M_9

Methinks, as a last resort, when Billings is having a set shot that someone like Sharp, Sparrow, Petracca ... run past and take a handball. We all know there's a snow ball's chance in hell that Billings will kick a goal.

My setup exactly. We saw yesterday what can happen when your second ruck is a key position player and gets injured. You're down two key positions. IMO (no stats to back this up) but playing in the ruck, particularly if you're undersize, must make you more prone to injury ('collision' injury). JvR, if he's going to get injured, it'll be if he's forced to ruck. And as for Max dropping himself in 'the hole' he's going to cop a Petracca-like injury if he doesn't stop. Had AJ not played yesterday our back-up ruckman would have been ....?

If Max continues to drop into that hole at CHF or CHB as he did yesterday he’ll cop one knee to many in the back and miss weeks. No Max = we lose. AJ must play and Max rests deep forward, deep back (as need be) or on the bench. JvR does no ruck work in my team.

Petty has the honour of being the first mystery out for the season.

I reminded people that TMac was our 10th best player last year and told youse all his strength and experience would be needed v the big Haze forwards. I'm not surprised that AJ has been named. Hopefully JvR will spend 100% tog forward.

I've had that feeling. Turned out to be a UTI.

I just realised the reality of your statement. I look at the talent they have in the midfield and forward line and it's top shelf. But they only managed to win 1.5 games more than us last year, and we had a shocker. Something is NQR at the purple haze

We play them round 6. I reckon we'll be 3-2 (losses to GWS and Cats) and they'll be 5-0.

I reckon Kosi will be named. He'd love the opportunity to play in front of family members and against a number of his mates. We don't play Freo away this year. If he does play at least three quarters I'm tipping he'll bag at least 4 goals and be close to BOG (in a losing side). Having said that, I don't think he should be named. We need to start with, as close as possible, our round one side. BTW I'm tipping a GF between two of Freo, GWS and Lions.

Better. Geez, I hope MJ steps up. I'd be very disappointed if he 'wallowed' at Casey all year

Petty given a touch up by Larkey (3 goals). I know May would have done a better job but it showed Petty doesn't have the strength to compete with a power forward. Freo forwards levels above North - Treacy, Sturt, Voss, Amiss, Jackson plus a couple of newbies >197cm. BTW in our two matches v Freo last season they kicked a total of 39 goals. Their big blokes (mentioned above) kicked 21 between them. Unless we can contain their fwd 50 entries we'll get smashed

I can't believe the DL'ers leaving out TMac. I'm really hoping Howes can take his place, sooner rather than later, but the reality is that TMac was our 10th best player last year. I'll bet he's just as fit as he was in Feb 2024, and given we're unlikely to select Campbell or AJ v GWS, TMac is a second ruck option. Howes isn't, and I'd prefer JvR wasn't (used in the ruck).

Last year TMac finished 10th in the Bluey Truscott (301 votes). May was 9th with 316 votes. Petty would have been lucky to place in the top 20. He's overrated IMO. Three good games in last two years. TMac will play at least 15 games. He may be getting on but he's proud, fit and skilled.

Culley for mine. You can't have too many midfielders. Left footed and 194cm. What's not to like. Grab Roy mid year (possibly).

Agree. No way will Goody leave TMac out. He runs all day, offers ruck relief and can move forward if the need arises.

The AFL website says that extensions (to SSP signings) have been made in the past to allow a club to watch a potential recruit run around 'in competition'. Had we played our match a few days earlier, we'd have access to another SSP signing. Same for the Blues. An aside: handy having the Blues in our corner.

Rumour is she's got a ghostwriter.

Pardon my ignorance - are we a chance to grab Roy in the mid-season draft? Do we have pick 5? I've NFI how it works, obviously.

Agree with most of the above. Not sure who our 'speed forwards' are - Chandler, AMW, Kosi (went ok), Disco ...? Your last sentence covers exactly what I've been on about ad nauseum. IMO AJ is in the starting 22 even if he rotates with Max off the bench. If Roo rucks it's only in the forward 50.

I liked AJ's performance - albeit brief. Campbell was very good and, IMO, beat Xerri, but he's at his fourth club, and the same age as Max (33). AJ is 9 years his junior. He may be 8cm shorter but has a good leap. A couple of his clearances were very good - his first touch and his ruck grab and handball mid-air. If JvR is not part of the ruck rotation he could, potentially, add a goal a game to his tally.

Nice start by AJ.

A number of other teams have a key forward playing in the ruck - Jackson, TDK, English etc - all have teammates with size when they're playing forward. Sean Darcy, Treacy, Curnow, McKay, Sam Darcy,Naughton are all big blokes. JvR is the key forward we've been crying out for since Neita retired. He needs to gain experience playing as a forward, not rucking (and being knocked about by an opponent 10cm taller and 20kg heavier) or resting on the bench. We have 'big' forwards in Turner and maybe Jefferson, but JvR is our best big forward at present. He's never going to be a ruckman, and, heaven forbid, should Max get injured, JvR won't be playing forward. He'll be rucking and resting on the bench.

So despite the fact that we have likes of Fullerton, Campbell, Johnson, and Verrall as back-up ruckmen no one has confidence in them to do the job at this stage of their career? Are we going to wait for a run of break out games at Casey by one of the aforementioned before selecting them, all the while impeding JvR’s development as a key forward? IMO the FD needs to take a punt sooner rather than later (than round 2).

G'day Dimma.

I do not want JvR rucking. Hence AJ, Campbell, Fullerton,Verrall, Sestan .... anyone to be in the 23.