Riv for Jiath will make a lot of sense.

A week off for that knee to have settled and come back as a defensive half player, rather than mid/ back mixing.

Could Turner be a sneaky chance back?

32 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

For those calling for Petty to be dropped, we have no-one to replace him with. Even if you'd like to see it, we simply don't have the key position depth to cover him. Further, if you liked Lever's game today, good luck seeing that without Petty there.

Petty was awful today absolutely awful, his sloppy efforts resulted in 4 Carlton goals, unfortunately you’re right until Turner comes back

In Rivers - Jaith

AMW - Pickett

Is JVR going to be in trouble for pushing his man into Dean in that last Quarter which saw Dean tunnelled and off with a neck or back issue?

AFL was strong on this last season

15 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

CJ out /(inj).

Going to get flogged if we start like that next week!

Whilst we are all happy to win games of footy for our club we have to dig deep to rectify our opening quarters.

If we decide to rock up and play like that for a half v GC we will recieve a serious touch up like the one we've received from GC last year at the G

We've started the same way in all 3 of our games in 2026.

It's an alarming trend which needs to be rectified asap, our stoppage and clearance work in 1st halves is alarming.

We need to be a bit more accountable inside if things aren't going our way early.

Heath for latrelle

cj for rivers

Need another big man up forward. we could hold this off a week as gold coast are a fast moving team and L Pickett will be right in his zone

I'm an optimist, but also a realist.

...An optimistic realist ?

With that said, I think we CAN bring it to the Suns, BUT they have been very very good and a top 4 side this year.

I would be happy with anything better than a 4-5 goal loss. Obviously, I don't WANT to lose. I think we CAN win, but we definitely won't get the fade out/mental demons that the blues gave us in the second half. So we cannot afford a poor start against the Suns. Need to come out firing from the first bounce. If we come out strong, anything is possible.

I just want us to give 'em hell for FOUR quarters and make them earn whatever they get. We're building a brand here and the losses as just about as important as the wins.

3 hours ago, Billy said:

Petty was awful today absolutely awful, his sloppy efforts resulted in 4 Carlton goals, unfortunately you’re right until Turner comes back

In Rivers - Jaith

AMW - Pickett

Petty wasn't perfect but he also did some good things and was critical in giving us some height and strength in the back half (with some minutes relieving Max in ruck)

Of the goals you mention I'm not sure of each one but at least one of those could be blamed on Lever who let a ground ball go straight through his legs

7 hours ago, old demon fan said:

I still think Heath should be on the bench.

Rest Max in the forward pocket.

The defence needs shoring up.

petty needs to find some form.

It would be good if the passes hit JVR on the chest more frequently.

We can't give the Gold Coast a six or seven goal start.

Agree (re Heath playing and Max resting fwd). Mac Andrew too often plays off his man. Need to keep him accountable, as has been mentioned.

I don't think we can afford to drop Petty. We need that big body back there for now.

Unless Turner is ready I think he stays this week.

Trac may be missing his chance to catch up with the boys but Gold Coast has been awesome thus far with their pace off the back and their power through the middle on top of the King and Read show. Thankfully Humphreys is also out so that will help us stay in the contest.

I reckon the Suns might bring in a third tall - Walter or Jamarra - to help cover the loss of goalscoring power that Trac and Humphreys provide.

Either way I know everyone is more interested in our side and I have three players in the gun.

1) Firstly Latrelle - he's now played three games and scored one goal and dropped almost as many marks as he's had disposals. He can run, we all know that, but he is so far off the pace of AFL level it's not funny. I watched him train a bit pre-season and he's freakish, but he needs to be freakish in the weightroom and he needs to work even harder on his ability to stick marks. I don't want to see him in the side again until he's dominating at VFL level. Kingy has to be very careful how he words it so that it doesn't impact Kozzie, but he needs to be told sympathetically.

Good news: If Kingy is worried about losing run, then Moniz is the obvious addition, albeit down back with Lindsay moving up to the wing and Langford being sent to high half-forward.

