Weird pre-season ideas 2020

So...over recent years we've done some interesting things in the pre-season.

We've tried Wood forward - an experiment that lasted all of about 1.5 rounds of the season proper after seeming like it was a horrible idea over the course of the pre season games.

Last year we had a completely different set up in mind until we suddenly bit the bullet and moved Naughton forward with a week to prepare himself for a season as our go to key forward.

Thoughts on what incredibly reactive move we will make this pre-season? Will it work and if not, how long will it last?

Dunkley as a dedicated forward... oh wait.

Don't forget training Bailey Williams as a midfielder and not playing here there, or playing Brad Lynch forward with as much effect as Wood. Win some, lose some. I was reading a transcript from an old Lachie Hunter interview (March 2018) on Josh Schache:

"He’s actually got really good kicking skills, which I wouldn’t have known until he got to the club. He’s a beautiful kick of the ball.”

Hunter says Schache could even push up towards a position on the wing, commending his endurance for a young tall player.

“He’s actually got a really big tank for a tall fella as well, so I suppose there’s room up there on the wing if he wants to push up there,” he said.

“Bevo (Dogs coach Luke Beveridge) likes to flip the side around so I’m sure you’ll see him in different spots.”



So Schache to the wing maybe. Then the bomb out of defence has options of English (205cm) and then another 200cm target (probably on a smaller opponent), plus he can work hard forward with his goal kicking accuracy, offer a neat kick inside 50, if Bruce is the designated second ruck - Schache can move into forward 50 to provide another tall target while Bruce is rucking, plus he can run all day and a is very difficult match up and offer flexibility to play a role different roles. Maybe Lachie is onto something.

Josh Schache.

Centre Half Back.

You heard it here first. And Josh will hate every minute of it almost as much as we will.

We trialled Bailey Dale of the HB line too didn't we? Lasted until about 5 minutes of Caleb Daniel being back there.
English on a wing at VFL level.

I'll go with: Jong on a wing. Everyone else seems to get a shot at that second wing, and we two more 'maybes' to play there for the match sim drills.

I actually like the fact that Bevo tries players in other positions. The Naughton one worked brilliantly and we just have to accept there will be a few misses along the way.

Schache on a wing is something I’ve mentioned before that makes a lot of sense, albeit before we’ve had a good look at his two-way running. I’m a big believer in his skill level though, and there’s a high chance there isn’t a spot for him in the forward line, so would like to at least see it trialled.

Bob played in the backline, Easton plays in the backline, it only makes sense the Captain Bont goes to the backline...

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Originally Posted by Axe Man

Bob played in the backline, Easton plays in the backline, it only makes sense the Captain Bont goes to the backline...

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The Mens' department.

I think Bailey Smith could play well on that wing too.

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

I actually like the fact that Bevo tries players in other positions. The Naughton one worked brilliantly and we just have to accept there will be a few misses along the way.

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Certainly agree - we aren't afraid to swing players into new roles and largely we've stuck fat or changed it back as the situation dictated. The intent was more to crystal ball what we might do, when we might do it (let's face it, Naughton was a Hail Mary that worked brilliantly) and how it will go.

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Originally Posted by Mofra

I'll go with: Jong on a wing. Everyone else seems to get a shot at that second wing, and we two more 'maybes' to play there for the match sim drills.

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He played mainly wing last year in the VFL in his come back games

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Originally Posted by weltschmerz

I think Bailey Smith could play well on that wing too.

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There is a fair chance that could happen but I must admit I like Smith forward and part of that midfield rotation
We've picked up a gun player

Does Gowers get a run down back? He has a bit of mongrel and we know he will compete and take grabs. The big knock on him is his goal kicking (his field kicking hasn’t struck me an issue).

I can’t see him breaking into the forward group, it might be the thing that keeps him on the list.

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Originally Posted by The Adelaide Connection

Does Gowers get a run down back? He has a bit of mongrel and we know he will compete and take grabs. The big knock on him is his goal kicking (his field kicking hasn’t struck me an issue).

