Training 2023 Pre-season thread

[Nunez]

Us oldies not hip do. I’m stuck in the mid 90’s, but damn if I can’t find any more cross colour jeans.

Lolz

 

[martinson]

Us oldies not hip do. I’m stuck in the mid 90’s, but damn if I can’t find any more cross colour jeans.

My Flairs from the 60's are still waiting for a comeback.

They must've been bad if we haven't had a sniff for 60 years.

 

[BangyBangy]

Us oldies not hip do. I’m stuck in the mid 90’s, but damn if I can’t find any more cross colour jeans.

I have some hypercolour t-shirts you can buy

 

[martinson]

Half the young ladies I see in the gym these days have red or purple hair . Even saw a yellow one the other day. That's before I get on to their piercings.

Flairs weren't as bad as that. You can take your flairs off when you go to bed.

 

[briztoon]

Come the week before round 1, there’s probably only 2 spots up for grabs, wing and bench outside mid/wing.

My expected team from Fagan is;

Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
Coleman Payne Rich

Berry McCluggage ???
McInerney Neale Dunkley

Zorko Hipwood Bailey
Gunston Daniher Cameron

Rayner, Ashcroft, McKenna, ???

 

[BangyBangy]

Half the young ladies I see in the gym these days have red or purple hair . Even saw a yellow one the other day. That's before I get on to their piercings.

Flairs weren't as bad as that. You can take your flairs off when you go to bed.

Outrageous.

I wish for a simpler time...

 

[Nunez]

My Flairs from the 60's are still waiting for a comeback.

They must've been bad if we haven't had a sniff for 60 years.

 

[rye]

Come the week before round 1, there’s probably only 2 spots up for grabs, wing and bench outside mid/wing.

My expected team from Fagan is;

Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
Coleman Payne Rich

Berry McCluggage ???
McInerney Neale Dunkley

Zorko Hipwood Bailey
Gunston Daniher Cameron

Rayner, Ashcroft, McKenna, ???

McCarthy will be a definite round 1 selection and would have to have a pretty bad form slump with lohmann / coleman looking good in the seconds to be dropped imo.

i think theres only one b22 spot up for grabs if you think McKenna will have a sure spot round 1

 

[Nunez]

I think we've got ridiculous depth and the fact that we're discussing the likes of McCarthy, Ah Chee, McKenna, Rich & Lyons as not getting a game means we're in a great spot. Frankly, I don't care who the coaches opt for round one because whoever is selected will have a LOT of pressure on them to perform or else there will be at least 5 AFL calibre players waiting to take this spot. How good.

 

[Section 5]

Come the week before round 1, there’s probably only 2 spots up for grabs, wing and bench outside mid/wing.

My expected team from Fagan is;

Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
Coleman Payne Rich

Berry McCluggage ???
McInerney Neale Dunkley

Zorko Hipwood Bailey
Gunston Daniher Cameron

Rayner, Ashcroft, McKenna, ???

McCarthy will be a definite round 1 selection and would have to have a pretty bad form slump with lohmann / coleman looking good in the seconds to be dropped imo.

i think theres only one b22 spot up for grabs if you think McKenna will have a sure spot round 1

I cannot see McCarthy missing out either rye:.

McKenna will be given every chance to prove himself for R1 selection. The club usually play the players they seek out.
Having said that McKenna has been out of the AFL since August 2020.
For me the HB position is still up in the air. A few more games and it will become clearer. No doubt McKenna will play during 2023.

McKenna, Answerth, Ah Chee, Wilmot & to a lesser extent Madden.

I was busy taking photos last week but i thought i saw Sharp playing halfback in the first 2 quarters for Maroon. Can anyone confirm.
No more photos for this preseason so i will take more notice of how McKenna and co are performing.

 

[Bernie05]

It’s an interesting mix with those coloured magnets.

Wonder if Tunstill, Prior, and Wilmot are playing off for one wing spot R1.

Think it’d be unlikely, though not impossible, 2/3 make the best 22.

It’s already a strong 22 on paper but add in Zorko, Payne, Gardiner, and Gunston = beautiful.

