1 hour ago, Macca said:

We should be expecting a decent improvement from our senior players/experienced players

We saw the improvement with Bowey, Turner & Chandler along with Kozzie getting better by the year

We should be expecting better seasons from Salem*, Fritsch, Petty, Lever, Rivers*, Langdon*, Viney, JVR, May(?) & Sparrow.

T-Mac & Melk continuing to play well would be a bonus but then there's Mihocek, Steele & Max of course

And the youngsters coming through such as Langdon, Lindsay & Windsor

*Salem, Rivers & Langdon need to be more dynamic with their possessions

Finals might be a bridge too far but at least 10 wins is a possibilty ... much will depend on injuries as our depth isn't great

There's a whole host of middling clubs that are very beatable. And we might get a kind draw

So next year's pick might be 5 all the way up to 10 (in my view)

And what if King is a really good coach?

I like your optimism!

I have none haha. I feel like we dip again and then start to show some improvements.

Can Gawn just never retire so we don’t crash to the bottom???

Just now, Demongirl35 said:

I like your optimism!

I have none haha. I feel like we dip again and then start to show some improvements.

Can Gawn just never retire so we don’t crash to the bottom???

An optimistic view would be pushing for finals or playing a final or 2

I'll be disappointed if we fall right away, as this list is still far superior to the lists we had from 2008 to 2015

Short on genuine stars but plenty of players who are AFL standard

One thing that we didn't see in 2025 was a motivated list. We were going through the motions match after match

So with a new coach (?)

Given a good run with injuries I'd take 9 - 11 wins on an upward curve

1 hour ago, Ugottobekidding said:

We played better when tracc was out the side

No we didnt.

9 minutes ago, Macca said:

An optimistic view would be pushing for finals or playing a final or 2

I'll be disappointed if we fall right away, as this list is still far superior to the lists we had from 2008 to 2015

Short on genuine stars but plenty of players who are AFL standard

One thing that we didn't see in 2025 was a motivated list. We were going through the motions match after match

So with a new coach (?)

Given a good run with injuries I'd take 9 - 11 wins on an upward curve

Considering I think we dip, getting 10 wins like you hope for is optimistic to me.

But hey, who knows!

1 hour ago, Ugottobekidding said:

We played better when tracc was out the side

Wrong. Unsure if you’re a liar or troll.

We were 5th on the ladder nearing the midway point of 2024. When Trac got injured we plummeted down the ladder to 14th. I know people dislike him, but no point lying or making up rubbish to slander his ability and impact on our team onfield. He was still a star and we were a far worse team without him.

Feels like Cumming will be around out pick and we’ll be keen. He’s a quick mid forward who can impact early in his career. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Dovaston as our two early picks. Would add lots of forward half speed, skill, scoring potential, and defensive pressure, with pure midfield scope down the track.

If we got …

Sam Grlj 🎄 it’s merry Xmas - has the pace and run that would perfectly in our future midfield

Josh Lindsay 🤩he’s definitely the best kick in the draft - he would add the skill and smart decision making as a mid/half back distributor

Lachie Dovaston - 🤗 he’d entertain and give our forward line a real edge as a small forward who just loves to kick goals

4 minutes ago, Demongirl35 said:

Considering I think we dip, getting 10 wins like you hope for is optimistic to me.

But hey, who knows!

Yes, there's also different levels of optimism, pessimism and having a realistic view

In fact, this whole site revolves around the 3 types of thinking along with all the variables

But I've always felt that a team is heavily reliant on the experienced players ... and they let themselves down in 2025 (need to bounce back)

35 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

I think Tracc played every game last year.

Exactly

Jk

Edited Thursday at 08:452 days by Superunknown

13 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Feels like Cumming will be around out pick and we’ll be keen. He’s a quick mid forward who can impact early in his career. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Dovaston as our two early picks. Would add lots of forward half speed, skill, scoring potential, and defensive pressure, with pure midfield scope down the track.

would you be worried that with cumming he's too similar to kolt and if they both don't come on then you've missed twice, or do you double down and hope one of them at least gets there, or ideally they both do and can rotate together

i think thats why its grjl and dove then farrow for me so we're targetting different compositions

Edited Thursday at 08:492 days by Turner

On 28/10/2025 at 14:44, Bombay Airconditioning said:

said:

Watching Gettable and reading the phantom drafts it looks like the draft will go like this. Not including bidding.

1. West Coast - Duursma

2. West Coast - Duff-Tytler

3. Richmond - Robey

4. Richmond - Grlj\ X.Taylor

5. Essendon - Sharp

6. Essendon - Cumming

7. Melbourne - Grlj\ X.Taylor whoever Richmond don't pick

8. Melbourne - Farrow with Dovastan and Schubert as smokies if we are going for needs.

17 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Watching Gettable and reading the phantom drafts it looks like the draft will go like this. Not including bidding.

1. West Coast - Duursma

2. West Coast - Duff-Tytler

3. Richmond - Robey

4. Richmond - Grlj\ X.Taylor

5. Essendon - Sharp

6. Essendon - Cumming

7. Melbourne - Grlj\ X.Taylor whoever Richmond don't pick

8. Melbourne - Farrow with Dovastan and Schubert as smokies if we are going for needs.

Grlj/Taylor & Dovaston combo I feel will be a great result. Would he happy with that.

7 minutes ago, Mouseymoo said:

Grlj/Taylor & Dovaston combo I feel will be a great result. Would he happy with that.

Yeah I would favor Dovastan over Farrow and Schubert. I think J.Lindsay comes in next then either Phillipou or Marsh next, Marsh has slid. Duff-Tytler won't slide West Coast are desperate for a ruckman.

11 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

Wrong. Unsure if you’re a liar or troll.

