Training Pre-Season Training '25 - '26

[Howard Moon]

Perkins has all the physical tools to actually make it; a good size, good tank, decent speed, has shown the ability to stand up in tackles. Generally decent by foot, overhead and kicking at goal. I think for him it's upstairs more than anything.

If you asked ai to create the perfect AFL footballer this is what they would create

Pity that it sucks, best AFL footballers arnt good at everything equally, they usually have a super star single attribute that sets them apart, whether or not they are elite at anything else in their skillset doseht matter.

What's Perkins elite attribute?

 

[ant555]

Problem with Perkins is if you give him anything more complicated than see ball get ball he falls apart.
He would have been pretty handy in the 80’s when half forwards did not have to be defensive as well.

 

[doug85]

Philips was far more limited though, totally wrong athletic profile plus all the injury setbacks, he's played less than half the AFL games Perkins has and not all of that was just being stuck in the VFL.

Perkins has all the physical tools to actually make it; a good size, good tank, decent speed, has shown the ability to stand up in tackles. Generally decent by foot, overhead and kicking at goal. I think for him it's upstairs more than anything.

Yeah, that’s why I said not quite apples and apples. I was more using a comparison between the two as high draft picks from the same year.

100% agree it’s upstairs. Both in terms of confidence and footy IQ. As an aside, does he have a good tank? I suspected it might not have been that good.

 

[faible]

Yeah, that’s why I said not quite apples and apples. I was more using a comparison between the two as high draft picks from the same year.

100% agree it’s upstairs. Both in terms of confidence and footy IQ. As an aside, does he have a good tank? I suspected it might not have been that good.

Testing-wise his tank coming in to the AFL was solid, around 6:30 from memory, which is AFL standard albeit not the elite end you have with your wingmen.

We've seen with Cox that even having an elite aerobic base doesn't necessarily translate on-field if your running patterns and decision making aren't right though.

 

[jannissary]

caldwell has apparently jarred his knee per track watchers on twitter

 

[crackers65]

Perkins is just another of the IF brigade. More than happy to be on an AFL list

 

[TheUnicorn]

caldwell has apparently jarred his knee per track watchers on twitter

Huss looks to have hurt his groin also.

 

[King Patty]

Nick Bryan and Merrett both absent with an illness.

Hopes Caldwell could play match sim later in week so can't be too bad

 

[fairbump_playon]

At his best (2021) he averaged more i50s than Dangerfield, Dusty & Merrett:

View attachment 2520494

More Goal Assists than Selwood, Boak and Merrett:

View attachment 2520496

More clearances than Oliver, Adams, Petracca and Neale:

View attachment 2520500

More Metres Gained than Kelly, Merrett and McCluggage:

View attachment 2520501

More Score Involvements than Fyfe, Bontempelli, Oliver, Merrett and McCluggage:

View attachment 2520502

None of these guys are noted 'low impact' players and yet Parish at his best managed to do a pretty good impression of matching them.

He's got flaws, he's not necessarily the best fit for the midfield mix we've had, but it's simply not reality to say at his best he's not a good midfielder. He hasn't had any level of consistent fitness since 2021 to return to that level, but if he can then there's a pretty good midfielder in there, especially alongside some stronger bodies than he has had in the past.

Yes, he really was a stat pig that year

Didn't run back in transition, didn't stand arms-up under physical pressure and release a teammate, didn't tackle, didn't hit targets.

But certainly got the ball enough to appear on these lists

 

[faible]

Yes, he really was a stat pig that year

Didn't run back in transition, didn't stand arms-up under physical pressure and release a teammate, didn't tackle, didn't hit targets.

But certainly got the ball enough to appear on these lists

He's got flaws, he's not necessarily the best fit for the midfield mix we've had, but it's simply not reality to say at his best he's not a good midfielder.

Parish was good in 2021. He's 'good' offensively, but he's not Dusty or Dangerfield that are so good offensively and such strong hard ball gets players that they can get away without defending.

So everything says Parish was a good midfielder in 2021. Not a great one, but a good one.

It's one of those football oddities where if a player isn't great, they suck.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I'm not sure that's your full posting history. Would you mind please including anything else you have ever written?

In other news, I'm glad we agree stats can be misleading.

 

[dank420_]

I'm not sure that's your full posting history. Would you mind please including anything else you have ever written?

In other news, I'm glad we agree stats can be misleading.

I think he was just going for the relevant stuff.

 

[ant555]

Have not been to training this week but my track watcher said Caldwell was running laps yesterday. Should be okay.

Been reported on Zero hanger that HEA was having his workload managed.

Merrett and Bryan sick, possibly a touch of gastro.

 

[Maxabillions]

Have not been to training this week but my track watcher said Caldwell was running laps yesterday. Should be okay.

Been reported on Zero hanger that HEA was having his workload managed.

Merrett and Bryan sick, possibly a touch of gastro.

* possibly Merrett with a touch of idontwantmyphototakenwiththesespudsitis

 

[King Patty]

If you asked AI to create the perfect AFL footballer this is what they would create

Is Perkins missing a finger?

 

[King Patty]

Merrett missed the team Photo yesterday lol.
Bryan too with gastro.

You would arrange the photographers to come back another day when your best ruckman and best midfielder are present.

 

[dank420_]

But blakiston and parish were there

 

[DapperDon]

Have not been to training this week but my track watcher said Caldwell was running laps yesterday. Should be okay.

Been reported on Zero hanger that HEA was having his workload managed.

Merrett and Bryan sick, possibly a touch of gastro.

How much do you pay for your track watcher?

I'm looking into a career change and considering all options.

 

[ant555]

How much do you pay for your track watcher?

I'm looking into a career change and considering all options.

No charge.

 

[Atavistic]

How much do you pay for your track watcher?

I'm looking into a career change and considering all options.

I will pay you in hot chips.

 

[Don Won]

Merrett missed the team Photo yesterday lol.
Bryan too with gastro.

You would arrange the photographers to come back another day when your best ruckman and best midfielder are present.

you’d be surprised how much work goes into ‘photo day’. Generally club, broadcasters, sponsors, agencies will all have content requirements - much easier to backfill Merrett and Bryan later.

 

[Petrify]

Match simulation notes: Dons sharpen up in Friday hit-out

Full steam ahead as preparations continue for the club's first hitout.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Match simulation notes: Dons sharpen up in Friday hit-out

Full steam ahead as preparations continue for the club's first hitout.

www.essendonfc.com.au

Conveniently no mention of Reid's corky.

 

[Dan26]

Merrett spent a lot of time forward today and was, (in my opinion) the best player on the ground. He looked super dangerous whenever he had the ball. Kicked two I think. Certainly he kicked at least one. Made me think that if we have a full midfield of Parish, Caldwell, Durham and "maybe" McGrath, Merrett could be a revelation in the forward line. Part of me thinks he'd be wasted there, but if you watched the match Sim today, you think otherwise.

 

[MiguelM]

Merrett spent a lot of time forward today and was, (in my opinion) the best player on the ground. He looked super dangerous whenever he had the ball. Kicked two I think. Certainly he kicked at least one. Made me think that if we have a full midfield of Parish, Caldwell, Durham and "maybe" McGrath, Merrett could be a revelation in the forward line. Part of me thinks he'd be wasted there, but if you watched the match Sim today, you think otherwise.

And Sharp!