Was going to hot take the other day and say Martin will be in our top 5 players on the list by season end.
Might already be there…
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If I ran a market for the Crichton.
Merrett - just so consistent
Martin - pretty similar to Merrett goes about his business unassuming and gets the job done.
Shiel - look in for a good year.
Wright - coaches love a key forward, he could build on last year with a genuine number 2 beside him.
Parish - He is a match winner, in the big games, will pull votes if he has a injury free year
Redman - Think he will have another good year like last year.
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I went. I stood with @CJohns who I’m sure will give a detailed account soon.
The main thing that stood out to me it was different from last year is that all the players look like they knew what they were meant to be doing. It’s not reinventing any wheel when it comes to brand-new dynamic ways to play football it’s just do the right thing kick a ball when you should kick it, handball when you should handball and be in the right spots.
A few things I noticed about a couple of players I’ll talk about.
Sheil: He really looks like he’s going to carry on from the form he finished in at the end of the season he was a cut above the majority of the midfielders.
Durham: He was really impressive in everything completed it every stoppage looks like he’s put on a little bit of extra upper body size, And his work rate was rewarded with three goals.
BZT: he’s easily our best key defender right now and I want to make a point of mentioning his field kicking it a sneaky weapon for us he makes really good decisions by foot.
Setterfield and Weidman both look like excellent additions , I’m not saying they’re both going to walk straight into the senior team but they both clearly filled a list need and I think we’ve done well getting them both for what they cost us they both are fitting in well.
Hep is still a fantastic leader on field.
McGrath looks excellent off half back, he’s attacking with the ball in hand and he shuts down his immediate opponent, poor old Menzie, he couldn’t get a kick on him.
Alwyn Davey Jr is fast. To me if you look at all the other younger first and second you guys that are vying for opportunities Alwyn looks the least overawed by the situation. It’s as if he’s grown up around the club his whole life and he’s finally getting his chance to play and he’s enjoying himself , like “it’s about time I finally got a go” he got a lot of the footy in the Match sim ended up with at least three I’m gonna say four shots on goal didn’t kick any of them LOL but all of them will be shots he will he will finish when he gets a little more experience. Not in that ‘he’s a young kid who needs to learn about AFL’ way, more ‘hey mate at this level we go back and go through a process and then have a shot at goal’ way. One of his goal attempts he just took three steps and had a shot when there were no options to pass it off to. In general play his decision-making is excellent it’s very much like Walla, in that he always gives the ball to someone well and in a better position. Really excited about what I saw from him today.
Speaking of the great man Walla, I walked away from today saying he’s about 80% where you would expect the best version of him to be fitness wise, And as I said to Scott we’ve probably played him in the seniors Less fit than it is now. All the things that make Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti are still there. He is a class above everyone else in our forward line he has zip, And his disposal by foot is still elite, and he still knows where the goals are.
It was clearly evident that he is relishing having the lads to mentor. There was this great moment after the mid break in the match Sim where all the players came out and went down to each end of the ground to practice their goal kicking much like they do at the beginning of games before the first bounce. Walla, Davey and Tex were all together in the pocket having shots on goal. One of them call for a football from one of the trainers and even though there was plenty to go around they all decided to have a competition to see who could get it first 
so while the rest of the team was going through they’re very professional goalkeeping routines we had these three who were having a kick with their mates. It was Walla who after they all had their fun, (Jayden had come over at this point as to not miss out) Got them to refocus and get their heads back into the game it was about to start back up. It was just great to see. I think we will see some of him during the preseason games, he might play a half maybe even more but he’s tracking really well. Our forward line is so much better when is in it.
I left before the end so that’s all I can comment on but I walked away thinking we’re looking better than last year, I’m not saying we’re gonna bolt into the finals but we’re on the right track.
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Great reports, some cause for optimism.
I don’t want to overstate it (thought clearly I am), but Nic Martin is going to be a special, special player - like Jim Hird vibes. Dodoro gets a lot of flack (some deserved) but plucking this fella from the WAFL deserves a stack of credit.
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Great to see Durham stepping it up more have been on his bandwagon from the start, getting all optimistic again for the team, said to myself I wouldn’t this year and just play it down, ■■■■ that Go Bombers!!
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Just to give you guys a Gauge of Alwyn’s speed, there was a moment in the matchplay where someone was switching the ball and was kicking towards someone on the wing but it went off the side of the boot and was heading towards what everyone there thought was going to be bounce and then go out of bounds, most of the players stopped waiting for this to happen but all of a sudden out of nowhere there was Alwyn, who not only got to it before it went out of bounds, but he actually marked it! , Scotty said he’s probably the only person on the list who could’ve got to that. He can match the speed of anyone else on the list but has this extra 5 km an hour that he can deploy when required and it’s impressive.
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Well, looks like Durham is going to push his way back into my Best 22 on the back of that training session. No idea how I’m going to fit him in.
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That’s a great report, @CJohns, and I’ve just listened to your podcast. What a contrast to what you were saying on Wednesday about not really being at all excited about anything you’d seen in this pre-season.
Judging on the above and the pod, it seems like you’re excited now, and I’m damn glad to see it!
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Way too outside to win one. Unless he picks up a knack for the nitty gritty
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Jayden Davey is going to be hard to hold back, he looks really keen to get out there, after he’d finished his running and goal kicking he kept sneaking up to where the players where interchanging from as if he was hoping for one of the coaches to say “go on then”
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Thank you to everyone who was there and has provided their thoughts and insights. Hugely appreciated. So good to read so many positive comments.
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That’s your take away from the last 20 odd posts
Don’t feed into him. Loves a bite.
Yes i was thinking today… man i needed to see this.
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Any pics?
How selfish!
Very grateful for the measured observations. Whilst we keep lid on it does sound improved. Happy to hear Zerk nail a couple of blokes. More of this needed.
Walla watch?
The grin on my face reading these Davey and Walla reports…
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Who was Cox opposed to?