Lil_red_fire_engine

6. Trac 5. Petty 4. Gawn 3. Bowey 2. Lindsay 1. TMac

Also add the fact they have played one game and we are first up. HarpenDees post should be pinned to the top of the GameDay thread and anyone who posts forced to read and accept their understanding before they can pass :) Cant wait to get to game time. Lots of rain in Melbourne and not looking like it will clear fully. Cant decide if that's a good or bad thing for our chances. Keen to see the debutants and all having a serious attacking and defensive crack for 4 quarters. Go Dees.

ANB also knew how to find the ball (16 possessions a game) from a flank and defend (5 tackles a game) across 176 games. Also possibly the most astute role player in the AFL to the point that multiple teams did studies with their like players on his application to role to try and replicate. Sharp I like but it was his disposal and inability to accumulate that had him on the fringe of a strong Brisbane side. I rate Sharps potential but I will take the proven form of 176 mostly under rated games.

Really. WOW.

I really hope not. He has not shown enough in what I saw of him in the Nth game and then not played against Freo. You are not setting him up for success having him debut against Taylor, Buckley and Himmelberg in a red hot first game. It also I assume means no AJ (unless Turner misses) and that likely leaves us with JVR post back spasm having to ruck at times. It just does not set Jeffo or us up for success in my opinion.

I LOVE the bit I have bolded so much.

We historically struggle against fast sides who play the corridor with run and apply manic pressure when they dont have it. Couple that with our ability to then under pressure dump kick to quality interceptors when they have Taylor this will be a challenge. Hopefully we name a fit and fast side and play smaller at both ends. Win the contest and manage their swarm then we are a good chance as long as we lead early. Coming up round 1 against a team who have already got a true game of match fitness under their belt will hurt us in the last.

There was plenty of good and plenty of indifferent against a team that is top quality that has recently had the wood on us. I don't think I am stating anything new but gathering my own thoughts. Our 3 headed contest beast of Clarry, Trac, Viney was back and dominant. Great to see Clarry also spend some time resting forward and kick goals. That combo with Sparrow and Langdon (was good) and Pickett (when back) spinning through will provide head aches. Our lack of speed forwards are a real concern not just early in season without Pickett but it will hamper our ability to play him more mid. Chandler has been a ghost both matches and I was surprised we did not play Sharp more forward than mid like he did against Nth. I would be champing at the bit if I was Henderson or Spargo as there are spots for the taking. It was disappointing that our best performers were generally the same old names. I thought Lindsay was the pick of the new and AJ did some good work and should have kicked 3. He needs to take those chances if he wants to play. I was disappointed Langford did not get more mid minutes as he looked lost spending so much time half forward but conscious his minutes in the heat were very managed. Adams I thought was excellent from a negating stance and would not be opposed to playing him ahead of Howes whose kicking and lack of speed concerns me. I think a healthy season to our midfeld bulls +Gawn/May will have us around the finals mark. How much higher we climb will be on the development of others and whether we can land the new game style and how long that takes.

Great to see some fast, clean, exciting attacking footy. Just a shame its not us. Not much to love. They look like they dont know how to move the ball and second guessing just makes it slow and stagnant. Too many players that slow the play through fumbling (Sparrow) or indecision (Billing) as examples.

I think Rivers needs to play defence without Judd and AMW.

I really want us to trial AJ as forward ruck against Fremantle to see how it looks and whether his value is also there forward. Doing it against Fremantle with Reidy/Jackson will be a worthy test. I am starting to think the McVee and AMW injuries may force our hand to temporarily shift Rivers back into defence. Wee are looking thin there and Howes did not do enough to lock a spot yesterday. Other key points that I am unsure of yet. Wings are still up for grabs but likely a Billings, Taj, Lindsay rotation like yesterday. Who takes the speed forward roles aside from Sharp. No round 1 Koz and Chandler any lacked impact yesterday.I would like to see Kynan given more than a 1 quarter run to see what he can bring to it across 4 quarters. If I had to pick it now. More likely won’t be surprised to see Henderson get a run there next week and impavt and sneak a round spot. As it stands and based on who Chaplain said would be available next week if I had to pick round 1 for next week. Backs Bowey May Lever HB Salem Petty Windsor C Billings Oliver Lindsay HF Trac Turner Sharp F Chandler Van Rooyen Fritsch R Gawn Langdon Viney IC Langford Rivers Johnson Sparrow Sub Woewodin Em Campbell McDonald Howes

Adams showed some really well timed spoils (has good closing speed). Gave away a silly fifty. He was only noticeably beaten once that I saw. I think he will develop further this year as the key back at VFL but did not look out of p[lace today.

