Farewell Luke Jackson

[Dee Viney Intervention 1,938]

Be interesting to know where his good mate and fellow Western Australian heads at in Trent Rivers. Will he want to go back home to and if so can we package the 2 in a trade to Freo for some gun Victorian boys in Young, Serong etc I understand they are all contracted but worth asking the question.

[Hunt29 275]

IMO Jackson will be a better player than Darcy in a couple more years. Darcy will be gettable but probably not this year. 

[Tough Kent 2,137]

I had a conversation with Jason Taylor at the President's Club on Friday night. He played a pretty straight bat.

Me - "What's Dogga doing next year?"

JT - "He's going okay, isn't he."

I asked him again.

JT - "We'll be good either way."

Me - "How would Freo even come close to doing a deal if he does go? They'd have to get another club involved."

JT - "We've been having these conversations for a while now. We'll do well out of it."

[BDA 22,743]

His rucking was hopeless on Friday night. Kept mis-timing his leap

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

8 minutes ago, Tough Kent said:

I had a conversation with Jason Taylor at the President's Club on Friday night. He played a pretty straight bat.

Me - "What's Dogga doing next year?"

JT - "He's going okay, isn't he."

I asked him again.

JT - "We'll be good either way."

Me - "How would Freo even come close to doing a deal if he does go? They'd have to get another club involved."

JT - "We've been having these conversations for a while now. We'll do well out of it."

Thanks for posting.

Hopefully this sheds some light to those who keep banging on about Freo not being able to come to the party.

Trading picks has been around for how long now? I can only assume many supporters on here aren't aware of that given the angst.

The possibilities are many, people need to relax.

[Redlagged 806]

13 hours ago, old dee said:

Might be a champion in the future but right now he is an ordinary second ruck. Numerous second ruckman around the competition are producing a lot more. I reckon the Weid contributes as much when he has been second ruck.

Take out a good 10 minutes in the GF and he's nothing to write home about. 

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

Whilst this year is clearly still in play for a flag, I'm already excited for the off-season to see what moves we'll make.

Nothing much has changed this year from last as far as game-style and personnel go (bar the last couple of weeks with Melksham's inclusion and Gus going through the middle), which has given every other club a chance to go to town on us from last year to this year. Next year is a chance to tinker with personnel and game-plan (slightly) given the hand we'll have from Jackson leaving. We should be excited, it's come at the best possible time for us.

A few others made mention of Richmond targeting Lynch post 2018 and what his inclusion helped bring. Two flags.

We're in the same boat. We are so strong in so many facets but I think we're a couple of players short of being unstoppable.

Contest and defence won't stop. That's our foundation. But I really dislike it when posters talk down our obvious forwardline/half struggles. The notion that it doesn't matter how many goals we kick if we're keeping teams under 60 points a game is a silly one and our losses to Collingwood last week and the Dogs a few weeks ago is the evidence. Our defensive system is not always humming so we need to make the most of our opportunities going forward and this off-season is the time to address that.

Our biggest weakness is most obviously our inefficiency going forward as well as converting shots at goal in general play, regardless of the area we are sometimes instructed to kick due to our game-plan. Upgrade on personnel is vital. You can't tell me if we had McKay and Curnow instead of Brown and a resting ruckman we wouldn't be more lethal. Similarly some of our second string rotational players. Goody has a difficult task of looking at players like ANB, Harmes, Jordan and Sparrow and deciding whether we could replace one of them with someone with different strengths.

ANB brings so much off the ball. But we could have a player with slightly less gut-running ability and more potency with ball in hand. 

I look at what Geelong have done and they look like a completely different team with only minimal tweaks. The inclusion of a fit and firing Cameron and Stengle from this year alone. They look impenetrable.

So many times our inability to convert and connect going inside 50 has undone all our hard defensive and contest work. It burns us the other way because we've worked so hard going forward. We've had so many opportunities to bury teams once being up and simply haven't been able to mainly due to skill errors and poor execution. 

Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw. They're never losing a hard ball. Langdon's running ability is amazing for an outside player. Jordan solid in his role. Sparrow, Harmes, ANB all handy with ANB being exceptional for his off the ball running ability.

But one thing they all have in common is their inconsistent ball use and composure. We simply need to even up the ledger and add some players into the mix who use the ball really well so that at times we can pull the trigger and not always have to play default safe down the line as our game-plan wants. This is especially important given how predictable we are now in the way we play and what opposition teams are expecting. If you have a player with better ball use and composure. They're going to hit some kicks at angles and through the middle on occasions that could really give us great looks.

A genuine contested marking/goal kicking threat and a couple of dynamic X-factor players with class who can still play a half-forward role/mid rotation is what we're screaming out for. Address this and we're golden.  

Edited August 7, 2022 by JimmyGadson

[rpfc 28,386]

23 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Whilst this year is clearly still in play for a flag, I'm already excited for the off-season to see what moves we'll make.

Nothing much has changed this year from last as far as game-style and personnel go (bar the last couple of weeks with Melksham's inclusion and Gus going through the middle), which has given every other club a chance to go to town on us from last year to this year. Next year is a chance to tinker with personnel and game-plan (slightly) given the hand we'll have from Jackson leaving. We should be excited, it's come at the best possible time for us.

A few others made mention of Richmond targeting Lynch post 2018 and what his inclusion helped bring. Two flags.

We're in the same boat. We are so strong in so many facets but I think we're a couple of players short of being unstoppable.

Contest and defence won't stop. That's our foundation. But I really dislike it when posters talk down our obvious forwardline/half struggles. The notion that it doesn't matter how many goals we kick if we're keeping teams under 60 points a game is a silly one and our losses to Collingwood last week and the Dogs a few weeks ago is the evidence. Our defensive system is not always humming so we need to make the most of our opportunities going forward and this off-season is the time to address that.

Our biggest weakness is most obviously our inefficiency going forward as well as converting shots at goal in general play, regardless of the area we are sometimes instructed to kick due to our game-plan. Upgrade on personnel is vital. You can't tell me if we had McKay and Curnow instead of Brown and a resting ruckman we wouldn't be more lethal. Similarly some of our second string rotational players. Goody has a difficult task of looking at players like ANB, Harmes, Jordan and Sparrow and deciding whether we could replace one of them with someone with different strengths.

ANB brings so much off the ball. But we could have a player with slightly less gut-running ability and more potency with ball in hand. 

I look at what Geelong have done and they look like a completely different team with only minimal tweaks. The inclusion of a fit and firing Cameron and Stengle from this year alone. They look impenetrable.

So many times our inability to convert and connect going inside 50 has undone all our hard defensive and contest work. It burns us the other way because we've worked so hard going forward. We've had so many opportunities to bury teams once being up and simply haven't been able to mainly due to skill errors and poor execution. 

Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw. They're never losing a hard ball. Langdon's running ability is amazing for an outside player. Jordan solid in his role. Sparrow, Harmes, ANB all handy with ANB being exceptional for his off the ball running ability.

But one thing they all have in common is their inconsistent ball use and composure. We simply need to even up the ledger and add some players into the mix who use the ball really well so that at times we can pull the trigger and not always have to play default safe down the line as our game-plan wants. This is especially important given how predictable we are now in the way we play and what opposition teams are expecting. If you have a player with better ball use and composure. They're going to hit some kicks at angles and through the middle on occasions that could really give us great looks.

A genuine contested marking/goal kicking threat and a couple of dynamic X-factor players with class who can still play a half-forward role/mid rotation is what we're screaming out for. Address this and we're golden.  

A good post in the wrong thread. We shouldn’t lose out if Jackson leaves, and the above puts some meat on that bone.

