2024 Pre Season

[Dow]

ooops I dont know why the Lions were in my cut and paste for this Thursday

I think i cut and paste from Foxsports with out checking teams?

apologies

Hahah Easy done mate ! I honestly thought the same as well lol - like you I am caught up in the excitement of a new season

[Blood Fever]

Just watched video of Mills captain speech at jumper presentation. Very poised and authentic.

[giant]

Any RWO'ers going to the trial game against GWS 10am this Thursday? Be interesting to see which fringe players get a solid work out and may be in the senior frame going forward. Also centre square combinations

Always need an honest appraisal by an RWO'er or two of what happens, rather than the normal media takes. I assume there will be a segue into a reserves hit out as well?

Weather permitting I'll be there and happy to share thoughts. Fair warning though, I'm usually pretty hopeless at identifying the lesser lights of the squadron.

[Dow]

Weather permitting I'll be there and happy to share thoughts. Fair warning though, I'm usually pretty hopeless at identifying the lesser lights of the squadron.

Would appreciate that if you could

[dejavoodoo44]

This is the squad for tomorrow. Strangely, after it seemed that he was training the house down, Adams isn't named. No reason was given, so I don't know if he's picked up an injury, or some other reason?

1. Chad Warner, 2. Hayden McLean, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Logan McDonald, 7. Harry Cunningham, 8. James Rowbottom, 9. Will Hayward, 11. Tom Papley, 12. Angus Sheldrick, 13. Oliver Florent, 15. Sam Wicks, 16. Braeden Campbell, 17. James Jordon, 19. Peter Ladhams, 21. Errol Gulden, 22. Nick Blakey, 24. Dane Rampe, 26. Luke Parker, 27. Justin McInerney, 28. Will Edwards, 30. Tom McCartin, 34. Matt Roberts, 36. Joel Amartey, 42. Robbie Fox, 44. Jake Lloyd

Notable absentees: Taylor Adams, Sam Reid, Callum Mills, Joel Hamling, Aaron Francis, Lewis Melican.

It also makes me a touch nervous, that Hamling, Francis and Melican aren't named, as I was hoping for one of them to establish themselves as McCartin's defensive partner. Oh well, perhaps a chance for Edwards to stake a claim.

Still, it's a strong squad, and with GWS having more players out, we should pick up a win. Not that it really matters at this time of year.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I blocked it out in the calendar but the house has come down with a cold after friends from Germany stayed with us the last week or so.

Man our family cant take a trick lately with colds and long covid19

enough complaining...............but seriously it has been 4 months of crap health post covid...........its nuts !

...............

cant wait to see the updates from our forum

many thanks in advance

Good on Edwards
only outlier i suppose for a small list

[i'm-uninformed2]

Edwards does intrigue me. From the bits I saw, he improved a lot last year - which is all you can ask for from someone who’s essentially a project player - albeit it with a way to go. He struck me as someone with reasonable closing speed, a taste for the contest, and making strides in reading the play. He’s also exactly what we need in the era of 200+cm tall forwards if he can make it.

But more regular ressie watchers than me, and those that can watch live (I’ve only seen one game in person) will have a better sense of precisely what he still needs to do to close the gap to being an AFL player.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i suspect time developing the little skills from what i have seen

He is an athlete and he does appear seriously committed........ so he has two thirds of Roos loved...................he might be a slow burner just ticking over those intercept and tie down skills to the next level along with the exit rebounds which are so bloody critical

I mean a weak kick of the ball is a piranha festival by the opposition picking off cheap turnovers.

[Maltopia]

This is the squad for tomorrow. Strangely, after it seemed that he was training the house down, Adams isn't named. No reason was given, so I don't know if he's picked up an injury, or some other reason?

1. Chad Warner, 2. Hayden McLean, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Logan McDonald, 7. Harry Cunningham, 8. James Rowbottom, 9. Will Hayward, 11. Tom Papley, 12. Angus Sheldrick, 13. Oliver Florent, 15. Sam Wicks, 16. Braeden Campbell, 17. James Jordon, 19. Peter Ladhams, 21. Errol Gulden, 22. Nick Blakey, 24. Dane Rampe, 26. Luke Parker, 27. Justin McInerney, 28. Will Edwards, 30. Tom McCartin, 34. Matt Roberts, 36. Joel Amartey, 42. Robbie Fox, 44. Jake Lloyd

Notable absentees: Taylor Adams, Sam Reid, Callum Mills, Joel Hamling, Aaron Francis, Lewis Melican.

