55 minutes ago, bing181 said:

You're shifting the goal posts, the discussion was about key forwards. Of the above list, only 3 are. Cameron was traded before we won a flag, and if we'd drafted Membrey or even McStay, this site would have gone into freefall.

You're also ignoring all the clubs who haven't drafted a key forward in that time. Which isn't surprising, because decent KPF's rarely come up for trade. Who for example would you have taken in 2024? Jack Darling? Membrey - who was delisted by St Kilda? Himmelberg - yet to even play a game for GCS?

We DID trade in a decent KPF in Ben Brown. Who could still have been playing for us, he's not that old. Otherwise ...

Chol and Peter Wright are two who would've filled a massive hole as key forwards and 2nd ruck. We may have asked and been knocked back but the fact we were never linked to either in the media tells me we probably never bothered.

I'm sure there are others and they are not world beaters but they do ok and would have complemented us nicely.

On 10/05/2025 at 16:16, DeeMee said:

Umpires are cheats or abysmally incompetent.

Why not have both? 🤭

4 hours ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Beg to differ.

The better team does not always win.

In the end, whoever kicks more goals is the winner. However it is always more nuanced.

For the sake of argument, if you happen to follow soccer, did you think Inter Milan played better than Barcelona in the semis?

But again it is a goals game so 🤷🏻‍♂️

All codes of football are about only one objective ---- scoring more goals or points than the opposition.

If you can't do that, no matter how brilliant some aspects of your performance may be, you do not have the better team.

As the saying goes, winners are grinners, losers can please themselves.

I'm fine with the Jeffo selection, because we are going to have to take a few chances at selection this year that may cost us during games, in order to see who is going to make it.

We need succession planning for May and TMac in particular, so Adams needs to play at some point too.

I'd like to see Sestan play as well at half back, to see if he's got the chops at the level. Another good ball user, exactly what we need behind the ball.

If we think Laurie can contribute pressure and ball use in our forward half (and kick a goal, only Langford, Sparrow, Turner and Kozzy sometimes look likely), then we should be pulling all these levers.

what a surprise afl not talking about the pickett trip

2 hours ago, Kev said:

Time to readjust our training regime.

Getting fitness having them train by drilling with ball in hand appears not to get them to a level where they are fitter, faster or stronger. A return to hard sprinting and numerous laps, is the only way to start to prepare for next season.

To get in finals we will need to win 11 of the next 14 games. So many things would have to go right to get there. If we lose to Brisbane, then we can only drop 2 more.

Time to test those, on the periphery, who haven't had a look yet, Brown, Verral, Culley, Sestan, Mentha and Kentfield. Not all at once, but over the next 7 games. Then play best 22 to finish the season.

The tail has wagged the dog. Enough of creating loving relationships between them by having the social gatherings called "Recovery and Captain's," runs. The players just don't apply themselves well enough (especially goal kicking), at these sessions. No more fun and games in the Captain's run. Goal kicking practice needs to have a professional and serious attitude. Too many kicking from the boundary looking for the spectacular and not practising the basics.

Give more mid-time in crucial positions, and freedom, to Rivers, Sparrow, Langford, Windsor, Bowey, Tholstrup, and Lindsay. They are our future.

If kicking long, we need to get players in front of the pack. JVR will bring the ball down, because he has hands only slightly better than Wiedeman. Tell him to soften those hands at the time of impact. Cannot kick to a marking contest hoping smalls will mark it. Tell them, they should leave it for the talls, and work to crumb it, unless a hit up lead with separation.

Freed from desire, with such a disappointing start to this season.

Thanks for this and great insight into our training regime.

At least this isn't the same usual stock standard report of everyone being so happy and loving at training that we usually get. The fact that we pretty much have zero structure into our goalkicking especially the basics stuff, sums it all up really.

It seems our training standards have dropped significantly due to player driven of wanting more flexibility around more personal time?

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Thanks for this and great insight into our training regime.

At least this isn't the same usual stock standard report of everyone being so happy and loving at training that we usually get. The fact that we pretty much have zero structure into our goalkicking especially the basics stuff, sums it all up really.

It seems our training standards have dropped significantly due to player driven of wanting more flexibility around more personal time?

We train like it’s the fourth quarter and that’s how we play when it matters most.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

I'm fine with the Jeffo selection, because we are going to have to take a few chances at selection this year that may cost us during games, in order to see who is going to make it.

We need succession planning for May and TMac in particular, so Adams needs to play at some point too.

I'd like to see Sestan play as well at half back, to see if he's got the chops at the level. Another good ball user, exactly what we need behind the ball.

