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For me Lever needs to be the intercept third tall. He's much better when he's freed up to use his judgment and athleticism. May and one of Oscar McDonald or Petty need to hold down FB with May at CHB. As Petty is training with the forwards Oscar will be given first crack in the main defensive role. Duel hip surgery ruined his 2019, but he has a chance to make amends. If he's not competitive enough then Petty should move back. Petty's going to be a very good player, whether it's in defence or attack. I suspect Jackson and Pickett will be staples in the side sooner rather than later.

If AVB is fit he’ll be one of the first selected. You can take that to the bank.

Just a note on training They have a grappling/wrestling/tackling coach, he used to appear maybe one session a week if that He is there every session at the moment, obviously another area of weakness they have identified

This bloke is hopefully only a week away from joining in some main group drills, same with Petty, who is a seriously sized human being now next photo

It wouldn't be a best 22 without my contribution. B: JETTA, MAY, LEVER HB: SALEM, PETTY, HIBBERD C : LANGDON, OLIVER, TOMLINSON HF: BENNELL, T.MCDONALD, PETRACCA F: MELKSHAM, WEIDEMAN, FRITSCH FOLL: GAWN, VINEY, BRAYSHAW IC: HARMES, JONES, PICKETT, JACKSON NEXT 22 B: LOCKHART, O.MCDONALD, J.WAGNER HB: RIVERS, HORE, KOLODJASHNIJ C : VANDENBERG, SPARROW, BAKER HF: HANNAN, BROWN, NEAL-BULLEN F: HUNT, SMITH, C.WAGNER FOLL: PREUSS, JORDON, SPARGO IC: DUNKLEY, NEITSCHKE, CHANDLER, BEDFORD, BRADTKE

I think I'm in the minority, but I still hold high hopes for the Weed. Has the traits you look for in a key forward - tackles to hurt, good set of hands and is a lovely kick of the footy. Had a shocker in 2019, but wasn't on his own there. He's still only 22 and played 31 games. Admittedly, we'd want to see solid improvement in 2020, but his best footy is still a few years away yet.

I think there's no coincidence that our strong run at the end of 18 started around the time AVB got going. I'd like to see Dusty try the "don't argue" on AVB on ANZAC Eve.

And let’s face it, we couldn’t really draft both Young and Jackson because those names are synonymous with the hotel at the gateway to Melbourne known in the past for its bar room, loose women and the heavy imbibing of alcohol in the days of the six o’clock swill. The very suggestion of Y & J together at the same club would therefore contradict the essence of the club’s no [censored] policy - hence Young had to be sent across the Nullarbor and in return, we get a fine upstanding quality person in Rivers, a relative of a former Victorian Supreme Court Judge. My informants from the West tell me that he’s a very solid young lad who can definitely play football and, but for his illness over the summer which affected his preparation and delayed his start to the season, he might have been in top ten draft contention. As it was, he did very well to gain State selection at the National Carnival and make All-Australian. He won’t just be a half back flanker either - I’m told that he might end up as a very damaging midfielder.

Houses still standing in the background of that last pic. Obviously not training hard enough.

I'm not a Frost fan, so don't share your view. We all know his strengths, but he wasn't predictable to his teammates and I've heard he wasn't the most coachable player, which didn't help his efforts to be retained.

Many of the criticisms of the choices made here demonstrate why a dual Brownlow player like Nat Fyfe falls through to pick 20. Too skinny, too small to be a KP player, too tall to be a mid etc. etc. People are too often focused on what these kids *can't* do, rather than what they can, especially when what's missing are things that can be worked on or will come with time/training/experience. Really pleased with the selections, even Pickett. Mongrel + skills + intensity at the ball/carrier. The rest will come. Lack of disposals? The great man himself, Liam Jurrah NEVER had a 20 disposal game, and across his career averaged around 11 disposals a game.

That's not fact all 3 where best 22 in 2018, playing all the finals, so fact does not back up your statement.

