KiwiTiger's Arizona diary and updates

[smasha]

Players I keep forgetting about are Dea and Helbig but I reckon these could be surprise packets going by your reports on Dea.

we have a great nucleus of players now and some needed depth.

Two drafts still to come.

McCarthy will add some more depth.
Bring 2012 on!

 

[smasha]

Hey KT, what did ya think of Heslin? How are are his skills and play reading abilities coming along?

From all reports he's a gun athlete and really natural gaelic footballer, got some size about him too..... Bit of a joker in the pack for us, hopefully he's a bit in the Tommy Walsh mold.

Looks like a tank in the training photos.

That's what Dimma likes.

Hard at it players.

Really great that Vickery is good in the ring.

Keep the opposition honest while he and Jack have em bamboozled and if they don't get it,a crumber will.

 

[KiwiTiger]

Here is the summary from my travel companion and Herald Sun journalist Mick Warner. Don't forget to follow him on @heraldsunmick. Sports bet have him at 26 bucks to replace Mike Sheahan. He should be shorter than that! A great man with a "hint" of yellow and black!

Suppose we could call this a BF Exclusive!

Kiwi Tiger – here’s my appraisal of the Tigers pre-season camp you asked for.
*
I’ll start with my best 22 in position given Brett Deledio’s return to the midfield and the welcome recruitment of a ruckman.
*
Newman Rance Batchelor
Houli McGuane Grimes
Deledio Cotchin Edwards
Conca Vickery White
King Riewoldt Nahas
*
R: Maric Martin Foley
I: Ellis Dea Morris Jackson
*
The good news is the Tigers finally seem to have some depth. Grigg, Tuck, Post, Helbig, Griffiths, Miller, McGuane and Astbury all miss out - although King is suspended for Round One, so I’d bring in Grigg.
*
Kel Moore will be back to full training soon, but seems a way off. That’s a real shame because CHB is the real weakness of this side on paper and he’s a great bloke. I’ve gone with McGuane at CHB for now simply because he is the bigger body – but Post, Griffiths and Astbury will pass him by seasons end.
*
Rance is going great guns and will hold up full back. Grimes, while still raw, is an ideal 3rd tall down back. The small/medium defenders are becoming a REAL strength. Newman, Batchelor, Ellis, Morris, Houli and Dea can all play down there – and all of them can kick ie: hit targets under pressure and split open the opposition press. Dea is going to be the surprise packet and can play small and tall. His work rate in the gym and on the track is incredible. Deledio might go back down there again when required, but the coach is keen to grant his wish to return to the middle. But that’s not a decision based on what Deledio wants. There’s a better explanation than that. Deledio needs to go into the middle because the Tigers actually lack depth in there.
*
Cotchin, Martin and Foley are bona fide stars – but three stars doesn’t make a midfield against top 8 sides that bat far deeper. The quality of Deledio is needed in there. Conca will also be played through the middle this year and must step up, while White, Edwards and Nahas will be used through there, pushing forward. Jackson and Grigg can play tagging roles and have good size and will play a lot of senior footy in the midfield in 2012.
*
Ellis is a blessing at pick 15. He’ll be a player from Round One, but probably playing the role Conca played last year to start. He’s an elite kick on both sides.
*
Morris is the other one I liked the look of at the camp. Hard runner. Maric is the big pick up, with a few of the mids unable to hide their excitement at the prospect of roving to a competitor. It’s now over to Graham and Browne to show how bad they want it. And don’t forget Derickx.
*
Jack, Vickery and Dusty will take care of 130 goals. They were the three were standouts in a goal kicking session at the University of Arizona.
*
There’s no doubt every AFL club is excited about the way they’re travelling in the off season. A new year brings new hope, and for Richmond fans it’s been 30 years of pain.
*
But this is different. Injury aside, I’m tipping them to make the eight.
*
Cheers,
*
Mick W


Michael Warner**|**Journalist

 

[_RT_]

Thanks for the that KT. Have really enjoyed the reports provided over the course of the last 2 weeks.