[BAMF 4,350]

1 hour ago, Tough Kent said:

I had a conversation with Jason Taylor at the President's Club on Friday night. He played a pretty straight bat.

Me - "What's Dogga doing next year?"

JT - "He's going okay, isn't he."

I asked him again.

JT - "We'll be good either way."

Me - "How would Freo even come close to doing a deal if he does go? They'd have to get another club involved."

JT - "We've been having these conversations for a while now. We'll do well out of it."

Excellent. It's been my opinion all along that we lose the trade as soon as he elects to leave, however we should get decent compensation. It's reassuring to know that JT feels good about it. There will be a number of posters on here who will cry about us 'losing the trade' (which we will. Jackson is a great talent) but will get a few good picks out of it which JT no doubt has lined up as some good kids.

Also, Jackson moving will free up the salary we had planned for him. If we can use that cash to get a free agent like Amon then we might come out ahead in the end.

[demoncat 1,424]

17 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Whilst this year is clearly still in play for a flag, I'm already excited for the off-season to see what moves we'll make.

Nothing much has changed this year from last as far as game-style and personnel go (bar the last couple of weeks with Melksham's inclusion and Gus going through the middle), which has given every other club a chance to go to town on us from last year to this year. Next year is a chance to tinker with personnel and game-plan (slightly) given the hand we'll have from Jackson leaving. We should be excited, it's come at the best possible time for us.

A few others made mention of Richmond targeting Lynch post 2018 and what his inclusion helped bring. Two flags.

We're in the same boat. We are so strong in so many facets but I think we're a couple of players short of being unstoppable.

Contest and defence won't stop. That's our foundation. But I really dislike it when posters talk down our obvious forwardline/half struggles. The notion that it doesn't matter how many goals we kick if we're keeping teams under 60 points a game is a silly one and our losses to Collingwood last week and the Dogs a few weeks ago is the evidence. Our defensive system is not always humming so we need to make the most of our opportunities going forward and this off-season is the time to address that.

Our biggest weakness is most obviously our inefficiency going forward as well as converting shots at goal in general play, regardless of the area we are sometimes instructed to kick due to our game-plan. Upgrade on personnel is vital. You can't tell me if we had McKay and Curnow instead of Brown and a resting ruckman we wouldn't be more lethal. Similarly some of our second string rotational players. Goody has a difficult task of looking at players like ANB, Harmes, Jordan and Sparrow and deciding whether we could replace one of them with someone with different strengths.

ANB brings so much off the ball. But we could have a player with slightly less gut-running ability and more potency with ball in hand. 

I look at what Geelong have done and they look like a completely different team with only minimal tweaks. The inclusion of a fit and firing Cameron and Stengle from this year alone. They look impenetrable.

So many times our inability to convert and connect going inside 50 has undone all our hard defensive and contest work. It burns us the other way because we've worked so hard going forward. We've had so many opportunities to bury teams once being up and simply haven't been able to mainly due to skill errors and poor execution. 

Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw. They're never losing a hard ball. Langdon's running ability is amazing for an outside player. Jordan solid in his role. Sparrow, Harmes, ANB all handy with ANB being exceptional for his off the ball running ability.

But one thing they all have in common is their inconsistent ball use and composure. We simply need to even up the ledger and add some players into the mix who use the ball really well so that at times we can pull the trigger and not always have to play default safe down the line as our game-plan wants. This is especially important given how predictable we are now in the way we play and what opposition teams are expecting. If you have a player with better ball use and composure. They're going to hit some kicks at angles and through the middle on occasions that could really give us great looks.

A genuine contested marking/goal kicking threat and a couple of dynamic X-factor players with class who can still play a half-forward role/mid rotation is what we're screaming out for. Address this and we're golden.  

Great analysis @JimmyGadson.

The foundations of our game - contest and defence - are in great shape and will set us up for multiple shots at the flag. Regardless of what happens this year, Dees fans should be excited for what this club can do over the next five years. 
 

