Deespicable

Given what happened last time we played them, we have to make sure we don't underestimate what they can do. Thankfully Yeo is still likely to be out so stopping Harley and Elijah Hewett will be key along with nullifying Liam Baker's infuence. I thought Goody made some clever moves late against the Tigers, resting Gawn and May to preserve them along with making sure Lindsay, Langford and Kolt weren't in danger of burnout. In so doing, it should have highlighted the need to have at least one more tall in our line up - sure we got away with against Fremantle when we lost Turner and we got away with it against Richmond because we had such a healthy lead and we might get away with it against the Eagles, but it's certainly not the right way of doing things when we come up against the good sides in the next few weeks. And it's not fair on Gawny to expect him to have to be everywhere and keep presenting. The Eagles have two rucks and Flynn will definitely try and maul him and Jack Williams has a huge leap and looks promising. They also have a dangerous forward in Waterman and Gov is still a gun, albeit an old one. And Harry Edwards adds to their wealth of height, even if they lack a bit of talent. So it's time Goodwin looked after Gawny and if the big fella tells him that playing two rucks doesn't work, then he just has to ask himself what's his midfield going to look like without an injured Gawny. And what's mega frustrating is that Tom Campbell was so impressive all pre-season and it counted for nothing because we keep fearing another another Gawndy scenario. But the problem with Gawndy was that Gawn came first and played ruck when Grundy can only play one position and it ain't forward. What we need to do is start TC and then sub him out at three quarter time. Thankfully now we have all seen Fullarton and Jefferson (first two weeks) in action so that we don't have to ever play them again until they have muscled up. It's not a crime if they can't - some guys just don't have the bodies and physicality to make the AFL. I think we all have now seen enough of Harry Sharp that we can say that his light frame also doesn't allow him to break tackles or stick them well enough. He's a great runner and maybe there will be a game or two in weeks to come where he can tag someone, but as a small forward/wingman he's limited. It's time for Goody to move on this one. In: Turner if fit (JVR if not), TC, Melksham Out: Fullarton, Sharp and one of the teenagers (rested and told they will play against Hawthorn a week later). B: Bowey May T.Mac HB: Rivers Turner Salem C: Windsor Viney Lindsay/Langford HF: Chandler Langdon Fritsch F: Spargo Petty Gawn Ru: Campbell Petracca Pickett Int: McVee, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Oliver, Melksham (sub)

6 Gawn - marked cleanly all night and as soon as he sat down late, we conceded four goals. Good to see Fullarton play in the ruck and clearly that's not going to work because he doesn't have the body strength to play there. 5 Trac - stupidly bombed it long a few times, but our most dangerous player all night. 4 Bowey - another clever game from the little master. Definitely a SC special and aside from Gawn, our only player in AA contention at this point. 3 Sparrow - sure Viney laid more tackles than him, but I thought his were more important and he had 16 touches and a goal. Viney had 19 touches and his 10 kicks were all long and intercepted. 2 Rivers - with 28 touches and 12 marks, he provided lots of run from down back. But you have to wonder if he and Salem realise that the high-risk play through the middle also comes with the highest reward. Because I can't remember them once taking the game on in that regard. 1 Salem - a couple of late howlers, but he clocked up the stats down back with what I suspect was a career-high 34 disposals and 13 marks. As with Rivers made sure that 95 per cent of the time we went down the wings.

