40 minutes ago, It's Time said:

Bad news. This killed most of his pre season last year and apparently hampered him throughout most of this season. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't have rested him in this dud season to make sure he was over it. Maybe rest doesn't help. Sounds like training and playing doesn't either. 

 

He had a bit of discomfort, discussed with medicos, went back out, obviously still the same, discussed with medicos and went inside

Even the slightest twinge, normally told to stop

He didn't look that distressed 

Edited December 6, 20195 yr by Satyriconhome

41 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

He had a bit of discomfort, discussed with medicos, went back out, obviously still the same, discussed with medicos and went inside

Even the slightest twinge, normally told to stop

He didn't look that distressed 

Thanks for that. Still not great news that his back is still an issue. Being a long term back sufferer I know how debilitating they can be

 

Dropped by for an hour, and gossiped with BB for most of that time...and everything he has reported on is spot on.

Viney was just in everything.  Previous concerns about his footwear/feet couldn't be justified given his outrageous attack on the ball and his running all over the ground.

Vanders, as others have noted, can't be all that far away from joining the main group. 

The interesting thing about the match simulation is that this year we can actually DO match simulation.  We can put 36 players ( and more if needed) on the oval. 

I wanted to see what all the hype was about Jackson, and now I understand.  The kid has the vision of Clarry and the agility and ability to find space that is the trademark of the top echelon of players.  Will he play ruck? Will he play forward?  With his capabilities he might finish up playing midfield.  There has a tendency for increasing height in the mids ( Fyfe, Cripps) and this could be the next step.

There was one beautiful piece executed between him and Clarry when I first got there.  Jackson took possession in the pack, danced past a couple without being touched, and fired off a handball to Clarry who did exactly the same.  All the others were flat-footed as the ball sailed down the other end, without them laying a hand on either.

Keep an eye on Harry Petty.  The glimpses we saw briefly last year point to a real gem.  His hands are first class in the air, and poor Brayden Preuss found that out when Petty outjumped him, to take the grab in a marking contest.  No mean feat.

Edited December 6, 20195 yr by george_on_the_outer

I popped down for the fifth time this pre-season (sad i know).

Across all those sessions, three players have stood out.

1) Bayley Fritsch - He's impressed every time and today he had a birthday - torched Joel Smith early and then made Stephen May look second rate in match practice beating him in the air and on the ground. Goody now has to decide whether he plays him out of the goalsquare - which is what he did against the Roos in Rd 23 last year. Only proviso I'll make with him is that he also trained the lights out last pre-season and when the real stuff came on, spent the first six weeks struggling before stepping up to the semi-elite level.

2) Alex Neal-Bullen - This guy is putting in a huge summer without his best mate Billy. He made a few big tackles today and read the ball off the pack beautifully. He kicked a nice goal from 45m today as well. And it's been the same every session. He even threw in a 400m lesson to Jackson and Lever at one point today. ANB has been high intensity from the outset and only injury will cost him a spot in our Rd 1 team. Whether he stays in will be determined by the results in our first two games, small forwards invariably struggle in losses.

3) Jay Lockhart - Those of you over 50 will remember how nimble and clever Alan Johnson was as a defender. Well Jay has been almost up to that level with great evasiveness and an ability to get the ball moving quickly. He's  a very accurate and long kick which makes him ideal as our set up man and watching him use his voice to direct others made me aware he's got the nous as well as nerve. The issue of course is that to get into the side he has to show why he should be picked ahead of Lord Nev. Jay has more rebound than Nev, but yet to see whether he cam match Nev's prowess in one-on-one battles. The other player he has to get past to play Rd 1 is Nathan Jones, who more than likely will play half-back, subject to injury.  So I'm not about to say he's in for Rd 1, but Jay is certainly putting together an impressive body of work that will make him an easy inclusion down back once there's an injury or two.

There's been plenty of others who have caught my eye so far and it's really pleasing to see T.Mac, Melky, Joel Smith and even Weid so far down the track after injuries last year.

Promising reports, at least we have a MUCH fitter squad than the same time last pre-season, just need to injury gods to be kind as we get closer to the proper stuff...

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The interesting thing about the match simulation is that this year we can actually DO match simulation.  We can put 36 players ( and more if needed) on the oval. 

Just as a summary this is a list of the players not in full training due to some level of injury

• Jones
• Spargo
• Brayshaw??
• KK
• Hannan
• Baker
• Petty
• AVB
• Bennell

As far as I can tell that's about it.  Of those, AVB and Petty are very close and Brayshaw is probably okay.

