stinga

Great replacement for Spargo. The difference being that he can kick the ball some distance and actually kicks goals.

Yeah. I guess it depends if we like someone such as Ollie Greaves or 2 -3 others. It's much better to look at train on players and go to the SSP but you also have the chance that other clubs take the player you are after in the rookie draft.

you can still do father son in the rookie draft. We've done it recently. Sinemma might not make it though as there are many highly rated players from the draft not taken yet and I think we have pick 5.

Rookie draft tomorrow afternoon

if you want a player whose going to give you something to build a midfireld around, play 200+ games and maybe captain the club you would look to taking Sharp. If you want to add a bit of mongrel and offensive defensive role you take Taylor. If you want a guy who is going to run rings around defences and drive opposition coaching crazy you pick Latrelle. We look like having a very tall forward line with both Gawn and Heath resting there for 40% of the time. Mihocheck, Petty and a new look JVR are also very mobile so it's perfect for Latrelle

Thanks for the training reports. They seem to reinforce the idea of quick transition and changed my way of thinking about positional football. Apart from the centre bounce with 6x6x6 the emphasis is on speed between the arcs (unless you want to control the tempo). We went from half forward to high half forward to both half forwards being high and generally playing as extra wingmen. This in turn mean your half backs were going with them, also like wingmen. Certainly our centre bounce 3 will be much quicker with a combination of pickett, windsor and Rivers at least some of the time. Excluding the ruckman, we've gone from 3 midfielders on the ground and 2 on the bench to 9 on the ground and 4 on the bench. With JVR so much less weight and more mobile it seems that we will play the extra ruckman with Heath 40% ruck, 20% forward and 40% bench. Max 60% ruck, 20% forward and 20% bench. With so much marking targets up forward, its hard to see how other sides will intercept mark against us. Love to know if this fits in with match Sims at training or going too far.

agree totally. We had a father son last year kick 7 for Casey, and on that basis he would be picked

Sharp is nothing like a defensive mid. He's a see ball -get ball player. Hits the contect running. More Rowell like than most others

I can't believe people are looking past Sharp as the best bet. He is the only high possession type midfielder in the top 20. What's the point of anyone who kicks well, runs and turns, if he is only going to get it 15-20 times at AFL level. We desperately need an accumulating midfielder. All our other midfelders are in the 20-25 group - we've got enough of them.

Doubt they'll upgrade AMW. Will stick with 36,6,2 as we have for the last many years. 3 picks for the primary list. Kalani and Sinemma for the rookie list.

A lot of his highlight stuff is breaking tackles using the lifting arm technique. Won't work at AFL level.

Agree. We've lost 2 of our best midfielders and nee to replace them first. Long term developing forwards are also what we want but need the other first.

White can just go to the rookie draft if we unconditionally promise to take him as a rookie father and son. Financially it is better for the club as rookies have a lesser impact on salary cap even though you might pay them more. Having said that I don't know the current rule and am relying on past rules.

Even with 2 first round picks next year in a better draft, I doubt it will mean much. Say we improve to finish 10th and our inherited pick will probably be further out than that. Say 2 picks 10 -15 range. With academy and father son that might go out to 15-20 range. I prefer to stick with what we know we have rather than gamble what we might get.

When you lose arguably your two best mids you have't got a choice. We have to go for mids this year and next. We won't get it 100% right so if 2 of the 4 are OK then that is a good result.

No doubt someone will get their noses out of joint and there'll be another court case. Typical of previous fights over boards and the egos involved.

Yes I agree. 2 of our most impressive players this year who improved as the season went on were Culley and Langford Both 190+ and capable of going forward taking a mark and kicking a goal. Don't get any better than Dear at Hawthorn, Crows captain or Bont at Dogs. My other one is H-H

The same pick swap meant we got Steele for Oliver So we get 21 disposals instead of 25 but lose destabilising influence and gain leadership. Also have to pay out more in salary to other club than what we receive from other club, although we actually pay less than what we would have if Oliver stayed. I'm happy with that.

Usually someone spots a few running around in the last week of October - unofficial training

Thanks

A bit off script but still to do with new players, has anybody heard how Berry is coming along. Did he play anywhere towards the end of last year?

Yeah I'd take him and Greeves

With Woey gone we have 33 on our senior list, 4 on our Rookie A and 2 on our Rookie B. We usually go with 36 Senior , 6 A rookie and 2B rookie to make up the 44. (Apparently helps with salary cap) If we keep to that we can only use 7, 8 and 37 slections. We'll probably use the 2 Rookie spots for Academy Picks/Father son.

We've got the same problem as last year. Even with Tracc and Oliver we rarely had a player get 30 possessions let alone 40. Hard to see who that player in our side will be. I guess a more attacking style and pace might help

Either is fine but prefer A