DistrACTION Jackson

Only change I can see this week is Viney in for Jones barring an unexpected injury. But as people said Viney, Hibbo and Melksham are all underdone and may need another full game in the VFL before being picked.

People need to realise that in the modern game it doesn't matter where a player is named on the team sheet....

For a team that has been pretty poor and had a mediocre season their supporters are surprisingly optimistic. I will be bitterly disappointed if we lose this game given their outs and the fact it's at the G.... don't let me down Dees

The fact we gave Vandenberg a 3 year deal after his injury issues is a joke. Again the list management has been questionable at best, but in my view extremely poor.

Now that we have Rivers and Bowey in the backline (plus Hibberd hopefully back at some stage), surely Salem is the perfect wing option? I cannot believe our list management team were so delusional to think Oskar Baker was the answer when we didn't get Isaac Smith. The guy has played 12 games in total and none of those were at a level that made you think he could be a decent winger. I said this in another thread, but right now I'm questioning Tim Lamg as our head of list management and ability to objectively view our players. Dan Butler would've been perfect alongside Kozzie Pickett. Tom Phillips was there for the taking and would've added more run and carry to our side and ready to go. Are we trying to push for finals and a flag? We go and trade for older players like Brown and May and then keep going back to the draft. By the time the drafted players are able to add to the side May and Brown will be past it.

I think commentators saying a club's culture is soft is just lazy journalism. Max Gawn is a 4 time all-australian and the best ruckman in the competition, does Mclure honestly think he isn't giving it 100% every time he runs out and also trying to help his teammates? What is frustrating is the following: Our list management - Why didn't we go after Phillips after missing out on Smith? Why didn't we go after Butler when it was so obvious we had no quality small forwards? Why have we not put foot skills as a high priority until now? Player development - Why did we move Fritsch from a forward line role to a backline a couple of years ago? Why did we move Harmes from a tagging role to half back? This has nothing to do with culture and everything to do with questionable list management and coaching decisions.

My team for Round 1 assuming they are fit: B: Bowey May Lever HB: Salem Petty Rivers C : Tomlinson Oliver Langdon HF: Harmes Jackson Neal-Bullen F: Fritsch McDonald Pickett R: Gawn Petracca Brayshaw Int: Sparrow Hunt Chandler Jones Emg: Jordon Jetta Spargo Baker Key thoughts: Petty - this guy has earned a spot through solid performances and I feel he is a big part of our future backline at 197cm and fairly mobile for a tall. Tomlinson can rotate through the wing and half back and even chuck him forward if we need another marking option. Bowey - I like the way he played and we must have elite kicking in our back half. I',m not expecting him to set the world on fire and yes he may let a goal through here or there, but he has shown enough and I don't think he will get much benefit playing at Casey. Can also go through the wings as required. Jetta is past it and should only be played if needed to cover injuries in the back half. Neal-Bullen - he has earned his spot with strong showings in the pre-season and is another option to run through the wings with his huge tank.

One thing I'm happy with is the new manning the mark rule doesn't seem to be an issue. Originally I was annoyed as it was another rule change for the sake of it, but it has definitely increased the flow of the game. Still dislike Hocking though....

I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this season. We've had Viney, Brayshaw and Oliver all missing large chunks of the pre season. Then unfortunate injuries to Weid and Brown and then poor Kozzie losing his Mum. I'm usually pretty optimistic, but have a feeling it will be another season outside the 8.

So sad to hear of the passing of Kozzie's mum. One take away from Richo's interview was the mention of Matt Whelan providing guidance on these issues for the indigenous boys. This makes me so proud as a supporter to see the way we handle these situations and gives me great confidence in he administration we have.

Heading into the season we had 5 key forwards in Brown, Weid, TMac, M Brown and L Jackson. If we can't cover a couple of injuries with this group then what is the point of having them on the list? People saying our key forward depth is poor, please point me to a side with 5 options for key forwards? It's disappointing for Weid and to an extent Brown, but no excuses.

They went high risk high reward with Rosman. Given some of the training reports it could pay off big time, but a long way to go. Love the conviction with Laurie and Bowey and I think both will play a bit this season. I'd see Bowey more half back/wing to start and I think Laurie and Pickett forward will be very dangerous.

Mason Cox elite.... what a stupid system

I can't believe people on here believe people shouldn't be training with strapping.... Almost every player in the competition has some sort of strapping, the majority would be ankle related. Judd played with shoulder strapping his whole career, didn't seem to slow him down.

It's not ideal but better they get it right the first time than have constant issues. If we need to run with a forward line of Weid, Jacko and Tmac to start then so be it.

Agreed. The sports world is now so heavily influenced by statistics, it does become a bit tiring. I've watched games and thought a player was really influential and had a great game and then their SC score is just mediocre.

I think SC is a better judge on a players output that Fantasy.

What time does everyting start?

The day I no longer have to listen to Dwayne Russell commentate will be a nice day

Storm in a tea cup. Ad wording was poor but this type of thing is extremely common in professional industries. I am with a decent sized financial advice firm and we have had a number of uni graduates do work experience with us, typically for 3 months. It's becoming harder and harder to live in this PC, media saturated world.

On a wing at the G round 1! Missed him somehow!

No way we need to look at a developing KPD. May is only 28, will probably play another 4 seasons. Plus sides have shown if you're in the window you can easily pluck key position players from other sides who want to chase flags. We've also got Petty developing nicely and is a good size at 197cm. We need pace & skill and a cheap back up ruck.

I personally would love to see us take 18 & 19 to the draft. These are perfect picks to go for quick, skillful smalls similar to the Power did with Duursma and Butters. Areas we have covered: KPF - Brown, Jackson, Weid & McDonald KPD - May, Lever, Petty & Tomlinson Ruck - Gawn & Bradtke - ideally we add Phillips on a one year contract as back up Inside Mids - Oliver, Petracca, Harmes, Viney, Brayshaw & Sparrow Medium/Small backs - Rivers, Salem, Hibberd, Smith & Lockhart Medium/small forwards - Fritsch, Melksham, Pickett, Spargo, Hunt & Baker I want players with genuine leg speed and skills to play on the outside more or partner Pickett up forward. Any keen draft observers have same names in mind that fit this?

Agree. Ideally get a future 3rd or 4th as part of the deal

Hopefully its either 31 or 33 and switch of picks, rather than 26