Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[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.

 

[McIvor]

This was recommended on YT earlier; never come across this guy before, but good on him for putting himself out there, seems no less knowledgeable than some of the gooses on Seven and Fox and not a bad analysis. Well done PommyinOz

 

[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.