Training Pre Season ‘25

[one eyedtiger]

Is MRJ’s massive potential due to his extreme talent (which he hasn’t used so far) or just due to the fact that he’s done nothing to far therefore doing anything would be a massive improvement. At what point do we stop talking about potential and start talking about underperforming. I see MRJ and Cumberland as very similar but the narrative on here is very different.

Disagree, particularly with the bolded part. I suppose you could say both haven't (Cumbo never did given he is no longer with the club) reached their potential. But I think the comparisons end there.

The biggest difference between the 2 is mental/keeping their head in the game. MRJ could be having a quiet one but he is always locked in, focused and continues to apply his pressure and cause turnovers throughout the game. If the ball didn't fall for Cumbo early OR he made an error, he would completely lose his head and overthink everything and essentially be rendered useless for the rest of the game.

Cumberland is a naturally talented footballer with great goal sense. But in his time with us apart from that little patch at the end of 2022, he could never play consistent footy. If Cumberland wasn't kicking goals he wasn't offering anything else. MRJ always brings pace, pressure and causes turnovers. If he can build on that and start kicking goals more consistently then we will have a A grade small forward. His floor is always that though, chase and tackle. Cumbo's floor could be pretty awful. IMO that is why the narrative was so different.

And for the record, I think MRJ really started to show great signs of maturing as a player this year pre his injury. Yze had allowed him to move up the ground and he was getting a lot more involved in general play. Hopefully he continues to build on that moving into 2025.

 

[Oldest Tiger]

Disagree, particularly with the bolded part. I suppose you could say both haven't (Cumbo never did given he is no longer with the club) reached their potential. But I think the comparisons end there.

The biggest difference between the 2 is mental/keeping their head in the game. MRJ could be having a quiet one but he is always locked in, focused and continues to apply his pressure and cause turnovers throughout the game. If the ball didn't fall for Cumbo early OR he made an error, he would completely lose his head and overthink everything and essentially be rendered useless for the rest of the game.

Cumberland is a naturally talented footballer with great goal sense. But in his time with us apart from that little patch at the end of 2022, he could never play consistent footy. If Cumberland wasn't kicking goals he wasn't offering anything else. MRJ always brings pace, pressure and causes turnovers. If he can build on that and start kicking goals more consistently then we will have a A grade small forward. His floor is always that though, chase and tackle. Cumbo's floor could be pretty awful. IMO that is why the narrative was so different.

And for the record, I think MRJ really started to show great signs of maturing as a player this year pre his injury. Yze had allowed him to move up the ground and he was getting a lot more involved in general play. Hopefully he continues to build on that moving into 2025.

Not a fan and this is over a considerable body of work. My opinion and not held by most here is he will not make it. Firstly he is not 'fast' is very quick over 5 meters but slows rapidly and gets tackled a lot. His endurance is poor so pressure is one off, rarely repeat efforts. Almost blasphemy but for a Rioli he does not have a football brain! That is he is not a very good reader of the game (drop of the ball, forward craft etc). With experience and better fitness base he should improve but with competition for spots I am not optimistic.

 

[Maurice Mitchell]

And for the record, I think MRJ really started to show great signs of maturing as a player this year pre his injury. Yze had allowed him to move up the ground and he was getting a lot more involved in general play.

Firstly he is not 'fast' is very quick over 5 meters but slows rapidly and gets tackled a lot.

I made the point many times in his first few years that his sprint was short and he was caught with the ball too many times but last season he was able break tackles, which he couldn’t do before.

That at least showed progression. As long as there are signs of improvement he’s worth having around. His physique seems to be better this preseason as well.

If he doesn’t make it, he doesn’t make it. But at least he isn’t regressing.

 

[Groupie_]

I made the point many times in his first few years that his sprint was short and he was caught with the ball too many times but last season he was able break tackles, which he couldn’t do before.

That at least showed progression. As long as there are signs of improvement he’s worth having around. His physique seems to be better this preseason as well.

If he doesn’t make it, he doesn’t make it. But at least he isn’t regressing.

at least he has already passed dean