5 hours ago, biggestred said:

Yes but my point is that its injuries that make it a horrible pre season. And we have very few, touch wood.

Personally, I’d take more injuries ala-2019 over the Oliver/Smith car crash we’re witnessing and Petty near-requesting a trade.

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Personally, I’d take more injuries ala-2019 over the Oliver/Smith car crash we’re witnessing and Petty near-requesting a trade.

One core player 'almost leaves' - also known as... 'stays'.

One fringe player dumb enough to be caught allegedly powdering during the season.

One superstar player with personal issues related to ADHD and side effects of the related medications.

 

I mean, throw in 'one of the shortest and mildest injury lists in the competition' and it doesn't seem so bad. Certainly better than any of Richmond's premiership year pre-seasons.

This train of thought made me look back. I know we don't comment at all about Oliver's personal situation but my memory has been jogged; Lance Franklin, a player almost as good as Oliver, took indefinite leave from playing right at the start of the 2015 finals series citing mental health issues overwhelming him. Always worth remembering that these things happen and that players do recover and return to their absolute best. Franklin played every game and kicked 81 goals in 2016.

Oliver, still just 26, remains on target for the ultimate records of most disposals, most tackles and most clearances in the history of the game. I plan to celebrate every Oliver milestone a little more knowing that he has had to get past some obstacles on the way.

News..

18 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

One core player 'almost leaves' - also known as... 'stays'.

One fringe player dumb enough to be caught allegedly powdering during the season.

One superstar player with personal issues related to ADHD and side effects of the related medications.

 

I mean, throw in 'one of the shortest and mildest injury lists in the competition' and it doesn't seem so bad. Certainly better than any of Richmond's premiership year pre-seasons.

This train of thought made me look back. I know we don't comment at all about Oliver's personal situation but my memory has been jogged; Lance Franklin, a player almost as good as Oliver, took indefinite leave from playing right at the start of the 2015 finals series citing mental health issues overwhelming him. Always worth remembering that these things happen and that players do recover and return to their absolute best. Franklin played every game and kicked 81 goals in 2016.

Oliver, still just 26, remains on target for the ultimate records of most disposals, most tackles and most clearances in the history of the game. I plan to celebrate every Oliver milestone a little more knowing that he has had to get past some obstacles on the way.

Nice work. And you didn't even sit on the fence by including the qualifier "arguably" in this phrase.

On 17/01/2024 at 12:07, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

To be fair to the Herald-Sun, the headline writers have to come up with something and whenever Demons are involved, using "hell" is always going to be a natural fit. It's like bad news at Carlton will result in a headline using "blues" and for the Bombers an injured player will be "grounded". 

Bombers an injured player will be "grounded"

Crash landed sounds much better. 

3 hours ago, monoccular said:

Bombers an injured player will be "grounded"

Crash landed sounds much better. 

In the bombers case if drugs were at all involved, it could be: Damn-Busted!

If I can clear up this Lachy Hunter scenario... He trained extensively and at pretty much full pace, running Kicking and drills which would really have tested his Calf. He was in total care of a trainer who put him through his paces and unless sore today , would expect him to be with the main squad tommorrow! Otherwise rule him out for 10 years!😁

On 17/01/2024 at 11:40, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I can't recall a worse pre season (with all respect to Troy Broadbridge in 2004) in terms of negative media and distractions.

Seems the players see it much differently, thankfully!

On 18/01/2024 at 15:15, The Jackson FIX said:

Personally, I’d take more injuries ala-2019 over the Oliver/Smith car crash we’re witnessing and Petty near-requesting a trade.

You’re in need of some serious Andy MFCSS treatment, amigo!

15 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Seems the players see it much differently, thankfully!

That’s who are focussed and it should be that way. Media always dress things better or worse than real situation.

I think we are experiencing an average style lead up with some hiccups some with which we can ignore and solve quickly and others will test us to our resilience and how our recruitment and depth have come on as I believe we have.

Cant wait to see our team and the opportunities it is going to give some great talent. Those that are half glass empty are looking at worst case scenarios and I prefer the  half glass full approach and fullyexpect our early tough draw to get the best out of our talent. 

