4 minutes ago, Macca said:

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?)

I think the rise of Langford and Cully as mids who can damage going forward, would have to be considered. XL another who showed a bit prior to injury, and there’s Windsor who could be effective along side players like Bowie, Chandler, Rivers and my fav for the 2026 phoenix award, AMW, who’ll add dash and hardness to back pocket.

We’ve got a very promising young group of players.

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

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?)

First point agree. Need to target two guys who will be extended bench and putting pressure on minimum.

Ball movement is the key to all.

Last point why I've liked Robey. Though it might not be the yr for a guy like him with a fwd line of Melk, Mihocek and Fritsch, who I think will all play the whole season and prosper from better ball movement. Kozzy will be a mid imo so will need to draft energy like Dove and Pickett.

Langford natural progression to mid but I don't mind him wing with Culley. Steele might allow this. With Viney, Windsor, Kozzy and Rivers midfield looks alright.

All points not good for Kolt though. I still like him long-term but think he'll still be fringe.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by shakeandbake

19 minutes ago, shakeandbake said:

First point agree. Need to target two guys who will be extended bench and putting pressure on minimum.

Ball movement is the key to all.

Last point why I've liked Robey. Though it might not be the yr for a guy like him with a fwd line of Melk, Mihocek and Fritsch, who I think will all play the whole season and prosper from better ball movement. Kozzy will be a mid imo so will need to draft energy like Dove and Pickett.

Langford natural progression to mid but I don't mind him wing with Culley. Steele might allow this. With Viney, Windsor, Kozzy and Rivers midfield looks alright.

All points not good for Kolt though. I still like him long-term but think he'll still be fringe.

It's way too early to have an accurate appraisal of Kolt. His sample size is limited minutes in a dysfunctional forward line (where the delivery was atrocious)

If we went back to his highlight reel before being drafted, he was all over the field picking up possessions and was drafted as a mid/forward

We also played Windsor out of position for far too long. Give the lad a run at half back but not all the time (finally moved into the midfield late in the season)

Poor placement for both players. And Laurie was hardly given a chance at all in a team that couldn't win games

We should have started experimenting with the list early on in 2025

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by Macca

32 minutes ago, PaulR said:

I think the rise of Langford and Cully as mids who can damage going forward, would have to be considered. XL another who showed a bit prior to injury, and there’s Windsor who could be effective along side players like Bowie, Chandler, Rivers and my fav for the 2026 phoenix award, AMW, who’ll add dash and hardness to back pocket.

We’ve got a very promising young group of players.

Yes, spot on

Re Ollie & Trac ... when was the last time a team lost (arguably) 2 of their best players, prematurely, in one hit?

It's certainly not a common occurance

In the first few rounds next season there's a good chance that we'll be looking out for them, such was their dominance and influence

I started not noticing both of them in the last quarters of games in 2025. Normally, both would finish strong but not in 2025

15 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

- Dean

1 hour ago, Macca said:

It's way too early to have an accurate appraisal of Kolt. His sample size is limited minutes in a dysfunctional forward line (where the delivery was atrocious)

If we went back to his highlight reel before being drafted, he was all over the field picking up possessions and was drafted as a mid/forward

We also played Windsor out of position for far too long. Give the lad a run at half back but not all the time (finally moved into the midfield late in the season)

Poor placement for both players. And Laurie was hardly given a chance at all in a team that couldn't win games

We should have started experimenting with the list early on in 2025

need to get him a full pre season, has all the attributes just needs to get his body right

3 minutes ago, Don24 said:

need to get him a full pre season, has all the attributes just needs to get his body right

Yes, I'm hoping that Kolt hits the first training session raring to go and as fit as a fiddle. Being a bit muscled up wouldn't hurt either

Actually, all our players need to present well as there's a lot of ground to make up

They are all professional footballers

13 hours ago, Roddog said:

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

u dont think he's too similar to a lindsay or even windsor, i know u cant have too many good kickers or too much dash but is it the right time to be adding that when langdon still has some time left and i suppose does still have a fair monopoly on that wing

With a vision of King’s game plan and with the introduction of new rules where the AFL are hell bent on speeding up the game. Combined with list need I have a wish list of

Pick 7 Grlj / O Taylor

Pick 8 Dovaston

We need to focus on players who use the ball well, the raw speed and agility a huge asset with scope to go through the midfield in time. All players can defend but it’s the offence that they can generate which excites me and would fit into our side and help us impact the scoreboard significantly.