10 hours ago, old dee said:

Spot on bb. Brown played a big part in our team in 2021. Geelong has shown over years how good grabbing a good quality player near the end of his career can work. I forget his name but they grabbed a hawthorn player at the end of his career a few years back who ended winning the Norm Smith.

Isaac Smith.

Its easy to look good when you have Daicos, Pendlebury, Sidebottom etc delivering the ball inside 50. How will he go getting delivery from Viney, Oliver, Langdon etc?

On 17/09/2025 at 19:23, Rednblueriseing said:

Yep agree, we really need a experienced key forward to show the way for Roo, kentfield, and jeffo to hopefully take over KF in 2 years. Good move if we get BM

If Kentfield and Jefferson are still on our list in 2 years I'll be amazed.

I also think people are over-rating Melkshams season, he had a standout game against the Lions and a couple of other good games but was far from effective too often. Regularly tried to take the lazy option calling for the ball out the back/trying to take speccies on his opponent and not great at applying forward pressure either. If we didn't have such a poor list/forward line he wouldn't have got another year.

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

If Kentfield and Jefferson are still on our list in 2 years I'll be amazed.

I also think people are over-rating Melkshams season, he had a standout game against the Lions and a couple of other good games but was far from effective too often. Regularly tried to take the lazy option calling for the ball out the back/trying to take speccies on his opponent and not great at applying forward pressure either. If we didn't have such a poor list/forward line he wouldn't have got another year.

Getting a little bit bullish on Kentfield, hoping he has an impressive pre-season.

I'm in favour of adding Brody to the list for various reasons but hopefully the powers to be are looking at tall and small options for the forward line

4 hours ago, doc roet said:

Isaac Smith.

Was that the guy who did his shoulder in a final? He was a mature-age, pack marking forward.

1 minute ago, bush demon said:

Was that the guy who did his shoulder in a final? He was a mature-age, pack marking forward.

James Podsiadly?

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I also think people are over-rating Melkshams season, he had a standout game against the Lions and a couple of other good games but was far from effective too often. Regularly tried to take the lazy option calling for the ball out the back/trying to take speccies on his opponent and not great at applying forward pressure either. If we didn't have such a poor list/forward line he wouldn't have got another year.

Spot on. A lot of emphasis on the Andrews game. Very little on the Wilkie, Ratugolea, etc games.

The speccies, attempts at super-high-degree-of-difficulty goals, lack of pressure and recidivism on the over-the-nine 50 metre penalty made me question whether I was watching a different player to other supporters.

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

If Kentfield and Jefferson are still on our list in 2 years I'll be amazed.

I also think people are over-rating Melkshams season, he had a standout game against the Lions and a couple of other good games but was far from effective too often. Regularly tried to take the lazy option calling for the ball out the back/trying to take speccies on his opponent and not great at applying forward pressure either. If we didn't have such a poor list/forward line he wouldn't have got another year.

The main thing I'd be wanting to get from BM coming in (and maybe a new assistant as well) is some improved forward craft / structure (not saying this isn't something they've been trying to fix for a while). How are our young key forwards meant to develop when there are so few (any?) natural forwards at the club. I rate Melksham and Fritsch but because of their size and skillset have to play differently to key forwards and are often trying to get out the back rather than come at the ball carrier. I don't think this works for your main focal point to play like that. Kentfield, Jefferson and JVR all have shown potential... but its only potential. Someone like BM could be a huge help in helping us structure up on field.

Not sure the extent of King's connections and other priorities / contractual limitations etc but would love to see him try and bring in someone like Tom Hawkins to help coach the forwardline. Though I despised him as a player, he did seem to get better with time (suggests someone who relies on their brain rather than athleticism) and is well known for creating goals (through assists) rather than just kicking them himself. I think it's probably been as long as the days of Neitz / Robertson (other than some brief stints from Brown, Hogan, Clarke etc) that we've had a true key forward leader in the forward line.

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Its easy to look good when you have Daicos, Pendlebury, Sidebottom etc delivering the ball inside 50. How will he go getting delivery from Viney, Oliver, Langdon etc?

And if that issue is not addressed it won’t matter who we have up forward. I don’t know why Goodwin tolerated that long bombing/hack kicking forward by the experienced old guard for so long after he said he was trying to fix the so called lack of forward connection! There should have been consequences, experienced players dropped if they continued to kick long, burning players closer and in better positions.

I hope King is very strong on this glaring flaw in our game style.

Luka Kentfield has shown some promise. He can lead, mark and kick strait. A pre-season could do him wonders.

JVR needs to turn back the clock to his debut season. Jettison the malaise of the last two seasons. Clay in the hands of a good succeeding senior coach?

Edited 28 minutes ago28 min by Tarax Club