Training Pre-season 2017

[Andre the Giant]

Don't freak out re injuries, Steve J was a concussion, Shiel is always a bit tender with his shoulder, Lobb is fine, Corr and Coniglio will miss some games but now is the right time rather than finals.

Weird game, we looked very flat early and were seemingly in 2nd gear until the 3rd quarter.

I thought Greene was super, he is such a competitor and has so much pride in his performance. Also liked Smith, Ward, Kelly and Patton.

I thought Tom Scully had his worst game ever for us. He was wasteful and clumsy with the ball and really seemed like he was on another planet. Also thought Haynes and Williams were quite poor, Haynes improved through the game but Williams had a stinker with his kicking diabolical. Shaw got lots of it but as usual threw in his obligatory clangers.

Taranto bobbed up and was good in patches, Jezza was serviceable but still not dominant, Shiel showed some good toe.

Some of our older players are looking... well old.

At this moment we are false favourites, the Bulldogs should be favourites with us in there with Sydney underneath. The new ruck interpretation isn't great for us.

Anyways long season ahead but hopefully the lads haven't been sucked in by the Melbourne Media hype machine. They are doing a super job of deflecting pressure from the Dirty Dogs.

 

[Giant Strides]

Just back from the game. Smallish crowd and a bit muted, being PS.

GWS looked patchy in the first term - some good work but some errors. Second term was very poor - too many dinky little plays, both kicking & handpassing. Zac's little dink kickout from Waite's behind was typical, and costly, but we were doing similar in the field too. A lot of Norths' goals were from straight up errors from us - eliminate those and it would have been an impressive game. Noticed a lot of low, flat, sliding passes throughout, so they seem to have worked on that. Good idea to aim for precision passes, but overused it a little - but I guess PS is the time to test run it. They also seemed to be playing quite within themselves in the first half (Norths too, largely.) Not sure if that was real or just because of poor execution, but they then turned it on in the third quarter. The couple of early goals set the tone and the boys really lifted. Fourth term they shut off about half way through and seemed to play to avoid injuries. Overall, solid blowing out of the cobwebs, but plenty of errors for Leon to go to town on.

I had similar thoughts on players as Andre and GWS Tragic:

• Toby was BOG for me, everywhere early, really understands where the ball is going & wills himself there. Very skilful too. And I love that other teams and their supporters hate him.
• Patton was clunking marks well, but like 2016 is kicking radar is off. Hopefully it comes good sooner than last year.
• Thought Jezza was OK. He was working hard off the ball the whole game for mine, and after starting slowly with the kicking radar got better. But FMD that tummy punch - when a teammate's kicking for goal and nearing the end of the last PS match.
• Taranto was quieter than past games, but a few glimpses of what he can do. I'd expect to see him line up irrespective, but if we lose a couple of players such as Cogs and/or Stevie J, he'll definitely be there.
• Cal led from the front as usual.
• Lobby was quiet.
• Zac was a main culprit of the dinky stuff. Needs to get back to basics to start the year - run hard, kick accurately.
• Scully - agree he had a shocker. One kick went to no-one, with 3 Kangaroos the closest players and no Giant within 30 metres. FFS.
• Nathan Wilson was a bit quiet - my concern is that if both he and Zac are off, we lose a lot of our run from half back. Hopefully that (only his second PS game) blew the cobwebs out. Just hoping it's not the groin injury hampering him (too much - it's probably a chronic condition being managed).

Anyone who's got GWS down as unbackable premiership favourites has got rocks in their heads. Injuries, the fact that the game is played 22 on 22 week in week out levels up teams. But we're certainly capable of being in the hunt - it will be a challenge for the boys, but hopefully they can keep a lid on the expectations and simply play good footy throughout the season.

Go Giants!

 

[Bokonon_]

Things started to click there in the third term, so that was good. Too soon to really know how all the other teams are tracking and where we sit. Adelaide have some prime cuts on the bench, so that might help us sneak a priceless first round win.

On the injury front, Cogs is the only injury to really worry about. Let's hope it is a strain and no major structural damage. Two weeks will see most of the other guys ready. Corr might be an issue, but we'll have to wait on the club to report.

The other negative was some of the silly niggle and retaliation from the boys. This is part of what being hunted feels like, so ffs rise above it and let the footy do the talking. Greene ok, Jezza should be too...but you never know. I do understand Jezza reacting, just be smart about it.

Exactly that
Tough is ignoring the provocation somtimes. Over the years I've noticed fighting seems to be more prevalent in practice and exhibition games. Never really understood why. You'd think that they would have learnt from Jeremy's incredibly crude bump in Brisbane last year. Tjink that was more of a * up than vicious though.

 

[Gigantic]

Couldn't catch the game tonight. Thanks for the write up guys

 

[Giant Pete]

Cameron will get at least a week.

 

[_GT_]

Cameron will get at least a week.

