Bay Riffin

i agree. great player and everyone has the right to feel negative towards the club but you keep it internal. He stuffed up the brand Goodwin had built over the previous 5 or so seasons. When a top player like Houston did an about face watching it, that was it for me. As a teammate how could you listen to him after that.

but also isn't it the right thing to change the style when you don't have the personnel for a faster flowing style.?

Jagga Smith was rated by many recruiters to be number 1 pick in a super draft and he looks a beauty. They pulled out of getting Houston to trade picks for Smith. Wise move. Freo also gained Shai Bolton who will make their midfield very hard to beat. just what they need.

agreed. When most pundits were negative on getting Grundy in, I remember Cornes saying during the pre-season it was a 'brilliant' move. When we stopped playing him he turn coated and said what a disastrous decision that was. no credibility.

I think we are very capable of making it back into finals. we will miss ANB no doubt but Petracca and Oliver is where some real improvement will come from plus some elite youngsters coming through. I feel we now have genuine back up for Gawn. In terms of the midfield i think Pickett and Rivers will add a real point of difference, playing more minutes in there, not just cameos. We may lack some speed down back but Windsor and who knows, Lindsay may help with that a lot. I also think Melksham after a full pre-season my surprise up forward. I think finals is quite achievable.

I can see Freo reaching top 4 this year with probs the best midfield in the league now. and best ruck combo. a bit like the Petracca situation late last year, if Kozzie wanted to go there, how could a deal be done ?

Blakey had two father son choices, then went to swans. his dad happened to be on the payroll as a coach which was purely a coincidence I'm sure. ha ha

Thing is Tmac had a pretty good year, but cant see them playing May, Lever, Tmac and Petty down back in the same team. So im not sure on the logic. Maybe to get Pettys confidence back?. I really do think he was not moving well in a lot of games last year, clearly hampered by injury.

with Windsor, Rivers adding to our midfield and a couple more young guns, i'd train him up as a tagger. Strong, good skills but i dont think he's a natural reader of the play, he'd be better used nullifying an opposition star.

please do go on...what did you see as his strengths and weaknesses?

i might go against the grain here but this image is what i dont want over this preseason. we have had so many hugging images etc like last preseason. and ive seen sooo many images of Oliver AGAIN this preseason hugging everyone. Sorry but its now time to show dedication.

so the difference is 9 players. Based on a sample of one year. yeah great analysis.

totally agree. they know Brisbane will take him. make them pay full price. hes tipped to go pick 5 which is a lot cheaper than pick 1 or 2. this is what happens when ex-footballers have to use their brain. well we never really were going to get him, so we didnt interview him, so wont bid. yeah great logic.

You realise Taylor is one of, if not the best recruiters in the business yeah?. Would hardly bag our recruiting last 6 or 7 years which has been outstanding.

which is why gold coast got about 5 first rounders last year and will get 5 more next year. utterly ridiculous situation as all the elite juniors are invited then are tied to one club.

a revelation in the midfield. had a great year and will be intriguing adding him to Viney Petracca Oliver in the guts this year.

good idea. probs get a game before Sparrow. Gets more of it.

Totally agree. I just have little respect for him now, it does appear very much its about himself first, then team second but the fact he went so publicly and ruined our trade period has serious consequences.

watching him live and his gait he wasnt quite right this year. especially earlier in the year. looked like he was half limping when not near the ball. I think we underestimate some of these blokes are pushed out there week after week when they are only 80% right. I wouldnt be surprised if he 'magically' comes good when his body is back to what it was.

So you don't rate JVR, Jackson, Petty, Disco Turner ?. He failed with a high pick on Weideman back in 2015 but in the 9 years since I'd suggest he's been well above avg for talls compared to other recruiters.

certainly does over 30 goals is well above average for a small forward.

He would have driven that.

I'd like to see what Sestan could do at a higher level, he's got the most talent amongst the young Casey guys. like AMW he needs to improve his reading of the play and get more of the ball, and utlise those skills.

yep and Heeney won the game for them when they are almost gone. absolute joke. like Jeff Whites son wouldn't have played Aussie rules if not for an academy.

do they really move up late ? the phantom drafts shift once more knowledge comes out on who is picking who. not sure one extra game at the end shifts the clubs thinking that much.