On 16/01/2024 at 21:29, DeeSpencer said:

Wouldn’t be bad news if he was out for 38 weeks, yet alone back by Wednesday 

I can't imagine hating on one of my own players like you do.  What happened?  Did he fresh-air you at a meet-and-greet?  

538 possessions last year says hello by the way

And his kicking around the boundary line is a coaching directive in case you haven't noticed

All our players do it as we're not a corridor footy team when advancing forward

Edited January 31, 20241 yr by Macca

6 minutes ago, Macca said:

What happened?  Did he fresh-air you at a meet-and-greet?  

Gold 🤣🤣

If Hunter has retweaked his calf and isn't fit going into the early rounds it'll be a really good opportunity for a Howes/Rivers/Windsor to step up and make the position theirs. I'd love to see Hunter and Langdon forced to find another level to remain in the team.

Edited January 31, 20241 yr by Roost it far

With Hunter unlikely to play the opening round this is my new 46.

B: Turner, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Lever, Rivers

C: Howes, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Billings, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Schache, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Laurie, Chandler

SUB: Woewodin

Casey

B: Hore, Tomlinson, Adams

HB: Connelly*, McDonald, Lual*

C: Steele*, White*, Windsor

HF: Tholstrup, Farris-White, Sestan

F: Moniz-Wakefield, Jefferson, McAdam

FOLL: Verrall, Szybkowski*, Lewis*

IC: K. Brown, Bell*, Freeman*, Baldi*, Shipp* 

3 hours ago, Roost it far said:

If Hunter has retweaked his calf and isn't fit going into the early rounds it'll be a really good opportunity for a Howes/Rivers/Windsor to step up and make the position theirs. I'd love to see Hunter and Langdon forced to find another level to remain in the team.

Right now both Lingers and Lachie have the wing positions but it is their’s to lose in my opinion.

So how can they lose it. 

Naturally by injury and therefore unavailability, as well as underwhelming form especially in the match sim or community series match/es, and on the training track over the pre season period. 

If the latter occurs who are the genuine replacements the MC have at their disposal. At least half a dozen IMO. They are:

Brayshaw, Howes, Billings, Bowey, Salem, Windsor are the top candidates. All depends upon the half back positions plus half forwards and the possibility of youth forcing their hand by Windsor grabbing the opportunity on the next month with some real stirring wingers club style footy that fits our team play in 2024. 

Any one of those six could well find themselves moved there anyway if they are in the 23 on Mar7. 

Looks as though Lachie is chasing time so I would like either Howes or Windsor for Club development excitement, Angus for absolute dependability, Bowey and Billings for new style winger and Salo because he would tear the small SCG wings with a 2021 GF Masterclass that only he could do. 

Who do you want to join the Wingers Club or have we got an existing member ready and waiting? 
 

15 hours ago, Macca said:

I can't imagine hating on one of my own players like you do.  What happened?  Did he fresh-air you at a meet-and-greet?  

538 possessions last year says hello by the way

And his kicking around the boundary line is a coaching directive in case you haven't noticed

All our players do it as we're not a corridor footy team when advancing forward

I've never liked his playing for free kicks and what a surprise with the interpretation change he stopped getting them last year. I don't like the way he attacks the ball, especially with how much his aerial game has diminished. I didn't like that he was having issues getting through preseasons and losing pace and penetration on his kicking. If it's personal in any way it's because I don't like his off field behaviour and didn't think we needed to add that to our group. 

Possessions mean little to me if you don't do anything with them, especially in an outside role with a strong half back line and midfield feeding you the ball.

I was literally at training yesterday where the focus was on bringing the ball back through the corridor, especially with run and carry in the handball drills but also in the full ground drill. Maybe that's a coaching change with Yze out and McQualter in, but I'd argue that coaching change needed to be made in mid 2022 not now. Plus you can still use the ball around the boundary and hit targets, most of Hunter's up and under kicks went to no one or the opposition. He found targets in the preseason then couldn't do it when the real stuff was happening.

