Bigman’s Training Reports

[Mutineer]

ROB, who had maybe 20 games left.

They seem to want to move on from him. If Moyle came over, it would have been to transition ROB out.

If If If


The big difference staring you in the face should be the Suns had planned for Jarrod Witts replacement several years out but the Crows have sat on there hands so much so that a delisted 3rd or 4th string back up Sydney ruckman who we don't even have a list spot for is our back up plan now. Yeah sound list management no doubt.

 

[Vader]

So you don't believe in looking for players with talent who aren't getting opportunities at their club?

Ruck is just a role and there have always been more players who fill that role than opportunities.

I still think we're one short and we should have exited Smith to grab a Knobel or similar. But they prioritised other things and kicked ruck down the road for a year.

I'm happy for us to look for players on other list, to supplement the players we have developed on our own list. I'm not happy with looking for players on another team's list as a substitute for developing players ourselves.

 

[SellarStardom]

Bigman, any reports on how the Atkinson kid went. There will always be a soft spot for many of us. But in all honesty, an actual small forward scoring threat outside of Rach and Rankine would be awesome (i count Keays as a medium forward)

 

[Big Dub]

Can’t agree with that. Not sure why Chayce is the only one that’s received over coaching.
I think people need to realise that his level is what he’s put out the majority of his career.
He’s has more chances than anyone on the list over multiple coaches.

Between 2016 and 2019, our earliest picks were Gallucci, Fogarty, Jones and McAsey.

That's one pass (that many were calling to be cut until very recently), one underwhelming and 2 massive fails.

And pretty much Worrell is the only other success from those years, and he took a fair while to come good too.

So yes, I'm thinking rubbish development/ environment may have been a factor.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I’m guessing it was Godden that stepped on it.

At least he didn't bring out the sled...

 

[1970crow]

Today was another day of match sim, consisting of two quarters running about 25 minutes long. There was a fair wind coming from the south which made things a bit sloppy at times but there was enough to take out of it.

Once again teams were very lopsided, with a clear A and B team in the first quarter. Things were evened up a bit in the second term but there was still a noticeable divide. Personally I would prefer to see much more even teams, particularly as the forward line for the B side was a graveyard at times. They’d have their reasons but I’m not a fan.

I also noticed late in both quarters the scoreboard would be heavily adjusted to make them close, obviously working on a bit of match scenario. Not sure the game style changed a whole lot other than the team in front being a bit more conservative and playing tempo footy.

Cumming was a no show, not even in the rehab group which was interesting. Very possible he was doing work inside. Im not surprised he didn’t partake in the match sim but thought he would’ve joined Pedlar and Murray on the sidelines for running at least. Perhaps he was simply given a session off.

Draper and Welsh were also absent. My first thought was that they may be doing the annual AFLPA gig in Melbourne for the first year players? Otherwise I’m not sure.

To make up the numbers a few SANFL squad members joined today, including Drury after a couple sessions off. I thought Ned Atkinson was one of the more impressive of the bunch, bit scrappy by foot but he’s a handy player.

Teams for the first quarter were as follows:

Blue (A team)
FB: Michalanney Keane Bond
HB: Milera Laird Hinge
_C: Sholl Rankine Soligo
HF: Keays Rachele Neal-Bullen
FF: Thilthorpe Fogarty Walker
_R: O’Brien Dawson Crouch
INT: Curtin Peatling Worrell

White (B team)
FB: Butts Borlase Nankervis
HB: Edwards Ryan Smith
_C: Jones Berry Cook
HF: Murphy Taylor McDonald
FF: Atkinson Burgess Gallagher
_R: McAndrew Schoenberg Dowling
INT: Drury Thomas Coleman

Unsurprisingly it was a bit of a bloodbath early on, though the white team did eventually find some rhythm and finished the quarter ok.

Not a heap of surprises with selection, though Milera over Nankervis I’m not sure about. Let’s hope we don’t repeat the same mistake of last year. Bond in the A team was also interesting though not a shock. Obviously there was no Murray or Cumming who would both come into that side, Draper possibly as well.

Positionally it was pretty much as expected although, unlike Friday, Dawson had bulk CBAs while Soligo played wing. Hope Soli doesn’t spend too much time out there as he is a natural stoppage player.

Goals were Keays 2, Rachele 2, Neal-Bullen, Dawson.

