19 minutes ago, dtrinh said:

I think it will be a shame if our game plan stays too similar. I agree it is important to be more aggressive and move the ball quicker, however we saw last year that when we get into trouble, especially when the other team has some momentum, we usually end up becoming stagnated, switching the ball in our backline and end up turning the ball over down the line. 

I think we need to add another dimension moving forwards though, if that means either more run and carry or trying to vary our forward movements with balls down the line and through the corridor. I remember seeing Jack Watts attempting this centring ball numerous times last year. When it worked, it really opened the fat side and gave our forward movement more space and options. However, it seemed like Watts was the only one willing to have a crack at this and when he turned it over once or twice he lost confidence. 

Salem only played 10 games last year, that hurt us. We need him to play a full season and another quality user of the footy on the other flank. We aren't confident to use the corridor as much as we would like because our midfield hasn't been up to it, this will hopefully improve this year. As much as Watts is one of our best users of the footy he needs to play as a permanent forward. He is quick of the mark, try and get him in space close to goals.

Was also there for a couple of hours. Here's a few random observations:

Garland, Harmes and Tmac are three of the most vocal/encouraging in the group.

Garlett was told to forget his left foot by Rawlings after a particularly bad attempt at goal.

Ben K. worked particularly hard, so much so that he had a chunder during one exercise. Garlo was there to put an arm around him.

Max Gawn is looking incredibly fit!

Dom Tyson's kicking was quite ordinary. Many helicopter kicks.

Jack Trengove looks ready to return to the action. Running at three quarter pace was solid.

Coaches were regularly riding Salem hard for not getting into position. Fitness/concentration seems an issue.

Pedo was looking dangerous up forward with a number of excellent marks.

Frost is quick but skills are ordinary.

Jack Viney is one single minded mudder effa! Works incredibly hard. When he yells out though his voice breaks like a pubescent teenager!

His father is quite garrulous these days!

Rawlings is an extremely positive influence around the group. Always encourages.

Dean Kent and Hogan look particularly sharp during the drills.

Tom Bugg looks like a mountain man. Then again he hails from Gembrook so no surprise!

 

So Dawes took one mark and Pedo took a number of excellent marks....

 

selection dramas await....

 

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So Dawes took one mark and Pedo took a number of excellent marks....

 

selection dramas await....

 

But haven't you heard about #PedoMyths?????

26 minutes ago, Good Times Grimes said:

But haven't you heard about #PedoMyths?????

Waiting for Stu to log on for the day.

37 minutes ago, Good Times Grimes said:

But haven't you heard about #PedoMyths?????

 

10 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Waiting for Stu to log on for the day.

You both deserve a jolly good flogging!

27 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

 

You both deserve a jolly good flogging!

Do you work out of Sydney BBO?

35 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Do you work out of Sydney BBO?

Sin City? Good heavens no. Romsey Manor is the centre of the universe for me.

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So Dawes took one mark and Pedo took a number of excellent marks....

 

selection dramas await....

 

 

1 hour ago, Good Times Grimes said:

But haven't you heard about #PedoMyths?????

 

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Waiting for Stu to log on for the day.

Never said Dawes is a much better mark than Pedo. The problem with Pedo though is that he'll take a mark or two in the first half and then he's spent for the game and we're effectively a man down. This will be magnified this year with the interchange/sub rule changes. Injuries depending, I'd still have Dawes at this stage because at least you know he's got the tank to compete for four quarters.

I'm hoping that by the end of the year King and The Weed are competing for that spot as much as Dawes and Pedo are with each other.

 

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So Dawes took one mark and Pedo took a number of excellent marks....

 

selection dramas await....

 

Yes and Tyson and Salem won't be in the 22 if you want to pick your team off the back of one training report....

 

20 minutes ago, stuie said:

Yes and Tyson and Salem won't be in the 22 if you want to pick your team off the back of one training report....

 

Morning Stu.

