Trials this year

[PeeGee]

Assuming we name competitive teams I think the panfas and manwee games will give us a good indication of where we are at as a team.

Playing Manwee last year was almost a psychic prediction of our teams ability. They beat us twice that year in the last minute of the game.

in all 3 games they smashed us in the middle, and the rest of the season is history, particularly painful in our last game. Also, carving us up on our left and right hand edge defence told a story ( despised watching that inbred Walker score the winner in 2 of the games ).

[Louis N]

Those Manly defeats were decisive. They did punch holes through our centre and their second phase play had us at 6's and 7's. They really exposed our weaknesses. And it was extremely painful seeing Dylan Walker dominate. The second round defeat was the worst after Latrell totally dominated and we were up 18 to 4 late in the first half. Then Winterstein put Manu on his backside and it was all downhill from there. We seemed to run out of energy after a great start.

[PeeGee]

Spot on LN. The reason I focused on the Manwee games is that they smashed us in the forwards 3 games out of 3. Yes similar to the PF (sorry but I had to mention it).

i reckon Robbo and the team will use that piece of shyte game to motivate them all year. I know many fans still have nightmares about the PF, and I hope the players do to.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Trials are weird - cant take much from them. If I recall correctly we lost trials in 2010 - or was it 2013. Can't remember.

[Bondicigar]

Trials are a waist of time the season is long enough. Let teams play with extended bench and more interchanges for the fist 3 ot 4 rounds

[Thirteen]

I don’t think trials are an indication of where a team is at. I think is it an indication of where individuals are at.
I’ve certainly learnt over the years that trial form counts for nothing once the competition starts.

[JAF]

I don’t think trials are an indication of where a team is at. I think is it an indication of where individuals are at.
I’ve certainly learnt over the years that trial form counts for nothing once the competition starts.

Just like April Premiers!!

[Mickie Lane]

I just hope Robbo gives Linday Collins, Nat Butcher & Chris Smith plenty of match time during the trials.
I got a feeling Collins is going to be in the top 17 & then the stating 13 this year.

[Louis N]

Trials are valuable to introduce new talent, try new moves and begin to develop combinations. Salvatori G, we actually did well in the trials in both 2010 and 2013 and they were indicative of how our season unfolded. Moa starred in the 2013 trials and had a bumper season. A bit like the Nines that we won last year and went on to finish 2nd on the ladder. They may not be the real deal but they have their purpose.

Agree with Mickey that it would be good to give some of these new blokes a run in the top grade again, such as Butcher, Collins etc. My only problem with trials is the injury risk, but that goes for every time a team takes the field and even in training these days.

[Thirteen]

Louis N there have been plenty of times when we have had great trial form and average seasons and vice versa.

[novice chook]

Didn't we have two close losses in the trials last year? Whereas we seemed to win the close ones during the season.

Trials are a necessity before the season starts. It conditions them for long minutes of footy and gets them back into the gameday routine. Not to mention an opportunity to get some game time with new squad members, even it is only 20-40 minutes.

Some of the worst injuries seem to happen on the training paddock, so if they can train, they can play trials.

[Mickie Lane]

Louis N there have been plenty of times when we have had great trial form and average seasons and vice versa.

Everyone is training the house down too.