On 14/03/2025 at 23:38, Lucifers Hero said:

Windsor maybe.  JVR will be 22 in a few weeks.

Remember that Pickett, Jackson, Bowey, Rivers, Petty, Sparrow, Spargo were all  premiership players when between 18 and 21 years of age.

I agree we have some youth tomorrow but I reckon that is a ok.  If we lose it won't be because of the debs.

Windsor maybe? He's 19?

  On 15/03/2025 at 00:16, adonski said:

Windsor maybe? He's 19?

No need to take one line and nit pick it.

Read it in context of the rest of the post...

  On 14/03/2025 at 21:54, old55 said:

Yes, but 6 debutantes is still adventurous. Goodwin could definitely gone with TMac and Billings, added Laurie and Woewodin who have AFL exposure, and squeezed Melksham and Spargo in from injury early, but he didn't. He wasn't forced into the debutantes decision.

Agree mate.. it's certainly a change from the usual conservative policy.

We're probably a 30% chance of a win but if three of these debutantes become regulars in a winning team as the season goes on I'll be very happy

  On 14/03/2025 at 23:38, Lucifers Hero said:

Windsor maybe.  JVR will be 22 in a few weeks.

Remember that Pickett, Jackson, Bowey, Rivers, Petty, Sparrow, Spargo were all  premiership players when between 18 and 21 years of age.

I agree we have some youth tomorrow but I reckon that is a ok.  If we lose it won't be because of the debs.

22 is youthful in my book, and the guys out of the VFL have that "this is my last chance to make it" hunger which is also youthful in it's essence. I love that we're playing the kids early.These are the guys who haven't got old systems ingrained in them. They should by rights pick up the newer game style more easily. I also think they provide a great energy boost to the older players, especially after the last few seasons dramas. I think it's a smart play by the club. I want to win but I'll take a narrow loss full of effort, glimpses of game plan and solid games by Oliver and Petracca.

  On 15/03/2025 at 00:20, Lucifers Hero said:

No need to take one line and nit pick it.

Read it in context of the rest of the post...

I felt a compelling need to and still do 

Henderson has made a very strong impression since coming in. Anyone who is surprised about his inclusion shouldn’t be given how he played against Sandringham last week in a practice match. Think there’ll be a few in the side fairly nervy about their spot with someone who wants to work as hard as him to get a crack. Great signs for the squad depth at the moment even more so because of the unavailability of Koz, Judd, Melksham and Koltyn💪

  On 15/03/2025 at 00:45, BC_1718_DC said:

Henderson has made a very strong impression since coming in. Anyone who is surprised about his inclusion shouldn’t be given how he played against Sandringham last week in a practice match. Think there’ll be a few in the side fairly nervy about their spot with someone who wants to work as hard as him to get a crack. Great signs for the squad depth at the moment even more so because of the unavailability of Koz, Judd, Melksham and Koltyn💪

Were you at the Sandy game? Did Johnson and Jefferson play?

  On 15/03/2025 at 00:45, BC_1718_DC said:

Henderson has made a very strong impression since coming in. Anyone who is surprised about his inclusion shouldn’t be given how he played against Sandringham last week in a practice match. Think there’ll be a few in the side fairly nervy about their spot with someone who wants to work as hard as him to get a crack. Great signs for the squad depth at the moment even more so because of the unavailability of Koz, Judd, Melksham and Koltyn💪

That’s great to hear. Every good side needs 2-3 players like Henderson who are willing to do anything for the team and will work hard. I can see him cementing a spot as a small forward who also gets up the ground, a bit like Dylan Moore from the Hawks.

Woey, Laurie and Billings must be spending a bit of time on SEEK at the moment

My concern is that if we get the rain that is forecast, we are going to need "legs", not "talls"

  On 15/03/2025 at 01:09, D Rev said:

Woey, Laurie and Billings must be spending a bit of time on SEEK at the moment

Woey is a good chance to ask for a trade imo. I'd like to keep him because I think he's a really hard worker. His issue is finding a role to make his own. I thought he was half a chance when ANB left but Sharp seems the logical replacement now. Injuries and form will occur. 

I don't think either Laurie or Billings will be playing AFL much. They just don't seem to fit anywhere.

  On 14/03/2025 at 21:54, old55 said:

Yes, but 6 debutantes is still adventurous. Goodwin could definitely gone with TMac and Billings, added Laurie and Woewodin who have AFL exposure, and squeezed Melksham and Spargo in from injury early, but he didn't. He wasn't forced into the debutantes decision.

As bold as he has EVER been, I like it!

  On 15/03/2025 at 01:32, Roost it far said:

Woey is a good chance to ask for a trade imo. I'd like to keep him because I think he's a really hard worker. His issue is finding a role to make his own. I thought he was half a chance when ANB left but Sharp seems the logical replacement now. Injuries and form will occur. 

I don't think either Laurie or Billings will be playing AFL much. They just don't seem to fit anywhere.

I hope that they are used to give the newer bodies the relief that they will need.

These players will be part of the full squad that can be used for appropriate match ups.

I like the idea of playing the new blokes against GWS but am now concerned that the weather may impact. 