I would be disappointed, but not surprised. If it was unprovoked, then I'd say probably fair. However, he was tapped first and the reaction when he tapped back was aimed at milking a free.

 

[Simmofreo]

We lost one in Jarod Picket. Carving it up in Perth. Never understood why he didn't get a game

On HUAWEI NXT-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[_GT_]

We lost one in Jarod Picket. Carving it up in Perth. Never understood why he didn't get a game

On HUAWEI NXT-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Lot of the time he was injured, particularly with that foot.

 

[Giant Strides]

We would not have lost him except for the AFL cutting the list size and salary cap early, in my view. Having said that, we also wouldn't have lost him if we didn't go and get Deledio, as he took a list position and $ that cost someone. We got him to provide X factor, but never really gave him the opportunity to show whether he could deliver. Obviously the club felt that a known talent - even with his injury issues - would contribute more in the short term than waiting to see how Pickett's talent developed. I don't entirely blame the club, but I don't give them a free pass either.

 

[Simmofreo]

So according to the AFL website Jeremy was actually reported during the match. So we don't even need to wait for the match review panel

Striking is not a good look. Jeremy missed the first 4 games last season and I reckon he is going to miss the first couple this year.

I think Greene is single handedly our most important player. Without his 2-4 goals a game last year we would have never got to a prelim

On HUAWEI NXT-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Andre the Giant]

So according to the AFL website Jeremy was actually reported during the match. So we don't even need to wait for the match review panel

Striking is not a good look. Jeremy missed the first 4 games last season and I reckon he is going to miss the first couple this year.

I think Greene is single handedly our most important player. Without his 2-4 goals a game last year we would have never got to a prelim

On HUAWEI NXT-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

It was a love tap, low impact fine.

 

[Giant Pete]

It was a love tap, low impact fine.

Disagree. I reckon because of his record he'll end up getting 2 weeks.

 

[Colonial]

So according to the AFL website Jeremy was actually reported during the match. So we don't even need to wait for the match review panel

Striking is not a good look. Jeremy missed the first 4 games last season and I reckon he is going to miss the first couple this year.

I think Greene is single handedly our most important player. Without his 2-4 goals a game last year we would have never got to a prelim

On HUAWEI NXT-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

It was in response to a harder hit by the marshmellow.
If anything its a fine.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

 

[Bokonon_]

It was a love tap, low impact fine.

Hope your right
His record isn't great and that will count. Depends how read you read the force used I guess. Everyone goin on about Toby but there's no indication he didn't know what he was doing the last 2 weeks and he hasn't committed a reportable offence. Sitting near the interchange hates Toby seems to come off in control, Devon's the one that comes off very angry a lot but he controls himself on the field.
Angiriest I've ever seen from our guys was Cam McCarthy in the Crows game in 2015, Ward had to escort him off the ground to make sure he didn't do something he'd regret. Slow fuse I think but burns hot, Freo's problem anyway now.

 

[Vic pokiesmon]

We would not have lost him except for the AFL cutting the list size and salary cap early, in my view. Having said that, we also wouldn't have lost him if we didn't go and get Deledio, as he took a list position and $ that cost someone. We got him to provide X factor, but never really gave him the opportunity to show whether he could deliver. Obviously the club felt that a known talent - even with his injury issues - would contribute more in the short term than waiting to see how Pickett's talent developed. I don't entirely blame the club, but I don't give them a free pass either.

Hard to make a call unless we know how keen he was to stay or go.His Neafl form never really justified picking him when he wasn't injured.

We will be having this debate at the same time each year for the next few years i think.That's probably a positive though.

 

[Determinant]

Hard to make a call unless we know how keen he was to stay or go.His Neafl form never really justified picking him when he wasn't injured.

We will be having this debate at the same time each year for the next few years i think.That's probably a positive though.

Neither did Curtly's, some talented guys just don't do well in the seconds, whether it's the lack of adrenaline, feeling demotivated, or any other of 50 mental issues, it remains true and has likely affected or ended a lot of careers.

 

[Giant Heart]

With obviously no Whitfield and now Cogs with an injury, I'm not so confident about going over to Adelaide and winning.

 

[fridgeman]

Good to get a win and a solid hit out although it will be interesting to see what comes out on the injuries on monday, fingers crossed.
Greene has got a great goal sense and an ability to spot up teammates in the F50 although his way of playing does get under oppo supporters. Also with Smith hiting the scoreboard it will be interesting to see how they perform together during the season and also how much is down to having SJ around them.
I felt the defence didn't have the best day and fortunate that the Roos were unable to exploit that weakness more, mostly poor kicks coming out and I put that down increased pressure and only the second game for some of the players (Missing the experience of Patfull as well)
I would be interested in others thoughts on Haynes and was he positioned on Waite for an extended period of time and I think Waite kicked 2 goals during this period. Is LC trying to see how he would go playing a big forward as an option for the season? I think he still lacks the strength and also needs to learn more one on one defending skills

 

[fridgeman]

Any news from the NEAFL preseason game?

