DistrACTION Jackson

Bowza?

100% agree

Now that there are 6 double up games, I wonder if the AFL will change the way they work out the fixture. The easiest way would be every side plays 2 sides from the top 6, middle 6 and bottom 6 to keep it fair. My view is they should go even further and schedule the first 17 rounds with no double ups. Then at say round 13 or 14 they can work out who each side is playing a second time based on a weighted average to try keep the draw as even as possible. It was obvious the Cats were extremely favoured by the draw last year getting to play two of the statistically worst sides in history twice, giving them four guaranteed wins and by an average margin of 69 points.

Tbh I'm not that familiar with the players after the top 30 due to just reading phantom drafts. I just saw someone mentioned we were looking at George with our first pick, but not sure how true that is. I'd say if he is available at our 2nd pick, we would take him.

Doesn't seem that magic

I doubt George will last until the rookie draft. Sounds like he may be a late first round/early second. I assume you're referring to Brayden George. I don't mind the idea of going for Keeler at our 2nd pick though and would love Phillipou at 13.

There are a lot of posters on here constantly bringing up the ages of guys like May, Gawn and McDonald. Hawkins just won a flag at 34 so I'm confident all of those will play at least another 3-4 seasons.

I think our men's team culture is just as good as the women's. Gawn is an outstanding captain and the players look to really get around each other. I know there was the May/Melksham incident this year, but other than that I think our culture is one of the best in the AFL. Just because we had a bad finals series doesn't change this fact. I'm also loving watching our girls as well btw and they are easily the most skilled side in the women's comp.

I think all talk of 'succession' planning for blokes like Brown, McDonald, May and Gawn is premature and not really needed. Given the level of talent we have on our list we can easily go pluck mature players as they become available to fill these holes. I'm not saying we shouldn't draft key position players if they are best available, just we shouldn't be panicking about it now given things can change in one off season. Who knew 1 year ago we would replace Jackson with Grundy!

Can we include VFL as well? Powerhouse club!

Do you think it's more likely we look to trade up if he's available rather than go with pick 13/14?

Oh and Dees for the flag 2023

Looking at the off-season training pics Bowser is looking stronger. I'm going him for a breakout year and to be one of the best half backs in the comp.

If we go back to just another sub I'll be [censored].... it was terrible rule. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the medical sub rule, other than the player being allowed to play the following week. If they removed that then less clubs would have used the rule..... pretty simple in my eyes but of course the AFL will have to make complicated rules that make no logical sense to be different....

I'm not sure exactly how the rules work, but fairly sure the only options to add mature age players from state or country leagues is through the national draft, rookie draft and mid-season draft. I think that presents a few too many roadblocks for drafting of mature age talent and they should relax the rules a bit. Personally, I think each side should be eligible to list one mature age rookie per season outside of the different drafts. There would probably want to be certain restrictions, such as a minimum age of 21 and 3 years playing in state or country leagues before they are eligible. If they have been in the system that long all clubs would have had a chance to draft them and have chosen not to, so they should then be fair game to any club willing to add them under a mature aged player rule. I think this would greatly increase the number of opportunities given to mature age players.

100% agree and I hope JT and the team do as well. Can't see much that will translate into AFL level and it will take years before he's even close to a game. With the way player movement works these days, surely we are better to draft the best possible mid and use free agency/trade to go for experienced key position players.

Imagine if we field a team with Alex Neal-Bullen, Kyah Farris-White, Andy Moniz-Wakefield & Finn Emille-Brennan. Would have to be some kind of record.

Rough year for Trent with injury holding him back, but I'm backing him to become one of the best medium defenders in the comp over the next few years. I think our preferred backline next year will be Lever, May & Petty as the 3 talls and Salem, Rivers, Bowey and Brayshaw as the medium/smaller options and Hibberd as emergency.

A lot will depend on how Kynan Brown goes next year and where he is expected to fall in the draft. Gold Coast also have a gun key forward academy selection I believe next year, so they may look to trade back for points. Say for example Gold Coast finish 12th again and have pick 7 and both us and freo finish 2nd and 5th (picks 14 and 17). We may look to swap those with Gold Coast (plus maybe some other swaps), if we expect Kynan to be around that range.

What is the general gist of his views?

Because the whole point of them getting the pick 7 was to take on the contract, so by making it that they would have to pay the $850k next year as part of the deal to get pick 7. Gold Coast probably didn't even want to keep Bowes, which is why they did it and didn't renegotiate.

I don't think the issue is extending their contracts, it is more the offering of extra years to reduce it in the years currently held. The idea would be they have to pay the same amount as the current contract and then can re-negotiate the additional years.

I'd be very happy with one of Hollands, Phillipou or George at 13/14.

I'd much prefer to go Keeler ahead of Jefferson if we wanted a key position player. Looks to have more weapons and as he fills out and hones his craft could be anything. Just not sure if he would be a reach at 13/14 though? Wonder if we have a number in mind and may have a team open to swapping out of this year and into next year's draft. Could be a move we make on the night.

I'd say we would rookie him to show support for our NGA