Training Official Essendon Preseason Thread

[Blind Turn]

Not a lot to add about today. With McKay / Ridley / Laverde / Jones doing various levels of rehab work the tall brigade is a bit stretched for match sim. Only 4 quarters this week. No interchange. Essendon traditional jumpers had the strong side for the first 2 quarters and had an 8 goal lead at half time. Then the sides where mixed up and it was a lot more even in the 3rd and 4th quarters. First two quarters where about both sides playing super attacking footy. Third and fourth quarters both sides set up defensively so moving the footy was more around the wings to negate the defensive tactics. Was pretty windy so the skill levels varied.

A few observations.

Hobbs - played on both sides. Got a heap of the footy but had some disposal issues.

Vigo played defense on the away jumpers side. Had some issues with Draper in the one on one battles as you would expect and some positional / read issues but also had a few rebounds and a couple of intercept marks. Not reading a lot into it other than it was more to get the numbers right. Would be good experience.

Same with Gerryn. Played back again. Not as many touches this week but had a tough match up on Langford. If anything it is brining his fitness levels along as he has had to do plenty of running.

Have liked Perkins. Is flying under the radar a little but he is super fit and looks like he is super serious about what he is doing. Playing mainly high half forward and getting up the ground and working back. Some midfield time. His stoppage work is what it is but his link and run has gone up a level.

Draper and Bryan. They played on the same side for the first half. Draper forward and Bryan ruck. Sam is getting around the ground well as a forward. He is also one who is super fit . Kicked 3 or 4 goals. Took some strong marks. I really think he will do some damage as a forward / second ruck. Bryan rucked against Goldstein first half and was good but did not totally dominate.
Second half Draper and Bryan went head to head. Bryan dominated Sam in the ruck contests but Sam being Sam produced a few X factor gems that he can produce including a crumbing goal.

Merrett will win the Brownlow is he is allowed to play half forward / midfield with no tag.

Caldwell looks close to his best now.

Lual v SEH on the wing was interesting. Both had low possessions numbers but Lual did a bit more overall. Lual played on Duursma in the second half which was a test for him but he managed to stick with him for a decent amount of time. SEH was pretty quiet overall.

Shiel will be very good from half back. The up sides seems to be that with Shiel and Prior in defense McGrath seems to be running better attacking lines and Redman is feeding off Shiel pretty well. Will be interested to see how it pans out in the real stuff.

Baldwin is the best of the train on blokes. Edwards lacks pace of the mark for a forward his size. I would give Baldwin the nod for another year now. If he gets injured again then you go to the MSD.

Read still going along strongly.

From the rehab guys I would say Durham will be okay for Geelong. McKay maybe a half against Geelong and ready for round 1. Jones should be back shortly. Ridley a decent chance for round 1. Did not see Parish today (he could have been there early). Cox still in a slow build up.

People wondering where the improvement will come from ?
It may not be huge steps but Draper and Bryan look better than this stage last year.
Tsatas is certainly better and will press hard for selection.
I think Shiel and Prior will improve our ball movement from the back half.
Kako will not dominate every week but his zip and pressure will make a difference.
Perkins is training like a serious footballer finally.

Still think we are an 11 win (plus or minus one ) outfit without any major injury issues. Season comes down to Perkins and Read doing something. Draper and Bryan becoming a combo. Duursma not getting injured. Martin roaming the wing / half forward with a little midfield.

I’ve not been a fan of the Draper/ Bryan combo simply because I don’t see Bryan as a threat beyond the centre bounce. Having said that, I’d be absolutely stoked if he came on as a footballer and was able to impact the game as a forward and become a marking presence around the ground. Are you seeing a player who is developing his game to a standard that would bring a second or third string to his bow? From what I’m reading he’s been scoring a few beyond-expectation goals. Is he also becoming a presence around the ground?

 

[fairbump_playon]

I’ve not been a fan of the Draper/ Bryan combo simply because I don’t see Bryan as a threat beyond the centre bounce. Having said that, I’d be absolutely stoked if he came on as a footballer and was able to impact the game as a forward and become a marking presence around the ground. Are you seeing a player who is developing his game to a standard that would bring a second or third bow to his game. From what I’m reading he’s been scoring a few beyond-expectation goals. Is he also becoming a presence around the ground?

Not worried about goals from NB.. I just want to see him grabbing a few marks on the logos and occasionally harming an opposition midfielder who gets in his way.. is that too much to hope for?

 

[MiguelM]

A fit Draper will make a big difference IMO.

 

[ant555]

I’ve not been a fan of the Draper/ Bryan combo simply because I don’t see Bryan as a threat beyond the centre bounce. Having said that, I’d be absolutely stoked if he came on as a footballer and was able to impact the game as a forward and become a marking presence around the ground. Are you seeing a player who is developing his game to a standard that would bring a second or third string to his bow? From what I’m reading he’s been scoring a few beyond-expectation goals. Is he also becoming a presence around the ground?

