Tough Kent

Agreed. He had the ability to apply great pressure in the forward line and win the footy inside our 50. If he kicked more goals than he missed he might’ve played more regularly. His conversion was poor.

He made an appearance at the draft table. I assume he was just there as an observer of JT and his team.

I got down to training today. I noticed Jake Lever keep flexing his knee. He obviously had some awareness in it, although it didn't stop him from doing a solid amount of running. Joel Smith surprised me in the repeat 200 m efforts. We all knew he is a good athlete but he was putting quite a bit of distance between himself and Nibbla in the sprints. The rest of the pack was a fair way back after that. As others have noted, Tommy Sparrow looked a fair way ahead of the other draftees in terms of having an AFL ready body. He and Marty Hore would be the ones I'd be keeping an eye on for potential 2019 debuts. Jeffy Garlett, Matty Whelan and Nev Jetta all spent quite a bit of time chatting to a group of people down in the pocket. I would guess that it must've been Toby Bedford's extended family.

I'd like to see him used as a defensive forward. He closes space very quickly. And when he wins it within 80 of the sticks he doesn't have to think too hard about things. Goalwards young Jayden!

Spoke to aCollingwood supporting mate. He said Hore was a likely rookie target for the Pies and that he would likely have been drafted to them had they lost Langdon to Sydney. He also said there would be disappointed Pie’s supporters over this one tonight and that we got ourselves a good third tall defender.

Does anyone know anything about this kid we've been linked to: Hayden McLean Height: 196cm Weight: 93kg DOB: 20/1/1999 Club: Sandringham Along with Jok, McLean is the other player training with St Kilda in the lead up to the Draft. At 196cm, McLean plays predominantly as a tall forward but he can go into the ruck and pinch-hit when needed. Still only 19, McLean uses his body effectively in marking contests and he has a strong set of hands. Melbourne is another club that is reportedly interested in him after they delisted Mitch King and Lachlan Filipovic. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-11-11/who-is-the-next-tim-kelly-the-best-matureage-prospects

Jay Lockhart has more tricks than Dion Johnstone. Jay can do the mercurial at VFL level and has a classy left foot. He will be on an AFL list after the drafts.

Are people really disturbed that we are playing round 1 at home on a Saturday afternoon?? Perhaps they would prefer Hawthorn's twilight game in SA, North's Sunday evening game over in the West or the Saint's 1.10 pm game against Gold Coast on a Sunday lunch time? There's no pleasing some people.

I'm not sure what you mean by this???

Look at what Tony Sheahan just Tweeted: New Deal Tabled; @melbournefc Jesse Hogan traded to the @GoldCoastSUNS in exchange for the Suns’ Steven May & Kade Kolodjashnij. @freodockers cuteness towards this trade may cost them dearly!

The Dogs though enough of this bloke at one time to name him captain in pre-season games. How the mighty have fallen.

If we could continue to improve the quality of these inside 50s we will be hard to stop.

I have been told too, that Jesse may start the pre-season in the defensive group. It may have been one of the reasons that returning to Perth became so appealing to him in his exit meeting.

Crying into my yogurt here.

Dean Kent has been traded from Melbourne to St Kilda for pick 65. The fast but injury-plagued forward goes there on a three-year deal.

I think anyone with empathy for a different club would think this is a fair deal.

This deal sets Freo up for Hogan deal with Melbourne (pick 11 and the pick 5 they're expected to get from Brisbane for Lachie Neale) and Rory Lobb (23). It sets Port up to snare an SA young gun in draft. Win, win Nick Bowen added, Nick Bowen - AFL House

He is alluding to the rumour circulated on SEN today that if Bennell is traded out of the club that Neale would say. Fairly fanciful, one would think.

We were actually talking about players with leg speed versus players without it.

We had Nathan Jones and Dom Tyson on wings in Perth. When the ball got turned over, these blokes looked like they were on a treadmill compared to their Eagle's counterparts. If they were elite by foot, you'd maybe get away with one of the two. But these blokes aren't the answer on wings against good sides.

I don't know about you, but if the ball comes through our defensive press and finds its way into open space I want quick blokes who can cover the ground as opposed to one paced plodders. We got caught out when we turned the ball over at times because we did not have the ability to defend with speed. Our opponents knew all they had to do was try and compete at the contest, get the ball to their outside runners and then they would be able to run us off our feet. Richmond base their games around blokes with elite speed, who as a result of being so quick can apply pressure to their opposition.

If AvB is gone, in a heart beat. Gives us that outside speed that we lack. I know decision making isn't Zak's strength, but this can be worked on. It's not as if vanders was a precision user of the footy either.

My wife is due to have our second child on Saturday 22nd September. I couldn't believe it when she gave me a clip for looking at flights to Perth this morning. (I'm praying for an early arrival)