Leaderboard

On a hunch I'll set of for Casey Fields tommorrow ( Wednesday) stand by for a blockbuster P.F special, if they are there tommorrow!🤩

Will be good to have done, and I'm sure old dee and the Deemocracy types will keep the board accountable, but if I had to choose between seeing a premiership in my lifetime or a training base I know which I'd have chosen.

🙌

Freo can see they have an uphill battle next year: cant-have-it-all-dockers "Dockers CEO Simon Garlick says the club and players aren’t “overly concerned” with the draw that will also include double games against preliminary finalists Brisbane and finalists the Western Bulldogs". (Plus Geelong and Sydney double ups). Just a little concerned perhaps? “There’s no doubt we’ve seen all the analysis over the last couple of days and the double ups and the like that we’ve got some on-field challenges ahead of us..." The downside of finishing in the top 6! "From Round 16, the Dockers will play six consecutive games against teams that finished in the top nine last year – but three of those games will be at home". A tough run home. As Garlick rightly points out what looks like a hard/easy draw now may not turn out that way. Without doing the 'death ridie' thing, I don't like their chances of making finals especially as they need to integrate key players: Jackson for Lobb, O'Meara for Mundy and cover the loss of Logue, Tucker, and Acres who are in their 'best 25'. It may take the first third of the season, when they need to win a lot of games, to settle the team by which time the season may have slipped away, given their tough run home. They are a young side so can see them sliding next year 🤞 to come back in 2024. Which means we will end up with a fairer price for Jackson.😉

"All good, we'll just turn this generational Ferrari into a conventional hit up forward!"

A couple of years ago I saw Paul Roos out at dinner. I walked up to him and said hi, he was lovely. He said he saw me at my table and wanted to introduce himself but didn’t want to come across as a “fan boy”. Anyway, I signed his napkin and left him to it.

Jase was Kozzie’s guest at the B&F and they appeared to be joined at the hip. I asked Kozzie for a pic and no, I’m not name dropping except I totally am and I invited Jase to join in. Kozzie was rapt. Jase was a little shy and was like, nah it’s ok, just you. Kozzie says, nah man, she asked for you too and I chirped in saying, yeah man, I asked for you too! 😁 And so I got a pic with both boys, beautifully taken by Ricky Lever, again, not name dropping. Again, am.

Happy to play the Eagles in Perth for the next few years given it will almost be a guaranteed win. The Kardinia park stats are ridiculous and shows just how unfair the fixturing is, with some clubs getting shafted while others get dream runs. If the AFL were actually serious about equalisation they would ensure that at a minimum, a team can't play against another side away two years in a row unless they have a corresponding duble up.

Interesting move by Freo to play Jackson mostly as a tall forward. I'm assuming it's out of necessity, since they lost Lobb and Logue (their two main key forwards in 2021). That leaves them with Taberner (injury riddled battler) and Amiss (kid who needs to put on other 10kgs for his role). Jackson is a below average forward. I've said it since before he was drafted and nothing has changed. He's a poor contested mark, two grabber, and only excels when he has a free run and jump uncontested from the side of a pack. With any form of body contact, he's poor and makes Sam Wiedeman look like Wayne Carey at times. If he's going to become the gun player he's hyped to be, it's as a mobile ruckman who becomes a link up option around the ground in the Cox/Grundy mould. If he plays predominantly forward, then they're spending a million bucks a year on a below average forward who will never kick 40 goals in a year. I'm tipping Freo to regress slightly next year. They've got fantastic young talent around and behind the ball, but they lost a chunk of best 22 experience over the trade period, and are completely limp in attack. Jackson playing forward works for us. Play Jackson forward, be an uncompetitive team, and gives us a higher draft pick in return!

There is another DL thread with over a 1000 more pages than this one and far more interesting info. than this non event thread ever has.

Since 1987 when the West Coast Eagles entered the competition we have played 56 times 29 x H&A games in Perth 20 x H&A games in Melbourne 2 x H&A game in NT 3 x Finals have been played in Melbourne where WCE should have been the Home team 2 x Finals have been played in Perth We have played the Eagles in Melbourne at the following venues: 16 x MCG 3 x VFL Park (as Away Team in Finals) 2 x Optus Oval 2 x Marvel Stadium 2 x Northern Territory (not in Melbourne - obviously) We have not played the Eagles in Melbourne since Rd 2 2014. In that time we have only had 2 other Home Games against the Eagles & both of those were sold home games in the NT. We have played the Eagles 8 times in Perth during that period (not including the 2018 PF). This century we have played the Eagles 18 times in Perth and only 11 times in Melbourne and 2 in the NT. Our only match against the Eagles in 2023 is at Optus Stadium in Perth. It will be the 4th H&A match in a row that we have played against the WCE in Perth. Prior to our last Home match (in the NT) against WCE we had a stint of 5 games in Perth which included the 2018 PF. Fun Fact: the Demons have won more Premierships than the Eagles at their current Home Ground Optus Stadium.