If we think Laurie can contribute pressure and ball use in our forward half (and kick a goal, only Langford, Sparrow, Turner and Kozzy sometimes look likely), then we should be pulling all these levers.

I agree wholeheartedly we need to get some games into some of these younger players. This year is gone we need to be looking at next year and we have some old players in May, McDonald and Melksham who are still going ok but they aren’t playing in our next flag. I would love to see Sestan and Adam’s play quite a few games this year. I know lots of people don’t like Laurie but I don’t think he has been given a fair go to show if he’s up to it or not most of his games have been one game at a time. Would love to see him play three or four games in a row and see if he shows anything.

Just finished watching the replay. We absolutely smashed them in the middle pretty much all day and our defense held up pretty well which is why I think Goody was pretty positive. Our inability to win a contest in our forward 50 is so damning. Petty was really missed I felt same with Melksham. There's no way Goody is playing JvR, Fritsch and Jefferson again in the same team. When Lever is back I honestly think a combo of Petty, Turner and Melksham is probably our best mix for the rest of the year.

3 hours ago, Kev said:

Time to readjust our training regime.

Getting fitness having them train by drilling with ball in hand appears not to get them to a level where they are fitter, faster or stronger. A return to hard sprinting and numerous laps, is the only way to start to prepare for next season.

To get in finals we will need to win 11 of the next 14 games. So many things would have to go right to get there. If we lose to Brisbane, then we can only drop 2 more.

Time to test those, on the periphery, who haven't had a look yet, Brown, Verral, Culley, Sestan, Mentha and Kentfield. Not all at once, but over the next 7 games. Then play best 22 to finish the season.

The tail has wagged the dog. Enough of creating loving relationships between them by having the social gatherings called "Recovery and Captain's," runs. The players just don't apply themselves well enough (especially goal kicking), at these sessions. No more fun and games in the Captain's run. Goal kicking practice needs to have a professional and serious attitude. Too many kicking from the boundary looking for the spectacular and not practising the basics.

Give more mid-time in crucial positions, and freedom, to Rivers, Sparrow, Langford, Windsor, Bowey, Tholstrup, and Lindsay. They are our future.

If kicking long, we need to get players in front of the pack. JVR will bring the ball down, because he has hands only slightly better than Wiedeman. Tell him to soften those hands at the time of impact. Cannot kick to a marking contest hoping smalls will mark it. Tell them, they should leave it for the talls, and work to crumb it, unless a hit up lead with separation.

Freed from desire, with such a disappointing start to this season.

Send this to the club ..... wrap a brick in this. Maybe they might take note

1 hour ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Just finished watching the replay. We absolutely smashed them in the middle pretty much all day and our defense held up pretty well which is why I think Goody was pretty positive. Our inability to win a contest in our forward 50 is so damning. Petty was really missed I felt same with Melksham. There's no way Goody is playing JvR, Fritsch and Jefferson again in the same team. When Lever is back I honestly think a combo of Petty, Turner and Melksham is probably our best mix for the rest of the year.

Agree 💯.

41 minutes ago, Yarra Valley Demon said:

L

That left foot and the Sherrin are a match made in heaven, that was as pure as it gets.

If we keep cacking the bed he’ll nick off

Edited May 11May 11 by Superunknown

11 hours ago, godees said:

I have been wondering why we don’t try him forward a bit. He certainly has the tools. He had a stand out game yesterday. Has the potential to be a top 10 player in the game.

We’ve seen him forward in practice games and early in the year and he’s not quite big or strong enough to compete as a tall against key backs, doesn’t create a lot of space on the lead and gets burnt defensively.

He’ll develop all of that with more time but his best attribute right now is the smartness of his midfield running.

Wing lets him show that without the heat of being on ball.

9 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Our inability to develop a key forward post Neitz needs to be studied.

Turner should have started forward...said it prior to game saying it now. JVR.not doing it Jefferson not up to it...

Those selections were abysmal! Still should have won.

What a muck up!!!

We have no problem with i50 entries...

Problem is having a goal kicker

Langford was recruited cos he hits the scoreboard.

Guess what? He hits the scoreboard.

That second goal of his showed the skill of a real forward..It was instinctive

It reminded me of Peter Hudson who was not a tall forward but kicked goals from everywhere

I'd be trying him at full forward

I've stuck with Fritsch but he is badly out of form and should be dropped.

We should have won..Fritsch missed two sitters Spargo missed one Max missed one and Kozzie was robbed of one.there are 30 points there

And Max is still living the dream. Fact is he can't kick straight set shots from close in and must be made to eat humble pie and give it off to a runner as a matter of course. I'd say Langford or Sparrow who it's a pretty shot for goal on the run.

Trade JVR Aback to WA, Jefferson is a DUD.

