Training Pre season training

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Saint12 said:
Don't get the obsession with winning the pre season time trials....pretty sure Plugger never won one. No Stawell Gifts are going to be won. Sick of hearing who came first second third or last.
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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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kick it lace out said:
Popped into training at Moorabbin this morning:

As mentioned previously, King, Windy, Wood & Stocker all in rehab group, joined later on by Caminiti. I also noticed that Byrnes didn't participate in drills and just run laps. Might be injured?

Marshall and McLellan both wore fluro caps. No tackling due to recovering from surgery.

The new recruits were watching from the boundary. It looked like Damien Carroll was explaining the drills to them so that when they're ready to join in, they have some idea of what to do.
I walked over to where they stood and I was shocked at how huge James Barrat is. He has an AFL ready body, quite surprising for someone so young (still only 17!). Boxshall is also a good size for a midfielder, and the comparisons with Jack Steele are spot on, although he'll need to fill out a little over the next couple of seasons.

Zane Cordy would have to have one of the most unusual kicking styles I've ver seen, but he rarely misses any targets (right or left foot).

Phillipou is the most determined and driven young guy I've seen since Roo. You can just see the sheer determination to be the best player in the comp. Like others have said, I think he could have a break out year. Similarly, Hugo Garcia is really impressive. He stands out at training and loves to be involved, and more often than not, he is. He and Pou will drive the rest of the young brigade and will set the standards for others to follow. Both Hugo & Pou command the ball and Pou in particualr is very loud and vocal and isn't afraid to give feedback. So mature beyond his age.

Lance Collard and Brad Hill are very tight, often seen laughing at each others jokes. I studied Collard particualrly closely as I'd been less than impressed with his previous efforts/attitude at training. In one passage of play he was guarding Steele and as the ball moved forward, Steele took off and ran towards the forward line (from half back). Collard took off after Steele a few yards behind but by the time the ball had entered the forward line, he'd well and truly burnt off Steele. This kid could either be anything or nothing. It's really up to him. He makes footy look easy - he just needs to be a little more focused and driven.

Brad Hill is the connector. He seems to be at the end of most handball chains and pumps the ball into the forward line. His explosive sprints are something to behold. He knows where and when to run and his team mates feed him the ball. Hill's leadership is under-rated. He's so well liked by his team mates, and sets such a great example for the younger group.

Others who stood out were Gus McLelland - he's actually got some quite nice kicking skills. He was often used to distribute the ball coming off half back, and I don't remember him missing any targets. The question for me is, where does he fit in to this side? Sincs and Nas have half back covered and there's a huge group of half backs that he would be competing with (Arie, Hastie, Irish, Travaglia, Tauru).
As mentioned by others, Keeler is ready to explode. He's been the most impressive so far this pre-season. For a guy who is 198cm he's going to be a nightmare to match up on. His skills in this morning's wet and slippery conditions were sublime. He was clunking marks which this time last year he was double-grabbing. I will be very surprised if he doesn't debut early next year.
Jack Carroll is a great acquisition - I actually think he'll play a lot of football this year. Unfortunately for him, Carlton's midfield is stacked and so he was pushed out, but I think Carlton will regret letting him go. A terrific ball user, with a sublime left foot. He may end up being the best of the group that we've picked up from Carlton (Stocker, Dow & Carroll).

Didn't spot RTB at all and it appeared as though Brendan Bolton ran training this morning.

Cheers.
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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!
 
Broski said:
The kid absolutely glides across the turf. He is starting to look like a unit now.

I know it is over the top slightly, but is there player across the league that is better suited to modern football than Darcy? Can run all day and at high speed longer than anyone else, is tall, can use the ball pretty well, has a massive leap and is quite versatile. The fact he was pick 18 is incredible.


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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
 
Sainter93 said:
I want to see a Cordy vs Stringer time trial

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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 !!!! o_O
 
phantom13 said:
Tarryn had suspect and lax training standards when he was in the AFL environment, outside of it im not shocked hes fallen off a cliff.

Glad we got spooked off inquiring seriously TBH
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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.
 
stavro#4 said:
Stav’s Top 5 players that need to go to another level this offseason & next season

1. Max King - Self explanatory. The size is now there. But he needs to do more work than he ever has on the track. It is time. No excuses from here.

2. Phillipou - No secret we went to another level when he came back and took his game to another level. We now need a season of 25 disposals and goal each week.

3. Owens - Membrey gone. Poor season (although he still had some impact). He has to become the man alongside max in our fwd50

4. NAS - time is now. He needs to go from a very good half back. To challenging Sinclair in output. 22 next year and a big contract negotiation to take place.

5. Wilson - a lot to like about his first season. BUT only got to 25 touches once. (Yes it was THAT GAME) We’ve seen the ceiling. We need to see year on year improvement. 15 touches in 24. Needs to be 20 in 25 and hopefully with a. Goal a game.
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 

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Armoooo said:
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.
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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.
 
Dard Ball Get said:
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.
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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%
 
aussierulesrules said:
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.
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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.
 
Broski said:
The kid absolutely glides across the turf. He is starting to look like a unit now.

I know it is over the top slightly, but is there player across the league that is better suited to modern football than Darcy? Can run all day and at high speed longer than anyone else, is tall, can use the ball pretty well, has a massive leap and is quite versatile. The fact he was pick 18 is incredible.


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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.
 
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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.
 
TheJackal said:
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.
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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.
 
TheJackal said:
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.
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Feels like if he hasn’t been able to break out by now he probably won’t but I can see your point.

Fingers crossed cause if it does click for him it’ll be really helpful.
 
saintmike65 said:
He’d be on a modified program after his hamstring injury late season..King, Caminiti & Marshall similar but all seem to be running well so I’d imagine they’d join in full training post Christmas
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austinnn said:
Where did you read that? Can't find anything about Crouch retiring
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John Ralph HS and X
 
TheJackal said:
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.
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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.
 
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