Found this on bigfooty. Pick 22. West Coast Eagles. Trent Rivers . 188cm 83 kg. Utility. East Fremantle. Get ready folks this kids an ascending player he is rising up draft boards at a rapid rate. Thrilled to get the contested ball beast with this pick. Came into the Championships with a bit of a flurry and I was given the "heads up" that he was rated very highly down at Moss Street. East Fremantle Football Club has been a production line for quality midfielders over the years. Patrick Cripps, Paul Haselby, Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, Simon Black to name but a few. So when I was told to "watch out" for him by East Fremantle connections...... it was duly noted. Rivers has shown versatility and been played in a variety of positions and whilst at the Championships he played off a half back flank and through the middle I see him projecting as an AFL midfielder. An old fashioned, footballers footballer, who thrives at the coal face, the kids a hard nut. His solid Championships gained him AA selection and as quite a few draft watchers have already noted, keep an eye on him as he goes back to the WAFL and completes the season. First week back in the Colts after the Championship he hasn't disappointed, this morning , with a 26 disposal game, 5 tackles and 3 goals. If he continues in this form in the Colts, I can see his being given a debut in the Seniors very quickly. Bill Monaghan, the League Coach, has never been shy giving young kids a run at the highest WAFL level and I will be watching for this to happen with Rivers. He may well be playing himself into first round draft calculations. When considering who to select here, I was impressed with just who was still available as : Mead ( who will be Port bound as a F/S pick so I left him ), Trent Bianco one of this cohorts best users of the ball by hand and foot, the AA CHB Fisher McAsey, and Dylan Williams were available and considered. In the end I just couldn't pass on Trent Rivers, a home grown talent, who fills a need for West Coast as quality midfield depth is short at the Club.

Ok, so I went for a look. I can rarely make training (maybe twice a Year) so not sure how much value my observations are. Some quick observations: - seemed to be far more fluent in moving the ball from end to end than I observed last year. They had an end-to-end match simulation with two sides. I didn’t see much of this contested type work previously. While they were not bringing blokes to ground they were hard at it - a few shoves/niggles here and there/good to see. Footies our all the time, no running sessions like I had seen previously. - most blokes in full training. A couple (weid, bradtke) participated in all bar match sim. VDB, petty restricted duties. Tomlinson there but didn’t see him do anything. Sorry might be others on limited duties that I’ve forgotten. - they do look in very good nick I must say. Petracca noticeably leaner, weideman bigger. - the usuals suspects oliver, Jones, Harmes, Brayshaw in everything. May and lever combining well in passages (would not want to be a forward with may on me - powerful, quick and aggressive). Fritsch sublime conversion up front. To all the Oscar critics, he might surprise this year, looked more composed with ball in hand. - some younger guys that I had not seen much before, looked pretty good. Sparrow as hard as, doesn’t care who it is - still needs a bit of polish with his disposal but looks to be improving. - probably the downsides I noticed were Langdon turning it over twice in a row. Down on himself and he then got involved in some better passages. Lockhart also a couple of turnovers but willing. Ask me if you want any comments on specific players.

What becomes more evident as you get older is just how young 18 is. It gets harder and harder to reconcile how 18 can count as “adult”. The interview with Jackson was one of a kid in a man’s body bouncing off the walls with excitement (which I loved by the way). Unsure at what point I officially became an old fart but it appears to have happened.

The worst part of the draft was having to watch that boof head Gil McLachlan - he has the personality of a dead cat.

Drafts can't truly be rated for 5-10 years, but if we base it on who we targeted it has to be an A+. We wanted the first two we picked and ensured we got them and Rivers was universally expected to be gone by our third pick. Time will tell if our assessments of all concerned were accurate - in part or fully. There wouldn't have been too many clubs leave the draft that got their exact wishlist. We probably did (unless they were hoping for someone other than Rivers who slid).

Sounds like Rivers is a very similar player to Young. Young would need to be a hell of a lot better than Rivers to justify picking him over Jackson.

Agree on the fact we filled needs well. To your list I'd add: An elite kick - in my opinion our greatest need, so thrilled to read how highly River's kick is. Some x factor - every club needs a spark plug and x factor player. Creates excitement pumps up fans and teammates alike and most important of all such players (e.g. Wonnna, jeffy, the wiz, jurrah, davey - remarkably all Aboriginal) can win games wirh flashes of brilliance. In kozzy we have that player and if benell gets fit we have anorher. A sense we might have one our of the box - there is nothing more exciting than the thought of drafting an out and out future champion. Hogan footed that bill for me and oliver too, but you have to go back to watts (who didn't make it to that level), neita (ditto) and the ox. It is clear they think jackson can get to the rarefied level of champion.

De-composing ?

Young vs Jackson will be interesting as time goes on. I think Young was the safer choice, given that he is exactly what he need, but also has an extremely high football IQ, and skills off both feet (rare for a leftie). I suspect many teams will regret overlooking Young. He is something else. But, at least we have overlooked him taking a massive risk, and I like that. Its the only way you'd not take Hayden Young IMO. Which is, if you think you've found something unique, an X factor talent that "could" be a once in a generation player. There is a big risk in taking players like Jackson, but there are a few indicators suggesting he may live up to the hype. One of those (for me) is that he brings down a lot of rebounds in basketball, and does so against a high quality (world class) opposition. I believe this indicates that he could do similar as a deep forward, but instead of taking down boards, it will be clunking marks. We do need that. In addition, what better time to bring in a young ruck during a Gawn era, where he can learn from the very best. So I don't mind the pick. We will survive if he flops anyway, I reckon we have a good list and this was a free hit, so good on Taylor and good luck to Jackson and Pickett.

