Bigman’s Training Reports

[Coopers]

Match simulation is match simulation not training simulation though.
What Keane did was standard match play afaiac.

Well, it was overly agressive but you will see that stuff in matches for sure. Pedlar got up and got pissed about it which is also the same thing that will happen.

 

[bigman]

Hi bigman,

Do you have any thoughts on whether Riley Thilthorpe is going to bring it all together this year and what role do you see him playing in the sims? Does he look like he's raging to get at it or just cruising along?

Apologies for the late reply Milo.

He hasn’t had the perfect pre season - he was on restricted duties for most of the pre-Xmas period - but he’s still shown the aerial dominance we saw last year.

He’s ready to explode, if not this year then definitely next. But it’ll come down to his body.

 

[Milo Cyrus]

Apologies for the late reply Milo.

He hasn’t had the perfect pre season - he was on restricted duties for most of the pre-Xmas period - but he’s still shown the aerial dominance we saw last year.

He’s ready to explode, if not this year then definitely next. But it’ll come down to his body.

Thank you kind sir! and thank you for all of your track watching insights, you are a bigfooty diamond!

I hope we get to see our gold label pick hit peak performance at some point this year and transform from golden boy to the Man!

 

[bigman]

bigman

What was rankines CBA/mid to forward split?

What was Peatling split/overall role?

You mentioned crouch in B team for periods 2/3, how much would you say this change up altered those roles too (I assume he will be in the team and playing in 2nd side was to create a bit more balanced teams). Who replace him In the 1s? Was it a berry type or just those players like sog, ranks, Dawson who would be in our normal mid mix

Was around the 40-50% mark for Rankine, slightly down on his Norwood game but still plenty of midfield time.

Peatling started at half forward but quickly moved into the centre and pretty much stayed there bar bench time.

Berry directly replaced Crouch in the A side. I still expect Matt to be there round one. Berry would absolutely be a real shot if not for Peatling. He may still be depending on injuries.

 

[bigman]

bigman one of our major weaknesses is intercept marks

Anyone look likely in that category other than Keane ?

Jeff Keane was definitely our best once again but there were some nice takes from Worrell and Hinge as you’d expect.

I do agree it’s an area we could improve a bit. Our backs in general could get more potent offensively in general - the best teams this year typically had at least one elite high half back, think Zorko, Blakey, Houston etc.

 

[bigman]

Bigman, I have a question re Taylor. To me he is a natural footballer who has time, space, poise and sees things in slow motion etc. He would be in my 22 everyday of the week as I would be getting as many games as possible into him. My query is he seems to be 'B' team in the eyes of the coaches. Is this around his numbers during preseason? Does he blow up during match sim or he is just one of those players who doesn't test well but he can just football when he is on the field? Would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers.

It’s an interesting one slackjaw.

He’s a real talent. Very natural footballer, super skillful. I do think his running ability is a sticking point with our coaches.

We do seem to have another case of summer amnesia with him, given his finish to the year was very good yet he’s never featured in the A side this pre season. He’s also played minimal midfield time despite being a natural rover.

In fairness, aside from some good work pre-Xmas he hasn’t really stood out much this summer. Lately in fact I think he’s lacked his usual spark and looks frustrated, likely because it’s a contract year and he seems out of favour. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dealing with some ankle issues which is affecting his lateral movement.

I’d love to be more positive as I’m a fan but unless things course correct once footy games start, I don’t see him playing in the first part of the year.

 

[cmndstab]

I think Taylor's place in the side is probably going to be taken by Peatling for now. Whether he gets back into the side later will likely depend on injuries/form, and how he performs when he gets his chance.

I remember last year being concerned that Pedlar was constantly featuring in the B sides at training, and having lots of debates on here as to whether that meant he was out of favour, or if the coaches just wanted to test him against the better players, etc. Ultimately it ended up being that he was out of favour.

I feel like in almost all cases, there is a direct relationship between who the coaches prefer, and who is in the A side at training. If, for example, they are playing Milera in the A side and Nankervis in the B side, I would take it at face value that they view Milera as being ahead of Nankervis.

 

[Slackjaw]

It’s an interesting one slackjaw.

He’s a real talent. Very natural footballer, super skillful. I do think his running ability is a sticking point with our coaches.

We do seem to have another case of summer amnesia with him, given his finish to the year was very good yet he’s never featured in the A side this pre season. He’s also played minimal midfield time despite being a natural rover.

In fairness, aside from some good work pre-Xmas he hasn’t really stood out much this summer. Lately in fact I think he’s lacked his usual spark and looks frustrated, likely because it’s a contract year and he seems out of favour. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dealing with some ankle issues which is affecting his lateral movement.

I’d love to be more positive as I’m a fan but unless things course correct once footy games start, I don’t see him playing in the first part of the year.

Thanks Bigman. I'm hoping he is just one of those players come season proper where his football does the talking and you can't leave him out. So much talent. Cheers.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Taylor reminds me a bit of Lyons

Best suited to the centre square but back in the queue here so will find it tough to get playing opportunities in his best role

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Taylor reminds me a bit of Lyons

Best suited to the centre square but back in the queue here so will find it tough to get playing opportunities in his best role

More dynamic than Lyons , if he had same endurance I reckon he’d be at least as good as Soligo

Overall a bigger talent than Lyons ( other than the running ability )

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think Taylor's place in the side is probably going to be taken by Peatling for now. Whether he gets back into the side later will likely depend on injuries/form, and how he performs when he gets his chance.

