4 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

I was stunned when he towelled us up last year thinking where did this bloke come from - to later realise he was a maturity aged recruit was more unbelievable.

The kids that make the draft these days are incredibly driven and it’s not surprising that some talent slips through as the maturity , professionalism may not be there. Think about how close Oliver was to missing out and how he’s turned out …

Theres plenty out there in the feeder and suburban leagues.

Podsiadly. Frittata.      hopefully Sestan will follow them from obscurity into Premiership players.  

28 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

but the decision to move him and his dodgy hammies on has hardly hurt them.

Thanks to being given two rather handy father sons currently on massive unders 

Haven’t watched him closely outside of him destroying us! But have friends that are pies supporters that don’t rate super highly - apparently poor defensive player and second efforts are non existent…they explain it’s why he wasn’t getting a game early as well - whilst also acknowledging the obvious positives about him…

either way, I doubt he’s a player they let walk due to financial and/or contract length  Issues

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

They got their cap space is a terrible way which led to backloading and over extending Treloar but the decision to move him and his dodgy hammies on has hardly hurt them.

Same with swallowing some dead cap money to get rid of Grundy and get a proper mature key forward in McStay with the space. That’s a great out come from being in a bad situation.

We’ve signed up a stack of players long term now and there’s every chance at least one of them will be a good candidate for opening up some cap space one day. We’ve even tried it with Tomlinson and Tommy Mc in recent years. 

look they’ve done great. paying part of Grundys salary while they have zero ruck options. losing credibility and respect of the playing group - who would sign a long term deal for them these days? obviously not worth the paper it’s written on

but as you say we’ve signed up lots of gun players so it might one day happen to us. lol

great points

6 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Stickiest hands I've seen for a while from a mid-sized forward. 

Grippo?  Hawkins uses it.  Possibly Cameron also.

No doubt a few from other teams also.

Hope some of our forwards are using it.

Edited April 20, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

Good example of the traditional pathways not being the be all, end all.

With so many players in various comps across the country, there’s no way the AFL has the 700 odd ‘best’ players in the land. 

Every person on here that’s played senior footy would know of people more than capable of handling AFL but didn’t have the desire/schooling/cash etc 

Onto Ash the player, he’s a poor man’s Fritsch, we can’t afford to play with two of them and a couple of genuine talls. It’s a no from me

Edited April 20, 20232 yr by BW511

Looks like a very natural footballer, in my opinion the most important characteristic when recruiting. His basic skill set is very, very good and he can impact a game at critical moments.

Unsure if the Dees will pursue him and it doesn't bother me if they don't. JVR looks a great prospect, and Jefferson is impressing at VFL level. 

Reminds  me of a Hybrid Tom Flower, Ross Brewer, with a sprinkle of Andy Moir, Shane Mc Sperrin aaaaaaand  George Lakes!!

GO GET HIM!

21 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I've been big on this for a while AJ.

Seen so many talented bush league footballers running around who have either slipped through the under 18's system and been lost to the wilderness or clubs are more reluctant to give basketball athletes who have played 5 minutes of footy in their life more opportunities and better pathways.

This is why I have a incredibly soft spot for someone like Ollie Seston. Plays GV football and a few school games after being cut from the elite junior pathway and it takes someone like Jason Taylor to give him a crack knowing that he may have been too good to pass up had he slipped through.

Has now started his career off well at VFL and so far looks a talent and just an all round natural footballer. A lot of water to go under the bridge still but has the tricks that to potentially play AFL if not later this year but next.

Absolutely great post, I honestly believe the draft age needs to be lifted, so many players committing themselves to Yr11/12 study and just playing school or community footy and not committing to the elite pathways, whilst others for various reasons such as injury, work, family issues etc just don’t show at the 16-18 years of age window and the development cycle just focuses on the next groups coming through.

And don’t get me started on the Athletes vs Footballers argument, I often refer to players when describing them as he’s just a footballer and people ask what do you mean but hard to explain but there are players who aren’t great runners, athletes and don’t standout as game breakers but there are just clean at ground level, see things on the outside and hit the option with clean hands or feet and don’t often try to hit the difficult option. They stand in holes to cut off easy options and move 15 to 20m to open space without any plaudits, they identify momentum and either slow the game down, impact the contest/make a statement or identify a need to just get it forward by whatever means possible. In summary they just get the game

really like him and can't see the filth letting him go

can see the two perf teams throwing the kitchen sink at him as they both need forwards

22 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Stickiest hands I've seen for a while from a mid-sized forward. 

Since myself at 15

Quite specific @Ethan Tremblay

On 4/20/2023 at 11:57 AM, Demon Jack said:

Stickiest hands I've seen for a while from a mid-sized forward. 

 

On 4/21/2023 at 10:06 AM, Ethan Tremblay said:

Since myself at 15

I thought you got off those shoplifting charges Ethan. 