Oh, and just another comment.  I was very impressed with Tom Sparrow today.  Was in everything and really looked the part.  He's a solid boy and looks to have the body to play AFL now, he's aggressive at the ball and he kicks it quite well. 

There was a fair bit to like today.

51 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

I popped down for the fifth time this pre-season (sad i know).

Across all those sessions, three players have stood out.

1) Bayley Fritsch - He's impressed every time and today he had a birthday - torched Joel Smith early and then made Stephen May look second rate in match practice beating him in the air and on the ground. Goody now has to decide whether he plays him out of the goalsquare - which is what he did against the Roos in Rd 23 last year. Only proviso I'll make with him is that he also trained the lights out last pre-season and when the real stuff came on, spent the first six weeks struggling before stepping up to the semi-elite level.

2) Alex Neal-Bullen - This guy is putting in a huge summer without his best mate Billy. He made a few big tackles today and read the ball off the pack beautifully. He kicked a nice goal from 45m today as well. And it's been the same every session. He even threw in a 400m lesson to Jackson and Lever at one point today. ANB has been high intensity from the outset and only injury will cost him a spot in our Rd 1 team. Whether he stays in will be determined by the results in our first two games, small forwards invariably struggle in losses.

3) Jay Lockhart - Those of you over 50 will remember how nimble and clever Alan Johnson was as a defender. Well Jay has been almost up to that level with great evasiveness and an ability to get the ball moving quickly. He's  a very accurate and long kick which makes him ideal as our set up man and watching him use his voice to direct others made me aware he's got the nous as well as nerve. The issue of course is that to get into the side he has to show why he should be picked ahead of Lord Nev. Jay has more rebound than Nev, but yet to see whether he cam match Nev's prowess in one-on-one battles. The other player he has to get past to play Rd 1 is Nathan Jones, who more than likely will play half-back, subject to injury.  So I'm not about to say he's in for Rd 1, but Jay is certainly putting together an impressive body of work that will make him an easy inclusion down back once there's an injury or two.

There's been plenty of others who have caught my eye so far and it's really pleasing to see T.Mac, Melky, Joel Smith and even Weid so far down the track after injuries last year.

As someone not quite 40 I was lucky enough to see Alan Johnson. A child of the 80’s I had his number on my back not Robbie Flower.

51 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

3) Jay Lockhart - Those of you over 50 will remember how nimble and clever Alan Johnson was as a defender. Well Jay has been almost up to that level with great evasiveness and an ability to get the ball moving quickly. He's  a very accurate and long kick which makes him ideal as our set up man and watching him use his voice to direct others made me aware he's got the nous as well as nerve. The issue of course is that to get into the side he has to show why he should be picked ahead of Lord Nev. Jay has more rebound than Nev, but yet to see whether he cam match Nev's prowess in one-on-one battles. The other player he has to get past to play Rd 1 is Nathan Jones, who more than likely will play half-back, subject to injury.  So I'm not about to say he's in for Rd 1, but Jay is certainly putting together an impressive body of work that will make him an easy inclusion down back once there's an injury or two.

Defensive ability will be crucial but fitness might be just as important for Lockhart. Because I see him playing pretty high up as a flanker and having to cover the ground. I don't expect him to really compete with Nev. Salem and Harmes have been positioned for that job but if Lockhart takes it up a notch we then get to move one of those 2 around. Most likely Harmes back in to the midfield mix.

Nath Jones is down to start the year with the forwards as a high half forward.

54 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

 

I wanted to see what all the hype was about Jackson, and now I understand.  The kid has the vision of Clarry and the agility and ability to find space that is the trademark of the top echelon of players.  Will he play ruck? Will he play forward?  With his capabilities he might finish up playing midfield.  There has a tendency for increasing height in the mids ( Fyfe, Cripps) and this could be the next step.

 

Exciting stuff. After watching Jackson at training and in his highlights, the tall mid that Jackson most reminds me of is actually Bont. In his highlights he kicks left foot floaters rather than left foot bullets but the ability to move with the ball through a pack in space you didn't know was there is similar. Bevo loves to use Bont in the ruck as a momentum changer to get an extra mid around the ball. 

If Jackson plays back up ruck early it's going to be an interesting challenge for our coaches structuring up for Gawn winning a lot of clearances to a completely different style where Jackson probably loses a lot of the knocks but is a weapon at ground level.

7 hours ago, Demonland said:

Come to think about it I didn't notice that Jones wasn't there on Wednesday. That's two sessions in a row.

Not certain it was from Monday, but I recall someone mentioning he walked off the track 'grumpy'. 

50 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

As someone not quite 40 I was lucky enough to see Alan Johnson. A child of the 80’s I had his number on my back not Robbie Flower.

