41 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

Kade Chandler got through it. 10 games in four seasons playing as the sub with no consecutive games. Now he basically hasn't missed a game since 2023.

Kade clearly did enough in the 2022-23 offseason to force that round 1 spot. Our 2023 side could've (should've) won the flag, so it's full credit to him.

Laurie under a fresh coach and in a younger inexperienced team still couldn't find a spot for round 1 2026. I get that it seems harsh on him, but AFL is a cuthrough sport and the reality is he hasn't shown enough.

All fair points. Personally I thought he had done enough and is unlucky to be dropped twice now from a winning team. He probably doesn't have the athletic upside a Henderson or Cross so really needed to display that elite agility and kicking he was drafted for. Maybe he'll work his way back into the team later but I suspect he's up against it.

*assuming he's actually been dropped.

5 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

The coaches really rate him and believe he has a high ceiling. He could become a midfielder which they want to expose at Casey but for now they think he shows Melksham-like forward craft.
Would have naturally kept his spot had he not hurt his thumb.

He did play for Casey last week.

2 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Our injury list has been an absolute dog's breakfast this year. Cross played three days after being listed as 2-3 weeks away last weekend. McAdam was 2-3 weeks for an eternity now TBC - no explanation given. Rivers is dropped, or injured, or perhaps not, now Lindsay in a similar boat. Makes a bit of a mockery of the fans IMO, not sure if it's deliberate or not and I know other clubs do similar things (hello Chris Scott and Geelong). But IMO - unacceptable.

If we keep winning, it's very acceptable to me.

3 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Been told they're SUPER keen to get Cross back in. If not this week, next.

Doesn't surprise me for three reasons.

One he looks super fit.

Two, he's genuinely quick

Three, he has a great leap and is surprisingly good aerially. Meaning when we bomb it into the forward line he can bring it ground.

All big ticks in terms of how King wants us to play.

Oh, and four - once added to our list King picked him after just the one VFL game.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by binman

38 minutes ago, binman said:

Doesn't surprise me for three reasons.

One he looks super fit.

Two, he's genuinely quick

Three, he has a great leap and is surprisingly good aerially. Meaning when we bomb it into the forward line he can bring it ground.

All big ticks in terms of how King wants us to play.

Oh ans four - once added to our list King picked him after just the one VFL game.

Amazing if he could turn into a Murphy Reid type thru the middle and forward 50.

Also, quietly ridiculous to have a 19yr old as the player you'd want him to turn into.

if cross and he do both come in with CJ, who misses out with Laurie?

1 hour ago, binman said:

Doesn't surprise me for three reasons.

One he looks super fit.

Two, he's genuinely quick

Three, he has a great leap and is surprisingly good aerially. Meaning when we bomb it into the forward line he can bring it ground.

All big ticks in terms of how King wants us to play.

Oh ans four - once added to our list King picked him after just the one VFL game.

That one game he played showed how good his footy IQ is. Was most impressed with him, and want, when he is fit, to see a lot more of him.

3 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Our injury list has been an absolute dog's breakfast this year. Cross played three days after being listed as 2-3 weeks away last weekend. McAdam was 2-3 weeks for an eternity now TBC - no explanation given. Rivers is dropped, or injured, or perhaps not, now Lindsay in a similar boat. Makes a bit of a mockery of the fans IMO, not sure if it's deliberate or not and I know other clubs do similar things (hello Chris Scott and Geelong). But IMO - unacceptable.

Try and not get to down on it Bang Bang Bang, Lindsay may have been a possible in for this week but they have decided to give him an extra week for Sydney.