John Demonic

.I like the look of Harry Himmelberg. Could be a gun. 1.94cm 23 year old out of contract, behind Cameron and Patton in the pecking order. Gets plenty of the ball, kicked 29 in 3rd year last year, first full season though. Good footy brain and takes a strong mark, a little like young McGovern. Shouldn't be too expensive to trade for.

We hadn't beaten a top 8 team until round 22. How do you explain that? Or is it filed neatly away in the denial drawer?

We barely managed to put it together in the first place, i've been saying it all off-season, we were lucky to beat Hawthorn as they missed so many shots on goal that night with Clarko possession footy controlling us until we kicked away. And we were lucky to get WCE and GWS who were already cemented in the 8 in r22/23. Until then we hadn't beaten a top 8 team. We all had a big laugh at the Selwood/Harmes infringement on the boundary, but why? Not because we were up by 10 goals but because Hawkins had a shot on goal reversed with the momentum swinging their way. Rose colored glasses about that final month last year. We've always had this massive issue of bombing it mindlessly into the forward 50.

So I should book a round the world holiday, settle down in a kibutz after meeting a girl, have kid/s and come back in 3-4 years when we have the nous?

Front row tickets to The Dusty Demise.

Haw v Coll Sounds like an odd pairing, i'm guessing they haven't ever played against each other in a grand final in vfl/afl history before.

This is an interesting conversation especially in the context of our own forward line not currently playing a third tall and stretching defenses.

Jesse Croadgan!

Which vpn? Seems like its a good one, or maybe that's just Finland internet? ?

Or why not have both? 3 marking targets + small forward & flanks. Geelongs defence is their biggest asset, we'll need players who can take marks or bring it to ground inside 50. I know we have to stem the flow of outside run from defence, but that really should be covered by having rabidly defensive small forwards and a midfielder or two.

Rolled ankle usually heals within hours or a day or two?

We would've retreated to meekness had Hawthorn actually taken their opportunities in front of goal. I think a lot of sugar coating has occurred with the finals series. Clarko's system predictably smothered our effectiveness for most of the night, and their spread and skill cut through our zone. But we were let off the hook and our physicality wore them down after their offensive efforts left them deflated and ripe to be overrun by our momentum.

Petracca + Pick

Considering he was in the VFL up until round 21 or so last year, it's probably wise and healthy from a list perspective that we haven't automatically booked him in to play every week, but are looking at that position as interchangeable with some other players, form permitting. Having said that, there's no way i'd be dropping him after just one match.

Only saw the first quarter yesterday, so based on that: how about Hunt in the forward line?

Now that almost 4 months have passed and the Rose colored glasses are off, it would be complacent to think we didn't get lucky against WCE with injuries to Darling and Kennedy and the scheduling of a r23 Brisbane match to solidify 2nd. As well as the missed shots on goal from Hawthorn all night that came as a result of the smothering Clarko press that Goody still has a few issues with. We still have a lot of work to do to improve on last years issues and the "r22 was a turning point" idea has not reached fruition until it's sustained for the full season this year (obviously) The positives of the year go without saying

I'd forgotten how ferocious our game is over the past few months! Everyone pictured looks like they're 'in the hunt'

The 'me' generation that has to spend 12 times the annual median income to afford a Sydney house instead of x4 like in the 70's. Additionally you have to factor in lower mortgage interest rates, higher saving rates, lower educational debt etc. C'mon mate. The baby boomers had it easy compared to today. They are the entitled generation, if any.

Agree. I don't think we would have wanted to be looking for KPF depth in one years time with Pedo retirement. I recall in Neitz last year, he wasn't really able to hold onto many marks and was really doing more work as a bullocking presence, hitting packs hard to bring ball to ground and scaring defenders. Smith can be that type of player with his size, as a last resort/depth

West Coast adding Gaff, Collingwood adding Beams, Richmond adding Lynch and a fit D. Martin. Even Hawthorn with Scully, Wingard and a fit O'Meara are far better than their semi-final lineup. We might have an enviable list esp in regards to "the future" - which can just as easily be derailed with an injury or trade request, but there are 3 clubs right there that played better than anything we served up last year and so we have our work cut out to match and surpass them. We're really only the envy of the teams still stuck in the rebuild. Next year could be a great year of footy for the neutral with a bunch of teams contending.

Jesse is training the brewery down this off-season

Another Jack? I would've named him Phil so he could be given the nickname Harmful.

We should scout the world and find a 2m30 giant that we can play in the ruck.