Training 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Ray Button]

I was in the stand directly behind the Lion's bench, and their constant use of most of the eight available interchanges was like a revolving door, restricting the onfield team from settling down into any vestige of smooth operation.
In contrast, Adelaide used only four (different) interchanges each half, closer to a normal game, and looked the better for it.

 

[mpal6]

I agree with sentiments here regarding Day, if Fort is recovering from a hammy. Perhaps he needs to get some miles into his legs, but he looks to be slow and little value around the ground. Then again, it was a practice match and the season is long.

I loved Gallop's repeat sprint, chasing and harassing any ball carrier at his vicinity.

He's like a young colt let off leash and did a "now you can watch me go woweeeeeeeeeee"

 

[Toffee Lion]

I was in the stand directly behind the Lion's bench, and their constant use of most of the eight available interchanges was like a revolving door, restricting the onfield team from settling down into any vestige of smooth operation.
In contrast, Adelaide used only four (different) interchanges each half, closer to a normal game, and looked the better for it.

I think it's a smart decision since we play next week. No point blowing up yesterday and being a bit sore/tired going into OR.

Adelaide can recover very well before their first game, so makes more sense to go all out.

 

[Dalions]

I don’t think we really showed much to Adelaide last night.
We were happy just going down the line and barely looked for an inside ball, no running and little leads and blocks for short kicking game which we saw so much of last year.
Our boys looked like they were in a training drill last night.
Biggest concern was that we really had no height to kick down the line to and we got picked off far too easily.
But I am sure hoping that is not the style of play we bring next week.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Crows had 12 players 80% ToG or above. Lions had 6 players 80% ToG or above.

Big indication that the Crows viewed this as a proper match sim with their best 22, where as we viewed it as a "run out" game to get motor into the legs and be best prepared for next week.

Also to add context, we had 14 players 80% ToG or above in the GF.

 

[Gadzorks]

I reckon we were in cruise mode from half time except the last 1.5 minutes. The intensity lifted.

They clearly didn't want to lose even though the game meant nothing so they stepped up. Shame Fletcher missed that goal.

 

[Lazza16]

I don’t think we really showed much to Adelaide last night.
We were happy just going down the line and barely looked for an inside ball, no running and little leads and blocks for short kicking game which we saw so much of last year.
Our boys looked like they were in a training drill last night.
Biggest concern was that we really had no height to kick down the line to and we got picked off far too easily.
But I am sure hoping that is not the style of play we bring next week.

Little leads is nothing new to us.

 

[JasRulz63]

We didn't really try anyone else in the ruck apart from Day (as well as Oscar and Smith late), so I'd imagine he'll probably play next week.

 

[Sproj]

I was really impressed with Payne, I thought he took over the Andrews role really well. I also really enjoyed seeing the team play with no Starc for a large part of the game, no Andrews and no Ah Chee plus the injured dudes. So we were not really near full strength and not really worrying too much about the result and still had it won until we clocked off. Good signs for the season ahead.

I say go with youth for the first 3-4 rounds until Gallop tires, drops off. Let him enjoy a debut and get others in the squad excited that opportunities are there if they push their case.

 

[SizeMatters]

Didn’t like the 15m kick and it’s play on bs. Some of those kicks they called play on were closer to 20 than 10!

 

[Elixuh]

That 15m interpretation will get wound back as the season goes.

 

[TheNotoriousCat]

Sorry if this has been covered, but what ever happened to Brandon Ryan.

When Daniher retired, I thought Ryan might be a chance to stake a claim, but instead the club went and signed Sam Day, and Ty Gallop appears to already have overtaken him in the pecking order too.

I've got to assume that he's not close to the senior team, right?

 

[knaf]

I was really impressed with Payne, I thought he took over the Andrews role really well. I also really enjoyed seeing the team play with no Starc for a large part of the game, no Andrews and no Ah Chee plus the injured dudes. So we were not really near full strength and not really worrying too much about the result and still had it won until we clocked off. Good signs for the season ahead.

I say go with youth for the first 3-4 rounds until Gallop tires, drops off. Let him enjoy a debut and get others in the squad excited that opportunities are there if they push their case.

Also impressed with Payne. In the first he looked surprised to be on someone bigger and probably stronger than him. Thought he might be in for a shocker, but worked his way through it, seemed to change his positioning abit, and I thought at least broke even. quality ball coming into the crows attack at times.

I think Gallop will give us lots of enjoyable memories over the next few years.

 

[Elixuh]

Sorry if this has been covered, but what ever happened to Brandon Ryan.

When Daniher retired, I thought Ryan might be a chance to stake a claim, but instead the club went and signed Sam Day, and Ty Gallop appears to already have overtaken him in the pecking order too.

I've got to assume that he's not close to the senior team, right?

Nice try Chris Scott, we're not telling you our round zero team.