I actually felt we had six phenomenal contributors today and a lot of very good role players outside the big six. The order of the big six can vary a bit, depending on your view of what factors win matches, but here goes from me. 6 Bowey - I don't think i have seen a better defensive first half from any Demon in a long time. He tackled with intent, he kicked with outstanding vision and compiled 21 touches to halftime. He's been in our best two players all year and i'd now say he is in the All-Australian mix (yes laugh if you like, but his past month has been at a new level. The challenge now for him is to back it up. 5 Kozzie - Our matchwinner with five goals and plenty of clearances. Elusive and dangerous and more effective than Bolton. I reckon he'd get the 3 Brownlow votes from this game, but I'd be really disappointed if Goody didn't give his five coaches award votes to Bowey. 4 Viney - yes I was one who wanted him moved out of the middle to play ANB's role this week because his kicking has been bog ordinary. Part of that was because Ed was the only player I could see keeping up with Serong. But it was Ed who was moved into ANB's spot and Viney went head to head with Serong and returned to his 2018 finals form. 3 Gawn - yes he missed two shots at goal and his opponent Darcy kicked a couple, but big Max won the hitouts and dished off a few very clever over the top handballs that allowed Trac and Kozzie to break free from the middle. He also marked beautifully all game and I'd be surprised if his disposal efficiency isn't mega high. Great game from the big fells and a huge presence in the last term. 2 Petty - Wow, we haven't had a genuine forward since his game against Geelong at the MCG last year and this was better than that because most of his work was from the goalsquarre. He beat Pearce and Draper all game, whether it be leading up or just pushing them out in a marking contest. Will play at FF for the rest of the season now, but here's the thing Goody, there will be a game or three when someone has his measure and it is OK to switch him. That's the role of the coach. 1 T-Mac - apologies that he only got one vote because you couldn't help but admire the work he did all day on Treacy, who apart from Hogan, is the league's most in-form forward. In fact the only time T-Mac got beaten was by his brother Oscar on a lead. T-mac was clever with his disposal and just so aerially dominant. Normally his game would have been a 6-voter.

Wow, how depressing. Coming up against a Freo side that has a bunch of mega quick small forwards plus a key target in Treacy and who have a well planned defensive system where they chip and switch before going forward. They also have won their past three against us at the MCG - remember how they ended our run in 2022. Here's what Goody could try: 1) Mix up his zone defence with an actual man-on-man defence - perhaps start each quarter in a man, then switch to zone at 10min mark once players tire. 2) Take Viney out of the middle rotation, where he continually bombs it long to a contest, and play him as a hard tackling small forward - our current trio of small forwards (Henderson, Spargo and Sharp) combined for one tackle last week! And while we are at it, get your best tackler from the VFL (Kynan Brown) in the side. 3) Send JVR to defence - we've all been saying he's out of form since Rd 2, but Goody keeps persisting - maybe it's time to try something different. 4) Rejig the forward line. Unfortunately at least one of Trac and Kozzie has to start near the goal square - that worked reasonably well in Adelaide. They are our only players who look remotely dangerous up there. And Chandler needs to go back up there as well - his smarts and discipline could come in handy as Jordan Clark is likely to play on him and he provides a heap of their run. 5) Think about match-ups. Sparrow has to go to Brayshaw - he's too good not to have a hard tag. Olly has to take Young as he's not fit enough to take Serong or Brayshaw. A decision has to be made on who plays on Serong and my own view is that Ed is our only player capable of keeping up with him. That means Rivers or Bowey has to take Ed's right-side wing. T-Mac has to play on Treacy. McVee has to go to Shai Bolton and Windsor has to play on Frederick - their two quickest players with our two quickest defenders. Amiss likes to lead up all the time, so JVR's extra pace is perfect for him. Put Lindsay on Murphy Reid - he loves playing on his U18 buddies and if that means Salem has to play on that left-side wing so be it - at least we get our best low-kicking player nearer goal. 6) Actually drop a few players. It's amazing what non-selection does to fire up players. At very least Spargo, Henderson and Sharp have to go (I'm sorry but as small forwards they have not been effective) and Melky should be sent to the sub role. If JVR isn't playing back, then he also has to go and get his confidence back in the VFL. 7) Stop worrying about which group your players have trained in. Just about all of them are smart enough to get the intricacies of playing certain types of roles and you are allowed to move players around on the magnet board - even mid game. Out: Spargo, Henderson, Sharp and possibly May (injured). In: Brown, McVee, Fullarton (yes I know Goody doesn't rate him, but he has to play to give Gawny a cut out and he looks extremely fit at the moment) and Turner (if May is out). Start in a man-on-man format. Switch to zone after 10 mins. B: McVee McDonald May (or Turner) HB: Bowey JVR Windsor C: Rivers Langdon Salem HF: Petty Viney Fritsch F: Pickett Petracca Chandler Ru: Gawn Oliver Sparrow Int: Langford, Brown, Fullarton, Lindsay, Melksham (sub)

6 Langdon - our best by miles to half time and one of the few who had time and space and figured out that if your coach has picked the smallest forward line in history then you better keep your kicks low. 5 Gawn - has difficulty with Draper but kept working hard. A couple of bad howlers late though but you have to wonder why others didn’t realise the urgency. 4 Petracca - plenty of inside 50s but not quite enough polish to be a match winner. 3 Salem - as with Langdon kept the ball low all night which when you have four guys under 6ft up forward is smart. 2 Bowey - he’s really smooth this year, shame our forwards and game plan aren't. 1 Pickett - looked dangerous unlike the rest of the side.