I'm certain Goodwin and his group would admit mistakes were made. It's hard to grow or improve if you don't make mistakes. And they were challenged by injuries like few teams before them, which is tough going considering the young list profile. Btw, this ''plan B'' talk is a load of crap. Everyone knew how Hawthorn played when they won 3 flags, they just couldn't deal with it. Clarkson didn't alter their game style in season, just as Richmond played to their strengths this year. Do you think Leigh Matthews had a plan B ? Ever heard ''From the Lips of Lethal'' ? Malthouse won a flag going around the boundary to minimise the effect of turnovers. He didn't suddenly start using the corridor during games they were losing. All clubs adjust their tempo at times during games, throw a 7th defender into the mix, match up on a dominant player who's got off the leash, move a tall defender forward, etc., but that's not having a ''plan B''. Flag teams don't worry about ''plan B''.

best 22? B: Jetta - May - Hibberd HB: Salem - Lever - Harmes ? Langdon - Brayshaw - Tomlinson HF: Petracca - T Mac - Hannan F: Fritsch - Weideman - Melksham Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney I/c: Jones - vandenBerg - Petty - Bennell next 22? B: Lockhart - O Mac - J Smith HB: Jordon - Hore - J Wagner ? Baker - Sparrow - Kolodjashnij HF: Spargo - Brown - Dunkley F: Hunt- Jackson - Pickett Foll: Preuss - ANB - C Wagner I/c: Bedford - Nietschke - Chandler - Rivers 23rd man: Bradtke

Do you really think it's that cut and dry? The season could easily be divided up into a period of bad luck with injuries and some close losses and a period of good luck that sees us showing massive improvement but still missing the 8. I'm not accepting mediocrity but there are mitigating circumstances and not making the 8 isn't Goodwins death sentence imo. Collingwood, Richmond, Port Adelaide, many clubs have decided there were enough positive developmental signs to stick it out with their coach for another season despite missing finals. Its all about HOW we play this year.

If Young is a genuine gun he'd improve our side by a bit, but imo it will be as a defender not as a mid. But we're not a lot worse off by not having him if we have a fit back 6/7 who can string games together. If Jackson is a genuine gun forward/ruck he improves our list a lot and becomes irreplaceable. Not to mention he and Gawn would become the most dominant tall duo in the game. At worst Jackson looks like he'll be very good. An added bonus is that I don't see a long apprenticeship at Casey for this boy.

I like that we recruited X factor. We desperately needed some. We probably didn’t go with the percentage plays (Young and Weightman), but I’m pleased. Pickett is a human cannonball. I can’t wait to see him in our forward line each week. It’ll be fun to watch. Put simply, picking Jackson and Pickett has a certain feel good factor to it. We should all get around it.

Love these highlights. Because: They are all from one game - i presume a seconds game, but against men (i think, could be under 19s I guess) The last bit of the clip is an absolute screamer - not sure if he kicked the resulting shot but if so that would have been his seventh He had kicked 3 of the first 4 goals for his team (you can see the scoreboard just before he kicks his 4th - so 4 of the first 5 goals) - a spark plug His third is a set shot that shows a nice neat action off one or two steps (i'm amazed so many players have such long run ups) He is a complete natural small forward who reads the ball beautifully, gets to the right spots and plays on instinct Loves a goal and does not hesitate to pull the trigger Can kick right and left foot But most of all i love what he does just before he kicks his sixth and last goal in the clip - after reading the ball super well and completely losing his defender he roves and after a nice shepard from his team mate accelerates towards an open goal. However just before kicking he turns his head to see what is happening to his teammate as i presume he could see out of the corner of his eye that he was being scragged. Or maybe he was looking at his defender to see how much space he had, but i don't think so. Either way most players have blinkers on at that point and eyes only for the goal. Not Kozzy. He has time to either check on his team mate or the space on his man (or both) and then kick. Only the best players have that time. And if we was checking on his team mate that is evidence of a team first player who looks out for his mates. Love this decision to draft him.

I am excited about Rivers. I had not considered him available to us with our last pick and after taking him looked at his highlights and read more about him. I know highlights are pretty useless, as even I had one or two way back when, but this kid seems to have some real attributes. He is a nice size and can go hard at the ball, then is able at least in the highlights, to give off accurately and quickly . He can cover ground with his kicking and has some pace. Have a feeling this kid could be ok for us.

Does Lever ever do leg day?

Frost would be handy.

Be good if Trent Rivers plays like Shaun Burgoyne, Jordan Lewis and Lachie Whitfield!

I've always liked Tom Lehrer's line (in a somewhat different context): It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years.

