Gator

Goodwin: "It's been a challenge to have so many guys have post-season surgery," Goodwin said. "Yep, there's an unknown element to it. It's been a shorter preparation and we've got a few guys off post-season surgery but we're going to make sure they've done the load and they've done the preparation and they're ready to go.'' Is ''shorter preparation'' code for ''interrupted'' ?

Yep. Flew.

It was my late Brother-in-law's. He did it up in the 1980s. He was an exterior designer for Ford starting in the 70s and culminating in being Ford's head exterior designer. The Jag was just one of many he played around with.

Heard it this morning. Another terrible interview. Discussed one player - Petracca. It's the players that supporters want to hear about and virtually nothing else.

Shocked it was that close.

He always had hamstring/soft tissue injuries.

Agreed. The list today is far more talented (on paper) than 1997, more even across the ground, tougher, and with a midfield that is reams ahead.

Always go the best player. Oliver.

Not doubting you, but wondering where you read or heard this ?

What stats has he ''crunched'' ? He's just reading charts that a 9 year old could interpret.

Neville Jetta vs Tom McDonald Clayton Oliver vs Max Gawn

Neville Jetta vs Jake Melksham Tom McDonald vs James Harmes Clayton Oliver vs Jack Viney Max Gawn vs Angus Brayshaw Really hated choosing the last two and almost flipped both.

Don't do the ''bomb it style''. Get him to play more within his limitations. Salem was a gun midfielder as a junior and while he hasn't shone in the midfield thus far his skill-set is far better suited to a wing than Hunt's. Salem is getting better and I can see him, Kolodjashnij, and Fritsch all rotating through wing, half-back and the bench. Salem has so far better suited to half-back at AFL level, but he may just develop to be a quality midfielder. I think it's worth trying, because we now have a plethora of players that are good behind the ball - Lewis, Hunt, Salem, Hibberd, Fritsch, Kolodjashnij. They can't all play there. I also could be wrong re Hunt, Salem, Preuss and a number of other things. It's all speculation.

I'd only play Hunt HB. He's best with the footy in front of him. His kicking is adequate enough to spot up players off half- back, but not adequate enough to be regularly hitting a target inside forward 50. He's either at half-back or at Casey. Salem has already said he'll be playing more midfield this year, so if that's the case it will most definitely be from a wing.

Intercept marking is less about height and more about timing and reading the play. The 189cm Doedee replaced Lever remarkably well and Langdon (190cm) in the GF was excellent with his intercept marking. And you'll note West Coast had talls like Darling, Kennedy, Lycett, and Vardy in the line-up. Frost may well play ahead of Hore, but I'd prefer someone who's noted for his ability to intercept mark, like Hore. I'm just not a fan of playing all of Gawn, Weideman, McDonald, and Preuss, but you may be right. Btw, I don't think anyone needs to "find form at Casey". That's what 4 months of training, JLT matches, and any other practice matches are for.

I can't argue with much/any of that. It's more wishful thinking re Hunt and gut feel re Hore. Kolodjashnij on a wing rotating with Fritsch and Salem through half-back with Hore in the Lever/Langdon (Collingwood) intercept defender's role. I've been a fan of Joel Smith, but I've lost faith. He's incredibly brave and athletic, but a complete scatterbrain with his decision making and has very poor foot-skills. But yes, I'm aware the coaching hierarchy like him.

Jayden Hunt vs James Harmes Clayton Oliver vs Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn vs Michael Hibberd Christian Salem vs Angus Brayshaw

