Intraclub Practice Match - Thursday 20th February, 2014

[Satyriconhome 9,982]

"Another issues, not really discussed on here today at at any length, was the very substandard performance of Hogsn today. He seemed to me to be unfit, and overweight. I doubt whether he will play round one. He shouldn't. He doesnt deserve it"

"On what I saw yesterday Hogan is a long way off in deserving a spot in Round 1. He didn't run enough to create opportunities and thus appeared to be part of a crowded forward line. His body language wasn't great either. He looked frustrated at times with the ball delivery. When he did run into space, they looked for him. As mentioned he isn't fit enough"

You two did remember to face the green bit when watching didn't you....laughable.....I actually followed Hogan from end to end and stood behind the goal, his workrate was excellent, a lot of time his running went unrewarded ...

[old dee 22,852]

you must have missed his first season then, because he had a couple of ripper games.... He hasn't looked the same since his hip injuries, at the end of his first season. Those injuries have probably ended his career...

Two good games four years ago does not make an AFL career tatu

He has played numerous games since for no impact.

Add in he is constantly injured.

All but over for him.

AFL is a brutal business.

It really is a put up or shut up game.

[DemonTux 95]

Not much to add but FWIW saw Mich Clark cruising around the Tan when i turned up at a reasonable jog, certainly faster than I'd expect him to be moving if there were still problems with his foot/leg. Certainly not sprinting but cautious build up in condition i'd say.

While I think of it and i don't know if it's been asked, but if Riley is on the LTIL, surely it's expected Mitch will be available before him?

[Hannibal 5,814]

Not much to add but FWIW saw Mich Clark cruising around the Tan when i turned up at a reasonable jog, certainly faster than I'd expect him to be moving if there were still problems with his foot/leg. Certainly not sprinting but cautious build up in condition i'd say.

While I think of it and i don't know if it's been asked, but if Riley is on the LTIL, surely it's expected Mitch will be available before him?

There is no problem with Clark's foot. At all. It's his legs becoming accustomed to increased workloads, which has caused some minor soft tissue concerns. He has to very slowly ramp up his work-rate.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,415]

I agree BB. From what I saw today I wouldn't be rushing Viney and Hogan into our side Round 1.

I didn't see them in action, but round 1 is still 4 weeks away with 2 more practise games in between. By the time round 1 rolls around these guys may be right.

[nutbean 8,837]

The way I see it is that bad kicks still have to kick especially half backs or midfielders. McKenzie is going to get the ball in space or running in to space and hit targets by foot. He can't just wait and slow down the play and handball sideways or backwards. That doesn't mean he should be trying to kick all the time of course he should try and handball, but McKenzie is more than enough of a kick that he can use his boot when needed. He should learn a lot from Cross who usually plays it safe but kicks when required. Plus hey we wont win the flag this year and we will still have games where we are down by a significant margin. No better time for the likes of McKenzie, Spencer and Tommy McDonald to practice kicking as much as they can.

Nicholson is a different to me because he's a small defender and that means kicking is a huge part of his game. It's defensive work then kicking that's about it. It's why I don't see a future for him in that role and think he may as well compete with the half forwards.

It will always be McKenzie's first option to handball and it may change, but he is not going to be your "finding space" footballer. Also my recollection is of his last few years is him coughing the ball up in close and to me a major part of that is that poor structures meaning there has not been an good outlet or release to give the ball to.

I think he can work to his limitations with short kicks if required ( a bit like Mitchell of Hawthorn - who is adequate by foot over short distances but prefers hand ).

The major difference I see between McKenzie and Nicholson is that McKenzie has usually made himself the beginning or middle of a chain whereas Nicholsons harder running has made him the end of the chain ( the released player) . With disposal like Nicholsons you do not want him the end of the chain - you want someone with Watts's skill for this role.