For one, I don't think Jackson is a unique talent. I think he is definitely a great talent. One very similar player just retired is Paddy Ryder. However, Paddy is a better mark...good set of hands whereas Jackson is a bit hit and miss. EFC tried to make Paddy into a KPF and it never worked. Port tried sometimes and it didn't work. St Kilda played him in his right position as a ruck and even though at the end of his career as one of my Saint supporter mates says, he was their best player. Ryder was shorter than Jackson and towelled him up this year. All that said, I think Jacksons talent is best suited to some kind of follower role...either as a ruck or tall mid. He hits the ground and recovers quickly, he has great vision and breaks team-mates into open space. I don't see him as a KPF but I do hope they persist with him there as he will still be an asset for us if they do...

I was riding past Gosch's on my way into town and there were 12-15 of the boys doing a kicking drill with Chocco and Yze overseeing. I think on Tuesdays and Thursdays they have 'craft' sessions at Gosch's. It is not worth a trip specifically, but if in the area always good to check out on the way through.

Hope so...

If he was with The Drifters, surely he'd be Under The Boardwalk.

I think this is a very simple deathride. Injuries to Brayshaw and Pearce lasting more than 4 weeks and Freo are done. They have a good coach, a good defensive setup and some guns but they fall away after their top five or six players and without Mundy, Acres, Lobb, Logue and a few others there’s a lot of pressure on very few. Lose Brayshaw and a Pearce and it will all fall apart very quickly.

Not necessarily the announcement but the completion of the project after the negotiations are completed. There are several options and it will take some time to work out which is the most viable and affordable. Money has to come from several areas and it will involve Govt., AFL and our own money. Whilst the majority of Landers think the players hate travelling to Casey, that couldn't be further from the truth, it may have been, but isn't anymore, the current group are very happy with the facilities and they are soon to be improved.

Then why don't they just tell us that Dante? It seems they are very frightened to tell the position we are in.

Many of us will be dead DC so that will reduce the volume of comments.

Thanks for kicking this thread off Demonland one thing that I am really missing is Benny Gibson interviews with all the Newbies, you picked a bad time to leave us Benny Gibson…!!!!

Watch out for the Shache attack.

Ellison was a solid player at Casey and must have been looked at by some AFL clubs. The fact that he’s gone to Williamstown suggests that there might have been job opportunities involved as well - it’s a long trip from Cranbourne to that neck of the woods. He will be missed but if you look at the MFC’s recruiting of tall players over the past month or so, it’s probably a logical move for Ellison.

Key back: May, Petty, Lever, Turner, Tomlinson Medium back: Hibberd, Rivers, J Smith Small backs: Salem, Bowey Rucks: Gawn, Grundy Mids: Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Harmes, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Dunstan Wings: Langdon, Hunter, JJ Key fwd: McDonald, Brown, JVR, Schache Medium fwd: Fritsch, Melk Small fwd: Pickett, Spargo, ANB, Chandler With the extra round and a heap of games outside Melbourne it really should become more of a squad approach. Especially if we tweak the game plan and need to see how players adapt. Above is our top 32 players who should form the bulk of the best 22. The remaining 11 are first to third year kids. It will be interesting to see if any of them can crack a debut. I’m sure Howes will be a popular pick. Laurie should be pushing his case more regularly. But if there’s a role for him I’d actually put a bet on Taj Woewodin getting a game

not far off tho, Hagan and D'Aloia both made the U18 AA side and didnt get drafted so realistically they could not have done more!

Not correct. The Board have the majority the of their 4 year Plan succeed including the three Flags, sustained success in all three grades plus membership and corporate records and IMO a very high nearly 30% Junior Membership of the total building for the future. As well as substantial improvement to Casey Fields amenities plus the surface of the oval. Goschs also improved so substantial Govt assistance has been obtained. If Casey was in the 15km circle from MCG it would probably be the Training Ground for good with Admin etc being added and a venue for the AFLW and VFL with a capacity of say 8/10,000 bring formulated. We have never been so well off financially in 164 years and hav come from a basket case a decade ago. Facilities haven't hampered us snd success on the ground is far more important than the MCG location to be chosen ASAP. Before you query the timing of the Plan the record speaks for itself and Roffey is the chosen Board Supremo expected to deliver. Give me a decade of sustained success including multiple Flags in AFL and AFLW snd the Training facility will take care of itself I believe.

