M_9

I've had no problem with Petty prior to last year. I understand the FD trying him up forward but NFI why they continued when he failed to fire. Look at the stats: 9 goals from 20 games; 9 games where he had 4 or fewer kicks; 10 games where he laid 2 or fewer tackles. Together with JvR he was our only other big forward. We needed him to kick 30+ goals. I watched him live numerous times. He was lost. Playing as a back he is taken to the ball, or where the ball is probably going to be kicked to. He doesn't have to keep half an eye on Fritch. JvR or Max and where they're going to lead to. He has one job - deny his opponent the ball. He's great when given that task. Playing as a backman he's one of the best in the comp. He complements May and Lever to a tee

Getting Petty out of the fwd line will be a positive IMO. He rarely got his hands on the ball, and when he did (clunk his marks) he kicked poorly (9.15). I've no doubt if AJ is given the same game time fwd as Petty he'll return a goal a game at least.

As I posted prior to our Freo game, my tip is Lions v GWS or Freo GF. All three teams have depth, something we lack

Off to the Saints. Re-contracted but as per Clarry going to Cats last October, contracts mean stuff all. Clarry is running around in hoops?

Zackery what I've been saying' for nigh on two years.

He wouldn't be the first player to employ the use of an 'assistant' to take his shot - hand off to Trac, Sharp ... At least worth a try. I'm sick of watching Billings line it up knowing full well he'll never kick a goal (from beyond 20m).

Purely tongue in cheek. I love Jesse, Toby, Grundy etc al.

If Hogan doesn't play I'll only have Toby to 'boo'. Might save it for King's Birthday - Howe, Maynard, Moore, Cox ...

Tholstrup good to go? TBC is To be confirmed. Hore, Kenterfield et al are weeks away.

Exactly. Why did Chelly write 'Round four'?

WTF. Where'd you get this from?

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).