Bigman’s Training Reports (Update: 9th Feb)

[Pugsley]

No blue tablets in those days

Nope

 

[SugarShane]

I see Butts as a plug n play type.

New nickname incoming?

 

[1990crow]

New nickname incoming?

Keane out leaves quite the hole.

 

[DJ75]

no way.

1-5.

Really? Wow. I suspect there are going to be a lot of disappointed supporters if that's the thinking.
Hope I'm very wrong and we win the flag.

 

[crows dude]

Keane out leaves quite the hole.

Butts is a fine replacement

 

[crows dude]

A heads-up to everyone - I’m about to go on a two week trip so sadly won’t be able to attend any training sessions in that time. Then again, given our luck with injuries this summer, maybe it’s best if I’m not there.

Thankfully I won’t miss too much - we are in Port Augusta this Friday and next Friday we play at Alberton (yay), so it’s really only three sessions I’m not attending.

If anyone would like to pick up the slack while I’m gone, training at West Lakes starts around 9am and finishes about 11:30. I’m sure people would like a different viewpoint as well, so I definitely encourage it if you have the opportunity. You can easily watch from your car or the grassy knoll.

Given we are nearing streamed/televised games, meaning you can all soon judge for yourselves, I’ll list my top 10 performers over the summer. Sadly I won’t include Curtin, who would’ve otherwise been high on the list. Soligo in a similar boat.

1. Rachele - he’s been the man this summer, particularly since Curtin went down. Fit, strong and looks like he owns the place. Still figuring out his inside game but otherwise firing on all cylinders.

2. Ah Chee - was managed somewhat early days but even then his class stood out. Rarely makes a mistake and just a very-well rounded footballer. Slipped in effortlessly.

3. Nankervis - he was my December star and although he’s had a back niggle since then, he has done enough to earn this position. Looks super confident at half back and backs himself to beat his opponent and leave them in the dust. Let’s hope this is his year.

4. Dawson - was slightly underdone coming off that foot injury but since Xmas has looked excellent. Covering the ground really well and his kicking has been sublime. Doesn’t have much to prove but I’d be surprised if he didn’t have another great year.

5. Pedlar - to this point has remained injury free, which is huge. Playing as a defensive forward and looks terrific. Still makes the odd blunder but his overhead marking has been sublime as has his pressure game. Please stay fit.

6. Cook - has slipped into his new half-back role better than I expected. Still need to see more of his defensive work, but as a rebounding option he’s been great to watch. Seems to be in a really good head space and his kicking is a difference maker. Using his speed more now too. Let’s hope he can crack an early gig.

7. Bond - has been talked up a fair bit but for good reason. He just keeps improving and this summer it’s been his accumulation in particular that has stood out. Doesn’t have the x-factor of Nank or Cook but he’s definitely just as much in the mix for round one.

8. Berry - I think we all have our doubts after his meek finals series, but Bez hasn’t done much wrong this summer. Is definitely the leanest I’ve seen him and appears to have a point to prove. Using his pace more and more and has sharpened his foot skills - the key is for him to now translate that to AFL. He won’t get a better opportunity given our injures.

9. Neal-Bullen - easy to overlook this guy as he’s a known quantity and just kinda no-frills, but he never misses a single drill and he’s been a consistent performer in match sim, whether it’s up forward or on a wing. Deserves the credit.

10. McAndrew - has to be in this list as he’s consistently beaten ROB in match sim, especially at centre bounce. Seems to have improved his game in certain areas as well, particularly his follow-up work, though his marking still needs to be better for someone his height.

And some honourable mentions:

Rankine - would be on the list if not for the minor knee issue. Hasn’t been the force he was last summer but it must be a little difficult knowing he can’t play round one. Has still had some special moments.

Dowling - still not sure if he’s quite good enough, but he’s really embraced his inside role this summer. Has put on size and looks more confident as a result. Doesn’t seem to be in favour with the selectors but he couldn’t have worked much harder out there.

Butts/Murray - both key defenders have - touch wood - stayed healthy this entire pre-season and look great out there. I struggled to split the two for round one, but now that Keane’s injured that’s no longer a conundrum.

Thanks Bigman.

I will certainly be heading to Alberton to watch.

I wll try and take notes. Doubt they will be as good as yours.

 

[crows dude]

Really? Wow. I suspect there are going to be a lot of disappointed supporters if that's the thinking.
Hope I'm very wrong and we win the flag.

From the last final we have lost Keane, Curtin and Smith. Replace that with AhChee, Butts and Bond. Rankine back for round two. Another pre-season into likes of Rash and Pedlar both looking at lots of mid minutes. Further growth from the likes of Dowling and Nankervis.

We had a good run with injuries last year and we were minor premiers. Our depth is growing so i see no reason why we cant at least get top 4.

 

[1970crow]

I disagree with your premise. The greater his fitness improves and that allows him to play on the ball, he will develop a whole different level of skills. I think he still had plenty of improvement in his game. He’s walking into a new role.

Nah, you’re wrong on that. He’s already one of our fittest and has run big midfield minutes the last couple of years. He’s 26 soon, you’re not going to see meaningful improvement in his top end. We could definitely see more of it though.

 

[cmndstab]

Thanks for all your efforts bigman It's a shame that there was so much injury news for you to report on, but compared to the meagre scraps we get from the club your reports have been super appreciated!

