In hindsight I think there would have been a good case for putting AJ in last week's game against Essendon, because I think he could have made a few nervous to say the least.

It might not have made a big difference, but hey the opposition might not have played as happily according to their old Coach.

3 hours ago, Dee Boys said:

This is bizarre and nonsensical to me. One of our few big strengths this season is having Gawn in the ruck.

Neither he nor Heath have ever shown much up forward.

So you’d like to take our biggest strength of having Max as the clear number one ruck, around the ball most of the game, and REDUCE that by bringing in a promising but run of the mill backup ruck? Meaning Max then has far less time around the footy where he’s our biggest influence on games?!

You’re actively removing our one big strength over opposition teams by doing that. I’d much rather give Petty those 5 minutes a quarter in the ruck, at least he can make a difference at either end when he’s not in the middle.

Why did we recruit him to play magoos??

9 hours ago, Dee Boys said:

This is bizarre and nonsensical to me. One of our few big strengths this season is having Gawn in the ruck.

Neither he nor Heath have ever shown much up forward.

So you’d like to take our biggest strength of having Max as the clear number one ruck, around the ball most of the game, and REDUCE that by bringing in a promising but run of the mill backup ruck? Meaning Max then has far less time around the footy where he’s our biggest influence on games?!

You’re actively removing our one big strength over opposition teams by doing that. I’d much rather give Petty those 5 minutes a quarter in the ruck, at least he can make a difference at either end when he’s not in the middle.

Heath has shown he can play forward

1 hour ago, Demons11 said:

Heath has shown he can play forward

So you’d be bringing in Heath to play forward, before Kentfield, Jefferson and Johnson?

Can’t get behind that.

7 hours ago, picket fence said:

Why did we recruit him to play magoos??

To learn his trade under Max and hopefully eventually take over from him.

7 hours ago, picket fence said:

Why did we recruit him to play magoos??

Yes, at least for the short term.

You do know Max is likely to retire at some point don't you?

And that our succession planning involves Heath becoming the number one ruck?

Edited April 14Apr 14 by binman

3 minutes ago, Dee Boys said:

To learn his trade under Max and hopefully eventually take over from him.

Snap

26 minutes ago, Dee Boys said:

So you’d be bringing in Heath to play forward, before Kentfield, Jefferson and Johnson?

Can’t get behind that.

💯 he will also cover the ruck for 20-25% of the game. He has been best on ground, 3 weeks straight. The others haven’t.

With Salem and Melksham likely outs, Fritsch possibly ginger and reports that Mihocek is sore this sure feels like a week for Luker, Jefferson and one of XTaylor and AMW to get a game. From a painful loss to a group of budding youngsters, rebuild on the run!

Max Gawn did say yesterday that Max Heath could definitely play this weekend because of the 5 day break between this game and the Tigers so the club are thinking about it

2 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

With Salem and Melksham likely outs, Fritsch possibly ginger and reports that Mihocek is sore this sure feels like a week for Luker, Jefferson and one of XTaylor and AMW to get a game. From a painful loss to a group of budding youngsters, rebuild on the run!

Definite outs 😥

Luker is ready to go. He was slated for a debut in round one before being injured at Ballarat. He was even considered in the last couple of rounds last season. Chappy as interim coach seriously considered this.

17 hours ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Jack's on AFL 360 tomorrow night - may learn more then?

This was rather unexpected and he doesnt do that much media. I wonder what this is all about.

We might have won up there last year, but this is now! We lost to the bummers after 17 losses , and we are sore . By all reports very sore . Very doubtful that we will win so why not bring in players from Casey. But only 3 changes do not think you change a side that was 3 wins by too much. Go Dee’s

But let’s at least get ready for Richmond. Must win that one .

1 hour ago, Dee Boys said:

To learn his trade under Max and hopefully eventually take over from him.

Oh I see like Grundy

18 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

I did too. He's in terrific form, but I feel like I need to concede that in the discussion I had on here with @Adam The God (I think) last year, where I talked about Kozzy's kicking being exceptional - I was wrong.

I actually thinking his kicking this year, for the most part, has been superb. Particularly, kicking inside 50, but in general play as well.

Edited April 14Apr 14 by Adam The God

2 hours ago, Demons11 said:

💯 he will also cover the ruck for 20-25% of the game. He has been best on ground, 3 weeks straight. The others haven’t.

