DistrACTION Jackson

Where was this mentioned?

I've definitely shifted my expectations for 2024 and think finals will be difficult to make given our issues. I still want the team to go 100% to win every game, however we need to make decisions with an eye to 2025. This means playing guys like Kolt, Kynan Brown and maybe even Jefferson if his form warrants a crack before the end of the season. Missing finals this year wouldn't be the end of the world, as it would give the players a full off season to freshen up and also give us an extra few weeks pre-season on the finalists. We would also get an easier fixture in theory given the way they structure double up games for the top 6 versus the middle and bottom 6 teams.

I think you need to move on like we moved on that recruitment team

There would be protocols in place for everything, we just wouldn’t know them because it isn’t as common as concussion and not as a big an issue due to the legal case against the afl

Gerard needs to move on. I’ve heard they did all the assessments and he passed so went back out. He then went downhill after this and so the call was made. The Drs can only work off symptoms, they don’t have a crystal ball that tells them exactly what’s wrong. Let’s not forget they would’ve done the exact same assessment for Steven May against the hawks and he would’ve failed, so was removed immediately.

I thought he was a RFA at the end of this year, but it seems that it is next year. Not sure if North would trade him, given they will likely be bottom 4 again next year. If they get band 1 compo they would get a 2nd top 4 pick, which you would think is better than anything anyone could offer this year. I guess if we continue to slide we may have a high enough pick, or potentially St Kilda will.

That was a disgraceful and cowardly hit.

Well if that's the case then I'm even more disappointed. It's one thing for the coaches to ask it of players, but for the players to be non-combative is a real worry.

What annoys me most is this idea that dynasty’s just happen and anyone with talented players should get them. They are a f’ing hard thing to do

It was obviously a coaching directive to not go for him, thinking it may cause the players to lose focus. I think it was the wrong call personally, as it would've been a way to get some emotion and energy up in the group. Always easy to judge in hindsight, but it was a pretty limp performance from a physicality perspective.

We've had May and Gawn on our list together since 2019. So in 5 seasons, 4 other sides have won a flag without a Gawn or May.... but people seem to think once they are gone we won't win another flag again.

The good news is that neither does Tom Morris

The issue is with Petracca out we've now lost our best player. The positive of this is we are going to find out which players have the leadership skills and mental aptitude to take the club forward. They can't hide behind our best players now.

Is there anyone you do want?

I personally thought he was decent on the weekend and would like to see him get a crack at AFL level. A lot of people have already stamped his card, I'm not one of them yet. I do think he is a bit of a stop gap though until we find a better option. We have to remember his pre season was ruined but an 8 week hamstring injury, which would've set him back quite a bit of a 200cm player.

Definitely someone to throw some cash at if we can get him across.

I'd be using Sestan as a sub to start and maybe a few full games later in the year. Tholstrup I think should be running approx. 40-50% game time through the middle.

I think it would be the opposite for May playing as a forward. He would be required to run a lot more than playing as the full back.

Definitely worth giving May a rest if he needs one

100%. I will never forgive Maynard for what he did and he will have to live with the fact he ended someone's career, as much as he tries to tell himself it was a 'football act'. But Moore is a fair player and it was just a football accident, which happens from time to time. Next time we play Collingwood I hope Maynard has to go back in front of JVR and he drives his knee square into his back.

Correct. With that team, 13 of the 23 will be 24 and under, which is a huge amount.

The team I hope to see for the game v North: B: McVee May McDonald HB: Rivers Petty Bowey C: Langdon Viney Windsor HF: ANB Fullarton Chandler F: Pickett van Rooyen Fritsch R: Gawn Oliver Sparrow Int: Tholstrup K. Brown Salem Laurie Sub: Sestan Ins: Tholstrup, Brown & Fullarton Outs: Petracca, Turner & Billings Tholstrup to take Trac's role as a mid/fwd. Kynan Brown to play as a high pressure forward. Petty to go back where he belongs.

I really don’t feel any malice towards Moore or Chol, as it is a natural protection measure to lead with the knee. JVR does it consistently and no doubt he will probably break someone’s ribs at some stage in his career. whether they want to ban it is up to the afl, but it will mean we may never see another speccy mark…

Great idea…. Let’s go back to 2012 hey? 🙄

It's quite obvious that the 2024 season is done from a premiership perspective, whether we sneak into finals probably doesn't matter other than from a draft pick number. I'm hoping to see the following changes v the Roos and for the remainder of the year: - Fullarton to come in as our ruck/forward and Turner out. Let JVR focus on being the full forward and what a player he will be from next year onwards. Enough with rucking him other than as the forward ruck like a Tom Hawkins. - Trac is obviously injured so time to play the Kolt through the middle for the remainder of the year to get him ready for 2025 - Petty to go back to the backline to either up his trade value if he wants to leave, or get him ready for 2025 and the coming years. He's not a good forward. - Move Rivers to the midfield and see if AMW can make it at half back - Brown should maybe retire mid-season to enable Jefferson, Verrall and Kentfield to be the main talls at Casey for the remainder of the year so their development isn't stunted. I would keep Brown at the club though to help with the forward line coaching, as god knows we need it! In regards to the off-season, we will likely have a top 10 pick which will enable us to pick another high class midfielder. Knowing the way we operate we will also probably try trade up for another top 20 pick as well. We need to go very very hard at some ready made, HIGH QUALITY players in the age bracket of 23-25. We will have the salary cap space with all of our delisting/retirements, so using free agency and future picks will be key. And please for the love of god find some quick, high pressure players for our forward line. Chandler just isn't able to do it. 2024 could be a blessing in disguise if we can get our off-season right and get more out of our young players next year. Oh and Clarry please get a full pre-season into you and come back a man with a point to prove.