2) Secondly Jiath - yep I know he's injured anyway but some of his ball movement in the first half had Carlton and Hawthorn fans cheering more than we were cringeing. I'm sure I'm not alone in seeing it and I know I'm not alone in saying it but the excitement of his early standout training sessions has subsided. He may be too flawed now to make it even after a lengthy stint in the VFL, but if he works on his gameplan maybe he will be ready to impact for us.

Good news: We drafted an absolute gun in Xavier Taylor who can play a similar role, albeit with more polish and more ability to intercept. We are now three games into the season and this guy has to play. Just has to.

3) Thirdly Petty - does anyone have stats of the number of stupid free kicks this guy gives away each week or the number of times he slows ball movement down trying to play safe. I loved his effort in the ruck in Rd 1 and I think we all got excited by his 2021 year when he spoiled like his life depended on it, but which senior player is underperforming and has been almost every week. Sure Goody mucked him up by sending him forward but unfortunately he's yet to really become the reliable senior defender that we need and it's time to move him on. The other issue for the Gold Coast game is that he doesn't have enough pace for King or Walter on the lead and we are already playing two slowish talls in T-Mac and Lever. If one of them was injured or out then I'm happy for him to play, but T-Mac saved us time and time again against the Blues and deserves to stay in.

Good news: We have a player in Jed Adams who is the fastest player in the side and showed how that benefits in his only game on Naughton last year. Sure Adams has taken time to develop, he's a laconic WA country boy after all, but he deserves his chance. He will make mistakes, but don't serve up that argument when comparing him to Petty. His time is now.

I also would like to see Max Heath play, especially given his solid pre-season. But I accept that unless the Suns bring back Moyle, I can't see that happening this week. Playing him would stretch their three tall defenders - Collins, Andrew and Ballard - but so far this year we've been keen on a smaller forward set up and Paddy Cross needs another week.

And I haven't forgotten Rivers. He just needs a week in VFL to harness and harden up his midfield game. Sparrow showed what he could do in that area and along with Steele and Tholstrop, we have some real grunt to go with the pace of Kozzie and Windsor. It's up to Trent to get down and dirty, racking up huge numbers in both tackles and disposals. He's certainly good enough, he just needs to add a bit more of the tough streak to his game.

I’ll be shocked if LPickett is dropped. Watch his game closely, yes he dropped ‘that’ mark but he’s thereabouts a lot. He’s clever, skilful, fast and mostly very clean with his disposal. He’s exactly the type of player we need if we’re going to keep improving. For mine he plays every week unless injured or if his form becomes diabolical which I just can’t see happening. I’m on the LPickett bandwagon and I ain’t getting off!

11 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I’ll be shocked if LPickett is dropped. Watch his game closely, yes he dropped ‘that’ mark but he’s thereabouts a lot. He’s clever, skilful, fast and mostly very clean with his disposal. He’s exactly the type of player we need if we’re going to keep improving. For mine he plays every week unless injured or if his form becomes diabolical which I just can’t see happening. I’m on the LPickett bandwagon and I ain’t getting off!

I think they persevere for a little while longer with Latrelle because if it all clicks it will be game changing. There's also the Adelaide trip in a couple of weeks which being able to play back home on the biggest stage would be huge driving factor.

7 minutes ago, boydie said:

I think they persevere for a little while longer with Latrelle because if it all clicks it will be game changing. There's also the Adelaide trip in a couple of weeks which being able to play back home on the biggest stage would be huge driving factor.

Agree. He strikes me as a 'confidence player' who'd benefit little, probably nothing, by playing at Casey.

Petty had a few errors leading to goals and it wasnt his best game but still had 6 spoils (2nd most in game), 6 intercept possessions, and a contested mark. Things to improve on no doubt BUT the defensive unit conceded 4.7 in the second half of the game. Tmac/Petty helped Lever play his natural game as well.

52 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I’ll be shocked if LPickett is dropped. Watch his game closely, yes he dropped ‘that’ mark but he’s thereabouts a lot. He’s clever, skilful, fast and mostly very clean with his disposal. He’s exactly the type of player we need if we’re going to keep improving. For mine he plays every week unless injured or if his form becomes diabolical which I just can’t see happening. I’m on the LPickett bandwagon and I ain’t getting off!