On 4/20/2023 at 6:29 PM, DubDee said:

look they’ve done great. paying part of Grundys salary while they have zero ruck options.

Well they were one kick off a GF last year and currently sit on the top of the ladder despite both of their first choice rucks injured for much of the period.  They've been blessed with three outstanding FS's but to me, from the outside, they seem to have recovered from a terrible situation very quickly.

I like DS posts.  He says a lot of stuff that I shake my head at but he also makes a lot of points I wouldn't have considered.  IMO that's a lot better than reading the same groupthink sort of stuff that is often posted here (I'm not suggesting you are one, I also like your posts). But he gets attacked unnecessarily in my view.

Edited May 11, 20232 yr by Slartibartfast

On 4/20/2023 at 3:59 PM, DubDee said:

if anyone can manage a salary cap it is the Pies!

they’ll sign him to a 7 year deal and trade him after 1 no doubt 

And pick up half the tab for the team taking him

On 4/20/2023 at 6:28 PM, heath55 said:

Haven’t watched him closely outside of him destroying us! But have friends that are pies supporters that don’t rate super highly - apparently poor defensive player and second efforts are non existent…they explain it’s why he wasn’t getting a game early as well - whilst also acknowledging the obvious positives about him…

either way, I doubt he’s a player they let walk due to financial and/or contract length  Issues

Was about to post similar comments. Not a particularly good work ethic ..is a sentiment expressed by the Pies supporters I know …

25 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

Well they were one kick off a GF last year and currently sit on the top of the ladder despite both of their first choice rucks injured for much of the period.  They've been blessed with three outstanding FS's but to me, from the outside, they seem to have recovered from a terrible situation very quickly.

I like DS posts.  He says a lot of stuff that I shake my head at but he also makes a lot of points I wouldn't have considered.  IMO that's a lot better than reading the same groupthink sort of stuff that is often posted here (I'm not suggesting you are one, I also like your posts). But he gets attacked unnecessarily in my view.

Agreed.

I like most posts too, including yours. 

1 hour ago, ManDee said:

On 4/20/2023 at 4:57 AM, Demon Jack said:

Stickiest hands I've seen for a while from a mid-sized forward. 

 

On 4/21/2023 at 3:06 AM, Ethan Tremblay said:

Since myself at 15

I thought you got off those shoplifting charges Ethan. 

 ET was talking about seeing The Wiz kick 9 in a half.

Edited May 11, 20232 yr by John Demonic

On 4/20/2023 at 1:24 PM, DeeSpencer said:

With Cox, Elliott and Mihocek the wrong side of 30 and McStay not on huge money I doubt the Pies will be short of tall forward dollars to keep Johnson. The only question would be if he gets dropped from the 22 and cracks it or if they’re very confident in landing Ben King or another big name.

I’m also not convinced he’s the right guy for us. The plan will be to get Jefferson up and going fairly quickly if things work well, hopefully best 22 alongside Fritsch and JVR in 2025. That’s a fair line up of mobile tall options.

The gap in our list is for a genuine tall, possibly who can ruck to take over from Gawn and Ben Brown. Unless Schache suddenly reignites his career or Vitzy becomes a guy. 

Hopefully we get another look at Verral this year has the size for ruck/forward if we can get his body right but agree DS we need another tall ready to go in 2024.!!

27 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

 ET was talking about seeing The Wiz kick 9 in a half.

John I will not attempt to explain humour. Obviously my attempt at humour was lost on you,  I am sorry.

Edited May 11, 20232 yr by ManDee
Perhaps I missed the irony?

8 minutes ago, ManDee said:

John I will not attempt to explain humour. Obviously my attempt at humour was lost on you,  I am sorry.

Perhaps you missed seeing The Wiz kick 9 in a half! 

 

Edited May 11, 20232 yr by John Demonic

19 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

Perhaps you missed seeing The Wiz kick 9 in a half! 

 

Wow, comprehension not your strong point. Interesting you showed yourself in a white jacket trying to understand humour.

25 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Wow, comprehension not your strong point. Interesting you showed yourself in a white jacket trying to understand humour.

You're quite combative tonight for no apparent reason Mandee. I understood your sticky finger shoplifting joke and polished it off with some sticky fingers over the Wiz kicking 9 in a half. We're all in it together on this silly demon forum, no harm intended. Go Dees! 

Edited May 11, 20232 yr by John Demonic

23 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

You're quite combative tonight for no apparent reason Mandee. I understood your sticky finger shoplifting joke and polished it off with some sticky fingers over the Wiz kicking 9 in a half. We're all in it together on this silly demon forum, no harm intended. Go Dees! 

Ok, we agree to stand down. I did offer an apology and that I may have missed something.  

But Jack Nicholson polishing Percy seemed to be a bridge to far.

Sword back in scabbard. Go Dees!

Yes to any young man who reminds me of Liam Jurrah

The boys a jet