Training 2024 Pre-season training

[adogsfan5]

I popped down for a look.

Little bit of half court style match sim for the first 30min.

Full ground circuit goal kicking drill.

Then split group with one playing mini soccer match, the other playing limited space ball movement drill. Players regularly rotating between both.

Finished with some running.

Few things stood out. Firstly there seemed to be a lot more support crew involved in drills than what there has been in previous years. Makes you wonder what we’ve been doing with minimal staff up till this point. All of the new staff minus Egan were out there getting involved. Johnson the one that stood out the most, really vocal directing the players at his end. Seems to have hit the ground running.

Sanders looking like a $1m thoroughbred purchase galloping round his new paddock. Early Derby favourite. Looks mint. Wouldn’t suprise if he polls well in next years rising star. Ready to go and won’t be playing any VFL imo. Someone will be losing midfield minutes to him next year.

Besides Sanders, O’Driscoll the only other draftee that looks close to having any impact next year. During the match sim, he was lively, quick and laid some chase down tackles in the small fwd role. Only a small sample but he already looks more suited to the role than any of the other players we have lined up over the last few years. Covers/closes up ground real quick and aggressively. Agile too. Really excited by what he can become.

Croft, Smith, Freyjah won’t see any AFL next year.

Bedendo another I’m unsure of. Was in the group at the Geelong end and was the most experienced fwd. Did a few nice things, but didn’t massively stand out amongst first year players and JJ.

Darcy looking bigger. Put some muscle on. Played ruck against Lobb (English ran laps) in match sim. Didn’t look out of place although Lobb probably finished on top.

O’Donnell looks a little bigger.

Daniel played match sim in middle.

Lazy Baz not sighted. Someone needs to check the local airports.

Not much else I can tell you.

WO looking nice even with half the stands looking like a chewed up pistachio. New surface looks great and the new facilities look imposing from the G Road end.

Well and truly got the footy bug again. Can’t wait till the practice matches kick off.

If Sanders is in there and Baz more minutes too.. you’d have to ask what that means for Macrae, and also Treloar (maybe wing?).

 

[fred cook]

I went today for a quick visit. Lock it in Sanders,will play Round 1 and Lobb is set for a good year of footy

On CPH2305 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Dogs till i die]

Agree all comments re Sanders, very neat looking skilful footballer, who was up front of his group in the 200m runs. Darcy some strong marks in the match sims, bit lagging in the running sessions.

Bit concerned for Bont, only ran a few laps, might be a slower start for him for 2024.

No sign of Baz....anyone know why?

Noticed much more running in a solid 2 hour session, mixed it up, with a bit of soccer and half ground match sims in 2 groups.

Hats off to all players after a tough 2 hours, spent a half an hour signing and chatting with everybody who stayed. No one walked away, all very receptive and willing. Special mention to JUH who had to be rescued by staff who closed the session. Just as everybody started leaving he detoured to another group where he again engaged and carried on.

New facilities look impressive, would love a sneak peek. Maybe the club could open them up for members for a few hours?

My grand daughter loved all of the photos and autographs. She's now a Bulldog, Arty Jones one of her favourites. Well done, Bulldogs.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

New facilities look impressive, would love a sneak peek. Maybe the club could open them up for members for a few hours?

There’s a video on the WB site, also on the thread here about the redevelopment.

 

[adogsfan5]

Love this.

Add the little spray Darcy got for not blocking.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

If Sanders is in there and Baz more minutes too.. you’d have to ask what that means for Macrae, and also Treloar (maybe wing?).

Yeah not sure. Macrae probably first out. If we’re wanting to inject more pace in the side, it’s not looking good for him.

Whatever happens, I think it’s highly likely our starting/majority midfield from Rd1 will look different to how it has for most of the last 3-4 years.

 

[Golden_6]

Yeah not sure. Macrae probably first out. If we’re wanting to inject more pace in the side, it’s not looking good for him.

Whatever happens, I think it’s highly likely our starting/majority midfield from Rd1 will look different to how it has for most of the last 3-4 years.

I’m struggling to see how they all fit in. You can probably get away with a midfield of Bont, Libba, Smith & Sanders with some support from Harmes and Daniel as half forwards. Obviously you can roll more players through but I just fail to see how you can add full time mids in Macrae & Treloar to the mix as well and have enough minutes.

If we end up with both our half forwards clogged with midfielders who don’t really play the position well, we’ll see similar problems to what we’ve seen in the past.

Then you look to 2025. You’d expect all of Libba, Macrae & Treloar to be on a decline with Baz potentially on his way out. The next 2 years are going to see some significant changes to the midfield group.

