Training - Monday 23rd March, 2015

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Skill set, if you haven't worked it out, are the skills a player needs to play at AFL level. Kicking, handballing, marking, footy IQ, fitness, attitude, physicality.... need I go on? I don't know why that is so hard for you to work out.

I mentioned some of these in regards to Fitzpatrick and why I don't think he'll make it. If you don't agree then that's fine, no drama there as we differ on our opinion of his skills, I just have no idea why you keep harping on about a definition for skill set. It's not as if it will relate to their cooking skills or their ability to clip their toenails. I would have thought it's pretty straight forward.

Fitz

Attitude - has battled shoulder reconstructions, chronic fatigue and diabetes to stay on the list tick

Fitness - one of the fastest at the club over 20 metres and when fit the fastest 200cm at the club over 3k tick

Kicking - the coaches think his field kicking is above average - tick

Footy IQ - played fullback and still managed 10 marks in a game - tick

handballing - a forward - hates it - tick for attitude

physicality - paleo diet been a real benefit, now 98 k but stronger than he has ever been - tick

marking - area he knows he needs to work on

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Of course they'd say that to you chap, or any other fanboy who gushed over them. FMD

Moon, I don't gush, men hate that, but if it does it for you, that's ok, you have no idea what the interaction is like coz you are not there, but if it gives you a raise feel free

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Fitz

Attitude - has battled shoulder reconstructions, chronic fatigue and diabetes to stay on the list tick

Fitness - one of the fastest at the club over 20 metres and when fit the fastest 200cm at the club over 3k tick

Kicking - the coaches think his field kicking is above average - tick

Footy IQ - played fullback and still managed 10 marks in a game - tick

handballing - a forward - hates it - tick for attitude

physicality - paleo diet been a real benefit, now 98 k but stronger than he has ever been - tick

marking - area he knows he needs to work on

Number 1 - you obviously agree with my definition of skill set so you can stop harping on about it now.

And lets look at the rest. I'm going to enjoy this.

Attitude - I agree. Come back from some seriously bad stuff. Good on him for that too.

Fitness - being quick over a short distance doesn't mean you are fit. And he is the fastest 200cm player over 3k? Who is his competition? The HMAS Gawn and Jamar?

Kicking - it's average. I don't care what the coaches say - they aren't going to say anything else are they?

Footy IQ - 10 marks in a game doesn't equal good footy IQ. How many of those were side or back kicks? Laughable comparison here.

Handballing - never seen him handball so how would we know? I like how you say he doesn't like it and that's a tick - shouldn't we want to see him enjoy it and play the team game and put others in a better position to score? Tsk, tsk.

Physicality - Good on the lead, no good one on one.

Marking - again, ok on the lead, no good one on one.

Going by your description of him though he should have played every game last year and be one of the best players in the competition.. There is a reason he only played 4.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

My take on the skill set

Should be able to kick efficiently off both feet, that takes out Kent and Viney,

are they still AFL players?

Don't put Kent in the same boat as Viney in terms of kicking. Viney is much worse.

[Moonshadow 17,502]

Moon, I don't gush, men hate that, but if it does it for you, that's ok, you have no idea what the interaction is like coz you are not there, but if it gives you a raise feel free

Wrong again chap. I have been there this year, when my work permits. But I don't need to hang around the players tent or hide behind trees.

What did you expect the coaches to say about a player's kicking? That it's substandard or below average? FMD. I like Fitzy and hope he succeeds, but you are truly kidding yourself if you believe his kicking is that good. But you keep thinking that, along with McKenzie's new found skills, etc,

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Wrong again chap. I have been there this year, when my work permits. But I don't need to hang around the players tent or hide behind trees.

What did you expect the coaches to say about a player's kicking? That it's substandard or below average? FMD. I like Fitzy and hope he succeeds, but you are truly kidding yourself if you believe his kicking is that good. But you keep thinking that, along with McKenzie's new found skills, etc,

You can guarantee that this wouldn't happen. They would never say to a fan, no matter how often they showed up, that a player was only average in any area of their game. Imagine them saying it to the wrong person who blabs it round and it ends up on the back page of the SUN. Heads would roll. Coaches would play a straight bat with everyone and, therefore, their comments can be taken with a grain of salt. And we know what we see anyway, we don't need them to tell us.

