2024 Pre Season

[Auntie.Gerald]

"That's the best I've seen us do it" - Warner

- - - Updated - - -

"We were really pleased with what we saw" - McVeigh

good interview with Macca Snr

[ootf]

Some pics from today's game
Swans GWS MSim - Paul Carter

[mcs]

Having not had a chance to watch today's game, so just seen a few snippets and the result - time for an outlandish prediction (In a carlton'esque way).

WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE FLAG!!!! The only logical conclusion almost given a good (by our historical standards) first up performance in pre season haha!

In all seriousness, it does sound like it was a good first hit out from the team. I do think we are in for a treat of a season, injuries god being kind and all of course.

[giant]

Was great fun being out there today with a good crowd, lovely weather and a surprisingly high quality game for a "scratchie".

We were very small down back with Ollie Florent setting up at what you might expect to be CHB at some points - given the players rested, I assume this was a deliberate move, though whether it's a sign for the future isn't clear. For the most part it worked, with plenty of drive off the back line - Florent & Blakey in particular prominent - though Hogan and Cadman both kicked multiple goals.

In the first half, the most common centre square make-up was Grundy (I reckon he rucked for at least 70% of the game!), Heeney, Chad and Rowie. Mostly worked and Heeney's I50 kicking in H1 was particularly damaging.

I felt Grundy got better as the game went on and there is plenty to be excited about - he's going to make the huge difference we all thought/hoped he might. Jordan too had some excellent moments (a goal-saving tackle in Q2 a highlight). Jude Bolton standing near me made a special mention of the power of his running. But as others have noted, there were an incredible number of midfield rotations so he would have had limited game time.

Logan was exceptional up forward - the Giants had their first choice defence in and that's a top class formation, so his goals were a real highlight.

As they were coming off, I heard Robbie Fox say to JMac "they're not going to be able to leave you out after that" to which Juddy respond "@@@@@@@ no!" Just a reminder that if we think it's tight for spots in the best 22, then the players are feeling it too! (I thought JMac was excellent today and made a real statement).

Stayed on for Q1 of the VFL - gee, Buller is a natural forward, knows when to lead and kicks well. Reid, unsurprisingly, looked a class above.

Also caught Mark McVeigh's presser (he spoke very well) and he mentioned that Adams' is a cert for next week's scratchie.

Bring it on!

[Thunder Shaker]

Having not had a chance to watch today's game, so just seen a few snippets and the result - time for an outlandish prediction (In a carlton'esque way).

WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE FLAG!!!! The only logical conclusion almost given a good (by our historical standards) first up performance in pre season haha!

Giants made a preliminary final last year. A four-goal win against them is handy, scratch match or not.

We will have a better gauge of our chances after we play the next two matches. Brisbane lost the Grand Final by four points and Melbourne finished top four before losing two finals.

None of these three opponents are easybeats.

Conversely, scratch match form should be taken with a little caution. North beat Collingwood.

[rickmat]

VFL side best Giants by over 100 points with Ladhams and Sheldrick stand outs

[Auntie.Gerald]

makes sense now re Gus playing most of last qtr then into the possie that fits him best in ressies

im still curious re Roberts as he quite a bit off the pace and no clear position given he pretty much is a centre mid but is a long way back from the crop we have fighting for inside mid?

[wolftone57]

We used this as an outing to try a few things. most worked. Both sides did not go ferociously as both would like to get through to round one as healthy as possible. Next week will be a little more intense.

A few little things. We had 8 players rotating through the mids today.
1. McInerney, Chad & Heeney
2. Rowie, Parker & Jordan
3. Sheldrick, Papley, rowie

Combinations of all of those in the last quarter.

Grundy/McLean proves that a great ruck combo is essential to a premiership. Both Grand Finalists last year had rucks who fed their mids. Grundy/McLean combo were very good today. McLean just gets better every match. Good on him.

We still have Adams, Mills, possibly Melican/Hamling (according to reports on Social Media they were both good in the Twos) to come back. Jack Buller was really good too. our tall stocks are now at elite level. While Hamling might be a bargain pick up he was good enough to play CHB in a premiership team & injury aside would have walked into the Freo side.

[dejavoodoo44]

Some pics from today's game
Swans GWS MSim - Paul Carter

Thanks. I always enjoy your work.

[Mel_C]

I totally forgot about the practice match until I started to make lunch and saw a report about the game on the channel 9 morning news. (By the way according to channel 9 we have a new recruit called Grundie ????.)