I can’t see him breaking into the forward group, it might be the thing that keeps him on the list.

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Gowers could but he would more than likely give away 3-4 visits a game down back ��

Here one to ponder. A really weird idea would be to do some goal kicking practice.

He was a defender at Carlton and got delisted.

Seeing as we like our defendees to have composure and be good ball movers (with the exception being if you're tall and/or really good at intercepting) i don't really see it with him.

I know we hated it at the time but his best bet for versatility is being that Stringer type explosive big body in the middle on occasion. I guess theoretically he could tag and is a big body to play as a tagger which might make him better equipped against some of the big mids like Cripps but he doesn't seen to naturally have that defensive work rate.

A weird pre-season idea involving Billy Gowers is even considering giving him an AFL game in 2020.

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Originally Posted by Bumper Bulldogs

Here one to ponder. A really weird idea would be to do some goal kicking practice.

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Oh they practice goal kicking. They just don't do it properly which is even more infuriating than if they just didn't bother at all. They are just perfecting the wrong way to kick at goal.

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

I actually like the fact that Bevo tries players in other positions. The Naughton one worked brilliantly and we just have to accept there will be a few misses along the way.

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100%.

You win some you lose some...and sometimes moving a player is like moving a deck chair on the Titanic. But sometimes, it changes everything.

If you don't try to create a versatile playing list then you end up with a team full of players who can play either one spot...or else VFL. If you have at least given them opportunities in different parts of the ground then you might just end up with something unexpected.

Where Bevo is different from most coaches is that he is prepared to look at players who are 'going well' in one position somewhere else - with both Naughton and Wood being good examples. It is one thing to throw a struggling player to a new spot - it is quite another to change something that is 'effective' to chase something spectacular!

Schache at CHB has been suggested previously and it feels like a Bevo move begging to be made.

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Originally Posted by comrade

Schache at CHB has been suggested previously and it feels like a Bevo move begging to be made.

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I like playing players to their strengths, and for mine CHB doesn't do that for Schache.

He doesn't have explosive pace off a standing start, but what he does have is a huge tank for a big guy and beautiful field kicking (and of course height). I think the high roaming forward role is his best role as it plays to his strengths. We just chased Keath for a CHB role, and he's a brilliant intercept mark which again plays to his strengths.

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Originally Posted by mjp

Where Bevo is different from most coaches is that he is prepared to look at players who are 'going well' in one position somewhere else - with both Naughton and Wood being good examples. It is one thing to throw a struggling player to a new spot - it is quite another to change something that is 'effective' to chase something spectacular!

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It's actually a very exciting quality about how he views the games. It's all good and well to throw a hail Mary move to spark an under performing player but the decision around moving Naughton (his best defender) forward because he knew he had to kick winning scores show's he's prepared to look at the bigger picture

After addressing our lack of KPP hopefully we won't have to make too many changes in 2020 but knowing Bevo will have a few options in the back of his mind.

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

It's actually a very exciting quality about how he views the games. It's all good and well to throw a hail Mary move to spark an under performing player but the decision around moving Naughton (his best defender) forward because he knew he had to kick winning scores show's he's prepared to look at the bigger picture

After addressing our lack of KPP hopefully we won't have to make too many changes in 2020 but knowing Bevo will have a few options in the back of his mind.

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I think that Bevo is the best coach of the club in my time an I would say that even if we hadn't won in 2016.

It's because he isn't scared of the bigger picture. Bevo takes us on a trip, we don't know where we will end up but *!*!*!*! me it's an exciting journey.

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

I think that Bevo is the best coach of the club in my time an I would say that even if we hadn't won in 2016.

It's because he isn't scared of the bigger picture. Bevo takes us on a trip, we don't know where we will end up but *!*!*!*! me it's an exciting journey.

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I can do without hearing his rationale at times but you're bang on we don't know where he will take us but it's mostly exciting.

The thing I like about Bevo is that he is an extremely flawed genius. He has his contradictions, his preferences and strong opinions, and when things are going great they look better than great, and when things are going bad they look terrible but he sticks to his guns and defends his position to the end.

