swinging,,, or rotating dawes ?

 

 

sliding

I can't believe no-one has yet gone with "Exit Dawes".

 

 

But is it any better for us spectators?

the answer to that is yes and no, or "it all depends" 

 

 

I can't believe no-one has yet gone with "Exit Dawes".

 

folding dawes?

 

the answer to that is yes and no, or "it all depends" 

As far as I can gather the Dawes issue is still the calf, that has been troubling him since he joined the club, it is not a new injury, reckon if it doesn't fix itself up this time, he may have to walk away

Ben Kennedy will be the surprise packet of 2016. Watch this space. 

Hirdy's already gone with sliding Dawes but perhaps not quite in context.

 

Doesn't look the type to be intimidated.

I was watching training a couple of weeks ago, and the new boys were told to put some real effort into their tackiing, poor old Mitch King was buried by Mr Hulett, also believe the boys try not to box with him

 

Ben Kennedy will be the surprise packet of 2016. Watch this space. 

Disagree, poor skills and Toumpas-esque composure is all he demonstrated last year. Hope I'm wrong.

Watched Kennedy throughout yesterday's training and saw no similarity with Toumpas other than he had two legs and was wearing footy boots!

 

Disagree, poor skills and Toumpas-esque composure is all he demonstrated last year. Hope I'm wrong.

 

 

Watched Kennedy throughout yesterday's training and saw no similarity with Toumpas other than he had two legs and was wearing footy boots!

I watched Kennedy both at training for MFC and a couple of games in the VFL for the Pies, can see why we were interested

Toumpas is a pretty good runner.  BenKen is a poor runner.

Toumpas' kicking under pressure is disappointing.  BenKen's kicking under pressure has also been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has average to poor pace.  BenKen has average to good pace.

Toumpas has terrible lateral evasive ability.  BenKen has very good evasive ability.

Toumpas is hopeless in contests.  Despite being small BenKen is tenacious and holds his own in contests.

Toumpas was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.  BenKen was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has played as an outside runner/link player at VFL level.  BenKen has played as an inside mid at VFL level.

Toumpas lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  BenKen lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  Both are usually reliable field kicks.

Toumpas had injury issues with hip operations early in his career.  BenKen had injury issues with compartment syndrome in his calves early in his career.

While some of their deficiencies are similar, they are both very different players.  Notwithstanding his height and propensity for a goal, BenKen is hard at the contest and has played his best footy at VFL level as an inside mid.  Toumpas is not hard at the contest, in fact, it's his biggest weakness, and is more suited to an outside running role, notwithstanding disappointing pace.

 

Toumpas is a pretty good runner.  BenKen is a poor runner.

Toumpas' kicking under pressure is disappointing.  BenKen's kicking under pressure has also been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has average to poor pace.  BenKen has average to good pace.

Toumpas has terrible lateral evasive ability.  BenKen has very good evasive ability.

Toumpas is hopeless in contests.  Despite being small BenKen is tenacious and holds his own in contests.

Toumpas was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.  BenKen was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has played as an outside runner/link player at VFL level.  BenKen has played as an inside mid at VFL level.

Toumpas lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  BenKen lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  Both are usually reliable field kicks.

Toumpas had injury issues with hip operations early in his career.  BenKen had injury issues with compartment syndrome in his calves early in his career.

While some of their deficiencies are similar, they are both very different players.  Notwithstanding his height and propensity for a goal, BenKen is hard at the contest and has played his best footy at VFL level as an inside mid.  Toumpas is not hard at the contest, in fact, it's his biggest weakness, and is more suited to an outside running role, notwithstanding disappointing pace.

Difference between them, Toumpas' career had stalled at MFC, Port see something in him and hope to develop him further, Kennedy's career had stalled at Collingwood and MFC have seen something in him and hope to develop him further

 

Difference between them, Toumpas' career had stalled at MFC, Port see something in him and hope to develop him further, Kennedy's career had stalled at Collingwood and MFC have seen something in him and hope to develop him further

I don't know what I'd do without your analysis.

Alas, all I can do is offer my heartfelt thanks.

 

I don't know what I'd do without your analysis.

Alas, all I can do is offer my heartfelt thanks.

I never offer an opinion on the ability or lack thereof of any players, in some instances it can come back and bite you, we have given Kennedy a shot, lets see if it works, that being said we helped Jimmy Toumpas to nearly kill off his career

 

I never offer an opinion on the ability or lack thereof of any players

For that I'm appreciative.

 

folding dawes?

Fire Dawes

 

Toumpas is a pretty good runner.  BenKen is a poor runner.

Toumpas' kicking under pressure is disappointing.  BenKen's kicking under pressure has also been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has average to poor pace.  BenKen has average to good pace.

Toumpas has terrible lateral evasive ability.  BenKen has very good evasive ability.

Toumpas is hopeless in contests.  Despite being small BenKen is tenacious and holds his own in contests.

Toumpas was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.  BenKen was a good decision maker at junior level, but has been disappointing at AFL level.

Toumpas has played as an outside runner/link player at VFL level.  BenKen has played as an inside mid at VFL level.

Toumpas lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  BenKen lacks penetration in his set shots for goal.  Both are usually reliable field kicks.