  On 14/03/2025 at 22:02, Lucifers Hero said:

Yes, I'd rather give the newbies a go than play those not ready or tried before that you meniton. 

For mine the experience of Johnson, Henderson and Sharp to some extent balances out the inexperience of Langford, Linsay and Jefferson who will probably play limited minutes.

I like that these guys a getting a go as we don't have a lot of depth in our injury list that can come in this year:  McVee, Pickett, Tholstrop and maybe Melksham.

So getting games into the debs is a good thing.  We will need them to play during the year.

Turner also unavailable this week, so that’s 5 best 23 IMO who were unavailable this week. 

But as @old55 has already said, TMac, Billings, Laurie and Woewodin are all fit and available and were the players getting these spots last year. Rather than go back to that well, we’re trying new faces. Like most, I like it (although I’m surprised Billings didn’t get picked).

Four players making their AFL debuts.  Feels like a rebuild.

  On 14/03/2025 at 20:59, forever demons said:

People used to say the same about Pedo and he proved them all wrong

Campbell is at his fourth club and is 33 year old. Ripping bloke, good footballer, but not best 23 imo.

The 6 debutants aren't usually a recipe to success to winning but then again neither is backing in the usual fringe guys

At least this way we get to see higher upside prospects get a crack and properly strengthen our best 22 in preparation for when Pickett, McVee, Kolt, Disco return

  On 14/03/2025 at 22:28, Deestar9 said:

Did you go to the nth Melb practice match & watch him play against Xerri …more than serviceable & will do the job if needed. So def a fringe 23 player (of which when all fit we have a few )

The good thing about modern day rucking and their value to the team is, unless you are a Max, being serviceable and playing to the team structures is enough to have an impact. Tom is a team player and will be of good service if/when needed. 

  On 15/03/2025 at 03:33, lorn said:

Four players making their AFL debuts.  Feels like a rebuild.

We've done a reset on the run post 2021. Or, you could call it simply replenishment, instead of relying on the FA market like Geelong and Hawthorn previously did, we've really hit the draft.

We've kept our mature guns going (except for Clarry for a chunk of 23 and Trac 24) and brought in a strong new young core 18-21 (Bowey, JVR, McVee, Windsor, Kolt, AMW, Langford and Lindsay), underneath the strong 22-25 year old core that is developing (Rivers, Petty, Kozzy, Turner, Spargo, Sparrow, Chandler). If Howes, Henderson and Sharp can cement their places, that's 10 guys in that 22-25 core.

We've managed to balance the age profile of the list really well with our guys in the peak of their careers between 26-30 being Clarry, Trac, Langdon, Salem, Fritta and Billings. Remember also, we lost Gus from that group.

The list is primed for success IMO, injuries permitting, with our guns (Gawn, Trac, Clarry, Viney, Langdon, Lever, May and Kozzy) still firmly in their windows. Only May is getting close, and arguably Max, but didn't slow down last year.

The only potential hole is that A+ class in the 22-25 core. I think Kozzy has that potential, but we're likely about to lose him. I'd be targeting a gun FA or 22-25 year old in the next 2-3 years. This bit is a watch though.

Edited March 15Mar 15 by Adam The God

  On 15/03/2025 at 03:33, lorn said:

Four players making their AFL debuts.  Feels like a rebuild.

Five AFL debuts.

One debut for us from another club.

This team just has the ploddy feels about it without Kozzy and AMW in.

Yes i realise Moniz wasn'y / isn't a stalwart regular to this point but he did show some serious zip in the lead ups and in patches last season.

We are also devoid of ground ball getting ability inside 50 and the same with pressure i50 it seems.

I hope im proven wrong but i think we'll be chasing tail all day and watching a fair bit of the oppo's rear ends as they waltz the ball from our forward 50 into theirs with relative ease.

I know there's more to footy than just the few aspects mentioned above.  Including areas like team defence, effort, how you set up behind the ball etc but i dunno.

Just feels like there's a few too many holes to take the chocolates this week against a pretty formidable Giants outfit.

Edited March 15Mar 15 by Demon Dynasty

  On 14/03/2025 at 07:17, praha said:

I might be wrong but this is definitely a changing of the guard moment. This will be a genuine journey. We might surprise but people should temper their expectations. 

It's interesting isn't it?

My take is that the core has stayed the same but we have refreshed our bottom ~8 players. Not just quality but the type of player

I am supportive (until we start losing 🙂)

It's going to be a wet game folks. 

  On 15/03/2025 at 05:03, Adam The God said:

The list is primed for success IMO, injuries permitting, with our guns (Gawn, Trac, Clarry, Viney, Langdon, Lever, May and Kozzy) still firmly in their windows. Only May is getting close, and arguably Max, but didn't slow down last year.

Just curious when you think the list is primed for success?  I don’t think we will make finals this year but think we will be in better shape next year when a lot of those younger players you mentioned might impact games more. 

  On 15/03/2025 at 08:20, ANG13 said:

Just curious when you think the list is primed for success?  I don’t think we will make finals this year but think we will be in better shape next year when a lot of those younger players you mentioned might impact games more. 

Because!