Mon training

[Nickos66]

Awesome to hear about my buddy Robbo, was tempting to put him in my backline this year too but there's too many good Freo backs to choose from, haha.

 

[prattsta]

Whats everyones opinion on Walters- i cant see him playing if Ballas is fit? Especially as thats the reason he played last year. No question of the ability of the lad though. Will be interesting how harvey and co work it out.

I don't have any trouble fitting both Walters and Ballantyne into the same side. Walters can essentially slot into Hasleby's spot from last season.

They have fairly complimentary games as well. Walters is more of a midfielder, better suited to stoppage work and setting up goals. Ultimately I see Walters playing as a midfielder who rests at HF/FP. Ballantyne on the other hand is better inside the forward 50 than Walters - both defensively and offensively - but not as effective around stoppages further up the ground. They could pretty much rotate with each other...

Crichton is the guy who would be on the fringes right now.

 

[salim malik]

Robberton is similar in stature and playing style to Scott Pendlebury
both are 191 in ht and similar weights, have great tanks and run in that very upright position and are excellent marks
I reckon Robbo will have the same midfield impact that Pendlebury has had with experience
Robbo will develop into a class mid

 

[Dr2Sheds]

Robberton is similar in stature and playing style to Scott Pendlebury
both are 191 in ht and similar weights, have great tanks and run in that very upright position and are excellent marks
I reckon Robbo will have the same midfield impact that Pendlebury has had with experience
Robbo will develop into a class mid

I like that a lot Salim

 

[Aussiblood]

I don't have any trouble fitting both Walters and Ballantyne into the same side. Walters can essentially slot into Hasleby's spot from last season.

They have fairly complimentary games as well. Walters is more of a midfielder, better suited to stoppage work and setting up goals. Ultimately I see Walters playing as a midfielder who rests at HF/FP. Ballantyne on the other hand is better inside the forward 50 than Walters - both defensively and offensively - but not as effective around stoppages further up the ground. They could pretty much rotate with each other...

Crichton is the guy who would be on the fringes right now.

Would agree with this. More than ever, with bench limits - the starting 22 will change week to week based on matchup, not solely 'outright best players'. If a Walters and Balla combo can expose the opposition - Harves will get them in

.

 

[theGav56]

Faulkes is beginning to really impress with his disposal and general awareness a standout .Has stacked on the condition and is no longer the skinny pushover.Will push Silvagni for that third back tall position

Thanks salim. Re the above comment, if running is Faulks biggest issue I guess I assumed that FB may be more his go. Obviously it is where he has played in the past, but I also thought there is probably less running than the third tall may be required to do. I realise the positions don't lock in as strictly due to match-ups, but I do like the idea of a specialist FB and CHB.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Thanks salim. Re the above comment, if running is Faulks biggest issue I guess I assumed that FB may be more his go. Obviously it is where he has played in the past, but I also thought there is probably less running than the third tall may be required to do. I realise the positions don't lock in as strictly due to match-ups, but I do like the idea of a specialist FB and CHB.

I'm with you Gav

Building a versatile and highly skilled team around a strong - yet adaptive - spine is the way to go

Have a strong, adaptive spine with the likes of McPharlin, Faulks, Sandilands, Pavlich and Anthony and fill the rest of the pitch with our highly skilled and versatile non-KPPs such as Duffield, Broughton, Fyfe, Ballantyne, Walters etc. who can move to where they are needed most i.e. Duffield rotating through the midfield/rebounding HBF or Fyfe moving from the wing to the HFF and the forward line

We also have players well suited to both in the spine and supporting the spin which is great news - players like SNOS, Mayne (somehow manages to play forward KPP, as well as a more lock-down, contest breaking, tackling forward)

 

[salim malik]

Thanks salim. Re the above comment, if running is Faulks biggest issue I guess I assumed that FB may be more his go. Obviously it is where he has played in the past, but I also thought there is probably less running than the third tall may be required to do. I realise the positions don't lock in as strictly due to match-ups, but I do like the idea of a specialist FB and CHB.

Gav your right with FB being the ideal spot for Faulkes re his lack of a big tank but with Grover being stronger and having such a great pre its gonna be hard to shift him out of FB
.The club and Faulkes have worked hard on his stamina and it sure has improved and with that in mind he,s probably more likely to be challenging Silvagni for his spot.Silvagni,s had a restricted pre as well.
Gav its only my opinion and nine times out ten I,m wrong so time and the NAB will tell

 

[RickSanchez]

so wednesday training at McGilvray? 9.30?

i checked the site it just has mondays time and location still up

 

[Superkoops]

so wednesday training at McGilvray? 9.30?

i checked the site it just has mondays time and location still up

There was some footage on ABC sports news tonight of the dockers at training today and Barlow was kicking and running around with the rehab group - no sign of the ice pack. It seemed like a smallish group. Sandliands did press conference about him overcooming his injuries:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/107196/default.aspx

 

[theGav56]

Gav your right with FB being the ideal spot for Faulkes re his lack of a big tank but with Grover being stronger and having such a great pre its gonna be hard to shift him out of FB
.The club and Faulkes have worked hard on his stamina and it sure has improved and with that in mind he,s probably more likely to be challenging Silvagni for his spot.Silvagni,s had a restricted pre as well.
Gav its only my opinion and nine times out ten I,m wrong so time and the NAB will tell

Great that Grover is still first choice imo. I don't really like the idea that a new bloke won't have to earn that position.

