Bigman’s Training Reports

[Eric The Red]

I think Crouch has earned his spot as the round 1 inside to out distributor in the midfield. IMO he's currently the best at it in our side and he's clearly worked on the other deficiencies in his game to his credit.

However I feel like the threat to his playing time moving forward is going to be increased midfield time for Dan Curtin. Who has all the tools to be a jumbo sized Crouch, with a better kick and overhead mark amoung his natural gifts.

Not sure that Curtin’s in-and-under performance will get anywhere near that of Crouch. At stoppages a Crouch game style is very valuable I would have thought.

 

[bigman]

Bigman, how is ANB travelling?
I'll be watching your mob intently, on Nibler watch in 2025
He's certainly missed at Demonland and a fan favourite!

Got leadership with a big tank to run all day

Simon I’ve been impressed with him all summer, not surprised though as his professionalism and football ability was well documented.

Bit quieter today but pressure was good and as usual rarely made a mistake.

Always hurts to lose quality players but at least you got good service (and a flag!) out of him.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Do they ever mix the teams up for these match sims?

Eg have our best two midfielders go head to head?

I understand we want to have our Best 22 working together and gelling but there's surely limited benefit in dominant displays against non-elite pressure/opponents

 

[Mutineer]

Not sure that Curtin’s in-and-under performance will get anywhere near that of Crouch. At stoppages a Crouch game style is very valuable I would have thought.

Agreed we don't want either Curtin or Dawson doing the grunt work...their skills are far better utilised outside the contest

 

[bigman]

The first match sim there was no ruck work or centre clearances, just Nicks kicking it wherever which seemed weird, wouldn’t you want the midfield to practise especially since they were actually lined up in positions.

The second period they did, ROB one over all I thought but McAndrew was ok in parts even if Wayne reckons he has a small bum.

Well summarised.

TBH Rob is just going at the moment. His hands both in the air and at ground level haven’t been flash recently.

Still plenty of time for him to lift before games start but I thought he would be a bit sharper given it’s a contract year.

 

[1990crow]

Pedlars career has just been one big tease.
So incredibly frustrating as if he came on, on top of our other talents would go a long way to premiership success.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Do they ever mix the teams up for these match sims?

Eg have our best two midfielders go head to head?

I understand we want to have our Best 22 working together and gelling but there's surely limited benefit in dominant displays against non-elite pressure/opponents

Appears after the break we moved many of our best defenders from the A to B team, so gather harder for our forwards in the 2nd half?

 

[spenze]

Agree, if Curtin does make it in the mids can see him being the Bontempelli type.
Curtin’s side step is lethal and we need him moving the ball forward, also like Bont his height allows him to
handball over the top of opponents. Bont can also go forward and kick 2 or 3 a game, see Curtin able to doing the same imo.

edit:
Libba to Bont maybe our Crouch to Curtin

Oh jesus, don't compare him to Bont in any form, I don't think my heart could take that.

We'd be such a destructive side if he was

 

[azza77]

How has Oskar Ryan been travelling? Few positive reports of him pre-christmas with talk he was really putting the pressure on for a Round 1 spot, but it seems to have gone all quiet since returning in the new year.

Any updates there from the track watchers?

 

[George CantStandYa]

Actually Ladbrokes has Rankine $100-1, put $1k on it, you can’t lose

 

[George CantStandYa]

How has Oskar Ryan been travelling? Few positive reports of him pre-christmas with talk he was really putting the pressure on for a Round 1 spot, but it seems to have gone all quiet since returning in the new year.

Any updates there from the track watchers?

Only saw him once, but the whites weren’t numbered so hard to notice some players

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Curtin - had a few nice moments where his smarts and clean hands showed, but was also caught flat footed a few times at stoppage including one where he just let Rankine go off to the races. Still has some work to do on his midfield craft. As a high forward however he’s already very capable even though his contested marking needs to continue improving

There’s your answer cleanhands …. obviously you weren’t a midfielder

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Not sure that Curtin’s in-and-under performance will get anywhere near that of Crouch. At stoppages a Crouch game style is very valuable I would have thought.

