Bigman’s Training Reports

[bigman]

Rachele and Rankine - noticeable midfield minutes?
How does the small and medium forward setup look - Keays, Neale-Bullen, Peatling, Rankine, Rachele, Pedlar

Rachele no, Rankine yes. The latter started at half forward but quickly moved into the midfield rotation. At this stage I’m expecting more midfield time than forward come round one, but it’ll likely come down to the health of our goal kickers. We will still need firepower down there - a few injuries and we will need him close to goal.

Most of those names are correct, although I don’t think Pedlar is in the mix at present given he’s had a few issues this summer. Peatling has played very little forward but when games start I expect him to spend some time there and rotate in - crouch is our only mid who doesn’t really have a secondary position. Soligo I also expect to spend some time forward, hopefully limited. Dawson as well.

Neal-Bullen, Keays and Rachele are the main three smalls, with Rankine featuring at times.

Murphy appears to be out of the best 23 with the arrival of Neal-Bullen.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Dawson, Laird and Ranks it was first bounce last year Crouch bench.

Dawson, Soli and Ranks for me this year with Crouch bench .

Nailed it

 

[bigman]

Thanks as always but no need to apologise.

Smith over Hinge would break this board.

I just don’t get the lack of centre clearance work. Could it be this years coaching ****up?

Was the same case last year too. Not that that worked out great for us…

Your guess is as good as mine. Reduce bash and crash perhaps?

We do practice centre bounce set ups, just not much competitive stuff.

 

[Mutineer]

The bolded probably explains why Hinge was with the B team?

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/track-watch-the-latest-preseason-scouting-notes-and-news-from-adelaide-crows/news-story/3bfd32aef6136418d5a0f9dfffe05e58

Smith featured in 15 AFL games last year – his fewest since his debut season in 2011 if you exclude the 2018 campaign he was returning from a serious knee injury.

He played five in the SANFL.

The 33-year-old lined up at half-back for the As on Wednesday, albeit Hinge was with the Bs so he could stand Izak Rankine and develop his leadership with the younger side.

 

[bigman]

Nailed it

If you were to ask me what our round one side is tracking towards (obviously a fair way to go yet), I think this would go close:

FB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
HB: Laird Murray Hinge
_C: Cumming Dawson Sholl
HF: N-Bullen Walker Keays
FF: Rachele Fogarty Thilthorpe
_R: O’Brien Rankine Soligo
INT: Crouch Curtin Peatling Nankervis Milera

Sub would be out of Curtin, Nank and Milera.

Draper is a chance particularly if injuries hit. Jones would be close, Berry too. Butts straight in if we lose a tall down back. Bond seems to be in the mix.

 

[Jars458]

If you were to ask me what our round one side is tracking towards (obviously a fair way to go yet), I think this would go close:

FB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
HB: Laird Murray Hinge
_C: Cumming Dawson Sholl
HF: N-Bullen Walker Keays
FF: Rachele Fogarty Thilthorpe
_R: O’Brien Rankine Soligo
INT: Crouch Curtin Peatling Nankervis Milera

Sub would be out of Curtin, Nank and Milera.

Draper is a chance particularly if injuries hit.

That should be a very strong line up.

 

[1990crow]

If you were to ask me what our round one side is tracking towards (obviously a fair way to go yet), I think this would go close:

FB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
HB: Laird Murray Hinge
_C: Cumming Dawson Sholl
HF: N-Bullen Walker Keays
FF: Rachele Fogarty Thilthorpe
_R: O’Brien Rankine Soligo
INT: Crouch Curtin Peatling Nankervis Milera

Sub would be out of Curtin, Nank and Milera.

Draper is a chance particularly if injuries hit.

Looks pretty darn good.
Add another A grader this offseason and a ruck.. 2026 looms as a real show if they can get some momentum this year.

 

[1970crow]

And Selwood isn’t there to discuss midfield he’s there to talk leadership. A bizarre post.

I think he thinks he's cleverly trolling and baiting us into responding. But I know that he genuinely views Crouch as equally valuable to us as players like Selwood, Bont, Rowell et al. Matt does average 30 disposals per game, which is better than most and we all know that there's nothing more important raw possession stats.

 

[bigman]

Loving your reports Bigman! I am curious (I've never attended a training session before), do you see many other supports there watching with you during the 'closed' sessions you attend?

There’s usually a few onlookers, more so at AAMI. Some days the grassy knoll there can get quite populated.

