There’s pre-season updates from coaches discussing Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Harley Reid, Jeremy Sharp and Nat Fyfe, plus match sim news and some injury updates from North and Richmond.
COACHES’ COMMENTS
Pre-season is full of hype which often doesn’t amount to anything, aka “player X is training down the house”, so the Honeyball team tries to weed through that with a focus on what the coaches have to say, rather than players/teammates. This first section is all about the coaches.
Sydney coach John Longmire spoke to News Corp and was very upbeat about new recruit Brodie Grundy (AF $677k SC $481k RUC). He said: “It’s great to see Brodie just running around, a big fella in the ruck … Brodie has come up here and had a big presence in pre-season, which has been awesome.”
Longmire also spoke positively about new addition Taylor Adams (AF $691k SC $437k M/F). He said: “Taylor has come in and [shown] the experience and knowledge that he’s got and trains at a high intensity.”
And the Sydney coach praised James Jordon (AF $454k SC $275k M/F) after his move from Melbourne. He said: “James has come from a great program and has had a bit of experience at finals level and in a grand final. So, I think all of them help add something and bring something unique that they’re good at.”
Read our 2024 fixture analysis on how to handle the early byes
West Coast coach Adam Simpson offered a clear insight into No.1 Draft pick Harley Reid’s (AF $300k SC $207k M/F) likely role this season. He said: “Where does he play early on in his career? We’re working through that. I think there’ll be a little bit of back and a little bit of on-ball from what I’m seeing at the moment, but he goes forward and has a bit of presence there as well.
“We need to settle him, that’s for sure, and we’re working on that now. But it’s more than likely to be down back and a little bit on-ball… He seems to have his most presence around the centre, around the ball. I think we need to respect that but just to stick him in there for 110 minutes a game comes with risks.”
Fremantle recruit Jeremy Sharp (AF $284k SC $123k MID) is a bargain basement price and pushing to be one of the Dockers’ two wingers following Blake Acres and Liam Henry’s departures.
Freo coach Justin Longmuir said: “I’ve an open mind… Sharpy has come to the club, running really well, training really well… Obviously the wings are an area of the ground which has been talked about a lot over the last couple of years, but I feel like Sharpy, (Nathan) O’Driscoll, (Heath) Chapman and Ethan Stanley – and a few of these guys – are really battling for those couple of spots as well, so we’ve got some good competition and they’re really driving each other. No spots are locked away yet.”
Hayden Young (AF $805k SC $525k DEF), however, is one who is set for a permanent midfield switch this year. Longmuir said: “Hayden went into the midfield late last year & gave us another bigger body, which complimented the other mids. I feel like we’re starting to build some depth in the middle. Youngy has moved in there.”
Longmuir spoke positively about the fitness of Nat Fyfe (AF $491k SC $283k M/F) in pre-season after a few injury plagued years. He said: “Tracking really well. He hasn’t lost anything over Christmas and he’s raring to go. We’ve just got to get his body right at the moment to build for match sim and get the minutes into him. If he can hit Round 1 really fit, we will work out a plan from there, but (it’s currently) one step at a time.”
On Fyfe’s role, he added: “He’s upskilling himself, mainly in the midfield at the moment, but we’d like to build in a bit of a secondary role for that, which is clearly down in forward.”
Read our top value picks in 2024 AFL Fantasy across each line
UPDATES
Beyond the coaches’ comments, there’s a few noteworthy points coming out of clubs we’ll highlight too. Namely, the latest on Clayton Oliver (AF $1.03m SC $674k MID) who has been granted extended leave.
Melbourne General Manager of AFL Performance Alan Richardson said: “Clayton has personal issues that he has been dealing with. Clayton has been working extremely closely with his personal medical team, and with the support of key Club staff, in order to manage these challenges. The Club fully supports Clayton taking this important time out which will allow him to focus on these challenges.”
No.2 2023 Draft pick Colby McKercher (AF $297k SC $202k MID) is getting people excited at North Melbourne including co-captain Jy Simpkin. He said: “You don’t see too many first-year draftees come into the club and you sit back and watch training and go ‘holy crap’. (McKercher’s) dominating training and there so that’s awesome to see.”