The counter argument of course is that if you put the JT interview at the end of the podcast perhaps people would listen right through, but I understand why you may not want to test this, and I don't understand the economics of the situation. AFLW was a hard watch in season 1 but now it's a very good standard, especially between the top teams. The GF was a ripper, those who didn't watch it because "it's women" just shortchanged themselves. It was a very exciting and emotional win. The women seem to have such a wonderful bond, it's pretty touching. Anyway, thanks for the explanation, the podcast is a credit to those who participate.

Certainly a positive fixturing quirk, but a pity we've gone 2-8-1 against them since 2010 at the MCG.

I thought that Gil was Voldemort.

I hadn't heard that luci. I thought i read they were thinking of using him almost as a mid. And I have definitely read - and heard Jackson say - a few times, that his preferred position is ruck as he liked to follow the football. My biggest knock on Jackson was his forward craft. Which is average at best. He is not a natural forward, the way say jvr us. And he is not a one grab mark, which is nor great for a permanent forward. And he gets the yips a bot - so in that sense a good replacement for lobb I have no doubt his forward craft will improve. The kid is a star. As he gets bigger, he will be hard to stop. But he won't be at his peak for another 3-4 years. If freo are relying on Jackson to be their main avenue to goal, they are going to struggle to kick winning scored.

N o one seems to have answered your question but if so it must be deep in the thread. Players are invited to train after registering with the AFL. There is no commitment on our part however it should be noted that as of right now we only have one Rookie place left and that means it would seem between Kye and young Burgoyne. One could assume then that both players are aware of this and it will be a desperate effort by each to fill that Rookie space. Good for Footy but great for the MFC

If his efforts in the dying stages of the Brisbane Lions final are anything to go by, (being show how to attack the marking contest by Harry Petty) he won't like that much at all. I hardly think he's a contested marking beast. Ok on a lead and if he gets a jump at it, but I think he'll find those things much tougher as one of the main targets and he's getting double/tripple teamed and his leading corridors cut off by oppo defenses. Key forward would be a whole new learning curve for Dogga. Who knows maybe he's up to it, will really turn it on, but equally it could frustrate him, crush his confidence and development.

Kossie can't even crack their seconds?

Fact is Jackson in his 52 games for the MFC kicked only 30 goals and played as ruck forward where as Lobb kicked 36 goals last year in 21 games. Rory Lobb is 207cm where as Luke Jackson is 199cm but more mobile this is not a like for like replacement.

The pressure is fairly and squarely on the Fremantle Dockers in 2023.

… and yes, Steven May trained today!

The PROTOTYPE!

I was surprised that the team we play in the "The Long Goodbye to Gil Round" wasn't one of the teams we play twice in the season. It seemed to me that it would make sense to have all teams playing in "The Stupid Concoction of an Idea Round" playing each other again to enable at least one of those games to be played at the home city for one of the clubs. For us, it means that we won't play Essendon in Melbourne (the city) at all in 2023. As you may gather (see what I did there?) I'm not a fan of "The AFL's Bizarre Idea to Promote the Game Round" and not being able to see a home and away game against a Melbourne club in Melbourne when it could have been so easily arranged just seems wrong.

If someone can CONFIRM next Casey Fields Training session I should be able to be there! Cheers P.F

Not sure they’ll be able to kick enough goals if their forward line is Jackson & Fyfe. Their talk of us mis-using Jackson & not appreciating his ability as a forward would appear to be more wishful thinking than anything.

High He'll be sub

Spoonmantle, come together with your hands! 👏

there is no way anb will not be in our best 22 add jj to the 'best 23' as it is now and i reckon you've got it more or less spot on expecting jvr to challenge sideshow bob for starting key forward role

He's quick and handles and uses the ball really well. I like this potential acquisition. I have a feeling that the Covid period did his development no favours and getting a proper run at it will greatly benefit him.

He has definitely got some wheels

Can't see any real downside with giving this young fella another chance Has pace, good disposal skills and will be well coached under Chocco and Co If he is one of Kozzies mates that's an added bonus

Anything to keep Choco with us another couple of years is a good thing 🙂

That is not only pace, that reel shows white-line fever for the ball and the direction. Notice how he straightens up to a direction through gapping, and in turn, straightens up the whole team movements, as well, as a consequence? Even to the oncoming forwards readying for the 'receive'. Eyes up, always, entering the forward zones. Like it, not fazed by big bodies around him looking for action.

This has Choco's fingerprints all over it.

Let's hope for a top 5 pick next year (theirs) and ours the last pick in the first round. Should give us a good spread.