Bigman’s Training Reports

[1990crow]

Not sure anyone has mentioned, but appears no serious damage to Welsh's shoulder.

Link?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Link?

Was in today's Sunday Mail.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Against suitable oppo, do you thinks it's feasible to only have one KPD and use Worrell as the second?

I think that highly unlikely, and frankly I don’t thinks it’s a good idea.

There aren’t that many teams it could used against

 

[Flip Side]

I think that highly unlikely, and frankly I don’t thinks it’s a good idea.

There aren’t that many teams it could used against

Yes I think the issue is, once you have Worrell playing key post, you nullify his range of movement, and ability to come in and mop up, and be used on exit.

He is fourth in the league for ave rebound 50s, he has high kicking efficiency, and he is top 25 for spoils.

I think he’s most damaging as a third man in type player.

Also noting the debate about intercept marking, it’s noteworthy that Crows were averaging 3rd most spoils last season.

That could either denote team orders to spoil over marking, or reflect confidence/experience gap to take the risk to mark, or a bit of both.

 

[AFC979810]

I think we have the players with the skill-set to take intercept marks however I think it’s more to the continuity of playing together

Both Murray and Worrell missed a lot of footy in 2024 - the more Murray, Worrell and Keane play together - the better synergy they will have and this will flow through to improved intercept marking statistics

Improving the way we defend the whole ground is also important


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Whats crazy is that those three have only played 3 games together - Rounds 21,22,23 of 2024.

As a whole in 2024 - we averaged 14.1 intercept marks (league best was GC with 18 and Brisbane with 17.2).

The three games that Keane, Woz and Murray played together we had:

Rd 21 - 18 Int Marks (those 3 combined for 8)
Rd 22 - 17 Int Marks (those 3 combined for 7)
Rd 23 - 12 Int Marks (those 3 combined for 5).

Really don't think intercept marking is an issue for us.

 

[davos44]

Murray seems to nice?

Are we watching different teams?

Possibly

He strikes me as the type to crash into someone and feel bad

 

[Jarman3]

Possibly

He strikes me as the type to crash into someone and feel bad

As long as the bloke he crashed into feels worse, that's fine.

 

[1970crow]

Yes I think the issue is, once you have Worrell playing key post, you nullify his range of movement, and ability to come in and mop up, and be used on exit.

He is fourth in the league for ave rebound 50s, he has high kicking efficiency, and he is top 25 for spoils.

I think he’s most damaging as a third man in type player.

Also noting the debate about intercept marking, it’s noteworthy that Crows were averaging 3rd most spoils last season.

That could either denote team orders to spoil over marking, or reflect confidence/experience gap to take the risk to mark, or a bit of both.

I'd be wary of placing too much credence in raw stats as they don't necessarily take into account varying game styles. Whilst we ranked 3rd for spoils per game at 33.7, we're 18th for oppo spoils and 14th for differential average per game. So whilst we spoil a lot, we are nearly always behind our opposition, so it's not really a strong point of ours. I think it speaks to the way we push numbers to the stoppages which results in more high ball when team go forward.

Total clearances per game tells a similar story, whilst we're 6th for clearance per game, which sounds pretty good, we're 14th for clearance differential. Our games had the 3rd most amount of ruck contests in them, so our raw clearance numbers will be inflated due to that. The stat that tells us how good our midfield is at clearances is the differential.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Possibly

He strikes me as the type to crash into someone and feel bad

Just had a flashback of Biglands crashing into a pack, landing on Ricciuto and injuring Roo's ankle

With Ricciuto shouting obscenities at him as he limped off!

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Does Murphy crashing into our talls up forward and creating a spill count as a spoil?

 

[cleanhands]

Does Murphy crashing into our talls up forward and creating a spill count as a spoil?