Fortunately the club has been good about people watching. Maybe that changes at some point but for now they don’t seem to mind which is appreciated.

 

[Tex Danger]

I do get your point. And accessibility of content makes it possible for people to pick up and run with stuff but they risk their own credibility. Big man has the points on the board and I don’t know too many others that are willing to take questions on
particular players or positions and you get information back personally delivered after the next training run.

Very lucky.

Don’t get me wrong I love bigman reports And trust them. And your right his willingness to engage in flow up convo to get more info is awesome.

 

[Tex Danger]

Dawson, Laird and Ranks it was first bounce last year Crouch bench.

Dawson, Soli and Ranks for me this year with Crouch bench .

I have a feeling we will see soligo on a wing a bit more (not exclusively). Peatling coukd be that 3rd, or crouch on field. Agree with Dawson and rankine being 2 of the 3

bigman are you seeing this as a possibility?
And do you think despite a career best year sholl could start/be on the outer?

It sounds more and more like cumming may have 1 wing and not half back?

With a strong best forward mix and numbers fighting for the midfield could we see the other wing be a bit more of a midfielder rotation with players who also spend time at CBA rather than specialist wing? That’s in part based on the family day where Dawson/soligo spent a lot of time out there.

 

[bigman]

I have a feeling we will see soligo on a wing a bit more (not exclusively). Peatling coukd be that 3rd, or crouch on field. Agree with Dawson and rankine being 2 of the 3

bigman are you seeing this as a possibility?
And do you think despite a career best year sholl could start/be on the outer?

It sounds more and more like cumming may have 1 wing and not half back?

With a strong best forward mix and numbers fighting for the midfield could we see the other wing be a bit more of a midfielder rotation with players who also spend time at CBA rather than specialist wing? That’s in part based on the family day where Dawson/soligo spent a lot of time out there.

Personally I want to see Soligo in the guts as much as possible but I do agree, some wing and forward time beckons. His strengths are best suited to the coal face however.

I think Sholl is a lock for the wing to start the season. Beyond that who knows, but he’s earned the right and has improved on a number of his weaknesses. He’s not infallible - I didn’t like his finial game of the season where he went back to some old habits - but he’s a natural wingman and we aren’t abundant with those.

Cumming definitely seems to be on track to take the other wing. He trained early on in defence and I still expect him to rotate back there at times, but at this stage he does seem to be slated for the wing.

I think you might be on the money with a centre bounce mid also rotating between wing and half forward. Crouch doesn’t fit the profile but Dawson, Soligo and Peatling do.

 

[Tex Danger]

Personally I want to see Soligo in the guts as much as possible but I do agree, some wing and forward time beckons. His strengths are best suited to the coal face however.

I think Sholl is a lock for the wing to start the season. Beyond that who knows, but he’s earned the right and has improved on a number of his weaknesses. He’s not infallible - I didn’t like his finial game of the season where he went back to some old habits - but he’s a natural wingman and we aren’t abundant with those.

Cumming definitely seems to be on track to take the other wing. He trained early on in defence and I still expect him to rotate back there at times, but at this stage he does seem to be slated for the wing.

I think you might be on the money with a centre bounce mid also rotating between wing and half forward. Crouch doesn’t fit the profile but Dawson, Soligo and Peatling do.

All good points. Plenty to watch and the versatility of the team will no doubt see all the different scenarios play out especially with injuries changing the best balance

Putting my fantasy hat on rather than crows, do you see cumming getting a lot of ball on the wing. I thought we’d have him half back and taking kick outs and a lock in that game! Wing not as fruitful role. Hes obviously had minimal match sim himself but the game style we’ve been playing how much volume of possession do yo see going through him out there?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Dan Curtin’s Insta post of him bursting through a pack was somewhat subdued by the piss poor tackle attempt of one cooked Mr Brodie Smith.

If Smith plays more games than Curtin again next season... I will be very pissed off!

# assuming no significant injuries.

Prioritise our best talent.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

WAT!!

An inside mid addressing the players, I thought we were transitioning away from those types?

Couldn't get 2 better leaders in Selwood & Phillips...

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Thanks as always but no need to apologise.

Smith over Hinge would break this board.

I just don’t get the lack of centre clearance work. Could it be this years coaching ****up?

My take is that Hinge as a leader of the club took his turn with the B side to provide some on field coaching/leadership v A's.

bigman - thoughts?