With regards JVR, the Lever long-term injury combined with Petty's failure to play a significant role down back means that there is now a spot for him to find form down back and also provide a more mobile tall defensive player down back. Petty's problem for some time has been his inability to make quick decisions when he gets a mark or a free. Instead he kills any quick movement and invariably opts for the long bomb. We need a vibrant intercept player with a bit of pace and an attacking mindset and I think JVR can do that. But my guess is that Goody will now opt for Jed Adams to replace Petty. Adams has improved heaps but he is not a quick attacking tall, he's more a good option to replace T-Mac or May when they get injuries. As to the Rd 1 super six debutants (five plus first MFC game for Sharp), Goody defintely had options rather than rushing in all of them. Lawrie had trained well all summer and was overlooked and is a similar sort of player to Henderson, who had trained for three weeks. The same could be said of Brown, who was fit but overlooked. Then there was the option of playing our other impressive pre-season performer in Tom Campbell instead of blooding both Aidan Johnson and Jefferson in the one game. It's great that Goody liked the look of the kids, but not all of them had to play Rd 1 and in a close game the decision backfired.

I find it depressing thinking about this game, so imagine how flat the players and coaching staff must be. It's hard to know whether Goody's gameplan is at fault, but clearly our mids just don't seem to lower their eyes and make the right decisions with their forward entries and just as clearly, our forwards don't lead up to the ball like they should - JVR is the biggest offender on that score, given he is actually quite quick yet was constantly playing from behind against Geelong. I was quite excited pre-season with our plan to run the ball quickly out of defence and through the centre in transition, but our poor kicking and failure to quicly get back has meant that plan looks ridiculous. But I hope we give it one last shot against the weaker Essendon line-up before putting it to the scrapheap if it again doesn't work. But there will need to be a few tweaks. Firstly Ed Langdon looked brilliant pre-season in the middle, yet as soon as the season started was banished to the outer wing. We need his run through the middle for our plan to work. And with Kossie now there as well, we will have pace to trouble sides. Of course it still needs Olly and Trac to win clearances and play hard defence, but it's time to move Viney out of our midfield set up because he is just spraying his kicks, even when he has time. Given his grunt work, he's the perfect fit to play high half-forward like Nibbler. And he has to be down the spine, where the chance of him laying a hard game-changing tackle are highest. The plan to use Windsor out of the backline is a winner, but it will be even better when McVee returns because Judd can take the quickest and most dangerous small forward. Hopefully he's back for Bolton against Freo. Clearly Goody's initial plan of blooding six players has backfired and it's time to send two of them to the VFL to gain confidence like they should have done in Rd 1. Jack Henderson had only been at the club three weeks when he was rushed in for Rd 1 and after four games and two goals and 11.5 disposals a game, it's time to let him get his confidence back - embarrassing as it must be for Taylor and Goody who pushed him up like he was Phil Carman. Harry Sharp has kicked three goals but is averaging just nine disposals and has struggled to find targets - he also needs to now go and regroup in the VFL. I'd also say the same for Charlie Spargo who desperately needed a few games in the VFL after nearly two years out with injury. The trio are also there to provide forward pressure - did anyone notice any such thing on Friday night. Aside from those three, I'd certainly be sending Harry Petty back to the VFL with clear instructions that he has to make quicker, smarter decisions when he gets it. And he has to start reading the play better. And if you want to make a statement then leave out JVR who is averaging 8 disposals and has just four goals, although to be honest I'd send him down back to try and get some easy early grabs and regain confidence before swinging him forward late in the game. But they don't do that nowadays so I'd send him back to the VFl to learn his craft and regain confidence. And before someone says it, please please please don't rush Jefferson straight back in. He's had a taste of AFL now, but he now needs to really dominate a VFL game before being thrown again to the wolves again and he should be told that if he lays more than two tackles, he is a monte for another game. That's five out and hopefully both Lever and Lindsay are back. Laurie also deserves his spot after a big pre-season. So does Fullarton, who we all know is not a Goody favourite, but he should be given a crack at it - he doesn't have to produce big numbers to match JVR's return at the moment. And I also think it's time to give Kynan Brown a real go and not starting on the bench. You have to reward the high-tacklers in the VFL, otherwise you lose intensity and interest. And if Lindsay isn't fit, then it's time to give serious consideration to Sestan. Out: Sharp, Henderson, Spargo, Petty, JVR In: Lever, Fullarton, Laurie, Brown, Lindsay B: Bowey May Lever HB: Windsor McDonald Salem C: Lindsay Sparrow (hard tag on Merrett) Chandler HF: Turner Viney Fritsch F: Fullarton Petracca (mid/fwd) Brown Ru: Gawn Langdon Pickett Int: Oliver (mid), Melky (fwd), Langford (mid/fwd), Rivers (def) Sub: Laurie