And Nicks has the cheek to call out Rach for not doing the team things, this is obviously a directive from the coaches

 

[GreyCrow]

I'd be wary of placing too much credence in raw stats as they don't necessarily take into account varying game styles. Whilst we ranked 3rd for spoils per game at 33.7, we're 18th for oppo spoils and 14th for differential average per game. So whilst we spoil a lot, we are nearly always behind our opposition, so it's not really a strong point of ours. I think it speaks to the way we push numbers to the stoppages which results in more high ball when team go forward.

Total clearances per game tells a similar story, whilst we're 6th for clearance per game, which sounds pretty good, we're 14th for clearance differential. Our games had the 3rd most amount of ruck contests in them, so our raw clearance numbers will be inflated due to that. The stat that tells us how good our midfield is at clearances is the differential.

I agree with the basic premise of the post but the statement '' we are generally behind when we spoil ''

well yeah thats the nature of it

I think a spoil is good - take the W on that and structure accordingly . Its old school but your Jones and your Dowlings (eg) should be front and behind - I mean in my book thats a standard set up

 

[davos44]

Just had a flashback of Biglands crashing into a pack, landing on Ricciuto and injuring Roo's ankle

With Ricciuto shouting obscenities at him as he limped off!

Biglands doing Biglands stuff.

 

[George CantStandYa]

If the bigman is going out in this heat to watch training we should rename the board after him.

 

[Jarman3]

If the bigman is going out in this heat to watch training we should rename the board after him.

Should name the new club HQ after him once it gets built.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Is there a point that training in the heat becomes counter-productive?

I tried to make that case with my coaches everytime it hit 25

 

[BRL121]

Is there a point that training in the heat becomes counter-productive?

I tried to make that case with my coaches everytime it hit 25

Good on you, Sando.

 

[Crow till I die]

If the bigman is going out in this heat to watch training we should rename the board after him.

Brisbane, Essendon, North Melbourne, Hawthorn, West Coast Eagles, Bigman, Sydney, Gold Coast..etc

 

[bigman]

Two and a half hour session in the heat from the lads, which can’t have been much fun. Monday sessions tend to be lighter so not a big report today.

Seems I jumped the gun on Cumming, turns out there was no such hamstring injury. Bit surprised given how ordinary he was moving post-game but great news nonetheless. Also great to see Welsh train, albeit in the rehab group. No strapping on the shoulder but was wearing the fluro hat and predominately did running before heading inside.

Was also good to see Tex join the main group for most of the drills. He was held off from most of the running (as was Draper and Nankervis) but looked to be moving pretty well out there. Still feels like it could be a week to week proposition this year for the Texan given his back/hamstring issues.

Once again the lads worked on their front and centres at the feet of the big blokes. There were some interesting aerial battles here. Burgess found it tough going against Butts but was too good for Worrell at times. Thilthorpe vs Murray was a good watch - aside from a lovely one handed grab from Filthy, I’d give the points to big Muz.

There was about 20 minutes of pseudo-match sim to finish off before a bunch of running. Teams were:

Blue - Keays, Murphy, Crouch, Thilthorpe, Rachele, Murray, Dawson, Walker, Soligo, Michalanney, Rankine, Peatling, Neal-Bullen, Laird, Milera, Fogarty, Smith, Borlase, Sholl, O’Brien, Cumming, Keane

White - Jones, Berry, Curtin, Pedlar, Edwards, Cook, Taylor, Hinge, Burgess, Ryan, Worrell, Schoenberg, Nankervis, Dowling, Draper, Gallagher, Drury, T. Murray, Bond, Butts, McAndrew

A few ‘interesting’ selections that I’m sure this board will be big fans of.
Wouldn’t look too much into them unless they become a trend.

A few player thoughts:

Jones - had a great moment at half forward where he just wanted it more than Laird and intercepted the ball up at speed before setting up a goal for the white team. If he starts the year as depth, which seems likely, he’s pretty handy.

Taylor - looked a bit more upbeat today and, despite the heat, was genuinely impressive in the running. Noticed at one point he had to have his feet/ankles restrapped, like I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s still recovering from that rolled ankle in December.

