Lil_red_fire_engine

Scratch Max Hall, being reported about to sign a multi year deal to stay with Saints.

Derkson sounds likely now out of contract. Behind Taylor, Buckley, Himmelberg and Aleer (can play just needs opportunity) Ash Johnson a hard no. Coleman would be a pipe dream is only in VFL as he recovers from injury. I suggest he will be in side before season finsihes. Rosas should be on our radar. Speed, pressure, wins inside ball and kicks goals. Change will be good. Whilst we are at Suns we should target Alex Davies if we move on Oliver. Showed on weekend that he has inside bull winning abilities and also has class (30 possessions at 83% efficiency and 10 tackles). I would also look to target Max Hall from StKilda who is out of contract and may be able to be stolen with a better contract. Hard and clean and has really elevated his game recently with midfield minutes. I hope/assume we have some bigger plays up our sleeves but I suggest realistically they will be hard for us to get ahead of others. Just like clubs picked off some of our extended list in our stronger period there is nothing wrong with doing the same to others and doesnt mean they dont add value to your best 23. Look at Jordon, Bedford, Harmes and Wagner as current examples.

Jeffo, Kenfield and Adams all with another preseason will offer us quality options to build on at AFL level. You can see the difference a month at AFL level has provided for Jeffo at VFL level. He has been dominant and should have 4-5 goals. Kolt showing the natural hunting instincts of an inside mid with some defensive intent. Just build his VFL level midfield game for the rest of the year. That will hold him in better stead for 2026 than being subbed on and off as a half forward at AFL level.

If I don’t see Langdon stuck to Wanganeen-Milera from the first bounce to the final siren then it will be the final straw for me in attempting to understand what Goodwin is doing.

Nothing wrong with the outs. Jefferson has just been exposed to AFL for 4 consecutive games. Nothing wrong with him going back and working hard at Joie next opportunity. Howes is deservedly in but Spargo over any of Billings, Culley or Laurie and Petty forward vs AJ or Luker. You need to reward players for current form not historical value.

It would be difficult not to play AJ this week. He was off the charts yesterday and looked a different level player post ankle clean up.

We are selecting with 2026 list and style in mind and balancing being competitive not just playing kids for kids sake. TMac going out allowed Turner to go back and he has blossomed. It will be interesting this week to see with Lever out and Petty available what happens with TMac though.

In: May, Howes Out Lever, Sparrow Rivers to rotate through midfield/half forward with Viney. Lindsay as sub. Petty to get a full game in at Casey.

4 quarter performances 6 Langford 5 Melksham 4 Gawn Cant ignore their impact across the last 3 quarters 3 Petracca 2 Fritsch 1 Salem

We are winning more out of depth of talent than effort. We would want to start this quarter strong as they are playing with better energy than us. Jeffo starting to show some signs. Kolt not so much.

They're playing up at stoppage but not at CBAs. The challenge for me isnt the kids not playing through the middle The issue is Petracca, Oliver and Viney are also there. On a positive note Langford is a jet and Jefferson is showing a bit even though not suited to a second tall role.

I am ready to admit that I do not understand what Goodwin is trying to do to set us up for success in 2026.

Salem refusing to go hard enough for another red time goal. Petracca inability to hit targets. Oliver rolling through the middle like its a park run. Fritsch the same inside 50. McKercher this weeks half back play maker we refuse to pick up. We only look like any go when Pickett is around the ball but we continue to persevere with Oliver, Petracca and Viney on the ball 80% of the time. Losings ok if you try different things but expecting difference with the same rubbish week in week out is frustrating.

How this helps his midfield development is beyond me.

We just need to find a spot for Howes in the AFL team for the rest of the year. He has gone passed this level and now needs AFL continuity. Put Rivers midfield permanently and free McVee to attack off half back and let him take Judds more defensive role. Otherwise move Salem mid/forward or to Casey. Alternately roll him through high half forward where he played as a junior. Mentha, Kentfield and Adams are all very promising and will be in great shape with another preseason. Adams should be given a look in before years end for his development. I would persevere with Verrall for another year but he needs to improve his tank and find ways to add value when not at stoppage. I am worried he is too small to ruck next level. Unfortunately the rest I am afraid are all passed their best or not up to it. Though I would not be against giving Mitch Hardie the last spot on our 2026 list even though he will be 28.

I will feel great comfort when this is official but he seems a level headed kid with no strong state based pull. Then consider the team in your home state who is interested took 5 picks in 2021 without taking you then passed with their final rookie pick whilst you were still on the table. Versus the club that backed you in with the 81st pick and have developed you into 50+ games and on your way to 200+ There would surely be a bit each way of Repay The Faith and Stick it up em

It’s hard to judge Kolt, being his interrupted preseason and he looks like he needs to mature mentally. I dont think we are currently developing him in the best way either. He has not been brought into the side at any point on strong VFL form and then we wonder why he does not perform. I suggest he should be sent back to Casey and played in the midfield to develop his game. He still needs a few full preseasons to know where he stands.

6 May 5 Pickett 4 Melksham 3 Rivers 2 Turner 1 Viney

In Kentfield Windsor Laurie Out Jefferson Sharp Fritsch If Fritsch is not omitted something is seriously wrong.

We should sub Fritsch at the break and send him to Casey for the rest of the season.

What was the difference in the first 12 minutes? Pickett in the middle. What then happened Viney went in. When will we learn. We also started to play too safe and slow out of half back after making a few blues. They just need to keep backing themselves and go again.

Salems best game of the year in my opinion he played in the middle. Chandlers best game of the year in my opinion he rotated midfield and wing. Neither of them have been seen in the pivot since we attempted to resurrect 2021 with Petracca Oliver and Viney time and time again.

This is not at all surprising. He plays safe footy in every meaning of the word safe. Its a real shame Sestan got injured when he did as I am very keen to see him trialled back half of the year in half back place of Salem and/or Rivers. He is a high quality kick at varied distances who takes chances that open the field.

But it’s important that a captain is in the best 22 and more importantly on the list. I am not convinced we can be sure of either with Lever in 2026. I suggest unless he doesn’t want it that Gawn goes again in 2026 but with 3-4younger players in the leadership group with him. I would suggest they should come from Rivers, Chandler, Petty, Sparrow but I think all of them need to show further on field potential.

Yep Morris and Freijah are the ones everyone missed. They are also the only two I would be confident will have better careers than Kolt. The issue for mine isn’t that we took Kolt its that we traded up for the privilege when unlikely he would be gone later and in a draft that has generally looked pretty middling thus far otherwise.