Agreed. He hasn't set the world on fire and his first few games have been relatively unassuming, but he is the exact type of player we've lacked for several seasons. We look far more balanced with him in and you get the sense he isn't far off turning those 'almost' moments into genuine opportunities.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by BLWNBA

We will get up here with no Trac and Rowell

If we can KOLT LOCK Anderson we'll be in business

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

Trac may be missing his chance to catch up with the boys but Gold Coast has been awesome thus far with their pace off the back and their power through the middle on top of the King and Read show. Thankfully Humphreys is also out so that will help us stay in the contest.

I reckon the Suns might bring in a third tall - Walter or Jamarra - to help cover the loss of goalscoring power that Trac and Humphreys provide.

Either way I know everyone is more interested in our side and I have three players in the gun.

1) Firstly Latrelle - he's now played three games and scored one goal and dropped almost as many marks as he's had disposals. He can run, we all know that, but he is so far off the pace of AFL level it's not funny. I watched him train a bit pre-season and he's freakish, but he needs to be freakish in the weightroom and he needs to work even harder on his ability to stick marks. I don't want to see him in the side again until he's dominating at VFL level. Kingy has to be very careful how he words it so that it doesn't impact Kozzie, but he needs to be told sympathetically.

Good news: If Kingy is worried about losing run, then Moniz is the obvious addition, albeit down back with Lindsay moving up to the wing and Langford being sent to high half-forward.

2) Secondly Jiath - yep I know he's injured anyway but some of his ball movement in the first half had Carlton and Hawthorn fans cheering more than we were cringeing. I'm sure I'm not alone in seeing it and I know I'm not alone in saying it but the excitement of his early standout training sessions has subsided. He may be too flawed now to make it even after a lengthy stint in the VFL, but if he works on his gameplan maybe he will be ready to impact for us.

Good news: We drafted an absolute gun in Xavier Taylor who can play a similar role, albeit with more polish and more ability to intercept. We are now three games into the season and this guy has to play. Just has to.

3) Thirdly Petty - does anyone have stats of the number of stupid free kicks this guy gives away each week or the number of times he slows ball movement down trying to play safe. I loved his effort in the ruck in Rd 1 and I think we all got excited by his 2021 year when he spoiled like his life depended on it, but which senior player is underperforming and has been almost every week. Sure Goody mucked him up by sending him forward but unfortunately he's yet to really become the reliable senior defender that we need and it's time to move him on. The other issue for the Gold Coast game is that he doesn't have enough pace for King or Walter on the lead and we are already playing two slowish talls in T-Mac and Lever. If one of them was injured or out then I'm happy for him to play, but T-Mac saved us time and time again against the Blues and deserves to stay in.

Good news: We have a player in Jed Adams who is the fastest player in the side and showed how that benefits in his only game on Naughton last year. Sure Adams has taken time to develop, he's a laconic WA country boy after all, but he deserves his chance. He will make mistakes, but don't serve up that argument when comparing him to Petty. His time is now.

I also would like to see Max Heath play, especially given his solid pre-season. But I accept that unless the Suns bring back Moyle, I can't see that happening this week. Playing him would stretch their three tall defenders - Collins, Andrew and Ballard - but so far this year we've been keen on a smaller forward set up and Paddy Cross needs another week.

And I haven't forgotten Rivers. He just needs a week in VFL to harness and harden up his midfield game. Sparrow showed what he could do in that area and along with Steele and Tholstrop, we have some real grunt to go with the pace of Kozzie and Windsor. It's up to Trent to get down and dirty, racking up huge numbers in both tackles and disposals. He's certainly good enough, he just needs to add a bit more of the tough streak to his game.

Great post, and you make some great points. A couple of thoughts in response:

• i take your points about Latrelle, but King's game plan is based on running power and simply does not work without players on every line with genuine leg speed, particularly striding speed over distance - and every player needs to have a massive tank.

• For that reason, i can't see Latrelle being dropped anytime soon (meaning he'll almost certainly be dropped this week!).