 

[Tassie4ever]

Had a close look at Day who played as if he was asking himself "do I really belong in a proper side?" Lack of endeavor very unimpressive for a bloke hoping to make a place in a new side. Linc badly in need of a run although looked fit. The trendy haircuts all did well. Oscar off the pace but wasn't afraid of contact. The traditional bomb into the forward line resulted in the usual traditional fail. Joyce? Seriously? Doedee told us he's not far way. We need him. Especially in Starc's enforced absence. To return to the theme- I predict Fagan will persist with Day but he really doesn't deserve it.

 

[NotQuiteJezza]

Well that didn’t clear up much for next weeks selection did it.

Ah chee in for Starc.
Harris for Joyce.

I wished that they gave H Smith more time on field. I thought he showed improvement.

Day looked pretty pedestrian.

I wish Gallop had kicked 2 or more because I think he would have locked up a start. His effort when doesn’t have the ball is amazing. Good positioning and always looking around.

Charlie and Rainer were super quiet. I think Charlie will struggle to hold his spot, come mid year.

Linc looked a bit lost now that Kai has taken his role forward. And Kai had a ripper game.

Answorth, Jasper, Zorko, Dunks, Neale and Berry all looked cherry ripe.

Go Lions!!!

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Well that didn’t clear up much for next weeks selection did it.

Ah chee in for Starc.
Harris for Joyce.

I wished that they gave H Smith more time on field. I thought he showed improvement.

Day looked pretty pedestrian.

I wish Gallop had kicked 2 or more because I think he would have locked up a start. His effort when doesn’t have the ball is amazing. Good positioning and always looking around.

Charlie and Rainer were super quiet. I think Charlie will struggle to hold his spot, come mid year.

Linc looked a bit lost now that Kai has taken his role forward. And Kai had a ripper game.

Answorth, Jasper, Zorko, Dunks, Neale and Berry all looked cherry ripe.

Go Lions!!!

Why do I get that vibe as well? he's no longer a guaranteed spot imo. Our depth is insane

 

[Bucking Beads]

We need to re-sign Logan Morris for a very long time. He is going to be some player!

 

[Squizz89]

Why do I get that vibe as well? he's no longer a guaranteed spot imo. Our depth is insane

I didn't want to mention him based off a trial game, but off the back of last year and watching him last night he's definitely a 'watch' for me this year.

I was worried last year that his drop in pace might've been an age thing, and nothing I saw last night, or him running around in the Freo game a couple of weeks has addressed those concerns.

I said a few years ago, when the pace dropped for him, the end could come quickly given how much he has relied on it to make a great career. I hope he leaves me with egg on my face, because with losing Joe we really need him getting involved & hitting the scoreboard again.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Didn’t like the 15m kick and it’s play on bs. Some of those kicks they called play on were closer to 20 than 10!

Umpires are as rusty as players this time of year.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Umpires are as rusty as players this time of year.

Agree, they are rusty. There was a lot of holding in stoppages.

Once they called one 20 m kick less than 15 m, perhaps they couldn't then call the next one soon after?

 

[Perrip]

 

[Section 5]

We had lots of players in the rehab group for most of the preseason.
Because of this we have not had much chance to have decent intraclub games this year.
The last two weeks the real playing group got a decent run against opposition teams but looked a little rusty.

I did not mention these players in my last comment, but they just cruised through the game racking up possessions at will. Those being Neale, Zorko, Dunkley & Will Ashcroft.
I think Levi was putting in more of an effort as he should be but not cruising like the others.

I think we go into the Cats game underdone for the first game of the season.
If we get away with the win it will be a great result.
Playing at the Gabba usually helps but it did not last year with 3 losses to start the year.

 

[buttermuffs]

I was in the stand directly behind the Lion's bench, and their constant use of most of the eight available interchanges was like a revolving door, restricting the onfield team from settling down into any vestige of smooth operation.
In contrast, Adelaide used only four (different) interchanges each half, closer to a normal game, and looked the better for it.

At the same time I don’t think it’s coincidence that we kicked to the biggest lead of the night in the fourth benefiting from the extra rotation. Took the foot off the gas pedal of course.

 

[NotQuiteJezza]

I didn't want to mention him based off a trial game, but off the back of last year and watching him last night he's definitely a 'watch' for me this year.

I was worried last year that his drop in pace might've been an age thing, and nothing I saw last night, or him running around in the Freo game a couple of weeks has addressed those concerns.

I said a few years ago, when the pace dropped for him, the end could come quickly given how much he has relied on it to make a great career. I hope he leaves me with egg on my face, because with losing Joe we really need him getting involved & hitting the scoreboard again.

I really he proves us wrong. He is one of the great small forwards the game has seen. I think that like Linc, he is a bit at sea, now that Kai has taken that special small forward role. Defense has never been Charlie’s main attribute although in the last year he has really tried in this area.

It’s a massively changing forward line this year. Logan, Ty, Kai, Levi all under 21. Cam, Hipwood and Callum mid 20’s and Linc, Charlie and Sam in their 30’s. It could be a forward line with a very low average age sooner rather than later.