Discussion 2021: Strategy, Team & Player Discussions
- Thread starter Darkie
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I am always concerned about the job security of rookies from clubs who are contending/In their window.
Richmond, Port, Geelong, Brisbane and maybe even St Kilda. Will be interesting to see how many rookies these clubs name come round 1. Geelong traditionally have been a good club for blooding rooks but they will be throwing everything at a flag this year so maybe less so than in previous seasons.
Richmond, Port, Geelong, Brisbane and maybe even St Kilda. Will be interesting to see how many rookies these clubs name come round 1. Geelong traditionally have been a good club for blooding rooks but they will be throwing everything at a flag this year so maybe less so than in previous seasons.
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Brownlow medallist back on track after injury-interrupted summer
REIGNING Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale will this week resume full match simulation with Brisbane after suffering a calf injury to start his pre-season.
The star midfielder, who has been renowned for his durability at AFL level, has faced a disrupted summer having dealt with the soft-tissue concern.
Neale has sat out the Lions' past two intraclub games but has been involved in competitive work over the past fortnight, having been restricted to running before that.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/549427/brownlow-medallist-back-on-track-after-injury-interrupted-summer
REIGNING Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale will this week resume full match simulation with Brisbane after suffering a calf injury to start his pre-season.
The star midfielder, who has been renowned for his durability at AFL level, has faced a disrupted summer having dealt with the soft-tissue concern.
Neale has sat out the Lions' past two intraclub games but has been involved in competitive work over the past fortnight, having been restricted to running before that.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/549427/brownlow-medallist-back-on-track-after-injury-interrupted-summer
Just came across this from a Swans supporter watching training :-
* Logan McDonald was impressive, I was relieved to note. He isn't spindly and he's got a good tank. I seem to recall someone recently posting that he and Campbell aren't ready to play AFL, but I'm not sure I agree. Why not? What I liked was the way McDonald kept running strongly and offering leads all match and also remained focused and concentrated on what was happening in the game. He seemed to maintain his concentration well and worked over first Fox and then O'Connor, with some success. Before today I was still feeling a little bit that, with such a young key position prospect, there is probably a bit of speculation and, despite his great promise, he may not live up to it. Obviously that is still possible but I left the oval feeling that his lofty reputation has a solid foundation and the odds of him being a success are pretty good.
* I didn't notice McCartin or Brand - doesn't mean they weren't playing because I didn't do a roll call and try to check who was there. Ditto JPK - didn't clock him. Most of the players were playing in their own numbers, but a few were not.
* Heeney on the other hand was playing and he got on the end of a couple of goals. He's looking like he'll be right for round 1.
* Buddy, conversely, was a bit of a forlorn sight, sitting on his own on the sidelines on the far side of the ground just watching. He reminded me of a proud but ageing caged lion.
* Ling was playing a really accountable defensive role, mostly on Hayward while I was watching. I thought he did pretty well. I realise this means that Hayward must have been playing mostly forward.
* Amartey used his greater size to make life difficult for Gould quite effectively, which was great to see. Gould was playing pretty physically, with lots of pushing and shoving. I didn't get to witness Gould doing a lot of rebounding and such but I did see that he kept very close to the player he was defending against, unlike Melican who was a lot looser. Gould also had to struggle a bit with McLean, who is a unit, and a bigger unit than Gould is. I remember someone posted that Gould had the better of Logan McDonald when they were matched up on another day recently - I would have liked to see that.
* Melican spent quite a lot of time matched up against Reid, and I thought that Reid had the better of him.
* Campbell kicked well, repeatedly finding his targets. Then again, so did Errol Gulden! Campbell was playing off half-back whereas Gulden was more in the midfield. Gulden probably got more of the ball and used it very well, setting up a couple of goals in the time I was watching. I really liked what I saw from Gulden. He could be ready to play but he is certainly smaller than most and I wonder if that will hold him back. I'm thinking it may not.
* it was a disturbingly high scoring match sim. I put this down to the lesser defensive pressure being applied compared to a real match.
* I least observed the midfielders and what was happening there. Hickey spent a fair bit of time in the ruck. Hickey, Amartey and McLean were all playing on the same team (red) and I think it was mostly Sinclair opposing Hickey and Amartey in the ruck.
I have heard good things about Gulden a few times now, certainly sounds like he is in the frame for a round 1 debut along with Campbell & Gould in the mix.
Good news on Heeney for those that are keen on him still also.
* Logan McDonald was impressive, I was relieved to note. He isn't spindly and he's got a good tank. I seem to recall someone recently posting that he and Campbell aren't ready to play AFL, but I'm not sure I agree. Why not? What I liked was the way McDonald kept running strongly and offering leads all match and also remained focused and concentrated on what was happening in the game. He seemed to maintain his concentration well and worked over first Fox and then O'Connor, with some success. Before today I was still feeling a little bit that, with such a young key position prospect, there is probably a bit of speculation and, despite his great promise, he may not live up to it. Obviously that is still possible but I left the oval feeling that his lofty reputation has a solid foundation and the odds of him being a success are pretty good.
* I didn't notice McCartin or Brand - doesn't mean they weren't playing because I didn't do a roll call and try to check who was there. Ditto JPK - didn't clock him. Most of the players were playing in their own numbers, but a few were not.
* Heeney on the other hand was playing and he got on the end of a couple of goals. He's looking like he'll be right for round 1.
* Buddy, conversely, was a bit of a forlorn sight, sitting on his own on the sidelines on the far side of the ground just watching. He reminded me of a proud but ageing caged lion.
* Ling was playing a really accountable defensive role, mostly on Hayward while I was watching. I thought he did pretty well. I realise this means that Hayward must have been playing mostly forward.
* Amartey used his greater size to make life difficult for Gould quite effectively, which was great to see. Gould was playing pretty physically, with lots of pushing and shoving. I didn't get to witness Gould doing a lot of rebounding and such but I did see that he kept very close to the player he was defending against, unlike Melican who was a lot looser. Gould also had to struggle a bit with McLean, who is a unit, and a bigger unit than Gould is. I remember someone posted that Gould had the better of Logan McDonald when they were matched up on another day recently - I would have liked to see that.
* Melican spent quite a lot of time matched up against Reid, and I thought that Reid had the better of him.
* Campbell kicked well, repeatedly finding his targets. Then again, so did Errol Gulden! Campbell was playing off half-back whereas Gulden was more in the midfield. Gulden probably got more of the ball and used it very well, setting up a couple of goals in the time I was watching. I really liked what I saw from Gulden. He could be ready to play but he is certainly smaller than most and I wonder if that will hold him back. I'm thinking it may not.
* it was a disturbingly high scoring match sim. I put this down to the lesser defensive pressure being applied compared to a real match.
* I least observed the midfielders and what was happening there. Hickey spent a fair bit of time in the ruck. Hickey, Amartey and McLean were all playing on the same team (red) and I think it was mostly Sinclair opposing Hickey and Amartey in the ruck.
I have heard good things about Gulden a few times now, certainly sounds like he is in the frame for a round 1 debut along with Campbell & Gould in the mix.
Good news on Heeney for those that are keen on him still also.
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