Back where he belongs

good swingman to have

7 hours ago, picket fence said:

About time.... everybody but the match commitee could see he's NOT a forward. And before the smarties say yeah but kicked 6 goals in one game, then thats about it ONE GAME. Plays in defence in 2025!

Where does this information come from ?

9 minutes ago, Farmer said:

Where does this information come from ?

Picket is just trying to make room for Jeffo

Happy for him to play both ends depending on match ups and how the game is progressing. And he did play at both ends in the same game this year. (The Port win)

And I’ll always remember the Brisbane final in 2022 when they threw him up forward and he almost turned the game with a couple of snags.

His versatility is what makes him a valuable player.

23 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Happy for him to play both ends depending on match ups and how the game is progressing. And he did play at both ends in the same game this year. (The Port win)

And I’ll always remember the Brisbane final in 2022 when they threw him up forward and he almost turned the game with a couple of snags.

His versatility is what makes him a valuable player.

Agreed.  Biggest problem I see here though, is that Goody is almost always unwilling to throw the magnets around in any significant way, until the match is pretty much lost and there's little to no value in that.  Incidently, I can also see the counter argument Goody and the coaches might have as there have also been some great wins we had where we had issues scoring, but persevered with players in their more tried and tested roles and ended up with great comeback wins like 2021 final H&A Vs Geelong and to some extent the 2021 GF. 

But as a whole I think I've seen far to many games where we have struggled to take marks in our forward 50 and lost the game, despite having forward half dominance and a key back who could clunk big marks like T Mac or Maysie and we went on to loose the game.  I'd love to see him have a bit more dare in this respect in seasons ahead.

..

Edited December 4, 2024Dec 4 by redandbluemakepurple

I don't really mind where he plays, I still think he could make a decent forward given a proper preseason and better delivery but wherever he plays he needs to start playing with a bit of mongrel and intensity. Some of the efforts last year were diabolical.

Edited December 4, 2024Dec 4 by Dr. Gonzo

13 hours ago, Adam The God said:

I'm glad he's moving back. As good as TMac was for most of the season, he was exposed 1v1 a number of times at the back end of the year. Petty is better 1v1 IMV.

I think we're going to see JVR, Turner and Johnson/Jefferson. JVR, Turner and Johnson will be preferred in 2025, as it'll free up JVR from second ruck duties, and Jefferson won't be damaging enough this year (if he makes it at all).

I will declare Jeffo will go well enough this year tO maintain a regular spot and maybe keep Johnson outbid a regular spot. 

JVR ‘s days in the ruck may not be over yet. At least the competition for spots will be interesting and all start with a blank canvas really. 

Jeffo has of all the best traits and forward skills and now with his bigger body will get some real chance to star and succeed. He will also make our forward line work as Troy Chaplin will also.

Good luck yo all our forwards let’s make this part of our team the stars for 2025. 

 

12 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

Makes sense he goes back as the ''experiment'' up forward never worked at all.

TMac up forward wouldn't be the worst as he was decent when he was pushed forward in 2024.

HF - Turner, McDonald, Pickett

F - Melksham, van Rooyen, Fritsch

Horrible combination hopefully never see this mix. 

I could offer 

HF Pickett JVR Fritsch/ Sharp/Jeffo

F.  
TurnerTMac Langford/Fritsch.  

At least there’s ground ball  cover smalls and Fritta can play either HF or Forward P. 

Much more movement and all players are interchangeable.

Some will be Interchange no doubt. 
 

He had a poor pre-season last year due the foot injury against North in 2023. 

The good news - he completed the full session yesterday.  We may have a very handy swingman in 2025. 

1 hour ago, DirtyDees DDC said:

He had a poor pre-season last year due the foot injury against North in 2023. 

The good news - he completed the full session yesterday.  We may have a very handy swingman in 2025. 

Swingman and relief ruck?

 

7 hours ago, 58er said:

I will declare Jeffo will go well enough this year tO maintain a regular spot and maybe keep Johnson outbid a regular spot. 

JVR ‘s days in the ruck may not be over yet. At least the competition for spots will be interesting and all start with a blank canvas really. 

Jeffo has of all the best traits and forward skills and now with his bigger body will get some real chance to star and succeed. He will also make our forward line work as Troy Chaplin will also.

Good luck yo all our forwards let’s make this part of our team the stars for 2025. 

 

It is December 2024 and it was only 4 months ago that his body and form was still not adequate to get a game when effectively nothing was on the line 

I like every poster here likes to think that players miraculously transform in the 2 months post season end but I think we need to temper expectations - we will get a much better read on whether he can play a role in 2025 when the AFL practice matches begin - if he shows he can compete and perform then against AFL players we may have something to work on 

1 hour ago, Neil Crompton said:

Swingman and relief ruck?

 

I very much doubt it.

Looked completely at sea tge frw times he racked last season.

20 minutes ago, binman said:

I very much doubt it.

Looked completely at sea tge frw times he racked last season.

we're all a bit wobbly in the legs after racking up

49 minutes ago, Sydee said:

It is December 2024 and it was only 4 months ago that his body and form was still not adequate to get a game when effectively nothing was on the line 

I like every poster here likes to think that players miraculously transform in the 2 months post season end but I think we need to temper expectations - we will get a much better read on whether he can play a role in 2025 when the AFL practice matches begin - if he shows he can compete and perform then against AFL players we may have something to work on 

I agree the jury is still out on Jefferson.