It also makes me a touch nervous, that Hamling, Francis and Melican aren't named, as I was hoping for one of them to establish themselves as McCartin's defensive partner. Oh well, perhaps a chance for Edwards to stake a claim.

Still, it's a strong squad, and with GWS having more players out, we should pick up a win. Not that it really matters at this time of year.

Is it normal selection rules (23+ 3 emergencies) or does everyone get to play since it is a practice game?

[liz]

Edwards delivered a very quick time for the 20m sprint at the State Combine in his draft year. It was under 3 seconds; it may have been under 2.9 seconds. That would be considered quick for any draftee testing, let alone a nearly 200cm "big lump of a lad".

Based on watching him last year, he still had some way to go in reading the play. It doesn't matter how good someone's closing speed is if their opponent anticipates the ball coming in better than the defender. It's impossible to stop some leads if they are well timed and the delivered forward, but he was probably below par in the proportion he was able to contest. When he did get to make a contest he was pretty good, though - as with any big, not-quite-fully-co-ordinated young backman - he was prone to give away frees here and there.

His disposal was mixed. I got the impression he's a sound enough kick but sometimes he'd muff them.

I'm intrigued and excited that he's been named in the side tomorrow ahead of more obvious candidates. He's not someone we've heard coaches or team mates gushing about during the pre-season. Maybe they were keeping his progress hush-hush.

Edit: I've found his Rookie Me Central profile. His 20m sprint time was under 2.9 seconds.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/will-edwards/

[chalbilto]

Looking forward to seeing how Sheldrick and Jordon go and I hope Warner gets his blond tips back as they made him easy to spot.

[Scottee]

Edwards delivered a very quick time for the 20m sprint at the State Combine in his draft year. It was under 3 seconds; it may have been under 2.9 seconds. That would be considered quick for any draftee testing, let alone a nearly 200cm "big lump of a lad".

Based on watching him last year, he still had some way to go in reading the play. It doesn't matter how good someone's closing speed is if their opponent anticipates the ball coming in better than the defender. It's impossible to stop some leads if they are well timed and the delivered forward, but he was probably below par in the proportion he was able to contest. When he did get to make a contest he was pretty good, though - as with any big, not-quite-fully-co-ordinated young backman - he was prone to give away frees here and there.

His disposal was mixed. I got the impression he's a sound enough kick but sometimes he'd muff them.

I'm intrigued and excited that he's been named in the side tomorrow ahead of more obvious candidates. He's not someone we've heard coaches or team mates gushing about during the pre-season. Maybe they were keeping his progress hush-hush.

Edit: I've found his Rookie Me Central profile. His 20m sprint time was under 2.9 seconds.

Will Edwards Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

Interesting post Liz.
It's very intriguing that he is playing whilst the four other KP backs are not.

I must admit to having been somewhat excited at the prospect of him developing into a senior player and seeing him get a game is a pleasant surprise.

Last year he had plenty of experience defending given that the team was being belted nearly every week. His opponent was often getting good delivery and it would have taught him a lot.

His main problem, as you say Liz, has been reading the play. He also had some trouble with his decision making when moving the ball out of defence.

I have a sneaking feeling he would love to play forward and use his speed, marking power, and long kicking to kick goals.

It should be interesting to see how he goes.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[Scottee]

I have found that , due to the good recruiting and the development of the young players, trying to pick the best 23 is now a real headache.It seems that thoroughly deserving players are going to miss out on games given the list now runs as deep as the Mariana trench.

So I thought that with a number of players being rested, it would be easier to pick the side. Nope. Still there are really good players not making the cut.

It's a very good problem to have, but I hope it doesn't lead to any disillusionment amongst the up and comers.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[707]

Edwards selected in front of reserves gamers Melican and Hamling is indeed intriguing.

Reports from last year suggested Edwards was quite raw, so he's either had a really impressive but unreported pre season, or there's time management of Melican and Hamling hence those guys in the ressies practice game.

Looking forward to reports from the game.

[Maltopia]

2024 Guernsey Presentation - John Longmire Coach's address

2024 Guernsey Presentation - John Longmire Coaches' Address - YouTube

Great speech!