24 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

 

Never said Dawes is a much better mark than Pedo. The problem with Pedo though is that he'll take a mark or two in the first half and then he's spent for the game and we're effectively a man down. This will be magnified this year with the interchange/sub rule changes. Injuries depending, I'd still have Dawes at this stage because at least you know he's got the tank to compete for four quarters.

I'm hoping that by the end of the year King and The Weed are competing for that spot as much as Dawes and Pedo are with each other.

 

I've already made my opinion on Dawes/Pedo well known, so there's no purpose in me furthering this discussion, however I absolutely agree with your last sentence.

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don't think we've got some special innovation like the Clarko Cluster or Weagles Web coming. Our game plan is similar just with a focus on being more aggressive. 

From deep in the backline it's hard to do anything but switch it around and eventually bomb it long to a tall. I mean you can try and run numbers back and handball it around but we won't do that. I think the coaches want to see faster movement and spread so that the open man presents, but McCartney is often emphasising to take the easy option. There isn't a desire to spear kicks in to tight windows from deep in the backline and I don't think there should be.

If we play at a higher pace and with more aggressive pressing up the ground then we won't be hemmed in deep too often and the ball movement will be quicker. That's the secret of how Hawthorn move the ball so quickly out of the backline, they always have the options as soon as they turn it over.

Our players running and spreading will be a big win for us. They have never done that in the past with any regularity. Short fast chip kicks are likely to hit a target but they rely on instinctive quick kicks, not the crap we have seen over the years of mark, run 20m behind the mark, wait for the opposition to man everyone up and then bomb it long to the boundary. A team under the pump and with no confidence in their team mates or game plan plays this way.

Short kicks rely on taking the first opton and lots of running. It also only works if you have committed team mates running to space. The Hawks do it. So do West Coast. There is a confidence in leaving your man to run to space, repeatedly sometimes. Without always being rewarded with a stat. This is selfless, team based football and something we have not had for a long time. That is where on field leadership comes in. When the system breaks down (ie we miss a target and cause a t/over) you need leaders to stand up and force their team mates to continue doing the right thing and running and spreading.

If I see this I will be happy that know we are on the right track.

 

1 minute ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Morning Stu.

Morning BA.

35 minutes ago, stuie said:

Morning BA.

I had always thought that was Wylie E Coyote, but no it is Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog

1 hour ago, stuie said:

 

 

Never said Dawes is a much better mark than Pedo. The problem with Pedo though is that he'll take a mark or two in the first half and then he's spent for the game and we're effectively a man down. This will be magnified this year with the interchange/sub rule changes. Injuries depending, I'd still have Dawes at this stage because at least you know he's got the tank to compete for four quarters.

I'm hoping that by the end of the year King and The Weed are competing for that spot as much as Dawes and Pedo are with each other.

 

Absolute rubbish.

Go and watch Pedersen games against WB Hawthorn Port Adelaide  and even Fremantle and you will see Pedersen play out the games well. To say that he goes missing in the 2nd half to the point where we are a man down is again absolute rubbish. He kicked 2 crucial goals against the doggies in the 2nd half that kept us in thw game.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Absolute rubbish.

Go and watch Pedersen games against WB Hawthorn Port Adelaide  and even Fremantle and you will see Pedersen play out the games well. To say that he goes missing in the 2nd half to the point where we are a man down is again absolute rubbish. He kicked 2 crucial goals against the doggies in the 2nd half that kept us in thw game.

Really. You really think Pedo has a better tank than Dawes?

With the new interchange/sub rules, I guess we'll see who Roos picks come the start of the season hey?

 

26 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Absolute rubbish.

Go and watch Pedersen games against WB Hawthorn Port Adelaide  and even Fremantle and you will see Pedersen play out the games well. To say that he goes missing in the 2nd half to the point where we are a man down is again absolute rubbish. He kicked 2 crucial goals against the doggies in the 2nd half that kept us in thw game.