The issue is not his form, the issue is that he cannot cover the ground at speed or do the end to end running for the whole match that Kings' game plan demands.

You might argue that nor did Melksham and he was still selected. Which would be a good point - i was amazed he was selected against the Suns, and proven wrong. But the chickens came home to roost against the Bombers when he might as well not have played.

Every player has to run north of 10kms a game, and mostly at a good clip too, to do the sort of offensive and defensive running the game plan demands. With Salem out early in the game, and Melk slow to begin, and then injured we basically played two down for the match.

Add Tmac's lack of leg speed. and we were behind the 8 ball all match in terms of being able to defend (hence our struggles in stopping them chip the ball around - a strategy obviously designed to exploit our lack of run) or create overlap on offence (hence our woeful score from the back half).

Heath might play with Max at some stage this season, but i would suggest probably not until the back third of the season.

My guess is as soon as Luker is 100% good to go he comes in and plays as a key forward and chop out ruck.

Edited April 15Apr 15 by binman

2 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

This was rather unexpected and he doesnt do that much media. I wonder what this is all about.

Retirement??

57 minutes ago, binman said:

The issue is not his form, the issue is that he cannot cover the ground at speed or do the end to running for the whole match that Kings' game plan demands.

You might argue that nor did Melksham and he was still selected. Which would be a good point - i was amazed he was selected against the Suns, and proven wrong. But the chickens came home to roost against the Bombers when he might not well have played.

Every player has to run north of 10kms a game, and mostly at a good clip too, to do the sort of offensive and defensive running the game plan demands. With Salem out early in the game, and Melk slow to begin, and then injured we basically played two down for the match.

Add Tmac's lack of leg speed. and we were behind the 8 ball all match in terms of being able to defend (hence our struggles in stopping them chip the ball around - a strategy obviously designed to exploit our lack of run) or create overlap on offence (hence our woeful score from the back half).

Heath might play with Max at some stage this season, but i would suggest probably not until the back third of the season.

My guess is as soon as Luker is 100% good to go he comes in and plays as a key forward and chop out ruck.

👌

4 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

Max Gawn did say yesterday that Max Heath could definitely play this weekend because of the 5 day break between this game and the Tigers so the club are thinking about it

When they increased the bench to 5 players they didn't increase the number of interchanges you can have in a game. So it means that one player has to have limited game time (60%), or reduce it to your best running players which is ridiculous. So if Heath has 60% game time he might do 25% ruck 35% forward, while Max does 75% ruck 10% forward and 15% bench. It might also be that Heath does 50% forward and all the ruck forward of centre square while Max does 90% centre square and back half, Then Heath takes over from him for 10%

4 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

Max Gawn did say yesterday that Max Heath could definitely play this weekend because of the 5 day break between this game and the Tigers so the club are thinking about it

Thanks, that's an interesting consideration - I hadn't clicked we only had a five day break into the Tiger's game.

I think playing both Heath and Max against tge lions would decrease our chances of beating them.

I'd suggest if they pick Heath to maximise how fresh Maxy is for the Tiger's game they are prioritising the Tiger's game. Which wouldn't surprise me as it is our biggest game of the home and away season and Guerra has already shown he wants to maximise such opportunities from a promotional perspective.

If they are thinking that I'd rather they rest Maxy and play Heath as the number one ruck - but can't really see them doing so.

6 hours ago, picket fence said:

Oh I see like Grundy

Grundy Knew his trade ! did not practise it much with us

13 hours ago, Demons11 said:

💯 he will also cover the ruck for 20-25% of the game. He has been best on ground, 3 weeks straight. The others haven’t.

Yes he’s been best on ground playing as the number one ruck. A role he wouldn’t play in the senior team.

13 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

This was rather unexpected and he doesnt do that much media. I wonder what this is all about.

As Jack said "he was helping Max out with his leadership duties" whilst recovering.

14 hours ago, Dee Boys said:

To learn his trade under Max and hopefully eventually take over from him.

I thought Max would have learnt a lot at St KILDA with Marshall

On 14/04/2026 at 12:45, DeeZone said:

I must have missed it Dannyz all that I recall is a growly knee but glad that he played in the simulation vs Bombers on the weekend.

Yep and pulled up badly

Knee not ready

Needs another deload