We were 5th on the ladder nearing the midway point of 2024. When Trac got injured we plummeted down the ladder to 14th. I know people dislike him, but no point lying or making up rubbish to slander his ability and impact on our team onfield. He was still a star and we were a far worse team without him.

We had plenty of embarrassing loses even one to west coast prior to Tracks injury. The margins in our defeats were much closer in the last half. 2024 was an easy start. Just saying other players are up to it.

likely run sheet

1. West Coast - Duursma

2. Matched bid

   Suns - Uwland

3. West Coast - Duff-Tytler

4. Matched bid

   Suns - Patterson

5. Richmond - Robey

6. Matched bid

   Lions - Annable

7. Richmond - Grlj

8. Essendon - X.Taylor

9. Matched bid

   Blues - Dean

10. Essendon - Sharp

11. Melbourne - Josh Lindsay

12. Melbourne - Lachie Dovaston

Gets us … an elite half back with excellent skills and decision making AND a dynamic small forward who loves to kick goals and tackle

(37)Add Rory Wright as a classy onballer to the Dees future midfield mix.

(60) Add Kalani White - father son

Rookie -pick - NGA - Toby Sinnema

6 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

likely run sheet

1. West Coast - Duursma

2. Matched bid

   Suns - Uwland

3. West Coast - Duff-Tytler

4. Matched bid

   Suns - Patterson

5. Richmond - Robey

6. Matched bid

   Lions - Annable

7. Richmond - Grlj

8. Essendon - X.Taylor

9. Matched bid

   Blues - Dean

10. Essendon - Sharp

11. Melbourne - Josh Lindsay

12. Melbourne - Lachie Dovaston

Gets us … an elite half back with excellent skills and decision making AND a dynamic small forward who loves to kick goals and tackle

(37)Add Rory Wright as a classy onballer to the Dees future midfield mix.

(60) Add Kalani White - father son

Rookie -pick - NGA - Toby Sinnema

Not many pundits think Cumming would drift passed 10-12 with Herald Sun reporting we are strongly linked.

15 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

Wrong. Unsure if you’re a liar or troll.

We were 5th on the ladder nearing the midway point of 2024. When Trac got injured we plummeted down the ladder to 14th. I know people dislike him, but no point lying or making up rubbish to slander his ability and impact on our team onfield. He was still a star and we were a far worse team without him.

A lot of people have also completely forgotten that he was at the peak of his powers before the injury and likely heading to another AA guernsey. That night against Carlton where he almost single handedly pulled us back from the death and kicked 5 goals was for me possibly his finest hour. Yet 2024 is now just written off as a bad year for Trac.

I supported the decision to part ways but we shouldn't pretend like this transition will be easy.

If he’s there at 37 I reckon Matthew LeRay would be a great pickup. Genuinely impressed by his highlights

17 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

I like your optimism!

I have none haha. I feel like we dip again and then start to show some improvements.

Can Gawn just never retire so we don’t crash to the bottom???

We are already there mate.

3 hours ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

We are already there mate.

We aren’t last so we can still drop lower 😂

20 hours ago, Macca said:

An optimistic view would be pushing for finals or playing a final or 2

One thing that we didn't see in 2025 was a motivated list. We were going through the motions match after match

Just this above, thought it was clear, no one was happy, even though Tracca came second in the Bluey and did well in the Downlow I thought he had a poor year, I did think Oliver was getting better but off a very low base

Good Luck to both and Good Luck to the Dees

8 hours ago, Roddog said:

If he’s there at 37 I reckon Matthew LeRay would be a great pickup. Genuinely impressed by his highlights

Agree. Will he be available at 37? Not sure he will still be on the board. I think he’s gone by the end of the 1st round about 28-29 pick.

On 30/10/2025 at 18:01, Macca said:

We should be expecting a decent improvement from our senior players/experienced players

We saw the improvement with Bowey, Turner & Chandler along with Kozzie getting better by the year

We should be expecting better seasons from Salem*, Fritsch, Petty, Lever, Rivers*, Langdon*, Viney, JVR, May(?) & Sparrow.

T-Mac & Melk continuing to play well would be a bonus but then there's Mihocek, Steele & Max of course

And the youngsters coming through such as Langdon, Lindsay & Windsor

*Salem, Rivers & Langdon need to be more dynamic with their possessions

Finals might be a bridge too far but at least 10 wins is a possibilty ... much will depend on injuries as our depth isn't great

There's a whole host of middling clubs that are very beatable. And we might get a kind draw

So next year's pick might be 5 all the way up to 10 (in my view)

And what if King is a really good coach?

We'll win 10 games. Goody's game plan was outdated. If we draft well we're potentially replacing 3 best 23 with 5-6. Tracs a loss but we have a more even spread of contributors. Clarry and McVee are easily covered on last year's form. Sharp isn't on my extended bench.

4 minutes ago, shakeandbake said:

We'll win 10 games. Goody's game plan was outdated. If we draft well we're potentially replacing 3 best 23 with 5-6. Tracs a loss but we have a more even spread of contributors. Clarry and McVee are easily covered on last year's form. Sharp isn't on my extended bench.

A lot of drafted top end pick mids are plug-in-and-play types these days too

And our depth isn't great so I'm expecting a development year with a fair bit of experimentation

Looking forward to seeing how players like Laurie, Kolt & Windsor go if (or when) they are given more midfield minutes

Losing Ollie & Trac opens up 2 mainstay* spots in the midfield and it will be interesting to see who becomes our main 4 or 5 mids and how they work together (and the resultant style)

Viney is right back into the equation where as he previously might have been squeezed out

*Petracca played forward a lot of course, so will we develop another Mid/Forward to accompany Kozzie? (Langford?)