Why do fitness at all? Plugger’s era they punch darts and sink tins, at half time. Surely that would work just as well today? Game hasn’t changed that much after all?
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Training Pre season training
- Thread starter saintmike65
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- May 17, 2014
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Good to see you've picked up your bottom lip and rejoined your friends...any news of your mate George?
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Good summation…the boss was at the time trial making the draftees feel comfortable & a part of it all.
Re: Collard, no doubt you saw that sublime front & centre goal in one of the drills!
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Its been reported on a few websites but no confirmation yet.
Minga
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Kicks goals too, possibly the most underrated aspect to his game and is the culmination of his hard work and above mentioned assets
Bugger me. I'm an old man with a back problem, and an injury from about 5 weeks ago that means I haven't been in the gym for 5 weeks - and I'm STILL in better nick than old Jakey !!!!
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Don’t get me wrong he’s not carrying any extra weight he’s lost some size and definition from his upper body. That’s understandable with him training alone and really with him having no club or comp to train with maybe he’s giving his body a rest and sees no point carrying about an extra 5 kg of muscle.
It’s a fair effort to be pounding out the klms in the rain alone but for I’d guess a minder on a bike, guy wasn’t young and didn’t look like a gym junkie or personal trainer. It’s deceptive with some guys it’s hard to tell how fast they’re running but to my eye it looked like a jog maybe at 20 minute 5k pace. This was Elwood he may may already put in 15k for all I know, he was heading back towards the city.
It’s all about timing for him know, when/if he gets the go ahead. Will it be before the late may mid season draft, will the afl want him to have a kick somewhere else and come back through the whole draft process ?. Anyway you look at it seems a 2026 player, I can’t see how he’d offer anyone much in 2025 but who knows.
Zzzed
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This is a great topic stavro#4 for discussion that deserves its own thread.
My 2 cents worth I think you nailed the first 3 Cal Twomey style, but I'm in agreeance with other punters that Nas doesn't belong in this top 5. Not saying he doesn't need to continue improving, just there are others that should be ahead of him on this list. Having Nas at 4 was a bit like the phantoms that had Tauru going at pick 2. You can see why he was in the conversation but there were others ahead of him.
Wilson moves up to 4th, for the reasons mentioned, and then its throw a blanket over a bunch of them - much like the discussion of the teens picks in this years draft. I could make a case for Windhager, Keeler, Henry, Heath, and Caminiti.
For me, pick 5 is Keeler. He's had 2 years on the list, coming into his 3rd preseason and needs to start claiming a spot in the starting 18. Teased us with his highlight reel and now gets plenty of opportunity with a multitude of talls moved off the list.
stkilda7894
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So do we think it's just Harry Boyd going to be trialling for a rookie spot?
Has anyone heard anything on Cole or Peckett? Trialling? Sandy for a year?
Has anyone heard anything on Cole or Peckett? Trialling? Sandy for a year?
Might as well give my top 5 too:
1. King - we've built around him, we've given him a massive contract, it's time for him to step up. Needs a 50+ goal season AND to be more involved up the ground. Has as much ground to make up to get to where he should be as any player on the list.
2. Owens - He was a beast in 2023 and just ok in 2024. He's got massive potential, would love to see him get some centre bounce attendances, even if he isn't seen as a full time midfielder.
3. Phillipou - We all have massive hopes for the kid. The genuine stars of the comp usually break out in year 3 or 4, would love to see him make his mark on the comp.
4. Sharman - We need him to continue on how he finished last year. That game against Essendon showed how influential he can be, need to see more of that. He can help out King by taking a good defender away and can push up the ground to get some footy.
5. Windhager - Steele needs help and Macrae isn't the player he used to be, even if we do play him in the right position. Would like to see Windy develop from a full on tagged to a run with player who can keep a gun mid to 20 touches while getting 20+ himself.
Honourable mention: Keeler. Unfair to rely on a bloke that hasn't even made his debut, but we need a player of his type as much as we need a dominant midfielder. If he can back up Marshall and make himself dangerous in the forward line we are so much harder to play against.
1. King - we've built around him, we've given him a massive contract, it's time for him to step up. Needs a 50+ goal season AND to be more involved up the ground. Has as much ground to make up to get to where he should be as any player on the list.
2. Owens - He was a beast in 2023 and just ok in 2024. He's got massive potential, would love to see him get some centre bounce attendances, even if he isn't seen as a full time midfielder.
3. Phillipou - We all have massive hopes for the kid. The genuine stars of the comp usually break out in year 3 or 4, would love to see him make his mark on the comp.
4. Sharman - We need him to continue on how he finished last year. That game against Essendon showed how influential he can be, need to see more of that. He can help out King by taking a good defender away and can push up the ground to get some footy.
