Training 2026 Preseason

[Gekko71]

McVee and Clark will be dangerous offensively and it might allow Simpson to get off the chain.

From what I'm reading about Clark and Freddie training with the midfield group, it might be the other way around... Simpson and McVee could fill the backline role, and Clark could be the offensive threat getting off the chain the middle.

Given the lack of midfield time Simpson has had thus far, given how well he slotted into half back last season, and given the number of possessions Clarkie was racking up last season, it just seems more likely to me that Jordan will be running and attacking through the midfield more next year than Simpson would.

 

[freo84]

From what I'm reading about Clark and Freddie training with the midfield group, it might be the other way around... Simpson and McVee could fill the backline role, and Clark could be the offensive threat getting off the chain the middle.

Given the lack of midfield time Simpson has had thus far, given how well he slotted into half back last season, and given the number of possessions Clarkie was racking up last season, it just seems more likely to me that Jordan will be running and attacking through the midfield more next year than Simpson would.

Throw Clark on a wing....ohhh boy wow wee what about this, Jordan Clark in the white shorts with a BOOOOOOOMING kick inside 50.

 

[eastfreo75]

From what I'm reading about Clark and Freddie training with the midfield group, it might be the other way around... Simpson and McVee could fill the backline role, and Clark could be the offensive threat getting off the chain the middle.

Given the lack of midfield time Simpson has had thus far, given how well he slotted into half back last season, and given the number of possessions Clarkie was racking up last season, it just seems more likely to me that Jordan will be running and attacking through the midfield more next year than Simpson would.

Great discussion.

My view is we had three weak spots 1) Half Back 2 ) Flat side wing 3) Small forward.

Will be interesting how the club fills those spots.

Moving Clark to a wing is robing Peter to pay Paul. I really like fast Freddy as a flat side winger.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Clark would be an awesome wing.

Can roll back, good kick inside 50, changes angles, run all day but also goes hard when it is his turn.

Would be a massive call to move him there off an AA season though.

If we did it, it would be part time to start, coaches wouldn’t go all chips in on it. And McVee and Simpson would need to be performing really well.

 

[DeanS]

Great discussion.

My view is we had three weak spots 1) Half Back 2 ) Flat side wing 3) Small forward.

Will be interesting how the club fills those spots.

Moving Clark to a wing is robing Peter to pay Paul. I really like fast Freddy as a flat side winger.

Which one is the flat side wing?

 

[Big Animal]

Which one is the flat side wing?

the side you air fry for the first 6 mins at 190 degrees before you turn for the next 6 mins after giving a small spray of olive oil. Serve with sweet chilli sauce after sitting on paper for a couple of mins to cool and absorb the excess oil.

 

[YelloMit]

Throw Clark on a wing....ohhh boy wow wee what about this, Jordan Clark in the white shorts with a BOOOOOOOMING kick inside 50.

 

[anchor man]

Which one is the flat side wing?

Seems that Sharp has lost any appeal he may have had here.He does not even crack a mention now days.
Looking for a wingman, but one there in hidden sight.

 

[Dockernut]

Seems that Sharp has lost any appeal he may have had here.He does not even crack a mention now days.
Looking for a wingman, but one there in hidden

I dunno, I’ve re-watched all of the games from this season and I’m now much more acutely aware of a few things:

• Sharp had a number of ineffectual games and honestly butchered it a lot when he got it.
• Bolton ran over the ball in the middle way too much. He either needs to take possession or knock it to the advantage of teammates who will take possession in there.
• Jye looked better leading in up the ground and feeding other forwards.
• We still lacked a small forward mix that just stuffed goals in there. Too often we tried to rely on just getting by and the Suns game was the ultimate example of this failure.
• We need a more aggressive forward mindset to complement the above mentioned small forward. Roll tape on that Dogs game.
• Coxy (Brennan variety) needs to take the first option.
• Simpson needs to stay in the side.

 

[E Shed]

Seems that Sharp has lost any appeal he may have had here.He does not even crack a mention now days.
Looking for a wingman, but one there in hidden sight.

I had in in my best 23 that I posted in that thread.
He was hampered by injury this year so the story goes.
He's never going to be a great player but for the sacrificial running man who plays the mostly unrewarded role he is perfect.
Its the other side, someone who can aggressively participate in transition and create play that we need a special player.

 

[Superkoops]

Seems that Sharp has lost any appeal he may have had here.He does not even crack a mention now days.
Looking for a wingman, but one there in hidden sight.

Sharp is just not that good. A running machine. If we want a sacrificial running machine on the wing like Adam Simpson used to use Chris Masten then he has a role. Otherwise can’t see him being that much value.

There was a story the other day involving Massimo D’Ambrosio and Coach Sam Mitchell. When he arrive at Hawthorn Mitchell who referred to him as muppet told him he turns the same way each time and uses only one foot. He subsequently trained extra hard on his non-dominant foot and not just turning the one way. D’Ambrosio has become one of the top wingers in the comp.

Sharp has no left foot and turns the same way each time and has no get out of jail left foot release kick. He just gets himself in a pickle trying to get on his right foot and doing even awkward banana kicks. Even at Peel thunder with less pressure won’t use his left foot.

 

[King Huskii]

Sharp is just not that good. A running machine. If we want a sacrificial running machine on the wing like Adam Simpson used to use Chris Masten then he has a role. Otherwise can’t see him being that much value.

