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Bigman’s Training Reports

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bigman said:
Second session down.

Despite being quite windy and a few key players missing, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of today’s training. Ball skills and marking are still a bit rusty as you’d expect but the general intensity seems really good for this time of year.

Numbers were again pleasing though there were a few different names compared to Monday. No Tex, Milera or Laird this time, but Dawson returned as did Sholl. Berry was absent today as was Peatling, while ANB, Cumming and Ah Chee are yet to return.

Hinge did a bit of the session which was good to see. Fog and Max are still in the rehab group, not sure the issue with Max. Suspect he’s not far away rejoining the main group. Draper was again a no show, I guess they’re working on something in the gym? Seems strange he hasn’t set foot on the oval yet.

Marsh was only allowed to run laps while Ludowyke did some handball work before heading into the gym. He’s a huge lad, will fill out a lot with those shoulders. Cotton did almost the entire session save for the running.

The two train ons (McGuane and Foot) both did the bulk of training. Interestingly McGuane was eased into it - while the boys did the early drills, he was working with the high performance guys on his burst speed and quick feet. Both McGuane and Foot were held off from the running portion of training, as was Dawson and Keays.

One drill that really caught my eye today was full-ground and had the corridor coned off and filled with coaches, meaning it was a no go zone. Instead they had to move the ball up and down the wings. Additionally, whenever a team scored, they would remain the attacking side and have to immediately move the ball from defence. Typically in most drills, after a score the ball is handed to the opposition or the coaches. This change meant players had to be really switched on and not get caught out on the rebound.

Another interesting one was late in the session and was basically the AFL combine kicking test. Players had six kicks to make, three left and three right of varying distances, with teammates standing in hoops and not allowed to leave the hoop to receive the footy. Basically they had to be perfect kicks. Only half a dozen did this drill, but my boy Taylor was the standout, hitting 4 of 6, while Ryan (3) the runner up. Both very impressive given gusts of 40km. Curtin surprisingly was the worst of the group - I blame the fact he wore knee strapping again! Not sure the deal with that, one of the great mysteries.

The running at the end wasn’t too arduous, just end to end strides with 10–15 secs in between. Curtin, Dowling and Pedlar generally led the pack. Pleasingly, Welsh did not labour one bit. His time trial will be interesting but there’s no doubt he’s fitter at the moment.

As for the standout trainer, it has to be Cook. In the two larger-scale drills today he was the most dominant and really covered the ground, working up and down the wing. Had a few contested wins including two on Pedlar, took a few intercept grabs and was typically excellent with the ball. The penny seemed to drop for this lad late last year, he became a force in the sanfl and a different player. Hopefully he keeps riding that momentum this summer.

Some other player notes:

7. Thilthorpe - if you were concerned at all he might come back sluggish, don’t be. Ran like a greyhound out there, including one burst through the centre a 200cm bloke just shouldn’t do.

8. Rachele - no sunnies today. Looks fit though was a bit quiet during today’s drills, but whenever he gets the ball you can basically guarantee he will hit a target.

9. Murray - should clarify that he’s quite bulky but in great condition, I just think he could stand to lose a bit of that muscle. Had a ground ball where he wasn’t agile enough to beat his opponent, still an area he needs to improve.

10. Pedlar - beaten twice by Cook which isn’t ideal, but he’s certainly training with real energy and looks leaner to the eye. Kicking sharp again, bit more composed.

12. Dawson - think he’s not in quite as good condition as this time last year but that’s not a shock given the foot injury. Still trained really well, he’s a class above at times out there.

17. Welsh - like I said, has definitely slimmed down a bit and improved his running. And what a shock, he was able to get involved a lot more in the full-ground drills, even pushing up to take marks at half back.

19. Taylor - has probably bulked up more than I gave him credit for on Monday, though he’s still by no means a huge lad. Is definitely more involved so far this summer and training with more confidence, it’s amazing what extended time at AFL level can do.

21. Bond - similar to Taylor but his improvement in the last two years has been even more substantial. He’s a much more composed and confident player now with his decision making and ball use.

23. Rankine - is ready to play right now. He’s the best prepared on the list.

27. Nankervis - had a good session particularly with his kicking which seemed to desert him last year. Hopefully Nicksy doesn’t kill his confidence this time around.

33. Cotton - was good again. Made a few blues but for a bloke who hadn’t played footy in years, he kept running to the right spots and got used a lot in transition. Seems a pretty calm decision maker which I like. No idea where he will play yet, personally I like the idea of half back/wing for now. Curious to see if he has inside chops.

38. Foot - broad, strong lad and with the curly dark hair and tan I got him confused with Bond once or twice. Seems a good athlete, but my doubts remain from his draft year over his kicking and decision making. Willing to give him more time as it was windy and I’ve no doubt he was nervous.

40. McGuane - pretty much as expected. He’s very light, but knows where to run and is a neat player and good with his hands. Kicking lacks a bit of guts though, bit Crouch-like in that regard. Also one thing I noticed from his draft year is that too often he takes too long to move the ball on after a mark, and that was the case again today. Think he gets paralysis by choice.