Silvagni's problem is that he does not actually seem a likely choice in either FB or CHB. 3rd tall is not really a position as such. If Grover goes down, faulks comes in. If MacPharlin goes down, Grover replaces him and Faulks to FB.

There was some discussion of Silvagni up forward in earlier posts, and when Tarrant was with us and Grover relegated to 3rd tall backman he was considered for a forward role too.

Some interesting permutations from the armchair. Plus I am very keen for Sibo to debut, and I know you are very keen on Roberton as a mid, but he seems another potential in the equation.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

You guys looked pretty sharp today.

I commented a few times that it looked at though your guys were working on switching play from HB and defending against it.

It was pointed out to me that Anthony looked tired whereas practically every other player was alright.

It was just a low intensity game for maybe an hour. The whole time I saw about 3 or 4 tackles but the skills were on.

Pav looked half arsed, Mayne and Clarke impressed me.

 

[anchor man]

Gav your right with FB being the ideal spot for Faulkes re his lack of a big tank but with Grover being stronger and having such a great pre its gonna be hard to shift him out of FB
.The club and Faulkes have worked hard on his stamina and it sure has improved and with that in mind he,s probably more likely to be challenging Silvagni for his spot.Silvagni,s had a restricted pre as well.
Gav its only my opinion and nine times out ten I,m wrong so time and the NAB will tell

Salim thanks for the reports on the training.I have not seen Faulks in training buy have seen him in videos and he appears a strong boy to me.Are you assuming that Grover is stronger because he is bigger.
He appeared to have no problem fixing up the bigger players who were playing in the VFLlast season.He sent a lot of the AFL players home with their tails between their legs last season.
Just interested in why you think Grover is stronger.

 

[yakka man]

Salim thanks for the reports on the training.I have not seen Faulks in training buy have seen him in videos and he appears a strong boy to me.Are you assuming that Grover is stronger because he is bigger.
He appeared to have no problem fixing up the bigger players who were playing in the VFLlast season.He sent a lot of the AFL players home with their tails between their legs last season.
Just interested in why you think Grover is stronger.

Because he is 98 Kg's of solid muscle. Regardless of all the Grover haters he is still an important player.

 

[docker_champ29]

You guys looked pretty sharp today.

I commented a few times that it looked at though your guys were working on switching play from HB and defending against it.

It was pointed out to me that Anthony looked tired whereas practically every other player was alright.

It was just a low intensity game for maybe an hour. The whole time I saw about 3 or 4 tackles but the skills were on.

Pav looked half arsed, Mayne and Clarke impressed me.

Thanks for that. Anyone else head down this morning?

 

[more_of_bito]

i have a great memory of watching Grover at the SCG when I lived in Sydney, he went head to head with Barry Hall and didn't take a backward step. haven't seen Faulks play but would think he was a direct fill for Taz @FB. Grover is a freo champion but likely has 1-2 yrs left, we need to settle a backline for the next 3-5 years. Harves might play Faulks over Grover to get games into him and get the SCOS/Faulks combination working.

 

[anchor man]

Because he is 98 Kg's of solid muscle. Regardless of all the Grover haters he is still an important player.

Yakka,I am not a Grover hater,the opposite in fact.Though early in his career I had doubts about his ability to play at AFL level.
Just trying to find out why some people think that Faulks can't play as a key defender for us.Just because he is lean,does not mean he isn't mean and tough,and can hold his ground against the big fellas in the game.The Gav refers to him,as no longer BEING A SKINNY PUSHOVER.Maybe he plays his best football a bit on the lean side.You don't have to be a bulky giant to have strength.
I am sure that everyone here,myself included,have only seen Faulks play through the videos posted on various sites.So are we in the position to say he is not strong enough to play a key role down the middle of the ground for us?Training is a different kettle of fish to playing.
I have seen a lot of football in my time,and have seen some lean mean players who stand toe to toe with guys much bigger and succeeded.
To my way of thinking Faulks will be a very very good player for us.Thats my opinion of him maybe I will be right,maybe I will be wrong.Only time will tell.

 

[yakka man]

Yakka,I am not a Grover hater,the opposite in fact.Though early in his career I had doubts about his ability to play at AFL level.
Just trying to find out why some people think that Faulks can't play as a key defender for us.Just because he is lean,does not mean he isn't mean and tough,and can hold his ground against the big fellas in the game.The Gav refers to him,as no longer BEING A SKINNY PUSHOVER.Maybe he plays his best football a bit on the lean side.You don't have to be a bulky giant to have strength.
I am sure that everyone here,myself included,have only seen Faulks play through the videos posted on various sites.So are we in the position to say he is not strong enough to play a key role down the middle of the ground for us?Training is a different kettle of fish to playing.
I have seen a lot of football in my time,and have seen some lean mean players who stand toe to toe with guys much bigger and succeeded.
To my way of thinking Faulks will be a very very good player for us.Thats my opinion of him maybe I will be right,maybe I will be wrong.Only time will tell.

From what i've seen Faulks makes up for his lack of size and strength with his speed. I look forward to seeing him in action in the NAB cup. My only worry is that if asked to play on the likes of Buddy, Hall, Riewoldt or Brown who have 15 Kg's on him, he may be overpowered.

That is why I still think Groves and McPharlin will take the key forwards. Maybe at home on the bigger ground he might be better though with his speed. I can't wait to see how he goes though.