Taj Woewodin is a bit more off the pace than I would've liked and I don't think Windsor is ready just yet, although he does a few excellent things with raw pace. So it's Billings or Brayshaw as the likely wing options and we might like them elsewhere. So I've softened my stance that yes I'd like Lachie back somewhat sooner. I'd never seriously wish injury on a demons player either, I'd just like coaches to try some alternatives than a declining player who spent most of the year demonstrating the same flaws. 

7 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I've never liked his playing for free kicks and what a surprise with the interpretation change he stopped getting them last year. I don't like the way he attacks the ball, especially with how much his aerial game has diminished. I didn't like that he was having issues getting through preseasons and losing pace and penetration on his kicking. If it's personal in any way it's because I don't like his off field behaviour and didn't think we needed to add that to our group. 

Possessions mean little to me if you don't do anything with them, especially in an outside role with a strong half back line and midfield feeding you the ball.

I was literally at training yesterday where the focus was on bringing the ball back through the corridor, especially with run and carry in the handball drills but also in the full ground drill. Maybe that's a coaching change with Yze out and McQualter in, but I'd argue that coaching change needed to be made in mid 2022 not now. Plus you can still use the ball around the boundary and hit targets, most of Hunter's up and under kicks went to no one or the opposition. He found targets in the preseason then couldn't do it when the real stuff was happening.

Taj Woewodin is a bit more off the pace than I would've liked and I don't think Windsor is ready just yet, although he does a few excellent things with raw pace. So it's Billings or Brayshaw as the likely wing options and we might like them elsewhere. So I've softened my stance that yes I'd like Lachie back somewhat sooner. I'd never seriously wish injury on a demons player either, I'd just like coaches to try some alternatives than a declining player who spent most of the year demonstrating the same flaws. 

That's a better type of post

I'd also argue that we need to use our wings in a much more robust manner and I would look at switching the wings so the boundary line is not their friend

Also, constantly kicking into a crowded forward line often doesn't do the kicker any favours

We need to move the ball with way more speed and more use of the corridor ... in a more scientific manner

It's pleasing that we are spending a lot more time practising a better approaching to the forwards (that will help players like Hunter)

So I thank you and others for the training reports

55 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I was literally at training yesterday where the focus was on bringing the ball back through the corridor, especially with run and carry in the handball drills but also in the full ground drill. Maybe that's a coaching change with Yze out and McQualter in, but I'd argue that coaching change needed to be made in mid 2022 not now. Plus you can still use the ball around the boundary and hit targets, most of Hunter's up and under kicks went to no one or the opposition. He found targets in the preseason then couldn't do it when the real stuff was happening.

i think it's often underestimated how hard it is to change a game plan mid-season

it's happened, and it's worked, and we definitely changed our entire structure and the way we set up mid-2023, but less so in 2022

when you've got time to work on tactics and roles is in the off-season, not when yr in the hunt for a premiership with the style of play that you execute, as i'd argue was the case in the last couple of years

fwiw, i thought hunter had a strong first season in red and blue, and we paid little to get him; he is a senior player in a team that is experienced and in the hunt for premierships and i think will continue to be so in 2024

37 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

i think it's often underestimated how hard it is to change a game plan mid-season

it's happened, and it's worked, and we definitely changed our entire structure and the way we set up mid-2023, but less so in 2022

when you've got time to work on tactics and roles is in the off-season, not when yr in the hunt for a premiership with the style of play that you execute, as i'd argue was the case in the last couple of years

fwiw, i thought hunter had a strong first season in red and blue, and we paid little to get him; he is a senior player in a team that is experienced and in the hunt for premierships and i think will continue to be so in 2024

The other thing that should be taken into account is if the players are adhering to the game plan with their entries into the forward line, then blaming only one player is unfair

Langdon, Petracca, Clarrie, Viney, Sparrow etc all turn over the ball in the same manner (heading forward).  So the clanger count is a team-wide issue not just the one player. 

And it can be strongly argued that it's not a player issue but a game plan issue

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

, but I'd argue that coaching change needed to be made in mid 2022 not now.

