#AFL General Pre Season Discussion Thread

[barry]

grundy signs on at Pies

Very similar to the Swans deal for Buddy (other than Grundy already being there).

Like us, they are offering a long contract to keep(get) him, but know their premiership window is only open for a few years, until his salary starts to bite into recruiting, retention and depth and they slip down the ladder like us in later years.

Still worth the risk. If they lost him, they wouldnt make the 8.

[bloodspirit]

This is a more insightful and illuminating article than usual focusing on the Bulldogs' Aaron Naughton: How the AstroNaught can launch into superstardom. Some brief but helpful explanation (with accompanying video) of forwards' leading patterns and different defensive strategies.

[stevoswan]

Max Gawn may have done his knee today, according to a Nine news report just aired. Sent for scans after an incident in a scratch match during the Demons Queensland training camp.

[bloodspirit]

Essendon teammate still unclear on Daniher return

[Mr Magoo]

Essendon teammate still unclear on Daniher return

Bullet Dodged

[707]

Essendon teammate still unclear on Daniher return

Reportedly running laps and kicking the footy at training this morning - opportunity missed :-)

[Bloods05]

Reportedly running laps and kicking the footy at training this morning - opportunity missed :-)

Opportunity deferred maybe, with the added bonus of a whole season to see if his fitness will hold up, plus we won't have to give up two first-round draft picks and a star player. It would have been madness to meet Essendon's demands.

[sprite]

From today's Age:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/daniher-s-afl-injury-troubles-ongoing-20200205-p53xwh.html

[bloodspirit]

Bennell has been signed by Melbourne FC despite his current injury: Demons sign former Docker and Sun despite injury concerns. I reckon it's possible they made him some kind of a promise when he went to train with them and we decided not to pursue him. Maybe not and it's just based on it being a minor injury and showing exciting signs while he has been training with them.

[Ralph Dawg]

Luke Hodge just walked out to bat in the bushfire fund raiser, has a slight gut on him. Amazing what missing one preseason can do!

[Velour&Ruffles]

Oh dear! Brad Scott appointed AFL's "competition evolution manager"......

Former Roos coach takes on new role at AFL HQ

"While assessing game trends with various stakeholders including players, coaches and analysts, Scott will also work closely with the Competition Committee.

Scott will also play a major role in decision-making around rules, regulations and growth of all AFL competitions."

The tinkering with our game will go on forever!

So the AFL now has an officer specifically appointed to stuff around with the rules of a game that's been going for 120 years? These people are like an early teen boy who has just discovered his willy. Just leave it alone for Kerrrist's sake!
Change is not necessarily required or positive.

[bloodspirit]

Well, the first part of the Demons 5 part doco, 'To Hell and Back', has dropped: AFL Video - AFL.com.au. West Coast (and the rest of the competition) can consider themselves on notice: there's a segment where fitness guru Darren Burgess says to their playing group that if they follow his fitness program "I guarantee you will have an advantage on your opponent round 1 [i.e. because they will have worked harder and will be fitter]". (I might have slightly paraphrased but that was the clear meaning of what he said.)

[KSAS]

Just heard Simon Lethlean on SEN say in the event of their R11 game against Port in China being cancelled, he'll be looking whether if it's possible to move the game to Moorabbin on a Monday night!

Wonder if he'll also plan to turn on the sprinklers the night before for old time's sake!

[dejavoodoo44]

Just heard Simon Lethlean on SEN say in the event of their R11 game against Port in China being cancelled, he'll be looking whether if it's possible to move the game to Moorabbin on a Monday night!

Wonder if he'll also plan to turn on the sprinklers the night before for old time's sake!

Maybe have the game sponsored by a cigarette company? And back when Moorabbin was a venue, were people able to drag a fully laden esky into the ground?

[aardvark]

I watched the AFW game at Moorabbin the weekend. The ground is in superb condition. Much better than the "Gluepot" of old.