Bigman’s Training Reports

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I doubt Milera will feature round 1. He’ll probably get eased in via a SANFL stint to build up match hardness and not expose him to AFL rigours too early. That should see Nank cement his spot with good performances. Is there anybody else that might slide out of the team and open a spot for Milera?

Injury will end up solving a few of these selection dilemmas for us. When the coaches have to make a choice will be the illuminating bit. Will be interesting to see our hierarchy.

The first glimpse we'll get as fans is when the leadership group is announced. Which would be soon you'd think.

Murphy, Smith and Milera are three 2024 leadership group members who us fans mostly have missing from the 22.

 

[Eric The Red]

Not really, almost all premiership sides don't have a slow accumulator that can't push forward of contests on foot. You can maybe argue a couple throughout the last 20 years, but even that's a stretch.

Depends on the mid mix doesn’t it. It will be interesting to see what the new faces bring to the party. Could well be that Crouch becomes less valuable compared with last season.

 

[Eric The Red]

We need to put superglue on Berry's hands.

Ha. He’ll just get done for holding the ball due to lack of leg speed.

 

[Eric The Red]

I’d be interested to see clearance rate per midfield minute. Crouch benefits by playing 100% of his TOG in the stoppage rotation. And I think you’ll find that Laird matches him when he’s in there.

Yeah but, Laird’s forward disposal by foot is painful to watch. Bombing it in high….. Crouch was better at it than Laird last season.

 

[Eric The Red]

I feel like at his absolute best Milera 'could' be a very handy wingman for us and an upgrade on Sholl.

As Kane said - want to see Milera have a good 4 week block in SANFL and play full games and look in good touch.

Another bad injury and think his career is completely cooked.

School has just put in his best season to date and brings a work rate that Milera will never be able to match. School to improve, Milera not so much?

 

[Betts are off]

I have no issue with Milera, but agree with the people who think he needs to give us a month of SANFL footy before he is considered at AFL level. Unfortunately for him injury has robbed him of the continuity that would have led him to being in his prime right now. And there are 4-5 options for HBF and Wingers that should have the inside lane over him.

IMO, Wayne's best season (2018) was when Smith was injured and people were starting to question him. So hopefully with Smith in the 2's this year and the same question's being asked, we might get that same fire lit under him. Because for me, that version of Milera is a best 22 lock, I just haven't seen it enough to know its still there.

 

[Mutineer]

Yeah but, Laird’s forward disposal by foot is painful to watch. Bombing it in high….. Crouch was better at it than Laird last season.

Actually Matt is a pretty decent spot up kick to a leading forward, Laird not so much.

 

[kirky]

When and where are they training this week?

 

[Slim258]

Injury will end up solving a few of these selection dilemmas for us. When the coaches have to make a choice will be the illuminating bit. Will be interesting to see our hierarchy.

The first glimpse we'll get as fans is when the leadership group is announced. Which would be soon you'd think.

Murphy, Smith and Milera are three 2024 leadership group members who us fans mostly have missing from the 22.

Leadership group announced 20th of Feb last year, so I am assuming it will be similar this year.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

The Milera hate on here is baffling.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

I don't think it's hate. It's just wariness. The feeling that there is no point getting attached because he'll just get injured.

He is also a first round bust but that's on recruitment.

 

[Cromulant]

I don't think it's hate. It's just wariness. The feeling that there is no point getting attached because he'll just get injured.

He is also a first round bust but that's on recruitment.

Its not really on the recruiting side either, his injuries have largely come post-drafting.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Its not really on the recruiting side either, his injuries have largely come post-drafting.

It was a bad pick. He never looked like an AFL midfielder. If they had known they'd be getting a half back, you think they'd spend that pick on him?

 

[Cromulant]

It was a bad pick. He never looked like an AFL midfielder. If they had known they'd be getting a half back, you think they'd spend that pick on him?

Pick 11 ??

I would have thought so yeah. It wasnt a super draft for midfielders. Gresham was taken just after him, Dunkley in the 20s after Sydney didnt match a bid which in hindsight wouldnt have served us well, and a guy called Ben Keays just before him. If he turned out to be a gun HBF like he could have been, thats acceptable.

Sadly his body hasnt't allowed him to reach the heights he could have.

We pulled the "young local star" lever which is completely understandable.

 

[Slim258]

Pick 11 ??

I would have thought so yeah. It wasnt a super draft for midfielders. Gresham was taken just after him, Dunkley in the 20s after Sydney didnt match a bid which in hindsight wouldnt have served us well, and a guy called Ben Keays just before him. If he turned out to be a gun HBF like he could have been, thats acceptable.

Sadly his body hasnt't allowed him to reach the heights he could have.

