KingDingAling

Both Fritsch and Tmac should be leading up the ground as far as possible in order to open our forward line up. Weideman or Petracca should be playing deep one out, and the other making an initial lead. Gives us two options, kick it to the lead up bloke, or kick it to the space behind him where another forward will be deep one out. This way we can go inside 50 without having to bomb it on the head of 20 blokes and wonder why we aren't converting for all our grunt work up the ground. Open it up, have a two pronged forward set up of Petracca and Weideman, have one lead up, the other sit in the square, and implement a mozzi fleet. What we are doing at present is simply not working, and its not just broken, it has been for many years. This sh*t has been happening since Moloney/Jamar.

Play your best mid in the middle. Not rocket science. When the chips are down and a player needs to step up - its always Harmes. Harmes, Petracca and Oliver is a hell of a midfield. Wouldn't be beat often. Harmes runs both ways, Oliver is starting to as well which is scary.

Successful opposition teams play with structure, and an organised game plan - we have neither of those. So its hard to see us making the top 8. If we were able to implement a successful game plan then we would have some nice role players to compliment our quality. We do have a lot of quality, but its hard to see it when they are asked to do too much too often. We are blessed as a team to have the best ruck in the game, and best tap ruck to give us that advantage out of the centre - in theory. We also have a quality extractor in Oliver, and a capable tap gatherer in Petracca (who has clean hands also). But we waste our advantages because we do not have a coach who knows how to use them. Bombing the football into a crowded forward line may sound like a good strategy when you are in under 11's and goals do not matter, but in reality it doesn't provide the best chance to kick goals consistently, and if you do not kick goals consistently, then you don't win games, and you end up closer to the bottom of the ladder than the top, which is our reality. Makes our list appear as though it isn't in the window, when it should be right in the window.

Tmac can help our forward line out immensely if used correctly. He does however need to be fit and able to make long leads up the ground all day, creating space behind him, which opens up our forward line. He isn't he answer for us as a goal kicking forward, but he can still be used to improve our forward line. Just have to use him right. Keeping him out of the 50 not only opens it up, but drags out an additional defender that only becomes a burden when we do bomb it in (which we do all day). If we are going to continue to bomb it into our forward 50 (which nothing suggests we won't), then we need to open it up and give ourselves a chance. Otherwise its just more inside 50's that go no where.

He has needed time to physically fill out and develop. He has a different body to Jackson, but plays somewhat similar in that he has a dip. A conservative approach shown with Weideman will preserve his career, and give us a longer window of a prime player. Things will work out fine. I don't expect Weideman to set the league on fire this year, but he should improve immensely to have his best year. Next year onwards should see him really progress into a dominant forward.

I don't think an untried coach is the answer. Clearly hasn't worked with Goodwin, or Neeld for that matter. This club needs to find an established coach with a good track record. We have the list. The list just isn't playing consistent football for the coach. Every single player can come out in the media and sing Goodwin's praises, he is probably a great bloke. But unless he can find a way to get the list to perform consistently - then we desperately need to explore other options, even if that means paying him out early. I suspect he will get to the end of the year, but if we were to miss finals he should be moved on. That is a bare minimum pass mark for a side that made a prelim two years back and was expected to trend upwards.

We don't need any more one dimensional inside mids. Green is - and will be - a good extractor. But we aren't exactly deficient in that area. I was always on the fence about drafting Jackson, but I see the merit in it. Green, not so much. We need speed around stoppages, not more extractors who become a weakness when they don't have the football.

Actions speak louder than words.

He will come good. Just needs to find his niche in our midfield. But he can adjust. Ideally we could boost his value before years end and move him on for a first round pick.

The players either need to show they are willing to really play for their coach, or the coach needs to go. Really p*ss poor effort for most the game on the weekend, against the worst team in the comp, not even nearly good enough. Buck stops at the coach.

His skills stand out above the others already. Has poise. I think opposition sides would've watched him last night wishing they had him. Just levels above most blokes in the red and blue already. I actually wish Rivers took all the kick outs. May and Salem need to never take a kick out again.

Exciting times. One of the most gifted players to ever lace up a boot IMO. If he could remain injury free and get back to consistent football, he could really change our fortunes. Its a big "if", but he is now out there amongst it. So very happy and excited. Good luck to Harley.