6 May - aside from that shocking smothered kick howler early, he was prominent all game. Marked well and generally kicked well. Getting older though - no longer sprightly with ground balls. 5 T.Mac - as with May, our only chance of someone taking a clean mark and I can't remember any errant disposals. And anyone who thinks Lever should come in for him next week has rocks in their head. By contrast our third wheel down back Petty clearly should spend a long stint in the magoos. 4 Chandler - gees this guy has improved. Played left half back and is just so smart and puts his body on the line. 3 Bowey - got better as the game went on and continues his great start to the season. 2 Fritsch - has copped the blowtorch the past three weeks and clearly was our best forward all night. If it wasn't for the fact that he currently has the yips, then no-one would be knocking him. 1 Gawn - embarrassing early with a couple of huge howlers, but you have to give him credit for sticking at it and hopefully he played himself back into form, especially now that TC is injured and not an option to help him out.

I am really confident our midfield will stand up at the stoppages tonight with Gawny, Trac and Oliver all on notice and they are all champions so in adversity I expect the cream to rise to the top. Hopefully with the addition of Pickett we easily hold sway in the middle, especially if one of Viney or Sparrow or Langdon are in there as well to ensure we have one negater in case they win the tap out or to cover when Danger does his Joel Selwood battering ram impersonation. I am not so sure we have got the right set up in the forward half - I mean why do we have to play three small forwards each week - Kossie is the fourth this week, although he will play mainly in the middle. Further to this I don't get why we keep bringing Spargo straight back in like he is a Charlie Curnow game changer. I mean Spargo is a clever player but he has barely played for two seasons because of his achilles issues and he missed much of the pre-season including missing both our practice games. Yet he is so crucial apparently that he does not need to become match-hardened via our VFL side. This is not meant to be a criticism of Spargo as he does have better vision than most of our players, but why, why, why can't he find form in the VFL and then come back in. If Goody and the match committee were so desperate to play small forwards then they could have gone with Lawrie, who is coming off a great VFL game and spent most of the pre-season with the main group. Then there is baffling decision to not give Gawny a back-up in Tom Campbell. I went to a few pre-season training sessions and it was clear big Tom was more physical than Gawny and very capable of winning hitouts. Sure he's a meat and potatoes type ruckman and lacks Gawny's marking class, but after his practice game on Xerri against North, it was obvious he could perform that role at AFL level. And given the battering Gawny always cops, it made complete sense to use him as a safeguard before subbing him out at three quarter-time and injecting some pace or forward smarts with a Melky or even Lawrie. There may have been some doubt about TC's fitness after his hamstring awareness issue in the VFL last week, but if he plays tonight in the VFL, then clearly that's not a serious issue. Not to mention the fact that he should have played against Xerri in round 2. And he would be perfect against SDK and Blicavs because he'd ensure we at least win the hitouts all game and not have to ruck JVR against Blicavs. And he also brings an element of toughness to our game which is mega crucial down at Geelong where the natives do get a bit feral. All of this sounds like a criticism of Goody, but as I said elsewhere, Goody is doing a super job this season with his opneness at media conferences and his sermons are approaching the Reverend status. But ultimately, I am mega concerned that we missed the boat in rd 1 because Goody got excited with his new toys and decided to play six of them against GWS when three would have been well and truly enough. And he has persisted with his penchant for small forwards and yet our game plan invariably ends up being long panic kicks into the forward line.