[mo64 5,484]

I have never ever seen Kent kick with his right either at training or in games, and Viney always tries to get on his left

Disposal efficiency is one of the coaching tools used along with the GPS heat map to see where the disposals are happening, I asked

And Maurice Rioli, Wayne Johnston and Matthew Lloyd never kicked the ball on their right. Jeez their skill set must have been poor. If you've been following the game for 37 years, you'd understand that left footers are generally more dexterous than right footers, so most will naturally go on their left.

And I didn't understand your second point.

[mo64 5,484]

You can guarantee that this wouldn't happen. They would never say to a fan, no matter how often they showed up, that a player was only average in any area of their game. Imagine them saying it to the wrong person who blabs it round and it ends up on the back page of the SUN. Heads would roll. Coaches would play a straight bat with everyone and, therefore, their comments can be taken with a grain of salt. And we know what we see anyway, we don't need them to tell us.

The 2nd language in the AFL is Lying. Coaches, players, support staff etc; aren't going to divulge potentially sensitive info to a supporter hanging over the fence at training, and that includes where they are at in regards to being fully fit.

But I'm sure they're all polite, hence their diplomatic responses.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

The 2nd language in the AFL is Lying. Coaches, players, support staff etc; aren't going to divulge potentially sensitive info to a supporter hanging over the fence at training, and that includes where they are at in regards to being fully fit.

But I'm sure they're all polite, hence their diplomatic responses.

No doubt about that. I'm sure they don't mind the chat or even a discussion about the last game etc.

But the last thing they would do is be negative about a player in front of a fan. Just doesn't happen, and nor should it.

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

Number 1 - you obviously agree with my definition of skill set so you can stop harping on about it now.

And lets look at the rest. I'm going to enjoy this.

Attitude - I agree. Come back from some seriously bad stuff. Good on him for that too.

Fitness - being quick over a short distance doesn't mean you are fit. And he is the fastest 200cm player over 3k? Who is his competition? The HMAS Gawn and Jamar?

Kicking - it's average. I don't care what the coaches say - they aren't going to say anything else are they?

Footy IQ - 10 marks in a game doesn't equal good footy IQ. How many of those were side or back kicks? Laughable comparison here.

Handballing - never seen him handball so how would we know? I like how you say he doesn't like it and that's a tick - shouldn't we want to see him enjoy it and play the team game and put others in a better position to score? Tsk, tsk.

Physicality - Good on the lead, no good one on one.

Marking - again, ok on the lead, no good one on one.

Going by your description of him though he should have played every game last year and be one of the best players in the competition.. There is a reason he only played 4.

The question should be asked, if he was at another club, would he be getting a game? Quite simply the answer in no.

[Damo 3,244]

Kicking excellently off either foot is pretty uncommon but an admired asset.

Being able to kick off one step cleanly on one foot within tight margins is more important.

Too many use their off foot and take too long, kicking high and slow. They think they are impressing coaches but they arent.

Just get on the good foot. Especially if its a goofy foot.

[rjay 24,592]

And Maurice Rioli, Wayne Johnston and Matthew Lloyd never kicked the ball on their right.

Gibson at the Hawks, tried to kick one on his right a couple of seasons back against Geelong. Still one of the funniest things I've seen from an AFL footballer that's why it sticks with me. The Cat's player blocked his run onto the left foot Gibson turned on the right with no physical pressure on him and the ball just made it to his right foot and dribbled about a metre if that.

A lot here harp on about players not kicking on their non preferred but it has been almost outlawed by coaches for a few decades now. You have to have absolutely no other option unless your name is Sam Mitchell.

[WERRIDEE 5,346]

He is distinctly average. He is not good enough in a one on one situation, nor does he seem to get to the right positions on the field. His field kicking is average and he gets pushed around far too easily. I highly doubt there would be another team out there who would have him on their list. We have quite a few of those types.

He has good pace for his height and he has a dip, no doubt about that, and I admire his willingness to come back from injury and health setbacks, but nothing I've seen suggests to me that he will earn another contract past this season.

I can't believe we have covered 9 pages on Fitzy a sub standard player when we possibly could have 2 of our best players coming back in Howe and Vince who are far more important to the team than Fitzy.

I think we have 4 players in serious trouble, they will have to do something amazing not to be delisted at the end of the year. They are Fitzpatrick, McKenzie, Pedersen and Michie.

If you have been around for more than 2 years and can't get a game for a club like Melbourne I think you are in strife. I think Terlich and Riley will be added to the list but have been injured so it is hard to access them ATM.