Berry missing from our best 22 as well. This has felt like a really long Pre-season

 

[M Malice]

JL has played some amazing football for our club but a lot of posters seem to forget about that but vividly remember the second half of last season where he obviously under performed while carrying an injury. I sincerely hope he gets back to full fitness and does a Teddy Whitten to all of the ones here who have written him off.

Do you think we would have one too many players whose main job is as an inside mid in the side if Lyons was in the side as well ML?

Neale and Dunkley and then significant inside stints from the likes of Berry and Ashcroft, cameos from Rayner, Zorko, McCluggage.

I concur with what mattsmob posted on the previous page, most are not selecting Lyons due to team balance which is why I prefer Dev or even Tunstill as more versatile options.

 

[Nunez]

Do you think we would have one too many players whose main job is as an inside mid in the side if Lyons was in the side as well ML?

Neale and Dunkley and then significant inside stints from the likes of Berry and Ashcroft, cameos from Rayner, Zorko, McCluggage.

I concur with what mattsmob posted on the previous page, most are not selecting Lyons due to team balance which is why I prefer Dev or even Tunstill as more versatile options.

If JL got back to his best then he'd absolutely be best 22. I don't know if anyone can logically say otherwise.

With that in mind, I think that's a big IF. I hope he does as it would be a huge luxury to play JL off the bench and cover for Lachie when he needs a spell.

 

[M Malice]

If JL got back to his best then he'd absolutely be best 22. I don't know if anyone can logically say otherwise.

With that in mind, I think that's a big IF. I hope he does as it would be a huge luxury to play JL off the bench and cover for Lachie when he needs a spell.

Don't get me wrong there would be no out of control melts from me if Lyons was in the side, no doubt at his best he is an extremely good inside mid, the drawback IMO is his lack of versatility... if he is in the side I hope he has improved his defensive run.

 

[Nunez]

Don't get me wrong there would be no out of control melts from me if Lyons was in the side, no doubt at his best he is an extremely good inside mid, the drawback IMO is his lack of versatility... if he is in the side I hope he has improved his defensive run.

Lyons at his best could play off the bench and rest forward. Wouldn't be the lightning fast small forward, but would be lethal at stoppages in the forward half as he has goal sense.

The hard part is: will be find his best form?

 

[On the quiet]

Lyons at his best could play off the bench and rest forward. Wouldn't be the lightning fast small forward, but would be lethal at stoppages in the forward half as he has goal sense.

The hard part is: will be find his best form?

maybe it was his groin injury, but last year Lyons was lucky to kick the ball 35 meters. Also as you have stated he is not fast, so I don't believe he is fast enough to rest forward and put a lot of pressure on fast defensive teams.

I think we have a few options regarding players 'resting' forward, including Ashcroft (might be too much for a 1st year player to play a full year in the guts).

IF f100% fit, I have Lyons picked just ahead of Dev for round 1, but hope Dev is in the team after a few rounds, especially during those easier games starting in round 5 to build further on his few games last year. We will have a much better idea on the fitness of Lyons in the upcoming trial games.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I think the issue with Lyons and his lack of aerobic ability is he can't afford to be at 99% fitness. Especially in a team with many other options

 

[lionshine]

Come the week before round 1, there’s probably only 2 spots up for grabs, wing and bench outside mid/wing.

My expected team from Fagan is;

Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
Coleman Payne Rich

Berry McCluggage ???
McInerney Neale Dunkley

Zorko Hipwood Bailey
Gunston Daniher Cameron

Rayner, Ashcroft, McKenna, ???

If you place McCarthy on the bench, that leaves the following players fighting it out for that final spot with one to be named sub as well - Lyons, Dev, Answerth, Ah Chee, Wilmot, Prior, Tunstill, Sharp.

Competition for spots is red hot, particularly if Lohmann and Fletcher gain fitness and start to push for a spot and guys like Madden or B.Coleman put their hand up. We should field a decent side in the VFL this year.

 

[Nathan Barley]

If you place McCarthy on the bench, that leaves the following players fighting it out for that final spot with one to be named sub as well - Lyons, Dev, Answerth, Ah Chee, Wilmot, Prior, Tunstill, Sharp.

