26 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

TMac's form must beg the question. Does the team persist with Petty forward and allow TMac to play as the third tall in defence? I realise Petty's form last season wasn't great but he was coming off no preseason and a nasty injury. I guess if TMac is able which he certainly appears to be then who becomes the best forward option out of Petty, Johnson and Jefferson? Personally I like Petty in defence and feel he's the obvious May replacement next year but TMac's inability to age keeps the question open I think.

It's fascinating isn't it.

Petty has been training with the backs all preseason, but has been talked about as a swing man.

I reckon Jefferson is the wild card in terms of where Petty plays. If Jefferson becomes a best 23 lock that would mean three key talls - jeffo, jvr and Turner.

And possibly 4 if AJ plays as a forward ruck.

AJ is another fascinating piece of the puzzle. I don't have a strong sense of whether he is AFL ready, but I really hope he is because I'd love jvr to be able to just focus on marauding inside 50 for at least the first half off the season rather than having to run himself into the grounf giving maxy a chop out (though long term I see him playing that role - I really rate his ruck ability).

Edited February 20, 20251 yr by binman

I'm not sure why McDonald's place in the team is in doubt. Lever is the one who should be made to earn his spot after his dismal 2024 season. I much prefer to play defenders who can beat their direct opponent.

1 hour ago, poita said:

I'm not sure why McDonald's place in the team is in doubt. Lever is the one who should be made to earn his spot after his dismal 2024 season. I much prefer to play defenders who can beat their direct opponent.

Very interesting comment. Lever does get a free pass. Its almost as if they're  a package, May and Lever.

Theres a lot to be said for close communication and familiarity and system but he had some stinkers last year.

Edited February 20, 20251 yr by jnrmac

2 hours ago, binman said:

It's fascinating isn't it.

Petty has been training with the backs all preseason, but has been talked about as a swing man.

I reckon Jefferson is the wild card in terms of where Petty plays. If Jefferson becomes a best 23 lock that would mean three key talls - jeffo, jvr and Turner.

And possibly 4 if AJ plays as a forward ruck.

AJ is another fascinating piece of the puzzle. I don't have a strong sense of whether he is AFL ready, but I really hope he is because I'd love jvr to be able to just focus on marauding inside 50 for at least the first half off the season rather than having to run himself into the grounf giving maxy a chop out (though long term I see him playing that role - I really rate his ruck ability).

Thank you Binman. Summed up in a sentence the way I've felt about JVR all along.

When I've moaned about him playing too much ruck time it's never been because I don't think he can do it or wouldn't be a valuable pinch hitting ruck asset down the track (I think he's more than capable in that area for that matter), it was purely because the kid was in his second full season and putting a lot of unnecessary wear on the tires early on. Whether people think JVR is the no.1 Key forward for our future or not, he's already a very important part of our forward line and he needs to be able to a) focus on developing his craft in that area and b) have minimised risk of injury as I don't believe we can afford to be without him. 

Edited February 20, 20251 yr by layzie

I’d pegged TMac as backup based solely on his age and my bias to playing 3 talks in defence. I can’t wait for the footy to start. Windsor still not training worries me as with McVee that’s our HB line out for the first 3-4 weeks. Not ideal 

Why is T-Mac considered to be the "4th tall" rather than Petty? Based on a combination of training reports and last year's form of both players, I can't see how McDonald is behind Petty. It seems to me that it might be Petty that misses out. Doesn't mean he can't be picked as a forward, of course, although he would also appear to be behind Turner, van Rooyen and possibly even Johnson, given that Johnson might be picked to help Gawn.

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Why is T-Mac considered to be the "4th tall" rather than Petty? Based on a combination of training reports and last year's form of both players, I can't see how McDonald is behind Petty. It seems to me that it might be Petty that misses out. Doesn't mean he can't be picked as a forward, of course, although he would also appear to be behind Turner, van Rooyen and possibly even Johnson, given that Johnson might be picked to help Gawn.

Thats a fair point

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Why is T-Mac considered to be the "4th tall" rather than Petty? Based on a combination of training reports and last year's form of both players, I can't see how McDonald is behind Petty. It seems to me that it might be Petty that misses out. Doesn't mean he can't be picked as a forward, of course, although he would also appear to be behind Turner, van Rooyen and possibly even Johnson, given that Johnson might be picked to help Gawn.

The way I see it, we only use on or two key tall defender in the old school sense of a key tall who locks down an oppo tall forward.

May is the number one such player.

Lever plays an intercepting role and tmac was more a tall roamimg flanker than a traditional tall defender.

When we needed a second lock down defender last year we had to rely on Lever and/or Tmac, or sometimes Tomlinson.

The problem with using Lever or Tmac in that role is both are very average one on one.

Petty is a much better option as he is great one on one  but can also zone off and intercept.

40 minutes ago, binman said:

The way I see it, we only use on or two key tall defender in the old school sense of a key tall who locks down an oppo tall forward.

May is the number one such player.

Lever plays an intercepting role and tmac was more a tall roamimg flanker than a traditional tall defender.

When we needed a second lock down defender last year we had to rely on Lever and/or Tmac, or sometimes Tomlinson.

The problem with using Lever or Tmac in that role is both are very average one on one.

Petty is a much better option as he is great one on one  but can also zone off and intercept.

In modern AFL, a key defender might have a dozen true one-on-one contests in a season, but they will be in hundreds of contests where pace and mobility is more important. Petty is less mobile than TMac.

Petty is not "a much better option". It is marginal and I would go for TMac.