The small bit I saw I was impressed with our new recruits Grundy and Jordon. How exciting was that last quarter goal from Blakey after those 3 running efforts?? Gulden looked rusty. From the score looks like goal kicking is still a problem!

[Mark26]

Thanks. I always enjoy your work.

+1 Thanks ootf. Great snaps.

[i'm-uninformed2]

We used this as an outing to try a few things. most worked. Both sides did not go ferociously as both would like to get through to round one as healthy as possible. Next week will be a little more intense.

A few little things. We had 8 players rotating through the mids today.
1. McInerney, Chad & Heeney
2. Rowie, Parker & Jordan
3. Sheldrick, Papley, rowie

Combinations of all of those in the last quarter.

Grundy/McLean proves that a great ruck combo is essential to a premiership. Both Grand Finalists last year had rucks who fed their mids. Grundy/McLean combo were very good today. McLean just gets better every match. Good on him.

We still have Adams, Mills, possibly Melican/Hamling (according to reports on Social Media they were both good in the Twos) to come back. Jack Buller was really good too. our tall stocks are now at elite level. While Hamling might be a bargain pick up he was good enough to play CHB in a premiership team & injury aside would have walked into the Freo side.

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.

[Maltopia]

Giants made a preliminary final last year. A four-goal win against them is handy, scratch match or not.

We will have a better gauge of our chances after we play the next two matches. Brisbane lost the Grand Final by four points and Melbourne finished top four before losing two finals.

None of these three opponents are easybeats.

Conversely, scratch match form should be taken with a little caution. North beat Collingwood.

The practice match vs the Lions next week is in Blacktown, so bigger ground and more of a crowd I understand, but a bit more travel.

Melbourne will be without Brayshaw who has retired after Maynard’s concussed him in the finals series last year.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Those goals by McDonald were solid. all 4

I like how quick he is to pick up the loose ball and send it when around the goals. Great strength of his for a 196cm type athlete

[graemed]

Unfortunately picked up a dose of Covid whilst away in Tassie so I wasn't able to roll down the hill to Tramway but watched the coverage. Here are some of my observations for what they're worth:

1. The GWS forward line will be be a significant force this year. Greene will come back in to back up Hogan (who was excellent) and with Daniels, Bedford, Cadman and others they continually threatened our backline. Despite that I feel that Blakey was exceptional as was Florent but they're roles are primarily acting ones and whilst Lloyd, Rampe and McCartin provided the defensive starch. I worry that Harry's spot will once again be a challenge for him with threats from McInerney and perhaps Campbell, although the latter looked impressive further forward.

2. The ruck roles are going to be fascinatingly competitive this year after our recent drought of talls. Grundy was impressive again. I always felt bemused that he was so under appreciated at Collingwood. His ball winning talents in the contested stoppages is one thing but his agility, speed and endurance are remarkable. Yesterday was HOT and HUMID, yet he battled a extremely highly rated and outstanding competitor throughout the entire match and in my opinion finished well in front. His contested marking is still in doubt but McClean and Reid are contested marking beasts so all he has to do is what he does and that is bring the ball to ground.

3. The commentary was keen to remind everyone that we have five senior players out of contract this year but seriously there are far more than that and their losses either collectively or individually would be a body blow. Florent, Hayward, Rowbottom and Gulden are crucial across all four lines both as competitors and as future leaders. Fox and McDonald would also be blows to the teams development over coming seasons, the former as a replacement for the outstanding Dane and obviously McDonald as a key to our forwards. How do we fit them all into an already bursting budget especially when there will considerable interest from "go home" clubs.

4. Luke Parker will have a role as a forward this year and will impact at centre bounces occasionally much like Papley is presently being used. It was obvious in the Carlton EF last year how he can offer an effective and dangerous target both aerially and at ground level. His leadership and ball winning skills continue to be elite but his lack of pace is being exploited more often as an onballer.

5. Positions in the midfield will be hotly contested and rotations will be interesting. Rowbottom, Warner and Gulden are the only locks, with Adams, Jordan, Papley, Parker, Heeney, Sheldrick, McInerney and Mills (when available) all competing, this depth is both enthralling and bittersweet as others bide their time probably impatiently.

Whilst the win was comforting, as it always is to beat the Orange monster, it was a practice match played in difficult conditions against a opposition lacking significant personnel.