On 13/06/2025 at 15:07, DistrACTION Jackson said:

These days anything over 3 is a bag in my mind.

Has kicked 5, 3, 3, 3 & 4 in 5 of their games this year.

I'm also not advocating to go for him btw, just making a point about how many small/mid sized forwards the Giants have on their list.

No way in hell is three a bag. Six is always a bag. Players still kick em yet we play the 'oh it's too hard so we'll lower the threshold' so we can use the term 'bag'. Five and under is a handful.

Bailey Laurie is a tough one.

He’s contracted so likely he stays on.

We must give him some real games. He was clearly BOG v Williamstown in the VFL final yesterday. Perhaps the pace is not the same as the AFL and that’s where he gets caught out. But he makes good decisions and is skilled on left and right foot. It’s a tough one.

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Bailey Laurie is a tough one.

He’s contracted so likely he stays on.

We must give him some real games. He was clearly BOG v Williamstown in the VFL final yesterday. Perhaps the pace is not the same as the AFL and that’s where he gets caught out. But he makes good decisions and is skilled on left and right foot. It’s a tough one.

Hmm. He used to look good coming on as sub towards the end of the game.

6 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Bailey Laurie is a tough one.

He’s contracted so likely he stays on.

We must give him some real games. He was clearly BOG v Williamstown in the VFL final yesterday. Perhaps the pace is not the same as the AFL and that’s where he gets caught out. But he makes good decisions and is skilled on left and right foot. It’s a tough one.

he just isn't a midfielder at the next level but seems unwilling to try something different to make the jump, its either that high HF sparrow/sharp role that we're crying out for (hello pre agent zac bailey please) or lockdown defender (seems zippy enough and is definitely tough enough think liam stocker and how his career has changed)

On will verrall, i see little point persevering with him given s he can't usurp campbell. My case is this, looking around the comp at developing rucks the ones that stand out to me are Lachie Smith (WBD) and Nick Madden (GWS) who are good case studies compared to Verrall.

Smith 19yo 203cm - VFL avgs: 14.5 touches, 2.2 marks, 4.4 tackles, 34.2 hitouts

Madden 21yo 204cm - VFL avgs: 19.4 touches 3.8 marks, 3.7 tackles, 31.4 hitouts

Verrall - 21yo 199cm - VFL avgs: 12.9 touches, 1.4 marks, 2.5 tackles, 16.6 hitouts

we need to cut our losses and go again here, I'm not sure this years rucks are highly ranked but verrall is undersized and not impacting either in contest or around the ground which is concerning i think it is really obvious after even 12 months if you have found a ruckman who has an afl level ceiling or not and maybe we hedged our bets that he could be a FF but he isn't hitting the scoreboard either.

21 minutes ago, Turner said:

On will verrall, i see little point persevering with him given s he can't usurp campbell. My case is this, looking around the comp at developing rucks the ones that stand out to me are Lachie Smith (WBD) and Nick Madden (GWS) who are good case studies compared to Verrall.

Smith 19yo 203cm - VFL avgs: 14.5 touches, 2.2 marks, 4.4 tackles, 34.2 hitouts

Madden 21yo 204cm - VFL avgs: 19.4 touches 3.8 marks, 3.7 tackles, 31.4 hitouts

Verrall - 21yo 199cm - VFL avgs: 12.9 touches, 1.4 marks, 2.5 tackles, 16.6 hitouts

we need to cut our losses and go again here, I'm not sure this years rucks are highly ranked but verrall is undersized and not impacting either in contest or around the ground which is concerning i think it is really obvious after even 12 months if you have found a ruckman who has an afl level ceiling or not and maybe we hedged our bets that he could be a FF but he isn't hitting the scoreboard either.

in fairness to him, when tc has been dominant verrall has barely got on the field as we have have tall forward options

when campbell hasn't been the starting vfl ruckman, he's been okay

not great...but okay

On 31/08/2025 at 20:25, Turner said:

On will verrall, i see little point persevering with him given s he can't usurp campbell. My case is this, looking around the comp at developing rucks the ones that stand out to me are Lachie Smith (WBD) and Nick Madden (GWS) who are good case studies compared to Verrall.

