Given we are on the verge of round one and have seen 4 matches with around a full strength teams what are the major differences? We were one game out of the 4 last year what improvements are we hoping will get us into that illusive top 4, what losses could see us miss out on the 8?
The improvements-
Fitness- The overall fitness of the group is much better at this stage of the year then it has been in previous years. We have almost a full group to choose from and around half that group have posted personal bests the endurance work over this preseason. Hopefully that extra fitness and experince will lead to more consistancy in the level of preformances.
Fringe players- Guys like Cox, Cook, Goldsack, Ried, Anthony, McCarthy, Wellingham, Toovey have a few AFL games under their belt and have all looked varying levels servicable, good or promising over the preseason. There certainly will be a competition for spots and with this depth and competition again hopefully the consistancy is improved as with injuries and poor form we aren't going to be carrying a passanger.
Fowardline- Having played together there will be a better chemistry and understanding and whether it's Reid JA and Cloke, Cloke Rocca and Rus, Maccaffer Cloke Dawes there is not going to be as much of an unhealthy reliance on Trav to be the sole go to man in the fowardline this season.
Presti- Stability and experince in the backline, whilst Wakelin was good I don't think he had the same shut down ability Presti does. This will free guys like Brown and Harry up and stabilise our back half.
The downer-
The loss of SSB- From 08-09 the only irreplacable loss that stands out is the loss of Burnsy. His muscle and bull work helped others to win clearances as well as his ability to win the ball has been missed in each of the preseason matches. So whilst we may get some consistancy and not lose to lesser sides as often we may struggle more against good sides.
The improvements-
Fitness- The overall fitness of the group is much better at this stage of the year then it has been in previous years. We have almost a full group to choose from and around half that group have posted personal bests the endurance work over this preseason. Hopefully that extra fitness and experince will lead to more consistancy in the level of preformances.
Fringe players- Guys like Cox, Cook, Goldsack, Ried, Anthony, McCarthy, Wellingham, Toovey have a few AFL games under their belt and have all looked varying levels servicable, good or promising over the preseason. There certainly will be a competition for spots and with this depth and competition again hopefully the consistancy is improved as with injuries and poor form we aren't going to be carrying a passanger.
Fowardline- Having played together there will be a better chemistry and understanding and whether it's Reid JA and Cloke, Cloke Rocca and Rus, Maccaffer Cloke Dawes there is not going to be as much of an unhealthy reliance on Trav to be the sole go to man in the fowardline this season.
Presti- Stability and experince in the backline, whilst Wakelin was good I don't think he had the same shut down ability Presti does. This will free guys like Brown and Harry up and stabilise our back half.
The downer-
The loss of SSB- From 08-09 the only irreplacable loss that stands out is the loss of Burnsy. His muscle and bull work helped others to win clearances as well as his ability to win the ball has been missed in each of the preseason matches. So whilst we may get some consistancy and not lose to lesser sides as often we may struggle more against good sides.
