to get a game. Could play the Rayner 3rd tall role perhaps?

Any other questions let me know.

How did Will Ashcroft look?

 

[Nathan Barley]

We've been through this...

Multiple times.

View attachment 2207641

Fair effort to be almost as fast as Jordan Butts

 

[Royboy1961]

After giving it some thought, I could genuinely see Zorko being a super sub for us this year. Will give us a lot of flexibility and allow us to prepare our lines for post-Zorko football. Keeps him playing, his body fresh and will undoubtedly have a big impact in the role.

Why would you put an All Australian as a super sub? Don’t forget he was even tagged in the finals so his form can’t be that bad. For me he plays in the starting line up however if he is carrying an injury or loses his form then he would be our best super sub as you have suggested. The problem we have is that both Coleman and Zorko play the same position as a sweeper . Not a bad position to be in for the club I reckon.


Sent from my iPad using BigFooty.com

 

[rye]

I always like when players take over a club legends number after starting in a different one. Makes me think they're really committed and driven to succeed. I guess we already knew that about Fletcher but I still thought it was interesting.

think if you win a premiership in a number you should stick with it personally

 

[dlanod]

We've been through this...

Multiple times.

View attachment 2207641

I'm still trying to figure out how he snuck that eScooter on to the field that day.

 

[McLuggages]

How did Will Ashcroft look?

Looks fit. Those sort of guys don't have a heap to prove.

 

[McLuggages]

Not that my opinion means any more than anyone else but after seeing training this is how I think we'll line up for r0:

Andrews, Payne, Lester
Zorko, Willmott, Starc

Bailey, Neale, Berry
Fort, Dunkley, W.Ash

Rayner, Kai, Charlie
Day, Hipwood, Morris

Mccluggage, Fletcher, Ah Chee, Answerth
Sub: Reville or Levi - big question mark on Levi.

Next in line - Linc, McKenna
Not available/not fit - Oscar, Smith, Kiddy, Doedee

Very keen to see if Kiddy gets himself up.

From the grand final this is just Joe out for Day, and McKenna our for Levi/Bruce.

 

[Section 5]

Not that my opinion means any more than anyone else but after seeing training this is how I think we'll line up for r0:

Andrews, Payne, Lester
Zorko, Willmott, Starc

Bailey, Neale, Berry
Fort, Dunkley, W.Ash

Rayner, Kai, Charlie
Day, Hipwood, Morris

Mccluggage, Fletcher, Ah Chee, Answerth
Sub: Reville or Levi - big question mark on Levi.

Next in line - Linc, McKenna
Not available/not fit - Oscar, Smith, Kiddy, Doedee

Very keen to see if Kiddy gets himself up.

From the grand final this is just Joe out for Day, and McKenna our for Levi/Bruce.

Barring injury it is relatively easy to put up a team that is going to be very hard to beat.
The hard decision is who to leave out. Let's hope it stays that way going into R0
My early team is the same. I just have about 4 competing for that sub position.
A shame that the AFL asked all the clubs about 5 on the bench. All clubs agreed that 5 on the bench is preferred over the sub.
Then the AFL did what the AFL does and kept the sub.

Interesting in your training post about McKenna training forward.
I did see him as the one missing out from the GF side as a defender.
Although small forwards are just as hard to break into.
Easy enough to switch him back if needed with many seasons played as a defender.
This is why i thing Gardiner trains/plays forward again in 2025. Easy to switch him back.

 

[Perrip]

SEN: How top draftees and returning stars are causing plenty of headaches for the Lions

 

[Sproj]

Count me in!

Fagan is the cup now isn’t he.

 

[braddsey]

SEN: How top draftees and returning stars are causing plenty of headaches for the Lions

All good preseason fodder from Zorko. Everyone is training the house down. He may be overstating Gardiner’s impact last season pre-ACL!

 

[Section 5]

Not sure if i will bother going down the highway for this clash.

Unofficial match simulations
Collingwood, Brisbane and Gold Coast will play each other on Thursday February 20, with each club playing two quarters against both oppositions (totaling six for the match).

Thursday, Feb 20

Gold Coast v Brisbane v Collingwood, People First Stadium, 6pm AEDT (5pm local)

Might just wait for the BHA game

AAMI Community Series

Thursday, Feb 27

Brisbane v Adelaide, Brighton Homes Arena, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)

 

[Grasshopper17]

Not sure if i will bother going down the highway for this clash.

Unofficial match simulations
Collingwood, Brisbane and Gold Coast will play each other on Thursday February 20, with each club playing two quarters against both oppositions (totaling six for the match).

Thursday, Feb 20

Gold Coast v Brisbane v Collingwood, People First Stadium, 6pm AEDT (5pm local)

Might just wait for the BHA game

AAMI Community Series

Thursday, Feb 27

Brisbane v Adelaide, Brighton Homes Arena, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)

I reckon I'll try to get down there. Perhaps don't tell the boss

 

[buttermuffs]

Did their over reliance on Pendlebury hurt them in 2024?

I’d be hesitant to say they did. If they relied on Pendles and didn’t switch it up when he couldn’t perform to his previously high standards then they most likely didn’t have the talent to switch up their roles.

 

[SizeMatters]

About time Dev started to add some size. Looks fit.