Training Pre-Season 2026 chat

[Sneh]

Pels fan

 

[cats_09]

I look forward to a year when we can talk about something other than our ruck problems

Will that be before or after hell freezes over, or maybe once we see pigs fly

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I look forward to a year when we can talk about something other than our ruck problems

We'd have probably won another GF if Scott can coach in big games or get selection right. We were dominating with Blicavs as a ruckman in finals.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Those 3 HO's SDK had against Carlton were amazing

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Those 3 HO's SDK had against Carlton were amazing

I don't think anyone has ever said he's a good ruck

 

[Mr Meow]

We'd have probably won another GF if Scott can coach in big games or get selection right. We were dominating with Blicavs as a ruckman in finals.

Blicavs spent half the GF in the ruck and was awful. I don't think we should have picked Stanley, but Blicavs unfortunately had a shocking game. As did many others. Cooked, couldn't kick or fell apart under pressure. That's on the players, who had none of those problems for the first 2 finals.

 

[TomsBulgingDisc]

I have rated him for two years. Jogs up and down on the spot. No urgency, is timid and won't put his body on the line.

His brother is the total opposite

Has all the physical attributes, below the shoulders, just lacks the intent to impose himself. Needs a bit more Mumford and a bit less Miers in the contest .

 

[TomsBulgingDisc]

He has been good for a long time but I dont see him getting better from here and his effort is so so. Id be happy to offload him in a deal for Butters (not that it will likely happen).

No doubt he had a poor year by his standard last year, but he has runs on the board as a solid contributor, so you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. If he can get back to some consistency he'll be valuable to the teams success; however I do see his position under pressure in the next 12-18 months from some of the younger kids coming through who can offer the same thing he does, but with a stronger physical presence. This is a good thing overall.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I don't think anyone has ever said he's a good ruck

I find the expectations on SDK as a ruck fascinating.

Let's say Edwards over the next 2 years plays 10-12 games and has a few bad ones but also a few good ones including receiving coaches votes twice. What would we think of him? Probably that he's an extremely talented ruck who is still learning and isn't quite physically ready yet.

That's basically what SDK has done as a number 1 ruck. But people are already tuned into the "SDK isn't a ruck" view so have decided he's terrible and has no future.

 

[TomsBulgingDisc]

I find the expectations on SDK as a ruck fascinating.

Let's say Edwards over the next 2 years plays 10-12 games and has a few bad ones but also a few good ones including receiving coaches votes twice. What would we think of him? Probably that he's an extremely talented ruck who is still learning and isn't quite physically ready yet.

That's basically what SDK has done as a number 1 ruck. But people are already tuned into the "SDK isn't a ruck" view so have decided he's terrible and has no future.

I think the heat he catches isn't necessarily about his skill as a ruckman, but more about his ability/desire to compete physically. That's been an issue across the ground for him for a number of years.

Rucks who don't/can't compete physically generally cop a pasting, and rightly so.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Has all the physical attributes, below the shoulders, just lacks the intent to impose himself. Needs a bit more Mumford and a bit less Miers in the contest .

More Mumford and less mum.

 

[calder_daddy]

The post you quoted put you down. Welcome to Australia 2026 snowflake.

 

[calder_daddy]

I don't think anyone has ever said he's a good ruck

Just leave him be, I reckon if no one bothered with him he would just continue to talk to himself and have a page to himself

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I find the expectations on SDK as a ruck fascinating.

Let's say Edwards over the next 2 years plays 10-12 games and has a few bad ones but also a few good ones including receiving coaches votes twice. What would we think of him? Probably that he's an extremely talented ruck who is still learning and isn't quite physically ready yet.

That's basically what SDK has done as a number 1 ruck. But people are already tuned into the "SDK isn't a ruck" view so have decided he's terrible and has no future.

I do agree that the 'terrible' stuff is a bit much. But I dont think you can put the same expectations on both. Edwards is a 20 year old kid (who has spent most of his time on the list injured) whereas sdk should be in his prime performance years age wise, is a premiership player and about to hit free agency. So if he is going to be a quality ruck the next 2 years are where it should be seen whereas Edwards is years behind that-so more is expected of sdk.

 

[Cataholic]

I find the expectations on SDK as a ruck fascinating.

Let's say Edwards over the next 2 years plays 10-12 games and has a few bad ones but also a few good ones including receiving coaches votes twice. What would we think of him? Probably that he's an extremely talented ruck who is still learning and isn't quite physically ready yet.

That's basically what SDK has done as a number 1 ruck. But people are already tuned into the "SDK isn't a ruck" view so have decided he's terrible and has no future.

