Lil_red_fire_engine

I think there is wanting to play another role and being capable to play it. I would suspect Harmes was all for it at the start of 2019 but was not capable and lost all confidence. I sense from that interview he maybe also struggled in the hub (amplified by poor form I suspect). Of course then its natural that he be excited to get back to where he has played his best footy.

No rush to fill the spot. Other than maybe Hibbo I dont feel any of this is disrupting our likely start back 7.

There is no way that I can see that Brayshaw will have the kilometres in the legs compared to other players. I will be very surprised if he is there in the first month let alone round 1. Hibberd likely but I either way I feel Hunt will skip in front of him for a half back flank.

If we have low injuries surely we only take someone short term if Deakyn or Kobe actually show significant development. Otherwise are we not best to sit and wait and see how players who missed drafting perform in feeders comps and load on two mid year rather than wait until next years draft.

Maybe best I include a midfield :) Lever May Lockhart Rivers ATom Salem Langdon Oliver TMac Petracca Weid Spargo Pickett Brown Fritsch Gawn Melksham Viney Hunt Jackson ANB Jordon Laurie Smith Sparrow

Adjusting based on recent training reports and what I think we’ll see. Lever May Lockhart Rivers ATom Salem Langdon Oliver TMac Petracca Weid Spargo Pickett Brown Fritsch Hunt Jackson ANB Jordon Melksham Smith Sparrow My assumption that Brayshaw, Hibberd and Petty will not be 100% ready to roll round 1.

We need to consider that the return to standard quarters will see more likelihood of players rotating into the midfield than we saw in 2020. I would also be very surprised if we saw Brayshaw early in the season. Add to this Yze’s influence and our need to correct the stoppages bleeding we saw at times last year there will be new names. There is in my view 2 spots up for grabs rotating through the midfield as well as an open wing spot for round 1. I suspect the 2 mid spots will be between Harmes, Melksham, JJ, Sparrow with ANB a curveball addition. I suggest the most likely second winger at this stage is a TMac and Jackson combo.

It will be interesting to see where this lands, general points. Captaincy has additional requirements and attributes on top of what is needed to be in the leadership group. Anyone that leads people of 18-35 bracket in any environment these days will understand that now more than ever leadership requires different ways to get the best out of different folk. The leadership group is best serviced by a varied dynamic to “show the way” on field and track but to debate and connect with all types off ground and ensure diverse thought and action. It is preferable to have designated leaders across the ground but should not be manufactured. Example Brown can lead and direct the forward line on match day without being in the leadership group. Being a good player and years of service or maturity does not make some one eligible to be part of it. Nor is suited or wanted by all., I dont feel Gawn failed as a captain last year I feel he learnt what is required in his first year on the job which could not have been more difficult. Structure for me should be Captain Gawn, VC May, DVC Trac. Thought struggle to see them not include Viney.

I see Picketts role to create opportunities through pressure acts and ground balls. He is not going to be a high volume possession getter nor are many in this type of role. It is also not unusual to look back at players in this role being a touch off in their first year seizing opportunities, which he was. The key for me is how many times he was at the right spot as well as how many times he was at the right spot in multiple points of a possession chain. It is worth looking at for his first year his average pressure acts and ground ball gets against others in similar roles. Note I have excluded Cameron and Papley who I would suggest play more as leading forwards not pressure forwards. He is no guaranteed elite but for a first year he was above average in both and certainly has good numbers to become an elite in that role at minimum as he builds his endurance and strength.. Pickett; Pressure Acts 14.9, Ground Ball Gets 4.1, shots at goal total 26 D Rioli; 14.5, 2.9 , 23 Tippa; 14.3, 3.4, 32 Butters; 13.1, 5.1, 18 Butler; 16.3, 2.6, 45

If you consider the fact of Olivers age and Trac only recently joining the midfield mix its not like they have had years of maturity together to gel. This is why we are coming into our window now as this is when players who may be good individually start to mature and gel into team first footy. As far as free agency Kelly, Merrett and Laird in that order should be our targets.

They will either get on board or you will see some very different midfield combinations to limit the time all three are in there together.

