We now have a lot of players over 22 on the fringes and with few senior games under their belts. Johnson is one, but also:

Culley

Henderson

Laurie

Moniz-Wakefield

Howes and Sharp are in a similar position but with more games.

Campbell and Heath are special cases as rucks, and Berry is a Category B. (I'm keen to see what Heath can do.)

Culley's the most likely to succeed in my view. I think Moniz-Wakefield will get games although not sold on his disposal. As others have said on here for a long while, I'd be interested to see what Howes can do further up the ground.

Johnson is next on my list. Hard to judge him on such a shambolic season and first in the system for him, but I didn't see much to pin hopes on. If Mihocek can be the solid number one, I'm eager to see what van Rooyen, Kentfield and Jefferson can do as second or third talls. If Johnson's pre-season is too good to ignore, and puts him ahead of those three, and maybe Heath as the second ruck resting forward, so be it.

15 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

Confucius say: "any man who consistently argues with dolts, must like a level playing field".

Confucius say “ Man with flies on testicles learns that violence isn’t always the answer. “

19 hours ago, Gator said:

The back up ruck comments are utter nonsense.

Admittedly, van Rooyen is very good at it, but I've seen Johnson on multiple occasions last preseason go head to head against van Rooyen as second rucks in match simulation and get well beaten. Johnson offers nothing in the AFL as far as ruck work goes.

I spent over 20 years arguing with dolts on this website about players who weren't up to it. Talk about deja vu. I'm trying to think of a player I got wrong...

Jack Watts

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

I couldn't give a stuff! Well good on you Legend in ur own lunchbox, hopefully u will wear your 20 year badge with pride! I have put PLENTY on ignore, so what? We are all guilty in here dont u know that??

I always picture your sad antagonistic responses on here as you looking like this… Seems the flagon of Sherry next to your recliner is nearly empty today

2 hours ago, MrReims said:

I always picture your sad antagonistic responses on here as you looking like this… Seems the flagon of Sherry next to your recliner is nearly empty today

You left out one descripture, one upmanship but ultimately I am accurate also, I don't drink Sherry! And I am infinately much better looking than the gent pictured!

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by picket fence

15 hours ago, Docs Demons said:

Have a Kit Kat Picket and it's time to put this [censored] about Oliver in the cupboard for good mate. Just get over it and look to the future which will be good watching a different game plan with the kids showing how it's done.

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way,"

3 hours ago, monoccular said:

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way,"

Said H.G Wells when inventing his time machine!

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Id be staggered if the list manager has the final say on who stays and who goes! Surely the coach has the final say! The job of the list manager is to specify how long to contract said player(s) not say who stays and goes.

Staggered or not, it's the way it works. Also, not sure how you got to " if the list manager has the final say on who stays and who goes" from what I posted, which was that these are group decisions - there's a List Management Committee for a reason.

And I know that at Mooroopna thirds the coach has final say on everything, but it has been well-documented that across the AFL, head coaches are NOT the last word on list management decisions. There's an interview out there with Brad Scott on the subject if you're actually interested in informing yourself.

This thread has become derailed

It is about Aiden Johnson.

1 minute ago, monoccular said:

This thread has become derailed

It is about Aiden Johnson.

...and one of remarkable length for this player in the context of the squad as a whole!

He has something that makes him stand out in the crowd for us supporters.

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Staggered or not, it's the way it works. Also, not sure how you got to " if the list manager has the final say on who stays and who goes" from what I posted, which was that these are group decisions - there's a List Management Committee for a reason.

And I know that at Mooroopna thirds the coach has final say on everything, but it has been well-documented that across the AFL, head coaches are NOT the last word on list management decisions. There's an interview out there with Brad Scott on the subject if you're actually interested in informing yourself.

Are you saying that if a coach really wants a player to stay but the list managers say no he goes, he goes???

In that case the list managers , commitee et al are in fact UNDERMINING the coach...

MORE STAGGERING IF TRUE!

15 hours ago, picket fence said:

Id be staggered if the list manager has the final say on who stays and who goes! Surely the coach has the final say! The job of the list manager is to specify how long to contract said player(s) not say who stays and goes.

I think 'bing' is probably right...his papers were stamped.

...and you might be right on the final say, King did after all meet with Clarry.

It appears the meeting didn't go well and the rest is history.

I wonder what would have happened if the meeting was really positive.

Would the result have been different?

We will never know, but it does seem like senior people at the club were pushing for the move.

This didn't come from King alone.

On 26/12/2025 at 11:23, Redleg said:

I can't see Henderson getting another game.

AJ offers a bit more, but he will also struggle to get games.

young noah and sestan should have been in the squad for these guys imo