Edited February 20, 2014 by nutbean

[rjay 23,907]

Based on today's form, I don't think they will play Hogan in round1, so Fitz definitely plays, with Jamar in the ruck and Max ruck forward pocket. Max was outstanding today marking in the forward pocket. (as was Fitz) but I would give him half and hour personal kicking for goal practice every training session. I counted five set shots within 25 metres of goal and I don't think he got any. Admittedly it was a windy day, but others such ascFitz and Dawes were pretty accurate including Fitzy kicking one of his famous reverse side of the boot from the boundary line about 40 metres out - his speciality!

I am very excited about our tall men this year, max, Fitz and Dawes appear to be in very good form. hogan will get there but needs to be fitter and needs to find his form at Casey while he does it for maybe 6 weeks or so. Tom Mac down back is also just getting better and better. He is in for a terrific year as is Chip Frawley based on Friday's form.

Must of shown blistering form yesterday Jamar.

[old dee 22,852]

Must of shown blistering form yesterday Jamar.

OTH

[Nineteen 159]

I was standing near the coach's area & Howe & Frawley were coming out of the ground.

The steel hand rail around the ground is maybe 1.2 metres {there will be a reg height].

Frawley walked thru the gate & Howe sprung over the top of the railing, straight bodied, like a kangaroo.

Stunning leap!!

[monoccular 16,065]

Based on today's form, I don't think they will play Hogan in round1, so Fitz definitely plays, with Jamar in the ruck and Max ruck forward pocket. Max was outstanding today marking in the forward pocket. (as was Fitz) but I would give him half and hour personal kicking for goal practice every training session. I counted five set shots within 25 metres of goal and I don't think he got any. Admittedly it was a windy day, but others such ascFitz and Dawes were pretty accurate including Fitzy kicking one of his famous reverse side of the boot from the boundary line about 40 metres out - his speciality!

I am very excited about our tall men this year, max, Fitz and Dawes appear to be in very good form. hogan will get there but needs to be fitter and needs to find his form at Casey while he does it for maybe 6 weeks or so. Tom Mac down back is also just getting better and better. He is in for a terrific year as is Chip Frawley based on Friday's form.

Hang on - if Hogan isn't played due to lack of preparation, how on earth can you name Jamar (presumably he is still breathing somewhere)????? As far as I have read he hasn't trained intensively at all, for whatever reason.

[rpfc 27,451]

Just on this 'Hogan not ready for Rd 1' stuff...

We do have over a month to go and practice games against Geelong and Hawthorn...

This period we are in now - this period is the 'getting ready for Rd 1 period.'

If he is playing in this period, he is going to be a chance for Rd 1.

[stynewillalwaysbeonthevine 84]

Did anyone get a chance to snap a few shots??

[rpfc 27,451]

Spencer just played an intra club as first ruck against our beanpole toddler King.

Gawn played but was predominantly forward and Jamar hasn't suited up yet.

Spencer is winning this race to be first ruck in a canter at the moment - the others haven't left their gate.

[Akum 2,660]

Spencer just played an intra club as first ruck against our beanpole toddler King.

Gawn played but was predominantly forward and Jamar hasn't suited up yet.

Spencer is winning this race to be first ruck in a canter at the moment - the others haven't left their gate.

Hard to work out what's wrong enough with Gawn & Fitz that they couldn't go against Spencer at least a few times.

Unless they're so far from being right for R1 that it's just not worth it.

Is it just a matter of match fitness?

[Hannibal 5,814]

Not many power forwards are at their best in February, especially coming of a minor knee injury.

He has a month to get into some good nick and ramp up his running. If he's ready for round 1 great, if not he won't be far away.

[Redleg 37,579]

Hard to work out what's wrong enough with Gawn & Fitz that they couldn't go against Spencer at least a few times.

Unless they're so far from being right for R1 that it's just not worth it.

Is it just a matter of match fitness?

We seem to have fewer players injured at the moment, so maybe the professionals are getting it right. There is obviously a plan being adhered to.

[Machsy 2,856]

So Stone a better option than Royal then? By the way anyone know where he and Leigh Brown ended up?

Leigh Brown is coaching in the TAC Cup, Gippsland Power iirc.

[Machsy 2,856]

Funny how often Fitzy's name gets left out of the tall forward equation, with Clark, Dawes & Hogan.