Smith 19yo 203cm - VFL avgs: 14.5 touches, 2.2 marks, 4.4 tackles, 34.2 hitouts

Madden 21yo 204cm - VFL avgs: 19.4 touches 3.8 marks, 3.7 tackles, 31.4 hitouts

Verrall - 21yo 199cm - VFL avgs: 12.9 touches, 1.4 marks, 2.5 tackles, 16.6 hitouts

we need to cut our losses and go again here, I'm not sure this years rucks are highly ranked but verrall is undersized and not impacting either in contest or around the ground which is concerning i think it is really obvious after even 12 months if you have found a ruckman who has an afl level ceiling or not and maybe we hedged our bets that he could be a FF but he isn't hitting the scoreboard either.

You should go back and watch the games where he played against Madden and Smith.

I would say he won both of those battles.

Mismanagement

On 31/08/2025 at 20:55, Turner said:

On will verrall, i see little point persevering with him given s he can't usurp campbell. My case is this, looking around the comp at developing rucks the ones that stand out to me are Lachie Smith (WBD) and Nick Madden (GWS) who are good case studies compared to Verrall.

Smith 19yo 203cm - VFL avgs: 14.5 touches, 2.2 marks, 4.4 tackles, 34.2 hitouts

Madden 21yo 204cm - VFL avgs: 19.4 touches 3.8 marks, 3.7 tackles, 31.4 hitouts

Verrall - 21yo 199cm - VFL avgs: 12.9 touches, 1.4 marks, 2.5 tackles, 16.6 hitouts

we need to cut our losses and go again here, I'm not sure this years rucks are highly ranked but verrall is undersized and not impacting either in contest or around the ground which is concerning i think it is really obvious after even 12 months if you have found a ruckman who has an afl level ceiling or not and maybe we hedged our bets that he could be a FF but he isn't hitting the scoreboard either.

Kalani White will take his place.

Pending … buffering… on standby … awaiting new coach to arrive

Keep

Oliver

Petracca

Uncontracted

McVee ✅Hope a new coach and a good contract offer sees him stay

Billings ❌

Fullerton ❌

Woey jnr💔❌

Spargo⭕️UFA Trade or allow to leave

(R) Verrall ❌

(R) Hore❌.

(R) KBrown💔❌

(R SSP) Henderson❌

8 off the list - Spargo, KBrown, Fullerton, Hore, Verrall, Billings, Henderson, Woey jnr (Henderson was top up so we can add 7)

????!!question marks

Campbell … maybe 1 more year , but he goes if we can recruit in another backup ruck like Max Heath

Sestan …likely gets 1 more year … needs to really get a big pre season in

Contracted 2026

McAdam⭕️sure he has mercurial talent but can’t believe he was 29 yo and injury prone and he got 3 years Maybe he gets to see out his final year 🤞he can stay on the park or he’ll have to retire early

Laurie⭕️ elite at VFL Level Just wish he’d got more chances at AFL game and shown something He has been on our list 5 years now Might just seek opportunity elsewhere

Contracted. One more year …

The Veterans. Melksham Tmcd May McAdam Campbell

On the edge. Must prove themselves Laurie Sestan Jeffo Adams Johnson rookies: Kentfield Culley AMW Mentha

let’s see how you fit in . Salem Sparrow Salem had some good games but got exposed in others as slow and also slow to dispose of the footy (often sideways and with no impact) needs to discover kicking skills into the corridor Sparrow is stuck as not quite a midfielder and not quite a half forward , so where does he play

---

7 additions

• Add Culley as upgrade from SSP to rookie 

• Add Derksen + add another mature player 

  Draft…

• Add White (likely list) and Sinnema (likely cat b rookie)

• Add 2 quality youngsters in the draft

On 31/08/2025 at 11:57, spirit of norm smith said:

Bailey Laurie is a tough one.

He’s contracted so likely he stays on.

