Preview R1: Changes for 2025

[Mr_Moogle]

If there is one thing that concerns me about Cook, it's his conditioning. Why does he still look like a raw recruit? It's like he's barely changed since being drafted. Would be nice to see him stack on some weight. Even Gollant eventually looked like a footballer and he was one of the skinniest recruits ever.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

The issue is that if Cook doesn't improve, he's still contracted for 2026 and will have no trade value, meaning that we'll be stuck with him.

How often do contracted players get delisted and paid out? I know Port moved Clurey on, but it doesn't seem to be a particularly common occurrence.

 

[Bring back Bas]

I think Bond was fantastic in the games he played last year - a new glove for the back pocket.

I don’t remember his opponent being BOG as you claim? Quite the opposite?

Two games that I can think of off the top of my head are Essendon and Geelong. Merrett and Stengle were close to, if not best on ground for their respective teams.

By the way, I think it is perfectly acceptable for a guy who has played less than 10 games to have a few stinkers. Let's be honest about it though.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Two games that I can think of off the top of my head are Essendon and Geelong. Merrett and Stengle were close to, if not best on ground for their respective teams.

By the way, I think it is perfectly acceptable for a guy who has played less than 10 games to have a few stinkers. Let's be honest about it though.

His position is incredibly hard. It is harder to play a lock down role in my opinion than almost any other position on the ground. You are fighting to balance your natural game with locking down your opponent and if you are tasked with locking down an opponent at AFL level, your opponent is not a potato.

 

[1970crow]

The assumption that Milera was ever this star player is perplexing.

Sholls 2024 was better than any season Milera has produced in 6 years, you may not like it.... but facts are facts.

The theory of what Milera brings is vastly different to the reality. I'm not surprised Dawson would talk him up after a preseason, unfortunately his weapons don't get deployed on game day.

 

[hugecannon]

If there is one thing that concerns me about Cook, it's his conditioning. Why does he still look like a raw recruit? It's like he's barely changed since being drafted. Would be nice to see him stack on some weight. Even Gollant eventually looked like a footballer and he was one of the skinniest recruits ever.

Strachan is another who looks exactly the same as when he was first drafted, and Himmelberg never seemed to put on any muscle mass to his frame in 8 years.

We have a few players who seem incapable of making progress on the body size.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Strachan is another who looks exactly the same as when he was first drafted, and Himmelberg never seemed to put on any muscle mass to his frame in 8 years.

We have a few players who seem incapable of making progress on the body size.

He is too lightly framed to make it as an AFL ruck. Strachan was a mature age recruit out of the VFL though. Was always going to be a case of what you see is what you get.

 

[TARANTULA]

Round 1 2025 best team imo.

FB - Max, Murray, Worrell
HB - Hinge, Keane, Nankervis
C - Scholl, Crouch, Cumming
HF - Walker, Fogarty, Rankine
FF - Keays, TT, Rachele
R - ROB, Dawson, Soligo

IC - ANB, Laird, Peatling, Curtain
Sub - Berry
EMG - See the list from my previous post.

 

[MsTopG]

Round 1 team

FB - Max Murray Worrell
HB - Hinge Keane Cumming
C - Nankervis Dawson Curtin
HF - Walker Fogarty Pedlar
FF - Keays Thilthorpe Rachele

R - ROB Soligo Rankine

IC - ANB Peatling Bond Crouch

Sub - Berry

Depth
Sholl Laird Butts Cook Dowling Edwards Jones Milera Murphy Ryan Schoenberg Taylor Strachan

 

[TBM]

Strachan is another who looks exactly the same as when he was first drafted, and Himmelberg never seemed to put on any muscle mass to his frame in 8 years.

We have a few players who seem incapable of making progress on the body size.

I'm sure part of it comes down to effort and commitment levels.

Probably no surprise that all three of Cook, Strachan and Himmelberg have had their fitness, intensity and/or workethic questioned at different points. IMO Cook should've got a 1-year deal.

 

[jackster83]

I'm sure part of it comes down to effort and commitment levels.

Probably no surprise that all three of Cook, Strachan and Himmelberg have had their fitness, intensity and/or workethic questioned at different points. IMO Cook should've got a 1-year deal.

