Not exactly a training report but I'm lapping up everyone's observations right now in this optimistic preseason period, so might as well post this one with pre and post Xmas impressions
1.Jack Higgins – Not much different to last year, plying forward, not a great runner, gone are the days where he was the great new recruit. Still has the tricks but shiney new toys have surpassed him at training.
Post – Has trimmed down and has played an active role in match sim, looking to get front and centre of the likes of King, Caminiti and Sharman. Probably R1
2.Marcus Windhager – looks cut, running hard keeping up in the hard running drills just behind Wilson. Looks set for a big year, so far playing out of the midfield in whatever match sim they have been playing.
Post – So match sim has been playing out of the mids more, less of a run with role but still do so. Has improved his upper body strength and running ability.
3.Zak Jones – One of the standouts at training. Has been quick enthusiastic, hard at it every session. Accuracy (under no pressure like everyone else) has been excellent. Was devastated not to have played finals and having a bad interrupted season. Get him fit and he is like a new recruit.
Post – Disappointingly has been hampered by leg injuries and a touch of concussion, set to be right by R1. Running hard and very switched on. Yelling at bj in a match sim because he wasn’t throwing it in quick enough. Competitive beast. Competition for R1
4.Lance Collard- Will take time, very raw and physically underdeveloped. Is a natural footballer and has plenty of raw talent, has missed a few training sessions from what I can see. Seems to be pretty happy and settled.
Post – absolutely blitzed a match sim where he took a contested mark and missed, then took off with a four bounce effort just missing, then almost taking mark of the year, then outpointed Stocker one on one to kick truly from 45 on the angle. All in the space of about 7 minutes. Last match sim quiet until he bobs up out of nowhere and kicks a crummers goal. Think will get a chance this year. There are going to be some very unhappy WCE supporters.
5.Brad Crouch – currently being managed.
Post – joined in full training, full body contact match sim, in and under, knee heavily strapped so still being managed, should be Ok fo R1
6.Sebastian Ross – looks the same as usual. Fit, hard runner, poor kick. Have a feeling his days are numbered, many more impressive so far this preseason. Not that he is disappointing, but he has reached his best and is trying to maintain it.
Post – Same old Seb, gets the ball, does something good then kick one of his high helicopter kicks. Has been a great servant and will probably get the nob R1, but I am hoping we have the likes of Wilson Henry, Windy etc go past him this season.
7.Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – taller, more filled out, working off a half back flank (think he may take Sinc’s position as he rolls through the midfield more.) A beautiful user of the ball, can only get better for Naz.
Post – coming of a half back, trying to get the ball in his hands as often as possible. Linking up with Hill and Henry to give us some fantastic run and gun out of defence. Certain R1 starter
8.Brad Hill – very happy, hard running guy at training. Always having a laugh, getting around the younger indigenous guys, maintains his standards at training.
Post – senior player, lots of talk revving up players, very loud, leads by example and is linking beautifully with the likes of Naz, Henry, Wood, etc. Does a fair bit of talking with Ross and the assistants. Coaching a possibility for Brad? Certain R1
9.Jack Steele – looks a bit heavier than last year. Being managed
Post – like Crouch, in full training, looks fit and raring to go, not missing a beat in match sim. Certain R1 starter
10.Mitch Owens – filled out, being managed. A real specimen.
Post – playing match sim, full training, having stints through the guts and up forward, looking better every time I see him. Certain R1
11.Hunter Clark – has been impressive at Preseason. Hard running, looking fit, playing inside last training session at semi contact match sim. Hopefully he stays injury free, with the likes of Henry, Dow, Steele, Crouch, Windy, Sincs and Mitch and even Wilson running through the guts, may finally show his top 10 draft pick form and skill.
Post – can’t catch a break (except for a bone) see above, pre Xmas had been quite impressive, going in for the hard ball and looking very good. Gets an errant elbow and he cracks and eye socket. Physically right for R1, but geez these head shots would be an effort mentally.
12.Max King – managed. Taking uncontested marks two hands above his head.
Post – in full training, looking like a force to be reckoned with. Kicked four in three quarters the other day. Certain R1
13.Ryan Byrnes – another to impress. Works very hard at training, has looked very sharp, now has lots of competition. Like Jones can’t just dial it in wth the likes of Wilson, Pou, Dow, Henry etc now at the club.
Post – Ronnie has a bunch of competition, mainly off a wing/hbf with the occasional through the guts. A Jones or Crouch injury could see him in the team, just outside in my view
14.Liam Stocker – much fitter than last year. Tank improving, middle of the pack in the 400 metre repeats, not lagging out the back. training the way he plays.
