Mach5

You got me sleuth, well done! Believe what you want.

I know it sounds silly, but I got definite diet-Fyfe vibes from watching Owens highlights. I like Knevitt’s raw potential paired with consistency and high volume possessions, but I think that’ll mean he’s not available for us.

From those highlights: fantastic overhead, good agility, skills a bit suspect.

Interestingly, talking to a cats staffer yesterday who had asked Wells after the prelim if he was aware of Fristch and tried to draft him. His answer was that we’d gone to great lengths to keep Fritsch well hidden. I find this response quite amusing. I’m fairly certain he was playing regularly at Casey, demonstrating exactly the qualities that he does now, in the same role, and 3/4 of this forum knew we were keen on him. Having said that, they did get Tim Kelly before Fritsch, but I’d have Fritta over Lachie Fogarty.

Isn’t it the case that early selections will be added for matched bids, but by the time they get to our pick, other picks will have evaporated due to points consumed to match bids and it will balance out or even bring our pick in earlier?

I think there was, but the AFL changed the rules for last year due to COVID and have not yet returned to how they were, if they will at all. Someone else more knowledgeable in this area might have more info or certainty.

He’s Jordan Gysberts, albeit not as soft. Offers no spread. Skills average. Good vfl standard player.

The devil is in the detail...

Talent ID and acquisition would encompass negotiating trade deals and contracts, plus managing player salaries within the cap and soft cap spending. Can’t recall if I’ve said this, but hardly surprising to see the shift to North, considering Roos is there now and he is the one who brought Frosty with him from Sydney.

I don’t care if he’s not better. Dunstan’s mere presence will push others to be better.

How about culture? I always found it interesting to hear it lauded externally.

Just how I see it.

I’m in the camp that thinks it’s a strong possibility that Mac Andrew will be selected outside the top 20. It’s one thing to say that he’s rated top 10, or even for a handful of recruiters to say it too, but at the end of the day he has to have a club with a top 10 pick actually prepared to make the selection in the knowledge they’ll have to wait 5+ years for a return. He has incredible potential, but for those trying to get an earlier return on investment it may be a dirty word. And we have the luxury of a flag to mitigate any pressure for a quick ROI. Other clubs don’t have that luxury and there will be pressure to maintain their positions. I’ve a feeling the cards will fall our way. But I also don’t think he’s clearly that much better than a lot of other players on offer.

I just can’t see any club willing to part for a top 20 pick, for a kid that is so clearly a longterm ruck project. He won’t show anything for 3 years minimum, and it has been proven for years that capable rucks can be found late in the draft. Only the exceptional are taken early, and MA has not proven to be exceptional (yet). Good longterm project for us to roll the dice on however, while we still have multiple options at that position insulating him from any short-term pressure to perform.

100% coaching dept reboot needed. One of his now sacked assistants was an old coach of mine, can’t figure out how he even got a job in the AFL coaching ranks. In terms of character alone, wouldn’t get a gig at MFC currently. Having said that, it surprises me the suspect types that do hold positions in clubs chasing success. Grigg at Geelong, and even still after covid cutbacks, is an eyebrow raiser.

I just love the motivation this provides for the younger players. Some may have been forgiven for entering 2022 with the attitude of “no more Jones or Vanders, natural progression will see me pushed into the side and getting my chance to win a flag” - Dunstan’s presence ensure they keep pushing and have to earn their place in the side.

Wow. Incredible to think we got anything for Gysberts, or that he went so early in the draft. Other recruiters must have been concealing their laughter.

Frosty is a loss. Good operator and good person. Will be missed.

Dunstan would have a strong connection with ANB from their SA days. I think he could be a handy addition, just would find it hard to break into the 22. If he wants to play consistently, he goes elsewhere. If he wants to feel like he belongs and is a valued member of something bigger, he comes to us.

Would Dunstable want to come to us? Seems he wants to play.

We have the luxury now of picking for best talent available, and then as the draft progresses, doing our best to maintain list balance. I’m sure Taylor & Lamb will have a couple of smokeys for us.

Although it does highlight another issue with this list - Hawkins would have been top ten if not a Father-son selection, and May I believe would have been top ten if not a priority selection from NT by GC.

Jason Taylor and Tim Lamb have done wonders for our club and set the league benchmark.

Good on them for doing a fair bit of legwork, but I think the results aren’t terribly informative. The All-Australian team theoretically has only around 5-7 mids (although absurdly they will get squeezed into a HFF too), but it is quite possible if not likely to have a league-wide top-20 or even top-10 AFL player who does not make it into the AA team of 22 because of a midfield glut.

Too true. I’m lost.