It's not about the ruck position specifically, but the fact that he's gun-shy, no matter where he plays.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I do agree that the 'terrible' stuff is a bit much. But I dont think you can put the same expectations on both. Edwards is a 20 year old kid (who has spent most of his time on the list injured) whereas sdk should be in his prime performance years age wise, is a premiership player and about to hit free agency. So if he is going to be a quality ruck the next 2 years are where it should be seen whereas Edwards is years behind that-so more is expected of sdk.

I'm not putting the same expectations on both going forward. We should expect SDK to improve a lot from here no matter what position he plays. It's time to step up.

I'm saying that you can't expect a skinny full back to immediately become a gun ruck and his signs so far as a ruck have been pretty bloody good considering his experience and strength.

Nobody should write off Edwards when he inevitably gets pushed around a few times over the next few years especially if there are some quality games in there. But that's exactly what people have done with SDK

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'm not putting the same expectations on both going forward. We should expect SDK to improve a lot from here no matter what position he plays. It's time to step up.

I'm saying that you can't expect a skinny full back to immediately become a gun ruck and his signs so far as a ruck have been pretty bloody good considering his experience and strength.

Nobody should write off Edwards when he inevitably gets pushed around a few times over the next few years especially if there are some quality games in there. But that's exactly what people have done with SDK

Agree with the first paragraph which is the point i was making.

On the second i do agree that at times his ruck work has been OK (not last week but in general) and around the ground hes been good. I think part of the issue is the times he is timid and doesnt go hard enough are more noticeable in the ruck (because of the type of position it is) than when hes in the back half intercepting. And people dont forget that which affects their view of him.

As I said in the other post I think sdk has the ability but for our sake he has to step up now and I think he needs a psychologist/mindset coach for it.

 

[Cataholic]

I do agree that the 'terrible' stuff is a bit much. But I dont think you can put the same expectations on both. Edwards is a 20 year old kid (who has spent most of his time on the list injured) whereas sdk should be in his prime performance years age wise, is a premiership player and about to hit free agency. So if he is going to be a quality ruck the next 2 years are where it should be seen whereas Edwards is years behind that-so more is expected of sdk.

Yep, he's had 5 years of footy now and still only 25.

Time to step up.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I find the expectations on SDK as a ruck fascinating.

Let's say Edwards over the next 2 years plays 10-12 games and has a few bad ones but also a few good ones including receiving coaches votes twice. What would we think of him? Probably that he's an extremely talented ruck who is still learning and isn't quite physically ready yet.

That's basically what SDK has done as a number 1 ruck. But people are already tuned into the "SDK isn't a ruck" view so have decided he's terrible and has no future.

He doesn't have a future in the game no matter where is plays because he is simply too soft and doesn't have any urgency.

 

[patience]

I look forward to a year when we can talk about something other than our ruck problems

Some of us aren’t getting any younger.

 

[Tony Barber]

I swear that this Jhye character is just a planted troll.
Kudos for joining in 07' and waiting until now to have a conniption.

20 years is dedication.

 

[Pollywaffle]

The ironic thing is we traded ottens in as a forward. And st kilda kept marshall as a forward.

True..Ottens was all at sea in the forward role.
In a weird parallel universe I would love to see if Neale could pull off a similar transition. Big ,mobile ..maybe?
Still pretty useful up forward, so unlikely I guess.

 

[Mattttty]

Just watched the replay of the community game. This year Jhye Clark will fully arrive, those hands that set up the O'Connor goal were beautiful. Going to be a real player

Yeah, he has some really special moments where he looks class. Still drops away for big stretches, and sometimes makes poor decisions, but to my eye the good stuff getting better and coming more regularly. That's a good sign. Especially given he's only played 26 games. Still so much improvement in him. If he can get it together he could really be an excellent player. Something in the stylistic mould of Butters or Serong perhaps? I've got my fingers crossed. For now, I'm backing him to have his best year yet in 2026.

 

[andoman21]

Yeah, he has some really special moments where he looks class. Still drops away for big stretches, and sometimes makes poor decisions, but to my eye the good stuff getting better and coming more regularly. That's a good sign. Especially given he's only played 26 games. Still so much improvement in him. If he can get it together he could really be an excellent player. Something in the stylistic mould of Butters or Serong perhaps? I've got my fingers crossed. For now, I'm backing him to have his best year yet in 2026.

the key being he has played 26 games

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Yeah, he has some really special moments where he looks class. Still drops away for big stretches, and sometimes makes poor decisions, but to my eye the good stuff getting better and coming more regularly. That's a good sign. Especially given he's only played 26 games. Still so much improvement in him. If he can get it together he could really be an excellent player. Something in the stylistic mould of Butters or Serong perhaps? I've got my fingers crossed. For now, I'm backing him to have his best year yet in 2026.

Coming along nicely , we will focus on what he does well and optimise these attributes.
We'll also work on his weaknesses but the focus will be on his strengths.
He appears to have a great attitude and is crazy competitive.

You would hope he gets more defined as he gets older and will compete better in the contest.
Wish him well