Pedlar is probably a bit questionable in that regard too. I haven't seen a bloke jog/walk that much on the field since Gallucci.

 

[Captain Furious]

Two games that I can think of off the top of my head are Essendon and Geelong. Merrett and Stengle were close to, if not best on ground for their respective teams.

By the way, I think it is perfectly acceptable for a guy who has played less than 10 games to have a few stinkers. Let's be honest about it though.

Hardly stinkers; Bond's 2nd game he went to Merrett and while he got 30 they weren't damaging due to his attention and we won the game. Stengle kicked 1 on him. Was Cameron, Danger and Stewart that carved us up in a very close loss.

 

[Captain Furious]

Rachele Tex Murray
ANB Fog Keays
Hinge Crouch Soligo
Cumming Keane Nankervis
Max Butts Worrell

TT Dawson Rankine

Int. Milera Curtin Peatling Draper/Smith

Sub. Laird

Em. Bond Taylor Dowling

Yes no ROB. Yes TT rucking - but not really. We have TT and Curtin who both want to be mids and are (almost) ruck size. So let them be mids but provide a basic physical presence against the opp ruck or even act as a 4th mid to shark their tap. Don't care if we don't win a single tap, doesn't have an influence on the game. Throw Murray, Worrell, Butts and Keane in there for short sharp spells with Tex doing the forward line - now that Hawkins has retired he's the best in the game at that role. We have a plethora of very tall players and ROB isn't a factor outside of tapping the ball. Let's use that to our advantage instead of accepting it as a negative, do something different, run the opp ruck off their feet, make us hard to coach against.

Murray, TT or whoever isn't rucking or resting on the bench - stay close to goal square while Tex and Fog lead (their strengths) with a license to fly for marks or use their strength to split packs. I'd love to see Worrell in some brief spells deep forward jumping on heads.

Draper or Jagga on the bench as both are plug and play and we need either of their strengths. If we end up with someone else at 4, would reassess.

Laird as sub given flex to play or mid or defence.

Biggest concern - speed in the forward line. ANB and Keays will supply pressure but neither are that quick. Rachele has some speed but not a pressure forward or a hit the pack at speed type crumber. Along with ruck, our glaring list hole.

 

[Floating Doughnut]

Rachele Tex Murray
ANB Fog Keays
Hinge Crouch Soligo
Cumming Keane Nankervis
Max Butts Worrell

TT Dawson Rankine

Int. Milera Curtin Peatling Draper/Smith

Sub. Laird

Em. Bond Taylor Dowling

Yes no ROB. Yes TT rucking - but not really. We have TT and Curtin who both want to be mids and are (almost) ruck size. So let them be mids but provide a basic physical presence against the opp ruck or even act as a 4th mid to shark their tap. Don't care if we don't win a single tap, doesn't have an influence on the game. Throw Murray, Worrell, Butts and Keane in there for short sharp spells with Tex doing the forward line - now that Hawkins has retired he's the best in the game at that role. We have a plethora of very tall players and ROB isn't a factor outside of tapping the ball. Let's use that to our advantage instead of accepting it as a negative, do something different, run the opp ruck off their feet, make us hard to coach against.

Murray, TT or whoever isn't rucking or resting on the bench - stay close to goal square while Tex and Fog lead (their strengths) with a license to fly for marks or use their strength to split packs. I'd love to see Worrell in some brief spells deep forward jumping on heads.

Draper or Jagga on the bench as both are plug and play and we need either of their strengths. If we end up with someone else at 4, would reassess.

Laird as sub given flex to play or mid or defence.

Biggest concern - speed in the forward line. ANB and Keays will supply pressure but neither are that quick. Rachele has some speed but not a pressure forward or a hit the pack at speed type crumber. Along with ruck, our glaring list hole.

Helmet on.
You get slammed around here if you mention TT in the mids.
Have been calling him as a tapping midfielder since his draft .
Came across Riley at Adelaide High School in his draft year and asked him
what position he prefers forward or ruck.
Big smile “ midfield hopefully”.

Finally some similar thinking. One year left .