I remember last year being concerned that Pedlar was constantly featuring in the B sides at training, and having lots of debates on here as to whether that meant he was out of favour, or if the coaches just wanted to test him against the better players, etc. Ultimately it ended up being that he was out of favour.

I feel like in almost all cases, there is a direct relationship between who the coaches prefer, and who is in the A side at training. If, for example, they are playing Milera in the A side and Nankervis in the B side, I would take it at face value that they view Milera as being ahead of Nankervis.

True re pointers in pre season

I’d suggest Pedlar was out of favour last year because he wasn’t fit enough and out of form likely due to the former

 

[1990crow]

True re pointers in pre season

I’d suggest Pedlar was out of favour last year because he wasn’t fit enough and out of form likely due to the former

Bigmans notes suggest better but still in the Bs.
For such a talented player it's frustrating he can't seem to take that next step.

2020 draft - its now or never.

 

[Cromulant]

Taylor reminds me a bit of Lyons

Best suited to the centre square but back in the queue here so will find it tough to get playing opportunities in his best role

Showed a little bit as a forward late last year to suggest he's got some future, but if Pedlar is in good nick, Peatling does what we think he will and Rankine plays 23 games then he'll find it tough.

I'd like to see him get more of a go though

 

[Tex Danger]

Was around the 40-50% mark for Rankine, slightly down on his Norwood game but still plenty of midfield time.

Peatling started at half forward but quickly moved into the centre and pretty much stayed there bar bench time.

Berry directly replaced Crouch in the A side. I still expect Matt to be there round one. Berry would absolutely be a real shot if not for Peatling. He may still be depending on injuries.

Thanks bigman, as you say 40-50% is still high for rankine and that to be a reduction from earlier seems to confirm the expectation he will be genuinely midfield taking that 20-35% type role from last year up to 40-50% as a baseline I reckon and maybe more

That’s good re berry replacing crouch. I agree crouch will be there and berry won’t so berry taking his spot means can read more into the way everyone else was used as the crouch spot was still being allocated

 

[WeeBlake]

Jeff Keane was definitely our best once again but there were some nice takes from Worrell and Hinge as you’d expect.

I do agree it’s an area we could improve a bit. Our backs in general could get more potent offensively in general - the best teams this year typically had at least one elite high half back, think Zorko, Blakey, Houston etc.

I’m not worried about our defenders’ intercept marking ability. Hinge, Worrell, Keane, Max, Murray are all good intercept marks. When Dawson plays back, he’s among the best in the league for intercept marking.

For whatever reason, we just don’t get enough of them.

 

[1990crow]

I’m not worried about our defenders’ intercept marking ability. Hinge, Worrell, Keane, Max, Murray are all good intercept marks. When Dawson plays back, he’s among the best in the league for intercept marking.

For whatever reason, we just don’t get enough of them.

I'm hoping it's just an experience thing and bodies still developing.

Worrell, Keane, Murray and Max are all either sub 50 games or in Murray's case just over.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I’m not worried about our defenders’ intercept marking ability. Hinge, Worrell, Keane, Max, Murray are all good intercept marks. When Dawson plays back, he’s among the best in the league for intercept marking.

For whatever reason, we just don’t get enough of them.

Agree the ability is there

Hopefully can start showing it and taking plenty of them

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Thanks bigman, as you say 40-50% is still high for rankine and that to be a reduction from earlier seems to confirm the expectation he will be genuinely midfield taking that 20-35% type role from last year up to 40-50% as a baseline I reckon and maybe more

That’s good re berry replacing crouch. I agree crouch will be there and berry won’t so berry taking his spot means can read more into the way everyone else was used as the crouch spot was still being allocated

Did Rankine only play 20-35% mid last year ?

 

[Sizzlepack]

Did Rankine only play 20-35% mid last year ?

He attended an average of 38% of centre bounces, which is a decent proxy of midfield time.

 

[Shifty Crow]

Don’t get me wrong , I love our defence and it’s also very young and developing

But re our intercept marking - not a strength

I think it’s got the ability to be one so I think it’s a decent area of improvement that can help us

Pretty important part of game , if you look at Sydney it’s definitely not a strength of their list but they don’t need it to be as prob have the best midfield in the comp

I’m getting more confident about our midfield but it’s still a work in progress so we need strings to our bow re ‘score sources ‘

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


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[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

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

I think this is exactly right and hope that the coaches see it this way

 

[1990crow]

I think this is exactly right and hope that the coaches see it this way

If the defence clicks, and our offseason upgrades to midfield help there's reason to be optimistic.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

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

 

[Tex Danger]

Did Rankine only play 20-35% mid last year ?

His cba stats mostly hovered in that range with about 4 games higher I think

 

[Tex Danger]

Did Rankine only play 20-35% mid last year ?

That’s his stats with column 1 being total CBAs attended and 38% being yearly average followed by game by game splits.

10 of 15 games sit in 38% and less. That’s why I said “baseline” as I expect those baseline numbers to be more 35-50% and plus those spike games to also be higher/more consistent

50

38%

37

11

29

27

61

76

26

24

33

59

52

43

29

36

23