Post – has impressed of half back in match sim. Like Wilkie, calm and confident, rarely gets beaten. R1 for him
15.Paddy Dow – good pickup. Excellent through the mids. Seems very balanced and his seniors experience really shows with his positioning. His disposal has been good which has been the knock on him (caveat, it has all been non contact, little pressure). Certain first 22 starter in my view.
Post – a leg injury has derailed his preseason, not back at full training, maybe next week. Prior to that was a certain starter. Will get his chance once fit.
16.Dan Butler – managed
Post – starting training next week, prefer others R1. Wont be fit enough
17.Isaac Keeler. Nice size, still to fill out, glides about the field, highly skilled, nice disposal. I would be disappointed if he is being trialled as a backman. He is an out an out ruckman in my opinion. Maybe like Sharman, being developed down back but not a permanent position.
Post – is being developed as a backman and has started to show signs. Gets to the fall of the ball and can use his leap to spoil. Has a way to go in development but has such skills with ball in hand. A year at Sandy and lets see
18r.Jack Hayes – Managed. Hardly an injury before coming to the Saints. We have cursed the poor bloke. Forgotten man who could be a real X factor utility.
Post – looks fit, running hard, starting training next week. Get him fir, playing at Sandy and we could utilize him in the back half of the year when we have injuries or managing people.
19.Rowan Marshall – absolute class. Should have been AA ruckman. Really is a cut above all our other rucks. Rolled an ankle last session before Christmas. Didn’t look too bad.
Post – our most important player. Tom Campbell is a good backup and Heath a way to develop. If he goes down, we are real skinny (hence it would be good to have Jack Hayes up and about.) R1
20.Dougal Howard – Doug being Doug. Hasn’t pulled any arms out of sockets so that’s a bonus.
Post – Working well with Wilks, Battle,Web, and Stocker. Will be R1
21.Zaine Cordy – his tank is still terrible, still being played down back.
Post – has been doen back and been going ok, think it is out of him and Howard for the key back and I would give the nod to Howard
22.Darcy Wilson – elite runner, again last session, running at the front of the fastest group hardly blowing. Has been iffy with disposal during drills, but during match sim – Wow, his skills in close and disposal was a thing to see. We have a beauty.
Post – his match sim has been tidy more than outstanding, being directed to position a lot, which is only natural, he is 18 and getting used to the structure, zones and playing process. I reckon we have an absolute beauty in Wilson but would not rush him into R1 given our list health. But he will be in the seniors this season I predict.
23.Liam Henry – my BOG for pre season training. Is quick very enthusiastic, and trains like it’s the last time he will ever do it. If he plays as he has trained, we are in for a treat. Seems to have fit in really well, like Brad Hill, always a smile on his face, looks like he is well liked by the playing group and coaches. Is Freo really that bad? Must have hated it there. Disposal has been fine. Early sessions it looked a bit rusty, but as the training has gone on it has gotten sharper and sharper (with the usual caveat about no pressure)
Post – his linking up with Naz, and Hill is something to see. Played out of the middle for a time in match sim and looked good, then moved to a flank and was getting oodles of space to be the link up coming out of defence through the mids. Certain R1
24.Angus Hastie – got a bit to do to fill out, but is very clean with the ball in hand, and positions nicely in match sim type drills.
Post – a development year for Angus. Very skillful and has good game sense. A touch of physical development required.
25.Mattaes Phillipou – only a couple of weeks older than Wilson. Collard, Hastie and Shoey but has played 24 senior games. His core looks stronger and he is only just behind Henry as the BOG for preseason. Seems his pantsing in the final is burning in his guts. Has a Roo like look about him re core strength.
Post – running through the mids at match sim. Taller, fitter through the core, and ready to take the next step. As old as our 2023 recruits, but a preseason ahead. R! certain
26.Josh Battle – every time I see him he looks better down back. Elite runner and huge tank. Our BOG in the finals and will take a very good backman to displace him.
Post – hasn’t been much said about Josh, but looks very assured and settled down back. The backline works so efficiently with Doug, Wilks, Web and Stocker. Has really looked balance in match sim R1 certainty.
27.Arie Schoenmaker - haven’t seen too much of him but what I have I like. Supersonic boot, big arse and tree trunk legs, a steal at #62.
Post – ahh rumours, scuttlebutt, subterfuge after Xmas. The washup is that he is leaner, quicker and running as hard as anyone in defence. A little outplayed in match sim, but there is no problems with his fitness or commitment. And that boot FMD it goes miles.A good year in development at Sandy
28.Tim Membrey – nice to see Tim happy, looking fit, and leading well. Has been one of the good news story of preseason. Looked sharp in match sim, looked like he was enjoying himself.
