DistrACTION Jackson

Perhaps Tommo will take Tmacs role and he will then take Lever's role? Fingers crossed it works!

I think this comes from the impending retirements of Gawn & May (guessing after 2026 both could potentially retire) and to a lesser extent Viney & TMac. It doesn't take into account however how much growth we get out of our young brigade like Rivers, McVee, Bowey, Windsor, Pickett, Howes, Tholstrup, Verrall, Jefferson, JVR, Jed Adams & K Brown for example. Also the potential addition of Kalani White end of 2025. The key will be our list management and the free agent/trade opportunities. If we want to keep the window open we will have to be aggressive at the trade table and fill the holes by bringing in ready made talent. For example, if Luke Davies-Uniacke is keen to depart North I would be really disappointed if we aren't going hard at him given we lost Brayshaw. This would then allow us to play Trac forward a lot more, as LDU is a fantastic centre bounce midfielder. Obviously a gun key forward would be ideal as well, but I just don't know who is available. If Richmond go the rebuild we could look at Tom Lynch, but his injury issues put a huge question mark over him.

I don't think Tomlinson is suited in the role to cover Lever, so would prefer we send Petty back there. I also wonder if we can get our forward line functioning without Petty, would that open the door to play May, Tmac, Lever and Petty in the same backline? In any case I would like to see the following for this weekend: Outs: Lever, Brown & Howes Ins: Van Rooyen, Fullarton & Langdon B: McVee May Petty HB: Rivers TMac Bowey C: Langdon Oliver Windsor HF: Pickett Fullarton Neal-Bullen F: McAdam JVR Fritsch R: Gawn Petracca Viney Int: Sparrow Woewodin Chandler Salem Sub: Billings If Bowey doesn't get up then Howes is in for him. We need to reward form and Woey was easily in our better handful of players and can play half-back and wing. Howes has been pretty underwhelming of late and needs a spell in my mind. Fullarton definitely hasn't been setting the world on fire at Casey, but we need to give him a crack given we have no other options and we know what Brown offers now.

Harley Reid..... too soon?

Correct. If he nominates Melbourne then Gold Coast can't do anything about it and vice-versa.

And it would've been worth every penny.

I actually think it would be detrimental to Jeffo's development to play him in the seniors atm. He is starting to find consistency at VFL level and kicking goals. Moving up to AFL level is a huge jump up and may kill his confidence. Would rather he keeps kicking bags at VFL for a while. I will say I'm feeling positive about him long term after watching his last few games. Great mover and a natural forward, just needs to keep building his body and tank. He is too inconsistent throughout games atm.

I think it is time for some personnel change. We can't keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. I'd like to see Woey in for full game time. He has been playing really conistent footy and deserves a good block of games in the team and not as sub. Billings needs to go back to Casey for mine and I think it is time to give Laurie an extended run in the team as well. Brown is cooked at AFL level. We may as well play Fullarton and at least have him second ruck so Petty can stay forward or alternatively lets see how Verrall goes.

One thing I wonder with the WA teams, have the AFL ever considered fixturing them for two away games and then two home games each to limit the travel? They could come stay in Melbourne for a week, play two games and then have two home games. Or you could do Melbourne and Sydney so there is only a small flight inbetween.

The 6-6-6 rule has probably been the best one they've brought in. Stops a team from sending everyone back with a minute to go and gives the other side a chance if they need a goal late to win a game. The ruck nomination rule needs to go ASAP. It just allows more players to get to the contest and that results in less flow. The stand rule hasn't really done anything for the game other than allow players to run way around when shooting for goal and it looks ridiculous when they are going past the man on the mark and he can't do anything. I think if they get rid of those two the game will be a lot better. Obviously they need to be better at adjudicating the HTB rule as well, but regarding rule changes the ruck nomination and stand rule should go.

Can you copy and paste in here?

100%. It is also why he couldn't play in the ruck and we would be crazy to move him there when our defensive structure has been working pretty well. I'm expecting Brown to be in and one of Verrall or Fullarton, hoping Verrall to get a look at how he goes at AFL level.

I think it will be in Brown and Verrall. Out JVR and Turner.

I think Yeo will miss. Unsure about Waterman.

Not a bad thing for JVR to get a forced rest, luckily the week we play the Eagles who also have their own injury issues. If Will Verrall is fit I'd like to see him get a run for a week to see how he goes. Otherwise it would have to be Fullarton, given I doubt either Turner or Petty will be any good in the ruck. If Turner is out perhaps they will bring McAdam in and go a bit smaller.

It's more similar to Pickett on Soligo this year. Actually identical. So if he doesn't get a week I will be peeved.

We haven't dominated 50s all year? We played a different game style once it got wet, which was the right move, but we were 5 goals down already.

Totally agree, though furious with that JVR call, this one is on the players. They weren't up for the contest in the first quarter.

About time they did this. Their jersey and GC emblem is a shocker.

That was one of the weirdest selections, probably since Schache sub! Felt like the coaching team panicked on that one.

Wasn't referring to that, more that the AFL will be tightening rules so they can't use 4-5 picks in the 30s or 40s to get academy selections. So if they have 2-3 players in the top 10-20 it will be more difficult for them to take all of them.

I think Jeff is just being diplomatic, which he has to be of course given his involvement in Queensland footy. I think the new points rules will actually help as Jeff mentioned the brother of Bodhi Uwland is expected to go high, plus another player. If Kalani is a top 10-20 pick they probably wouldn't be able to pick them all up anyway, so his manager will probably push him towards the Dees anyway. I'm pretty comfortable he chooses us anyway but just food for thought.

I agree and given the two extended breaks we got it will have helped get them cherry ripe for this game. It is also perfect that we get a 10 day break after this game into a game v the Eagles. We then have 7 day break, 7 day break, 8 day break and then the bye. That is absolutely perfect!

Jeff White was interviewed brilliantly on the DeeBrief this week and spoke a bit about Kalani. Definitely worth a listen!

PF I enjoy your training reports and I hope you keep going and giving them to us! Just don't think it is fair for posters to have a go at WCW because she doesn't give the same reports and at a captain's run which is a pretty basic training session as I'm sure you know.