Out of that list I think Fitzy would get another chance at a club maybe the Bulldogs who don't have many tall options, even though it will most likely be on the rookie list. His pace\height combo should be too tempting to pass up.

[CityDee 738]

Dom Tyson changed from having no right foot to using it well half way through last year . It needs to be this way .

[CityDee 738]

I can't believe we have covered 9 pages on Fitzy a sub standard player when we possibly could have 2 of our best players coming back in Howe and Vince who are far more important to the team than Fitzy.

I think we have 4 players in serious trouble, they will have to do something amazing not to be delisted at the end of the year. They are Fitzpatrick, McKenzie, Pedersen and Michie.

If you have been around for more than 2 years and can't get a game for a club like Melbourne I think you are in strife. I think Terlich and Riley will be added to the list but have been injured so it is hard to access them ATM.

Out of that list I think Fitzy would get another chance at a club maybe the Bulldogs who don't have many tall options, even though it will most likely be on the rookie list. His pace\height combo should be too tempting to pass up.

.

Perderson played some great footy last season and will contribute this year working on his consistancy fitzy will also stay on imo . Every club has back up players and I believe both could make it in the one's on what we have seen so far .

[jackaub 1,402]

I can't believe we have covered 9 pages on Fitzy a sub standard player when we possibly could have 2 of our best players coming back in Howe and Vince who are far more important to the team than Fitzy.

I think we have 4 players in serious trouble, they will have to do something amazing not to be delisted at the end of the year. They are Fitzpatrick, McKenzie, Pedersen and Michie.

If you have been around for more than 2 years and can't get a game for a club like Melbourne I think you are in strife. I think Terlich and Riley will be added to the list but have been injured so it is hard to access them ATM.

Out of that list I think Fitzy would get another chance at a club maybe the Bulldogs who don't have many tall options, even though it will most likely be on the rookie list. His pace\height combo should be too tempting to pass up.

You can add Toumpas and Grimes to that list. I cannot believe that we still have no reliable replacement Ruck for Jamar who gives us some advantage at clearances but continues to do stuff all around the ground. If Jamar goes down or retires next year we are in trouble as we havent properly developed anyone of Fitz ,Spencer or Gawn. I dont know anything about King.

[djr 1,314]

This would have to be the most boorish training thread yet. Why don't you guys just shut up and grow up. The sniping has been done to death.

Edited March 24, 2015 by djr

[rjay 24,592]

Dom Tyson changed from having no right foot to using it well half way through last year . It needs to be this way .

I would much prefer Dom not to be in the position where he needs to use his right. I'm sure the coaches feel the same.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I would much prefer Dom not to be in the position where he needs to use his right. I'm sure the coaches feel the same.

I think by the time a player hits AFL level the horse has bolted when it comes to using the opposite foot.

Having been involved in coaching at junior level for a number of years I still try to push the whole two sided argument, without making the kids who just can't get it feel like crap.

It will still make a good player better.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

.

Perderson played some great footy last season and will contribute this year working on his consistancy fitzy will also stay on imo . Every club has back up players and I believe both could make it in the one's on what we have seen so far .

Ingenious way of getting around the Pederson censor.

[Bingo 268]

Thirdly, maybe it isn't about him at all. Maybe it's about the fact that Frost was recruited to replace Frawley but has shown that he might be more important filling a role in the forward line replcaing M Clark, than replacing Frawley in the backline. If that is the thinking then they need to find someone else to be the big gorilla back and maybe Fitzy could be that with his height on the increasing number of 200cm forwards. Think what Daniher just did to us because amongst other reasons we didn't have a tall enough back to line up against him.

Frawley played the majority of last year forward...If Frost is a direct replacement for Frawley, he'll be playing forward.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Frawley played the majority of last year forward...If Frost is a direct replacement for Frawley, he'll be playing forward.

But we need another key defender, sadly McDonald and Dunn aren't big enough.

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

But we need another key defender, sadly McDonald and Dunn aren't big enough.

Didn't hurt us last year.

[Gorgoroth 12,702]

I would much prefer Dom not to be in the position where he needs to use his right. I'm sure the coaches feel the same.

Depends, if his left foot kicking stays the same as it's been so far this pre season they might ask him to kick on his right.

[Dommygun12 79]

ha ha while I reject the claim I do love a good meme nice one