• I also think Latrelle's the future and we need to get Latrelle to that critical 50 plus games of AFL footy ASAP - i could see them playing him for the first 5 or 6 games then give him chop out and send him back to Casey to work on his craft

• Based on what i saw against the dogs in the VFL game i'd be very surprised if we see him before, at a minimum, round 7 or 8 - he's not ready physically and i suspect not mentally either

• Heat aint coming into the ide anytime soon either - i can't see him playing in the same side as Maxy, in large part because of my first point, until perhaps the last few games of the season; and then only to get some AFL games into him

• If AMW is good to go i reckon he' straight swap for CJ this week

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

I’ll be shocked if LPickett is dropped. Watch his game closely, yes he dropped ‘that’ mark but he’s thereabouts a lot. He’s clever, skilful, fast and mostly very clean with his disposal. He’s exactly the type of player we need if we’re going to keep improving. For mine he plays every week unless injured or if his form becomes diabolical which I just can’t see happening. I’m on the LPickett bandwagon and I ain’t getting off!

sure..happy to persist ...but his output is seriously 'of concern'. He drops many easy marks..its not isolated...his disposal is appalling. His key attribute is his the pace and side 'step. He'd want to lift in coming weeks.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Trident22

2 hours ago, Deespicable said:

Good news: We drafted an absolute gun in Xavier Taylor who can play a similar role, albeit with more polish and more ability to intercept. We are now three games into the season and this guy has to play. Just has to.

If you’ve watched the VFL you’d know Taylor was ordinary and Adams wasn’t much better. Neither are anywhere near selection barring more injuries.

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

If you’ve watched the VFL you’d know Taylor was ordinary and Adams wasn’t much better. Neither are anywhere near selection barring more injuries.

Sadly, have to agree - Taylor needs to build some confidence and get used to playing against senior bodies imo. He looks like a kid that has been used to being physically strong in the junior ranks but has struggled to adjust to playing against bigger opponents - he will get there I'm sure but no need to rush it

Adams has been very disappointing he seems likely and then just seems to be easily worked off the ball or out positioned by his opponent - I fear for what might happen if he plays against the tall Suns forwards - King and Read kicked 11 b/w them against the Tigers and would be licking their chops I think at the thought of a Jed Adams match up. I can't work out if Adams is simply not strong enough, his technique/positioning is poor - or both

I’ve been dead against 2 rucks but we don’t have a bye for ages and we’ve got 2 big games against Essendon and Richmond in our next 4. We need Max ready to go in those games not spending all his tickets against Witts and super physical Suns team.

The Suns game seems a perfect opportunity to give Heath a go for 50% game time and take some load from Max and Mihocek. Max can play some forward too. And use Roo up the ground hitting up as he was in preseason.

Kolt replaces CJ across half back.

Paddy Cross was super in the role they made for him but I’d be keen to see him with some more game time and a go across half forwards and Trelly and Sharp are both flirting with becoming useful players, no point leaving them on the pine too much!

1 minute ago, Sydee said:

I can't work out if Adams is simply not strong enough, his technique/positioning is poor - or both

He doesn’t read the play well enough.

He’d have been a beast in the 90’s if he just charged out behind an old school full forward and used his pace to spoil.

Every now and then he reads something correctly and makes a big spoil or intercept mark, but usually he’s slow to react. And even full back in the VFL involves playing on forwards who are consistently moving the way the game is played today.

1 hour ago, adonski said:

We will get up here with no Trac and Rowell

If we can KOLT LOCK Anderson we'll be in business

Very gettable at home. They play a fwd handball game and their ball use is highest rated in the comp. Basically, they've been playing fast break basketball very well with 3 scores over 120.

But without Trac/Rowell and a bit of x factor in Humphery Bear, we have a decent chance to win the contested and stoppages this week. It will come down to pressure and disrupting their run and gun. I'd also love some consistent marking and scoreboard output from our key forwards but hey what's new.

Based on King’s post game comments I’d bet against them bringing in any more defensive players outside of the obvious swap for CJ.

King said part of the reason Rivers wasn’t selected was because he felt the team was unbalanced and skewed too much towards the defence.