Bigman’s Training Reports (Update: 11th March)

[119others]

It looks like Monday. I’ve been to oval 25 for a gander but not for a forensic examination. I am sure it is different approach to last year. Young players with Dawson Maybe looking for a change in style

many thanks bigman.

any prediction for tonights pick 4 mate?

 

[bigman]

many thanks bigman.

any prediction for tonights pick 4 mate?

I think any of the 5 boys mentioned will be terrific. We cannot really lose on this one

 

[119others]

I think any of the 5 boys mentioned will be terrific. We cannot really lose on this one

Ok thanks man.

And if Thunderstrucks mail is correct and it’s Draper, SA boy, Crows fan (both minimising retention issues and future contract overspends to retain), potential captain and express pace to compliment our midfield do you feel it’s as appropriate fit for US as anyone else likely to be available?

My (perhaps) naive and humble view is yes

 

[bigman]

Hopefully all systems go on Monday

 

[Crow till I die]

Hopefully all systems go on Monday

Young Draper mentioned exactly that on radio the other day too

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

We'll be well rested

 

[Jeffcrowe]

It looks like Monday. I’ve been to oval 25 for a gander but not for a forensic examination. I am sure it is different approach to last year. Young players with Dawson Maybe looking for a change in style

Maybe the coaches and players have realised they might go better without the coaches

On a more serious note it might be at a point where the players drive standards and take more ownership next season given there’s increasing experience and it’s time for all to step up

 

[bigman]

After a bit of a false start a couple weeks ago, good to finally have a true pre season session to kick off the 2025 campaign.

Most of the group was on deck, the exceptions being:

Thilthorpe - only walked laps before heading inside. No pronounced limp so not sure what’s the issue, obviously disappointing that he’s not out there day one however.

Butts and hinge - both didn’t join the main group, instead ran on the sidelines. Butts still has a slight limp although improved from when I last saw him. Has bulked up a lot, probably needs to fine down a bit over the next couple months. Hinge looked good, not sure why he’s being held back.

Draper and welsh - were relegated to doing a bit of running and bike work. Unfortunately didn’t do any of the footy drills.

Everyone else was in full training, although Strachan joined on the bike work halfway through.

Today was time trial day which is always pretty interesting viewing. It began with a 2km test on grass around aami stadium, about 23 degrees, followed by a 1km test at the very end of the session.

Players were split into three groups - best runners, intermediate and the slowest group. Eventually the fastest group caught up with the taller guys which made deciphering the groups a bit difficult but they looked pretty much like this:

Group A - Jones, Keays, Berry, Dawson, Rankine, Neal-Bullen, Dowling, Smith, Sholl, Bond, O’Brien, Cumming

Group B - Curtin, Rachele, Pedlar, Edwards, Soligo, Cook, Michalanney, Ryan, Peatling, Schoenberg, Nankervis, Laird, Fogarty

Group C - Murphy, Crouch, Walker, Taylor, Burgess, Worrell, Nick Murray, Borlase, Gallagher, Toby Murray, Strachan, Keane

(Walker, Smith, Soligo, Rankine, Strachan and Laird didn’t do the second time trial)

Neal-Bullen took out the 2km time trial, didn’t take exact times as it’s all a bit chaotic but looked to be comfortably under the 6:30 mark. He was followed by Cumming and Bond, then looked to be Sholl and Dowling.

Strachan finished last, Taylor second last although definitely an improvement from this time last year.

Bond took out the 1km test ahead of ANB from what I could see with a big final lap, looked to finish around the 3 min mark. With Strachan not running Taylor finished last, roughly about 20-25 seconds after Bond.

The rest of the session was mainly some skills and ball movement drills, nothing particularly noteworthy in terms of player position or set ups. Skill standard was solid although boys clearly still a bit rusty.

Some player thoughts:

Jones - has definitely fined down a bit since last season, which he had to. Isn’t the dominant runner he once was, he was about middle of the pack in the fast group.

Berry - looks fit given he appeared to be in the rehab group the last couple weeks, finished just at the back of the fast group which is nothing to be ashamed of.

Curtin - little bit of knee strapping still but definitely moved more freely than last season. In the limited drills he played back pocket, chf and a bit in the guts so who knows where the club has him pegged. Must say he looked good up forward. Has bulked up a fair bit too, still ran in the intermediate group as well (finished about middle of the pack) which is a feather in his cap as a tall.

Rachele - looks real fit and ran very well, winning the 1km trial quite comfortably in his group. Hamish was right when he said rash was in good condition .

Murray - moved as well as I’ve seen since the knee and ran strongly in his group. Absolute ball of energy out there and wasnt afraid to twist and turn so appears to be fully over the knee.

Pedlar - is a big watch this pre season and early signs are good. Looked to finish runner up in his group in the 1km trial and ran both well. Looked one of the sharpest in the drills too. Hopefully the penny dropped.

Edwards - has bulked up a fair bit but would appear to have dropped off with his running as he struggled in both trials (had wright alongside push him in the 2km). This time last year he ran really well so not sure if he’s not trained hard enough in the off season or wasn’t feeling the best. Doesn’t appear overweight or anything, maybe not quite as cut as some of the other lads perhaps.

Cook - ran solid without being spectacular, still doesn’t have the definition you’d expect for someone coming into his fifth year. Nothing alarming, was just hoping he might come back with a new physique.

