Lil_red_fire_engine

Per Pickfence at start of thread K&L Pickett were not present.

Thanks for the report. I watch a lot of Essendon as the wife barracks for them and LuLu did not look out of place at AFL level in their injury ravaged side last year. Both of us were very surprised they chose to delist him and recontract some of their in-season additions. I reckon he lands back on a list ours or other at some point.

@Slartibartfast if you were to pick one tall (either end) that has stood out who would you choose?

My take. Gawn, Laurie and Sharp sound short term and completed nearly all sessions pre Xmas. TC maybe slightly longer but again did most load pre Xmas. McAdam, Matthews, AMW, Mihocek - rehabbing last years problems Bowey, Viney, Henderson really the only new injuries where significant amounts of preseason missed. We would not want to add many more over next fortnight but to me it feels like a good amount of the likely best 26 have done most of the preseason thus far.

Opinion not knowledge. There is no possible way Viney plays round 1. I would be surprised if we see him even in the first month all going well. Maybe in his prime and with the prior coach but not in 2026. Bowey is the only big loss with a watch on Mihoceks recovery (seems to me more a tailored plan recovery for a mature ager). The rest appear short term, 2025 on the way return or not impacting likely best 26.

Good to hear Metha mentioned. When match sims are conducted where is Lindsay being positioned?

It won't surprise me if we do a better job of spreading the load but it is the main watch point for me.

He was top 15 in the league last season for score involvements. It is a decent gap to fill in a side wanting to score more.

Salem will have a massive year I reckon if he stays fit.

Agreed. Nothing stationary there. That's ball in motion footy. A slimmed down JVR is moving so much better.

6 win minimum. 8 wins the line. 10 wins my hope. King is inheriting a good list that got stale with some high quality kids to develop and some quality role playing recruits added to the mix. As I have stated in other threads the loss of 2025 McVee and 2025 Oliver (negated by Steele) is negligible. Trac is a heavy loss but structurally Mihocek if fit is a strong gain. List looks more balanced and if we get a decent injury run who knows. It will likely take time for a new gameplan to embed but we will also be very unpredictable to opposition planning.

Thanks for posting this. Have you forgotten Rivers? Like the positional flex and attack in that backline. Forwardline really lacks defensive pressure and crumbers,

As you know I was hot on him this time last year but whilst he dominated at Casey he did not get a fair look in by the old regime compared to some others. I hope he realises his best bet with his skillset is to duplicate the Miers style role at half forward. He now has a reset with a coach that has seen it up close and is on record of wanting to play smaller ahead of the ball and more attacking and instinctive in general. Agree 2026 is his best chance to earn and maintain a best 23 spot.

Thanks for validating my point. Lets check in at end of season to see. I assume you didn't rate ANB either? His workrate and pressure numbers are already elite for a high half forward and his disposal numbers are above average in a role where consistency in that area is difficult. Needs to increase his score involvements in 2026 which I suggest a less constrained game style will show quickly.

Culley 2. JVR 3. Lindsay to be the three to have the highest increase in consistent impact compared to last year. Special mention to Chandler who will start to get better recognition outside of just being a role player and Kentfield who at minimum will start consistently dominating at VFL.