A hopeful look at 2025 (from a pessimist)

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

OPTIMISM 

I am not sure about our current window closing or being closed. I see more than a second window is already opening. No way did I see our 22 having one or all of McVee, Tholstrup, AMW, Turner, Howes, Windsor or K Brown in it this season. I agree that our list management strategy was a fail, but our development program (formerly the weakest part of our football department) has once again produced great fruit.

I hope Verral has a huge preseason because I see him being a very good AFL ruckman who can step in to emerge behind Max.

Jefferson will be primed and ready to go. Really looking forward to seeing him beside JVR, Fritsch and Turner.

Good health & preseason for Trac and Clarry. 

Our draft strategy usually lands us with 2 draft positions inside top 20.

PESSIMISM

Kicking skills / decision making under pressure. Remains our achilles heel and I can't see it changing unless we change players, philosophy , and skills training personnel. 

Max, May TMac getting older. 

Schache, McAdam, Billings & Hore remain on our list and might have to stay on there due to last year's list management decisions.

 

 

 

 

[samcantstandya 1,042]

On 05/08/2024 at 11:54, spirit of norm smith said:

Bumped. I agree that we have gone backwards and others have now gone past us.  Some things are outside our control (Brayshaw, JS29) but some were (JJ, Grundy). I think it’s time to reset the list. I don’t think Goody had the bravery to do it.  He seems very stuck in strategy and in team selection.  
 

Certainly there needs to be some tough discussions at year end.  I can see Melksham and McDonald seeking another year but they are in decline and they would restrict development of others.  It would be a brave move to lose experience in the sheds however it’s time to reset. Here’s my take on offseason list management 

Retire: Brayshaw (medical) B.Brown, Melksham, McDonald, Hunter

Delist: Schache, JS29, Tomlinson, Sestan, Farris-White

upgrade : Moniz-Wakefield  

** thats 9 list spots available **

rookies: Hore, Kentfield, KBrown, Verrall 

Stuck with existing poor list management …Contracted until end 25: Spargo. Billings. Contracted until end 26: Laurie, McAdam.  None were deserving of such deals.  (Tim Lamb 🤯)
—————————————————

Aim to bring in

1. Free agent priority : Isaac Cumming - skilled half back 

2. Find a mature plan B ruckman 

3. Trade in tall key defender (cover loss of Tmcd and Tomlinson) 

** Trade out 2025 1st round with Freo to get 2024 pick 10-12 in this years draft 

National Draft. Let JT weave his magic. (4 picks likely) 

1st round Two of the following- Xavier Lindsay🌟/Harvey Langford🌟/Sam Lalor🌟/Murphy Reid/Tom Gross/Christian Moraes//Toby Travaglia/Taj Hotton/Bo Allan 

2nd round: (circa pick 40 - Swans pick) some potential names who might be available: Kade Gerryn ,  Hamish Davis , Lachie Jacques, Zak Johnson, Kade Herbert. 

Youngsters who could be bargains at a 3rd/4th round pick 50 ish :  Patrick Retschko, Cody Anderson , Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, Zane Cochrane, Bailey McKenzie,  Jaxon Artemis, Keighton Matofai-Forbes.

———————————————-

Add as a Rookie: father son Noah Yze

Add Cat B rookie: Ricky Mentha

Would keep Seston for one more year in the hope he'll get fitter and be able to play HFF

[monoccular 17,411]

On 05/08/2024 at 11:54, spirit of norm smith said:

Stuck with existing poor list management …Contracted until end 25: Spargo. Billings. Contracted until end 26: Laurie, McAdam.  None were deserving of such deals.  (Tim Lamb 🤯)

Spargo 2 more years and has missed an entire season with an Achilles injury.  Some but not many come back from that. 
Billings gets the ball but is a poor disposer and maybe decision making.

Laurie may still become a best 26.

McAdam a weird decision to give 3 years. Has given nothing. 
 

Plus Fullarton ? 2 years?  What does he offer if he can’t get a game with Max injured?
 

[monoccular 17,411]

On 06/08/2024 at 04:39, David-Demon said:

I've got a good idea... Let's recruit a guy by the name of J. Hogan playing for GWS.  Does anyone know much about him - or his history?