5. Windhager - Steele needs help and Macrae isn't the player he used to be, even if we do play him in the right position. Would like to see Windy develop from a full on tagged to a run with player who can keep a gun mid to 20 touches while getting 20+ himself.
Honourable mention: Keeler. Unfair to rely on a bloke that hasn't even made his debut, but we need a player of his type as much as we need a dominant midfielder. If he can back up Marshall and make himself dangerous in the forward line we are so much harder to play against.
Reading these reports about Keeler is exceptionally pleasing, given his skill set and mix of attributes.
The guy has talent up the wazoo, especially for someone that size.
I remember reading what the supposed recruiter from North said about him pre draft, rating him at no.3 on his “pure talent” board in that draft. And his highlights video was one of the best you’ll ever see. Again, especially for someone of that size. Just ridiculous some of the stuff he was doing.
Makes it reasonably baffling that we only gave him a 1 year contract (assuming that’s all we offered), while giving the similarly raw but likewise crazily talented Collard 3 more years. Especially given how close he is to Nas, who we would desperately want to re-sign.
A guy like Keeler reaching anywhere near his full potential is the type of thing that could be a total game changer for us over the coming years.
Him and Tauru could be a couple of big wildcards. As could guys like Hammer, Schoenmaker and Hugo, to a lesser extent.
The guy has talent up the wazoo, especially for someone that size.
I remember reading what the supposed recruiter from North said about him pre draft, rating him at no.3 on his “pure talent” board in that draft. And his highlights video was one of the best you’ll ever see. Again, especially for someone of that size. Just ridiculous some of the stuff he was doing.
Makes it reasonably baffling that we only gave him a 1 year contract (assuming that’s all we offered), while giving the similarly raw but likewise crazily talented Collard 3 more years. Especially given how close he is to Nas, who we would desperately want to re-sign.
A guy like Keeler reaching anywhere near his full potential is the type of thing that could be a total game changer for us over the coming years.
Him and Tauru could be a couple of big wildcards. As could guys like Hammer, Schoenmaker and Hugo, to a lesser extent.
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There were two guys training with the squad today, but neither of them were Cole or Peckett.
Like it. Honourable mention of Henry for me too. Through no fault of his own he missed the majority of the year, but think he adds an extra dimension we’ve lacked.
Thought about adding him for the same reason. He's got the talent and the point of difference for us.
Really concerned about his knee long term, hope he can come back 100%
Just imagine if he, Tauru, (and less-so Sharman as he’s already trending up) hit anywhere near their perceived ceilings. Insane forward line/swing man mobility
Just on Jack Carroll, being a new player I've been focusing on him a fair bit. It's been noted how he seems to find space in tight, he has good acceleration and a wonderful sidestep. His kicking is absolutely top notch, in greasy conditions he was one of the guys to hit the target on most occasions. Today I saw shades of a left footed Lenny Hayes.
His fitness seems to be middle of the road for a midfielder which surprised me a bit considering everything I've read about his elite athleticism. Having said that he seems incredibly strong the the hips and core. There was a one on one drill with Wilson and he absolutely ragdolled Darcy with a fend off.
Onto Darcy... I feel bad saying this but we should be cooling our jets a bit on him. Time trials are his thing, he looks in amazing shape and is absolutely blitzing it. But this aspect of his game was never in question.
If he lines up on the half forward line and just roams from (fwd) pocket to (back) pocket averaging 20 touches this year then he's done very well again. No point putting unrealistic expectations on him in his second year.
Stavro, I'm not sure I agree with your list you made for reasons above. I fear it may have just been worded strangely. But I certainly wouldn't be putting Nas, Pou and Wilson in the pressure cooker.
His fitness seems to be middle of the road for a midfielder which surprised me a bit considering everything I've read about his elite athleticism. Having said that he seems incredibly strong the the hips and core. There was a one on one drill with Wilson and he absolutely ragdolled Darcy with a fend off.
Onto Darcy... I feel bad saying this but we should be cooling our jets a bit on him. Time trials are his thing, he looks in amazing shape and is absolutely blitzing it. But this aspect of his game was never in question.
If he lines up on the half forward line and just roams from (fwd) pocket to (back) pocket averaging 20 touches this year then he's done very well again. No point putting unrealistic expectations on him in his second year.
Stavro, I'm not sure I agree with your list you made for reasons above. I fear it may have just been worded strangely. But I certainly wouldn't be putting Nas, Pou and Wilson in the pressure cooker.
Don’t make me think about that, I’m out in public!
FraserFridays
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Not sure if you seen through the early stages of the year but he was all over the AFL player tracker running stats. Broke repeat sprint records and stuff like that. We do have to be wary of 2nd year blues. But this kid looks special.
Personally, I have very low expectations of Darcy this year.
