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CASEY FIELDS TODAY!!! Duh da da da duh Da Da Duh ( Repeat) Dar dar Dar Dah dar da da duh Dar DADADAH DAH DA DUH DA DAR DAR DAR DA DUH DA dUH!!!!!! On a Planet Far far away in another space and Time there was This weeks script/training report INSIDE BARRACKS 2 Main control Centre Newkirk "Ah Colonel just got a wire from Australia" Col Hogan "Australia ??? From who?" Newkirk "Our Aussie Ally The nefarious Picket Fence" Col Hogan" What does it say" Carter "It says need assistance urgently, need to tunnel an entrance underground can you assist?" Col Hogan "A tunnel underground" Where" Kinchloe " Needs to go from outside a place called Casey Fields under the Fence and with a hidden entrance for future use, He further says he just cannot get access into the ground and on hot days like today he needs to find a cooler spot to post his Demonland Training reports" Col Hogan "Ok Tell him to stand by we are onto it" Over and Out" LOCATION 2 INSIDE COMMANDANT KLINKS OFFICE Helga " Commondant its General Burkhalter on the phone" Commondant Klink " Put him on " General Burkhalter what a pleasant surprise" Gen Burkhalter " KLINK, The only surprise for me is that you have still got a job and as yet no one ( Except T,V Audiences and producers have wised up to your incompetence" You fraud" Com Klink " Incompetance why General I have a perfect record" Gen Burkhalter " I'll get to the piont KLINK, Our intelligence has picked up some suspicious Activity with Communications occuring between this Stalag and Australia, Somebody is trying to tunnel to the inside of the Fence to an outpost at Casey Fields" Com Klink " As you know General None has EVER ESCAPED FROM STALAG CASEY FIELDS" Gen Burkhalter "[censored] , This entity PIcket Fence isn't trying to get out... He's Trying to get in!!!" Com Klink " Trying to get in to Stalag 13 at Outpost Casey Fields" He must be stopped. Gen Burkhalter "Put your best person onto it" WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY HE WANTS TO GET IN!" Com Klink "I'll get Schultz to double the guards" and put everyone on high alert" Gen Burkhalter "SIGH" Greetings Demonlanders on this Hot as day. Fortunately not only was the temperature hot but the Dees went through a 6 quarter full match sim of which I file the following report. REHAB/ NO SHOWS FRITTA, JOEL SMITH, JAKE M, JED ADAMS ( I THINK) SALEM INJURIES ON THE DAY Looked like LUKE DUNSTAN pinged a Hamstring during match sim. MATCH REPORT. Initially the teams were more or less Blue Team (Probable starting 18-23 Round 1) and White Team ( Probable Casey team) A few observations about this Hibbo, Dunstan, Jordan, Shache attacky, Tomlinson started in this team, Grundy and Max both were in the blue team at the start before swapping teams at Half time where we saw Max , Clarry, Gus, Harmes and one or two other regulars from Blue went to white team to even things out. PLAYER WATCH IMPRESSIONS 1 KADE CHANDLER was ON FIRE Today really looked like he wants a spot, playing in the Blue team he was heavily inlvolved in setting up play was electrifying with break away speed dish offs plus he kicked about 3 goals and was very very influential. 