2019 Training Reports

[Lach72]

Did you go? Did he spend time in the forward line? Was he finding the ball when he was there, or was he being beaten?

This is stock, standard player development.

No.

Half back all game

 

[Kenny_01]

No.

Half back all game

Sturt has some work to do. I watched him closely. Lots of talent but plenty of development ahead of him. If he was pressing for selection as a forward, he would be playing there.

BTW - when drafted, Bell did mention they see him as a forward but also with potential to play at half back. I still think he will be a forward in the longer term though - just a part of his development currently playing a bit of half back.

 

[Lach72]

Sturt has some work to do. I watched him closely. Lots of talent but plenty of development ahead of him. If he was pressing for selection as a forward, he would be playing there.

BTW - when drafted, Bell did mention they see him as a forward but also with potential to play at half back. I still think he will be a forward in the longer term though - just a part of his development currently playing a bit of half back.

Yeah was a bit timid for mine and he's skinny...

 

[Tonga Bob]

I get down once or twice a year with kids in tow. You've outperformed me. We don't get past the water slides questions.

to be fair it's a helluva slide

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

I don't think we send our kids to half-back for an apprenticeship.

Instead we send talented players to half-back because we are still, even all these years after the 2015 debarcle, very concerned about our transition game.

So Cerra, Weller and Blakely go to half-back because we believe they can help us get the ball and distribute it on the rebound. (Same reason S.Hill is there.)

Duman plays instead of Nyhuis not because of his defensive skill (he's a worse 1-on-1 defender) but because he is better with the ball in hand.

Giro and Crowden play forward while Cerra plays back not because they are more attacking (they aren't) but because dont offer too much to our transition game. Cerra is good at reading the outlet options down the ground and the executing the kick, so he gets half-back.

If we reckon that Sturt has both great "vision" and is a great kick then he will spend time marking at half back and transitioning the ball.

 

[Joao]

You just created a bunch of straw men. I didn't say any of those things. I know defence is important.
My point was I would love to see us just once give a young player license to be creative. Stephenson didn't have to spend a year in the VFL or in the backline. They put him up front and said kick goals son, from anywhere you like and anyway you can. He was a revelation.
I don't understand why everyone has to do an apprenticeship in the backline under our system. For some players I'm sure its great but we seem to do it to everyone.

I think the main difference between Sturt and Stevo is that Stevo already had a good tank and Sturt was like bottom 10% at the combine. Don't reckon he could last a WAFL game let alone an AFL game, even as a forward. Stevo did a fair bit of work up the ground last year.

 

[Scham]

I'm more interested to see where they play him at Peel - I hope it is in the forward line alongside Dixon, McCarthy, Ballantyne and Shultz (plus Blair Bell and Jackson Merrett). A Rd 1 debut for Sturt was never a chance. I'm not expecting to see him in JLT (much or at all) either. But if he makes an impact at Peel in the pre-season games or early in the regular season the coaches will notice and pencil him in for a debut (just like they did watching Cerra, Crowden and Giro last season - and North if he didn't get injured). But if it takes a bit longer so be it... Dixon seems to be progressing nicely without having a debut yet.

Agree. Got my money on him spending most of his time in defence though.

 

[wayToGo_]

Has a schedule for peels pre season games been listed. From there website it looks like a curtain raiser v the eagles on March 10 JLT2 but can't see anything for remaining pre season schedule

Yeah 10 March v WC is their first hit out (don't think it's an official pre-season game though). The offical WAFL pre-season games will be played on March 23 and 30 - not sure who against. I'm sure they'll do something on that 17 Mar weekend as well because from memory they did last year. Round 1 is 6 Apr.

 

[theGav56]

I don't think we send our kids to half-back for an apprenticeship.

Instead we send talented players to half-back because we are still, even all these years after the 2015 debarcle, very concerned about our transition game.

So Cerra, Weller and Blakely go to half-back because we believe they can help us get the ball and distribute it on the rebound. (Same reason S.Hill is there.)

Duman plays instead of Nyhuis not because of his defensive skill (he's a worse 1-on-1 defender) but because he is better with the ball in hand.

Giro and Crowden play forward while Cerra plays back not because they are more attacking (they aren't) but because dont offer too much to our transition game. Cerra is good at reading the outlet options down the ground and the executing the kick, so he gets half-back.

If we reckon that Sturt has both great "vision" and is a great kick then he will spend time marking at half back and transitioning the ball.

I can half agree with you. Definitely a strategy to improve our transition game, which is a foundation of any winning game plan. It does require good decision makers, and good disposal, as well as ball winning capacity, which is why that position is typically filled by a "midfielder", or as we often do, a small group of mids who can play through there depending on match-ups and rotations. It is a good strategy.

