News 2015 pre-season (Training, photos etc, THREAD FINALLY CLOSED, SEE NEW PHOTOS THREAD)

Will we finally have an injury free preseason in 2015 training ?

  • YES?

    Votes: 39 22.7%
  • NO?

    Votes: 75 43.6%
  • MAYBE?

    Votes: 21 12.2%
  • 50/50?

    Votes: 16 9.3%
  • OR PHONE A FRIEND?

    Votes: 43 25.0%

  • Total voters
    172
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Its not poor man management at all if the kid doesn't have the motor. You can't carry blokes who can't run. Its as simple as that. They keep giving him a go as the sub which to me suggests that they see something in him, but aren't confident in his ability to play 100 minutes. Poor man management would be to play him and have him cooked before half time
It depends what role you play him in really. He was running out games fine through the midfield in preseason so should have been fine to play half forward or a similar role. I am not saying he should have played every minute of every game either. I am just saying that when you are trying to rebuild and you have a young player in excellent form (better form than just about all of your senior players), you don't just drop the kid without giving him an actual chance. If you give him the chance and he fails, drop him then. At least then he knows his form dictates whether he is in the side. Otherwise you just kill the player's confidence before he even gets started.

It's not as if he would have been debuting either. He played numerous games the year before and did ok (granted his kicking was diabolical and that is the part of his game I am most concerned about) so his tank is hardly as bad as people are making out. It isn't great, no, but it isn't so bad that there couldn't be a role for him. He's not Relton Roberts.
 

domus

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Hundreds of bog standard players have won premierships. I'd have Varcoe with Shannon Byrnes, David Wojcinski and Josh Hunt.
I love the way some "experts' brand dual premiership players as bog standard! No-one is suggesting they are superstars but all of them can play. Byrnes was never a regular in those teams. He was in and out a lot of the time. Hunt was a quality defender and Varcoe is a class act. Wojcinski was an excellent rebounding half back with explosive pace-I would have been happy to have him a few years ago.
 

speedytiger

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I love the way some "experts' brand dual premiership players as bog standard! No-one is suggesting they are superstars but all of them can play. Byrnes was never a regular in those teams. He was in and out a lot of the time. Hunt was a quality defender and Varcoe is a class act. Wojcinski was an excellent rebounding half back with explosive pace-I would have been happy to have him a few years ago.
I never claimed to be an expert, it is just my view. You used Varcoes dual premiership status to rate him, my point is so many players get over rated on the fact they played in flags.
 

Copeland

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Kennedy has very poor endurance, never done a preseason before and the coaches knew he couldn't run a game out which is why they were forced to play him as the sub or in the VFL.

His time trial results this preseason have been far from impressive so hopefully we'll see him able to run games out now, I think he has AA potential if he gets his fitness up.

I think we will still see him with the vest on a few times though
How long does it take these guy's to get their endurance to an exceptable level? I would have thought he would have run all off season.
 

Kappa

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How long does it take these guy's to get their endurance to an exceptable level? I would have thought he would have run all off season.
Every player has been running all off season really.

It takes a few preseasons and in real terms this is Kennedys first ever preseason. It also is part genetics, even if Kennedy didn't stop running all year he wouldn't have the same endurance as a Sidebottom who is so naturally gifted in the area.

Kennedy will never have top level endurance but by 2016 he should be able to play out full games
 

domus

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I never claimed to be an expert, it is just my view. You used Varcoes dual premiership status to rate him, my point is so many players get over rated on the fact they played in flags.
Few bog standard players win multiple flags. But playing for Geelong at this period in their history makes such a feat even more impressive. They have dominated the competition for years and regularly feature in debates about about who is the greatest team of all time. That's a little different to a player who "pinches" a flag in a good year and is never heard of again or fails to play in an other GF.
 

McOrist

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I never claimed to be an expert, it is just my view. You used Varcoes dual premiership status to rate him, my point is so many players get over rated on the fact they played in flags.
Varcoe didn't 'just play' in two flags, he played bloody well in them. Have you forgotten he bagged 3 goals against us in the 2011 Grannie?
I agree with you in saying that some players are over-rated due to them having a premiership medallion, but to lump Varcoe with Shannon Byrnes is just wrong.
 

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Big Bryza

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If Kennedy does come on and play some decent senior footy in 2015 I can see him quickly becoming a favourite of mine. He seems like a great kid. And to date he has played some very impressive VFL games. That being said, out of our first round picks between 2012-2014 he is the one I'm least convinced will make it. All the others seemingly have better attributes which will enable them to make it in the AFL. Hopefully Kennedy can get his endurance up this preseason to allow him to make more of an impact. If he does we do have an excellent prospect on our hands.

If you're not convinced on Kennedy then I suggest you find a replay of our match v Gold Coast last season. He'll make it, no doubt about it.
 

THATSGOLD

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Every player has been running all off season really.

It takes a few preseasons and in real terms this is Kennedys first ever preseason. It also is part genetics, even if Kennedy didn't stop running all year he wouldn't have the same endurance as a Sidebottom who is so naturally gifted in the area.

Kennedy will never have top level endurance but by 2016 he should be able to play out full games
I think Kennedy will develop in to a decent forward pocket. Bit of goal sneak. Similar height and frame to Milne. If he could learn to lead and Mark he could be decent.
 

jackcass

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Exactly my thoughts. I was watching a replay of one of our games against Carlton from 2014 on Christmas day and he did a few things there that made me say "gee that was good!" He's quick and can turn on a dime. Has good skills and plays a lot on instincts (which is old school but something I think most great teams boast).

And that's the story he's painted for me so far in his short career. I can see his obvious talent but he's been given few chances to really show what he can do to date.

I'm mainly excited because the case against him making it as a footballer is growing. But if he does, it'll be pretty special.
First real preseason this year following leg surgery last time around. Think he'll blossom in 2015.
 

Jelly Bean

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Went to training this morning to watch the boys in the first session if the year. Some notes below.

Started out with a 2km time trial. Notes on the placings and some times below:

1st: Steele 5.54. Had a 60-70m lead the whole time.
2nd; Freeman 6.08. Also had a 60-70m lead from 3rd the whole time.
3rd: Mantiet 6.22. Fell straight into third from early on and held it. Was clear third for most of it, but got gobbled up towards the very end. Held off Varcoe in a sprint at the end.
4th: Varcoe 6.23.
5th: Pendles
6th: Crisp

EDIT: Suggestion Kennedy came 2nd last may have been erroneous. Certainly came in back pack, though.

Last: Grundy 7.24. A long way back.
Maynard and Goodyear were in the top half, which doesn't say much for the rest of the list (as Hine himself said Maynard isn't good aerobically..)

Other notes:
Not really much else exciting to report on - most the drills were pretty small / tight with no real opportunity to shine. As everyone says, Freeman looked really sharp - a lot of energy, really nice skills (surprisingly) and just got busy all the time. Crisp looked pretty good a lot of the session as well.

Scharenberg just ran laps, Swanny just sprinted laps, Thomas and Young mostly just ran laps, Mason Cox just ran laps for the whole session (I think he had some injury in his hand). No signs of Marsh, Moore, De Goey.
 
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Mkcaptain

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Its a bit disappointing that the players who weren't at the club last year, eg. Manteit, Varcoe, Crisp are the ones doing well in the time trials. And it doesn't bode well for the rest of the group that first years like Maynard and Goodyear are able to finish in the top half.

Maybe Beams was onto something with his comments.
 
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