 

[KiwiTiger]

Thanks for the that KT. Have really enjoyed the reports provided over the course of the last 2 weeks.

Thanks RT. Back to Auckland tonight. Will be quiet now.

Haere Ra

 

[JR#8]

Thanks for the report. Have enjoyed reading your posts!

I'm excited now, can't wait to see what next year brings!

 

[theflea]

Here is the summary from my travel companion and Herald Sun journalist Mick Warner. Don't forget to follow him on @heraldsunmick. Sports bet have him at 26 bucks to replace Mike Sheahan. He should be shorter than that! A great man with a "hint" of yellow and black!

Suppose we could call this a BF Exclusive!

Kiwi Tiger – here’s my appraisal of the Tigers pre-season camp you asked for.
*
I’ll start with my best 22 in position given Brett Deledio’s return to the midfield and the welcome recruitment of a ruckman.
*
Newman Rance Batchelor
Houli McGuane Grimes
Deledio Cotchin Edwards
Conca Vickery White
King Riewoldt Nahas
*
R: Maric Martin Foley
I: Ellis Dea Morris Jackson
*
The good news is the Tigers finally seem to have some depth. Grigg, Tuck, Post, Helbig, Griffiths, Miller, McGuane and Astbury all miss out - although King is suspended for Round One, so I’d bring in Grigg.
*
Kel Moore will be back to full training soon, but seems a way off. That’s a real shame because CHB is the real weakness of this side on paper and he’s a great bloke. I’ve gone with McGuane at CHB for now simply because he is the bigger body – but Post, Griffiths and Astbury will pass him by seasons end.
*
Rance is going great guns and will hold up full back. Grimes, while still raw, is an ideal 3rd tall down back. The small/medium defenders are becoming a REAL strength. Newman, Batchelor, Ellis, Morris, Houli and Dea can all play down there – and all of them can kick ie: hit targets under pressure and split open the opposition press. Dea is going to be the surprise packet and can play small and tall. His work rate in the gym and on the track is incredible. Deledio might go back down there again when required, but the coach is keen to grant his wish to return to the middle. But that’s not a decision based on what Deledio wants. There’s a better explanation than that. Deledio needs to go into the middle because the Tigers actually lack depth in there.
*
Cotchin, Martin and Foley are bona fide stars – but three stars doesn’t make a midfield against top 8 sides that bat far deeper. The quality of Deledio is needed in there. Conca will also be played through the middle this year and must step up, while White, Edwards and Nahas will be used through there, pushing forward. Jackson and Grigg can play tagging roles and have good size and will play a lot of senior footy in the midfield in 2012.
*
Ellis is a blessing at pick 15. He’ll be a player from Round One, but probably playing the role Conca played last year to start. He’s an elite kick on both sides.
*
Morris is the other one I liked the look of at the camp. Hard runner. Maric is the big pick up, with a few of the mids unable to hide their excitement at the prospect of roving to a competitor. It’s now over to Graham and Browne to show how bad they want it. And don’t forget Derickx.
*
Jack, Vickery and Dusty will take care of 130 goals. They were the three were standouts in a goal kicking session at the University of Arizona.
*
There’s no doubt every AFL club is excited about the way they’re travelling in the off season. A new year brings new hope, and for Richmond fans it’s been 30 years of pain.
*
But this is different. Injury aside, I’m tipping them to make the eight.
*
Cheers,
*
Mick W


Michael Warner**|**Journalist

i guess that puts the gus issue to bed then.

 

[db26]

Great work Kiwi Tiger.What was your few on Astbury and Post and Big boy Griffths because I would love to have them in our starting 22 both in defence or one up forward?.