We must give him some real games. He was clearly BOG v Williamstown in the VFL final yesterday. Perhaps the pace is not the same as the AFL and that’s where he gets caught out. But he makes good decisions and is skilled on left and right foot. It’s a tough one.

Vineys not quick and only has a left peg that can only go 30m

11 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Pending … buffering… on standby … awaiting new coach to arrive

Keep

Oliver

Petracca

Uncontracted

McVee ✅Hope a new coach and a good contract offer sees him stay

Billings ❌

Fullerton ❌

Woey jnr💔❌

Spargo⭕️UFA Trade or allow to leave

(R) Verrall ❌

(R) Hore❌.

(R) KBrown💔❌

(R SSP) Henderson❌

8 off the list - Spargo, KBrown, Fullerton, Hore, Verrall, Billings, Henderson, Woey jnr (Henderson was top up so we can add 7)

????!!question marks

Campbell … maybe 1 more year , but he goes if we can recruit in another backup ruck like Max Heath

Sestan …likely gets 1 more year … needs to really get a big pre season in

Contracted 2026

McAdam⭕️sure he has mercurial talent but can’t believe he was 29 yo and injury prone and he got 3 years Maybe he gets to see out his final year 🤞he can stay on the park or he’ll have to retire early

Laurie⭕️ elite at VFL Level Just wish he’d got more chances at AFL game and shown something He has been on our list 5 years now Might just seek opportunity elsewhere

Contracted. One more year …

The Veterans. Melksham Tmcd May McAdam Campbell

On the edge. Must prove themselves Laurie Sestan Jeffo Adams Johnson rookies: Kentfield Culley AMW Mentha

let’s see how you fit in . Salem Sparrow Salem had some good games but got exposed in others as slow and also slow to dispose of the footy (often sideways and with no impact) needs to discover kicking skills into the corridor Sparrow is stuck as not quite a midfielder and not quite a half forward , so where does he play

---

7 additions

• Add Culley as upgrade from SSP to rookie 

• Add Derksen + add another mature player 

  Draft…

• Add White (likely list) and Sinnema (likely cat b rookie)

• Add 2 quality youngsters in the draft

Think you will find that Culley will just remain on the rookie list instead of being upgraded.

Would be great to have a comparison of trades of teams after winning the premiership in the last decade…

Laurie has been excellent all year in the VFL and I would be shocked if someone doesn’t come for him like the Eagles, Bombers or Blues for example.

I think I have conceded on Verrall, who doesn’t appear likely to make it and Heath will probably take his spot.

If we are a chance for Windhager as Finey is saying, then I could see Sparrow going home.

I think May will go and I have suggested even the Pies might grab him for a year or two and despite what the Dogs are saying maybe even them.

I still think Lever is a chance to leave and become the general of North’s Defence.

If we can find another key forward or Jeffo and Luker step up, Petty can go back.

I think keeping Tom Mac another year suggests we will lose 1-2 older key backs and he is that experience we may need for a year.

I see Hore, Fullarton, Woey, Brown, Billings, Henderson, Verrall, Spargo, Laurie, May and maybe Lever, Sparrow and McAdam gone depending on whether the new Coach wants to give McAdam one more try in his last year.

Tracc, if a big club he like comes hard and offers a good deal, could also go.

That is a lot of movement and it can only all happen, if we have a few more players wanting to come to us.

Edited September 7Sep 7 by Redleg

56 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Think you will find that Culley will just remain on the rookie list instead of being upgraded.

Upgrade from SSP to Rookie

Right now he is on the list due to AMWs injury, he is the 46th man at the moment

Is Verrell out of contract? He's improved this year but he still looks a mile off. Saying that, I can't see us delisting him if Campbell retires. Our ruck depth would be non existent.

On that topic, I find it odd that even though we have the best ruck of the generation on our list, our history of developing young rucks over the last decade (LJ aside) is surprisingly poor.

Lachie Filipovic, Mitch King, Austin Bradtke Kyah Farris-White. The list goes on.

Fingers crossed Kalani breaks the pattern.