 

[Mutineer]

He is too lightly framed to make it as an AFL ruck. Strachan was a mature age recruit out of the VFL though. Was always going to be a case of what you see is what you get.

Bendigo Football League mostly for South Bendigo.
Played several seasons as a top up for the Essendon VFL as a top up and Pt.Melbourne.

You're correct though doesn't really have the strength or endurance for AFL although reasonably skilled for a ruckman.

If we could combine ROB and Strachan's best assets into one player we'd have a very decent AFL quality top end ruck.

 

[Redline]

Milera had one year that was as good , when he was dancing out of tackles at half back

But that’s a long time ago and many injuries since , injuries and missed seasons kill players . Hope he gets back to his best , a handy bonus if so

I think the expectation around the role he used to play in defence has changed.

Now a days your back six / eight have to be able to compete one on one otherwise your team gets exposed. You don't have to be a lock down defender but you need to be able to hold your own.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

I think the expectation around the role he used to play in defence has changed.

Now a days your back six / eight have to be able to compete one on one otherwise your team gets exposed. You don't have to be a lock down defender but you need to be able to hold your own.

I'm hoping for WM to get back to his best. Long time off but he is dazzling when at his best.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think the expectation around the role he used to play in defence has changed.

Now a days your back six / eight have to be able to compete one on one otherwise your team gets exposed. You don't have to be a lock down defender but you need to be able to hold your own.

You need one or two that just flat out attack , look at Adam Saad

We are about the only team that exposes him consistently

Most teams have got an ordinary forward you can play the attacking ones on

Eg against us you’d put that guy on Murphy

Against port you’d put him on McEntee

Etc etc

Of course it’s better if they can attack and defend

Can’t remember last time milera had a big bag kicked on him but probably hasn’t been good enough offensively anyway , partly due to losing things thru injury

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Can’t remember last time milera had a big bag kicked on him but probably hasn’t been good enough offesnov pay anyway , partly due to losing things thru injury

What's Milera lost ? ......because in the latter stages of 2023, Milera was back to his best

I think you're confusing him building his game back after injury, as a permanent standard ......I don't

Yes, he'll be a slow starter in 2025, but don't confuse that with having lost any attributes ....because they were on full show in 2023

 

[Jeffcrowe]

What's Milera lost ? ......because in the latter stages of 2023, Milera was back to his best

I think you're confusing him building his game back after injury, as a permanent standard ......I don't

Yes, he'll be a slow starter in 2025, but don't confuse that with having lost any attributes ....because they were on full show in 2023

Injuries have taken the edge off his dynamic speed and agility

All you need to do is watch some highlights of his first season

It’s not even his fault , it’s what happens when you get injured and miss so much football

 

[Captain Furious]

What's Milera lost ? ......because in the latter stages of 2023, Milera was back to his best

I think you're confusing him building his game back after injury, as a permanent standard ......I don't

Yes, he'll be a slow starter in 2025, but don't confuse that with having lost any attributes ....because they were on full show in 2023

This anti Milera group think from the last few weeks is bizarre. His past 20 games he’s averaging 20 possessions, over 300m gained, rarely has goals kicked on him, top 10 B&F 2023. Short memories.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Injuries have taken the edge off his dynamic speed and agility

All you need to do is watch some highlights of his first season

It’s not even his fault , it’s what happens when you get injured and miss so much football

You have to remember, Milera's a lot heavier now than in his first season ....remember the discussions about him being a stick & unlikely to be able to add weight

 

[WaynesWorld19]

This anti Milera group think from the last few weeks is bizarre. His past 20 games he’s averaging 20 possessions, over 300m gained, rarely has goals kicked on him, top 10 B&F 2023. Short memories.

It appears to me, people are aligning his wretched injury run with his latent talent .....Top 10 in the 2023 B&F, not bad after a slow season start

 

[Cromulant]

It appears to me, people are aligning his wretched injury run with his latent talent .....Top 10 in the 2023 B&F, not bad after a slow season start

99 games in 9 years, players being brought in to play his role and others able to go past him.

Thats probably what it is.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

You have to remember, Milera's a lot heavier now than in his first season ....remember the discussions about him being a stick & unlikely to be able to add weight

That’s what happens when you miss lots of football