But disagree that that his body and form was not adequate to get a game late last season.

It appears that perspective is based on him not being selected when there was 'effectively nothing was on the line'.

I think that is an incorrect assumption.

The exact same argument could have been made about JVR in 2022.

But wasn't because few questioned his talent or competitiveness.

We were screaming out for a key forward at the end of the 2022 season yet didn't select JVR, despite his good form and seemingly being physically AFL ready, because they obviously prioritised his development - which JVR acknowledged in 2023 was the right call.

Yes, jvr only had one season at VFL level, and Jefferson has had two, but he was also miles ahead of jeffo physically when he was drafted.

Jefferson's second half of the 2024 VFL season was terrific. He would have acquired himself fine if he had been called up, and on form alone he would have deserved selection.

But just as was the case with JVR, the club's focus was his development. So no call up.

And no need for any miraculous transformation. 

It's instructive that Goody had already said Jeffo is very likely to selected early in the 2025 season.

Jefferson still remains a long way from an AFL key forward. We’ll see soon enough if he has the requisite desire and will to really succeed. It’s a brutal position and takes enormous courage and strength.

20 hours ago, SthSea22 said:

Might cost him a spot then

 

Tmac  would be stiffed getting dropped from the backline. He was our best backman last year. Not sure how you fit Tmac, lever, may and petty in the same backline 

Petty is too good of a player to not be in our best 22.

I actually rated him as a forward when he started - I think we all did.  He had sticky mits, kicked straight and applied decent pressure.

In hindsight, we did him no favours rushing him back with little training/fitness last year.  Doesn't help playing the hardest spot on the ground against multiple defenders.  He looked a completely differently unit and it was hard to watch.

The only way we can play the 'Big 4' together is TMac and Petty taking the tall forwards, Lever back to an intercept/third tall defender whilst Stevey takes the medium/small forwards.

May has completed some amazing jobs on quick smalls in the past but that was a few years back now when he would have had a little more spring in his step but playing him on a medium forward would be hell of them.

 

A necessary change more than a good one in my view.

His 1v1 and intercepting ability will be very welcome down back again but I do wonder how many people would have been calling for this move this time last year. Up forward he was clearly the best contested mark we have and along with JVR and Melksham playing the space cleaning role he looked like your good old fashioned key forward. Last year was tough, he clearly struggled early on with his foot. Lisfranc injuries are no laughing matter.

I think it is time to send him back again but I hope this isn't the last time we see him as a forward. 

Edited December 4, 2024Dec 4 by layzie

18 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Agreed.  Biggest problem I see here though, is that Goody is almost always unwilling to throw the magnets around in any significant way, until the match is pretty much lost and there's little to no value in that.  Incidently, I can also see the counter argument Goody and the coaches might have as there have also been some great wins we had where we had issues scoring, but persevered with players in their more tried and tested roles and ended up with great comeback wins like 2021 final H&A Vs Geelong and to some extent the 2021 GF. 

But as a whole I think I've seen far to many games where we have struggled to take marks in our forward 50 and lost the game, despite having forward half dominance and a key back who could clunk big marks like T Mac or Maysie and we went on to loose the game.  I'd love to see him have a bit more dare in this respect in seasons ahead.

Goodwin and dare aren't on the same page!

The big questions with Petty down back are does he have the speed off the mark to really go to the next level as a defensive force? May and Lever provided him a lot of protection in 21/22 and he had a very simple role. 

Is he willing to provide us more rebound and attack than when he last played down back? Tommy Mc was our best rebounding defender at times last year because he always has a go despite his faults. Petty has the skills and athleticism to be a really strong rebounder but he needs the right mindset. His default setting is playing it very safe. He has skills to use the footy and marking to be a target for kick outs and switches.

It’s good to out him back to his preferred spot for summer but if he’s going to be at his best he needs to go to a new level. Otherwise if May, McDonald and Lever are all healthy he might end up in the forwards again just on form.

Edited December 5, 2024Dec 5 by DeeSpencer

4 hours ago, binman said:

Jefferson's second half of the 2024 VFL season was terrific. He would have acquired himself fine if he had been called up, and on form alone he would have deserved selection.

That’s overly optimistic, he mixed some very good games in with some quiet ones. I suspect he would’ve struggled in any senior games aside from the Gold Coast win where we moved the ball far better then any other game in the back end of the year.

He should debut early in 2025 if he has a full preseason but he won’t do well at AFL level unless the team sorts out their ball movement and forward structure. We can’t keep playing footy that makes the key forward role in to a heavyweight UFC fight every week.

I honestly think our new draftee at pick 70 odd is a real chance to play a few games this year, he's got a real presence and aggression about him, and if he goes into the ruck JVR can stay forward as well. 

 

Petty back, May our new FF?

We can still have 3 Tall's at either end of the ground and use Petty as a utility/swingman from the bench and interchange him with a tall coming off the ground at either end. This could give May a bit more time to rest and keep him fresh while protecting his troublesome hammies and even chop out with Gawn and JVR when they need a break. This could be a real weapon for us if used correctly, we could really stretch opposition defences with our height.