Got a kid at my work that is going of to join the police force. He is a baby. In 3 years time he will probably be tasering me when I tell the barman when I've had enough. But I guess I brought it up just to remind us that they are babies, and we do put a hell of a lot on their shoulders (although maybe the elastic nature of youth helps here), and also to enjoy the journey. They are, in a sense, our kids as well. And it is nice to watch them grow up.

For me it was when I realised that if I was good enough to play footy at the highest level I would be retired by now.

I always consider these types of things to be a pointless exercise but understand it’s meant to feed all things AFL. Any sane assessment should be done at a minimum of two to three years from now but I do like our approach more than anything. Therefore, I’m not voting.

A bit of a random topic, but as I get older I really like this time of year. You see these kids, just out of school, and all elbows and knee caps, suddenly thrust into the limelight, cameras thrust in their faces, and they ummm and uhhh as they are asked a million and one questions (and you can see them thinking 'Can't I just say "I like footy?'). Fast forward ten years from now and those teenagers are now hardened warriors. They are used to playing in front of thousands of people. They are big and strong, and have mixed it with the toughest the game has to offer. And interviews... they take it in their stride as if having a news crew following you into work is what happens to everyone. It's fun to sometimes remind myself that the tough guy just won a big game off his own boot was, not that long ago, a nervous teenager that had no idea what life had in store for him.

For me it's when the Prime ministers are younger than myself. Life is a roll of toilet paper. Runs out quicker towards the end.

No to Weid. I have Joel Smith in the team taking over the 'Frost' role. Petty is a forward. Bennell is a pipe dream at this point. B: Jetta May Hibberd HB: J.Smith Lever Salem C : Langdon Oliver Harmes HF: Melksham T.McDonald Petracca F: Pickett Fritsch Petty FOLL: Gawn Brayshaw VIiney IC: Tomlinson Jackson Hunt Lockhart Emergencies - Hannan Preuss Jones Hore

I guess if I was Jason Taylor I might read some of this rubbish to somehow vindicate my role and salary at the club. I mean clearly, Taylor has invested years and years of time, effort and process to be seemingly surpassed by an article from a group of Henson characters that have barely feathered. ‘Champion’ data is the biggest oxymoron going around. They shouldn’t be allowed to publish this shizen.

LOL If anyone here said that about a Melbourne player you would have a good old cry.

A couple of important points. 1.Have we got the preferred spelling of Kozzie/Kozzy/Kossie/Kosi/Kossy? Need to sort that out. 2. Given his full name and his ability to make defenders soil their pants I'd like to suggest the nickname of the Krop Duster.

Yep. Although I’m still young clearly- I’d be the second oldest player in the AFL after Shaun Burgoyne. The prospect of people being able to maintain elite fitness at my ages seems absurd to me, I can’t scrub the toilet without my knees hurting, and I only have to look at a carb to stack on 5kg.

You can argue about poor delivery but the fact is we got plenty of ball inside 50 last year but were unable to convert it into scores. With Hogan gone and Garlett injured or lacking form we hoped for a 2018 repeat from Tmac and improvement from Weid. Neither eventuated. Petracca was a plus. So where do we improve? Further development from Petracca and again, hopefully a fit Tmac can do the business. Hopefully Melksham is also injury free and can reproduce that raking and accurate kicking. Petty maybe a forward. Fritsch and Hannan have shown a bit so hopefully some consistency and an injury free run. Jackson ? Big wraps on him but he's only a kid so it's a bonus if he shows much in first year. Pickett? A kid and small but potentially just what we need - crumber, tackler and x factor. Weid ? [censored] if I know what to expect but he can't survive on potential much longer. So there we go - hope, potential and maybees !!! Go Dees!!

But in a broader sense: Ins Outs Tomlinson Frost Langdon Stretch Jackson Garlett Pickett Walker Rivers Lewis Bennell Maynard Brown Smith With the exception of an ageing Lewis we seem to have improved our class across all areas. Now they just have to perfom on the field.

I think Jackson it depends a bit on form and injury of TMac, Weid and Petty. I think they'll try playing some combination of 3 of those 4. Particularly with TMacs running and Jacksons athleticism. Pickett in the other hand, given a promising preseason and showing some signs in the JLT I could see him playing round 1. We don't have any genuine crumbing forwards, if they want one in the side then he's a damn good chance to play straight up.

Just been waiting for my coffee in Horsham and fell into conversation with the happy indigenous gent beside me in a MFC tee shirt. He turned out to be the very proud father of Kysaiah having a pit stop on the way back to SA. He wasn’t afraid to talk the boy up. Said he has a fantastic attitude. anyway I left him talking to Frank Giampolo (ex MFC footballer). Really looking forward to seeing this kid play

I assume he is trying to say - we couldn’t prepare for what the season was going to demand due to many factors out of our control