But I think it is also part of the apprenticeship. Lyon had some issues with Blakely's defensive game and slotting back is a way of addressing that is probably the most obvious. But the more general point is that the versatility required from midfielders is central to the game now. The club has talked about wanting multi-positional players, and we see it in all areas of the ground. Our forward line is jam-packed with players who can play other roles when required, and can be quite unpredictable once it is fully primed. Our defence is a lot more predictable/stable (thank goodness), but midfielders having the capacity to slot in there and launch our transition is super important.

 

[Scham]

If we reckon that Sturt has both great "vision" and is a great kick then he will spend time marking at half back and transitioning the ball.

You make some good points but I think we’ve got plenty of defenders with that skill set, i.e Ryan, Wilson, Duman, Hamling.

Sturt is most value up forward imo. We desperately need quality up there too.

 

[DeanS]

I went to my first ever training session on Monday last week. Didn't get to view what was going on with the players as much as I wanted due to having two inquisitive kids with me (so many questions!!), but here are some of my notes from the morning:

• The new facilities are impressive;
• Those two people talking while the others are training are the captain (he's the one with the hat on backwards) and the coach (he's the one with hair like daddy's);
• No I'm not buying you chips, we'll have lunch when we get back home;
• Fyfe also spent time with Sam Sturt, in particular they were practicing marking together;
• No you can't go on the water slide;
• Yes it's a big water slide;
• We have some big units in our team, of the 15 or so players to have their photo taken with my son only Ballantyne didn't need to bend down;
• Hogan was the last player out there - someone was hitting tennis balls to him slips practice style. He was looking good & was saying to a fan that he was progressing well (good to hear a positive rehab story);
• No you cannot have a Freo garden gnome, we don't have room in our luggage for it;
• We said hello to a few of the training watchers, no idea who though, so if my kids distracted you with questions I'm sorry;
• The merch shop had no badges of the new players which annoyed my son as he wanted one of the player that gave him two fist bumps (Hogan);
• The player walking around the edge of the oval isn't lazy, he's injured (Blakely);
• If I get another chance to go to a training session I'll leave the kids at home.

A great read. Brightened my day. Thanks.

 

[Heart Of Purple]

I think the main difference between Sturt and Stevo is that Stevo already had a good tank and Sturt was like bottom 10% at the combine. Don't reckon he could last a WAFL game let alone an AFL game, even as a forward. Stevo did a fair bit of work up the ground last year.

Stevo's also seriously quick, haven't seen much of Sturt but it sounds like his fast without being Stephenson pace. No shame in that, but it does mean you need to be just that little bit smarter or better somewhere else to be as good.

 

[blue shark]

You make some good points but I think we’ve got plenty of defenders with that skill set, i.e Ryan, Wilson, Duman, Hamling.

Sturt is most value up forward imo. We desperately need quality up there too.

I agree with you we have an abundance of half backs, and his Bio suggests he is highly skilled forward, with no idea how to play defence, man on man.
A few games at Peel, etc, at HB may help his development, but if there is one major issue with Ross, it is that he lacks attacking nous.
Sure he needs to work on his defensive side, but honestly that wont happen until he has put on at least 5-10 kg.

Hopefully a full year of development with our boys at Peel will benefit them and the competition from $ubiaco.
Having an attacking HF, in unison with an defensive HF is where we have dropped the ball.

 

[Joao]

Stevo's also seriously quick, haven't seen much of Sturt but it sounds like his fast without being Stephenson pace. No shame in that, but it does mean you need to be just that little bit smarter or better somewhere else to be as good.

This is true but I think Sturt is quick enough and smart enough for the role, just doesn't have the gas for it at this stage.

 

[theGav56]

.... but if there is one major issue with Ross, it is that he lacks attacking nous.

We are about to find out. Would be premature to look at the last couple of seasons and conclude that, and I think we have been reasonably attacking prior to that. It is pretty obvious that the rebuild focused firstly on defence, then midfield, and now forward, and is well advanced in terms of the previously articulated time-frame.

Aside from that, a senior coach may be deficient in an area of coaching, but that is no excuse. As we saw at Richmond, that should be addressed by complimenting the coach with the right assistants. My main criticism of Lyon is that I am not sure that he gets the best possible assistants around him (the rowing coach comes to mind). I am thinking Peter Bell can have a significant role to play with this. Happy to leave that judgement for now though, and see how the season pans out.

