2024 Pre Season

[wolftone57]

Not trying to pick an argument here as you make a lot of great points. You list 9 midfield rotations from today, and that’s without Mills, Adams and Campbell on your list for various reasons. That’s great depth.

Logan, yep. I’m the self appointed chair and early founder of the Hayden McLean fan club and whilst he’s not elite, he’s a 100% tick. And Amartey’s best is good (if still to be proven consistently) and Buller has looked good since he got to the club, so yep. As a collective, take your point though.

My one quibble is down back. We have one elite tall defender in Tom Mc. The rest are serviceable on their day, but unproven in recent times, or at all. I like Melican’s best, for example, as we saw in the final vs Carlton. I want to see Hamling play. I don’t rate Francis. Arnold and Snell and Edwards = raw.

My view that Tom Mc is the most valuable player on our list remains, as we simply don’t have the coverage needed for the best teams without him. Fingers crossed, touch wood.

I agree re Tommy. But if Hamling can regain the form of 2016 he will be a very good player. He was good in the game against us last year. I think it was his comeback game from injury. I think the others, as you say are raw. Other than Melican. Lewis has had to develop into this player who holds down the monsters. That was not why he was drafted. Originally, he was the running guy. But due to need & an injury that slowed him down a tad, he is now a Key Defender. I think at his best he is very good. But it is a matter of getting him to his very best.

[Auntie.Gerald]

After watching Lizard yesterday............after not watching footy for a few months..............would it be fair to say that there is no player in the comp like him. His array of skill sets is beyond remarkable !

[Mountain Man]

Yes, Blakey is unique but would the unique talents would be wasted if he is tasked with excessive defensive time.

So, can anyone report on the VFL match - especially the KP defenders who may have played; Melican, Hambling and Francis

[giant]

After watching Lizard yesterday............after not watching footy for a few months..............would it be fair to say that there is no player in the comp like him. His array of skill sets is beyond remarkable !

His goal in Q4 would be just about a lock for GOTY if it was during the season proper. Odd to think about how much of a misfit he looked in his early years!

Couple of other observations about yesterday's game:
- the umps were red hot on high tackles (fair enough given the Brayshaw announcement) and on short kicks not covering the required distance. The latter may be just a pre-season flavour of the month thing, but given how that short hit-up pass is part of our MO, the coaching team may want to get some guidance on that!
- Cox seemed to be leading most of quarter time huddles - another indication of a possible succession plan? Who knows

- - - Updated - - -

Not nearly as tall as the VFL side. I only stayed for the first five or so minutes of the VFL game (very very hot and the VFL couldn’t be bothered to pay for any goal umpires) but Ladhams, McAndrew, Green, Reid, Buller, Melican, Monty V and Hamling (I think) should have been collectively playing for the giants. Didn’t see Green do much but he moves oh-so smoothly for such a young ganglyster.

I'm not sure if this is related but I read one of the victims of the Paddington slayings was meant to be goal umpiring yesterday. Eek.

[Mel_C]

Not nearly as tall as the VFL side. I only stayed for the first five or so minutes of the VFL game (very very hot and the VFL couldn’t be bothered to pay for any goal umpires) but Ladhams, McAndrew, Green, Reid, Buller, Melican, Monty V and Hamling (I think) should have been collectively playing for the giants. Didn’t see Green do much but he moves oh-so smoothly for such a young ganglyster.

When I read your post last night I was disappointed that the VFL couldn't organise goal umpires, even if it was a practice match. However, it has now been reported that one of the goal umpires appointed for our seniors game didnt show up because he was murdered, allegedly by his ex partner. That is horrible news.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Mel there has been further news confirmed re this case if u jump onto ABC etc

Extremely sad……and more developments

[lwjoyner]

Only weakmess i saw on tv was the lack of support for T Mc in backline Not sure why Hamling didnt play but we definitely need one of the others to step up. Edwardes not yet up to it Why no try Arnold I also think Francis is not our answer and Melican is just so so.