B: Jetta O. MacDonald Hore The best lockdown small defender in the leaghue, plus Oscar, who's traditionally played FB on the opposition's best tall. He should be better again after another preseason. Hore is a very good reader of the play and intercept mark. He takes Lever's role. HB: Hunt May Hibberd Having recently read an article on Salem and the measures he's going to to improve and have more midfield minutes means I'll slot him onto a wing and put a rejuvenated Hunt back to half-back. This line is as quick as it gets in the league. May is super fast for Dees supporters who may not be aware. C Salem Viney Brayshaw The silky Salem may just go to another level in 2019. Hopefully Viney can play 20 games in the H&A. And the all-round skills of Brayshaw should keep getting better. R: Gawn Oliver Harmes The best ruckman in the league, the best young midfielder in the league, and the best tagger in the league. HF: Petracca Weideman Neal-Bullen I didn't think Petracca was ready last year to elevate his game, but do this year. Just a hunch. I unashamedly (along with some others) think Weideman will be a star of the MFC. He'll improve again in 2019. Neal-Bullen is in the top 10 pressure forward/mids in the game, plus he hits the scoreboard. F: Melksham T. McDonald Spargo Melksham is the best user inside 50 in the game and great in a one-v-one contest. What can you say about Plugger McDonald ? A revelation, who's kicked 76 goals in his last 31 games. One of the best key forwards now in the game. And young Spargo is smart and tough, but will have to work hard to keep his position. I/C: Jones Fritsch vandenBerg Kolodjashnij This bench is about as good as it gets (so are the emergencies). I look forward to see Fitsch and Kolodjashnij rotate through the wings and half-back with Salem, while it's great that vandenBerg gets a shot at being injury free for a whole season. Jones may have to reinvent himself again. Let's hope he can. E: Lewis Hannan Frost Stretch Lewis may start round one, but the pressure is mounting even if he makes it out against Port. Hannan will play plenty of games. He just needs to get more touches. Frost is great back-up and may take the Hore or even Oscar role, but he doesn't quite make my team. Let's hope Stretch can show his worth. He's definitely handy depth at worst. And there's still Garlett, Preuss, Joel Smith, Sparrow, Baker and plenty of others who'll stake their claim. What I'm most excited about is the names that are starting to rotate through this midfield. Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes, Salem, Petracca, Fritsch, and Kolodjashnij. Plus Jones and vandenBerg. It's about as exciting as it gets. No wonder Tyson got on his bike. Lever will only make this line-up stronger. And I really hope Hunt can also improve and be a player that can make a real difference. I think the coaching group have him firmly in their plans. Naturally, teams are subject to change post JLT 2.

Neville Jetta vs Jordan Lewis Alex Neal-Bullen vs Jake Melksham Charlie Spargo vs Jack Viney Tom McDonald vs Billy Stretch

The day I start judging players on Brownlow votes I'll give the game away. Jetta has none from 141 games. Kreuzer has often been cruelled by injury during his career, which hasn't helped him, however, I prefer to judge players using the good old-fashioned eye test. Kreuzer is a heart and soul type player, who at his best made the AA squad of 40 and earnt the respect of his teammates, while Watts is a pea-heart who jumps for a mark in a pack (only when he couldn't avoid it) with his eyes closed and one arm in the air hoping body contact wouldn't be too severe. In Kreuzer's best year he averaged 105 AFL ranking points. Watts never hit 80 in his best year. For a laugh have a look at his 2018 year. He came 20th in the B&F having played 19 games. In 4 of 5 games, where 20 or 21 out of 22 players received votes, he missed out. More amusing he just pipped Hamish Hartlett, who finished 21st, by 4 votes. Hartlett played the grand total of 5 games. ? The bloke is a total ar$e-clown and you do Kreuzer a disservice to even compare him to a Jack "I get over losing pretty quickly" Watts.

Oscar McDonald v Alex Neal-Bullen Bayley Fritsch vs Aaron vandenBerg Sam Weideman vs Angus Brayshaw

I largely agree with this. Boyd is rubbish, Patton has done nothing, and McCartin has done less than 'tip toes'. I disagree re Kreuzer. While he is a battler, he's at least had a top 3 B&F finish and made the AA squad of 40. He's demonstrably been better than Watts. More importantly, he has courage in the air.

I don't care whether people think it's right, wrong, or are indifferent, but what I do know is that Watts is just another a-clown cruising through an AFL career. Goodwin has shipped off Hogan, Watts, and Bugg, for a reason. He's a very smart man our Goody and his decisions remind me of the excellent image Gonzo shared a while back written by the great Ronald Dale Barassi.

I don't have much of an opinion on it, however my Brother thinks the coverage has been poor and certainly inferior to previous years. I didn't ask his view he just brought it up.