Taylor - gone the buzz cut and has definitely bulked up a fair bit. Quite a bit bigger in the arms and upper legs which will be important given the way he plays. Running is still an issue for him but these things don’t change overnight and suspect he’ll never be particularly great in this regard. Definitely not as bad as this time last year where he really struggled, but I always worry how these things are perceived by the coaches.

Ryan - another to have gone the buzz cut and looks in good condition, did notice he appeared to play a bit on the wing in the main drill, will be interesting to see if that becomes a thing.

Neal-Bullen - unsurprisingly set the standard from the start with a dominant 2km time trial, just ran on a different level than the rest of the boys. Trained great too, very few errors when some of the others were shaking off a bit of rust.

Milera - thought he moved really well and looks in good condition given the knee injury. Suspect he knows his position in his jeopardy with the arrival of Cumming and emergence of Nank. Good signs.

Dowling - hasn’t bulked up much more since last season but gee he’s a good runner, only just a notch below the top guys in ANB and Bond. Will be interesting to see how he and Sholl compare over the next few months as they’re likely both gunning for the same wing.

Fog - I was impressed that he ran in the middle group instead of with the talls. Just shows how far he’s come with his running over the last few years.

Smith - actually looked super sharp and fit. Early days I know! He looked pretty good this time last year too. But must say he caught my eye today, looked like someone with a point to prove.

Draper - amazing how among the draftees he looked pretty built but put him next to seasoned AFL players and he suddenly very much looks like a first year player. Did predominately bike work, unfortunately will have to wait a bit longer to see him in the footy drills.

Toby Murray - made some errors but think he takes the cake for biggest body transformation. Is a fair unit out there. Can also chisel a dart when he hits them right. Interesting player.

Cumming - will be a great pick up. In ripping condition and performed really well in the running especially the 2km. Is leaner than I expected, very long limbed and very graceful with ball in hand.

Can discuss any other players if requested but those are the ones who stood out for various reasons. New training top looks great too just quietly.

 

[ftmch]

As always, top drawer bigman

Thanks as always for your time and effort - where would we be without you.

 

[StickerMan]

As always, top drawer bigman

Thanks as always for your time and effort - where would be be without you.

With the release of the first bigman training report, it feels like we can finally put a pin in 2024 and look forward to 2025!

 

[ftmch]

Most encouraging part of that report is that it sounds like Peds has shown up this pre-season.

 

[jenny61_99]

Many thanks Bigman!

 

[Grooster24]

Was interested in Peatling being in the middle running group. Thought he would be in the higher one.

Any thoughts on him?

 

[Scorpus]

I would not have guessed that Crouch and Murphy are in the lowest running group

 

[bigman]

Was interested in Peatling being in the middle running group. Thought he would be in the higher one.

Any thoughts on

Hard to stand out today grooster unless you over / under performed in the time trial or had a noticeable change in physique.

Not a whole lot of stoppage or tackling drills which he excels in either.

Even in his full games this year for gws he rarely if ever featured in the top five km travelled so it’s no shock he’s wasn’t among the best runners today.

Suspect his most impressive work will be once match sim starts but he certainly looks fit, no issues there.

 

[Trigger13]

Thanks Mr Bigman.

 

[Jarman3]

Smith - actually looked super sharp and fit. Early days I know! He looked pretty good this time last year too. But must say he caught my eye today, looked like someone with a point to prove.

I guess he's either playing for another contract or he knows there's competition for HBF with Peatling coming in, Milera returning, Laird possibly getting squeezed out of the midfield, young players developing, etc and he's doing his best to not spend the final season of his career in the SANFL.

 

[baldandbroke]

I guess he's either playing for another contract or he knows there's competition for HBF with Peatling coming in, Milera returning, Laird possibly getting squeezed out of the midfield, young players developing, etc and he's doing his best to not spend the final season of his career in the SANFL.

He’s 32 right? Maybe trying to lock in the SANFL captain role [emoji23]

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Pedlar - is a big watch this pre season and early signs are good. Looked to finish runner up in his group in the 1km trial and ran both well. Looked one of the sharpest in the drills too. Hopefully the penny dropped.

 

[Cromulant]

I guess he's either playing for another contract or he knows there's competition for HBF with Peatling coming in, Milera returning, Laird possibly getting squeezed out of the midfield, young players developing, etc and he's doing his best to not spend the final season of his career in the SANFL.

Hes always been pretty fit and sharp at training, thats not his issue.

 

[Trigger13]

Thilthorpe’s knee will have to be managed for the rest of his career unfortunately, such was the severity of it. Whether that has anything to do with why he’s missing day one of training remains to be seen though.

 

[maxlilly]

It's a nice surprise for me by ANB's running ability, he doesn't look like he covers the ground that fast in matches
He sounds like a big upgrade on Murphy already

 

[119others]

It's a nice surprise for me by ANB's running ability, he doesn't look like he covers the ground that fast in matches
He sounds like a big upgrade on Murphy already

Definitely an upgrade and for all those predicting Murphy plays round one I have some bad news for them.

Also, amazed Murphy was in the BOTTOM running group?! I thought that’s the one thing he could do ok

 

[crows dude]

It's a nice surprise for me by ANB's running ability, he doesn't look like he covers the ground that fast in matches
He sounds like a big upgrade on Murphy already

Not a surprise. He was Melbournes Chayce JOnes. Always in the top few in the time trials at Melbourne.

 

[jackster83]

Definitely an upgrade and for all those predicting Murphy plays round one I have some bad news for them.

Also, amazed Murphy was in the BOTTOM running group?! I thought that’s the one thing he could do ok

Nicks: "take it easy Murph; you've already done enough".