Post – looks fit and happy. Back to his best and will compliment King and Sharman/Caminiti/ Higgins/ Collard. Should be a R1 starter
29.Jimmy Webster – nothing much to report. Doing his job and will probably start in the 22.
Post – relaxed and gelling with the statistically best backline from 2023. R1
30.Matt Allison – I wish him well, but don’t think he will make it. Just not impactful at training when he needs to be. Does the occasional good thing, just seems to get beaten, a bit too much. Hope I am wrong.
Post – tries hard, but I still can’t see it. Reckon he will be a great VFL player, just doesn’t get it enough.
31.James Van Es – managed. Running very strongly final session. Has a great filled out body. Told me he was increasing loads.
Post – well loads became non existent. Don’t know when he returns.
32.Mason Wood – managed. Running strongly. Recovering from shoulder surgery.
Post – some load management concerns, however is in full training and looking as good as ever on a wing. Very fit and can run all day.
33.Ben Paton – not being played down back, more like a half back flanker, has done what he needs to do this preseason without standing out. Could come under pressure to be first 22.
Post – off a wing and through the gits in match sim. I don’t know what the future holds for Ben TBH.
34.Hugo Garcia – mainly managed. Joined in for a few drill today then ran. A bit small in my view.
Post – has stepped up in a big way after Xmas. Coaches love him and as Barrels said whatever it is, he has got it. May get a chance this season however if not, I can see him in seniors regularly from 2025 onwards
35.Jack Sinclair – what do we expect from Sinc’s except the best. He has transitioned by the looks to mid mainly. Blew himself up in the first run last session, probably on purpose. Stayed at the back in the second run and encouraged Hotton.
Post – had some minor calf issue and is being managed should be ok for R1
36.Riley Bonner – another half back flanker, surprised he was delisted. Nice size, footy smarts, nice disposal. Looks ready made for seniors.
Post – not doing himself any harm in his training, match sim and attitude. Settled in straight away and as said above looks ready made for seniors. Knock apparently is his two way running. That will decide when Ross selects him. I cant fit him in at the moment.
38.Tom Campbell – there for backup for Roh. But boy does he work at training. Gets around the group. No accident he got clubman of the year in 2023.
Post – great with the kids, knows his role, happy to play it and be a club man. I can see coaching for Tom down the track.
39.Olli Hotton – 2023 was an interrupted year with a back injury. Working his way into the drills and match sim. Needs to work on his tank a bit. Had him working with the main runners (Willson, Sincs, Battle, etc). Earmarked for mid work but a bit of a way off.
Post - Has come on quire a bit. Like most inside mids, he doesn’t get noticed because he is under the pack, Put him, Stocker, Sincs, and GOAT in a picture, you would think they were quads. They all look so much like brothers. He has been much better since Xmas and has been ok in the match sim. A sneaky chance at a mid spot during this year.
41b.Angus McLennan – can’t see it with this kid. Average size, average skills, average decision making, average runner.
Post – still can’t see it, but other trackwatcher can, so I am happy to be wrong. If I am it means we have another excellent player. Happy with that. I will say he is a vey good mark.
43r.Cooper Sharman – very impressive this preseason with everything he does. Bigger tank, very nice positioning up forward outworking his opponent in match sim. Our best in the final up forward. A keeper.
Post – Coops seems to be a bit ahead of Hammer. I have like what I have seen with Cooper this preseason. A hard forward line to fit into at the moment, however if his final is taken into account he may well be an early starter
44.Callum Wilkie – Wilks does what Wilks does. Always a polished performer.
Post – never beaten, never flustered. Beats me how he wasn’t picked up before 24 years of age.R1
45b.Liam O'Connell – nice size, needs some gym work. Works hard. Very early days for this Irish kid.
Post – full on development year. Doesn’t have a problem with the shape of the ball. I get him and Hastie mixed up, but suffice to say, that is a good thing, as Hastie has excellent skills. A year at Sandy
47.rAnthony Caminiti – Managed, has a couple of issues. Seems to have a bit more definition. Don’t know where the backman stuff has come from, all he has done is run laps.
Post – maybe some second year blues for Hammer, may be a Coops second year where he develops down back and crafts his game more at Sandy, with the occasional appearance.
Don’t take the above as gospel or my likely team, they may be 15 or 25 I have as R1, it is just observations and my opinion only.
is he your son bm, the way you gush over him, and take offence to the naysayers?