2 BBB He is easily the best forward we have currently runs up and down the ground leads hard judges the falling ball in contested marking and just does not miss goals. He would have had another 5 or so today 3 BLAKE HOWES What a cool customer he was today, just seems to have found a nice groove, does most things well and effortlessly and picks correct options I think he will play this year on todays performance 4 JUDD MCVEE Likewise did some very good creative work across half back wing and won his fair share of the ball in both contests and on the outside, a hard runner he is gaining in confidence each time 5 OLIVER SESTON I can now see why we drafted him , in junior footy he wouldhave been just too strong in the air and on the ground and possesses an excellent turn of speed, got caught trying to do too much on a couple of occasions but boy when he matures watch out he is not unlike Ollie Wines! 6 JAKE BOWEY Has all but sown up a hbf position I think he is a better player than Calb Daniels now and his disposal, smart descision making and mop ups are very very good. 7 SPARGY PANTS Has improved his posessions and kicked a couple of goals today and used the ball precisely and with purpose playing in the blues I think if he continues to get around 20 quality possessions he earns his keep this year 8 WILL VERALL What an athletic strong running big man he is. He contested manfully in the ruck took some grabs around the ground, dish ofs were good and his mobility and "Flair" wre very appealing will develop into a player I think . Not disimilarly DISCO TURNER Caught mey eye for the same "Flair" 9 JOSH SHACHE ATTACKY Lots to like about his , for example he took a mark today contested that a Sam Weideman would have ran under then goaled. Clever unobtrusive but can become dynamic and bob up unexpectedly and kick a few , which he did do today. Not a bad ruckman and gives his best 10 MATT JEFFERSON.Quiet in parts but then takes the Mark of the day ) In contested company and cooly converted against the wind from 45 out on an angle, when he gets it things happen and although he may not play this year gee in 2024 watch out when he gets some confidence and size/weight. Kicked a couple of nice goals today 11 (THE HOLY TRINITY) CLARRY, J.V , TRACC were just phenomenal today just scary phenomenal. 12 LACHY HUNTER Just knows where to run, how to get it, get out on the outside spearing kicks lace out to other players and will be SENSATIONAL for us. Only slight disappiontment was JVR dropped a couple of chest marks and just got caught out of position a little today HIGHLIGHT MAX VS BRODIE G ( AFTER HALF TIME) BOTH were pitted on one another and it was highly entertaining and enlightening, Max is a one hand tap ruckman and Brodie prefers two hands. BOTH are effecteive and both take marks around the ground, use the ball well and are VERY VERY FIT FINALLY GEE WE ARE FIT I MEAN REALLY REALLY FIT, NO OUT OF CONDITION PLAYERS EVIDENT AND ON A DAY LIKE THIS PIONTS TO A SERIOUS ASSAULT ON THE FLAG IN 2023 I BELEIVE! Meanwhile I have just seen a portly figure patrolling around the ground it looks like, NO IT CAN'T BE SCHULTZ with LOIUS LE BEAU SCHULTZ "Halt who goes there who are you" P.F I know you your Sgt Schultz from Hogans Heroes" How did you get here? SCHULTZ " I accidently stepped onto the set of "The Time Tunnel" and found myself here where am I""? P.F "You are in Australia a place called Casey Fields" SCHULTZ "Commondant KLINK will send me to the Front for deserting my post I will be interogated by the Luftwafer" what will I do"?? PICKET FENCE "Dont worry Schultz If Commandant Klink asks me I will say ..................... I KNOW NOTTTHIING , I SEE NOOOOTHINGGGGGGGG! Cheers P.F

