Deemania since 56

The PF injury is long, long term and whilst the pain and inflammation - and sometimes flattening of the arch of the foot - tends to 'disappear a little', which raises the affected athlete's confidence, it never truly disappears and often worsens, and can reappear with very little impact, aggravation or stress/pressure. A footy match played may well be one's last if that footballer has had a dose of PF immobilisation. Surgery is a process; it is not a cure for this debilitating condition. Some cases are different, as always; however, it would seem that the condition may be re-triggered or not yet overcome.

That type of delivery would make Weed a star - he has gathering skills to burn, but is not so strong in the pack.

.Those without proclivities or assorted challenges are welcome to throw the first stone. Give him a break!

If he proves to be a 'goer', as reported, we need another one of 'those'. A nasty one, who is tough as nails, rebound-able and who takes no sheet from Mainlanders. He is not too young either, and has played 'some' footy before...just like Vanders.

It is all good for the Weed. I'd still like to see more duality in his play, however. Taking the big speccy is great, but not high percentage football. The strike-rate is affected in packs. It would be good to see the Weed exploit his ground skills, as well, weaving around packs and exploiting his remarkable kicking/hand-balling skills. Pack mentality could be reduced as it limits his application of skills - he is a smart fella and could engage more often in leads and decoys as we have timber in our deep forward line for 'the bombs'; an alternative to this style of play would greatly benefit our team with a bloke like the Weed coming out at good pace to receive, not statically await the incoming crush of spoilers and ordnance of the leather variety.

Yes, you are probably correct about the agility outside a straight line. I'd like to think that Hunt could learn to change direction and side step that will add to his capacity to read the game. Hannan and Spargo may have to do it all. :-)

It would be interesting, getting the speed drop on his opponent/s with appropriate and general shepherding/clearance from teammates, if Hunt, playing at deep forward (pocket?) could lead to receive near goal, similar to Melksham and sometimes, Petracca. There could well be many entrances converted to goals; there could be an avenue or two when this might occur. Hunt could play a role in this as he is faster than - and an equally strong kick as - Rioli, for example. Straight leads from the bigger forwards are more likely to be of less depth and rely heavily on 'the big grab'; furthermore, the 'bigs' whilst nicely accurate, equally need support at ground level to both receive and create ball possession opportunities in fwd positions and additionally, will be less likely to make rapid changes of direction or prove desirably evasive as a well-coached Hunt (hint, hint). The above three are vital in all of these regards. It would also enhance our 'chaos' style of game that has fallen down in the past in the 'very likely' scoring zones.

Without looking/reading any further, the young fella, Jay Lockhart, appears to be the epitome of all that is Tasmania - small, a fast trip coast to coast, learned to kick from a mule, and tough as a south-western mountain ash. Welcome, Jay. Could be the ideal type for a forward pocket, leading out and with that kick, able to successfully turn a 40-metre screw snap post high. Jay has the look of intent like an early Colin Sylvia, too.

Fantastic effort - there is no greater colloquial population than that of Perth, WA; an Eagles supporter at that!

Totally agree. He's a weapon and a valuable one at that - no need to risk him on the excuse of 'bench availability'.

Bernie would make a great prop forward, running around in circles - however; we know he can kick 'em. He'd make the crowd smile, too.

Simple, isn't it? Good ball users win games. We need more of these types of players who resist bombs and look up to where the ball and receiver should be on the ground. Clarrie and Salem - it's a great start to what is required.

Salem's transition from backman to a spot on the wing is a good thought; it could be very productive and perhaps, just perhaps, producing more value from his kicking accuracy and 'read of the play'. We suffer in games from reduced accuracy and deliberate hits into the forward line - Salem may well be one series of teeth in the cog for improved forward penetration and delivery. Whilst not often a wingman, this need reminds me of Rodney Grinter, feeding with accuracy (albeit a far longer and more forceful kick with an ability to self-pr0tect) into those spots and players on the forward line who could convert. The re-signing of Salem adds stuff to our future success.

Ken Oath! Big difference these days and it has been so important. Another playmaker stowed away.

With all of the justified concern over player fitness and team depth this coming season, ain't it just going to be amazing and inspiring when they all hit the ground together for the first time, and line up on match day as a totally unbeatable team of great footballers with immense team pride and interactivity.