No way does Smith get picked over Hinge when the real stuff starts.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If you were to ask me what our round one side is tracking towards (obviously a fair way to go yet), I think this would go close:

FB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
HB: Laird Murray Hinge
_C: Cumming Dawson Sholl
HF: N-Bullen Walker Keays
FF: Rachele Fogarty Thilthorpe
_R: O’Brien Rankine Soligo
INT: Crouch Curtin Peatling Nankervis Milera

Sub would be out of Curtin, Nank and Milera.

Draper is a chance particularly if injuries hit. Jones would be close, Berry too. Butts straight in if we lose a tall down back. Bond seems to be in the mix.

Think the sub in this scenario would be Milera over Nankervis as reckon they are competing for a spot.

Curtin must play this year & rarely used as a sub like last season... except when managing.

I would prefer we play Milera in the sanfl for a month to give a decent hitout... but given your reports looks like we want to play him from round 1.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

There’s usually a few onlookers, more so at AAMI. Some days the grassy knoll there can get quite populated.

Fortunately the club has been good about people watching. Maybe that changes at some point but for now they don’t seem to mind which is appreciated.

Does the club know you are providing them a community service posting on this board?

They should be bringing you coffees & muffins.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I have a feeling we will see soligo on a wing a bit more (not exclusively). Peatling coukd be that 3rd, or crouch on field. Agree with Dawson and rankine being 2 of the 3

bigman are you seeing this as a possibility?
And do you think despite a career best year sholl could start/be on the outer?

It sounds more and more like cumming may have 1 wing and not half back?

With a strong best forward mix and numbers fighting for the midfield could we see the other wing be a bit more of a midfielder rotation with players who also spend time at CBA rather than specialist wing? That’s in part based on the family day where Dawson/soligo spent a lot of time out there.

I think we now have the midfield depth to rotate players as inside & outside midfielders, as well as times forward. Would hope horses for courses, depending on how they are performing on the day when it comes to mixes.

Expect Soligo, Rankine, Dawson, Peatling & Crouch (usually starting on the bench) will be the main inside midfielders... but all but Crocuh very capable spending time on a wing &/or up forward.

Our 3 main small forwards - ANB, Rachele & Keays are all very capable of pinch hitting in the midfield.

Much healthier to have a deep & flexible midfield.

Same goes for HBF & wingers.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

bigman does it seem like we'll go with Murray and Keane as our key defenders and Butts misses?

 

[Danger in Texas]

bigman is Curtin showcasing ability to work up the ground, or is he more playing deep forward at present? I think if he's doing the former, the four-tall forward line could work

 

[Danger in Texas]

If you were to ask me what our round one side is tracking towards (obviously a fair way to go yet), I think this would go close:

FB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
HB: Laird Murray Hinge
_C: Cumming Dawson Sholl
HF: N-Bullen Walker Keays
FF: Rachele Fogarty Thilthorpe
_R: O’Brien Rankine Soligo
INT: Crouch Curtin Peatling Nankervis Milera

Sub would be out of Curtin, Nank and Milera.

Draper is a chance particularly if injuries hit. Jones would be close, Berry too. Butts straight in if we lose a tall down back. Bond seems to be in the mix.

Strong side. Interesting that we're going more and more with Cumming on a wing as the preseason's gone on (wonder why this is the case), we seem to like Milera/Hinge/Laird/Nank as our HBF rotation

 

[Gtowncrow]

Can he tell them how to get more free kicks?

Get James Peatling onto that.
In 2024
33 for...9 against

Impressive

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Strong side. Interesting that we're going more and more with Cumming on a wing as the preseason's gone on (wonder why this is the case), we seem to like Milera/Hinge/Laird/Nank as our HBF rotation

Because Chrome Dome loves Laird too much, he even kicked Hinge out to a wing to let Laird statpad down back. Well realise eventually Cumming is a HBF

 

[AFC979810]

Sounds like our midfield starting group is Dawson, Crouch, Soligo and Peatling, with Rankine starting or moving forward.

Dawson, Soli and Ranks for me this year with Crouch bench .

Round 1 - I would love to see Soligo, Peatling, Rankine at the first bounce. Dawson starts on the wing and goes straight into the centre once the ball is bounced. Rankine pushes forward.

I absolutely love the idea of either Rankine / Rachele at every single Centre bounce. Get creative with whether they push forward or stay in the middle for a stint. Would give the opposition coaches another thing to worry about.