Training Pre-season 2026

[guruisatiger]

Oh yes. Mervyn was similar to Broad in that he was no frills, disciplined, tough, brave and rarely if ever beaten in finals.

And a ripping bloke off the field
Met him quite a few times and was
Always up for a chat

 

[Tigerat2020]

Smilie needs to be put in cotton wool. Talls are always late developers. Putting him in the midfield in the next 2 years would be a major mistake imo.
He should be regarded as a speculative pick and left to develop.
If he plays mid or plays more than 5 games in a row he will get injured.
At 197cm he is too tall to play mid at this stage , he could snap in half.
Once he has a man's body , we can try him in the midfield, if that doesn't work , he can play forward or wing.

 

[Hoos]

Merv Keane was actually a really polished footballer to go with his reliability and discipline. In our current era he would be more like a Nick Vlastuin.

Agreed. I didn't mean that he had no skills, but that he was underrated a bit like Broad has been.

 

[Hoos]

And a ripping bloke off the field
Met him quite a few times and was
Always up for a chat

Me too. He worked as a sales rep for a company that the place I worked for did business with in the '90's.

Hell of a nice guy.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Smilie needs to be put in cotton wool. Talls are always late developers. Putting him in the midfield in the next 2 years would be a major mistake imo.
He should be regarded as a speculative pick and left to develop.
If he plays mid or plays more than 5 games in a row he will get injured.
At 197cm he is too tall to play mid at this stage , he could snap in half.
Once he has a man's body , we can try him in the midfield, if that doesn't work , he can play forward or wing.

He’s 2cm taller than Cripps. People get hung up on these imaginary height thresholds. He was fine playing mid as a 195cm 18 year old do we really think after a 2cm height gain all of a sudden he’s going to snap in half? 2cm is a barely perceivable difference.

 

[tigerfan1961]

He’s 2cm taller than Cripps. People get hung up on these imaginary height thresholds. He was fine playing mid as a 195cm 18 year old do we really think after a 2cm height gain all of a sudden he’s going to snap in half? 2cm is a barely perceivable difference.

Beat me to it, he was outstanding as a mid as a junior but now we have to protect him? Don’t think so, just fends players off like they’re not there at times. Can’t wait to see him out there again fully fit and confident in his body. Will be a star imo

 

[LTT]

plus Banks, Trainor, Brown, Short, Broad??

The discussion was about the three key position defender positions. I don't think Short will be challenging Miller Balta Grey and Gibcus for a spot

 

[Groupie_]

still growin'

 

[cairo tiger]

Beat me to it, he was outstanding as a mid as a junior but now we have to protect him? Don’t think so, just fends players off like they’re not there at times. Can’t wait to see him out there again fully fit and confident in his body. Will be a star imo

will struggle to play in 26

 

[wegetpumped]

Smilie needs to be put in cotton wool. Talls are always late developers. Putting him in the midfield in the next 2 years would be a major mistake imo.
He should be regarded as a speculative pick and left to develop.
If he plays mid or plays more than 5 games in a row he will get injured.
At 197cm he is too tall to play mid at this stage , he could snap in half.
Once he has a man's body , we can try him in the midfield, if that doesn't work , he can play forward or wing.

So your saying there is still hope for Ryan? Apparently I heard his burning it up pre season ohh was that last season lol

 

[guruisatiger]

Me too. He worked as a sales rep for a company that the place I worked for did business with in the '90's.

Hell of a nice guy.

Was that a stationary company?
He use to sell stationary to Australia post.
The guy at post who bought the stationary was a mad tiger fan met him then

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

The good part about gray is he is young hungry and really wants to make it
You can tell by the way he plays especially his spoiling and closing down speed is great
He hasn't been in an elite system
So another full season in the ressies and another full pre season next year-and he will be broadys replacement for 2027 great long term investment

Last time we took a Bomber it ended well for him and us.

 

[guruisatiger]

Last time we took a Bomber it ended well for him and us.

Andrew underwood
Justin blumfield

 

[Grrr]

The discussion was about the three key position defender positions. I don't think Short will be challenging Miller Balta Grey and Gibcus for a spot

It's true, but he comes from a fair way back. Miller and Balta are certainties. Broad deserves his spot although I would like to see him moved to fit in players like Trainor and Grey who are both the same size so add him to the list. Gibcus surely deserves a good look at, above Gray.

Gray's training may have him up near the top, but not his actual position in the side. He won't get a gig in front of al those mentioned besides maybe Trainor.

To many good back to push in front of, hence I would like to see him tried up on the wing, plenty of nothing much on the wings at present.

 

[tony__montana]

Grey is an athletic freak, his ability to get airtime and hang to get a fist in or take a
Mark is beyond most players in the afl. I’m bullish on this kid, think he’ll be a ripper

 

[tigerfan1961]

will struggle to play in 26

Why would you say that? He’d put in a huge off season until the quad injury played up so he’d be pretty fit aerobically and he’s schedule to be back in full training late January or early February. He will be fine and ready to go by round 1 according to the last update I read in the media.
Might and most likely will start at VFL level, but once he gets going, he’s a shoe in to play at senior level imo.

 

[Hoos]

Smilie needs to be put in cotton wool. Talls are always late developers. Putting him in the midfield in the next 2 years would be a major mistake imo.
He should be regarded as a speculative pick and left to develop.
If he plays mid or plays more than 5 games in a row he will get injured.
At 197cm he is too tall to play mid at this stage , he could snap in half.
Once he has a man's body , we can try him in the midfield, if that doesn't work , he can play forward or wing.

Are you taking the piss?

 

[Hoos]

Was that a stationary company?
He use to sell stationary to Australia post.
The guy at post who bought the stationary was a mad tiger fan met him then

Something along those lines. I think we used to buy that waxed tape used for large cardboard boxes from him.

 

[Tigerat2020]

Are you taking the piss?

No.

 

[smurfin]

Andrew underwood
Justin blumfield

Tom Hislop?

 

[Hoos]

No.

 

[Wrenny]

The discussion was about the three key position defender positions. I don't think Short will be challenging Miller Balta Grey and Gibcus for a spot

What, just because he’s…. Short?

 

[Hoos]

What, just because he’s…. Short?

 

[biaseddustyfan]

Smilie needs to be put in cotton wool. Talls are always late developers. Putting him in the midfield in the next 2 years would be a major mistake imo.
He should be regarded as a speculative pick and left to develop.
If he plays mid or plays more than 5 games in a row he will get injured.
At 197cm he is too tall to play mid at this stage , he could snap in half.
Once he has a man's body , we can try him in the midfield, if that doesn't work , he can play forward or wing.

every time we put someone in cotton wool their injuries get worse

chuck him in as first picked midfielder from rd1, no rest weeks at all

 

[Groupie_]