Lil_red_fire_engine

5. D Pearce 4. L Mithen 3. T Harris 2. E West 1. T Hanks

The dogs are not tall. If Keith misses even less so. I also think early in season you are better to play with more run (as not match fit) and less height (as key positions lack touch). Unsure what that means yet but would not be surprised if this dictates what we do with players 19-23 in the team.

Going half baked and playing some pretty disrespectful Hollywood footy. I hope they dont think they can just switch it on in a couple of weeks.

I decided not to go tonight for the same reason.

5. MIthen 4. Paxman 3. L Pearce 2. Heath 1. Gay

I know it was the premiers vs the wooden spooners but our clean hands, sharp feet and speed of ball movement is unheard of at this time of year for any side. Joel Smiths performance and Benny Browns continued improvement with a big preseason were the key factors other than the standards we now expect from Gawn, Clarry et al. Rivers and Bowey were underwhelming and both would want an improved effort against the Blues to lock themselves in round 1. Chandler aside from 2 goals just has no impact and does not have the manic defence or link up class of Nibbler, Kozzie or Spargo.

5. Harris 4. Paxman 3. West 2. D Pearce 1. Birch

Both of them were much loved and of high skill and impact on their day. Both of them were highly regarded juniors who for different and varying reasons did not get the most out of themselves. We are not the team we have become without May at one end and Fritsch at the other neither of which happens without these trades. Easy for Hogan to say he regrets the move when he has watched us win the premiership and the negligible impact he has had on the field since. Who wouldn’t regret. I wish him all the best at the Giants and hope like other seriously talented players he finds a way to get the best out of himself professionally and personally.

If he was still with us we would not be premiers. The trading of both Hogan and Watts has been key to both cultural change and incoming player outcomes.

5. Hanks 4. L Pearce 3. Mithen 2. Harris 1.Paxman

Oliver aside (who seems leaner and faster than 2021) Jimmy J in everything.

The errant bounce I feel was the implied pressure that he was about to get Kozzie’d.

The chest out jump for the ball, clean clunk and the little strut as he got back up reminded me of a young Hogan.

5 L Pearce 4 T Hanks 3 T Harris 2 Fitzsimon 1 Colvin

Great post and comments all round. Whilst Rosman is and Howes will be developed as wingers I still think outside run needs more depth. This is probably validated by us retaining Baker for a further season. With TMac, Weid and JVR we have options of varying experience for the roaming tall forward role but not really for the long ball other than Brown and Majak as plan B. LJ may fit either but who knows where he will land as he develops. Another long ball tall forward should be on the radar as they take time to develop and can be hit and miss. I can see Gawn playing the role more as he ages and still would not be surprised to see Petty play time there at some stage in his career. Mid sized leading forwards is our biggest gap for mine. If Fritsch goes down we are really lacking in this area other than the veteran Melksham (M Brown at a stretch). Howes may develop here and Trac can play that role when forward but we are lacking.

5. Hore 4. McNamara 3. Paxman 2. Hanks 1. Harris

3. Zanker 2. Hanks 1. L Pearce

I suggest Tomlinson will not be a round 1 option and they will take their time. Assuming this Hunt, Rivers, Joel Smith and Hibberd are competing for the same 2 spots which are built around defend first and rebound second. They all have enough height to play on the mid sized forwards but also be accountable on the true smalls subject to forward set ups. For mine Rivers is already set and will likely only get better, fitter, stronger. Really it is a toss up between Hunt, J Smith and Hibbo in my view for D7. Bowey and Salo are there as accountable distributors but are more likely to mind the true smalls as part of their roles. Rivers can also fit this role based on set up or rotation. Once ready, if Tomlinson gets back to the form he showed early I can see he and Petty play the two key defensive posts allowing May to roll into the Hunt, Rivers, Hibberd mix. Lever will just always be Lever. This assumes all are available at all times (unlikely) and also that we dont see a bolter ie: Turner, Smith, Howes develop from outside this group. What great problems to have :)

Go you Lil Red Fire Engine.

Mackie played 280 games, was All Australian and played in 3 premierships. You are certainly aiming high with our pick 39.

Every way you read the phantom drafts and x player rising in calculations means someone needs to be sliding the other way. Whichever way you cut it there appears to be an abundance of smooth moving mids/flanks which appears to be our best need unless we strongly rate a young tall. With what’s available we know JTs track record over nailing it is second to none.

A strong preseason for all will make it hard for other teams to close the gap with our outside 22 depth and scope for improvement in the youngsters on our list. Dogs will be there about again obviously and ignore the GF they had our measure at other points in season. I see a fit Richmond with some youth injected, injury free Giants and potential growth from Essendon as the most likely to contend,

Great to see Dunstan on Channel 9 news tonight doing weights and fitness sessions with Gawn and Gus. Will give himself every chance to break in in 2022 and prove the saints wrong.

Super proud of the little red fire engine. Cant wait to see how far his potential can take him with multiple preseasons of strength and endurance. His composure on the big stage and the significant improvement in his defensive aspects so quickly astounds me.

Good to see that we are decisive and swift in our actions in the trade period still post Josh Mahoney. We target what we want to do and execute efficiently without haggling over a couple of draft spots. I dont care for the trading out of next years draft. Keep doing it and next year never comes :)