1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

@Redleg Still of the thought that is best to leave Luker til 26 after full preseason ?? Interested 😀

I agree unless he is given a game with no expectation.

I think there is merit in giving him a game or two in the final few rounds. By "giving" I'm not meaning his form doesn't warrant it - but more due to how far back he has had to come from this season, it's a big step up. But often this can give players a bit of extra motivation over the summer - they have a better understanding of what's required.

I haven't given up on JVR and Jefferson. I reckon Jefferson has shown a lot - he's taken some good marks, shown a competitive streak (albeit in bursts) and his VFL form shows he is a good kick for goal (which hasn't been seen much at AFL level). Another pre-season building fitness, strength and confidence and he could go another level. I wonder whether JVR should be tried in defence - even if it's a short term thing, it might round out his game and give him some insights into how to be a difficult forward to play on.

11 hours ago, rjay said:

AJ had a great game...

no doubt, but he's a limited footballer and im not sure what his role is in the seniors as not a key tall and behind fritsch and melky as a third tall. he has limited skills and is suited to lower skilled football where bash and crash becomes more prevalent and gets found out and lost a bit when the game moves quickly. a good possibly great vfl footballer but i havent seen anything from his chances at afl level to date, or most vfl games (he was playing on an irishman v carlton) to justify his selection at the point in the season over younger prospects with higher ceiling

14 minutes ago, Turner said:

no doubt, but he's a limited footballer and im not sure what his role is in the seniors as not a key tall and behind fritsch and melky as a third tall. he has limited skills and is suited to lower skilled football where bash and crash becomes more prevalent and gets found out and lost a bit when the game moves quickly. a good possibly great vfl footballer but i havent seen anything from his chances at afl level to date, or most vfl games (he was playing on an irishman v carlton) to justify his selection at the point in the season over younger prospects with higher ceiling

He's got big man vigour though.

We had our best period of the season with AJ in it.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

I agree unless he is given a game with no expectation.

Rest of season meets that brief 😉

12 hours ago, rjay said:

AJ had a great game...

Against a Z GRADE team

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

I think there is merit in giving him a game or two in the final few rounds. By "giving" I'm not meaning his form doesn't warrant it - but more due to how far back he has had to come from this season, it's a big step up. But often this can give players a bit of extra motivation over the summer - they have a better understanding of what's required.

I haven't given up on JVR and Jefferson. I reckon Jefferson has shown a lot - he's taken some good marks, shown a competitive streak (albeit in bursts) and his VFL form shows he is a good kick for goal (which hasn't been seen much at AFL level). Another pre-season building fitness, strength and confidence and he could go another level. I wonder whether JVR should be tried in defence - even if it's a short term thing, it might round out his game and give him some insights into how to be a difficult forward to play on.

Exactly

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

I agree unless he is given a game with no expectation.

This is what has me torn in terms of Luker debuting. Of course I’d be stoked for him and I know he’d be absolutely rapt because he says he’s ready and the club medics have told him he’s fitter and stronger than he was pre-illness. Even without hearing it from them he knows this himself. BUT…

Should he have a poor game I can only imagine the nasty and degrading comments, not only on here but in general from Dees fans. People don’t realise the damage this can do to a 19yo and yes, he reads Demonland.

3 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Against a Z GRADE team

That's true but you can only do what you can do.

AJ is probably next man in.

I think Kentfield is really promising but for his development it may be best to leave him a Casey for the rest of this season as he hasn't had any preseason.

Happy for him to play if the FD think he's up to it.

9 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

and yes, he reads Demonland.

Why tf would he do that

41 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

This is what has me torn in terms of Luker debuting. Of course I’d be stoked for him and I know he’d be absolutely rapt because he says he’s ready and the club medics have told him he’s fitter and stronger than he was pre-illness. Even without hearing it from them he knows this himself. BUT…

Should he have a poor game I can only imagine the nasty and degrading comments, not only on here but in general from Dees fans. People don’t realise the damage this can do to a 19yo and yes, he reads Demonland.

Then if I was the Coach and felt that he deserved a game now, I would say that he is getting a game, on his current form, with us knowing that he has was sick over summer, has never had a proper AFL pre season and that he is getting a taste only and that we know he will be better in the future, after an uninterrupted pre season.

That should kill the fan expectation.

PS: I would tell him the same privately and that we wanted him to end the season as an AFL player, who could now go on and have an AFL career.

29 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Why tf would he do that

The young guys do. They’ve asked me if I read Demonland and I say “What’s Demonland?” 🤣 I’d tell them they shouldn’t read it but I know from experience when you tell a kid to NOT do something, at breakneck speed… they’re doing it.

At least three of the young guys’ mothers also read it.

Edited July 22Jul 22 by Ghostwriter

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Then if I was the Coach and felt that he deserved a game now, I would say that he is getting a game, on his current form, with us knowing that he has was sick over summer, has never had a proper AFL pre season and that he is getting a taste only and that we know he will be better in the future, after an uninterrupted pre season.

That should kill the fan expectation.

PS: I would tell him the same privately and that we wanted him to end the season as an AFL player, who could now go on and have an AFL career.

Will tell him this today, if he’s at training.