Addressing these issues (with surgery at various levels of depth) and more gentle and time-consuming training/readiness agendas in place, it is better for the whole team to have dealt with these requirements prior to the start of the season or, for example, midway through the season, or by largely overlooking or even ignoring latent problems in/with players where these could well fester, leaving a severely handicapped depth listing nearing the end of season - when we should be knocking off other finals aspirants without mercy or concern. Notice - ameliorate - fix - prepare - test - win responsibly. A good footy mantra.

Three strikes is like a horse on the horizon, disappearing into a neo-Gothic mist and strongly running free and confused now that it has bolted. It's going to take a helluva effort to get him back into the paddock.

That was a good season for him when having the opportunity. He did show some potential at the end of the training and adjusting rainbow. He hit hard, went in hard and ran well with the ball. His finishing skills were the suspect areas but, he was improving. He has deceptive pace and some height that I hope he has been able to develop. Thoroughly worth watching.

Saw him (Jake) play a couple of times at Essendrug. Hardly got a feed from his teammates as he was a bypass player. In the doldrums, he decided to do something about it and very cleverly, at that. When recruited to the Dees, I was very happy; knew it was all in him and perhaps more. His physical attributes were noticeably very sound. His reading of the play had something akin to ball glue about it. He's now producing even more - and the Dees are very lucky to have him. Ditto, for Hibberd, whose attack on the ball and his great kicking really impressed.

He is the bloke to play on Cox, but there are many others in the whole comp on whom Preuss could be completely effective. His strength and physical presence are just two components that provide (other than that provided by Gawny, to the death so far) great options for our team as a swing ruck-forward-backman, depending on the team we are playing. This, at least, provides that relief we must have for a longitudinal Max Gawn and due to Braydon's age, he may well be the longitudinal heir apparent to Gawn. Whatever the case - and no-one will know until this season is underweigh - our acquired 2-ruck combination is highly formidable. Given the talls in TMac, Weideman, OMac, Joel Smith and even Bradtke (once matured), we really are poised for some positive action it would seem.

Golly, a tough call ... both are different players and indeed, in the final act of kicking the ball at the sticks, both are again different. If the Weed develops his attributes, he may well be a prolific forward but I would expect him to more naturally win more ball on the ground than in the air - as a marque of the present game. Hoges was phenomenal at times, yet had to endure the ball sailing over his head so often, or as a result of the said 'bombing', change direction and move into congestion - and yet he still took a few each week despite this handicap. It is correct to think that the 'team' approach can be improved, particularly in the final delivery of the ball to a moving forward. A few big monoliths in the deep forward areas would assist each of them to block, screen cleverly and rally each other into desirable 'receiving' positions thus offsetting/unsettling tall opposition defenders not fully knowing as a consequence 'where and whom' to counter and how. We have the smalls and runners down there already, highly capable 'on game' to crumb, create havoc and speed the ball if loose for a second or two in this chaos, some highly reliable to score rather simple and the miraculous goals in the opportunity. I guess I really mean to articulate that my preferences would lead to the presentation of more 'organised chaos' for other teams in our mid- to deep forward zones. It could be enigmatic......

We have a tendency to put a good deal of pressure on the Weed, don't we? He has taken a long time to produce what he did in the last breaths of the 2018 season, but it was most probably a sign of his readiness for greater things - improvements over time is a long-held tradition. He will have a better time across the whole season in 2019, and this is his 'well-earned privilege'. We need him to step up with confidence this year - with a concentration on presenting for the ball, getting the ball and putting his great kicking skills to work more regularly. Onyer, Weed - keep plugging.

Hurrah! This is a very prominent in my mind, too. It shows that something very good is happening.

Nice post and quite revealing. As for the Filth, it is very sad (for them) that age is creeping up on their experience base and with that, a few years (the more the better) in the doldrums could possibly be a consideration and outcome for/of this list. The cynic in me thinks this is going to be a test for their injury management and for their list refreshment in order to be competitive.

Good points of thought and discussion, hemingway. Goody is bringing the packet of biscuits as you say. I still wish that Paul Roos had the energy to be there, too; both working away at the task of a Premiership run/series. Roos' passion for the Club stood out.