 

[Daniel6]

Nah, you’re wrong on that. He’s already one of our fittest and has run big midfield minutes the last couple of years. He’s 26 soon, you’re not going to see meaningful improvement in his top end. We could definitely see more of it though.

Glad you are so certain about his future endeavours.

 

[Carn The Texan]

A heads-up to everyone - I’m about to go on a two week trip so sadly won’t be able to attend any training sessions in that time.

Clearly we are paying you too much

 

[1970crow]

Rankine top end can become more consistent...

That’s exactly what I said.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Really? Wow. I suspect there are going to be a lot of disappointed supporters if that's the thinking.
Hope I'm very wrong and we win the flag.

And I suspect a part of the pessimism seen regularly on this board is people trying to avoid this very thing.

Lowering expectations in an effort to protect feelings / avoid disappointment.

Us footy nuffs are weirdos like this. It's definitely a real thing, not with everyone, but I think it's pretty common.

Whatever happens will happen, the world won't end if we fail.

 

[1970crow]

Glad you are so certain about his future endeavours.

He’s all Australian quality, but he needs to deliver his best footy more often. That’s his challenge, but there’s little to no further development in terms of how he plays the game. He’s nearly 26, he is what he is. If you were talking about Rachele, well that would be a different story. Has barely touched the midfield and is 3 years younger. We could see a massive leap from him.

 

[Crow till I die]

I Don’t think there’s any more improvement in Rankine’s top end. We could get more of it though. But at his age, he’s pretty well fully formed as a player.

Where his improvement comes is not in his skillset - that's already elite. Its as you say seeing it more regularly BUT ALSO having him hit the best positions to ensure he creates maximum damage with every possession - Dusty Martin like.

 

[Daniel6]

He’s all Australian quality, but he needs to deliver his best footy more often. That’s his challenge, but there’s little to no further development in terms of how he plays the game. He’s nearly 26, he is what he is. If you were talking about Rachele, well that would be a different story. Has barely touched the midfield and is 3 years younger. We could see a massive leap from him.

And I will repeat myself, I’m glad you are so certain of his future endeavours.

You don’t believe he has, and that’s your opinion and you are entitled to it, but I have faith he can still show improvement.

 

[1990crow]

Butts is a fine replacement

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

I can’t recall anyone approving a leave request for bigman

 

[1990crow]

I can’t recall anyone approving a leave request for bigman

Went behind the Boss' back

 

[ams4crows]

Sid’s injury pre-dates the new fitness guy. Plus once you’ve got an injury like his, it’s the specialists that advise on loads. We don’t have the best recent history with groins.

Draper’s groin injury precedes his arrival. Plus once you’re injured, it’s the specialists like physios that determine your loads. Problematic Groins have been a bit of a blind spot for a few years.

It was a flip of a coin between Draper and Langford at the time, wonder if we still pick Sid if we had our time again

 

[Footypie32]

I wonder who will take our kick ins without Keane. Murray for the long bomb but outside of that will it just go to Milera? Cook if he's in.

Also interested to see how the ruck situation plays out. Everything I've seen from the reports suggest McAndrew is sweeping ROB up in the centre however ROB probably pegs it back around the ground - and we're still sticking with ROB in the firsts. Seems a big liability to give up the center bounce so easily unless we're just planning to rove the opposition ruck. Yet if McAndrew can't run out a game like ROB, that could be a problem too. Not sure I like the idea of playing 2 rucks with the extra bench spot as I'm sure we could get more from anything else we'd pick ahead of a second ruckman.

Possibly Woz or Hinge if he's in the team.

Reckon Cook is far more valuable as the 2nd kick out of defence.

 

[Footypie32]

Maybe its my glass half full side shining through, but I would love to see Pedlar nail that round 1 position. Last time he had such a good preseason he held his spot all season and provided a real point of difference in our forward 50.

I don't think he's going to ever be a midfielder at this level, but when he's up and going he definately has a bit of I50 X factor, and chaos for the oppo.

One of the few that showed something during Finals.

Don't think he will ever be a high volume guy. But he definitely provides something.

 

[Big Dub]

It was a flip of a coin between Draper and Langford at the time, wonder if we still pick Sid if we had our time again

I suspect that we still do

While I expect Langford to be a very good player, he brings more of what we already have and doesn't fix our obvious lack of pace. There's also a lot more go home risk.

We draft for the next decade or so, not the next year or so. Draper has a lot of time to come good.

 

[1970crow]

Clearly we are paying you too much

I’d like to know which poster here approved bigman ’s leave.

 

[1970crow]

And I suspect a part of the pessimism seen regularly on this board is people trying to avoid this very thing.

Lowering expectations in an effort to protect feelings / avoid disappointment.

Us footy nuffs are weirdos like this. It's definitely a real thing, not with everyone, but I think it's pretty common.

Whatever happens will happen, the world won't end if we fail.

I don’t think our injuries thus far will hamper our performance too much. Although, it’s hard to know what Curtin was going to do, what if those high 20s games started happening 2 in 3 weeks. Keane’s intercepting and rebound will be sorely missed, Butts is more a 1 on 1 blanketing KPD. Sid, well didn’t really have last year anyway.

But to improve enough to worry Brisbane or what Subs look like being, we desperately needed Curtin to continue his trajectory and Sid to make a splash. I don’t think staying still will get us too far.