We need a huge preseason!

[Impatient Sainter]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/686230/mara ... g-machines

Its a pretty damning stat when a back pocket (Wilkie) covers more average distance than any of our wingman or midfielders. Have a look at Langdon's stats Hill needs to get back to those levels, working his backside off each week.

[whiskers3614]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/686230/mara ... g-machines

Its a pretty damning stat when a back pocket (Wilkie) covers more average distance than any of our wingman or midfielders. Have a look at Langdon's stats Hill needs to get back to those levels, working his backside off each week.

Why, not as if he's going to get dropped or have his pay cut!

[Banger9798]

I know I do...

[shanegrambeau]

Tell me what a back pocket is supposed to do. ?
What is a half-back flanker?
How far should a winger run? Or jump?

Sorry, I am being an arse-hole for the purposes of the question.

But, really, ...I do wonder what the roles are these day* s ...:(like the last 40 years)

Wilkie is (no dick needs to say this) ..a an absolute win.

Hill is a champ, just look at the way he bounces the ball...it is like glue and earth have a magnetic charge...but I feel he is wasted as a half-back.

I do not know where to put him. If the field was like a diamond instead of an oval, I have a hunch.

[Wayne42]

Hill is a champ, just look at the way he bounces the ball...it is like glue and earth have a magnetic charge...but I feel he is wasted as a half-back.

I do not know where to put him.

At some point during the 2021 season Hill should have been put in Sandy's team, but he wasn't.

Maybe in order to get him to the Saints they promised him he'd never be dropped.

[Impatient Sainter]

Shanagrambeau it wasnt an indictment of Wilkie quite the contrary. It backs my theory that Wilkie would be better used across the HBF in Coffields role as and as an attacking running intercepting flanker. Then move Highmore to play the lock down role on the 3rd tall.

The message was a lack of our midfield run compared to the two GF sides -

2021

Ed Langdon, 15.30km
Christian Salem, 14.20km
Alex Neal-Bullen, 13.88km HFF
Clayton Oliver, 13.61km
Jake Bowey, 13.33km HBF

Marcus Bontempelli, 14.52km
Lachie Hunter, 13.83km
Caleb Daniel, 13.64km HBF
Jack Macrae, 13.40km
Josh Bruce, 13.39km FF

Callum Wilkie, 14.01km
Jack Sinclair, 13.79km
Jack Billings, 13.74km
Bradley Hill, 13.58km
Sebastian Ross, 13.35km

Wayne42 is also right, Hill should have been dropped throughout the season, but the club simply didnt have the fit players to fill the void.

[Ghost Like]

Considering 3 of our favourite whipping boys are in our Top 5 and their numbers stack up inside the Grand Finalists numbers...any questions and angst should be pointed elsewhere.

#1 is our Fitness Crew and their priorities.

[Impatient Sainter]

Considering 3 of our favourite whipping boys are in our Top 5 and their numbers stack up inside the Grand Finalists numbers...any questions and angst should be pointed elsewhere.

#1 is our Fitness Crew and their priorities.

Exactly thats why our head of fitness was moved on. Billings & Ross have always worked hard and covered the ground but rarely have the comensurate influence on the game. Hill we know has another gear or two to go up, but I would like to see at least two of our first 4 midfileders in that list.

[bigcarl]

Apologies to the boys, but I hope they get absolutely flogged during pre-season training

[shanegrambeau]

Apologies to the boys, but I hope they get absolutely flogged during pre-season training

I will always remember Jason Akermanis telling it for real…that when he was with Bullies, they ran them into the ground in preseason in a bid to get them super fit, and by Round 15 they were roasted and toasted..

While he has always been a show pony, I do rate his views..
So I just hope we balance it right…

Think of the best teams and the best seasons…

Low injury X elite fitness X bona fide stars + committed workers.

[bigcarl]

Apologies to the boys, but I hope they get absolutely flogged during pre-season training

I will always remember Jason Akermanis telling it for real…that when he was with Bullies, they ran them into the ground in preseason in a bid to get them super fit, and by Round 15 they were roasted and toasted..

While he has always been a show pony, I do rate his views..
So I just hope we balance it right…

Think of the best teams and the best seasons…

Low injury X elite fitness X bona fide stars + committed workers.

Yes, fair point about balance. Let’s just say they need to be cherry ripe for Round 1. Cannot afford another sluggish start.

[bigred]

Absolutely it is about balance.

But we were not fit enough. So we were unbalanced. What's worse was that our durability was terrible.

Quite honestly... we were about 20% below the top four sides at best.

[shanegrambeau]

Absolutely it is about balance.

But we were not fit enough. So we were unbalanced. What's worse was that our durability was terrible.

Quite honestly... we were about 20% below the top four sides at best.

Indeed, I think Port Adelaide and Melbourne were both in excellent shape at the start of 2021. Both teams had players that were remarkably in better shape than ever previously.

[spert]

Absolutely it is about balance.

But we were not fit enough. So we were unbalanced. What's worse was that our durability was terrible.

Quite honestly... we were about 20% below the top four sides at best.

I would get them down the athletics track with a good running coach for starters.

[asiu]

this crossed my screen this morning
via central queensland

originally from big footballer
taken by hanners
titled ... what off season !

[spiral3]

Saw big Max (maybe Ben...) running the Yarra trail the other day.
Looked good but he always does at training.
Hope he gets fitter and stronger this season, take his already impressive game up a level or two.