Even Dawes in his MFC website interview, when discussing the forward structure, neglected to mention Fitzy as of he were not expected to be a factor.

I'd be surprised if other clubs in need of tall forwards weren't already in his ear (or his manager's) at this stage.

Or even would continue to be after already being in there last year.

I'm looking at you bulldogs, saints, cats, blues, dockers, power, hawks, tigers, magpies and lions.

[Satyriconhome 9,982]

All Fitzy has to do is play as well as he can in the rest of the preseason games he gets and Roos will have to pick him, Fitzy himself said as much to me after the game yesterday

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,153]

I'm stating to get the feeling that the 'Russian' may only get games, when the others need a rest this year.

I'm staring to get the feeling that the Russian May retire this year. Clearly his body is failing him in terms of playing AFL.

[loges 6,026]

I've only been on Demonland for a short period of time, so I'm unaware of past pre-seasons... But a lot of people seem to be so damn hopefully and positive about the players progression, how they're going in intra club matches, etc so forth.

I'm unaware if it's always been pretty positive, or a lot of people see potential and are real hopeful?

It isn't a bad thing by all accounts, I'd just hate to have another crap year.

Go Dees.

The past 2 seasons plenty of hope coming into the first round then crash, set the tone for the whole year. Hopefully this year will be different but "beware the ides of March"

[Whispering_Jack 27,971]

I'm staring to get the feeling that the Russian May retire this year. Clearly his body is failing him in terms of playing AFL.

Incorrect. He was training indoors yesterday at AAMI as part of his rehab and it's expected that he will be back in full training next week. Hopefully, he'll be available for the practice match v Hawthorn at Casey two weeks before the start of the season and if not, the Scorpions have a practice match the following week in which he would be eligible to play by virtue of his limited game time in the NAB Challenge and practice match period.

[old dee 22,852]

Incorrect. He was training indoors yesterday at AAMI as part of his rehab and it's expected that he will be back in full training next week. Hopefully, he'll be available for the practice match v Hawthorn at Casey two weeks before the start of the season and if not, the Scorpions have a practice match the following week in which he would be eligible to play by virtue of his limited game time in the NAB Challenge and practice match period.

In between bouts of injury he will probably play some good games at Casey this year

[old dee 22,852]

All Fitzy has to do is play as well as he can in the rest of the preseason games he gets and Roos will have to pick him, Fitzy himself said as much to me after the game yesterday

Fitzy will play quite a bit this year IMO

Right now he is physically sound which is more than can be said for a couple of others.

[DeeSpencer 23,128]

Incorrect. He was training indoors yesterday at AAMI as part of his rehab and it's expected that he will be back in full training next week. Hopefully, he'll be available for the practice match v Hawthorn at Casey two weeks before the start of the season and if not, the Scorpions have a practice match the following week in which he would be eligible to play by virtue of his limited game time in the NAB Challenge and practice match period.

I know you have links to the Russian so thanks for the update. I think the truth lies inbetween. His body has not yet failed him but full training only in late February is a sign there's not a lot of tread on the tires at the moment.

Getting your first hit out either in the last practice match or only in VFL practice matches isn't a great sign either. I'd be inclined not to play him against the Hawks so we can use the game minutes for Fitzy, Gawn and Spencer to all rotate through the ruck.

Don't get me wrong I think Jamar still has more to give and he can even recapture the first ruck job and then roll with it. But if the others have it then they should stay with it and Jamar can build up through the VFL. The true indicator of a player being finished isn't so much if they struggle to get back. Young players struggle to get back from injuries at times. It's when they get back if they can't stay up. I'm tipping Jamar to make a serious run at the first ruck job and maybe even keep it as his based on form. But then if he breaks down he'll be in trouble.

I hope all of Spencer, Jamar and Gawn can be fit for most of the season so they can push each others game. Spencer will know he has to use the ball better. Gawn will know he needs his endurance to lift. Jamar knows he has to find more footy around the ground and all 3 know they have to be better at hit outs. That's good exciting development. Jamar was exploited a bit being made to be number 1 ruck and also ruck coach pretty much, Stafford should be good for him as much as the young guys.