On McKercher’s role, North assistant coach Jed Adcock said: “People say half-back is the easier position to play and it’s generally because the ball is in front of you all of the time, so it’s easier to cut angles and see where the play is moving. You saw it with Nick Daicos and Sheezel and you might see it with Colby … we’ll wait and see, sometimes (when) going into the AFL it’s an easier place to settle in.”
No.1 2022 Draft pick Aaron Cadman (AF $221k SC $127k FWD) is a bit of a forgotten man but could be a decent pick given his 2024 price. GWS captain Toby Greene told SEN he expected more output this year from Cadman: “He’s put on a bit of size. He already moves well. His running base is good. He’ll keep working on his forward craft. He has continued to develop. I can see him having much more of an impact this year.”
Greene also flagged second-year player Darcy Jones (AF $200k SC $123k FWD) as someone to watch. He said: “I don’t think I’ll be playing any more midfield. We’re hoping guys like Brent Daniels or even Darcy Jones can come in and play a bit more up the ground and hopefully get into the midfield a bit more.”
There’s been some hype about Ben McKay’s addition freeing up Jordan Ridley (AF $729k SC $530k DEF) in 2024 but he hosed that down to some extent. Ridley said: “There’ll be potential for me (to roam in defence with Ben McKay’s arrival) but there will certainly still be times where I have to take on a bigger body anyway. I don’t think my role will change a heap.”
Top 10 draft pick Dan Curtin (AF $279k SC $175k D/M) is impressing everyone in Adelaide including teammate Sam Berry. He told SEN: “I think we’ll start with Dan Curtin. He’s an incredible athlete for his size to move as well as he does. He’s going to be a really exciting player. He’s skilful, very athletic. He’s trained very well.”
Read our list of stepping stones: The value midpricers and rookies to consider
MATCH SIM
No.4 2023 Draft pick Zane Duursma (AF $291k SC $193k M/F) impressed in North Melbourne’s match sim on Friday. The Roos match sim report said: “Duursma (spent time up the ground) but it was inside attacking 50 where the exciting prospect impacted. He booted four goals and notched a couple of strong grabs.”
Colby McKercher (AF $297k SC $202k MID) was touched on again: “Using his pace and left foot to dissect the opposition, Colby McKercher tallied the touches off half-back.”
Nat Fyfe (AF $491k SC $283k M/F) impressed in Fremantle’s Friday match sim. The report said: “Fyfe’s return to the midfield saw the dual Brownlow medallist insert his physical ability to win the football at the contest, allowing him to feed the ball out to teammates in space.”
Jeremy Sharp (AF $284k SC $123k MID) also did his selection chances no harm. The report said: “Sharp, whose work ethic and running ability have been a standout, worked himself into the game. Sharp did not stop working all day and eventually was rewarded with his own goal late in the game.”
Harley Reid (AF $300k SC $207k M/F) was one of the stars of West Coast’s Friday match sim. The club report said: “True to form, Harley Reid impressed across half-back, his starting role, before moving more on-ball and spending time through the middle. Reid’s defensive pressure was first class, and his ability to weave and zigzag through a pack to evade his opposition is a pleasure to watch.”
According to the report, Matt Flynn (AF $646k SC $491k RUC) “imposed his 202cm frame in the ruck” with Bailey Williams moved into more of a forward role, chopping out in the ruck.
INJURIES
View Honeyball’s full 2024 AFL pre-season injury list
North recruit Zac Fisher (AF $623k SC $378k FWD) suffered an injury in their Friday match sim. North Head of Performance Kevin White said: “Zac came out of match sim today after the second quarter. He felt an incident in his hamstring. He’ll get scanned over the weekend to assess for a strain. We’ll update next week on the results.”
Richmond offered a full injury report this week with an update on Josh Gibcus (AF $256k SC $150k DEF) who missed 2023 with a hamstring injury. Tigers Physical Performance Manager Luke Meehan said: “He’s completing about 90% of our drills. There’s a couple more things we need to do before we throw him full into training. In saying that, he’s pretty much doing all of training.”
There was an update on Tom Lynch (AF $563k SC $287k FWD), who also missed most of 2023 and could play a key role following Jack Riewoldt’s retirement. Meehan said: “He’s going really well. It’s going to be a slow build. He’s going to work his tail off to get back as soon as he can but we need to be smart and have Tom available for as long as possible this year.”
View Honeyball’s full 2024 AFL pre-season injury list