[gloveski]

Only weakmess i saw on tv was the lack of support for T Mc in backline Not sure why Hamling didnt play but we definitely need one of the others to step up. Edwardes not yet up to it Why no try Arnold I also think Francis is not our answer and Melican is just so so.

I thought we might have trialled Buller in the backline also this preseason


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[liz]

I thought we might have trialled Buller in the backline also this preseason


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We already have Rampe, McCartin, Francis, Melican, Hamling, Arnold, Edwards and Snell as taller defenders at various stages of their careers, development and with varying ability to play as a true tall defender. (Plus Blakey and Fox.)

In the forward line, behind McLean, McDonald and Amartey we just have last-legs Reid and Buller (and maybe Ladhams, though I've not been convinced by his forward craft during his stint with us). I'm not sure why we'd want to shift Buller to sit in an already bloated group rather than have him focus on being cover for the tall forwards if/when one or more get injured this season.

[liz]

When I read your post last night I was disappointed that the VFL couldn't organise goal umpires, even if it was a practice match. However, it has now been reported that one of the goal umpires appointed for our seniors game didnt show up because he was murdered, allegedly by his ex partner. That is horrible news.

There was a group of four or five people standing just over my shoulder at the start of the VFL game, talking very loudly. At least one was clearly connected to the local umpiring fraternity. I suspect one (or more) of those officiating in the VFL match was a son/nephew/cousin/next door neighbour.

The loudest and most garrulous of them told her companions that goal umpires had been assigned to the match until last Sunday, when the VFL decided it didn't want to pay them. It surprised me a little that the VFL would take that tack but, given the air of authority and confidence with which this person spoke, it seemed the plausible explanation.

Now an alternative story has emerged. I have no idea which is correct. I've read that one of the men believed murdered was an AFL/VFL umpire. I haven't explicitly read that he was assigned to our matches on Thursday, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been reported to be so.

Regardless, the lack of goal umpires for a VFL practice game is pretty trivial in the context of things.

[graemed]

In the forward line, behind McLean, McDonald and Amartey we just have last-legs Reid and Buller (and maybe Ladhams, though I've not been convinced by his forward craft during his stint with us). .

As a rule I usually find myself nodding in agreement or being grateful for your insights whenever I read your posts. However as a fully paid up member of the Sam Reid fan club, I take exception to the last-legs epithet. Not that it’s not accurate I just feel I have to take exception to it.

[neilfws]

Unfortunate - broken arm.

Injury Update: Parker injured in match simulation

[i'm-uninformed2]

Unfortunate - broken arm.

Injury Update: Parker injured in match simulation

Poo. We've had such a good pre-season injury run.

If there were any question marks over his place due to our midfield squeeze, Sheldrick just firmed mightily for round 1.

[gloveski]

We already have Rampe, McCartin, Francis, Melican, Hamling, Arnold, Edwards and Snell as taller defenders at various stages of their careers, development and with varying ability to play as a true tall defender. (Plus Blakey and Fox.)

In the forward line, behind McLean, McDonald and Amartey we just have last-legs Reid and Buller (and maybe Ladhams, though I've not been convinced by his forward craft during his stint with us). I'm not sure why we'd want to shift Buller to sit in an already bloated group rather than have him focus on being cover for the tall forwards if/when one or more get injured this season.

More the point for versatility, who do we have to take the big bulls if Mcartin goes down ? An injury prone Melican , a very green Edwards . Or we go under size like we were forced to last year , that didn’t go great .
Buller played a lot of juniors as a key defender , we are sleeping on a very versatile player


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[gloveski]

Poo. We've had such a good pre-season injury run.

If there were any question marks over his place due to our midfield squeeze, Sheldrick just firmed mightily for round 1.

Agree and with Adam’s to come in I think we can cover while he is out


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