Yes it continues the trend this season with Goody morphing into the Reverend. Maybe it's because his social life has settled (married again off-season) but he does seem so much more relaxed with the media questions this season and so much more willing to expand on things than previously. And that's even in the face of losses. Imagine if Bevo was 0-3, do you think he'd be so forthcoming! Personally I'd love him to talk openly about our new run-and-gun game plan and whether it was what Hawthorn were doing at the end of last year that forced the change or was it our own players requesting to be allowed to move it quickly. But I get that all clubs are still a little wary of specifically explaining what they do - even though other clubs know what's going on anyway. But like everyone, I will be really interested to see if we can move it quickly through the middle down at Geelong or whether they will bash that confidence out of us or whether Tom Stewart and Lawson Humphries keep intercepting our errant kicks forward to the degree that we lose all our confidence again. But certainly I think it's fair to say after that presser, that our grunt and grind at centre clearances will be on show.

Trips down the highway are never easy and coming off three losses it's not surprising we are rated about a 2% chance of pulling off an upset. And as someone who has found the non-selection of one of our top three pre-season performers in Tom Campbell unfathomable, I find it really disappointing that the big fella is not available after injuring himself in the VFL. But the good news is that at least Goody won't be trying out five first gamers plus Sharp this week like he did in Rd 1. Which is a slight dig at Goody's love of his new toys, although I have got to say that I have been mega impressed with Goody's interviews this year - he is so much more forthcoming than previous years - it reminds me of how Neale Daniher, up against it after a poor 1997, became the Reverend in 1998 and we grew to love him and his side did too. It's funny but I actually am enjoying Goody's openness this season - just wish he'd spent more time thinking about whether rushing first-gamers along was wise. Goody will need close to a miracle this Friday down at the Cattery. Assuming Windsor and Lever pass fitness tests, then he has to bite the bullet and make at least five changes - one less than what he would have had to if Tom Campbell been healthy. The five inclusions are clear - Pickett, Windsor, Lever and our two form VFL players - Turner and Lawrie. The five omissions are also pretty clear. Geelong is not playing quite as many bigs these days with just the three-prongs up forward of Cameron, Neale (who may yet be dropped) and Henry, who Rivers could easily play on if required. The five out for us should be - Lindsay (inj), Johnson, Howes, either Petty or Van Rooyen and Henderson. Sorry I know a lot of you want Billings gone but with our other left-foot winger Lindsay out, then we need him to play there and whilst we all know he has the yips in front of goal and is a tad soft, I hope people realise the run and precise kicking he provides. It is also his last season, so he deserves a decent shot at finishing his career on a good note. Of our six newbies in Rd 1, only Langford and Sharp remain and the latter is because of his run, and those two are the best suited to our run and gun style that has flopped so miserably so far with our turnovers through the roof. But hopefully Goody sticks with the style now that he gets some pace back and I hope we keep taking the game on like we did against Fremantle pre-season. I also hope he reverts to going with experience - I mean if we lose the next two then our season is over anyway and the kids can play. Even without Campbell to help him, Gawny should be able to get the ascendancy in the ruck against SDK and Blicavs, but it will be up to our midfield to lower their eyes and try to find leading targets which won't be easy. And I'd also start both Viney and Trac forward given they are our two most experienced underperforming mids but I'd certainly be looking to get them involved in the middle after halftime. But I'm not sure that our club does mid-game switches these days. It should though! B: Windsor (Stengle) May (O.Henry) T.Mac (Neale/Blicavs) HB: Bowey (Close) Lever (Cameron) Salem (Miers) - plus Rivers (Dempsey/Danger) C: Langdon (Dempsey) Oliver (Bowes) Billings (Smith) HF: Petracca (Humphries) Petty or JVR (O'Sullivan) Chandler (O'Connor) F: Viney (Guthrie) Turner (J.Henry) Melksham (Stewart) Ru: Gawn (SDK) Sparrow (Holmes) Pickett (Atkins) Int: Rivers (def), Langford (mid), Sharp (wing/fwd), Lawrie (mid/fwd) Sub: Fritsch (to fire him up)