 

[DoItForCaptBlood]

Newman Rance Batchelor
Houli McGuane Grimes
Deledio Cotchin Edwards
Conca Vickery White
King Riewoldt Nahas
*
R: Maric Martin Foley
I: Ellis Dea Morris Jackson
*
The good news is the Tigers finally seem to have some depth. Grigg, Tuck, Post, Helbig, Griffiths, Miller, McGuane and Astbury all miss out -

Seems he has 2nd thoughts (like myself) on McGuane being in the team!! It is the main problem, CHB! Who plays on J.Brown and big Nick? Certainly McGuane is not our man IMO!!

 

[Bojangles17]

cheers kwt, enjoyed the backroom insight, all the best

 

[smasha]

Great stuff KiwiTiger and Michael Warner.

If he gets the gig at the HUN,I might stop using it to wipe my arse.

I think our defense is shaping up nicely and that is the "weakness" according to opposition fans.

Morris in there helping out with Rance,Batch and Grimes and Ellis in there as well with his vision and kicking skills ,our defense is looking very good.

And this time we have a bonified ruckman and blokes like Derickx will only grow as players to give us some depth in the talls department.

Thanks Kiwi for keeping us updated.

 

[THE_GUN]

McGuane at Chb - We really need to move on from that

Astbury & Post must replace him in the side (not much required to pass mcguane imo)

people have lost a bit of confidence in Astbury due to under performing early in the season the getting injured But, This kid has what it takes to make it & I have no doubt he wont leave a stone unturned.

I would also wouldnt mind Big Derickx getting a chance there against the Jonno Browns of the afl, Derickx imo has to add another bow to his string and i would love to see that in the back half.

 

[Livonski]

Geez I hope Derickx lives up to expectations. I for one have seen him play about 90 seconds of footy. Reckon he's gotta dominate at Coburg first, before we start lining him up against Jonnno Brown.
And this is our problem. The reality is that Posty has shown brief glimpses of ability, Astbury the same. In the meantime McGuane must be a tall defender. Yep, seems hopeless with the ball in his hands but defensively he's ok and with midfield pressure ensuring the backline doesn't get bombarded, maybe looks a bit better than his rating on bigfooty.
But yes I agree, Astbury and or Post need to breakout past McG.

 

[tugga]

Great report from MW.
Gee it seems like Matt Dea could actually be a massive recruit for us this year.

 

[Dustin Credible]

I hope Dea is as good as the preseason hype. Would be a boon for us.

Forgive me for being cautious though but last preseason it was Contin who was training the house down. Look what happened there.

 

[Rustof]

[YOUTUBE]v5grdn2_630[/YOUTUBE]

 

[freezer]

Hey KT, any thoughts on my earlier post about Heslin?

Cheers!

 

[Martin#4]

Hey KT, any thoughts on my earlier post about Heslin?

Cheers!

Seconded! Would love to know what KT thinks observed of him.

The kid looks like an absolute animal, and is very young, I have high hopes for him and when I look at him I get the feeling he will be a lot better than the average Irish recruit that comes to play AFL.

I really think in a couple of years time, Heslin could be a massive surprise packet.

Been a fan since day #1

 

[KiwiTiger]

Hey KT, any thoughts on my earlier post about Heslin?

Cheers!

Sorry gents. Have been on a plane for 13hours. John is a real character. Great sense of humour. I must admit I didn't monitor him closely at training, so apologies. He does look very fit though.

Cheers

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

A big 'Kia ora' from me for all the reports...its been a right pleasure reading them all...

Cannot wait for 2012 to kick in gear...bring it all on...

 

[nut]

ok it looked like a woth while trip...

Good work KT

 

[JR#8]

LOL @ Graham...how can you be a blocker in the NFL if you are scared of body contact?

Maybe he doesn't know the guys in the NFL are twice the size of AFL players?

 

[KiwiTiger]

LOL @ Graham...how can you be a blocker in the NFL if you are scared of body contact?

Maybe he doesn't know the guys in the NFL are twice the size of AFL players?

Some defensive linemen came to watch us train. They are massive units.

Haere Ra

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Great work Kiwitiger, really enjoyed reading this