There was a story the other day involving Massimo D’Ambrosio and Coach Sam Mitchell. When he arrive at Hawthorn Mitchell who referred to him as muppet told him he turns the same way each time and uses only one foot. He subsequently trained extra hard on his non-dominant foot and not just turning the one way. D’Ambrosio has become one of the top wingers in the comp.

Sharp has no left foot and turns the same way each time and has no get out of jail left foot release kick. He just gets himself in a pickle trying to get on his right foot and doing even awkward banana kicks. Even at Peel thunder with less pressure won’t use his left foot.

He was lucky that Freo gave him a go or he'd not have a footy career anymore

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Curious to hear how Nicholls is progressing: what position he is in? Are they bulking him up? Are they developing his mobility?

He seems to be only forward. Not the deepest forward but more in a leading role so yes he has improved mobility. He has baulked up a bit but he was super skinny and has a long way to got in that department.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Extra Note
Josh Draper has put on significant muscle and looking more and more like a genuine key position prospect. Im still really confident we have a long term player for our club in him and I think he'll be the Alex Pearce

25

Alex Pearce

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

5.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

106.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.0

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.8

3star

MG

103.2

2star

replacement if he stays at the club and doesn't leave for more opportunities.
Hayde Young is looking back to his best. He's a bit lighter and seems to be covering the ground well.
Switta and Luke Ryan have only run laps so far as far as I can tell but neither haver injuries. Luke Ryan absolutely hates lap running.

 

[anchor man]

He seems to be only forward. Not the deepest forward but more in a leading role so yes he has improved mobility. He has baulked up a bit but he was super skinny and has a long way to got in that department.

He is being trained to be a next ruck.

 

[King Huskii]

He is being trained to be a next ruck.

He's also being trained to be a lead out forward

 

[Superkoops]

He was lucky that Freo gave him a go or he'd not have a footy career anymore

It’s a shame he doesn’t work on his non-dominant like Massimo. It doesn’t need to be a long kick just a short 25m reliable outlet kick. Get out of jail option. I’m in my 40’s and play Supers/Masters and at training I always use my non-dominant left foot where I can. It is an accurate decent kick for 20-25m that I’m confident using in a game where necessary. It hasn’t always been the case when I was younger. Anyway my point is that he could still be working on it in his 20’s. Sharp just won’t use his left foot at all. That will be his detriment I believe.

 

[Suma Says]

Mobility was always Nicholls one wood. Its basically what got him drafted

 

[lint]

It’s a shame he doesn’t work on his non-dominant like Massimo. It doesn’t need to be a long kick just a short 25m reliable outlet kick. Get out of jail option. I’m in my 40’s and play Supers/Masters and at training I always use my non-dominant left foot where I can. It is an accurate decent kick for 20-25m that I’m confident using in a game where necessary. It hasn’t always been the case when I was younger. Anyway my point is that he could still be working on it in his 20’s. Sharp just won’t use his left foot at all. That will be his detriment I believe.

To be fair his right foot issue has often been more between the ears then anything else.

Seem's to continually just punt it as far as he can instead of lowering his eyes and hitting targets.

You can be a physical specimen, but if you lack footy iq, you can end up looking more labrador than elite footballer.

 

[pK75]

Mobility was always Nicholls one wood. Its basically what got him drafted

And his contested marking was mentioned when we drafted him

 

[pK75]

He is being trained to be a next ruck.

Isn’t that Riddle?

 

[Piggy Smalls]

He's also being trained to be a lead out forward

I remember thinking last pre season that he has a similar body shape to Amiss, but a bit taller.

 

[Jezzitizle]

So good to have talls developing and not feel like they had to be superstars straight away to carry us up the ladder. Almost just a bonus to have them there.

 

[Superkoops]

To be fair his right foot issue has often been more between the ears then anything else.

Seem's to continually just punt it as far as he can instead of lowering his eyes and hitting targets.

You can be a physical specimen, but if you lack footy iq, you can end up looking more labrador than elite footballer.

He has a decently nice long right foot kick when in space. Under pressure is where it all goes wrong for him, especially if forced toward his left side he’ll more hurriedly kick with the right foot and often a little awkwardly. If he just learnt to kick left foot he would more confidently kick with the right etc. Opposition coaches know his weakness and scout accordingly. Jeremy’s one wood is to out run on the spread. That is when he is dangerous. He just didn’t get that same space afforded to him over the first 12 or so games of 2024. Also seemed to have a shin issue which maybe impacted his running somewhat.

 

[lint]

He has a decently nice long right foot kick when in space. Under pressure is where it all goes wrong for him, especially if forced toward his left side he’ll more hurriedly kick with the right foot and often a little awkwardly. If he just learnt to kick left foot he would more confidently kick with the right etc. Opposition coaches know his weakness and scout accordingly. Jeremy’s one wood is to out run on the spread. That is when he is dangerous. He just didn’t get that same space afforded to him over the first 12 or so games of 2024. Also seemed to have a shin issue which maybe impacted his running somewhat.

He also had a habit when he had plenty of time and space on the wing of burning his open forwards on the lead and pinging from outside 50 for a behind. Jye in particular threw his hands up numerous times last year as Jeremy felt a rush of blood to the head as he galloped towards the 50, and sprayed an errant long range shot over his head for a point.

10 goals 15 behinds in '24 and 3g 5b in '25 tells the story. Composure is key, and separates the Murphy Reid's from the Jeremy Sharp's. I know who I'd rather be leading to.