Pre-season 2020

[Swanny40519]

Has there been any details published about the annual pre season intra club match at Henson Park. Been to the last few and they were enjoyable to watch.

[caj23]

Mills is not an elite back

[Legs Akimbo]

Mills is not an elite back

Let's touch base about that in October this year.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Love the 'Inside Sydney Episode 10', particularly the sequences where Laidler is training blockers to protect defenders going for the mark. "Pretend to be going for the ball" . . . "don't look at him, keep your eyes on the ball" etc. I wonder whether Alistair Clarkson is a regular viewer of the series.

[bloodspirit]

Love the 'Inside Sydney Episode 10', particularly the sequences where Laidler is training blockers to protect defenders going for the mark. "Pretend to be going for the ball" . . . "don't look at him, keep your eyes on the ball" etc. I wonder whether Alistair Clarkson is a regular viewer of the series.

Yeah! It's a good series and the latest episode is possibly the best. I emailed the club to congratulate them about it yesterday.

I like the part you mentioned too although it highlights a funny part of our sport, namely that is full of simulation while simultaneously punishing players who are caught simulating. How is it that professional defenders can be so inept and fumbly? Why is that when players are trying to gather the ball near the goal line they so often can't quite grip it and knock it over the line? Isn't it surprising the way players being tackled try so hard to dispose of the ball but just seem unable to release it? etc. etc.

[Blood Fever]

Love the 'Inside Sydney Episode 10', particularly the sequences where Laidler is training blockers to protect defenders going for the mark. "Pretend to be going for the ball" . . . "don't look at him, keep your eyes on the ball" etc. I wonder whether Alistair Clarkson is a regular viewer of the series.

I don't think it was a smart move to show that blocking training. I know that all clubs do it but the danger in it is that we could get singled out, especially after the whinging of Clarkson and his subsequent coffee with good mate Gil.

[bloodspirit]

It's finally beginning to feel like the footy season is around the corner. It's 5 weeks until the footy season kicks off and our first match will be Saturday afternoon 21 March v Crows. Before then we'll get some intraclub stuff (probably at Tramway rather than Henson I would think, although Henson would be more fun) and the JLT (or whatever it's called these days).

I was just reflecting on the sad plight of Paddy McCartin when I thought that next time Tom runs out he will equal his older brother's (pick 1 2014 national draft) 35 games despite being more than three and a half years younger. Made me compare them a bit more. Tom is almost an inch shorter than Paddy and has kicks fewer goals. (Paddy averaged about a goal a game whereas Tom, so far, has averaged a bit over half that.) Overall we have been lucky (and astute) to draft Tom at pick 33 compared to Saints drafting Paddy at pick 1. Tom is going to keep getting better and who knows how good he'll be.

Nice article backing up our observations, and players comments (listen to Luke Parker on latest Conversation with Cal) about Chad Warner being a beast: 'Calm down': Why Horse had a word to feisty Sydney smokey.

[bloodspirit]

Kennelly lapping up midfield role

I like the way McInerney is being viewed as a midfielder rather than another rebounding halfback (as Ling & Stoddart generally are viewed). I am encouraged to think we have a little bit more midfield depth than I had reckoned on and also that there is another pathway into the senior team for him. He's got so much promise! And glorious that he (and Bell and Rowbottom) can learn from the likes of Joey and Parksey (and also have players like Hewett, Heeney and Mills as another rung of experience in between).

[Gordian Knot]

Has there been any details published about the annual pre season intra club match at Henson Park. Been to the last few and they were enjoyable to watch.

From memory last year’s was cancelled (not enough fit listed players?) and they ended up playing an extra warmup game against GWS. Maybe they’re again waiting to see how many players might be available?

[TheBloods]

I am fairly certain the scratch match against the Giants came on the weekend before JLT1 (now the Marsh series), most likely to get some continuity in the boys legs, essentially playing three pre-season matches in three weeks. If we opt for the same approach, look for a scratch match/intra club match to fall on the first weekend of the Marsh series, where we have a bye (next weekend.)

[jono2707]

I'm stoked that horse is planning on playing Heeney forward and Mills back. Build a proper midfield from our midfielders. We have two elitely talented guys at each end.

IF they keep Heeney forward he'll kick 30 + goals and set up another 30. He is a creative impact player not an accumulator. On top of bud, Reid, paps, we will surpise a few this year. We will also be entertained.

But they are both midfielders. Both were elite mids in their junior years and arguably should be in the middle this year. Mills was only played back as part of the education process for a young player, and Heens has been predominantly forward due a combination of team needs, his dynamic attacking play and potentially lack of a true midfielder's tank up till now.

The 'problem' for both is that they've been so good at it their roles to date. But if the team, and these two as individuals, is to move forward, they need to spend much more time in the guts in 2020.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Kennelly lapping up midfield role

I like the way McInerney is being viewed as a midfielder rather than another rebounding halfback (as Ling & Stoddart generally are viewed). I am encouraged to think we have a little bit more midfield depth than I had reckoned on and also that there is another pathway into the senior team for him. He's got so much promise! And glorious that he (and Bell and Rowbottom) can learn from the likes of Joey and Parksey (and also have players like Hewett, Heeney and Mills as another rung of experience in between).

I agree about McInerny. He has some genuine pace and seems to get his own ball. I'm also quite excited about the mid depth. Throw in Warner as a raw inside pig and there is a lot going on. The issue is balance—how to get the right mix of old (smart and slow) and young. I think that Rowbottom is a very important part of the equation alongside Florent, and hope that we get something sustained from the emerging outside group including Bell, McInerny and perhaps Stephens. And, of course, Blakey given the licence to run whereever he wants.

[707]

Horse seems a big wrap for Warner in the latest article and all but locked in Stephens for a R1 debut. Notice Harry also highlighted Stephens as standing out, a lot of senior SANFL experience.

McInerney is being mentioned a fair bit, seems to have risen up the pecking order if discussion is anything to go by.

Do not think that just because a player is in their first year they won't make the 22 or have an impact, look at the three 18yo's that Port played so much in 2019 with great success, if Stephens, Gould and Warner are ready, pick them!

Preseason matches should be very interesting, so much promising talent rising.

[TheBloods]

Have it on good authority that we will have a scratch match against GWS next Saturday. Exact location and time TBD

[mcs]

Starting to get excited about footy being back - its hard to judge what our 2020 will be like, but we have a lot of good young talent to watch developing if nothing else. And I think we could surprise plenty of the 'pundits' out there if things fall into place overall.

Liking the sound of what Gould and Stephens have been showing during pre-season, and can't wait to see the further development of Rowbottom - he really is going to be some player I think.

Good times might not be quite here yet, but I really think we are building alright and they are comin' again.