There were 4 x 20 minutes quarters between teams Blue and White. It was controlled by AFL umpires. The first two quarters comprised of the probables in Blue versus the possibles in White. Blue included: Gawn, Grundy, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Sparrow, May, Lever, Petty, Rivers, McVee, Langdon, Neal-Bullen, Pickett, Spargo, Brown, McDonald, Bowey, Chandler White: Farris-White, Verrall, Schache, Hunter, Jordon, Hibberd, Dunstan, Harmes, Howes, Jefferson, Laurie, Sestan, Deakyn Smith, Tomlinson, Turner x 2, Woewodin, van Rooyen, Trent Burgoyne, plus 2-3 other Casey top-ups. As you’d expect Blue dominated. At half-time they’d kicked 15 goals to one. At half-time quite a few in Blue swapped to White, including Oliver, Brayshaw, Gawn and the first choice defenders – May, Petty, Lever, Rivers, McVee and Bowey. Harmes, Tomlinson and a few others went from White to Blue. The ‘new’ White got away in the third quarter, while Blue almost pinched it in the last. Final scores for the last two quarters were 41 to 40 White’s way. Ben Brown kicked 3 goals in the first on his way to 5. He’s moving and marking very well. McDonald kicked 3 and was also good. Grundy kicked 2 and handed an easy third to Pickett. Grundy was busy and had a good game, including a nice contested mark for one of his goals. He really gets involved around the stoppages. He seemed a little sore in his leg in the third quarter but he stayed on and completed all 4 quarters, so I’m assuming it’s minor. Spargo was very good and kicked 3 goals. Chandler did well and kicked 2. I wonder if McVee has been earmarked for Salem’s position. He looked very comfortable in the back 6. Both Langdon and Hunter got plenty of it. van Rooyen had a quiet day not helped by Blue’s dominance in the first two quarters. He led well in the second and did take one good contested mark, but also dropped an easy chest mark in the last. He ended the day goalless after missing a very gettable 30 metre shot in the second. Schache was quiet early but kicked 2 goals in the second half and became a target. Viney spent some time on ball but played mainly forward in the first half. He hit the scoreboard and actually played very well from a HFF. Rivers played mainly defence but also started in the centre square a few times, as did Brayshaw. So it looks like they’re going to mix it up. In the first half the preferred centre square setup was Oliver, Petracca, and Sparrow. Jefferson kicked the only goal for White in the first half and ended with 2. He took one excellent contested mark i50 (goal), but also dropped a couple he should have taken. He looks a player. Gawn looked a little rusty but was OK. I would have given Grundy the honours, but they both won their share of hitouts against each other in the second half. They were on the same team in the first half. Gawn spent time forward but was ineffective. For me the three best players were Oliver, Petracca, and Viney, but Spargo, Langdon, Brayshaw, Bowey, Rivers, Grundy, Brown and McDonald all did well. Petracca and Oliver can both extricate themselves from very tight positions. Some of their midfield craft was superb. Both fast, big and powerful. Oliver took a nice contested mark and was completely unhindered by his thumb. It was great to see Petracca mark forty metres out in the last, dead in front, and kick truly. He was also very happy (“Let’s go boys !!!”). This was the most involved I’ve seen Sestan. He took a couple of very strong marks and got quite a lot of it. He also kicked truly from 51 metres out. He’s one of those players with a low centre of gravity. Shortish legs and a long torso in the Daicos and Jesaulenko mould. Quick ball movement was the order of the day. There was a strong wind, so conditions were challenging, but there were also some excellent pieces of play. Lots of turnovers too, as is the hallmark of the modern game. I’m sure van Rooyen will get games and he’s had a great preseason, but he may just be behind Brown and McDonald for round one. Verrall competed well in the ruck. He’s raw but didn’t look out of place. Howes was very busy and mainly used it well. Even though Hunter played the first two quarters for White I’m sure he’s in the best team. Neale-Bullen also played well early. He was playing on a wing. Dunstan pulled a hamstring. Unlike Gawn, who jogged off with his, Dunstan was in pain as he gingerly limped off. Fritsch was a no show but may have been inside. Moniz-Wakefield and Melksham were there but didn’t participate and nor did Joel Smith.

