1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

He may be undersized but he made life hard for Goober Crossley in a VFL grand final. He can compete with most AFL back up rucks.

The biggest question is can he impact as a forward without a heap of tricks?

From what I saw he has built an excellent tank and continues to impress as a follow up at ground level type too. If the marking comes on I can see him being a useful piece of the puzzle. The way he presents up at the footy is better than purely a break case in emergency back up type.

He made life hard for Goober Crossley??, well sheeit what a superstar!!! I mean... REALLY???

Had 4 goal assists against I think Sydney. Some of them with real quality craft. He's got something.

Agree with many here - his physicality is impressive, can clunk a mark, and, I thought, accounted for himself well in secondary ruck duties. He also has the ability to win and quickly feed out the ball out ground level. Not sure where he fits, but hope he earns a chance to show what he has at AFL senior level.

27 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Had 4 goal assists against I think Sydney. Some of them with real quality craft. He's got something.

Wholeheartedly agree Clint, as an alternative to the latest MCG sporting farce. Have watched MFC replays from last season’s mini-renaissance post zilch five. AJ’s performance at the Gabba and his reprise against the swans at ‘G were team worthy. Junk yard dog meets Rudolf Nureyev.

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

I haven't seen anyone post anything like what you're saying here.

...he's a young man giving it his best shot, nothing more, nothing less.

4 hours ago, rjay said:

I haven't seen anyone post anything like what you're saying here.

...he's a young man giving it his best shot, nothing more, nothing less.

100% agree that he is very much a young man that has been given a chance on our list and I believe he will not be left wondering what might have been. He will give it his best shot and that is really all we can ask of any on our list. From reports, he has come back very fit and has put a lot of work in during the off season. He will take his chances as they come. Will show a lot more than a lot on here think.

I think it will be a horses for courses. If we play a side with 2 big rucks then Heath will be the preferred second ruck/forward - such as what might be St. Kilda next year. But against most sides their second ruck will be improvised. We don't want to use JVR in that role. Johnson according to training reports has improved his running ability and could fill that role. Just depends how he goes in the lead up games. Richmond will be a good test as they usually only have the one ruck. It also depends if the coaches want to get more games into Heath.

17 hours ago, picket fence said:

If he gets a game in 2026 we are in REAL trouble!

If he gets a game it’s because he offers more than Jefferson

36 minutes ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

If he gets a game it’s because he offers more than Jefferson

Won't happen, but nice try at trolling Tony!

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

Its a time honoured Demonland tradition to conflate modest potential into absurd hubris.

I see AMW who is yet to establish himself as a regular already touted by some as "a lock down" & "a future gun".

Similarly Kentfield has been hyped as the new David Neitz despite achieving SFA so far.

Just the usual clueless Demonland BS.

1 hour ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

If he gets a game it’s because he offers more than Jefferson

Beat me to it!

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

Seriously PF, take a chill pill man.

Hes on our list ahead of many others not on lists, so has some attributes.

I agree that if he is playing regularly we may be i for a poor season but he can offer some backup and support.

There may be a time when we can/must rest our prime options and can play our support options.

It will be up to the coaches to get the best use from the whole squad for the whole season Selection must be made on form and the opposition.

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

It’s a slow burn PF get on board for take off🙃.

15 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

There’s no real evidence he’s a violent or thuggish player, he’s physical, which is a good thing. But people have created a false narrative based on his appearance and rise from the VFL.

He was suspended for a tackle I think, which is just adapting to AFL rules and a bump which was somewhat opportunistic. He had the chance to put body on and took it. Wasn’t any malice by it which is why NAS wasn’t concussed.

I doubt he’ll end up with routine tribunal appearances. Not many players do these days aside from a rare Toby Greene type.

Besides, people can’t have their cake and eat it too. Folks laud AJ’s “mongrel” and how he makes his physical presence felt, but at the same time label him a suspension risk.

3 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Besides, people can’t have their cake and eat it too. Folks laud AJ’s “mongrel” and how he makes his physical presence felt, but at the same time label him a suspension risk.

...and at the same time label other players as useless for their lack of physicality. It's a fine line I guess.

12 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

No one is implying he’s on par with any of those you mention, but ffs maybe stop rubbishing him so much and save your judgment for what you see after this preseason.