Competition for spots is red hot, particularly if Lohmann and Fletcher gain fitness and start to push for a spot and guys like Madden or B.Coleman put their hand up. We should field a decent side in the VFL this year.

TBH I don't rate those you've listed as fighting it out for a spot on the bench. Based on 2022 form they're all at best C graders.

Probably fairly critical that a couple step up if we're to be genuine contenders

 

[bungalow_bill]

Outrageous.

I wish for a simpler time...

Scandalous

 

[Pride of lions]

If you place McCarthy on the bench, that leaves the following players fighting it out for that final spot with one to be named sub as well - Lyons, Dev, Answerth, Ah Chee, Wilmot, Prior, Tunstill, Sharp.

Competition for spots is red hot, particularly if Lohmann and Fletcher gain fitness and start to push for a spot and guys like Madden or B.Coleman put their hand up. We should field a decent side in the VFL this year.

I don't think we can afford to go in with only one ruck. Daniher is the only possible back up for Oscar in that team and I don't think he should be risked at centre bounces in particular. So Fort is likely to be one of the starting bench imo. Makes it even a tighter squeeze for the midfield/half back group on the edge of best 22. I also think McCarthy will be in the 22.

 

[KissKiss]

Im not sure Lyons is quick enough to play forward and add the defensive effort there long term but he has had a few stints kicking a few.

He definitely has a better eye for goal than most would give him credit for. I feel like most of them were stoppage type goals but I feel he is big enough to be a marking threat as well

 

[On the quiet]

TBH I don't rate those you've listed as fighting it out for a spot on the bench. Based on 2022 form they're all at best C graders.

Probably fairly critical that a couple step up if we're to be genuine contenders

I believe Dev can only improve and can be a good player. Might be a 'C' currently but I believe can be much better. We probably end up losing him end of this year if he has not cemented a spot.
A fit Lyons is much better than a 'C' grader, but acknowledge most of his 2022 form was not good.
Answerth is very solid
Wilmott has a lot of potential based on what he provided in the finals
Ah Chee a very solid (almost the perfect sub)
Prior i think with continual development will be a solid player and is probably a 'C' at this stage but like a lot of young blokes just needs a consistent run but hard to see how that happens this year.

With game time Dev, Lyons and Wilmot step up from 2022 form.

 

[On the quiet]

I don't think we can afford to go in with only one ruck. Daniher is the only possible back up for Oscar in that team and I don't think he should be risked at centre bounces in particular. So Fort is likely to be one of the starting bench imo. Makes it even a tighter squeeze for the midfield/half back group on the edge of best 22. I also think McCarthy will be in the 22.

I like Fort, but with some of the key forwards performing ruck duties at times (eg Hawkins etc) could Payne be a relieving ruck when the play is down back? Doubt he has had any training in the ruck so maybe a longer term option beyond this year.

I think we will need two rucks against say a Melbourne.

 

[Section 5]

I don't think we can afford to go in with only one ruck. Daniher is the only possible back up for Oscar in that team and I don't think he should be risked at centre bounces in particular. So Fort is likely to be one of the starting bench imo. Makes it even a tighter squeeze for the midfield/half back group on the edge of best 22. I also think McCarthy will be in the 22.

We only play one ruck in my opinion Pride of lions.
Adding Fort makes us too tall and slow. A midfielder will miss out if Fort plays.
If Joe is fit enough to play, then he can do some ruck relief.
His value as relief ruck is his marking and work around the ground while Big O is off.

Joe just needs to well - not try to be a good ruck in any ruck contest.
Our midfielders won't be expecting him to hit them on the chest during a center or around the ground ruck contests.
They would probably drop the ball in shock if that happened.

Jo just needs to:
(a) protect himself at center bounces and ball ups around the ground.
(b) just slightly get off the ground 10- 30cm and put one of his arms up. That plus his height and long arms is enough.
(c) take front position, if possible, for boundary throw ins (he usually does not)
(d) don't give away a free kick. This is the important one for me. Our midfielders are more than capable of extracting the ball from clearances.

I think when we play Melbourne (Gawn + Grundy) they might think about it, but most likely Fort is TS for that game.