This bolded is the key.

There is spin and there is fact. The facts seem to be Petty, Hibberd and Gus are the only players to have missed a main session ignoring Vanders stuck in NSW. Let’s compare these facts to facts on Carlton from the AFL website this week.. Docherty trained away from the main group. Curnow, Betts, Marchbank and Silvagni did not train. Newman, Mackay, Gibbons, Martin, DeKoning, Williamson and Kemp are on modified programs. Who knows if they are running PBs, hitting targets or improved their game plan knowledge but I know which one is the preferred position particularly with a shortened preseason preparation.

Thanks. Most sides have a turnover of 3-5 of their best 22 in a given year. Rather than play it safe I have tried to crystal ball what we might try and address from a game style but also with our influx of improved speed and kicking and a return to longer quarters and season. Historically I feel we have been a side with too many flankers and inside mid and not the right balance of mids, mediums, smalls and talls with balanced games. I feel we are starting to get that right list wise and also maintain some flexibility without having to make weekly changes.

Lever May Smith Rivers Petty Salem Langdon Petracca Harmes Laurie Weid Melksham Fritsch Brown Pickett Gawn Oliver Viney Bowey Jackson Brayshaw Hunt Tmac Jordon Hibberd

The 5 players we need to have the biggest impact in 2021. 1. May 2. Trac 3. Oliver 4. Brown 5. Langdon The 5 players we want to have the most improved impact in 2021. 1. Lever 2. Brown 3. Brayshaw 4. Pickett 5. TMac/Weid

I wont be surprised on the basis that the second wing role is clearly the most open role for contention in our starting 18 with no clear front runner.

In my view mostly mediocre teams win games with match day decisions. It’s usually the excuse for why an upset occurs. The good to great teams just play their way better for longer, week in week out and have players crystal clear in their role. I would argue Hardwick is not a much better match day coach, he hardly makes any moves unless out of necessity. The team just play their style of footy better for longer. Aside from Cairns we started to have a clearer view of what we wanted to do and started to settle on who did it where. For too long last year we heard we were unsure of our best set up, this lack of confidence to back a set up really hurt us. The year before, injuries and interrupted preseasons robbed us of having fit players to execute our best set up. As others have mentioned we need to be clear how we want to play, put players in the role they are best suited, train them in it and back it in. The quicker its engrained the more chance we have as the list has the quality and maturity to deploy it better for longer more often than not.

Only Melbourne supporters would be making excuses or being panicky 3 months out from a game. Freo are a well coached improving outfit but if we have the pre season we expect with the list that we have then we win this well. No excuses. And on Jackson if you were he or the club how many years would you extend for to maximise your value either way.

This is clearly an article that does not know want to answer its own question.Its not asking who has been the most consistent, durable, dependable it has asked who is your best. Take all we’ve had over that time at the top of their game and do a school yard pick and I double many would choose Jones to start their midfield. Oliver for me on the basis of consistency of high quality output. However one more season of Trac 2020 and that would also shift.

Agree Rivers, Pickett and LJ based on last year look like locks and Bowey and Laurie appear to fill deficiencies. However its worth remembering that unlike last year it is intended to play standard length quarters for a standard length season. We should not underestimate the toll this will have on players in their first and second preseasons.

I don't get how this is about Richmond. We had a pick in the draft and we chose to pass. We could have taken him if we rated him high enough. He is training at Richmond but if we have an interest we have a pick in the SSP before them. Who knows if we asked him to train on with us but at least someone has and if we think he is worthy he should be gettable.

Didn’t we draft and start him at half back and then moved him mid due to limited involvement? I agree if he is going to make it with us then he needs to show worth on a flank. Granted first port needs to be confirmation of his position on the list.

I would give him a one year deal,. He will be a third year player who was initially light and speculative. He has great speed and endurance and plays a role which we lack depth in. He just needs to put on a bit of muscle, clean up his kicking and build his confidence, Whilst he did not do much in his two games he showed glimpses of quality defensive pressure. I particularly recall a defensive play that used his speed that got the ball to Koz.