Training - Friday 8th November, 2013

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

We traded him for pick 54.

Why should I be more excited about him than pick 54 in this years draft and I can tell you I'm not too excited about that.

The reality is that this kid played 1 game for Freo who probably use around 32 players during the year. And he didn't play against St. Kilda in the final round where they left out 11 or so of their best players so I'm hoping he was injured for that game.

I wish him well but I'll be excited when he plays well in a game. His CV doesn't support the hype many have for him.

He missed the last month of the WAFL season with a knee injury. Would certainly have played in that St Kilda game and his best band of form led into the game he got injured, so he was finishing the season strong, as you would expect given he missed all of 2012. I agree the expectation that some seem to have that he is a guaranteed ready made best 22 mid is unrealistic. He may be that, he could also not be good enough. But he was a pretty good junior and there is upside in the sense that he's never really much of a chance. I think it's exciting in a subdued way that we've got a ready to go kid, who is untapped. Just don't think there can be any confidence about him, much like any draft pick.

[Dees2014 2,377]

4th tier. The WAFL is probably below VFL and SANFL but they are all second tier comps.

I disagree on McKenzie. His defensive work will be critical to the Roos game plan I believe and he'll be a standard setter as long as he is the best defensive midfielder on our list.

But I do agree that Michie will be above Bail due to clearance ability and skills and will be above Evans if his fitness level is comparable. Part of the reason Michie wasn't getting a game at Freo is because they were developing his running ability with time. Evans has a similar poor history with injury but right now I believe is in the main group whilst Michie is in an advanced rehab group with Viney and Hogan. Running ability is paramount for the midfield and can't be faked. Hopefully with good preseasons Michie and Evans are both up to AFL level as runners. Same for Matt Jones and Toumpas.

From what I have seen from two training sessions last week (and I know it is very early in pre season) Evans is slightly ahead of Michie but only because he is not in the rehab group, at least for Friday's session. Toumpas is ahead of both of them, and is looking very much improved on last year's standard, Matt Jones is miles behind them both even though he is in the main training group. At the moment he cannot even beat Spencer and Gawn in the running. He has a very long way to go to get the AFL standard mid field running fitness.

My guess with Roos' improved list this year and his standards of excellence, Matt Jones will be no more than a Casey back up in 2014.

[angrydee 842]

I was chatting to Tom Sheridan (has re-signed at Freo) a few weeks ago, and he reckons Viv is a gun. Tom's more an outside midfielder (he captained Calder Cannons three years ago), and reckons Michie is really good inside, with good hands and feet, a good leader, and a top bloke.

[What 18,810]

very excited about Michie

You dont get highly rated by Paul Roos and Ross Lyon if youre as spud

[S.R.J 418]

I'm just hoping that all our recruits from the last 2 years or so can get on the park and finally play some football. Who knows how much we could improve if we have [censored] all injuries for once

[Sydney Pennski 294]

Surely, we must be due for a season where we suffer less than the average number of injuries?

I think that throughout the last 7 years when we've been down and out, we've always had long injury lists to compound our problems. I think the Swans (around 2005/6), Collingwood (2009/10) and North Melbourne (last 2 years) have all benefitted enormously from long breaks with few injuries.

I'm sick and tired of us losing crucial players for long slabs of time and having long injury lists.

[Bossdog 2,002]

With the speed of the game as it is.....Injuries are inevitable.......You may be feeling great and then one little over streach and there goes the hamstring.....The force of players hitting is just now unbelievable

That's why you need to have players playing well at Casey so they can come in to the senior side without missing a beat

There will always be injuries in our game because of the way it's played these days.

[Whispering_Jack 29,798]

Misson was integral in Sydney’s 2005 premiership, particularly when the Swans managed to keep their side almost injury-free and unchanged in the latter part of the year.

“It’s interesting, because we had a bit of a chat about it, but we had one player who missed two games in the back half of the year. We essentially had the same team for that whole period and then finals,” he said.

“I’m not sure whether you’re able to do that at AFL these days – I think it’s very rare. I think Geelong has shown in the last few years that not many players play every game, whereas it used to be a pretty strong statistic to finals success – the number of players, who have played every game. “These days, with the intensity and how combative the game is, you’re probably looking at players playing 21 or 22 games at the most, if they’re out of 25, going through a whole finals series. It’s interesting, because the game isn’t getting any easier, but we need to improve our injury rate – there’s no doubt about that.”

Roos a breath of fresh air: Misson

[beelzebub 23,313]

I have to laugh. In the main most oohed and aaahed that Roos was coming . Roos who has that habit of plucking the less glossy players and melding them into a team and forging a formidable outfit. The second he starts doing it for us a lot of you start moaning and writing off the newbies .

Ffs lets enjoy the ride. I reckon PR might just have this trick down.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I was chatting to Tom Sheridan (has re-signed at Freo) a few weeks ago, and he reckons Viv is a gun. Tom's more an outside midfielder (he captained Calder Cannons three years ago), and reckons Michie is really good inside, with good hands and feet, a good leader, and a top bloke.

What would he know ?

Baggy's best mate is BAZZ and BAZZ said he's no good.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,777]

Surely, we must be due for a season where we suffer less than the average number of injuries?

I think that throughout the last 7 years when we've been down and out, we've always had long injury lists to compound our problems. I think the Swans (around 2005/6), Collingwood (2009/10) and North Melbourne (last 2 years) have all benefitted enormously from long breaks with few injuries.

I'm sick and tired of us losing crucial players for long slabs of time and having long injury lists.

Great point. Our injury list goes off the rails after round 11 of each season.

How North missed the finals last year with virtually no injuries all year is an indictment on that footy club.