I'm sick of hopium ..Good skilful footballers come in and show their skill immediately as with Lindsey, Langford and Windsor

Living on hope is stupid.

It's so frustrating..

Time to be ruthless and develop killer instinct .

I've had enough of the love....

We need to be killers.

8 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Send this to the club ..... wrap a brick in this. Maybe they might take note

Hopefully they don't. It's a recipe for disaster - increased injuries for starters.

12 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Chol and Peter Wright are two who would've filled a massive hole as key forwards and 2nd ruck.

Hindsight much?

There's a whole thread here on Chol and you don't even need to go back and read it to guess what the vibes were.

On 10/05/2025 at 16:02, Demon Jack said:

Our inability to develop a key forward post Neitz needs to be studied.

Jesse Hogan says Hi! unfortuntaely retention was not strong in this one.

11 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Thanks for this and great insight into our training regime.

At least this isn't the same usual stock standard report of everyone being so happy and loving at training that we usually get. The fact that we pretty much have zero structure into our goalkicking especially the basics stuff, sums it all up really.

It seems our training standards have dropped significantly due to player driven of wanting more flexibility around more personal time?

Absolutely this. Wasn't Chocco supposed to fix all of that?

On 10/05/2025 at 21:06, Disco InTurno said:

it being a development year yet there being no such thing as an honourable loss in your eyes is kind of contradictory, no?

Development often requires losing in order to learn and grow.

This loss—in which we were the better side for the majority of the game despite the umpiring—against a side who I think is top 6 and won’t last long in finals but MAYBE could be top 4 is far better than the early season losses.

There’s clear growth, progress, and learning. For a team that’s developing and not competing to win a grand final this year, that’s absolutely an honourable way to lose.

So it’s a development year because of….

Was this season flagged as a development year before rd 1?

19 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

Have wandered down to see Jefferson play in the 2's (Frankston ground) previously and he's done well. And would love to see him make a successful transition to the Senior side. I was going to write that you can't teach mongrel, but I do think he doesn't project energy. He's a big player who somehow makes himself seem small. His posture alone shouts that to me.

I couldn't be at the game yesterday but I seem to recall he played down back for Casey occasionally for spells and got involved. Is this an option for him?

Yes let move him back and forwards continuously like Turner and Petty and really stuff their career

21 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So it’s a development year because of….

Was this season flagged as a development year before rd 1?

Change of history right there. The fan club members were predicting a finals finish

14 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Chol and Peter Wright are two who would've filled a massive hole as key forwards and 2nd ruck. We may have asked and been knocked back but the fact we were never linked to either in the media tells me we probably never bothered.

I'm sure there are others and they are not world beaters but they do ok and would have complemented us nicely.

I wanted Membrey years ago when he was available as did others on here so its a miss

16 hours ago, CHF said:

A few observations about the game:

• A little bit of love will take you a long way but it takes a lot of work on conditioning and fitness to run out the fourth quarter of a game.

• In retrospect, mistakes made at selection. When the team was announced, the selection of Jefferson had us all scratching our heads and asking questions. We were right, selectors were wrong. Similar situation with a couple of others in the team. What strange pathways will selection wander down this week?

• The team played well for 3/4 applying good pressure and had the Hawks on the back foot only to let themselves down kicking for goal. How many goals did JVR, Jefferson, Fristch and Spargo kick between them? Ahhh hello. Forward 50 is still a mess. Newsflash: it’s not the delivery that is the problem.

• Our young players coming through are showing a lot. The only one I am not sold on is Tholstrup. I just do not see what others see. To me he looks more concerned with his image rather than letting his footy establish his credentials.

• I think we need to see some of the players that are in the cupboard. I don’ think it is as bare as we think. I would like to see players like Laurie, Sestan, Brown, Adams etc. given the same opportunities as Tholstrup. A few weeks run in the senior team.

Ah well that is the Hawks game done a dusted with the season creaking along held together by hope and secondhand sticky tape.

Lions next. Where there is a heartbeat, there are possibilities.

Look in the pregame thread for what I would do at selection and how I would coach the match. I know you are hanging out for my wise thoughts. LOL

Did you watch the lions game Absolute pressure game with skills to burn

They play 4 quarter football It will be a smashing if we dont

4 hours ago, bing181 said:

Hindsight much?

There's a whole thread here on Chol and you don't even need to go back and read it to guess what the vibes were.

No hindsight from me, I thought at the time both were the exact type of player we need. Big bodied forwards who can play 2nd ruck.

Even if it were hindsight from supporters it is irrelevant because recruiters are paid to get it right. Guys like Chol and Wright should have been pursued ahead of guys like Schache and Fullarton.