Wouldn’t Jesse be handy now.  Of the remains contenders, I would love to see him win a GF, much as I dislike the gimmes that have put GW$ in contention. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,249]

Updated

Retire: Brayshaw (medical) B.Brown, Melksham, McDonald, Hunter

Delist: Schache, JS29, Tomlinson, Sestan, Farris-White

Trade: ANB 💔 (crows 2nd round pick) 

*upgrade : Moniz-Wakefield  

** thats 10 list spots available **

rookies: Hore, Kentfield, KBrown, Verrall 

Stuck with existing poor list management …Contracted until end 25: Spargo. Billings. Contracted until end 26: Laurie, McAdam.  None were deserving of such deals.  (Tim Lamb 🤯)
—————————————————

Aim to bring in

1. Free agent priority : Isaac Cumming - skilled half back 

2. Find a mature plan B ruckman to support Gawn

3. Trade in tall key defender (cover loss of Tmcd or Tomlinson) 

4. get mature midfielder - Will Brodie from Freo (would cost future 5th rounder!!)  adds immediately to our midfield 

National Draft. Let JT weave his magic. (5 picks likely) 

1st round - either Xavier Lindsay🌟/Harvey Langford🌟/Sam Lalor🌟

early 2nd round (circa pick 25 - Crows pick) Cooper Hynes/Jobe Shanahan/ Taj Hotton/Christian Moraes

 Late 2nd round: (circa pick 40 - Swans pick) some potential names who might be available: Kade Gerryn ,  Hamish Davis , Lachie Jacques, Zak Johnson, Kade Herbert. 

Youngsters who could be bargains at a 3rd/4th round pick 50 ish :  Jack Ough, Patrick Retschko, Cody Anderson , Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, Zane Cochrane, Bailey McKenzie,  Jaxon Artemis, Keighton Matofai-Forbes.

———————————————-

Add as a Rookie: father son Noah Yze

Add Cat B rookie: Ricky Mentha

Edited August 13 by spirit of norm smith
C

[David-Demon 563]

23 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Updated

Retire: Brayshaw (medical) B.Brown, Melksham, McDonald, Hunter

Delist: Schache, JS29, Tomlinson, Sestan, Farris-White

Trade: ANB 💔 (crows 2nd round pick) 

*upgrade : Moniz-Wakefield  

** thats 10 list spots available **

rookies: Hore, Kentfield, KBrown, Verrall 

Stuck with existing poor list management …Contracted until end 25: Spargo. Billings. Contracted until end 26: Laurie, McAdam.  None were deserving of such deals.  (Tim Lamb 🤯)
—————————————————

Aim to bring in

1. Free agent priority : Isaac Cumming - skilled half back 

2. Find a mature plan B ruckman to support Gawn

3. Trade in tall key defender (cover loss of Tmcd or Tomlinson) 

4. get mature midfielder - Will Brodie from Freo (would cost future 5th rounder!!)  adds immediately to our midfield 

National Draft. Let JT weave his magic. (5 picks likely) 

1st round - either Xavier Lindsay🌟/Harvey Langford🌟/Sam Lalor🌟

early 2nd round (circa pick 25 - Crows pick) Cooper Hynes/Jobe Shanahan/ Taj Hotton/Christian Moraes

 Late 2nd round: (circa pick 40 - Swans pick) some potential names who might be available: Kade Gerryn ,  Hamish Davis , Lachie Jacques, Zak Johnson, Kade Herbert. 

Youngsters who could be bargains at a 3rd/4th round pick 50 ish :  Jack Ough, Patrick Retschko, Cody Anderson , Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, Zane Cochrane, Bailey McKenzie,  Jaxon Artemis, Keighton Matofai-Forbes.

———————————————-

Add as a Rookie: father son Noah Yze

Add Cat B rookie: Ricky Mentha

Lot of work went into that summary. well said...... but surely T.Mc has one more year ?  I would try to offload some others such as Spargo. Billings and McAdam. They are limited senior players as you say.  

[biggestred 5,010]

disagree with you on spargo. when fit his forward pressure is elite, as well as his inside 50 kicking.

[M_9 2,078]

1 hour ago, David-Demon said:

Lot of work went into that summary. well said...... but surely T.Mc has one more year ?  I would try to offload some others such as Spargo. Billings and McAdam. They are limited senior players as you say.  

Agree on TMac. We have none on our list with his versatility. You're kidding yourself if you think another club would take Billings or McAdam off our hands. Even if we paid 100% of their salaries.

[Deez21 253]

I don't think we need to be hopeful at all. What we need is the players to pull their finger out and find the love again, some refreshing ideas in the coaching box and a firm reset on the players mindsets.

But think of the reality.

A year of football into Oliver who got himself clean. A big pre season and what could be next year.
Returning Trac
Brayshaw money to improve free agency
A good high pick in a depe draft to top up the talent the way Sydney do and fund a kid to inject some youth in our side like Windsor has.
the "depth role players" we lost last year have been replaced by some very good kids who look at home in AFL football.
Some gem finds in the middle like Rivers and Kozzie
There is no standout elader in the competition and every team is chaseable. Infact at times this year we have looked the best side in it (Geelong, Carlton fourth quarter, port away etc)

The stones are there, the club can either sit down and have some hard truths and turn it around or sit around and sook that the media is still against us.

[von 1,559]

We are due a good run with injuries and with that anything is possible. Some teams that look good and or promising this year will fall. Some will surprise. Some will disappoint. I think we are still right in it if things go our way. Things going our way being the hardest part as it’s out of our hands. Fingers crossed.