AMW injury aside that’s what you want from an initial hit out. We rolled over them the longer the game went and with 50% of our best 18 watching on. Sharp and Langford I suggest stepped closest to a round 1 lock. Laurie (lacks pressure), Jefferson (lacks any ability to contest) and likely controversially TMac (cost us 3 goals in the first half) all stepped further away from a round 1 chance. Plenty of others were in between. Our backline lacks structure without May to Marshall it. Sharp aside our speed forwards were invisible. Koz good when in midfield and a fair effort cameo from Kynan in the last was the next best. Van Rooyens 4 goals and AJ’s cameo in the last really wants me to see us play AJ forward and as relief ruck again Freo. The man loves contact and looks like he has mobility and ball smarts to go with it. Roo can negate in the middle but we lack inside forward 50 once he relieves,

Welcome Jack. Per the SSP contenders thread he was my preference based on list need and ability to impact short and medium term. Is too good not to be given an AFL chance. Reminds me a lot of Kane Lambert in how he plays.

Welcome Jack.

We are going into season with Oliver, Trac and Viney to play the main roles as normal. Plus we have a want to give Rivers and Langdon significant minutes in there. Plus we want to rotate Sparrow, Pickett and Langford through there. Unless we get hit with serious injuries again (which is not the current case) how do we think. Culley gets a game. Culley by all reports should be on an AFL list but is it ours? We have lost McAdam and Tholstrup for significant stretches of the year. Spargo is coming from a long way back. Pickett is out for the first 3 and we want him spinning through the middle. We have a gaping hole for a small forward (or two) on the list. I can see that George does some good things but I doubt he is ready for 4 quarter AFL intensity. I would be offering the spot to Jack Henderson before West Coast pounce. He may not have the upside of George but is proven at VFL and more match hardened in my opinion. We looked at him closely with the pick we took AJ with so would not surprise.

Interesting but how would this work? To my knowledge he is not injured and is contracted for the year.

You can not replace Koz but Kynan is at the top of queue to fill the role in my opinion. Has repeat speed, naturally pressures and has good drop of the ball smarts. By all he’s reports having a cracking 2nd preseason which I suggest will be rewarded.

I am confused how you can have Lindsay in the side when he has been in rehab pretty much all preseason so far and if I understand comments wont join full training til end of January. What do you base this on? Unrelated, I love Melksham and think he will offer fantastic depth and assist player development but if he is in the side more than a handful of times this year (even as sub) our list has not developed and I doubt we are playing finals. We must start to see up and coming players pass him by,

I love that your side recognises we will make change this season rather than rolling out the same players in same possies. I’m interested whether your bench is just next best or what roles you see Woewodin, Turner, Melksham playing. Noting I have not been to training but I suspect Sharp and Kynans speed and endurance combos will see them well in contention for bench and sub spots.

Thanks for those providing updates and insight. Can someone advise any obvious shifts in players in the forwards, mids and backs groupings. Particularly interested in where Petty and Fullerton were grouped but any other observations appreciated.

Howes being he is out of contract. Oliver to give us the greatest impact. Sparrow if he wants to remain in the best 22. Jefferson to prove the doubters wrong.

Welcome AJ. Our tall forwards were about to be led in age by 22 year old Disco Turner. Selecting a mature in body and age tall with a touch of mongrel and upside I can see the sense in it. Also as others have said I doubt now he has his chance he’ll die wondering.

Welcome Xavier. Smooth mover with polish. Love that we have taken two lefties.

Welcome Harvey. Size, run and inside/outside polish.