 

[DaveLister]

Sean Darcy is so overwhelmingly strong, He didn't lose a single battle of strength during the intraclub. Absolutely dominant at throw ins.
He has come a long way and still has a bit to go but he is a beast

 

[blue shark]

We are about to find out. Would be premature to look at the last couple of seasons and conclude that, and I think we have been reasonably attacking prior to that. It is pretty obvious that the rebuild focused firstly on defence, then midfield, and now forward, and is well advanced in terms of the previously articulated time-frame.

Aside from that, a senior coach may be deficient in an area of coaching, but that is no excuse. As we saw at Richmond, that should be addressed by complimenting the coach with the right assistants. My main criticism of Lyon is that I am not sure that he gets the best possible assistants around him (the rowing coach comes to mind). I am thinking Peter Bell can have a significant role to play with this. Happy to leave that judgement for now though, and see how the season pans out.

No argument from me, and yes it could all fall into place this year? But just looking at the premiers and their backup
forwards, suggests we need to do something similar at Peel.
Waterman, O Allen, Brander, Petch, Venerables, Cameron, and yes most will get a game, games at senior level.

 

[theGav56]

Sean Darcy is so overwhelmingly strong, He didn't lose a single battle of strength during the intraclub. Absolutely dominant at throw ins.
He has come a long way and still has a bit to go but he is a beast

Interesting. From what I read Meek didn't do too badly. What are your thoughts?

 

[DaveLister]

Interesting. From what I read Meek didn't do too badly. What are your thoughts?

Meek was great halved contests where he could run and jump, used the ball well and was pretty useful around the ground but Darcy was too strong when he wrestled. Darcy had complete control at throw ins

 

[theGav56]

Meek was great halved contests where he could run and jump, used the ball well and was pretty useful around the ground but Darcy was too strong when he wrestled. Darcy had complete control at throw ins

Seems a terrific reserve #1 ruck for us.

 

[DaveLister]

Seems a terrific reserve #1 ruck for us.

It's very clear how hard he has worked on his body and skills. People seemed to think that he was playing Peel ressies last year was because he was last in line but really it was allowing him to develop playing the role he was drafted to play without sharing the role with 3 others. His ruck craft is strong and his marking and aerial contests have come a long way. He'll give Darcy a run for his money if Darcy gets complacent and that sort of pressure to keep your position is really valuable.

 

[theGav56]

.... if Darcy gets complacent....

Meek may need a Plan B.

I really like having a couple of rucks duke it out for the #1 position, looking for where they can get an advantage or point of difference. I also much prefer having someone ready to come in if we have an injury rather than slotting Lobb in; forward/ruck is going to be a match winner for us if it comes off.

 

[Scatter]

I went to my first ever training session on Monday last week. Didn't get to view what was going on with the players as much as I wanted due to having two inquisitive kids with me (so many questions!!), but here are some of my notes from the morning:

• The new facilities are impressive;
• Those two people talking while the others are training are the captain (he's the one with the hat on backwards) and the coach (he's the one with hair like daddy's);
• No I'm not buying you chips, we'll have lunch when we get back home;
• Fyfe also spent time with Sam Sturt, in particular they were practicing marking together;
• No you can't go on the water slide;
• Yes it's a big water slide;
• We have some big units in our team, of the 15 or so players to have their photo taken with my son only Ballantyne didn't need to bend down;
• Hogan was the last player out there - someone was hitting tennis balls to him slips practice style. He was looking good & was saying to a fan that he was progressing well (good to hear a positive rehab story);
• No you cannot have a Freo garden gnome, we don't have room in our luggage for it;
• We said hello to a few of the training watchers, no idea who though, so if my kids distracted you with questions I'm sorry;
• The merch shop had no badges of the new players which annoyed my son as he wanted one of the player that gave him two fist bumps (Hogan);
• The player walking around the edge of the oval isn't lazy, he's injured (Blakely);
• If I get another chance to go to a training session I'll leave the kids at home.

POTY

 

[wayToGo_]

Stevo's also seriously quick, haven't seen much of Sturt but it sounds like his fast without being Stephenson pace. No shame in that, but it does mean you need to be just that little bit smarter or better somewhere else to be as good.

Stephenson ran a 2.95s 20m sprint in 2017 draft combine. Sturt ran a 2.96s 20m sprint in 2018 draft combine. Sturt was also top 10 for agility, Stephenson wasn't. Anyone that is sub 3s is pretty quick. As others have hinted at, Stephenson was also top 10 for endurance at the combine (both yo-yo and 2km)... Sturt has a way to go to build the tank. Has the same raw talent and smarts from what I have seen and heard.

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

You make some good points but I think we’ve got plenty of defenders with that skill set, i.e Ryan, Wilson, Duman, Hamling.

Sturt is most value up forward imo. We desperately need quality up there too.

Yes, I think after all the issues we had circa 2015/2016 moving the ball we have become a bit obsessive about it.