The end is nigh

Keen to see how our mids hold up, their centre square looks above this level. Kentfield up forward with other big bodies, will be interesting to see who handles the pack marks best.

Like the idea of grabbing Walsh(hopefully late/cheap), from all the chatter this years draft crop won’t be as good generally so good to have our picks protected to a degree. Hope we straighten out our draft hand for 2026 and let JT loose to mine the 2nd and 3rd round gems. If there’s any chance to bolster our hand next year because we know we don’t need to cover points matching (admittedly risky), would be good to trade picks to the teams scrambling to make up points. ie if we can trade our second rounder this year to a later second rounder and upgrade next years fourth to a teams third, might not seem much but could make a world of difference to both sides. That said we need to make sure we can pay for kalani sinnema and Walsh as necessary so hope they have a good read on where bids will come

I hope May gets dropped. Going Gawn after the siren for his missed kick. That’s not the love Melbourne plays with. Bring back TMac.

Whilst he is playing some really enjoyable footy and a great role of contribution, I have to nitpick and reminisce that this is not the best footy of his career as stated in OP. Jake has had a fantastic career with a prime that shouldn’t be glossed over. This final stanza is a great footnote of determination, but his career has had some real peaks along the way too.

Casey losing the services of Caleb Lewis. Best of luck to him. With Melbourne/caseys ample tall forward stocks, didn’t really get to see much action.

Feel like most have written him off but happy for Laurie to get first crack. He’s next man up regularly in this area for good reason. He’s got good skills and imo has been very consistent at Casey. Been hitting the scoreboard a little last few weeks too. Would like to see him get a full crack at it (or 3 quarters at least). Don’t want to see him asked to play Spargos role though. I feel we are doing a great job in recent times of letting players use their strengths and Laurie does better higher up, linking in the mids. I can see spargos spot on field being filled rotationally between Langford chandler and Laurie.

Will we benefit from playing AJ up north? Are we in a position to rest anyone/ develop others? Should we be pushing our best team each week to try recover percentage lost in the early season and if so, are we about to see the most exciting dees since 2021?

Listening to cal twomey, this draft is pretty weak. Last week he came out and said the top 5 in not only last year but the year before would be a clear number one this year. Sounds like we did very well to trade out of it and bring in XL

The amount of complaints about having Ben brown and Josh Schache on the list for too long was hard on the ears. IMO a list doesn’t need 6+ key forwards and we currently have Petty* Turner* JVR Jefferson Fullarton Johnson Kentfield* With Verrall as a ruck/fwd type on the list too. I get that petty and turner are swing types and kentfield is being trialed as a chb, but would rather not see any more brought on to the list until we decide someone is out first.

Big day for big Petty. I’m hoping for astounding clunks and set shot bullets. Great day for the challenges of many. Cheering extra hard for bowey and rivers to measure up to quality opponents. Hoping that little git Zorko get sufficiently quelled and is frustrated by his own lack of relevance. Dees by 22, 28 at 3/4 time (Yes I’m delusional, please let me enjoy it until reality kicks in)

Mitch Hardie looks too good at this level. Should get a go above midseason, which will be a huge loss for Casey

Picking for positives, I do like that Trac nailed (every time fairly) hustwaite holding the ball at least 3 times, so demoralising that he was subbed. Lindsay and Langford are showing their weaponry now, albeit short of four quarters. So much excitement for their futures.

Thought Lindsay was very good. Hawks wings aren’t mugs and he held his own and looked every bit the player I was hoping for. Won some very creative possessions. Turner went forward and the flood gates opened for them. I like what he does up forward but until we have lever back we need him in defence. Another great game by Gawn. Cherishing every memorable performance I get to witness now.

-10 Jefferson. Quite possibly a double agent. 6 Gawn 5 petracca 4 langford 3 Lindsay 2 Pickett 1 bowey

Great get! Would love to hear from him about so many things, he’s fast becoming a favourite. Who does he gravitate to at the club for his down time and for what kind of activities? (Is he more likely to play fifa with clarry, play golf with May or go bouldering with Langdon?) Where does he see himself making his greatest impact positionally? Has he picked up and incorporated any unusual/unexpected activities from teammates that have accelerated his progression?

Love that trajectory ghosty, will make for a record setting finals series!

I think the point changes make the comp a lot more fair. Brisbane and Collingwood can’t just trade for picks the way Gold Coast has in years past. If you are bringing in a player above their worth now, you’ll have to give up something big for it.

There will be a huge premium placed on picks with points attached. We have to amass enough for a father son (fingers crossed) and an academy player. In past years it’s been a buyers market but with Gold Coast and Collingwood most notably and no doubt many more needing to find points it’s going to be tough to get what we need. Can see us taking a deficit into 26 draft

Jonty faull for the tigers might be straight out of the draft but he is tall and his marking ability should be given some respect. With lynch and him out there we have to replace disco down back with a tall. If it has to be petty for a week, I hope whoever replaces him forward plays with the same hunger and presence. I’d rather see JVR sent back than adams in at this point personally. It’s been a few years but he was a good chb as a junior who also showed promise as a forward.

Was so happy to see turner at home at centre half back (best lever role replacement on the list imo) but protocols so he’s out. But also, we play against a different team each week. We need the match committee to be allowed to be tactical without berating them. If they say, bring Jefferson or JVR in to play petty back on Tom lynch, I’ll back them in that they think it’s best for getting the win. (Just an example, I think petty stays forward and Tmac does that job)

Something that was clear to me today at the ground was there was much better assessment of the setup when kicking out. It wasn’t May’s ‘kick it long to Gawn’ over and over. Instead they looked to create, looking for run and overlap at times and other times precision delivery to work it out slowly by our trusted kickers. Bowey is a great playmaker and I hope when May returns he doesn’t bully his way into taking every kick out.

There’s lots of pieces to move about but changes I really want to see: Disco in to play CHB, lever type roaming role. Came to the club and played this role at Casey to knock the door down for his debut. If he took an intercept mark a quarter and had a few spoils (with low frees against) that would be a huge win. Kynan in to tag serong. If he can’t last the game, no worries. Give him help. Sub him out if he empties his tank. But let him have a chance to make a difference. I have no doubt he is willing to try. A win for him in my eyes would be 12 touches and 8+ tackles. (That said Serong is a gun and could pick him or any one of our players apart on his day)

Don’t mind it. Very different coaching style; has a hard edge about him and can back foot the media if they come at us. Feel like when one of our players gets poked in the eye from a fend off which isn’t called high, bevo would work it into the press conference post match.

Two years ago we had two many key talls, now it seems everyone wants to fill the list with more. I’d be looking at a ruck and a key defender (although white is likely to fill one of these roles) given our list profile. May and Gawn will leave gaping holes if they decline as they well should at their ages. Replacing them should be higher priority than bemoaning first rounders who haven’t come on and filling the list with more. A coach who teaches forward craft to these kids would serve us far better. JVR and Jefferson are not spent. Personally I’ll be satisfied if we don’t mortgage our future any further. Pick up white and sinnema and hopefully snag a late ruck prospect, Jason Taylor has had far less opportunities to influence the back end of the draft in recent years.

.. commit to doing 200 push ups before our next game. If we keep losing, at least I’ll have something to show for it.