Based on what?
In 2020, Draper largely played as sole ruck in the games he played and attended 75% of centre bounces.
Same in 2021. Draper played as the sole ruck, attending 87% of centre bounces
In 2022, Draper attended 70% of centre bounces.
Yep me too. All in sync as well.
Maybe game plans are over rated now itās now about who can execute their skills and play better on game day
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They are the percentages he played ruck whist on the ground. But how much time was he on the ground?
yep if the gameplan isnt āworkingā its usually because your team isnt executing.
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You reckon they just teach themselves where to run to, and when they need to run there, and what they should do if an opponent does Y instead of X?
Thatās all game plan.
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Weāve had three good drafts in a row. As Iāve said previously, we hit rock bottom end of 2023, I still think in time that will ultimately be the time we turned the corner as a Club in rebuilding. The wins always take time to materialise.
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Based on he was perennially injured and as such was also never fit. And there are far more ruck contests in a game than just centre bounces.
I dont mind the odd āgloomierā report. I really do get the sense that people get over optimistic on the off season when their teams metal isnāt being tested each week.
My sense from the reports is the team is looking fitter than ever. The way training is being run looks more proffesional than in the recent past. The new recruits look good. On the other hand more than one person has reported that the skills are still a weakness. Iām not upset to hear that. Given what we have seen this team offer up in the last 12 months, possibly not a bad assemssment.
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Good post, thanks. Itās easy to get optimistic at this time of year but the habits take time to shake.
I donāt think 2MP will ever be aggressive and therefore reliable contested mark. Iām hoping May comes through as heās the obvious solution. Mc Grath will always have weaknesses but his leadership is exceptional. All the other things might not get resolved quickly, thatās why another draft and free agency is still key to our ascent up the ladder. Caddy Iām sure will be fine and benefit from better delivery from better kickers in future.
Thanks for the post and update.
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I really donāt think so.
We have fixed our recruitment/list management.
Our S&C is looking like it is fixed.
Only the coaching group to be upgraded and we are on our way.
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Howās his kicking?
I think weāre all sold on his potential if that means how he moves. The sidestep, turns are a real attribute. Kicking with him is the thing. He certainly has something going for him, an exciting prospect.
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No, those stats are percentages of all CBAs.
Draper has averaged around 77% game time throughout his career. 2025 was his highest at 86% in the games he played.
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Must admit havent seen him kick enough to get a real sense. Like Tsatas i want to see real match practice scenarios first
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Iām still waiting for us to play the Flying V formation
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Head coach thinks coaching is overrated.
Nothing is going to hold us back from a top 4 finish this year.
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We wait and see. Normal. Then we make assessment.
Not sorry but lay off Nino!! Iām sick of it! Whoever has a point to make go for it. Itās mostly good and we all blunder.
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I wouldnāt say I could articulate the Lionās entire gameplan but I can confidently say that a core part of it is patently clear - they have a directive to bite off the corridor kick from the backline as often as humanly possible. Especially when in the hands of a few of their better ball users.
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I did hesitate before posting. I was trying to report simply and succinctly.
As I said, many things were done well but the very obvious things not done well seemed to he acceptable to the coaches, which in preseason I found strange. There were many āgreat passā āgood getā āwell doneā comments but no ānot good enoughā āgo harder or steady next timeā or āthatās rubbishā comments. Maybe theyāre not allowed. Or maybe the running loads and intensity are greater this year so thereās a bit more skill variation allowed.
Also Iām old school and being rebuked and doing push ups / sit ups / sprinting to a goal square etc for poor execution was normal back in the bow and arrow days!!!
also training was in two groups on opposite sides of the main oval. My comments apply to the Melrose dve side only. The ball hit the ground and was mis directed quite a few times on that side.
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Well the President said it will be āa tough yearāā¦..
Didnāt anybody compute that?!
I donāt think we can realistically expect much this year. A cleaner injury list hopefully translating to development of youth, an opportunity to create synergy from on field stability and a competitive spirit most weeks. And a hell of a lot of frustration throughout.. Thatās it isnāt it? Just cutting through the fog of preseason thatās all. 
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