Having said that, every great team needs to continually evolve their game-plan and upgrade their personnel - particularly when you’re the reigning premiers and other teams are so focused on picking you apart. 
 

Clearly the biggest chinks in our armour are a lack of a pack crashing key forward who can take a contested mark and bring the ball to ground, and classy ball users who can deliver the ball inside 50. Obviously if we dominate general play to the extent that we did in last years finals series and the Brisbane and Freo games, we can put on large scores without those personnel. But as we’re finding out this year, that isn’t always going to be the case.

That is why regardless of what happens this year, this off season could be so exciting presuming that Jackson leaves. We would be in good stead to bring in players who could address these needs - like Richmond in 2018 - and re-prime ourselves for more tilts at the flag.

Obviously this is all easier said than done, and we don’t know what the trade landscape will look like at seasons end, but there is still enormous upside with this group!

[dazzledavey36 54,866]

1 hour ago, Tough Kent said:

I had a conversation with Jason Taylor at the President's Club on Friday night. He played a pretty straight bat.

Me - "What's Dogga doing next year?"

JT - "He's going okay, isn't he."

I asked him again.

JT - "We'll be good either way."

Me - "How would Freo even come close to doing a deal if he does go? They'd have to get another club involved."

JT - "We've been having these conversations for a while now. We'll do well out of it."

This is why, as much as I'll be disappointed he leaves (but understand of his circumstance), I'll be fairly excited what the Jason Taylor/Tim Lamb combo can produce.

If we're a able to get an early draft pick or two and recruit another Pickett/Jackson like gems that can come in and impact straight away then it's a win in my eyes.

If we can get a key forward early or an elite midfielder with class, then it'll go a long way to making sure we're in contention for the next few years at least.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This is why, as much as I'll be disappointed he leaves (but understand of his circumstance), I'll be fairly excited what the Jason Taylor/Tim Lamb combo can produce.

If we're a able to get an early draft pick or two and recruit another Pickett/Jackson like gems that can come in and impact straight away then it's a win in my eyes.

If we can get a key forward early or an elite midfielder with class, then it'll go a long way to making sure we're in contention for the next few years at least.

Add a ruck to that otherwise we could be in big trouble.

Our ruck lineup next year could be - Gawn.... that's it.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,170]

1 hour ago, JimmyGadson said:

 

A genuine contested marking/goal kicking threat and a couple of dynamic X-factor players with class who can still play a half-forward role/mid rotation is what we're screaming out for. Address this and we're golden.  

Great overall post Jimmy and particularly been thinking about your point above the last 24 hours. I think we are a few out in our balance of X factor vs blue collar role players. No disrespect to the following but we need to shift a few of Melksham, ANB, Spargo, Jordon, Sparrow. They are quality hardworking role players but we need some more spark and polish. 

[dazzledavey36 54,866]

23 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Add a ruck to that otherwise we could be in big trouble.

Our ruck lineup next year could be - Gawn.... that's it.

I think we have to look at someone like a Lloyd Meek, Sam Hayes and Matt Flynn to come in and play a support role next year. 

There's no doubt we have to recruit a developing ruck in the national draft as well. 

I'd even add a delisted free agent just for extra insurance. 

Edited August 7, 2022 by dazzledavey36

[adonski 12,069]

8 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Great overall post Jimmy and particularly been thinking about your point above the last 24 hours. I think we are a few out in our balance of X factor vs blue collar role players. No disrespect to the following but we need to shift a few of Melksham, ANB, Spargo, Jordon, Sparrow. They are quality hardworking role players but we need some more spark and polish. 

Melksham has plenty of class but not much gas left in the tank

Spargo likewise is one of the classiest players we have but doesn't get a heap of the ball 

ANB & Sparrow are the two biggest issues for mine

Suspect Bowey also comes in for Hibberd this week

Edited August 7, 2022 by adonski

[ChaserJ 5,089]

Just now, adonski said:

Melksham has plenty of class but not much gas left in the tank

Spargo likewise is one of the classiest players we have but doesn't get a heap of the ball 

ANB & Sparrow are the two biggest issues for mine

One thing that frustrated me about our entries on Friday…the number of times Spargs was completely open in the forward line and he was just ignored. 