As someone just over 50 he was one of my all time favorite dees. I just loved the way he played footy.

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

I popped down for the fifth time this pre-season (sad i know).

Across all those sessions, three players have stood out.

1) Bayley Fritsch - He's impressed every time and today he had a birthday - torched Joel Smith early and then made Stephen May look second rate in match practice beating him in the air and on the ground. Goody now has to decide whether he plays him out of the goalsquare - which is what he did against the Roos in Rd 23 last year. Only proviso I'll make with him is that he also trained the lights out last pre-season and when the real stuff came on, spent the first six weeks struggling before stepping up to the semi-elite level.

2) Alex Neal-Bullen - This guy is putting in a huge summer without his best mate Billy. He made a few big tackles today and read the ball off the pack beautifully. He kicked a nice goal from 45m today as well. And it's been the same every session. He even threw in a 400m lesson to Jackson and Lever at one point today. ANB has been high intensity from the outset and only injury will cost him a spot in our Rd 1 team. Whether he stays in will be determined by the results in our first two games, small forwards invariably struggle in losses.

3) Jay Lockhart - Those of you over 50 will remember how nimble and clever Alan Johnson was as a defender. Well Jay has been almost up to that level with great evasiveness and an ability to get the ball moving quickly. He's  a very accurate and long kick which makes him ideal as our set up man and watching him use his voice to direct others made me aware he's got the nous as well as nerve. The issue of course is that to get into the side he has to show why he should be picked ahead of Lord Nev. Jay has more rebound than Nev, but yet to see whether he cam match Nev's prowess in one-on-one battles. The other player he has to get past to play Rd 1 is Nathan Jones, who more than likely will play half-back, subject to injury.  So I'm not about to say he's in for Rd 1, but Jay is certainly putting together an impressive body of work that will make him an easy inclusion down back once there's an injury or two.

There's been plenty of others who have caught my eye so far and it's really pleasing to see T.Mac, Melky, Joel Smith and even Weid so far down the track after injuries last year.

 

 

On Frisky- played backline first half of the year, went forward and was a different player. Must play forward all year. Natural in the air and great finisher

AnB- all well and good, but what position? Very little impact up forward, and can't utilise his running in that role. Doesn't accumulate the ball in the mid and generally a poor user. I like the bloke, but with his skillset I can't see a role other than back up

Has Harmes been going through the mid training or solely backline?

19 minutes ago, binman said:

As someone just over 50 he was one of my all time favorite dees. I just loved the way he played footy.

I would not have picked you to be over 50 Bin! You certainly have seen the up and downs over of this club over the years old timer.

5 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Jackson was there doing the moonwalk!

? MFCSS had me reading this as “Jackson in a moon boot” ???

Some good reports guys @deespicable me @Baghdad Bob @george_on_the_outer

Question i have in regards to Jackson is where do you think he will line up position wise come round 1? Talk before the draft is that the club will train him up as a key forward. But going off what I have just read, there is definitely a chance that he could play as a genuine on baller.

Thanks

Edited December 6, 20195 yr by dazzledavey36

2 hours ago, tappysquads said:

On Frisky- played backline first half of the year, went forward and was a different player. Must play forward all year. Natural in the air and great finisher

AnB- all well and good, but what position? Very little impact up forward, and can't utilise his running in that role. Doesn't accumulate the ball in the mid and generally a poor user. I like the bloke, but with his skillset I can't see a role other than back up

Has Harmes been going through the mid training or solely backline?

Re. ANB - his role is there, it is clear and not many on the list can play it. I posted this in the Pickett thread. So sick of people ignoring his value:

"What you're describing is exactly what ANB was to us in 2018. He was a big, non-spectacular part of our success with a number of games hitting the exact numbers you'd be looking for out of your high half forward:

Rd 2 - 21d 1g
Rd 4 - 22d 1g 6t
Rd 8 - 23d 2.2g
Rd 9 - 17 d 4g 5t
Rd 10 - 23d 3g 6t
Rd 11 - 25d 1.2g 5t
Rd 12 - 19d 1.1g 6t
Rd 17 - 17d 2g 5t
Rd 19 - 22d 1.1g 12t
Rd 20 - 22d 2g
EF v Cats - 20d 1.3g 9t (and if you rewatch this game, he brought the heat very early and was key to our big 1st Q)

For the year he kicked 27.19, averaging 1.1 goals a game at 17 disposals and 4.7 tackles. 
For an undersized roaming HFF, that is high output.

Does he make perfect decisions? Far from it, but his ability to move from contest to contest and use his endurance to get goal scoring opportunities is unmatched in our side. Like many others, his demise in '19 was another reason we couldn't replicate our 2018 form. 
 