He's correct about "wasted era" if we fail to make the top four. However, I believe we are a strong chance to finish top. I am not convinced that Geelong can back it up.

Big chance for the fans to see the team against actual opposition next Friday. What do we want to see from our team in this outing ? I personally want to see Van Rooyen get a chance to show his wares and see what the plan is from the club re Maxy and Brody. I'm keen to see how Lachie Hunter does in tandem with Langdon Oh Hell I just want to see them play

Assuming an ok run with injuries we should win it this year. Never in our lives have or will we be in a stronger position to win the flag (pre season). The demographics of our top 28 players is at its absolute peak. The sheer talent is the strongest in my lifetime and arguably up there with the best teams in the history of the game. 4 genuine superstars (including Grundy) backed up by a plethora of A graders. Our list is the envy of the league. The pass mark this year is a Premiership!!!

I don't think we got ahead of ourselves last year, it was more injuries / fatigue caught up with us. But otherwise, I agree with his comments.

Grundy was good. Kicked 2 and gifted a goal to Pickett that he could easily have put next to his name.

In 2008 my 4y.o. son's day care centre manager pulled me to one side to let me know that he had been walking around all day saying that Hawthorn supporters were scum! Whilst we agreed that he was not far from the truth, I did have to ask him to perhaps keep that fact to himself when at daycare.

haven’t seen a mark like this is person yet but the ability to get hands on the ball when you least expect it is what I’ve seen at training

I recall reading at the time when Melbourne drafted Judd McVee as a rookie at the end of 2021, that the recruiters were relying in part on the initial impression he made when he was part of WA’s midfield mix two years earlier in the state's Under 16 National Championships campaign in 2019. It was back then that McVee’s class came to the fore. He was regarded as a clean ball handler, an efficient disposer of the football who had a cool head. His stocks fell during the Covid19 years and he barely held on to his state spot but managed to take a place across half back for WA in what were regarded as the U19 Nationals of 2021. It’s still a way to go but hopefully, the long memory and/or faith paid in him by a Demon recruiter plus his own hard work and development will pay off in spades.

Nor Brisbane second, or Sydney third. I actually think we are better than all of these teams we ought to finish a clear 1st

@picket fence is at training today and will be starting a thread shortly.

Thanks Picket Fence and Gator - what a sterling job to brave the heat and head down into the wilderness area in outer south east Melbourne. More importantly, great to read that we have players putting their hands up for a game with the season just five weeks away.

Agree also BDA , but his 2022 analysis of the failure was just another example of lazy analysis by an ex-player who didn't watch closely. In both Swans and Lions finals we were right in it and ahead at half time. As you say fatigue and injuries got us. We will go Top 4 for the 3rd time in 3 years this season, then its up for grabs finals time with luck.

From the MFC Website on Wednesday 15/2 From the MFC Website Friday 10/2 From the MFC Website Wednesday 8/2 Many trackwatchers have given their thoughts on Jefferson over the Preseason. The common thread is that he has a lovely set of hands and is skillful by foot. He will benefit from a year learning the craft at Casey as was the case with van Rooyen. In addition he will most certainly benefit from another full preseason under his belt and another year in the gym building up his light frame. I have confidence that he and van Rooyen will form the nucleus of our forward line in the future.

G'day all! I was rewatching the final quarter of our 2017 Perth clash against West Coast (the McDonald match winner game) the other week and couldn't help but notice how crucial Cam Pedersen was in the final 10-15 minutes. I was prompted to reminisce a bit into his career with us, and despite never being a world beater, Cam made some very important contributions over his journey in the red and blue. To make a long story short, here are all 50 goals that Pedders kicked over the six year period that he donned the Demon jumper that I've compiled together in one video. There's some seriously impressive ones here that I had completely forgotten about, such his boundary miracle to seal the win against Carlton in 2014, and his Buddy Franklin-esque running goal against Brisbane in 2017. Plenty of clunks in-between as well! Go Dees!

He'd know about a wasted eras with his Freo experience...

Looks like the hype on McVee is getting real. Some media outlets have him as a smokey round 1 debut.

There 4 x 20 minute quarters today with AFL umpires. Dunstan hamstring. No Fritsch.

Daz, a little thought to ponder. Ralphy is saying Liam Henry will definitely be in Victoria next year. He is apparently very close to Kozzie. We lost Toby and overlooked Burgoyne. We have a need for his type of player. What if we have an arrangement with Liam to come to us and of course Kozzie would know if it was in play and it gives him another housemate and another reason to stay. Just spitballing.

They're training at Casey today.

The last game of footy I went to with my mum was against Hawthorn. It was 2014 late in the season and she died a week after the Grand Final. My mum never swore but she did turn to me that day and say something like "We have to smash those [censored] one day. I hope you get to see it". Ever since, I've had a special tingle when we beat Hawthorn. F**k them.