Probably not, but risk well worth taking in this case. Outside of being a rare athlete when up and running, Bennell would have better skills on his left foot than most our players had on their preferred. There is a reason why this cat is being given his full nine lives. Nothing lost if this experiment fails. Its one of my most supportive moves the club has made.

Contact the club. The idea itself is sound. Its just an issue of timing. Its something that could work, along with other fund raising ideas. It would be good if our fans could rally during these tough times - regardless of how tough we may be doing it ourselves.

Viney was exceptional. Brayshaw shown glimpses in the second half. Petracca found plenty of it, and I thought Oliver was serviceable. May probably second best behind Viney. To the negatives. Hibberd kicked to the opposition all day. Oscar McDonald and Spargo were equally as useless. How any of these guys are on an AFL list is baffling. Just turnover merchants. Langdon needs to sharpen up his disposal as well, otherwise the more he gets it the worse it is for us.

Remarkable effort to be competitive against two experienced Hawthorn rucks. Looks like one of those kids who will play early if need be.

I would offset that by applauding the club for getting the deal done before the season. Petracca looks as though he is about to seriously break out this year. If we didn't get a deal done we would have a handful of clubs offering Petracca serious dollars, which would stress our cap in the next couple of years. So the fact we have managed to lock him away until 2022 is a really good coup. Hopefully by the time Petracca comes out of contract we have other contracts backloaded and have plenty of room for an increased offer for Petracca.

Wrecker mentioned a top 4 casey into Melbourne. That makes sense because to make the top 4 you need good depth in the ressies (VFL). Also, to make top 4, I reckon if we did that Oliver would go close to a top 5 finish in the brownlow. I may look into trying to double things like that. I reckon we will make top 4 next year. I have never got too carried away with our list, but if you take this years failure out (and from all reports we were on one leg before the season started), then there is a solid case we can bounce back. I think we will go close to winning the flag. We have the list, we just lack the game plan, and hopefully it all comes together. Im punting it will anyway.

Big wraps on Rivers. I'd expect him to play next year. We could use his skills.

I have never bet on this club. But I will be having a decent go this year for top 4. As good a list as we have had in a long time. Touch wood we remain injury free leading into 2020.

I think he might just be one of those rare players (like Fyfe, Stephenson) who play well early despite their under developed frame. I look at Jackson's basketball highlights on youtube, and peak at his high rebound stats in basketball. The kid plays basketball with aggression and just tears down boards. Looking at his basketball highlights, he is gritty and aggressive. I didn't actually expect him to be as athletic as he was on the football field. I think he plays early and plays well. He has natural aggression. Basically the opposite of Watts in that regard.

Its not really absurd to suggest a player who hasn't even played a senior game, might be delisted at the end of his second season. It does happen. It certainly happens more often than a second year player shooting to top 4 status after not getting a senior game in his first year.

Great pick up. Really good player. Underrated and capable of really making a difference. Exactly the type of player our forward line needs. This will free up Weideman a little bit, and allow McDonald to push up the ground and use his engine.

Just going off the tapes he looks to be a pure contested midfielder. I read profiles that he is an outside player. He won't be (IMO). I haven't seen effective pressure like this for a while. Really good pick up alongside Pickett. Goodwin really doubling down on the mongrel. Have to respect that.

Young vs Jackson will be interesting as time goes on. I think Young was the safer choice, given that he is exactly what he need, but also has an extremely high football IQ, and skills off both feet (rare for a leftie). I suspect many teams will regret overlooking Young. He is something else. But, at least we have overlooked him taking a massive risk, and I like that. Its the only way you'd not take Hayden Young IMO. Which is, if you think you've found something unique, an X factor talent that "could" be a once in a generation player. There is a big risk in taking players like Jackson, but there are a few indicators suggesting he may live up to the hype. One of those (for me) is that he brings down a lot of rebounds in basketball, and does so against a high quality (world class) opposition. I believe this indicates that he could do similar as a deep forward, but instead of taking down boards, it will be clunking marks. We do need that. In addition, what better time to bring in a young ruck during a Gawn era, where he can learn from the very best. So I don't mind the pick. We will survive if he flops anyway, I reckon we have a good list and this was a free hit, so good on Taylor and good luck to Jackson and Pickett.