Exciting Pre-Season Ahead

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Every coming pre-season, following the Trade & Draft period is always eagerly anticipated by supporters, even if not necessarily just for the actual prospect of watching practice or pre-season games themselves.
It is a time when we all love to see new draft and trade acquisitions play, and see how players have responded after the off season.

I've got to say though that for me the upcoming preseason probably represents the one that has really excited me the most that I can recall.
There are just so many variables I'm interested this year to add into the equation.

What are other people's thoughts on the upcoming practice/preseason period?

Here's my reasons why I am really really looking forward to the pre-season.


1. Luke Darcy return- no need to say more really.

2. The large crop of players who may have opportunities to show their wares/physical development for extended period during practice & pre-season games: Williams, McCormack, Walsh, Wight, Skipper, Ray, Brad Murphy, Birss, Baird, McGuinness, Power, Higgins.

3. Sort of following on from the first point- Who will take further steps towards their full potential?? Is it one from the group above, will it be a few of them?? Is someone like a Tiller or Wells going to knock Eade & Co's socks off with a stellar pre-season training period, and leapfrog others to get a shot?

4. To see how the plan to rectify the previous regime's rather lacklustre approach to coordinated weights and fitness training is proceeding. I was stunned when the news came out about how poorly this crucial area was managed previously. From bit's and pieces I've read on the board here, its sounds as if already some players are showing significant muscle gain.

5. I am really also looking forward to seeing how the Bulldog players as a group respond to the expectations that are already building amongst fans and media for this team to take a BIG step up the pecking order next year.
I think every media "expert" to date to date has nominated the Bulldogs to make the 8, some as high as top 4.
And this is where I'm expecting Eade's media savvy last year will assist the guys in maintaining their composure under the spotlight.

There were many times last year that I recall Eade putting the heat or spotlight on players through the media last year- Brian Harris is one, Gilbee another, Cooney, and Griffen too (after Geelong game). In addition to making several comments on the players and the group as a whole during various interviews. As well as media articles such as the "inside the locker room" expose focussing on the buidl up to the Brisbane win following the loss of Darcy.

6. Eade's Bulldog Midfield Mk II A peak into the future?? - with Monte and others to try in defense during pre-season, it will give Eade a great chance to trial many combinations in the midfield. : West, Gilbee, Cross, Johnson, Cooney, Ray, Boyd, Morris, McMahon, Power, McCormack, Higgins, Murphy's- Rob & Brad. I'm really looking forward to seeing if and how Eade further experiments with player positions in general during the preseason.

7. Hopefully seeing Bulldog membership numbers surging towards record levels!!!! ALL THE WAY TO 26K!!!!!

Let's just get this Cricket bizo out of the way.......

Hurry up Pre-season 2006.............

[stefoid]

Im liking the fact that we have some genuine contenders to fill CHB and CHF as early as round 1. morgan, skipper, williams and baird get to stake their claims in the pre-season, while davidson waits in the wings.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Im liking the fact that we have some genuine contenders to fill CHB and CHF as early as round 1. morgan, skipper, williams and baird get to stake their claims in the pre-season, while davidson waits in the wings.


I didn't want to raise Tom Davidson's prospects, only becasue his rise next year would mean that someone else had suffered a long term injury.
However now that you've raised it:D I would love for Tom to have an injury free and great season with Werribee and gain an opportunity on the list in 2007.

And I agree stefoid- having a corp of likely types in CHB & CHF is a great prospect to look forward to, as a change for us all!!

[stefoid]

I didn't want to raise Tom Davidson's prospects, only becasue his rise next year would mean that someone else had suffered a long term injury.
However now that you've raised it:D I would love for Tom to have an injury free and great season with Werribee and gain an opportunity on the list in 2007.

And I agree stefoid- having a corp of likely types in CHB & CHF is a great prospect to look forward to, as a change for us all!!

It would be a rare year if at least one player didnt get knocked out for 8 weeks or more. sad but true.

[bulldogtragic]

In short what might of happened in past years was there were the very good players who knew they were in the team and the crap ones that didnt - or so i'll poorly argue. But the list is now so finely balanced where the lower end midfielders are Brad Murphy or McCormack (Due to lack of AFL experience) so the depth is there to. Any player could line up this year and I think every player knows that which means in my head, i think every single player is going to train the house down because every player rightfully thinks they can get a game. This situation is what we've been waiting probably 9 years for.

[Mofra]

This situation is what we've been waiting probably 9 years for.I can't remember a time when the depth on our list was this good, even taking into account CHF/CHB is not a settled position in the side yet. We could probably field two AFL-quality on-ball positions with the list we have, especially if Higgins and McCormack can crack it for some senior games this year like many are expecting.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I can't remember a time when the depth on our list was this good, even taking into account CHF/CHB is not a settled position in the side yet. We could probably field two AFL-quality on-ball positions with the list we have, especially if Higgins and McCormack can crack it for some senior games this year like many are expecting.

I Agree Mofra, and even though as you say CHB/CHF isn't settled for us, at leat it appears from our drafting ove the past 3-4 years, Walsh, Williams, Wight,Tiller, Wells, West we are trying to solve it on a long terms basis.