'dazzle', I think Pederson looks to be a lazy footballer to me. It may well be his footy IQ but he is often out of position and found watching, if the play to come to him he is ok. The only plus for Dawes is he does run hard, unfortunately often to no avail. His leading patterns are poor and he can't catch a cold (mark or opponent).

I hope we don't need to have this Dawes/Pedersen discussion for much longer though. The one I want is how we best use Hogan, Weideman & Hulett..

49 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Absolute rubbish.

Go and watch Pedersen games against WB Hawthorn Port Adelaide  and even Fremantle and you will see Pedersen play out the games well. To say that he goes missing in the 2nd half to the point where we are a man down is again absolute rubbish. He kicked 2 crucial goals against the doggies in the 2nd half that kept us in thw game.

 

45 minutes ago, stuie said:

Really. You really think Pedo has a better tank than Dawes?

With the new interchange/sub rules, I guess we'll see who Roos picks come the start of the season hey?

 

Once again Stu you put words in another's mouth. Dazzle simply countered your incessant claim that Pedo has no tank.

4 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

 

Once again Stu you put words in another's mouth. Dazzle simply countered your incessant claim that Pedo has no tank.

This will be my only reply to you.

This is not putting words into another's mouth. As usual you are missing the point and trying to label me with the same tired things you've been pushing ever since you decided to have a personal vendetta against me.

The point is that everyone acknowledges there's not a big difference in output for Dawes and Pedersen stats wise, so the defining factor this year, particularly given the new interchange/sub rules, will be who can contribute for longer with less rest and without the ability to sub them out.

That is why the point is about who has a better tank.

Now move on and stop fighting other people's battles for them simply because you want to target me as you always do.

 

7 minutes ago, stuie said:

This will be my only reply to you.

This is not putting words into another's mouth. As usual you are missing the point and trying to label me with the same tired things you've been pushing ever since you decided to have a personal vendetta against me.

The point is that everyone acknowledges there's not a big difference in output for Dawes and Pedersen stats wise, so the defining factor this year, particularly given the new interchange/sub rules, will be who can contribute for longer with less rest and without the ability to sub them out.

That is why the point is about who has a better tank.

Now move on and stop fighting other people's battles for them simply because you want to target me as you always do.

 

That's your point Stuie and your opinion, not necessarily the only point or opinion.

Stop playing the victim card and accept that many others consider Pedersen to be a better key forward asset to the club than Dawes. Yeah, yeah, #pedomyths and the whole 'what you think the coaches views are', blah, blah. Keep replying if you like, but that won't change anyone's view.

This is the sort of stuff that makes me only come for the training reports. 

1 minute ago, Moonshadow said:

That's your point Stuie and your opinion, not necessarily the only point or opinion.

Stop playing the victim card and accept that many others consider Pedersen to be a better key forward asset to the club than Dawes. Yeah, yeah, #pedomyths and the whole 'what you think the coaches views are', blah, blah. Keep replying if you like, but that won't change anyone's view.

Oh a personal attack from Moonshadow when he wasn't even involved in the discussion, what a surprise.

 

31 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

 

Once again Stu you put words in another's mouth. Dazzle simply countered your incessant claim that Pedo has no tank.

Classic stuie.

3 hours ago, stuie said:

This will be my only reply to you.

This is not putting words into another's mouth. As usual you are missing the point and trying to label me with the same tired things you've been pushing ever since you decided to have a personal vendetta against me.

The point is that everyone acknowledges there's not a big difference in output for Dawes and Pedersen stats wise, so the defining factor this year, particularly given the new interchange/sub rules, will be who can contribute for longer with less rest and without the ability to sub them out.

That is why the point is about who has a better tank.

Now move on and stop fighting other people's battles for them simply because you want to target me as you always do.

Stu as you seem incapable of reasoned adult discussion, I'll let others form there own opinion as to you putting words into another's mouth.