I would say the likelihood of him having “2nd year blues” to some extent is much higher than the likelihood of him going up another level or two.
I think that’s much more likely to come in years 3 or 4.
Which is where the likes of Owens, Pou, Nas and Hammer are.
They are the ones who I’d be very confident will take their games to new levels next year, all-things-being-equal.
I compared Nas’s numbers and in particular coaches vote numbers to the guys who play his type of role who made either the AA team, or the AA squad, this year, and he was right in the middle of most of the ones who made the AA squad, and he had more coaches votes than Houston, who was named on the field in the AA team.
So he very very easily could have been in the AA squad at a minimum this year, and if he goes to a new level next year, could easily make the AA team.
While if we get the sort of Pou we got for 4 weeks at the end for a whole year next year, that alone could transform our team.
He is virtually like a “new recruit” next year, seeing as he was miles off it early on, then we only got 4 games of “good Pou”.
Him and Macrae could transform our midfield, and Dow is another who is like a “new recruit”, as he might as well have not gone around this year. He played one decent game, off that injury.
And who knows with Hunter Clark. Could he finally have a full preseason and then go a whole season without injury and have a breakout year? Armo had one at about 27yo, so it’s not out of the question.
The scope for improvement in our midfield is off the charts, especially on the putrid one we fielded for the first 9 rounds this year.
That we were able to win 3 games and lose 5 more by 10 points or less in that period- especially from ZERO legitimate home ground advantage games, and only two at Marvel in total- was in hindsight extremely commendable.
I would say the likelihood of him having “2nd year blues” to some extent is much higher than the likelihood of him going up another level or two.
I think that’s much more likely to come in years 3 or 4.
Which is where the likes of Owens, Pou, Nas and Hammer are.
They are the ones who I’d be very confident will take their games to new levels next year, all-things-being-equal.
I compared Nas’s numbers and in particular coaches vote numbers to the guys who play his type of role who made either the AA team, or the AA squad, this year, and he was right in the middle of most of the ones who made the AA squad, and he had more coaches votes than Houston, who was named on the field in the AA team.
So he very very easily could have been in the AA squad at a minimum this year, and if he goes to a new level next year, could easily make the AA team.
While if we get the sort of Pou we got for 4 weeks at the end for a whole year next year, that alone could transform our team.
He is virtually like a “new recruit” next year, seeing as he was miles off it early on, then we only got 4 games of “good Pou”.
Him and Macrae could transform our midfield, and Dow is another who is like a “new recruit”, as he might as well have not gone around this year. He played one decent game, off that injury.
And who knows with Hunter Clark. Could he finally have a full preseason and then go a whole season without injury and have a breakout year? Armo had one at about 27yo, so it’s not out of the question.
The scope for improvement in our midfield is off the charts, especially on the putrid one we fielded for the first 9 rounds this year.
That we were able to win 3 games and lose 5 more by 10 points or less in that period- especially from ZERO legitimate home ground advantage games, and only two at Marvel in total- was in hindsight extremely commendable.
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Is Paddy Dow generally considered a write off by the majority of fans?
I'm only asking because I feel like he is a bit of a forgotten man, rarely being mentioned. He looks in ripping nick this year. If he gets a full preseason in, he'll be like a new recruit to our midfield. I have definitely not given up on him. In fact, he's one of those ones who - if he gets a bit of consistency in his footy and body - will be the type to lift us to the next level, moreso than the kids who will naturally progress.
Adding two dynamic players like Dow & Carroll, along with Macrae and a continuation of Pou's end of season form and suddenly our midfield looks completely different. Add in Windy and Garcia as those manic defensive minded midfielders to that mix. I am started to realise why Jack Steele had a big smile on his face today.
I'm only asking because I feel like he is a bit of a forgotten man, rarely being mentioned. He looks in ripping nick this year. If he gets a full preseason in, he'll be like a new recruit to our midfield. I have definitely not given up on him. In fact, he's one of those ones who - if he gets a bit of consistency in his footy and body - will be the type to lift us to the next level, moreso than the kids who will naturally progress.
Adding two dynamic players like Dow & Carroll, along with Macrae and a continuation of Pou's end of season form and suddenly our midfield looks completely different. Add in Windy and Garcia as those manic defensive minded midfielders to that mix. I am started to realise why Jack Steele had a big smile on his face today.
Saints4ever
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I certainly haven’t written him off.
Injury slowed his pre season last year and he never got the continuity required.
High hopes for Paddy Wow in 2025.
FraserFridays
Draftee
- Nov 24, 2024
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Big Paddy Dow fan. Think he can definitely bring something to our midfield. Just couldn't get his body right. But the photos I've seen he looks in great nick. The fight is on for those midfield spots. Don't think players will be getting many chances for poor games next year.