 

[Giant Strides]

I would be interested in others thoughts on Haynes and was he positioned on Waite for an extended period of time and I think Waite kicked 2 goals during this period. Is LC trying to see how he would go playing a big forward as an option for the season? I think he still lacks the strength and also needs to learn more one on one defending skills

I noted - and was disappointed - that our defenders are still getting outmarked too easily in aerial contests. All of Davis, Haynes & Tomlinson were beaten at least a couple of times each either directly in aerial contests or by being two steps behind their KPF in starting on a lead. I did note Haynes in one-on-one marking contests that are not his forte. Not sure it was a specific tactic by LC - sometimes you just end up in a one-on-one defensive pattern. Haynes will tend to struggle in a strength/big-body contest, but he is very astute with his marking skills normally - just seemed a touch off last night (I can only recall one mark in a contest).

 

[Giant Heart]

I noted - and was disappointed - that our defenders are still getting outmarked too easily in aerial contests. All of Davis, Haynes & Tomlinson were beaten at least a couple of times each either directly in aerial contests or by being two steps behind their KPF in starting on a lead. I did note Haynes in one-on-one marking contests that are not his forte. Not sure it was a specific tactic by LC - sometimes you just end up in a one-on-one defensive pattern. Haynes will tend to struggle in a strength/big-body contest, but he is very astute with his marking skills normally - just seemed a touch off last night (I can only recall one mark in a contest).

We're just going to have to win clearances in the middle and not turn the ball over if we're going to do anything this season. But, when the ball is inevitably turned over on occasion, we need players to drop back to minimise our defenders getting caught one-out.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Giant Strides]

Well then, Jezza got better value for money with his punch. Homer Simpson hits himself harder than what Toby did.

Good news though, that there's no suspension for Jezza. But they will both have to watch themselves during the season (I presume that PS fines are included in the '3 fines you're suspended' rule?)

 

[Bokonon_]

Well then, Jezza got better value for money with his punch. Homer Simpson hits himself harder than what Toby did.

Good news though, that there's no suspension for Jezza. But they will both have to watch themselves during the season (I presume that PS fines are included in the '3 fines you're suspended' rule?)

Pheeeuwh.

 

[Giant Strides]

Report from the NEAFL PS GWS v Swans game - http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2017-03-13/neafl-player-watch

With less than a fortnight until the GIANTS season opener against Adelaide, we take a look at how our NEAFL players fared in their trial match against the Swans.

Both sides had a number of players with AFL experience take to the field, with the GIANTS playing 13 AFL listed players.

For the record, the Swans defeated the inaccurate GIANTS by two points at the WestConnex Centre, 8.6 (54) to 6.16 (52).

NEAFL coach Brad Miller reflected on the contributions of the GIANTS AFL listed players:

Harry Himmelberg - "Harry played across half back for the majority of the day and was good in contests; he was influential in setting up our ball movement."

Jacob Hopper – "Jacob only played half of the game but starred while he was out there. Playing as an inside midfielder, he racked up plenty of touches and was clean with his hands and feet through congestion."

Tim Mohr – "Solid down back for three quarters, Tim went forward in the final term and took a great contested mark. He was rock solid down back and was rarely beaten in the air by his opponent."

Dawson Simpson – "Tireless in the ruck all day, Dawson dominated the hit out count which helped give our midfielders first use of the football. His strength and bodywork at the contest was dominant."

Tendai Mzungu – "Outstanding across all four quarters as an inside midfielder and up forward, Tendai went hard at the contested ball and worked tirelessly."

Harry Perryman – "Harry spent a half down back and was solid, finding a fair share of the football. He moved into the midfield in the second half, playing as an inside midfielder, and had an immediate impact on the game."

Jeremy Finlayson – "Started on a wing before moving down back, Jeremy started well but then found it hard to impact the game once he moved to the backline. Despite his minimised influence he played soundly down back."

Isaac Cumming – "Isaac played along the halfback line and took some great intercept marks.”

Zach Sproule – "Played on two of the Swans most experienced defenders in Aliir Aliir and Jeremy Laidler and was found out of position at times. He took a mark early and kicked a goal. Will learn from the experience."

Matt Flynn – "Matt moved as well as I’ve seen him move all summer, he took a step forward in his body language and his ability to compete."

Sam Reid – "Played in the midfielder and also went forward, Sam had a solid impact on the game for three quarters but ran out of legs in the final term."

Daniel Lloyd– "Daniel played well and found plenty of the footy. He used the ball carefully and his disposal was clean all day."

Lachie Tiziani – "Lachie played along half forward and pushed up onto the wing but struggled to have a huge influence. He could have be a touch cleaner with his disposals but is young and will learn."
_______________
So, half a game for Hopper says to me he won't be in the round 1 team as he'll need to be managed. Great opportunity for Mzungu to get upgraded & show what he can do. Reid running out of legs sounds would rule him out IMO, and the others are too junior to throw in the deep end.