 

[adogsfan5]

Getting seriously awkward for Macrae…

 

[Highlander]

Maybe we could try Macrae in defence, have him compete with Coffield and Khamis for the third tall spot?

 

[Euku]

Macrae bench forward pocket rotating wing mid

 

[Golden_6]

Macrae bench forward pocket rotating wing mid

That's almost certainly what we'll end up seeing but it isn't best for the team or best for Macrae as a player. He's an inside/outside centre square midfielder that's been pushed out due to our quality and depth. We need to start replacing these mids on flanks with quick, skilful, pressure types if we want to progress in that area. It's honestly a little bit sad for someone who has been so consistently great for so long and such an important member of the side.

 

[Angak]

Love this.

Add the little spray Darcy got for not blocking.

No sure about the James Harmes pickup. Looks completely out of shape.

 

[adogsfan5]

No sure about the James Harmes pickup. Looks completely out of shape.

He’s never been a ripped type of body style. Coming from the demons, I highly doubt he’s rocked up to the dogs out of shape.

 

[ossie_21]

No sure about the James Harmes pickup. Looks completely out of shape.

Yep, I’m willing to delist him right now as well based on a 5 second clip that doesn’t show the full sequence.

* me dead.

 

[St 07]

Yep, I’m willing to delist him right now as well based on a 5 second clip that doesn’t show the full sequence.

* me dead.

Also, he was clearly jobbing for Sanders. Nobody wants to see the exciting new kid get buried and rode to the ground. Quality bloke Harmes

 

[stefoid]

Getting seriously awkward for Macrae…

Jack has been done and gone before, banished to the 2nds, etc... I reckon reports of his demise may turn out to be nothing, yet again.

Sanders does look like one of those rare complete packages (still yet to see what his disposal by foot is like in the real heat), but do we need him to play at the coalface when we have libba - nope, the team needs him more outside than that.

Jack might need to transition to an inside and defensive role, thats all, shovelling the ball out to the runners like bont, sanders and smith. I dont buy that harmes comes in and wins that role by default

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I understand the comments about Sanders looking ready, but there is absolutely no need to rush him. If we are serious about being a contender this year the #1 priority is on selecting the team that gives us the best chance at winning. That means picking a balanced team. If he ends up playing mostly at VFL level this year but we're winning, that's fine.

 

[stefoid]

I understand the comments about Sanders looking ready, but there is absolutely no need to rush him. If we are serious about being a contender this year the #1 priority is on selecting the team that gives us the best chance at winning. That means picking a balanced team. If he ends up playing mostly at VFL level this year but we're winning, that's fine.

boo this man

 

[doggies ftw]

I understand the comments about Sanders looking ready, but there is absolutely no need to rush him. If we are serious about being a contender this year the #1 priority is on selecting the team that gives us the best chance at winning. That means picking a balanced team. If he ends up playing mostly at VFL level this year but we're winning, that's fine.

Sure if he doesn’t contribute this year it’s no big deal, but I think the hope is that he makes us a better side by giving us a much needed new look on the inside.

Basically we’re not winning a flag with the stale midfield rotations we’ve been running for the past two years so if he can contribute to changing that then great, and the early signs are positive.

These kids are hitting the league ready to go and Sanders is as ready to go as any. there’s been a number of high draft picks who have improved their team from day one recently, Ashcroft, Daicos, Sheezel, well basically half the first round last year tbh.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Sure if he doesn’t contribute this year it’s no big deal, but I think the hope is that he makes us a better side by giving us a much needed new look on the inside.

Basically we’re not winning a flag with the stale midfield rotations we’ve been running for the past two years so if he can contribute to changing that then great, and the early signs are positive.

These kids are hitting the league ready to go and Sanders is as ready to go as any. there’s been a number of high draft picks who have improved their team from day one recently, Ashcroft, Daicos, Sheezel, well basically half the first round last year tbh.

Of course we hope that - but the posts questioning how he coexists with the midfield are just too early. Suggesting he unseats, for example, Jack Macrae, a 3x AA premiership player on the back of one middling season because he looks real good on the training track is a bit much.

My point is that we don't need to make him fit. If there are too many mids, and he's not better than any of them, that's totally fine - he plays VFL until he is.

Also, I don't really agree about the "stale midfield rotation" - I don't even know what that means - Bont, Libba, Treloar, Macrae, Smith is a better host of names than most teams boast. They performed well on the whole, but it was the consistency that let them down.

 

[Planet Dogs]

Not being able to fit McCrae into our starting line-up would be a great problem to have. It would mean we have great depth.

Anyway, he would be first in line to replace a midfielder out due to injury or form. Therefore he will be getting opportunities in the seniors. He would also be great as a regular sub. Maybe also used to give the Bont the occasional round rest?