51 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

This is what has me torn in terms of Luker debuting. Of course I’d be stoked for him and I know he’d be absolutely rapt because he says he’s ready and the club medics have told him he’s fitter and stronger than he was pre-illness. Even without hearing it from them he knows this himself. BUT…

Should he have a poor game I can only imagine the nasty and degrading comments, not only on here but in general from Dees fans. People don’t realise the damage this can do to a 19yo and yes, he reads Demonland.

Nooooo, young man, don't read these posts!!

WAIT

If you're reading this Luker, disregard the ones who do/may pot you from the comfort of their couch/keyboard (both).

If you get a game, it is because you have earnt an opportunity to get some game time and find your feet. There are ZERO expectations from the good many of us who know this will take TIME.

You look like you are developing nicely, especially considering your unfortunate setback. Good health to you, and looking forward to seeing you out there soon enough when the time is right.

1 hour ago, rjay said:

That's true but you can only do what you can do.

Happy for him to play if the FD think he's up to it.

The FD is clueless. They play unfit & out of form players regularly.

They have badly stuffed up this year's player management & development of Kolt, Lindsay, Lever, Spargo, McVee & Windsor.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Then if I was the Coach and felt that he deserved a game now, I would say that he is getting a game, on his current form, with us knowing that he has was sick over summer, has never had a proper AFL pre season and that he is getting a taste only and that we know he will be better in the future, after an uninterrupted pre season.

That should kill the fan expectation.

PS: I would tell him the same privately and that we wanted him to end the season as an AFL player, who could now go on and have an AFL career.

I brought up the subject of a debut with Luker. He said he feels ready and he’ll trust the coaches and selectors, if they think he’s ready he’s gonna grab the opportunity and give it everything.

I said, “Have you given any thought to the possibility of your first game not being great’?” He laughed and said, “I know, I’ll be ripped to shreds.” So I told him what you said (above) and he said I needn’t worry about him. He said the Club is really good at ensuring the debutants are aware of what might happen.

I was gonna launch into a rant about no amount of preparation will fully help because the world is a cruel place and people can be heartless, etc. but that would make me feel like I’m 100 years old so I just said, “Yeah nah, you’ll be right!”

23 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

I brought up the subject of a debut with Luker. He said he feels ready and he’ll trust the coaches and selectors, if they think he’s ready he’s gonna grab the opportunity and give it everything.

I said, “Have you given any thought to the possibility of your first game not being great’?” He laughed and said, “I know, I’ll be ripped to shreds.” So I told him what you said (above) and he said I needn’t worry about him. He said the Club is really good at ensuring the debutants are aware of what might happen.

I was gonna launch into a rant about no amount of preparation will fully help because the world is a cruel place and people can be heartless, etc. but that would make me feel like I’m 100 years old so I just said, “Yeah nah, you’ll be right!”

Sounds like he is pretty grounded boy.

4 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

This is what has me torn in terms of Luker debuting. Of course I’d be stoked for him and I know he’d be absolutely rapt because he says he’s ready and the club medics have told him he’s fitter and stronger than he was pre-illness. Even without hearing it from them he knows this himself. BUT…

Should he have a poor game I can only imagine the nasty and degrading comments, not only on here but in general from Dees fans. People don’t realise the damage this can do to a 19yo and yes, he reads Demonland.

I'm conflicted. A lot of soccer clubs give academy prospects a debut game in the last home game of the season if there is nothing left to play for. Give them a touch experience, which i do like.

BUT for us - we are playing Collingwood last game of the season, and if we can impact their finishing position id be reluctant to do so

But whether he is ready or not is up for him to prove in the build up, if he has a bad game, it will be long be forgotten before March 2026.

Also is Luker is reading this i will now refer to him as Lurker Kentfield.

2 minutes ago, roy11 said:

I'm conflicted. A lot of soccer clubs give academy prospects a debut game in the last home game of the season if there is nothing left to play for. Give them a touch experience, which i do like.

BUT for us - we are playing Collingwood last game of the season, and if we can impact their finishing position id be reluctant to do so

But whether he is ready or not is up for him to prove in the build up, if he has a bad game, it will be long be forgotten before March 2026.

Also is Luker is reading this i will now refer to him as Lurker Kentfield.

But how do you know he’s a lurker. He may post in anonymity 😅

I have re-read my message and it is a little ambiguous and i cannot edit it.

Just to be 10000000% clear

i'd be relucant to - play kids against Collingwood when we can damage their season

NOT id be reluctant to negatively impact Collingwood's season.

2 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

But how do you know he’s a lurker. He may post in anonymity 😅

next thing you'll be telling me is Picket fence is actually Jeffo.

3 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

But how do you know he’s a lurker. He may post in anonymity 😅

He may even have a ghostwriter.

3 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

The young guys do. They’ve asked me if I read Demonland and I say “What’s Demonland?” 🤣 I’d tell them they shouldn’t read it but I know from experience when you tell a kid to NOT do something, at breakneck speed… they’re doing it.

At least three of the young guys’ mothers also read it.

Supporter forums are pretty self-explanatory. And the club would obviously educate young players around the risks involved of reading sites like these, reading too much social media commentary or media in general.

For your own mental well being, maybe I could advise that you continue to provide the training reports/player updates and then (like you have advised those young players), not read/respond to certain topics that tick you off so much?

I think that would help you and many of us.

This weekend is a great game to debut a couple.

10 minutes ago, SPC said:

This weekend is a great game to debut a couple.

Why not? Getting in the mood for mad Monday and beyond.