Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Dalions]

I hope you are not meaning GC to win the 2025 Premiership?

 

[briztoon]

I hope you are not meaning GC to win the 2025 Premiership?

GC means it.

 

[martinson]

I don't see Levi coming in to play sub. McKenna was a backman so it isn't a straight swap.

I would expect our starting Mids to line up as:
Berry Neale Fletcher
McInerny Dunkley Ashcroft/McCluggage (Wing/Mid)

Fowards to line up as:
Rayner (Fwd/Mid) Hipwood Ah Chee (DefFwd)
Cameron Day Morris

Int: Bailey (Fwd/Wing/Mid), Ashcroft/McCluggage (Mid/Wing/Fwd), Lohman (Fwd), Zorko/Wilmott/Answerth/Coleman (Def)

Someone from these lines needs to come out for us to field Levi, that is without factoring in Linc who as many have said, may struggle to break back into the side given the talent and age profile of the players he is competing for a spot against.

Fletcher could swap for Cllugg and start on the bench while Clugg is on a wing, chewing up Bailey's wing time.
Yes we will no doubt get an injury/ies to one of more of our mids and fwds that allows Levi to come in as a straight sway, but if everyone is fit and healthy for RO/R1 one of the non key positions will make way for Levi. We know who it won't be, which leaves one of Bailey, Lohman or Ah Chee.

ETA: All this is meaningless and easy to figure out if we go for two talls instead of 3. Hippy has the height to pinch hit in the ruck but I am doubtful that happens.

We've got quite a long rehab list. I can't see Fagan rushing any of these guys back.

 

[Dalions]

GC means it.

Tell em their dreamin!

 

[Pommylovescarlton]

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

Thank you so much for the kind words! Made My manic Thursday better!

So much respect for what the lions have built and what you will continue to build!

Looking forward to watching you defend the title

 

[Clarkythelion]

The Bears and Fitzroy training tops are mint this year - not so sure about Lachie's shades but each there own.

Many years ago now, back in Leigh Matthews time I had a girl working for me who's brother was an optometrist that worked with the Lions. He had these training glasses the players would wear that had dots in the middle which forced players to use more of their peripheral vision. Not saying Lachie's are, probably not they look more like the glasses I have for golf.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Lachie had a pretty nasty poke to the eye at the end of last season. Maybe related to that? Will he be rocking the Mason Cox goggles next season?

 

[Berrygood]

We've got quite a long rehab list. I can't see Fagan rushing any of these guys back.

I hope that's the case, I hope we learnt from last season. I think we rushed a cpl of injured players back early or played underdone players to start the season. We have great depth in most areas. Players like Brain, Bruce n Joyce proved themselves reliable. We don't need to do that this season.

My only depth concern is tall fwds. I don't think there's any doubt that Fages will want to continue playing 3 tall fwds. Hippy's groin surgery and recovery is vital. He's the last player that should be rushed. If that means he has a delayed start to the season so be it. This also means that the fitness of Day to start the season is so important. If Hippy doesn't get up for the start, Day's experience will be needed. I think with a fit Day and Morris we can test out Ryan or a Lloyd early. With Joe gone I see Hippy moving to the deepest fwd role. A role I think Ryan could fill short term. This could be the year that Ryan stands up and like Brain, Bruce and Joyce, proves some reliability. I'm not a fan of Gardiner as a fwd, especially after the ACL. He won't come back as quick as he was, not that he was a real speedster anyway, so he will be relying on natural instinct to read n follow play. Much easier to achieve as a back. We don't need another witches hat fwd like Gunston was.

I'm not too concerned with the best 23 discussion. The team will change through the year depending on form and injury. As long as the teams we pick are fit and in form we will be OK.

There are players I look forward to seeing an improvement in this year. It's the first preseason that Berry hasn't had an injury problem for many years, I think he can really turn it on in 2025. A fit Bailey is exciting. Sometimes you have to carry a player capable of brilliance, and he is. If we can develop a spread n run game from stoppages, ala Richmond n the young Hawks, he will explode. He still needs to improve his tackling. He gets there to make a tackle but gets shrugged off or pushed away. It's a technique problem more than a desire problem.

A great season ahead of us no doubt. A great squad and great potential from our younger brigade. Can't wait for it to start.