Ditto, I was five when Melbourne won its flag in 64. My older brother (6) and next door neighbour supported the Dees. I made the switch. It was a long 57 years for me but it was worth the wait. Said it before, I was fortunate enough to attend the GF in Perth (legally). The only thing left for me is to see them do it at the G.🤞Can’t wait! GO DEES!!

1. Geelong 2. Brisbane 3. Sydney 4. Melbourne “If they do not finish in the top four, it is a wasted era for them because they are cherry ripe in terms of the most top-end talent in the competition. “Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jack Viney – throw Brodie Grundy in there, Lachie Hunter from the Dogs as well and there’s another young kid from WA in Jacob Van Rooyen who is flying. He’ll play just about every game this year. “I think they got the kick up the bum they needed. I think they got a bit carried away. They were flying halfway through last year and undefeated after 10 rounds. “If you look at a lot of the premiership teams, they’ve often made another Grand Final within four years.”

Be a bit of irony if we end up with a great young key forward with a Freo draft pick

Gus interviewed at the Coterie golf day: '...[there's] new positions for different players that the people will see...' It sounded like these were relatively settled outcomes from 'the heap of matchplay' they'd been doing at training, as opposed to praccy match try-outs. It will be interesting to see what might be unfolding in this regard next Friday.

Post of the week (and not in a Pollyanna way). Thanks.

It'll be interesting to see how the Swans recover from their GF drubbing. History suggests they might struggle this year.

I think Ross is dyslexic and the sign is meant to be for the boys to keep them on the straight and narrow - no Milfing

A petless friend of mine signed up my dog as a Hawthorn member years ago 🤮 Livid

wonder if our slithera man is onsite?

If they are playing golf today then I guess there is no training/Match SIM out at Casey today. In the YoPRO video Trac and Clarry were narrating their day and they mentioned that the day (presumably yesterday [Thursday]) they rocked up to Casey and trained with a Match SIM and then proceeded to do work in the indoor training center including gym work followed by a lunch where they were sampling the new sponsors product and then the announcement of the new sponsorship. I guess yesterday at Casey replaced the usual Friday session.

The Hawthorn Cheer Squad has always looked like a Huge unflushed Public Toilet. In 1987 after the Preliminary Final my car was blocked in by the Hawthorn Cheer Squad van. 2 hours of their arrogant celebrations i had to endure. I will still hate that Club long after i am Dead and Gone

I was there at Dallas Brooks Hall in 1996 and the amount of people locked out with no merger signs was incredible. They never got to vote. The emotion in the room is something I'll never forget. It was overwhelmingly anti merger. The vote was close - 4,679 to 4,229 - and this would have been challenged in the courts if needed. The process was a sham, including Billy Guest getting employees who didn't even support Melbourne to sign up and vote pro merger. A dark period that thankfully we're well past. But I don't thank Hawthorn supporters one bit.

Either did we.

No team is more deserving of a long stint of mediocrity and missing finals than Hawthorn. Please God make it so.

I've never seen this sign that Ross the Boss put up at the Saints training at any of the Dees sessions.

They’re definitely training at Casey today, that video would’ve been filmed yesterday

Just watched Gus on the MFC website 15 of the boys are playing golf today with the Coterie group he is a very good speaker. Also noticed in the Yopro add that Tracc was excellent as well and that Clayton carried half the add and did a great job glad to see these greats representing our mighty club.!!

Have they though? Their sense of fashion is to walk around looking like the MCG toilets after a Richmond/Collingwood game.