That’s like comparing Dawsons role to Rankine’s role

Maybe compare Crouch to Peatling

 

[Coopers]

Pedlars career has just been one big tease.
So incredibly frustrating as if he came on, on top of our other talents would go a long way to premiership success.

Pretty disappointing, hopefully it's not too bad.

Wouldn't want him out for a big chunk of the next two months.

 

[AFC979810]

I don’t get the pedlar injury, he was in the yellow/green hat which I thought was don’t tackle, yet gets injured in a tackle.

Sometimes when you are injury prone, you just get injured.

 

[FR0GGY]

Sometimes when you are injury prone, you just get injured.

He was tackled to the ground though. Which is what I thought the hat was supposed to stop.

 

[George CantStandYa]

There’s your answer cleanhands …. obviously you weren’t a midfielder

lol and some wonder why you’re “bullied”

You could have just elaborated at the time when cleanhands queried your footwork comment or did you need someone to explain it to you too?

 

[Betts are off]

Berry might take that role but Curtin is still some time away from that role. Whether he ever gets there is debatable, much prefer him receiving than in the pack

Respectfully I disagree. I don't think he is that far away at all. And I have zero doubt he could play a hybrid version of the big bodied mid role. Also I wouldn't be surprised if he's already ahead of Berry in best 22 contention. I like Berry, but he did put a series of shockers together to finish 2024, and Curtin is by all reports, having a blinder of an offseason.

The only thing that would slow him in progressing in this area might be him being too good at being a 3rd tall option if the Bigman Reports are correct.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Respectfully I disagree. I don't think he is that far away at all. And I have zero doubt he could play a big bodied mid role. Also I wouldn't be surprised if he's already ahead of Berry in best 22 contention. I like Berry, but he did put a series of shockers together to finish 2024, and Curtin is by all reports, having a blinder of an offseason.

The only thing that would slow him in progressing in this area might be him being too good at being a 3rd tall option if the Bigman Reports are correct.

calm. curtin is a long way off being a midfielder. he couldnt even touch it last year until he started playing forward and clunking a few leadup marks.

berry is done now we've recruited peatling

 

[Cromulant]

calm. curtin is a long way off being a midfielder. he couldnt even touch it last year until he started playing forward and clunking a few leadup marks.

berry is done now we've recruited peatling

Incorrect on both counts.

Impressive

 

[Betts are off]

calm. curtin is a long way off being a midfielder. he couldnt even touch it last year until he started playing forward and clunking a few leadup marks.

berry is done now we've recruited peatling

Again, I disagree. While I can admit he looked fairly lost most of his AFL gametime last season. I think Curtin will surprise many in here in 2025 after a full preseason under his belt with no knee injury.

 

[cleanhands]

There’s your answer cleanhands …. obviously you weren’t a midfielder

So that doesn’t happen to any other mid, I asked for an explanation nothing forth coming, god it’s no wonder you cop it on here, what where you beside a fantasy whatever, and I could very well have been mid

 

[Betts are off]

Not sure that Curtin’s in-and-under performance will get anywhere near that of Crouch. At stoppages a Crouch game style is very valuable I would have thought.

TBH I don't disagree that Crouch will always be a superior in and under player. Its his best asset. However I don't feel like the AFL coaches are searching for that exclusive role anymore. And certainly don't seem to be seeking it as a trait in the free agency/trade markets.

I think Curtin taking Crouch's minutes would not be because he is a like for like replacement. But because he can do enough of the big bodied mid role to be effective, but still be far more dangerous in the air, with the ball in his hands, and kicking into F50 or at goal. It the evolution of the role, not the replacement.

 

[Pugsley]

Agree - Toby Murray isn’t a ruck

He’s less of a ruck than Himmelberg was

Himmelberg pretended to be a footballer.

 

[AFC979810]

He was tackled to the ground though. Which is what I thought the hat was supposed to stop.

Understood. Although with his history it seems a matter of when not if.

If he didnt get injured in an illegal tackle by a teammate he would have been hurt soon after.