There’s one way to get his possession rate up…use him instead of dump kicking it to our outnumbered and outsized fwd line.

[Adam The God 30,221]

4 hours ago, Hunt29 said:

IMO Jackson will be a better player than Darcy in a couple more years. Darcy will be gettable but probably not this year. 

Darcy will be gettable? Really? What's this based on? A F/S rarely goes.

[Adam The God 30,221]

4 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

Thanks for posting.

Hopefully this sheds some light to those who keep banging on about Freo not being able to come to the party.

Trading picks has been around for how long now? I can only assume many supporters on here aren't aware of that given the angst.

The possibilities are many, people need to relax.

Well, hang on. Where does he say Jackson goes to Freo? He doesn't. He allegedly says they've been having these conversations for a while. Not the same thing. Your interpretation is often what happens on Demonland and becomes gospel.

I'm not saying he isn't referring to pick swaps, but it's certainly not certain that he means Freo are involved.

Having worked with a few politicians now, unless someone specifically states something, they'll give themselves room to move. Bit like Goody in his press conference this week in the lead up to the game RE Harmes being selected. The journalists made the assumption and Goody didn't bother correcting him.

Edited August 7, 2022 by A F

[Damo 3,355]

 

8 minutes ago, A F said:

Darcy will be gettable? Really? What's this based on? A F/S rarely goes.

Sean Darcy from Freo is from Cobden Victoria

[Adam The God 30,221]

16 minutes ago, Damo said:

 

Sean Darcy from Freo is from Cobden Victoria

Gotcha. Derps. Thought the post meant Bulldogs' Darcy...

Edited August 7, 2022 by A F

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,237]

Jackson reminds me of Grundy. An undersized ruckman.

I think paying massive overs for him isn't justified. Good luck to Freo if they go down that path.

[Hunt29 275]

16 hours ago, A F said:

Darcy will be gettable? Really? What's this based on? A F/S rarely goes.

I was talking about Sean Darcy. I reckon Jackson will end up a better player and Darcy will be gettable in next couple years. 

[Guest]

22 hours ago, Tough Kent said:

Me - "How would Freo even come close to doing a deal if he does go? They'd have to get another club involved."

JT - "We've been having these conversations for a while now. We'll do well out of it."

It’s amazing how one little word says so much. 
Had JT said “we’d” (we would) instead of “we’ll” (we will), there’d still be a question.

[mo64 5,874]

31 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

It’s amazing how one little word says so much. 
Had JT said “we’d” (we would) instead of “we’ll” (we will), there’d still be a question.

It's only the supporters with their head in the sand who believe that Jackson hasn't made his decision to leave. And that includes those who think he'll stay if Melbourne aren't adequately compensated. 

I've said all along that our Football Dept / List Management team have always been forward thinking around the trade and draft periods. They like to get deals done early so that they can move on to the next deal. They're not like Dodo at Essendon, who will hold out just so that he thinks he's won the deal. 

I have faith in Tim Lamb and JT, and believe that they understand what a realistic trade with Freo looks like. And they'll use that draft capital to broker other deals. They wouldn't be wasting everyone's time by making ambit claims for Andy B, Young or Serong, as some suggest they should. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

23 hours ago, Redlagged said:

Take out a good 10 minutes in the GF and he's nothing to write home about. 

I hope SWYL doesn't read this post.

He thinks we only won the flag because Jackson played the best quarter of footy in living memory, and that he's going to be the best player of all time.

On a side note, Nathan Buckley on SEN has urged us to ask for Griffen Logue  in return and thinks he could significantly improve our forward line next year.