Goody is facing a huge week to decide whether he resorts back to bash-and-bang clearances style with the kick down the line safety option as the cornerstone of our game or whether he sticks with his run-and-gun mantra that looked good pre-season, but has been destroyed by turnover howlers and the unavailability of our three quickest players - Pickett, Windsor and McVee. I'd expect our midfielders to really lift after being blitzed by the Roos, but Gold Coast's strength is their midfield clearance ethic that comes from Witts, Rowell, Miller, Anderson, Graham and the emerging Humphrey. Personally, and I said it before Gawny took on his nemesis Xerri, that we need to play Tom Campbell in most games so that we can win clearances and not have to rely on the weaker (because of height) second ruck option like JVR (Rd 2) or Johnson (Rd 1). Gold Coast has Ethan Read as back up and he's 202cm tall and developing quickly but he's still a kid so imagine if he has to ruck against a fresher Gawny. That's where we can get an advantage. So why we would throw Johnson in against him is beyond me? We still need to take a chance with our run-and-gun through the middle, but the other area that needs a rethink is our forward structure. Can we afford the class of Fritter when he doesn't get a chance to show it, can we continue to go with three small forwards even without Pickett, can we keep backing in JVR, who came to us as a potential key defender but is yet to be played there? Is Turner good enough? I have to say I was shocked that we again threw Spargo in so quickly - as we did in the clash against Sydney in Rd 1 last year. He's barely played a game in two year, missed our practice matches this year, had a VFL practice game and then comes straight in? Sure he was great in 2021, but is he worthy of that amazing loyalty by Goody? Now that he's in do we stick with him and young Jack Henderson - another player that was rushed in with barely a practice game. Ironically the one player I wanted to be tried out as a small forward this year is Jack Viney because when he tackles, they stick and he's actually a good mark for his size. But that won't happen this week. And making it harder for Goody is that both Laurie and Billings, who did the entire pre-season, did not dominate in the VFL which makes it hard to bring them in, although I suspect Laurie may have been taken off late, just in case he was a last minute call up to be sub at Marvel. Can anyone confirm that? Then there are so many questions from the game about individuals. Does Sharp's lack of awareness spell the end of his career? Or do we try and use his incredible running ability to tag players like Bedford is now doing at GWS? Is Sharp tough enough to be effective in that role? Has Rivers totally lost his way as a midfielder, meaning he has to be dropped or be sent back to defence, in turn meaning we don't need Howes as the fourth tall down back? Is Petty that much better than T-Mac as a key defender. I've always liked Petty as an interceptor, but Lever has that role and as we saw with Petty on Larkey, he doesn't have the game awareness and defensive skills in that role? T-Mac sticks to his man, but he's not as quick, although he is a smart player generally (his second-quarter howler excepted). But if I had a say, I'd drop them both and send JVR or Turner back because they both can provide run. Wow it's tough for Goody. The only wish I have is that Tom Campbell plays because anyone who saw him train all pre-season knows he's a meat-and-potatoes goer who can win hitouts. He did really well on Xerri in our practice game against North and I could not believe he was left out on Sunday for that same role. And unlike when we stupidly kept starting Grundy on the bench, he needs to be in the middle at the very first bounce with Gawny playing from the goal square - yes I know he's captain and wants to win another AA, but the team has to come first. Then at three-quarter time, Campbell is subbed out and a fresher Gawny has a chance to be the match winner.

Have enough people voted yet to end this toom? Working yesterday and just watched the replay, so I feel quite confident that five players were worthy. Sixth goes to one of our hardest workers. 6 Chandler - This was his best game ever and showed that Goody's faith in him was worth the wait. I am one of those who queried his ability to be physically effective enough to play small forward and having some time in middle helped break up that role and he was mega clean, unlike teammates. 5 Oliver - Very good at winning the footy (12 clearances) and one lovely left-foot goal. But he was part of a terrible bit of play after halftime when both he and Trac failed to stick tackles on Paul Curtis. But still very much a step back to his good old days of 2021. 4 Lindsay - Laid the most tackles of any Demon and very effective with his disposals. Career only two games in, but gees he looks the part. 3 Bowey - Made perhaps the biggest howler with a dreadful shanked kick when going long through the middle that resulted in a Zurhaar goal, but otherwise was very serviceable and he's made a great start to the season after a very good game last week. 2 Salem - Neat and tidy all day and seemed to play close to his opponents. 1 Sparrow - Yes I know he had no awareness when being chased down with a shot on goal, but at least he worked his butt off along with Viney. Both turned the ball over continuously, but Viney's left boot missed passes did more damage to us than Sparrow's errant ball blasts.

