Watts the matter

If these guys don't take Francis to the cleaners, they shouldn't be in the team. He is fragile and has terrible concentration.

Spargo really was a strange pick. I'm sure they preferred him over someone like Miers as he was also a midfielder in his underage years. The trouble is, Spargo will never be a midfielder at AFL level. This might seem strange as he played some solid games last year, but these small players so often come in and have promising first seasons and then don't show much improvement. Our very own JKH is a prime example of this. I know a lot of people on here rate Spargo quite highly, where do those people see him playing throughout his career? The more I look deeper into our recruitment the more I question it, which is strange because at the same time I think we are very well placed for the future. I just think with everything we have had at our disposal we could be even better now with better recruitment and list management decisions (and I see them very much as the same thing, so the we wouldn't have drafted Josh Kelly doesn't really work, thats a cross against Jason Taylor for not identifying his elite talent).

Agree with you but just from last weeks game, May started on Ablett with Frost and Oscar on the talls. Wagner will be coming in to play a similar role.

I definitely wouldn't be listing J Wagner and quick in the same sentence. I guess we all see it very differently.

Not really, just a swap for May as the 3rd tall so no difference really.

In: C Wagner, J Wagner Out: May, Sparrow

Doubt he would leave, but would definitely be interested.

This is not over a 1 year period. We have known for a long time that we can't rely on Garlett consistently. If we weren't busy trading the farm out for Jake Lever, then we could have traded for Devon Smith or drafted Jack Higgins for example. Dahlhaus would have been gettable if we were interested. Likewise, Lincoln McCarthy. Prior to drafting Bedford and Chandler we hadn't addressed the need. I don't know what the Spargo pick was, as his size and lack of speed and kicking penetration will always hold him back. Deciding to let Dean Kent go with no immediate replacement poor list management. Lever was good in that month, but he also did not play on any quality players during that period. With what we gave up I expect him to be able to compete with the best, we are yet to see him do this.

It's never been as good as some here have made out, but it's not a complete disaster. The continual recruitment of depth players with limited scope for improvement is an issue along with the refusal to go after a small forward. Lever for 2 first rounders will continue to be critiqued as it was massive overs and with his inability to show he is a key position player thus far along with the change in rules, we have seen his value diminish.

Took particular interest in this part of the article prior to the game and my immediate thought was why is he playing this week? I'll reserve judgment for now but wasn't much to get excited about from the weekends performance. ' I was kept out of the team in round one, 2016, but managed to convince the coaching staff to clear me for a return the following week. In hindsight, I probably rushed myself back too early and could have done with a few more weeks in the NEAFL to help me build my match fitness and conditioning, as well as my confidence as I still wasn’t playing to the standard I knew I was capable of.'

If his manager is really asking for this, then close the door until the end of the year. He is yet to establish himself as a best 22 player, I would hope the club holds off on negotiations until later in the season once he has some runs on the board and has played a full season of senior football.

It's actually ridiculous how he refuses to run in a straight line and kick the football. He will always turn and let the traffic catch up and look for a dish off, he will continue to drive me nuts until he stops this. Its almost unbelievable with the amount of coaches we have that he is still doing this. I used to hold the view that he would eventually become one of the dominant players in the competition but the more I see of him, the more I think I got this one wrong. His inability to actually kick goals when playing as a forward is another major concern. Cam Rayner already looks like Petracca 2.0

Didn't he have a launch for his restaurant on the Thursday night?

Wines goes alright too.

I didn't read it but did find it strange that a teammate of Alex Rance would make that comment. Makes more sense now.

Next you will be telling us that Dom Tyson and Angus Brayshaw are elite users of the pill.

He did not play on Nankervis, he was matched up against Soldo and Balta. Considering he is going to be a liability up forward, he needs to offer more than just competing when it's his turn in the ruck. To say he was excellent against the Pies, is a huge stretch. He showed a few encouraging signs, but his lack of mobility was on display in that encoutner. We will give him another go this week, but I highly doubt Goodwin has him penciled in for round 1.

Hell no, if he can't beat an unknown ruckman, then he is no chance of getting a game. Today was his chance to shine and he let is slip. VFL.

Preuss and Weideman from what I could tell.

Brayshaw probably to the main offender, which is annoying because he is a ball magnet.

Really? To me they sound like almost entirely opposite types.

Pushed out to pick 29 after all the academy and father son selections.

I'll own up, but I won't take the shame. The photo was unflattering but clearly looking at his whole body now, he is in good condition, as should be expected. One of his assets in his draft year was his running, so it's good to see him doing well.

But did you actually? I can't see anything.

Maybe a bit harsh based on a photo, but doesn't look like the physique of someone who has been a professional athlete for 4 years. My thoughts on his actual play and his recruitment are similar to BB, I loved him in his second season but he was a shell of his former self this season. Not sure if he has come back early or this is the week players entering their 5th season are due back, but hoping he has something to prove and a big pre season ahead of him.