Brenno

My original statement..... " I don't mean completely ignore them(interstate draftees), but we should be prioritizing Vic kids IMO" Your responses: You are both wither intentionally straw manning me or both need to invest in a dictionary and look up the word PRIORITISE. Either way, I stand by my views on how we should approach our list management moving forward.

Limiting the chances of players wanting to go home is not "being Insular" is called being pragmatic and objective as to address an issue. With all the talk of Kozzi wanting to go home I would be shocked if these discussions are not happening internally with the list management team at the club.

Neither of those lines contradict what I said. 'draft for talent, trade for need' - Ok, but prioritize drafting Vic Talent whenever possible.... And by doing so are we not "managing" the chances of go home factor?

I feel like we need to start avoiding interstate players whenever possible. I don't mean completely ignore them, but we should be prioritizing Vic kids IMO. Especially top end picks. The constant speculation surrounding our club and players going home hurts us in so many ways. And for those who think "it goes both ways"....It really doesn't. If a top end talent wants to come back to VIC, we are competing against another 10 clubs to attract them and as much as it hurts to say... we are at the bottom lists when it comes to desired destinations. Even when we wont the flag we were not very desirable. If you take your Dees glasses off, why would a player pick the Dees over the Pies, Carlton, Cats etc. The bigger clubs are better place to hold onto interstate players too. Player movement is only going to increase as it has for the past 10 seasons or so, And an increase in trading doesn't help us in the slightest. We should be doing what the interstate clubs do and prioritize local talent.

He is the best kick inside 50 we have. Full stop. Offers more than Chandler IMO

Gun! And future MFC legend IMO.

We need a petition 🤣

He should be booed off stage at the B&F. Send a message to the headless chooks running our club.

I'll get shot down for this I'm sure, but if the Dees Trade Oliver to Geelong, I'll be done with this club. This is the first time in my 20 years as a member that I have even considered such a thing.

He can certainly play! Would love him in the red a blue if possible. Not sure 5 years is necessary but maybe a 3+2 option deal....I would much rather chase players like this than old past it delisted players like Seb Ross, jack martin etc.

Still interested in basically all of the young guns on this list. But I am now extra keen on Josh Ward. Proved on the weekend that when he gets to play in his preferred spot he has potential to be an A grade player. 22 Disposal (8 contested) and 9 Tackles from only 64% TOG. Had the most tackles on the ground and looks to have improved his physicality. With Will Day and McKenzie clearly the preferred options but out injured, he may be open to a club change. Secondly, With the new Dusty bombshell, we MUST knock on the door of GC for young Humphries. unlikely he will break into that midfield anytime soon and is wasted playing full time forward pocket. In: Ward, Humphries, Pick 5 (gun Mid). This would be a huge boost for not only our midfield but the overall youth and excitement surrounding the club. I don't no about you all, but seeing Ward, Humphries, Smillie/O'Sullivan joining current youth would make me super excited for round 1 This youth added to our current vets sets us up for the long haul but also allows us to compete now. Midfeild Group 2025: Trac, Oliver Viney, Rivers, Ward, Humphries, Pick 5. Plus the occasional cameo from Kozzy, Windsor, Mcvee & Kolt.

Super Happy with this! Looked to have a new lease on life this year down back. He may even go on further if he keeps his 2024 form up! Interestingly, Macca is currently 12th on the games played list for the Dees. None of those above him have a flag to there name either.