Edited September 6Sep 6 by Demon Jack

30 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Is Verrell out of contract? He's improved this year but he still looks a mile off. Saying that, I can't see us delisting him if Campbell retires. Our ruck depth would be non existent.

On that topic, I find it odd that even though we have the best ruck of the generation on our list, our history of developing young rucks over the last decade (LJ aside) is surprisingly poor.

Lachie Filipovic, Mitch King, Austin Bradtke Kyah Farris-White. The list goes on.

Fingers crossed Kalani breaks the pattern.

Verrall pretty much got subbed after half time. Read on twitter he was sat at the back of the bench the whole second half.

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

Verrall pretty much got subbed after half time. Read on twitter he was sat at the back of the bench the whole second half.

he was definitely on ground in the last quarter last night i'm pretty sure

he offered nothing

1 minute ago, whatwhat say what said:

he was definitely on ground in the last uarter last night i'm pretty sure

he offered nothing

Really? Didnt even spot him once? They had Johnson and Campbell rucking swapping in t he ruck the whole second half.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Really? Didnt even spot him once? They had Johnson and Campbell rucking swapping in t he ruck the whole second half.

almost positive he got the ball at half forward at one point

i could be wrong

5 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Pending … buffering… on standby … awaiting new coach to arrive

Keep

Oliver

Petracca

Uncontracted

McVee ✅Hope a new coach and a good contract offer sees him stay

Billings ❌

Fullerton ❌

Woey jnr💔❌

Spargo⭕️UFA Trade or allow to leave

(R) Verrall ❌

(R) Hore❌.

(R) KBrown💔❌

(R SSP) Henderson❌

8 off the list - Spargo, KBrown, Fullerton, Hore, Verrall, Billings, Henderson, Woey jnr (Henderson was top up so we can add 7)

????!!question marks

Campbell … maybe 1 more year , but he goes if we can recruit in another backup ruck like Max Heath

Sestan …likely gets 1 more year … needs to really get a big pre season in

Contracted 2026

McAdam⭕️sure he has mercurial talent but can’t believe he was 29 yo and injury prone and he got 3 years Maybe he gets to see out his final year 🤞he can stay on the park or he’ll have to retire early

Laurie⭕️ elite at VFL Level Just wish he’d got more chances at AFL game and shown something He has been on our list 5 years now Might just seek opportunity elsewhere

Contracted. One more year …

The Veterans. Melksham Tmcd May McAdam Campbell

On the edge. Must prove themselves Laurie Sestan Jeffo Adams Johnson rookies: Kentfield Culley AMW Mentha

let’s see how you fit in . Salem Sparrow Salem had some good games but got exposed in others as slow and also slow to dispose of the footy (often sideways and with no impact) needs to discover kicking skills into the corridor Sparrow is stuck as not quite a midfielder and not quite a half forward , so where does he play

---

7 additions

• Add Culley as upgrade from SSP to rookie 

• Add Derksen + add another mature player 

  Draft…

• Add White (likely list) and Sinnema (likely cat b rookie)

• Add 2 quality youngsters in the draft

Agree with literally everything except McAdam. Move him on. Broken body. Wasted money. Delist and open a spot, bring in a kid, or trade him.

7 additions

• Add Culley as upgrade from SSP to rookie 

• Add Derksen + Windhager

  Draft…

• Add White (likely list) and Sinnema (likely cat b rookie)

• Add 2 quality youngsters in the draft

Ps. We might have found a new small forward. Can we switch Kate Hore over to the men’s program. Kate is a star ⭐️

17 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

7 additions

• Add Culley as upgrade from SSP to rookie 

• Add Derksen + Windhager

  Draft…

• Add White (likely list) and Sinnema (likely cat b rookie)

• Add 2 quality youngsters in the draft

+ Heath

6 minutes ago, Random Task said:

+ Heath

Cannot see us "freeing" McAdam. I doubt anyone would want him as a trade with his injury history.

May as well let him see out next year and hope he comes on. Ideally he would challenge for Melksham's place by season end.

My guess is 2026 will be a tough year with at best an 8-10 ladder position outcome