Was zoned to Hawthorn - played all my rep footy there and under 15s/17s - when they disbanded the comp to start the u18s comp.... stupidly declined the invite to train at Toorak the following year - thought yr12 was more important... every single bloke who went there was drafted... a couple of them (certain twins) are still senior coaches..... Got yelled at by a certain hard nosed coach named Yabbie - for being bent over vomiting at training.... after doing what I thought was the biggest gut running session of my life. "YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT AT HAWTHORN DOING THAT....." [censored] I hate Hawthorn. With a passion (Although was actually pretty cool that Dipper and Dermie and Tucky and a couple of the other superstars would often come down and train with us before the seniors came out proplerly) The success there in that era really was incredible, very jealous of the 80s for them. Hate them. Being at optus in 2021 for the Granny with my then 8 year old son, the decades of relief well and truly made up for the pain of watching Hawthorn up close and personal [censored] Hate them

The ONE good thing about Hawthorn supporters is that they didn't vote to merge....and for that we should all be grateful.

My starting line up is pretty much the same as @WERRIDEE though I think they’ll go with Keath ahead of Darcy who may or may not continue in defence. It would be hard to know with Bevo the King of spinning magnets. The Draw The bad news– They play the Cats, Tigers, Freo and Port twice. The good news is they play GWS and Hawthorn twice. They also start the season with us at the MCG and then the Saints before playing Brisbane(H), Richmond (A), Port(A), and Freo(A). They’d want to be on their mettle coming off the preseason or the season could almost be out of reach for them before we get to May. 1. The Doggies are the most difficult side to make predictions on and have been ever since Bevo took the reins in 2015. They are an intriguing proposition, having won a premiership and made a GF in his time there, but they have never finished top 4 at the end of the H&A season with him as coach (though came mighty close in 2021). In fact the last time they made the top 4 was 2010. So what to make of them going into 2023 because on paper they appear to be strong enough contender for the flag? They’ve picked up what would appear some missing pieces in Liam Jones and Rory Lobb, and while Dunkley might be considered a loss, clearly Lachie Hunter and Josh Schache weren’t required players – nor for that matter was Mitch Wallis who was delisted – but will they be missed? Only the fullness of time will tell, but I think the ledger is tipped more towards the red than the black which I will discuss below. 2. If you’ve read the previous three dives I’ve done into Adelaide, Brisbane and Carlton you may have noticed a recurring theme in terms of key factors I value in separating the contenders from the pretenders that is Defence and Contested Possessions. I’d have to say that this isn’t any original thinking on my behalf, nor did I steal it from David King – these are key stats that many others rely on and have been around for a while and the Dogs over Bevo’s time help illustrate at least the first point. In recent times the premier has always been one of the best three defensive teams in the competition. Since 2015 the Dogs in defence have ranked 7th, 3rd (2016), 8th, 13th, 12th, 10th, 4th (2021*) and 11th. In 2006 the Eagles finished 4th defensively and won the premiership – only twice since then in 2013-14 were the Hawks able to do it (5th) – but they were also a 50 goal better side than the next best team as well. Contested Possessions isn’t as compelling and sides like Geelong last year and Richmond previously have demonstrated you don’t need to be anything special in this area, providing you can offset it by being efficient with ball in hand or finding other ways to get the ball off the opposition. The Dogs by the way were second last for intercepts in the competition last year which segues into my next topic. 3. If the question were ‘Is the Doggies defence capable of being a top 3 side with the addition of Liam Jones this season?’ the simple answer is No. They have two AA half-back flankers in Dale and Daniel and that’s an excellent start, but then it gets a bit patchy. Richards and Duryea are more than handy small foils back there, but when you look at the other smalls that have rotated through there in the last few season most seem to have question marks over them and where their best positions are (as we return to Bevo spinning magnets). Williams now seems to be preferred on the wing after some wobbly moments in defence, Crozier couldn’t cement a spot back there last year after a serviceable start crossing from Freo, Roarke Smith has been in and out as has JJ for injury reasons, but isn’t really a backman anymore. Then we switch to the talls. Does Jones help – you’d think so – 2nd worst intercept side and not a single player in the top 50 in the AFL for Defensive 1v1s (https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats.html). The trouble is Jones will be 32 when he shapes up for round 1 and the other talls ‘could’ be OK on their day, but aren’t A grade KPDs. Ryan Gardner looks like being the safest bet to team with Jones and had a good season last year and while Keath tries hard and was busted by seasons end there are question marks over whether he can return to his 2021 form – he probably can, but if he doesn’t then the cupboard is getting bare, so bare they’ve been experimenting with Josh Bruce back there during the preseason. O’Brien I’ve never been sold on and his 11 games last year after crossing from the Hawks before playing out the year in the VFL probably indicates that Bevo isn’t sold either. Khamis and Busslinger are too young and inexperienced to be consistently effective and that leaves Darcy who was trialled back there last year… another nice segue. 4. Darcy forward or back? To me he looks like the 2nd Ruck/KPF apprentice which is what he did in U18s, but then Bevo throws him back as an intercepting tall at the back end of 2022. With Jones back they probably don’t need him to play that role, but they also went and got Lobb the player other supporters love to hate – more on him in a sec. Naughton is top shelf and JUH is starting to come into his own, but the Dogs rely heavily on goals from their midfield with Cody Weightman being the only consistent small forward for them. It seems like they’ve got massive hopes for Charlie Clarke to be the second small, but in his rookie season that’s a little too early. I can’t see a place there for Bruce if Lobb plays – you know the bloke that doesn’t want to ruck, doesn’t want to play at the Giants, doesn’t want to stay at Freo,– the guy that the footy world regards as the failed ‘Great Peroxide White Hope’ because he’s never lived up to the hype…. Can Doggies Fans expect him to revolutionise the way their forward line functions – again the answer is no. What they can expect is what he has delivered as a tall forward/2nd Ruck going into his 10th season averaging 11 disposals, 4 marks, 11 hitouts and 1 goal again – Mehhh not much better than Luke Jackson whose barely played 3 seasons. 5. Does Dunkley and Hunter leaving weaken their midfield? Well- yes and no. No because Hunter only played the 10 games last year and had fallen out with the coach (he did play all 25 matches in 2021 though), no because they were struggling to fit Dunkley into the packed midfield rotation with the quality of Bont, Macrae, Libba, Treloar. (He found himself on the HFF for longer than he would have liked). Yes, because both Hunter(2018) and Dunkley (2022) are both B&F winners – they can seriously play footy and you shouldn’t be making a habit of losing guys like that. Yes because there’s no natural replacement to play on the wing for Lachie or another player that immediately steps into the midfield and racks up 260 CP and plays with that defensive mindset that Josh did. I’m leaning towards their midfield will be weaker, but by how much remains to be seen whether guys like Bailey Smith (the #1 turnover player in the competition) and Riley West step up to fill the void. The player they can least afford to lose - given the amount of time discussing their defensive woes I was tempted to put down Liam Jones, or perhaps Caleb Daniel the man they rely on to pilot them out of the treacherous waters off half back. In the end though it has to be Bont, He picks this team up and carries them on his shoulders, but last year those shoulders looked really sore. He played 22 of 23 games last year with one week off being managed, but he wasn't right all year and it was the first time since his debut year he's finished lower than 3rd in their B&F. It's absolutely vital for them he's back playing closer to 90% this season than where he was last year. Am I any the wiser on what the Dogs will do this year… not really, but safe to say neither is the market they’re currently middle of the pack (=9th) with Freo to make the top four and the top eight. It seems no one is quite sure what they will do. Can they make the top 4 – yes, Will they make the top 4 – nope. They’ll be there in the eight, but they need a lot to go right for them to repeat the heroics of 2016 & 2021 and I’m not sure lightning will strike three times. I’ve got them finishing eighth. *They were playing statistically the best defensive side in living memory - we all recall with great delight the floodgates opening with 35 minutes left to go. I think the Doggies were still searching for answers half way through last season to figure out what went wrong.

Dismiss Carlton at your peril. Sure they have been a joke for nearly 3 decades but I think they're on the right track and will be pushing for top 4. That's my hot tip.