Although things seem to have turned a corner lately, this year has highlighted to me how little depth we seem to have through the center of the ground. Which, in my opinion is the most important part of a modern day AFL list. I feel we need to bolster our midfield ASAP and believe this year there are several high potential targets out there for us to look at. I don’t want anymore 26+ year old rejects from other clubs, as I feel that sets us back to in our age demographic and I think we need to re-energize the list with some youth. I feel we should be targeting high potential youngsters that are for whatever reason struggling to break into their current sides or cannot get game time in their preferred position. I understand we need other positions filling as well, but if we can snag 2-3 off this list and keep our first rounder this year, I think we would have done very well. Tier 1 Ben Hobbs Down the pecking order at Essendon but has the potential to be an outstanding player. He can’t get a decent run at it in the Dons midfield which is his best position. I love the way he attacks the ball, has a touch of class and can hit the scoreboard if pushed forward. The Dons midfield still has Parish out injured with Tsatas and Setterfeild as further options so he may look elsewhere. We should be in his ear and try to lure him over with opportunities to play in the guts on a more regular basis. Angus Sheldrick. Clearance machine and unlikely to get a run at his best role anytime soon as the Sydney’s midfield is an embarrassment of riches. Been injured most of the year but would be a walk up start in a lot of midfields when healthy IMO. I get young Jack Viney vibes off him, and his ceiling is yet to be shown at AFL level. Another we could potentially grab on the cheap and he is excess to the swans needs. Bailey Humphrey Most of us here are aware of Bailey as I believe we went hard to try and trade up to snag him in his draft year. He wants to play midfield but is stuck playing forward full time which is a waste of his talent IMO. With the absolute hoard of mids at GC he may not get a look in for many years. If we can get into his ear about coming home and offer the chance to get midfield time, he may just be gettable. He is only in his second year but I can see Petracca like qualities in this kid. Would be an absolute coup if we could land him, but we got to be in it to win it. Tier 2 Josh Ward Looked like an absolute future star in his first 2 years but has been down this year and pushed out of the side due to Worpel, Day, Newcombe and bizarrely Connor Nash taking almost all midfield rotations. They have tried him on the wing, but it just doesn’t suit him. He would add some class to our mid-mix and has an elite kick inside 50. The only knock I have he that he doesn’t relish contact like he needs to, but he is still young and has an extremely high ceiling. Down on confidence at the moment, but the kid can play! It would be a buy low type of trade that could pay off big time. Neil Erasmus Absolutely dominates the midfield at WAFL level, but with the young gun midfield at Freo it seems inevitable he will be on the move at season’s end. The former pick 10 is a Big bodied mid and only 20 years old. Not the best user of the ball, but hey, either is Viney, Clatty, Sparrow etc. He has never really been given a chance to prove himself in the guts at Freo, but the potential is there. Potential bargain if we can get him on the cheap. Luke Pedlar I don’t understand the way the crows have handled this bloke. Yes, his body has often let him down so far in his career, but Nicks almost exclusively plays him forward in a team that really struggles to move the ball cleanly, or he is stuck in the 2s. On the few occasions Luke has got some center bounces attendances, he has shown some serious talent and some very nice and rare attributes. He is not a huge build but goes very very hard at the ball and man. If he can get his body right, I see him as an explosive, tough and skilled Mid/Fwd with huge potential upside. Tier 3 Alex Davies. Not the same level of player as the formerly mentioned but would cost basically nothing and would certainly add to our midfield mix. 191cm midfielder and still only 22. Gold Coast have solid midfield depth at the moment and he is right on the cusp of getting regular game time. Works hard and cracks in. Would be a could get IMO. He is rough and raw but there is a lot to like in his game. A late 3rd or 4th rounder could get it done. Henry Hustwaite This kid has class, skill and that elite “Pendlebury” awareness in his game. Has played a few games this year at AFL level and while he didn’t star, he showed signs and potential. Hawk midfield is deep at the moment, and he is back in the pecking order. I don’t think the Hawks would want to lose him and it would at least be worth putting out the feelers. Jaxon Binns More of an outside type, Binns racks it up in the VFL and has shown he is above the level. The Midfield at the blues is stacked both inside and out so his chances to play seniors have been extremely limited. Probably not any chance of becoming a center bounces player so would be lower on my priority list but the kid can play and would be an upgrade on Laurie or billings. A late pick should get it done and he would most likely offer more than a 3rd round kid in the draft will. Elijah Tsatas Another ball magnet and high-end draft pick rotting away in the 2’s for Essendon. His kicking is suspect at times but he works hard and can find the pill with ease. If he can put on some size and tidy up his disposal, he would be a very handy AFL level mid. Huge upside if he keeps improving and wouldn’t cost the world IMO

Most coaches votes too. Gun in the making.

Lloyd gave him votes too. The broader AFL world is starting to notice.