Special mentions to the BBBBQ master - thanks @hambo you’re a legend
And finally, best newbie (and friends) @Glu for really helping out the food situation. Hope we see you around in the future. Welcome!
But mostly, thanks to Lachie from EFC, he looked after us really well and got us put in the Amart Deck. The best place to watch training from.
Three highlights for the day, Rob H dropping by, Stringer sans bucket cap and Franga taking a hanga within the first few minutes. Footy is almost back peoples - get excited!
I don’t think anyone has mentioned it , Xavier Campbell arrived early and apologized for having to attend a finance meeting. Another couple of years and it will be invite only. You heard it here first.
Implementation of a traditional set up at centre bounces – Clubs must have six Players inside both 50-Metre arcs, with one Player required to be inside the Goal Square. Four Midfield Players are positioned inside the Centre Square with the Wingmen required to be placed somewhere along the Wing.
Must be the area between the two points of the square on each wing.
Not sure whether it specifies that each wing must be occupied by one player. Can you have two of your own players on one wing?
FFS. Typical AFL half arsed attempt to define the change.
In any event, even if it is interpreted that the wingman would have to start somewhere along the sideline of the square, the moment the ball is bounced, they could run from the back end of the at line, across the square, to a defensive position, preventing the quick run through that area that has been talked about. Not much different to starting an extra at the back end of the square like in the past.
Agree with the Half -arsedness
But you’re forgetting that both sides are in motion- if you start at the back of the square and defending the attackers running forwards players will collide after 12.5 metres each (approximately)
If you’re running across from the side a player has 25 metres to run to reach the mid point.ie collide or tackle.
On the topic of “team first”, there was a discussion about accurate self assessment from players. On the one hand, if players say that they aren’t feeling quite right, they can be penalised by not being selected, whereas if they say they’re fine while not fully fit, that could affect the result of the game. Rob mentioned that teaching the younger players in particular to accurately report any fitness issues can be difficult, because they desperately want to play. He mentioned Matt Dea, who passed concussion tests throughout the week after head contact, and got through training, but put his hand up and admitted that he wasn’t feeling quite right, and this was highlighted as an act of putting the team first.
Although Joey’s bad start to last year wasn’t specifically mentioned in this conversation, as Nackers already noted, even having someone of Daniher’s caliber playing half fit cost the team more than playing a fully fit alternate player, even if that player was normally a lower selection.
Even if Daniher is fully fit by round 1, which seems likely, he needs to also show that he is match fit and has his footy “touch” before he is selected, because we have the depth to cover him with match fit players if he’s not.
Hi Hoffy,
Do we have a provisional date/week yet?
It all kicks off in 2 weeks time
The preseason series starts Feb 20
The praccy match against Melbourne is on Feb 21
The best 22++ play on Feb 28