He needs to bring this form again and make it consistent over a period of years, but I do not understand the constant criticism of him and why people cannot see his value. "

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Is this a video still from the revamped 2020 version of Cmon Demons ?

Furthermore: I can't wait to see Burgo rubbing down Petracca's thighs to the sound of that chunky bass

 

Edited December 6, 20195 yr by John Demonic

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Was this guy there?

22 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Was this guy there?

 

 

I stub my toe... badly!!! And roll around on the floor for 5 mins swearing...finally able to get up, that is my face with my wife watching on.

47 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

Re. ANB - his role is there, it is clear and not many on the list can play it. I posted this in the Pickett thread. So sick of people ignoring his value:

"What you're describing is exactly what ANB was to us in 2018. He was a big, non-spectacular part of our success with a number of games hitting the exact numbers you'd be looking for out of your high half forward:

Rd 2 - 21d 1g
Rd 4 - 22d 1g 6t
Rd 8 - 23d 2.2g
Rd 9 - 17 d 4g 5t
Rd 10 - 23d 3g 6t
Rd 11 - 25d 1.2g 5t
Rd 12 - 19d 1.1g 6t
Rd 17 - 17d 2g 5t
Rd 19 - 22d 1.1g 12t
Rd 20 - 22d 2g
EF v Cats - 20d 1.3g 9t (and if you rewatch this game, he brought the heat very early and was key to our big 1st Q)

For the year he kicked 27.19, averaging 1.1 goals a game at 17 disposals and 4.7 tackles. 
For an undersized roaming HFF, that is high output.

Does he make perfect decisions? Far from it, but his ability to move from contest to contest and use his endurance to get goal scoring opportunities is unmatched in our side. Like many others, his demise in '19 was another reason we couldn't replicate our 2018 form. 
 

He needs to bring this form again and make it consistent over a period of years, but I do not understand the constant criticism of him and why people cannot see his value. "

 Because one of the so caled 'experts' on here makes a decision/opinion he is no good, the sycophants join in and it becomes fact rather than opinion

Assume ANB wouldn't give a rats what posters think on here, as long as Goodwin picks him

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Some good reports guys @deespicable me @Baghdad Bob @george_on_the_outer

Question i have in regards to Jackson is where do you think he will line up position wise come round 1? Talk before the draft is that the club will train him up as a key forward. But going off what I have just read, there is definitely a chance that he could play as a genuine on baller.

Thanks

Casey

36 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Casey

What position is 'Casey'?

 

17 minutes ago, McQueen said:

What position is 'Casey'?

 

2 hours ago, fr_ap said:

Re. ANB - his role is there, it is clear and not many on the list can play it. I posted this in the Pickett thread. So sick of people ignoring his value:

"What you're describing is exactly what ANB was to us in 2018. He was a big, non-spectacular part of our success with a number of games hitting the exact numbers you'd be looking for out of your high half forward:

Rd 2 - 21d 1g
Rd 4 - 22d 1g 6t
Rd 8 - 23d 2.2g
Rd 9 - 17 d 4g 5t
Rd 10 - 23d 3g 6t
Rd 11 - 25d 1.2g 5t
Rd 12 - 19d 1.1g 6t
Rd 17 - 17d 2g 5t
Rd 19 - 22d 1.1g 12t
Rd 20 - 22d 2g
EF v Cats - 20d 1.3g 9t (and if you rewatch this game, he brought the heat very early and was key to our big 1st Q)

For the year he kicked 27.19, averaging 1.1 goals a game at 17 disposals and 4.7 tackles. 
For an undersized roaming HFF, that is high output.

Does he make perfect decisions? Far from it, but his ability to move from contest to contest and use his endurance to get goal scoring opportunities is unmatched in our side. Like many others, his demise in '19 was another reason we couldn't replicate our 2018 form. 
 

He needs to bring this form again and make it consistent over a period of years, but I do not understand the constant criticism of him and why people cannot see his value. "

When the team is up and about he’s more than serviceable I’ve always said that 

3 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

 Because one of the so caled 'experts' on here makes a decision/opinion he is no good, the sycophants join in and it becomes fact rather than opinion

Assume ANB wouldn't give a rats what posters think on here, as long as Goodwin picks him

Not sure its as black and white as this Saty! Posters here are not necessarily fanboys but observers. His running capacity is superb and he does continue to get in the right positions. However, his ability to tackle and/or kick (perhaps when fatigued) is very poor. No Melb player misses more shots from 15-20 metres out on the run, and no Melb. player currently on the list has so many missed tackles. These are the areas, if he gets right, could mean he is a very dangerous player and great asset to the team.