I'm sure he will be named on the extended interchange bench but I am also sure they will leave him out of the final 23. Would I play him? Absolutely. Anyone who watched training this summer could not help but be impressed with his tap work - sure he's not a smooth mover and marker like Gawny, but he is really good at winning hitouts and as such helps our one-wood centre square midfielders gain the ascendancy. Imagine Campbell or Gawn rucking against Darling when Xerri has a rest. It's potentially a game-winner for us. But it won't happen. The advantage of playing TC against Xerri is that it ensures Gawny isn't physically smashed by the North guys every time he jumps for a tap or goes for a mark. Some might argue that Campbell has been brought into be backup when Gawn is out injured, but it would be great if Goody could try and use TC as a weekly weapon that allows Gawn to start forward and takes some of the heat and pressure off Gawny. TC would then be the obvious candidate to be subbed out of the game near three-quarter time with a fit and fresher Gawny to ruck almost throughout the final term against a battered Xerri, rather than a battered Gawn. I know going to TC sounds like we are back at the Grundy experiment again, but the difference is that now Gawny has his seventh AA (a ruckman record), then he should feel more comfortable with allowing TC to start in the middle which will ruin Gawny's AA chances, but improve our chances of overall success. Grundy had to start every game on the bench and spent quite a bit of time as a forward (where he was useless), but Gawny is more than capable up forward, where his mobility (even at 33) means he can take a mark on the lead - I think he was our only player to take a mark inside 50 on the lead last week, except for Jeffo's last term lead up.

Dropped in again today and saw most of the match sim. There were two highlight plays - both discussed already on here in brief. Trac, who was everywhere intercepting and creating plays like he was in his midfield breakout year of 2020, intercepted a Clarry handball that spilt into general play and then raced to try and win it, when he finally did amidst about five players he bounded out of defence only for his own give to be intercepted by Oliver who started a brilliant chain that led to Laurie's goal on the run. Trac nicely gave Olly a high five congrats on the play - a nice sign of respect. Both Trac and Olly played far more in the middle corridor than normal - both on each other I suspect - so they had a bit of latitude and really just had to use their smarts to win the footy, which they both did on countless times. They are clearly the cream of our midfield. Sadly Olly got a little sore towards the end and came off - not sure whether it was a significant injury - suspect it was pretty minor as he was standing around the tent area. The other was the goal from boy George, who spun out of a tackle and snapped beautifully from about 40m. It should also be noted that he dropped a chest mark in the same play prior to getting tackled. Kossie and Trac were the two stars out there - just so quick and clever. It looks like Kossie, when he resumes in rd 4, will go straight into our midfield rotation this year. His days as a small forward may be done - at least until our goals dry up. Harry Sharp was quite prominent on his wing, although he did get brought down by a huge tackle from Sparrow at one stage. We do have a plethora of wing options this year and that's even without Caleb Windsor, who will be a match winning line breaker down back. Billings is looking good, Ed is everywhere, Woey when he goes there looks good also and Xavier Lindsay will probably be in contention soon when he stops running reps and joins in after X-mas. Across half forward Fritter and Kolt were also lively and Roo's mobility and clever Tommy Hawkins-style gives makes him a standout. I haven't commented on Harvey, but if I did it would be the same as last time. He is still finding his feet with the extra pace making life tougher than in his junior career - but he has some significant tools that will come into play this season. Let's wait and see how he fares after a X-mas break - I reckon he will comeback feeling more confident in the new environment and will make the pace adjustment. It's incredibly hard on a guy being thrust straight into a mid role - Trac had four seasons as a forward to learn the ropes before graduating to that role.