My knock on Nick has always been his marking and lack of physical game. He has always been a guy who can get 15 - 20 possessions in the VFL so that side does not worry me. Obviously he is a little stronger this year so he can hold his own in the ruck and in the ruck contests on Saturday he was better than Sam when they played each other. Having another string to his bow has not been an issue for me. Yes it would be good if he could be a guy who can snag a goal if and when he plays forward but the improvement I have been looking for is around the ground marking. I have confidence that the more he plays at AFL level the more comfortable he will be around the ground.

 

[ant555]

A fit Draper will make a big difference IMO.

Important point. He has had a full pre season this year. Unlike last year where he was playing catch up.

 

[Squeaky]

My boy absolutely flying, doubters can suck it

View attachment 2222170

I wouldn't get carried away. He is only playing against Essendon...

 

[MiguelM]

Important point. He has had a full pre season this year. Unlike last year where he was playing catch up.

He struggled to keep up with DeKoning types which left a big hole.

If he could clunk 4-5 marks around the ground and kick 2-3 goals a game it would be great.

 

[Agronomus]

I wouldn't get carried away. He is only playing against Essendon...

There's nothing better than beating yourself

 

[boncer34]

There's nothing better than beating yourself

Are we still talking footy

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Are we still talking footy

We are, not sure about you though

 

[Zach Package]

Which one of you did this?

 

[Old Campaigner]

View attachment 2222890

Which one of you did this?

Turn your monitor on

 

[FootyGuru]

My knock on Nick has always been his marking and lack of physical game. He has always been a guy who can get 15 - 20 possessions in the VFL so that side does not worry me. Obviously he is a little stronger this year so he can hold his own in the ruck and in the ruck contests on Saturday he was better than Sam when they played each other. Having another string to his bow has not been an issue for me. Yes it would be good if he could be a guy who can snag a goal if and when he plays forward but the improvement I have been looking for is around the ground marking. I have confidence that the more he plays at AFL level the more comfortable he will be around the ground.

Bryan is in the bottom 5% of the league for height at taking a mark. He has a lot of other great attributes, but as a ruckman I’d much rather a guy who can compete in the air.

I hope he can at least get to a level where he can compete. Seen far too many smaller players out position and out mark him.

 

[ant555]

Bryan is in the bottom 5% of the league for height at taking a mark. He has a lot of other great attributes, but as a ruckman I’d much rather a guy who can compete in the air.

I hope he can at least get to a level where he can compete. Seen far too many smaller players out position and out mark him.

I agree which has been my issue with him. I am not saying he is the long term answer but he is my round 1 guy simply because we need to know one way or another. I think he is good enough to get his 15 possessions and 30 odd hitouts. How he goes at taking a few marks will be the watch.

 

[Milanista28]

In the games Tsatas has played at senior level he's shown his ability overhead, has taken a few marks around the ground and even shown he can edge his opponent under the ball and mark it himself, question for ant555 has he shown this over this PS?

 

[HirdsTheWord]

View attachment 2222890

Which one of you did this?

classic bout of stockholm syndrome

 

[faible]

Bryan is quite solid in general play, his kicking / handball / running are all decent for a big man, so he's not a liability the way some ruckmen are.

He's probably more like a Grundy or English than a Gawn who's going to regularly take big marks.

 

[Runk]

Bryan is quite solid in general play, his kicking / handball / running are all decent for a big man, so he's not a liability the way some ruckmen are.

He's probably more like a Grundy or English than a Gawn who's going to regularly take big marks.

This is a solid take. Honestly he just needs AFL games under his belt. The more he's used to that pace and physicality the better he & the team overall will be. If he plays round one imho the sky's the limit for this kid.

 

[faible]

This is a solid take. Honestly he just needs AFL games under his belt. The more he's used to that pace and physicality the better he & the team overall will be. If he plays round one imho the sky's the limit for this kid.

Goldstein probably also somewhat in the same ballpark, just a reliable ruckman for the midfield to work off. Don't recall him ever being a mark of note.

 

[84859300]

Bryan, with no weight has a pure leap in the ruck.

The risk will be if they try and build him up to play ruck/F50 and switch with Draper that he gets too heavy and becomes ineffective.

 

[ant555]

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/1714256/pre-season-intra-club-highlights?videoId=1714256&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1739167625001

 

[ant555]

Training: Wednesday, February 12

Check out images from Essendon's main session ahead of their first practice match.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/1714256/pre-season-intra-club-highlights?videoId=1714256&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1739167625001

First bit of footage where Wright takes a grab and Reid is slow to get up.....trembling....tell me he's ok?!!

 

[ant555]

First bit of footage where Wright takes a grab and Reid is slow to get up.....trembling....tell me he's ok?!!

He was fine

 

[Happyskeret]

He was fine