You endlessly bagged the sch!tt outta Goody for selections (along with pretty much everything else) and now you’re effectively already doing the same to Kingy before he’s even coached a game.

24 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

No one is implying he’s on par with any of those you mention, but ffs maybe stop rubbishing him so much and save your judgment for what you see after this preseason.

You endlessly bagged the sch!tt outta Goody for selections (along with pretty much everything else) and now you’re effectively already doing the same to Kingy before he’s even coached a game.

King got rid of our best player since Flower nuf said!

One thing about AJ is that he's a "goer". Recently saw videos him doing contested marking drills with Jeffo. Both of them looked pretty good to be honest, clunking them with pretty clean one grab type actions. Even if it's just his attitude that rubs off on our young players, then I think we've come out ahead, but I can also see him influencing more AFL games like the few he played in last season.

Every team needs good depth and think he's probably cost us much less in cap space and draft capital than a bunch of other players at our club and at others. To me the cost Vs output ballance sheet looks pretty good so far. Even if he only plays half a dozen games, but helps get us over the line for a win in games we might not have otherwise, that's of immense value in my book. Could argue that Tom Campbell was a bigger list clogger than AJ based on playing zero AFL games last season, but I don't think that would be a fair assessment of Tom's contribution either. Will be interesting to see if he can go to another level with a full AFL preseason.

Edited December 27, 2025Dec 27 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

10 minutes ago, picket fence said:

King got rid of our best player since Flower nuf said!

🙄 still going on about Clarry are we?

Honestly, loved him in the past, but I think his reaction post leaving really does show that he was a real culture killer. If we go back a few years, I similarly thought it was a dud move trading out Jack Watts for peanuts, but I think history shows it was the right move.

No player can be bigger than the team. I think Clarry just learnt that.

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

Besides, people can’t have their cake and eat it too. Folks laud AJ’s “mongrel” and how he makes his physical presence felt, but at the same time label him a suspension risk.

A suspension risk is not a problem for a player who is not best 23.

For example, you play a final and he does a Maynard to Daicos early in the game.

Anyone think we can't win the next final without AJ?

Having a physical player in your side also makes the opposition look around.

Lastly, players from the VFL stand alone sides, need a season or so with an AFL side to get AFL fit and adjust to the tempo.

Therefore AJ could be an improver this season.

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

One thing about AJ is that he's a "goer". Recently saw videos him doing contested marking drills with Jeffo. Both of them looked pretty good to be honest, clunking them with pretty clean one grab type actions. Even if it's just his attitude that rubs off on our young players, then I think we've come out ahead, but I can also see him influencing more AFL games like the few he played in last season.

Every team needs good depth and think he's probably cost us much less in cap space and draft capital than a bunch of other players at our club and at others. To me the cost Vs output ballance sheet looks pretty good so far. Even if he only plays half a dozen games, but helps get us over the line for a win in games we might not have otherwise, that's of immense value in my book. Could argue that Tom Campbell was a bigger list clogger than AJ based on playing zero AFL games last season, but I don't think that would be a fair assessment of Tom's contribution either. Will be interesting to see if he can go to another level with a full AFL preseason.

Um Tom Campbell I rate, having said that Max "Moose" Heath is better than both A.J and T.C and as such he is in my best 23 EASILY!

Edited December 28, 2025Dec 28 by picket fence

He is quality spare parts with a lot of fringe benefits. Won’t get many games but if some key big men go down I like to see him get games.

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

King got rid of our best player since Flower nuf said!

I’m just as gutted as you are about Clarry leaving, possibly more so. But he’s gone, there’s no changing that. What good does it do to be so angry with Kingy? Him being our coach is also something that ain’t gonna change. Therefore, as a genuine Melbourne supporter you should try to embrace all these changes because this is what we’ve got now, there’s no alternative.

It’s understandable that you’re still devastated about Claz (I also am) but you shouldn’t direct your frustration and anger towards one person, especially when that one person is our senior coach.

14 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cant believe some posters carrying on about this guy as if he is Jim Stynes, meets Carl Ditterich, meets Hulk Hogan..what are you guys smokin?? Get a grip, bog ordinary!

PF bit of pot calling the kettle black here. You have been going on and on about Jeffo who hasn’t shown much yet.