[rpfc 28,262]

From what I have seen from two training sessions last week (and I know it is very early in pre season) Evans is slightly ahead of Michie but only because he is not in the rehab group, at least for Friday's session. Toumpas is ahead of both of them, and is looking very much improved on last year's standard, Matt Jones is miles behind them both even though he is in the main training group. At the moment he cannot even beat Spencer and Gawn in the running. He has a very long way to go to get the AFL standard mid field running fitness.

My guess with Roos' improved list this year and his standards of excellence, Matt Jones will be no more than a Casey back up in 2014.

[P-man 13,366]

Matt Jones is miles behind them both even though he is in the main training group. At the moment he cannot even beat Spencer and Gawn in the running. He has a very long way to go to get the AFL standard mid field running fitness.

My guess with Roos' improved list this year and his standards of excellence, Matt Jones will be no more than a Casey back up in 2014.

You better hope Webber doesn't read this post. He don't take kindly to folks talking ill of our "second best midfielder".

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I'm really excited about Michie - perhaps moreso than Tyson and Vince.

The reason being, I think we've got an absolute bargain here.

Whilst I don't think we paid 'overs' to land Tyson and Vince, we certainly traded quite a bit to secure them.

I'm hoping for really good output from Cross too. We finally have some 'inside' bench strength.

[jnrmac 20,055]

I have to laugh. In the main most oohed and aaahed that Roos was coming . Roos who has that habit of plucking the less glossy players and melding them into a team and forging a formidable outfit. The second he starts doing it for us a lot of you start moaning and writing off the newbies .

Ffs lets enjoy the ride. I reckon PR might just have this trick down.

I'm not sure people are writing off the newbies. Its more like people are giving them ridiculous ratings and some hear are more realistic about where things stand.

Michie was a pick 44 who has played 1 game with Freo in three years. We got him for pick 54.

He may turn out to be a great player and history suggests Ross has an uncanny ability to spot and nurture talent but when some here are saying he is an automatic inclusion in our best 22 and will be a gun, I have to laugh and do the face palm thingy.

That's not writing them off, its being realistic.

[P-man 13,366]

I'm not sure people are writing off the newbies. Its more like people are giving them ridiculous ratings and some hear are more realistic about where things stand.

Michie was a pick 44 who has played 1 game with Freo in three years. We got him for pick 54.

He may turn out to be a great player and history suggests Ross has an uncanny ability to spot and nurture talent but when some here are saying he is an automatic inclusion in our best 22 and will be a gun, I have to laugh and do the face palm thingy.

That's not writing them off, its being realistic.

...due to ongoing injury and Freo having one of the best midfields in the competition.

Of course things sound more facepalm worthy when you leave out details such as that.

I see no harm in having some confidence in new players. God knows we've had little else, so I think to rob the fans of some optimism now is a bit rich. If Michie turns out to be a dud, you reserve the right to wave my post in front of me and I reserve the right to pretend to care.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I'm not sure people are writing off the newbies. Its more like people are giving them ridiculous ratings and some hear are more realistic about where things stand.

Michie was a pick 44 who has played 1 game with Freo in three years. We got him for pick 54.

He may turn out to be a great player and history suggests Ross has an uncanny ability to spot and nurture talent but when some here are saying he is an automatic inclusion in our best 22 and will be a gun, I have to laugh and do the face palm thingy.

That's not writing them off, its being realistic.

No player would ever be given a cast iron guarantee about being best 22, but Michie wouldn't have left a successful club that was trying to retain him if he wasn't pretty certain there was a spot for him in our best 22. Melbourne wooed him and they didn't do it to get him to Casey.

To not assume he'll be in our best 22 is pretty dumb.

[dazzledavey36 54,282]

4th tier. The WAFL is probably below VFL and SANFL but they are all second tier comps.

I disagree on McKenzie. His defensive work will be critical to the Roos game plan I believe and he'll be a standard setter as long as he is the best defensive midfielder on our list.

But I do agree that Michie will be above Bail due to clearance ability and skills and will be above Evans if his fitness level is comparable. Part of the reason Michie wasn't getting a game at Freo is because they were developing his running ability with time. Evans has a similar poor history with injury but right now I believe is in the main group whilst Michie is in an advanced rehab group with Viney and Hogan. Running ability is paramount for the midfield and can't be faked. Hopefully with good preseasons Michie and Evans are both up to AFL level as runners. Same for Matt Jones and Toumpas.

SANFLand WAFL are just as good as the VFL.

[Swooper 255]

I stopped for a quick moment on my way in to town only to see Maxy walking very slow laps with his right hammy heavily strapped. What a shame.

[Dees2014 2,377]

I stopped for a quick moment on my way in to town only to see Maxy walking very slow laps with his right hammy heavily strapped. What a shame.

Yes if serious it is a great shame. He was shaping up to have a strong uninterrupted preseason.

Let's hope he is back on track very soon

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

I stopped for a quick moment on my way in to town only to see Maxy walking very slow laps with his right hammy heavily strapped. What a shame.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,693]

Surely, we must be due for a season where we suffer less than the average number of injuries?

I think that throughout the last 7 years when we've been down and out, we've always had long injury lists to compound our problems. I think the Swans (around 2005/6), Collingwood (2009/10) and North Melbourne (last 2 years) have all benefitted enormously from long breaks with few injuries.

I'm sick and tired of us losing crucial players for long slabs of time and having long injury lists.

I'd be interested in a statistical analysis but I suspect poorly skilled football teams have higher injury rates because (1) the better skilled players have to work harder to compensate for the duds thereby adding extra stress to their bodies and (2) poor execution means players are being forced to twist, turn, stop, start, etc more than they should compared with when a ball gets delivered "lace out". If that assessment is correct, our the best cure for our injury rate might be just to play better.