We pulled the "young local star" lever which is completely understandable.

I know he's no midfielder but Charlie Curnow taken at pick 12 makes it hard reading

 

[Big Dub]

It was a bad pick. He never looked like an AFL midfielder. If they had known they'd be getting a half back, you think they'd spend that pick on him?

Midfield isn't the only position that matters. Otherwise Sydney would have the 2024 premiership.

The Club went best available player, as all clubs tend to do.

Before him went 4 mids (inc 1 premiership mid), 3 KPFs, 2 KPDs and a premiership half forward flank.

I mean, they could have gone midfielder Matthew Kennedy, but I'd probably be happier with half back Danial Rioli if we had passed on the local guy (Curnow being the obvious flight risk, and Hipwood and Himmelberg being unavailable academy players)

 

[Cromulant]

I know he's no midfielder but Charlie Curnow taken at pick 12 makes it hard reading

Absolutely it does. We let the drink driving deal affect the judgement on that one, or rather refusing a breath test.

 

[Big Dub]

Absolutely it does. We let the drink driving deal affect the judgement on that one, or rather refusing a breath test.

IIRC, he was considered a big flight risk for any non-Vic club.

I also wonder if there was any family resentment re his brother's single season on our list?

 

[Slim258]

IIRC, he was considered a big flight risk for any non-Vic club.

I also wonder if there was any family resentment re his brother's single season on our list?

Was a rookie pick in the 40s at a time when we consistently finished in the top 8 - can't imagine there was too much hope of getting a game

 

[Mutineer]

Absolutely it does. We let the drink driving deal affect the judgement on that one, or rather refusing a breath test.

And the well known reports he made it quite clear to interstate clubs he wasn't sticking around if they drafted him.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Yeah but, Laird’s forward disposal by foot is painful to watch. Bombing it in high….. Crouch was better at it than Laird last season.

ROBs forward disposal was better than Lairds…

 

[1970crow]

Its just a shame he is made of glass...its ruined his career as he has never really had a long clean run at it

I don't think that's all that true, certainly recent years I'd agree, however, he had a fairly decent run at it in his early years. Averaged 17 games in years 2-4 and was a pretty decent player but didn't continue the trajectory where he looked like being an AA quality half back. I think there's an element of overrating what he brings to the side. His supporters will say elite kicking and run and carry, but he doesn't really do either of those things compared to other defenders.

Below are stats for general defenders in 2023, there's 134 listed, so he's ahead of the half way mark in most stats, but not by that much. A fit and in form DoedeMilera has been best 22 in our side in the past, but if you look at 2023 and take into account we play 2 keys and Worrell, he doesn't stand out as being all that critical. Going forward, after the 3 talls, we have Cumming or Hinge, Laird & Michalanney who are all walk up ahead of him. So he's fighting with Nank & maybe Bond for a bench spot. Ideally, Laird will drop out of that if his form/effort continues in the similar vein to 2024. But Milera is pretty much fringe at the moment until his form proves otherwise.

Metres gained - 58th
Metres gained per kick - 63rd
Metres gained per disposal - 95th
Kicking efficiency - 54th
Bounces - 81st
Rebound 50s - 46th
Inside 50s - 55th

In our side in 2023 of 7 listed general defenders

Metres gained - 3rd
Metres gained per kick - 3rd
Metres gained per disposal - 3rd
Kicking efficiency - 3rd
Bounces - 2nd
Rebound 50s - 4th
Inside 50s - 3rd

 

[Mutineer]

It was a bad pick. He never looked like an AFL midfielder. If they had known they'd be getting a half back, you think they'd spend that pick on him?

Was he drafted as a midfielder though?, played most of his footy as a half forwardd with a bit of wing. Personally I never saw him as midfielder just not suited to the argy bargy contested stuff, more outside where he could use his sidestep and neat skills.

 

[1970crow]

Actually Matt is a pretty decent spot up kick to a leading forward, Laird not so much.

Not only is Matt a very good kick to a leading player, but he also takes the time to look for one. Totally different to what we've favoured with Laird and Sloane in the past. I think we've finally moved past just valuing any kind of dump hack to clock up an other clearance win stat.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

Was he drafted as a midfielder though?, played most of his footy as a half forwardd with a bit of wing. Personally I never saw him as midfielder just not suited to the argy bargy contested stuff, more outside where he could use his sidestep and neat skills.

Yes he was flying in his draft year off half forward for Centrals and everyone was hyping him up perhaps at times also suggesting he was destined for the midfield - it never really happened apart from him impersonating a slippery slimey fish in that game against the bulldogs where no one could touch him.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Kane McGoodwin ....alas you tried for thread authenticity, which I love .....