For what it's worth I've not noticed any changes in our training this year to last. The ball movement drills (which happen on Wednesdays) have always focused on finding a bloke in the corridor.  But these drills are only 12 v 12 or 14 v 14 and it's easier to do.

I'm not expecting any great change to our game plan. It will be more direct if JvR and Petty get up and firing but if not I think it will be the same. Unless they move Tmac forward we've only got one competitive KPF at the moment (I don't include Schache, he's just not competitive) and we will rely on McAdam and Fritta to provide aerial targets.

I don't mind Hunter, though I think he'd be more suited closer to goal where his habit of looking for tricks and shenanigans to keep the ball alive and bouncing in the right direction would be more likely to produce interesting results.

I like a scenario where one of our wings is covered by two players, where one is more defensive and committed to getting right back (think Bowey with permission to push up the ground) and one with more emphasis on going forward and bringing chaos (Hunter, Billings or even the draftees, for example).

Hunter would have to be a bit worried about it, certainly more than Goodwin for example, because with the recruits we've brought in he is perhaps the single player in the team with the most 'like for like' replacements available at similar standard.

19 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

For what it's worth I've not noticed any changes in our training this year to last. The ball movement drills (which happen on Wednesdays) have always focused on finding a bloke in the corridor.  But these drills are only 12 v 12 or 14 v 14 and it's easier to do.

I'm not expecting any great change to our game plan. It will be more direct if JvR and Petty get up and firing but if not I think it will be the same. Unless they move Tmac forward we've only got one competitive KPF at the moment (I don't include Schache, he's just not competitive) and we will rely on McAdam and Fritta to provide aerial targets.

I remember thinking we had it sorted last year as well after watching our ball movement in the early games. I also rewatched the GF ‘21 replay recently and noticed that we were much more direct then than we are now. 

 

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

For what it's worth I've not noticed any changes in our training this year to last. The ball movement drills (which happen on Wednesdays) have always focused on finding a bloke in the corridor.  But these drills are only 12 v 12 or 14 v 14 and it's easier to do.

I'm not expecting any great change to our game plan. It will be more direct if JvR and Petty get up and firing but if not I think it will be the same. Unless they move Tmac forward we've only got one competitive KPF at the moment (I don't include Schache, he's just not competitive) and we will rely on McAdam and Fritta to provide aerial targets.

Who is the ONE competitive forward because if it’s JVR then you are labelling Petty uncompetitive. And if it’s Petty then JVR is in your opinion not competitive. 

Very harsh judgement in fact incorrect based on the situation as of now. We also have Fritta who is competitive and I believe McAdam will be a boost to our goal  kicking, and give Kossie more support to grow his game. 

Others who are IMO set for a better season are Trac as well as ANB Spargo Chandler. Rotation of these riches should address some problems and add extra dimensions to enable goals a strength rather than a weakness or hindrance.

12 minutes ago, 58er said:

Who is the ONE competitive forward because if it’s JVR then you are labelling Petty uncompetitive. And if it’s Petty then JVR is in your opinion not competitive. 

Very harsh judgement in fact incorrect based on the situation as of now. We also have Fritta who is competitive and I believe McAdam will be a boost to our goal  kicking, and give Kossie more support to grow his game. 

Others who are IMO set for a better season are Trac as well as ANB Spargo Chandler. Rotation of these riches should address some problems and add extra dimensions to enable goals a strength rather than a weakness or hindrance.

Suggest you read my post more carefully. Petty is clearly competitive. 

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

Suggest you read my post more carefully. Petty is clearly competitive. 

There is no indication that only Petty is competitive. You say about if  both getting up and running and no indication who is. 
Suggest you re read your post. 

You may be clear but no one else is. 

You are wrong in any case as JVR for his youth and skill competes as hard as any player in the team in marking duels and in the throw ins in the ruck. 

Only part of your post I agree with is about Schache who needs to raise his standards. 

Thank you greatly though for your training reports for us out of the state. We are very lucky you keep us up to date prior to the real games.