Now this would be a problem if he was an arsehole, but he isn't. He seems like a good enough guy who cares for those around him and that kind of makes all of the faults in the way he goes about things from time to time seem OK to me.

I played against one of his St Bedes sides, and lining up on the half forward line I was being felt up by my direct opponent in what I can assure you was a not OK fashion. I was right near the Bedes bench when that happened and I looked over to Bevo and their bench and gave them a warning along the lines of "if this continues I'm going to lash out". It happened again and a quick elbow to the throat followed, and looking at the bench nobody complained and a message swiftly came out from that area to lay-off. Warning and action accepted, no complaints and no further issues. I kind of like that.

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Originally Posted by jeemak

The thing I like about Bevo is that he is an extremely flawed genius. He has his contradictions, his preferences and strong opinions, and when things are going great they look better than great, and when things are going bad they look terrible but he sticks to his guns and defends his position to the end.

Now this would be a problem if he was an arsehole, but he isn't. He seems like a good enough guy who cares for those around him and that kind of makes all of the faults in the way he goes about things from time to time seem OK to me.

I played against one of his St Bedes sides, and lining up on the half forward line I was being felt up by my direct opponent in what I can assure you was a not OK fashion. I was right near the Bedes bench when that happened and I looked over to Bevo and their bench and gave them a warning along the lines of "if this continues I'm going to lash out". It happened again and a quick elbow to the throat followed, and looking at the bench nobody complained and a message swiftly came out from that area to lay-off. Warning and action accepted, no complaints and no further issues. I kind of like that.

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I don't mind those rules at all. If you gave them a warning and they were too stupid or didnt believe you would go there then that is very much their problem. I don't think that I would have gone the throat though-you can kill someone pretty easily with trauma to that area. Maybe a backhander in a pack or a quick ankle tap as he picks up the ball next time. I'd happily mame someone but I wouldn't want to kill them!

It's the nigglers who follow the umpire everywhere whinging that gives me the shits. If you want to fight then put your *!*!*!*!ing dukes up and let's dance.

What we can we do with Wallis and Libba?

If Weightman is good to go Round 1 and we play 3 tall forwards, then our forward line will look like Shache, Naughton, Bruce, Lloyd, Dale and Weightman.

Mids look like the Bont, Dunks, Macca, Smith, Hunter, Lipinksi and Mclean. Maybe Libba.

Could either or both Libba or Wallis do a Matt Boyd and play in the backline?

Who would they replace in the backline DR?
It's an intriguing conundrum to find homes for 2 quality players but both of them are very likely to be behind in the pecking order.

I think Wally is best placed to either come off the IC bench or play as a forward.
Libba is a bit harder to squeeze in though in anything other than as part of the midfield rotation.

I'm not sure Weightman will be in the mix so early in the season but it does look like we are trying to squeeze 8 or 9 deserving players into 6 spots

I just struggle to find a home for either of them in the backline but I'd like to hear how that might work?

We have a deep list but I wonder if that is going to pose some significant challenges throughout the season

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

Who would they replace in the backline DR?
It's an intriguing conundrum to find homes for 2 quality players but both of them are very likely to be behind in the pecking order.

I think Wally is best placed to either come off the IC bench or play as a forward.
Libba is a bit harder to squeeze in though in anything other than as part of the midfield rotation.

I'm not sure Weightman will be in the mix so early in the season but it does look like we are trying to squeeze 8 or 9 deserving players into 6 spots

I just struggle to find a home for either of them in the backline but I'd like to hear how that might work?

We have a deep list but I wonder if that is going to pose some significant challenges throughout the season

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Happy New Year to you. Greetings from what's left of New South Wales.

Do not disagree with any of your thoughts - just trying to fit those two in.

In particular, Crozier is a lock and Durayea well respected as defenders.

It is now really hard to pick a top 22 rather than a top 26 or 27.

FWIW, when I try to pick a 22 I find it difficult to fit in players like Daniel and Suckling.