Peatling - keeps impressing me. His start to the summer was solid without being spectacular but since the Xmas break he’s really stepped it up and has become quite prominent at times out there. Had one lovely clearance from a boundary throw in where he gathered the ball at pace and streamed away. Has a lot of strings to his bow.

Nankervis - had two absolute shocking kicks that resulted in goals to the opposition, felt a bit sorry for him. Curious as to why he’s being managed - clearly something was, or perhaps still is, troubling him.

Draper - had a fun moment where he received the ball on the wing and had the arrogance to dodge past Dawson and take three bounces with the skipper chasing. Unfortunately wasn’t able to finish his work - he didn’t have anything upfield so handballed to a teammate who was already under pressure - but it’s the dare and zip you want to see. Hopefully the polish will come in time.

O’Brien - took a ripping mark on Toby Murray which left the Ibis a little worse for wear. Was easily the best clunk the big fella has taken all summer. More of that please.

 

[Flip Side]

I'd be wary of placing too much credence in raw stats as they don't necessarily take into account varying game styles. Whilst we ranked 3rd for spoils per game at 33.7, we're 18th for oppo spoils and 14th for differential average per game. So whilst we spoil a lot, we are nearly always behind our opposition, so it's not really a strong point of ours. I think it speaks to the way we push numbers to the stoppages which results in more high ball when team go forward.

Total clearances per game tells a similar story, whilst we're 6th for clearance per game, which sounds pretty good, we're 14th for clearance differential. Our games had the 3rd most amount of ruck contests in them, so our raw clearance numbers will be inflated due to that. The stat that tells us how good our midfield is at clearances is the differential.

Yes of course all stats should be seen as indicative. Not sure what the spoil differential really points to in your context, apart from without Riley playing much Crows are relatively short in offence and were spoilt a lot? And how often is a spoil on Rob just Rob dropping it?

I’d love to know where to get spoil efficiency stats but not sure where that’s readily available. (Although that’s a separate debate again)

Regardless it does suggest a Crows approach to aerial contests regardless of if the player is in front or behind, or if it’s a strength or weakness.

If two spoils a game translates into intercept marks then that moves the needle.

And stats aside you know the situation, where a player drops in the hole, or is third man deep - finds he is by himself, but elects to double fist it rather than takes the grab.

 

[Eric The Red]

You don't reckon ?? Maybe I've got a lesser opinion of Laird than you might, but i struggle to believe that a coach who played a guy for all but 1 match of the season can have a long standing disdain for that same player.

And who has just ticked off on a really really long term contract……

 

[1970crow]

I agree with the basic premise of the post but the statement '' we are generally behind when we spoil ''

well yeah thats the nature of it

I think a spoil is good - take the W on that and structure accordingly . Its old school but your Jones and your Dowlings (eg) should be front and behind - I mean in my book thats a standard set up

The context of "generally behind" is that we lose that stat on a week to week basis, it's not referencing our physical positioning. On differential we are the 14th placed team for spoils, so bottom 5, not top 3.

 

[Flip Side]

The context of "generally behind" is that we lose that stat on a week to week basis, it's not referencing our physical positioning. On differential we are the 14th placed team for spoils, so bottom 5, not top 3.

I’m sure you know you don’t really win or lose spoils in direct competition. It’s not like clearances where your clearance is at the expense of the other teams midfielders.

The Crows defenders could be league best spoilers but if at the other end Rob, Gollant, Berg, Burg, co are being spoiled going for marks it’s not a reflection on the defenders ability.

 

[cmndstab]

You're a gem, bigman. Between driving to every major oval city-wide last week to find training, to standing out in the 40 degree heat today, you really go above and beyond. Thanks for your efforts to bring us all these training updates

 

[Keystone agony]

Milera, Smith, Borlase and Murphy

Over Draper, Worrell, Hinge and Curtin types ?

Bit surprising, but not gonna read much into it, maybe to keep a few on edge and a few still with confidence that they are in the mix, when in fact maybe they arent without injury