Second quarter teams were as follows:

Blue
FB: Bond Butts Nankervis
HB: Smith Ryan Edwards
_C: Sholl Rankine Soligo
HF: Murphy Rachele Neal-Bullen
FF: Thilthorpe Fogarty Walker
_R: O’Brien Dawson Crouch
INT: Curtin Peatling Worrell

White
FB: Borlase Keane Michalanney
HB: Milera Laird Hinge
_C. Jones Berry Dowling
HF: McDonald Cook Keays
FF: Atkinson Burgess Gallagher
_R: McAndrew Schoenberg Taylor
INT: Drury Coleman Thomas

With an improved backline the White team became a bit harder to score against and held their own around the ball, but really struggled to find avenues to goal once inside forward 50.

Goals were Thilthorpe 2, Rankine 2, Rachele, Walker

Unlike Friday where Rankine put on a clinic, there were no absolute standouts today but instead a bunch of solid performers - to my eye the better players were Rankine, Dawson, Rachele and Sholl while Schoenberg, Berry and Cook were the best for the white team.

Some player thoughts:

Berry - even against our prime mids he was too strong in the body at times to bring down. Ball use was a bit scrappy in congestion, though fumbles were kept to a minimum.

Curtin - actually didn’t attend a CBA, instead played as a high forward coming off the bench. Did a few nice things but also dropped a couple of marks he should have taken and I would’ve hoped for a bit more impact.

Thilthorpe - misjudged the ball in the air a few times, mind you the wind didn’t help. On the deck however he was typical Filthy - super clean and smart. He’s seriously clever when he gets it.

Rachele - very productive and worked hard up and down the ground for his ball. Kicked the three goals but pushed up high to get involved in transition as well. No mid clock however.

Edwards - barely touched it on the white team, on the blue side however he got his hands on it more and hit some lovely risky kicks, including a beautiful pass to Thilthorpe in the corridor which led to a goal.

Dawson - still our best mark around the ground and I thought his clearance work was great today. Was light on his feet and drove his legs from the contest. In fine form at present.

Cook - one of the few white team players who still got involved even when the blue side was all over them. Once again appeared to relish being on a wing, took a couple nice marks as well.

Ryan - bit up and down. Took a lovely intercept grab and provided some nice drive off half back, but also dropped a couple marks he should’ve taken including one that should have cost a goal if not for Gallagher spraying the shot.

Rankine - not as dominant as Friday but still doing some very special things in that midfield. He’s toying with some of the lads at times such is his confidence at the moment.

Schoenberg - best player for the white team in my view. Hard at the coal face and has added some real strength to break tackles. Overlap run was good too. Hard not to be impressed with him at the moment.

Nankervis - similar to Edwards, found it tough going for the white team but really asserted himself after changing sides. Did one run out of defence that really caught the eye. Hope he’s not being forgotten about again - he’s too good not to be in our best side.

Bond - one or two turnovers kicking into the wind but I can’t help but be impressed by this lad’s improvement. He barely touched it last summer - not the case today and the fact he was in the A team says a lot. Not sure he’s a lock for round one but must be closer than I previously thought.

Mcandrew - whilst not dominant I thought he got the better of rob today. Won more hit outs and offered just as much if not more around the ground. We’re talking about a bloke who will likely be playing for the Legs - starting to get a bit concerned about how rob is travelling.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Another great training report. But I think you need to realise that Cumming being a no show isn't necessary interesting. We know that our club is very flexible and supportive of work/life balance. Not every variation at training is something that's potentially meaningful.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Another great training report. But I think you need to realise that Cumming being a no show isn't necessary interesting. We know that our club is very flexible and supportive of work/life balance. Not every variation at training is something that's potentially meaningful.

What a stupid and insensitive thing to say ....how about you take the time and effort to inform the board

 

[Mostyn]

If If If


The big difference staring you in the face should be the Suns had planned for Jarrod Witts replacement several years out but the Crows have sat on there hands so much so that a delisted 3rd or 4th string back up Sydney ruckman who we don't even have a list spot for is our back up plan now. Yeah sound list management no doubt.

Who gives a shit about the minimum wage break glass backup? Honestly - it's the least important spot in the squad.

That has zero to do with Moyle.

 

[Mutineer]

Who gives a shit about the minimum wage break glass backup? Honestly - it's the least important spot in the squad.

That has zero to do with Moyle.

Clueless as usual, unlike you'll I'll call out the club when they stuff up and our ruck situation currently is a massive **** up for season 2025 and beyond. Should have been attended to several seasons ago and no excuse after what we saw from Strachan at AFL level in 2024 to not have freed up a list spot to attend to it is a big failure any way you try to spin it.