Toumpas had injury issues with hip operations early in his career.  BenKen had injury issues with compartment syndrome in his calves early in his career.

While some of their deficiencies are similar, they are both very different players.  Notwithstanding his height and propensity for a goal, BenKen is hard at the contest and has played his best footy at VFL level as an inside mid.  Toumpas is not hard at the contest, in fact, it's his biggest weakness, and is more suited to an outside running role, notwithstanding disappointing pace.

Pretty good analysis ProDee.

As you mentioned both are very different players, but I still believe both were similar in the way they were treated by their previous clubs.  It was very easy for us to pot Toumpas and he came with the baggage of being selected instead of Wines before he even played a game.  It was rare that he was given a regular run in the seniors without either being subbed or being the sub and, even when he did play well (St. Kilda game, for example) he was quickly either out of the side or back to being a sub.  

Kennedy spent many games doing the same things - either being subbed or spending 3 quarters as the sub.  I have no doubt that, if he is given a good run at it with the backing of the coaching group, that Kennedy can become a good player for us going forward.  I can understand why others are not as confident as he hasn't exactly played alot of good footy over the last few years, but he has shown enough in glimpses to suggest he has the potential to do it on a more regular basis.

 

Pretty good analysis ProDee.

As you mentioned both are very different players, but I still believe both were similar in the way they were treated by their previous clubs.  It was very easy for us to pot Toumpas and he came with the baggage of being selected instead of Wines before he even played a game.  It was rare that he was given a regular run in the seniors without either being subbed or being the sub and, even when he did play well (St. Kilda game, for example) he was quickly either out of the side or back to being a sub.  

Kennedy spent many games doing the same things - either being subbed or spending 3 quarters as the sub.  I have no doubt that, if he is given a good run at it with the backing of the coaching group, that Kennedy can become a good player for us going forward.  I can understand why others are not as confident as he hasn't exactly played alot of good footy over the last few years, but he has shown enough in glimpses to suggest he has the potential to do it on a more regular basis.

Neither have shone at AFL level for varying reasons, which you've touched on.

BenKen has been a far superior player at VFL level, but that in itself doesn't guarantee anything.

Kennedy will definitely get games, but I doubt he'll become a "best 22" player.

 

Neither have shone at AFL level for varying reasons, which you've touched on.

BenKen has been a far superior player at VFL level, but that in itself doesn't guarantee anything.

Kennedy will definitely get games, but I doubt he'll become a "best 22" player.

Your second sentence is important - while you're right in that it doesn't guarantee anything, Kennedy has shown on a consistent basis that he can dominate at VFL level.  I'd love to see the stats on how many times he was then promoted to the senior side and simply made the sub, but he has done enough for me to suggest that he will be a handy acquisition at the very least.

And if he doesn't become a best 22 player in the years to come then I'll be happy with that, as it suggests we'll have a very strong side that is well and truly playing finals football.

 

I was watching training a couple of weeks ago, and the new boys were told to put some real effort into their tackiing, poor old Mitch King was buried by Mr Hulett, also believe the boys try not to box with him

I'm impressed by the shape and fitness of the boy's in the photos being shared, I also love a lot of mongrel determination, Viney comes too mind, hopefully he has got some backup.

Thx all for reports and photos, I love this site and ALL it's characters. We are Demon supporters all wanting the same FLAG!

In regards to Ben Kennedy, how often has Roos traded in an experienced player for that player to not be in his best 22? I would say it's fairly rare, but stand to be corrected. On that basis I'm going with all of the new experienced players as being best 22 and will most likely be picked round 1. From there it comes down to performance.

Apart from Melksham obviously.

Inside the camp: Day 1

 

swinging,,, or rotating dawes ?

Unhinged?

 

In regards to Ben Kennedy, how often has Roos traded in an experienced player for that player to not be in his best 22? I would say it's fairly rare, but stand to be corrected. On that basis I'm going with all of the new experienced players as being best 22 and will most likely be picked round 1. From there it comes down to performance.

Apart from Melksham obviously.

3 times in 2 years if you count Michie, Riley and Newton as trade ins. All 3 of those guys got chance in their first year though and I expect Ben Kennedy will as well. I liked the talk of his good attitude and am keen to see him play in the preseason games. He's another I don't think we will learn too much about between now and then. 

When I watched training a few years ago it was easy to pick out the good players and the guys who are working hard. The group is a lot more consistent now. 

 

3 times in 2 years if you count Michie, Riley and Newton as trade ins. All 3 of those guys got chance in their first year though and I expect Ben Kennedy will as well. I liked the talk of his good attitude and am keen to see him play in the preseason games. He's another I don't think we will learn too much about between now and then. 

When I watched training a few years ago it was easy to pick out the good players and the guys who are working hard. The group is a lot more consistent now. 

And that is so good to hear.  I think those of us who read the training reports over this pre-season have noticed that more than in previous seasons.  We seem to have a larger group who are training at a consistently high level and we aren't seeing just the usual players doing it.

Another terrific aspect is that we aren't hearing much about the first year guys - not because they aren't training well, but more so because our list is so much better than it has been in previous years that we don't need to rely on them to come in and make an impact.