DistrACTION Jackson

Agree with this and similar to the Schache selection in the semi final, or picking Spargo in opening round

Not trying to make excuses, just posing the thought out there. I think the biggest issue is we have Petty, Oliver & McAdam all who have had a limited preseason and struggling to have an impact on the game. Our best forward pressure player is now required to play through the midfield due to our lack of footspeed. I think the other thing is our list isn't built for the high speed turnover game that teams like Collingwood and Sydney are playing with their elite foot skills and speed. We just have to get back to what we are good at, focusing on a forward half game until we have the right balance of players.

Not saying it is the sole reason, just pointing to a potential reason for the lack of run in the players. I also think we have too many of the same type of players. Sparrow is a great team guy but he is really lacking any point of difference to blokes like viney and oliver.

9 tackles for the Kolt.... surely he gets another call up to try and add some pressure in the forward half this week? I know everyone is getting stuck into Fullarton and I didn't watch the whole game, but would we be better if he played second ruck to allow JVR to only play at full forward?

Multiple years of finals and late starts to preseasons catching up to us? It is almost better to have a year out of finals, have a full break over the offseason and get a 2-3 week head start on the other finalists. Plus you also get an easier draw in theory. Not saying I want the club to miss finals, just a thought.

The media do the same thing. It isn't fun talking about Melbourne making another finals series, but if we talk about how an up and coming team can make it let's do that.

The media do the same thing. It isn't fun talking about Melbourne making another finals series, but if we talk about how an up and coming team can make it let's do that.

🤨 I was asking Pennant for his opinions on him given his involvement in the WAFL....

Watching the Casey VFL games he would be a considerable downgrade on Bowey, Rivers, McVee and Salem, which is why he isn’t in the team and is who he is competing with. He didn’t make it as a forward so they’ve moved him to half back, so comparing him to Billings doesn’t make sense as they are in different roles.

Omg Jesus! Shouldn’t you be a Saints fan?

Sounds like he has dealt with some injury issues and illness according to JT, which probably has impacted him. He's a speculative key forward pick, as are pretty much all key position selections in any form of draft.

That says he's kicked 12.2?

I don't watch rugby or care about it really at all, however my partner's Dad is a big rugy union fan. He said the management of Rugby Australia and their investment into grass roots is a disgrace and the reason Australia are now one of the poorer Union nations in the world. More short sighted decisions from their management. AFL will be licking their lips as it will mean more Victorian kids playing AFL.

Has he said this? I haven't seen anything reported.

Where did you get this number from?

I do... they just can't hear from from the 2nd level at the MCG

I view this pick as a bit of insight into our plans for end of the season. I think we all know Brown will be retiring and I think we will be delisting Schache. This will leave us with JVR, Petty, Fullarton, Jefferson, Turner & Kentfield as key forward depth. I also expect Tomlinson to leave as a FA and I have a feeling McDonald will sign a 1 year contract, assuming he wants to go around again. If we do get Josh Battle as has been mentioned this would then leave us with May, Lever, McDonald, Adams & Battle as key back depth. I then expect us to go hard at another midfielder or two, either through the draft or potentially trade/FA (LDU would be a dream). Also, from what I read about the 2024 draft it seems to be absolutely stacked with midfielders so that is probably also in their planning.

There seems to be multiple reports, some praising his agility and speed and others saying it's a weakness. What's your thoughts?

I love how people just make stuff up to suit some narrative...

Clarry gets pinged for throws all the time and Cripps nothing.... different rules for different players as we all know

Oh boy, Thursday night's game is going to be a poo-show.... can already see it now

We will know pretty early next year I think. From an interview with Jeff White he said there is an option for father son/academy players to play VFL with their prospective club. If he wants to come to Melbourne he may well move down here next year and play for Casey.

The new prototype for mids is high speed, high skills, as opposed to the inside bulls that were so important when we were building our list. I think a lot of this comes back to the way the game is played now and the extreme scrutiny on physical play, especially anything remotely close to the head.

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.