The Preseason Argument

[Striker475 696]

We all have come out every year for the past few and hope that they lock the kids in gym for the summer. I've got a slightly different idea.

We need to lock Bartram, Jones, Morton (if he stays) and Warnock in with a skills specialist. Work on kicks, target hitting, that sort of stuff. Put them into early match practice if possible in order to get them game time to practice their decision making.

Jones especially, if he can get it right he'll be deadly.

[Robbie57 2,003]

Agree and lock in a new ethos and roles.

[PeterJames 46]

We just need Davey, Green and Sylvia to work harder and run harder to get the oppurtunities these guys get. Batram had the two running shots from running his arse off! If Davey for one had half the work ethic Batram did he would be an A grade player!

[Chicken Deelicious 0]

Agree. We need to use the pre-season wisely: Build bodies where we need to, build skills where we need to. Get the structures and attitudes right and start selecting players that can get the job done.

[jnrmac 19,949]

I don't get. They were "flying" in pre-season.

FMD. What a soft club we are.

[Waltham33 475]

I don't get. They were "flying" in pre-season.

FMD. What a soft club we are.

We might have been flying by our standards, but by league standards I cannot think our pre-season could be considered flying.

Look at the size of the Eagles young to mid age players. They have dedicated far more gym time than the Ds.

[e25 5]

I don't get. They were "flying" in pre-season.

FMD. What a soft club we are.

Soft club?

Stupid comment.

Every club is flying in preseason.

It's par for the course.

[Its Miller time 6]

Agree they really need to sharpen up there skills but a lot of that also comes down to confidence. In your own and your teammates abilities. West Coast had the worst skills in the league last year and it earned them the wooden spoon now the same players mostly are looking at top 4. Confidence is what we need.

I was just a weekend warrior playing in a low level comp but Bartram's third shot for goal reminded me of myself at times. He seemed to be more worried about missing the shot and tried to not miss, when he should of just ran in confidently and banged it through without thinking.

[Nasher 33,607]

Every club is flying in preseason.

It's par for the course.

Yeah. I can just see it now:

"So, how are you travelling this preseason?"

"Yeah, nah, we're really struggling actually. Most of us just really can't be arsed putting in the hours - far too much Playstation to be played. I reckon we're really going to stink it up this year, truth be told."

[daisycutter 29,491]

Agree they really need to sharpen up there skills but a lot of that also comes down to confidence. In your own and your teammates abilities. West Coast had the worst skills in the league last year and it earned them the wooden spoon now the same players mostly are looking at top 4. Confidence is what we need.

Maybe the AFL should instigate a inquiry into how come West Coast can turn their ship around from bottom to top 4 with essentially the same players?

Oh...thats right....no such thing as tanking. Sorry, scratch that idea.

[Harrisonrules 273]

Maybe the AFL should instigate a inquiry into how come West Coast can turn their ship around from bottom to top 4 with essentially the same players?

Oh...thats right....no such thing as tanking. Sorry, scratch that idea.

Not the first year that has happened. Cox, Kerr Lynch all stuggled or were injured. Their good kids improved. So they tanked did they and what extra picks did they get that has changed their form.

[Harrisonrules 273]

All the requirements listed above equals, new coach

[daisycutter 29,491]

Not the first year that has happened. Cox, Kerr Lynch all stuggled or were injured. Their good kids improved. So they tanked did they and what extra picks did they get that has changed their form.

never said new picks changed their form, in fact I said they did it with essentially same players

their form last year didn't make sense (too easy to say so and so struggled etc). they were just terrible last year

my point was that on the surface it looks fishy but no-one is interested whilst it is more fun putting mfc on the rack

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Yeah. I can just see it now:

"So, how are you travelling this preseason?"

"Yeah, nah, we're really struggling actually. Most of us just really can't be arsed putting in the hours - far too much Playstation to be played. I reckon we're really going to stink it up this year, truth be told."

I have a pretty good idea he was tongue in cheek when he made that comment, that's how it read to me anyhow.

[Trengove the Magnifique 9 23]

We all have come out every year for the past few and hope that they lock the kids in gym for the summer. I've got a slightly different idea.

We need to lock Bartram, Jones, Morton (if he stays) and Warnock in with a skills specialist. Work on kicks, target hitting, that sort of stuff. Put them into early match practice if possible in order to get them game time to practice their decision making.

Jones especially, if he can get it right he'll be deadly.

Yeah, but don't take too much of Cale's gym time away. God knows he needs it.