41. Butts - mentioned it last time but I’ll mention it again, he’s in incredible nick. With his tan he looks in supreme condition out there, certainly no excess bulk.

Any questions, feel free to ask.
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Thanks, great to have these back.

Not really sure it has a rational basis as I've never seen him play (or any tape), but I am quite confident Cotton makes it. The way recruiters apparently said he'd have been a first-round pick this year had he kept up with footy makes me think he's a real talent.
 
Bicks just saying what most of us are thinking...

www.sen.com.au

The five Crows that must play midfield in 2026

“They have to be given minutes in the midfield next year.”
www.sen.com.au www.sen.com.au

Will be interesting to see from the training reports if the coaching group are giving these 5 more time through the midfield... or 4 excluding Rankine given he was already spending time there
 

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SadCromFan said:
Is it embarrassing to admit I live for Bigman's training reports...
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No GIF
 

Track Watch: The latest updates and scouting notes from Crows, Power pre-seasons​

The battle for the final spot on Adelaide’s list is well and truly on, with an overlooked father-son prospect impressing early,

Reuben William, who played in an Essendon District league premiership with McGuane at Keilor last year, was teammates with Keays at Brisbane in 2016-17 and watched McGuane up close this past season as Western Jets’ talent manager, said the youngster’s work ethic and character would make a strong impression.

“He’s a great kid, hard worker,” William told this masthead.

“He actually reminds me of one of my old teammates Ben Keays.

“That left-footer who can find the footy and absolutely cover the ground.

“Some of his GPS numbers were through the roof this year and Benny’s the same – he’s always been that hard runner and worker.

“Keaysy just texted me before (after McGuane’s first training) that he loves him already.”

Both train-on players had some nice moments during the two-hour session, but McGuane particularly caught the eye.

His hard running to be part of possession chains during match simulation and how vocal he was as seemingly one of the loudest players on the ground were noticeable.

“That’s him, Tommy,” William said.
But William said McGuane’s size should not count against him.

“At Keilor with Mick being the coach, some players would go out of their way to push Tommy around a bit and Tommy took it in his stride,” he said.

“Zac can cover the ground pretty well, up there with the best of them.

“He’s a solid unit.

“But – and I don’t have a crystal ball – you’d think Tommy could be like that (body shape) in two or three years’ time.

“You’d back in an AFL club’s strength and conditioning program to get him there, particularly because he’s a hard worker.”
 
Coopers said:
Really pleasing to hear about Cook and Pedlar. Fringe players turning into good footballers is great for the team. Might as well die trying.
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Pedlar shouldn’t be fringe - he’s too talented with AFL traits to just be a fringe player
 
Glenny83 said:
I'm going early with Rachele for a fitted blazer in 2026.
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The great thing about our list is that Worrell, Rach, Rankine, RT, Draper, Murray, Keane, Maxy and Curtin all have their best footy ahead of them

I also thing Peatling and Cumming will have better years as well - 2025 was there transition year
 

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WeeBlake said:
He’s already shown he has time in congestion, at this size he’ll be able to shrug them off too. I don’t really have an opinion on how quick/good his distribution is.
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Second half of last season there were a few instances were Curtin got caught in heavy congestion in our D50. I noticed he was able to hold onto the pill while getting tackled. Didn’t get sucked into firing out blind disposals. Just stood tall in the tackle, oppo could not move him, held ball high in the air, looked around and then dished handballs out over their heads. Not a care in the world. Made it look easy. Given his size he could bring a different style to those contests.
 
I’d like them to put in somebody who can play tall. Marsh or Cotton? Curtin was instrumental in transitioning from defensive 50 as he was able to clunk so many contested marks when they went to his wing. Go small and the oppo will contest those transitions more effectively and thereby reduce our inside F50 numbers.
 

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Eric The Red said:
I’d like them to put in somebody who can play tall. Marsh or Cotton? Curtin was instrumental in transitioning from defensive 50 as he was able to clunk so many contested marks when they went to his wing. Go small and the oppo will contest those transitions more effectively and thereby reduce our inside F50 numbers.
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If Marsh develops as a ranging wing / half forward, that would fit your wish well as he is a good strong marking player from the footage I have watched of him and should only get better. Ah Chee on the other wing will hold that down very nicely too with Dan Curtin moving into the middle (hopefully)
 
1970crow said:
I don’t care about the rules, obviously it’s allowed, I’m talking about the structure. We have an AFL listed ruck that needs lots of minutes. We have tall forwards that need minutes - Murray, Ludowyke, Marsh, Welsh and Maley. Where is he going to play week in and week out? Add him into the forward line and there’s 6 spots taken up. What about rotating mids, what about about mids playing forward to develop for when they get a crack in the 1s.

It’s irrelevant what status he is, it’s his being selected at all that matters. Now, if he’s a top up that’s mostly playing at another club until needed, no worries. But is that happening?
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Filth and ROB rotate each game. I’d say it will be the same in SANFL. If we only have one ruck in the seconds he could get banged up. That won’t help us if and when he needs to cover for ROB. Just saying.
 
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