McCrae is a good team man. He won't 'spit the dummy' if he's not in our theoretically best 22 (which rarely in reality comes through anyway)

Another option is to get him to be our specialist run-with player. I reckon Taggers will have a Renaissance.

 

[doggies ftw]

Of course we hope that - but the posts questioning how he coexists with the midfield are just too early. Suggesting he unseats, for example, Jack Macrae, a 3x AA premiership player on the back of one middling season because he looks real good on the training track is a bit much.

My point is that we don't need to make him fit. If there are too many mids, and he's not better than any of them, that's totally fine - he plays VFL until he is.

Also, I don't really agree about the "stale midfield rotation" - I don't even know what that means - Bont, Libba, Treloar, Macrae, Smith is a better host of names than most teams boast. They performed well on the whole, but it was the consistency that let them down.

Mm I dunno I think it’s a pretty valid discussion point as to how our #6 draft pick we sold the farm with coexists in our midfield, internally we absolutely will be factoring him into our considerations as early as this year it’s just how it goes with these kids coming through now.

Macrae was already pushed out of the midfield before we sold the farm for a young mid so it’s not exactly a stretch - especially considering most of the write ups on training which indicate he’s seeing a lot of midfield time and Macrae has slimmed down and playing more of an outside role, which would indicate a change of role for him possibly.

Of course if Jack finds his best again it’s his spot to lose that goes without saying but they’re at opposite ends of their careers and we’re due for a big transition shortly. Would not surprise me at all if we got the ball rolling on that early, we don’t have to but it’s well worth discussing at this time of the year IMO.

Yeah that group on paper is elite but in reality it’s been flakey at best for a couple of years and over half of those names are at the tail end of their career. If we’re expecting to trot out the same old thing once again and think things are going to improve we’re going to have a bad time to be honest - by stale I mean we’ve gone from the highest midfield rotations in the league to one of the fewest. We cannot cope losing Libba, to the point that we got beat up by some of the worst teams in the comp without him & god forbid we were to lose Bont. The group is super stale.

To put it bluntly if we don’t see some of the likes of Baz, Sanders, Harmes, West, Cody step up and offer a genuine midfield rotation to support Bont, Libba, Adzy & Macrae , well I’m pretty confident we’ll continue on our current trajectory - a steady decline

 

[mattwa]

Macrae needs to rotate with libba as the extractor. Who else can play the inside role other than Bont who can play anywhere

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Mm I dunno I think it’s a pretty valid discussion point as to how our #6 draft pick we sold the farm with coexists in our midfield, internally we absolutely will be factoring him into our considerations as early as this year it’s just how it goes with these kids coming through now.

Macrae was already pushed out of the midfield before we sold the farm for a young mid so it’s not exactly a stretch - especially considering most of the write ups on training which indicate he’s seeing a lot of midfield time and Macrae has slimmed down and playing more of an outside role, which would indicate a change of role for him possibly.

Of course if Jack finds his best again it’s his spot to lose that goes without saying but they’re at opposite ends of their careers and we’re due for a big transition shortly. Would not surprise me at all if we got the ball rolling on that early, we don’t have to but it’s well worth discussing at this time of the year IMO.

Yeah that group on paper is elite but in reality it’s been flakey at best for a couple of years and over half of those names are at the tail end of their career. If we’re expecting to trot out the same old thing once again and think things are going to improve we’re going to have a bad time to be honest - by stale I mean we’ve gone from the highest midfield rotations in the league to one of the fewest. We cannot cope losing Libba, to the point that we got beat up by some of the worst teams in the comp without him & god forbid we were to lose Bont. The group is super stale.

To put it bluntly if we don’t see some of the likes of Baz, Sanders, Harmes, West, Cody step up and offer a genuine midfield rotation to support Bont, Libba, Adzy & Macrae , well I’m pretty confident we’ll continue on our current trajectory - a steady decline

Your first paragraph is pretty much exactly what I'm talking about though. We didn't sell the farm for 2024 Sanders. We paid a pretty significant price for hopefully 10+ years of Sanders leading the midfield post-Libba and Treloar, and eventually Bont and Macrae. We don't need to find a way to make them all fit if they don't. We just pick the best team as they stand in 2024, and know we've got a damn good mid waiting in the wings somewhere.

Our obsession with selecting a team of our "best players on paper" without considering fit is part of the problem IMO.

 

[VitalDread]

I understand the comments about Sanders looking ready, but there is absolutely no need to rush him. If we are serious about being a contender this year the #1 priority is on selecting the team that gives us the best chance at winning. That means picking a balanced team. If he ends up playing mostly at VFL level this year but we're winning, that's fine.

I've got 10k on him winning the rising star
Day 1 play

I may or may not be David King