John Demonic

Fair call. Although Ive just thought that related to him coming from a club with lower fitness and running standards that limited what he could do when he first played for us, which necessitated a 6 week training block before he could return. I'm not as convinced Goody will have a management program for him this year except "get him right, and he plays as long as fitness and form permit him"

Maybe, but when has Goody ever thought that of any player, and not squeezed every ounce of juice from them in a single season? (that was a bad analogy)

The safest bet would be Harrison Petty. Locks down the AA key defender spot and becomes the brick wall that returns us to the stingiest defence 'by a mile' again, so long as the mids and forwards are doing their jobs up the field. He's just about to turn 23, so there is massive scope for him to go to another few levels and be our May/McGovern for the next 5-10 years. The wacky bet would be Schache. He's our new Weid, a very 'unlikely' shot to fulfil his potential, but if he did then that really could unlock something different for us, and by virtue, likely have the biggest impact. I know versatile depth is the major hope we have at this stage, but stranger things have happened and there should be an opportunity if Brown and McDonald reach their end this year. And from the video, it sounds like he's going to work hard over the off-season to try and prove everyone wrong. Of course every interview contains similar fluff.

What if clubs with one recognised ruck just increase their small gut-running midfield rotation by an extra player and go all out on speed and endurance over a taller 23? Aren't we still back at where we are now, having to balance aerial vs ground capabilities but just with 23 and not 22?

I can still hear him say 'time' with the elongated 'i' in his posh voice in my head

I guess it depends on who's available when it comes to our pick on draft night - if there is a player we've got our eye on then it would make sense that drafting him and getting a year into him would be preferable to gambling for next years pick. But if nobody, then I'd take that risk, knowing we already have an influx of new recruits and 3-4 players earmarked to push for selection from the VFL - which I don't think we've had for quite a few years.

I wonder if we can leverage another teams delusion about next year into swapping pick 13 for a Future First and potential top 10 pick next year? Perhaps Ross Lyon thinks he can turn the Saints into a contender next year and our Pick 13 this year helps him 'add another piece' around what he's got. We can fast track his quick exit out of the game if we win that trade! Hinkley, Beveridge, MacCrae and next years fixture - we have a whole host of coaches and a media that are overrating lists for next season. It's low risk high reward, considering pick 13 won't affect our premiership tilt next season.

I almost threw my phone in disgust. Better start shopping now for some good deals in preparation for draft night.

Why don't we have a cage fight between Spargo, Laurie and Aarts for that half forward flank spot?

Did Tom Bugg ever make it is an Instagram influencer? ... Maybe I don't want to know the answer.

Re making it to the end, Andy and the team, I'd have to say the DL podcast is the most attention absorbing media out there for my tastes. Better than Netflix, a movie or any other footy media. I do love to pop it on while doing the dishes and other house chores, so it does make time go quickly and 2-3 hours never feels that long. Keep up the great work and look forward to hearing you all again next year. PS I'm not fishing for freebies!

We're just catching up to other sports really, where you aren't afforded 2 years or more of stagnation or going backwards. Even 1 year might be enough to get the can.

I would've thought University would be up there

We've traded a 2015 #9 for a #2. That's a win in my book! 🤷‍♂️

Ya'll got any more of them... Player trade or Pick swapping rumours now?

Sounds like one step away from power plays and Zooper goals.

For the uninitiated: ISITGRUNDEE__ITSGRUNDEE.m4a

Now let's get this Nic Naitanui trade done.

"You won't have to play against Angus Brayshaw ever again"

Would a Sam Reid deal net us two wins purely because he's not playing against us anymore under the Kent Kingsley Rule?

It's all happening @DeeZone Calm those nerves!

A premiership and 3 1st round picks. They might give us a trade ban and ban future first trading league wide if we added a 4th It's a really good idea, well worth thinking about. Even if we use it this year, we can still conceivably trade Freo's 1st, Our 1st and a (2024) Future 1st next year for a very high pick, or a trade for a gun key forward out of contract.

GWS just spent a week manoeuvring their way to pick 1 to I assume get Cadman, and North got themselves two bites at the next best. Even with Ports pick 8 early last week we'd be no chance. Oh well!

Bit confused by all of this really - they bring in the injury sub, limit the rotations, want players fatigued, get the game looking pretty decent as an overall product with the stand rule and 666, but now they may add a change that could alter everything they've done in the past 5 years? Just let both teams use their sub either any time, or if one team uses it. And then there's no need for a 5th player on the bench. But yeah, smells like posturing of course - it's been a stalemate all week, nothing has changed - we should've let Collingwood pressure Freo for that Nth 2nd round pick, maybe they'd be better than us at getting their way.