Real or Not Real: Absent players lead to injured players...

[mjp]

We're still a few weeks away from Bont/Weightman/Treloar returning...

To this point, the efforts of those 'filling in':
- Liber
- Darcy
- Richards
- Dale
- Kennedy
- Davidson
- Lobb

(apologies to a couple of others)...have been nothing less than MIGHTY.

Is shouldering such a heavy burden whilst waiting for the return of injured prime movers:

#1: Positive - it causes the 'next level' to step up which will be of enormous benefit when they return.
#2: Negative - It increases the workload of those who remain to the point where they are simply 'gonna' get injured and themselves miss time.

I actually think it's the latter and we are getting very close to the point of no return in terms of workload on 'those who remain'...sure, they have only returned a 2:2 record but the two losses have been very meritorious...we need the cavalry to arrive (and soon). On top of that, Perth one week, Adelaide the next is FAR from ideal. Adelaide to play the reigning premiers who are winning games for fun right now...well, that could just about be a bridge too far.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

It's why I feel this season could get away from us in this next month. I agree it's the latter.

We've been brave but the combination of interrupted preseasons (Naughton), no preseason (Treloar), absence (Marra), and injuries (Bont, Weightman, Jones, JJ) has been a disaster.

We needed a lot to go right to contend. Our best is clearly good enough. But we've dropped 2/4, aren't getting quality back for a few weeks yet, and thereby will struggle to make top 4 (and depending how far back we are, top 8 could be a challenge).

How we address holes in our list at seasons end will be critical. We're going to need to bolster our mid brigade for life after Libba/Treloar and we are desperate for a small defender. There's other areas of need but you get my point.

It highlights that when you're in form you've gotta capitalise. Last year we didn't, even if it was unlucky to draw the Hawks in week 1. What could have been...

[NAUGHTY100]

I actually think its a positive , you are getting game time into a few guys that wouldnt be getting a game if there were very few injuries , namely Dolan , Davidson , Sanders has got time at center bounces that he probably dosnt get if the likes of Trelor and the Bont are available, the whole idea is to get games into younger players to see if they can take the heat in the kitchen and right now even though we are not winner the game time will be invaluable futher down the track .

[Bornadog]

Answering the OP, "not real" on injury front.

I see a lot of opportunities have been created for the replacement players, and this will help us in the future with more experienced depth.

[Go_Dogs]

That’s football, mjp.

Im sure something will bite us. It always does.

[Mofra]

Don't we manage loads pretty tightly anyway?
Bont/Treloar's absence seems to have been covered by Sanders & Kennedy so hopefully Libba's TOG/CBAs aren't substantially different.

Of the guys injured since round 1 - are there any 'load' injuries? Clearly acute and unlucky, VDM being VDM. Perhaps Garcia at VFL level - at a stretch.

[1eyedog]

It's why I feel this season could get away from us in this next month. I agree it's the latter.

We've been brave but the combination of interrupted preseasons (Naughton), no preseason (Treloar), absence (Marra), and injuries (Bont, Weightman, Jones, JJ) has been a disaster.

We needed a lot to go right to contend. Our best is clearly good enough. But we've dropped 2/4, aren't getting quality back for a few weeks yet, and thereby will struggle to make top 4 (and depending how far back we are, top 8 could be a challenge).

How we address holes in our list at seasons end will be critical. We're going to need to bolster our mid brigade for life after Libba/Treloar and we are desperate for a small defender. There's other areas of need but you get my point.

It highlights that when you're in form you've gotta capitalise. Last year we didn't, even if it was unlucky to draw the Hawks in week 1. What could have been...

Front end season injuries have crippled us. Will be interesting to see how the club approaches Bevo post-season regardless how meritorious we've been.

These injuries have complicated the season for Bevo given we're holding off on an extension. It will come down to win/loss ratio I think which is probably right.

[Grantysghost]

I don't get how players can get injured so badly training. Something is wrong to me.

I mean Treloar. He has history and now is out for half a season without kicking a ball in anger.

Maybe it's just the way it was always going to be I don't know, it's frustrating though.

I think I'm with you, we are starting to push the envelope

[hujsh]

I don't get how players can get injured so badly training. Something is wrong to me.

I mean Treloar. He has history and now is out for half a season without kicking a ball in anger.

Maybe it's just the way it was always going to be I don't know, it's frustrating though.

I think I'm with you, we are starting to push the envelope

You don't get how you might do a soft tissue injury at training?

[Grantysghost]

You don't get how you might do a soft tissue injury at training?

I do, I'm just wondering if we push a little too hard at times.

[hujsh]

I do, I'm just wondering if we push a little too hard at times.

I think if it were anyone but Bont injured we wouldn't be asking about it. Has anyone else missed significant games who doesn't have a history of missing significant games for this reason?

[Rusty12]

I do, I'm just wondering if we push a little too hard at times.

And if you aren't, then you are going backwards.
It is a forever-evolving ecosystem and is far more complicated than even keen footy heads understand unless they have been inside it.
The profile of this team is changing, and for the better, there will be casualties along the way.

[Grantysghost]

And if you aren't, then you are going backwards.
It is a forever-evolving ecosystem and is far more complicated than even keen footy heads understand unless they have been inside it.
The profile of this team is changing, and for the better, there will be casualties along the way.

With a Treloar Rusty is there anything we could do differently to prevent what's happened considering his history ?

Or are all mitigations already in place.

[mjp]

...there will be casualties along the way.

Yeah - totally agree with this part.

As long as the casualties are coming off the back of strength testing before each training escalation etc - which I'm sure they are - then what can you do?

This is what it can be hard to explain to people - getting players fitter and stronger has an inherent injury risk, particularly when it comes to absolute strength efforts and high speed running work. It's why so many car racing teams have issues early in seasons...they are taking chances, pushing the edge with power generation (and decel as well - those forces are higher!) and stuff breaks. Once the season starts it's all about maintenance vs pushing the limits so the number of 'mechanical issues' generally drops...The difference is you can always put a new part in a car but a torn calf is a torn calf. And if the issue is either tendon related or neural then it gets even trickier to resolve.

[Rusty12]

Because of pre-seaon, with Treloar, I guess we really don't know, how many set-backs he has had.
Early on, the thinking might have been standard rehab, and then get back into volume training, as they know, the type of 2 way running they will need from him.

Perhaps, and we don't know, more conservative would have been the play, or, forget round 1, and plan for round 4 from the get go.

Then you need to justify to the HC, why a fit and healthy senior play isn't available. Who is coaching for their job, in someways, other than the doctors, everyones jobs.

It is entirely possible, to do everything right, all the time, and a body like Trelor will fail.