13 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Ok. Well capable of it in our side should be Oliver, Petracca and Viney who have all shown the ability to crack over 30 touches. Rivers may also move into that category next year also.

In 2023 for example we had:

Oliver - 30.3 average

Petracca - 27.8

Viney - 25.6

Brayshaw - 22.8

I think our main issue was the depth after the first 3 in Trac, Oliver and Viney. Hopefully guys like Rivers, Salo, Windsor etc can increase their disposal counts so we aren’t so reliant on those 3

I hope you are right.   The first 4 or 5 games will see if we get at least 2 with high numbers each game.  If we do we should be on our way.

On 23/01/2025 at 13:57, DeeZone said:

What what say what, don’t forget The Duke, add him into the quartet with Kolt, Langford and Lindsay, they will all improve us rapidly. 😁

I won't, I guess. Who is he?

2 hours ago, Go Ds said:

I won't, I guess. Who is he?

Ha ha Caleb Windsor.

I realised seconds after posting. :) But I doubt I'll be the only one wondering for now. (If he gets referred to as The Duke in the media that'll change.)

On ball: Oliver, Tracc, Viney, Rivers, Pickett, Sparrow, Kolt, Laurie, Langford

Wing: Langdon*, Windsor*, Billings, Woey, Lindsay?, Langford?, Kynan Brown, Chandler

There’s a lot up in the air and will be interesting to see how they manage rotations.

I think both Tracc and Kossie will have to play forward a fair bit to give us scoring punch and speed/pressure 

Can Rivers tag? Can he split out to the wing for 30% to mix up his role. Can they work a 8 man backline rotation where he occasionally shifts to half back and Windsor to the wing.

Will they trust Billings or either of the young guys on the wings? Because Windsor’s pace off half back and Langdon’s run at half forward give the team a much needed different look, but we have to hold up on the wings.

And perhaps the big question is are we fit and skilled enough to play to the new game plan? Fitness seems much improved. But skills might continue to be an issue if it’s just Rivers and Pickett in. 

 

Mick McGuane has rated the AFL’s top midfields and has Melbourne in the middle of the pack. Given that our midfield was so highly rated in recent years, have we really gone downhill so badly?

1. Brisbane Lions 

2. Sydney Swans 

3. Port Adelaide 

4. Western Bulldogs 

5. Fremantle 

6. Carlton 

7. GWS Giants 

8. Geelong 

9. Gold Coast Suns 

10. Melbourne 

11. Collingwood 

12. Hawthorn 

13. Essendon 

14. St Kilda 

15. Adelaide 

16. North Melbourne 

17. West Coast Eagles 

18. Richmond 

I don’t agree. Carlton are too high, as are the Suns and Geelong. Seriously how can they be above us? The Dogs is the same as in 21 bar Richards as is ours bar Rivers. I’d have us 5th but when you add Max it takes us to 3rd. 

A fit Oliver and Petracca changes things dramatically . It’s easy to forget how dominant they have been and hopefully will be again.