DistrACTION Jackson

Looking at St Kilda they play quite tall with Membrey, King, Marshall, Battle and Ryder all going through the forward 50 at times. My hopes for the selection table: Out: Preuss (only because there's a better option), Hibberd, Hannan & Sparrow Ins: Gawn, Rivers, O McDonald & Bedford B: Lockhart May McDonald HB: Salem Lever Rivers C : Tomlinson Oliver Langdon HF: Pickett TMac Harmes F: Fritsch Weid Melksham R: Gawn Brayshaw Viney Int: Petracca Bedford Spargo Vanders Key reasons: 1. McDonald to take King & May to take Membrey with Lever taking the third tall who runs through at different times. 2. Tomlinson back onto the wing and told to run all day between the arcs. 3. Bedford, Pickett and Spargs told to constantly tackle and pressure. 4. Harmes to tag Jack Steele for majority of the game. 5. Vanders to switch between half forward and wing at times. We need to change up a few things otherwise we will keep getting the same result. Smash teams who can't match us in the midfield but then lose to teams who can or who have elite outside ball use. We also need to stop the oppositions best mid each week to give our mids the chance to dominate.

I hope Spargs doesn't get the scapegoat drop this weekend. In my mind our issues from the weekend were a result of midfield pressure rather than forward. Granted he didn't have a great game, but even the best small forwards in the game have shockers from time to time. It's a hard position to play and I want to see Goodwin stick with Pickett and Spargs as pressure smalls to build some cohesion. Personally I want a third in there and think Bedford is the guy at the moment. We need more foot speed so if we have to sacrifice a Hannan or Fritsch so be it.

LOL She works in marketing for an intermediary of the AFL so is actually interested in this stuff.

I also think as this plays out they should really limit this competition to 10 Victorian clubs and then the 4 northern sides. Based on last year's VFL this will likely be as follows: Casey Demons Richmond Collingwood Essendon Footscray Geelong Box Hill North Melbourne Sandringham Northern Blues This will then mean there are 14 sides in the comp and they can play a 26 game season to play each other home and away.

I would definitely like to see us entertain a trade for Preuss if teams come knocking. The Giants are crying out for a ruckman, with Mumford and Jacobs pretty much cooked. They have an abundance of high quality mids, so this could be a win-win for both clubs. Good thing is he is contracted so we hold the upper hand in discussions. We can easily then go pick up a mature age ruckman as a back up to Gawn. Plus we have Jackson and Bradtke both developing (very different stages of development)

I was talking to my partner about this the other day and said to her there should just be the Eastern Football League with Victoria, NSW and Qld. Fast forward two days and this news comes out. Not a fan of it being called the VFL though. I think EFL (Eastern Football League) is a great idea and will help build a strong second tier comp for all Eastern clubs. I assume we will maintain the Casey link.

In my mind Rivers has to come in. I'm not sure why he is continuously dropped, however in almost every game he has played he's been a solid contributor. He is quick and has good foot skills, one thing we are crying out for. Given the team had 3 solid performances in a row, I wouldn't be making too many changes. Ins: Gawn, & Rivers Outs: Preuss & Hannan

100% agree. My ideal setup once Jacko is back would be the following: HF: Melksham Jacko Spargo F: Pickett Weid Fritsch Other players to run through: Bedford (or different high pressure small), Petracca & Sparrow. If Bennell can improve his defensive efforts then he's another.

I wonder if that is actually Trent Rivers disappointed he was dropped.

It was a bit tongue in cheek. Stranger things have happened though, so you never know. All winnable games

So if we win all our remaining games we should finish top 4...

I agree and I personally think they can work together and did a lot better on the weekend. Let's hope they can carry on that form and take it to the Dogs, who I think struggle when the hit is applied. The Crows put on almost no pressure yesterday, so Dogs had it easy.

I'm not saying we do it, just giving examples. Personally I'd 100% trade Brayshaw for Florent if that was an option. He's absolute class on the outsideand has good leg speed. The other options I probably wouldn't do.

With both Sparrow and Jordon waiting in the wings as potential quality inside mids, I think we should definitely consider trading Brayshaw, but only if it's a genuine win-win and not for a draft pick. We need an instant best 22 outside runner. So looking through teams that need quality on-ballers these are the options I'd consider: Sydney - Oliver Florent straight swap. Would absolutely do this and they need a replacement for Kennedy inside. Essendon - Darcy Parish springs to mind as an outside runner. Prefer Florent but not out of the question. Carlton - Zac Fisher could be an option here, thought I'd want something additional back. Fremantle - Adam Cerra. Hasn't really got going yet at Freo but maybe a move back home will help ignite his career. Saints - in the hunt for another midfielder so may come knocking. Can't see what they can offer as a direct swap other than someone like Hunter Clark but that isn't happening. May need to be a first round pick plus someone like Sinclair. My preference would be in the following order: 1. Florent 2. Parish 3. Cerra 4. Fisher 5. Whatever Saints offer

Exactly. A lot of teams with a heap more injuries than us. He's an 18 year old rucking in a compressed season. Unfortunately this type of thing happens. Just have to make sure he gets his rehab right and give himself a shot at playing finals should we make it.

Oscar McDonald? I'll be pretty disappointed if we delist him with no mature key tall coming in to replace him.

I'd say that likely to go will be: Corey Wagner Aaron Nietschke Josh Wagner Kade Kolo Nathan Jones Kyle Dunkley So depending on list sizes we may need to find 6 new players or potentially 3-4

So playing in the VFL to work on your craft is not development? Back in the day kids would have to earn their stripes in the reserves before playing seniors.

No doubt there will be 2-3 players who need a rest given the condensed fixture. Hard to say who goes out at this stage, but if Gawn and Viney are fit they are automatic sections. Lockhart as well probably based on his form this year as a stopper.

Agree. Is he a free agent? If not it would like take a first round pick to get him.

I think it's the Hawks 2nd round pick

Add Rivers and Spargo. That's 5 guys 20 or under.

Love what Langdon brings, but butler probably best recruit so far. I've heard Tom Phillips may be gettable. Imagine him on the other wing....

We need to make our wealth of midfielders a strength not a weakness. This is up to the coaching team to work out the best structure for this and it seemed it worked better against the Crows. If the midfield coaches can't get it right then they need to be moved on for someone better.

Zac Williams. Let's go get him please.