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Joel Smith Puts Luckless Year Behind Him

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Joel says  “I’m going to be training back at the club next week, just a few times a week, and when all the first five-year boys come back, the plan is to do some training with them,”

I can't find when exactly pre-season starts. I'm guessing 4th November the Monday before Cup Day, but it may be a week later.

 I have a few questions:

Who should we see in the 1st 2 weeks when normally it is only the 1-5 year players?

Will we see Aaron VDB and Kade K ready to go?

Will Langdon and Tomlinson have new numbers?

Who is recovering from surgery and we shouldn't expect to see? Is Lever and Tom Mac finally 100%?

Didn't mean to hijack thread but it is looming as a very important session and my researching skills are letting me down.

 

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    • Like 1
      On 24/10/2019 at 03:59, Damo said:

     Joel says  “I’m going to be training back at the club next week, just a few times a week, and when all the first five-year boys come back, the plan is to do some training with them,”

    I can't find when exactly pre-season starts. I'm guessing 4th November the Monday before Cup Day, but it may be a week later.

     I have a few questions:

    Who should we see in the 1st 2 weeks when normally it is only the 1-5 year players?

    Will we see Aaron VDB and Kade K ready to go?

    Will Langdon and Tomlinson have new numbers?

    Who is recovering from surgery and we shouldn't expect to see? Is Lever and Tom Mac finally 100%?

    Didn't mean to hijack thread but it is looming as a very important session and my researching skills are letting me down.

    Normally what happens is the 1 to 5 year players come back a week or two earlier than the 'senior' players, but you get those players joining in, if that is their preseason plan, expect to see Nev, Joel Smith, Tommy Mc,  AVB,  KK is a 1 to 5, so is Langdon

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    Really think we can build a dynamic forward line if most of SOS fritch hannan melksham  vanders tmac and choof stay injury free.... 

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    I have always been very bullish about Joel and with Frosty gone, he's super important to add pace and aerial skills to our backline.

    The last place I want him lining up is the forward line, because as we all know, forwards have to turn tighter and pivot when tackled and I just don't want to hear that he's aggravated his OP attempting a shot around the corner.

    I actually think he's the closest thing we've got to Tom Stewart on our list. What he needs is to play as many games as he can, so that he can become more au fait with our systems and also so that gets a feel for how far he can go with umpires when tunnelling opponents - as all defenders try and do.   

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    Good luck Joel - I am also a fan and think he can be a player given a reasonable run with injuries 

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    Going by his insta he has been training incredibly hard and is in ripping nick!

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      On 24/10/2019 at 08:15, Demonland said:

    Interesting to hear what people think is his best position? Forward or back?

    100% a forward and from what i hear will train as a forward this pre season.

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    • Like 7

      On 24/10/2019 at 08:15, Demonland said:

    Interesting to hear what people think is his best position? Forward or back?

    Interesting idea. First thoughts for me are third tall forward but I think Fritsch has taken first dibs on this position, that is as a half forward, with Melk/Tracc/Harmes on the other flank. So maybe a fit Joel looks to play half back or back pocket. He will need to work on it. But for what it is worth his dad made the swap from high flying, mercurial forward to dependable full back in my memory re 1992/3? 

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      On 24/10/2019 at 08:15, Demonland said:

    Interesting to hear what people think is his best position? Forward or back?

    I prefer him on the full forward line. He’s an accurate set shot kick based on the small sample we have, has speed and agility for dynamic leading patterns and clearly can really jump for the ball - kneeing oppo defenders in the head rather than his teammates if he was a defender who doesn’t.....

    have the game sense in my opinion. His chase down pressure is great but his reading of the downfield play is lacking. Has been guilty of ruining a fair contest in defence and causing a turnover due to poor decision making. Kicking on the run is also questionable at AFL level which again sways me in the favour of playing deep forward.

    I like him. Has X factor that is not yet fully realised nor harnessed.

    Let him jump on heads and kicks goals.

     

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    • Like 2
      On 24/10/2019 at 08:15, Demonland said:

    Interesting to hear what people think is his best position? Forward or back?

    Forward.

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      On 24/10/2019 at 11:31, dl4e said:

    Forward.

    Agree. Make aerial contests. Bring the ball to ground. Snag a fee marks. Kick a few goals. Apply forward defensive pressure. 

    That is the role they trained him for last pre season and where be played in the practice game against the pies and the preseason game against the lions.

    And I would be surprised if that is not the same next season 

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      On 24/10/2019 at 07:56, dazzledavey36 said:

    Going by his insta he has been training incredibly hard and is in ripping nick!

    Let’s hope this is the standard for all the players this coming season. 

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    Hard to forget seeing him limp on for the last quarter of a JLT game with a clearly bung leg, only to miss the whole year. The club can say it was unrelated but regardless, it was gross mismanagement in a preseason game.

    More than anyone, Smith deserves a proper crack at it for 12 months. He could be a real x-factor in a side lacking pace.

    Edited by Forest Demon

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    • Like 1
      On 24/10/2019 at 17:18, Forest Demon said:

    Hard to forget seeing him limp on for the last quarter of a JLT game with a clearly bung leg, only to miss the whole year. The club can say it was unrelated but regardless, it was gross mismanagement in a preseason game.

    More than anyone, Smith deserves a proper crack at it for 12 months. He could be a real x-factor in a side lacking pace.

    It was horrendous mismanagement by the club.

    Having said that he was still our best forward on the day and was sorely missed all year due to the fact he adds a dynamic element to our forward line that we sorely miss.

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      On 24/10/2019 at 08:15, Demonland said:

    Interesting to hear what people think is his best position? Forward or back?

    Wherever Casey feel he is most of use to their premiership chances.

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    • Shocked 1

      On 24/10/2019 at 11:07, McQueen said:

    I like him. Has X factor that is not yet fully realised nor harnessed.

    Let him jump on heads and kicks goals.

    Like this assessment of Joel. If the Weed is compared, the Weed loses. Joel just needs some game time to get a few things operating so that natural talents can come to the fore. He could be a great; he could be a red'n'blue Jack Reiwoldt. 

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    • Like 1
      On 24/10/2019 at 07:56, dazzledavey36 said:

    Going by his insta he has been training incredibly hard and is in ripping nick!

    Yeah it’s nice to see so many players doing some training on their break. I’ve seen at least half a dozen on Instagram combining holidays with fitness training. 

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    I really rate this bloke. He looked unstoppable against Brisbane before he limped off. DIdn't he kick 5 or 6?

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      On 25/10/2019 at 06:05, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

    I really rate this bloke. He looked unstoppable against Brisbane before he limped off. DIdn't he kick 5 or 6?

    Kicked 4 against Brisbane and 2 against Richmond in week 1 of the JLT.

    In an ideal world he slips under the radar behind T Mac, Weed and Fritsch, gets the oppo’s 3rd or 4th defender and jags a sneaky 30 for the year.

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    • Love 1
      On 24/10/2019 at 11:31, dl4e said:

    Forward.

    We actually need Joel forward so really don't know and don't care at this stage.

    No doubt he will be placed back if needed or he fails to deliver up front.

    He is very X factor which we need and deserves a full season of fitness to perform up to his considerable ability.

     

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