58er

We have been in the group with top of AFL performancea AWAY from home in the last 4 years. It has not been the reason ( except for some in 2024 like Freo and WC at Optus Freo at Alice and Dogs at Marvel) ) all grounds with great records since 2021. Will depend upon how we are playing but we won’t fear this stretch of the draw. Not a fantastic draw for the bean counters at first glance but no excuse for the 10,000 /12,000 weaklings who reneged at night vs Port and GWS taking us back to the old days at the G with sub 20,000 crowds. They say 1,20 pm Sat is great and early Sunday also. Let hem do the talking plus the walking in 2025. We have a raft of 3.20 Sunday free to air fixtures also so again no excuses day birds. I have a feeling our footy might be quite compelling to watch and we may get some broadway glimpses in the last few rounds vs the other top teams when the draw is completed after Round 15. A draw from the AFL which continues our good news since Brad Green hit the top position now JT needs to nail two top 10 recruits next week one to strengthen our midfield outside speed and skill and the other a KP star who can ensure our spine is good for the next decade or more. Smith/ Langford please and Tauru/Armstrong thank you would be a great Chrissy presents for our newly positioned Coaches to start work with Caleb and Kolt plus Harry Sharp set to speed across the G like Bluey A did in the glory years and Lingers has done for half a decade on the Warnie wing. PS Welcome back Clarry got to love the guy he’s forgotten his teenage tantrum of trying to run away and as usual it fails and home is a safer and better place. Let the nutritionists begin on his diet and the coaches/trainers his speed and defence expertise. Another Bluey Clarry ? and wouldn’t a Charlie look good as well. Go Dees.

Picking a KP player for one of the spine positions is not for the sake of it. We need more KP players than say the 4 talls in the spine. Tmac and Maysie are in their twilight years where as the forward line is so young. One way of ensuring we have replacements or depth is to recruit for it when a potentially good player is available and we have the draft picks make use of them. I know many are despairing about our mids numbers and depth and I admit I am counting on the champs Trac and Clarry returning to their former greatness or very near. Contrary to a number of fans who are doubtful of this happening I am very positive that both will be back and in their best nick. Both are very proud footballers who know the pressure will be on them in 2025. In fact it’s on all the Club after the recent season and our fall not hard to work out why BTW. I am not of the opinion we are miles off the top 4 or 8 if you really delve deep into the facts and happenings that eventuated. Our youngsters are largely being ignored in any predictions by others and IMO we have had dozen ready to take mother step plus some 3/4/5 year players who also can go up another level. I predicated early in pre season 2021 confidently that we were looking good and I have a feeling that 14th and 11-12 and a % of around 100% is not dissimilar to 2020 ( ninth but a few similar teams in between ) is not a lot to make up that many others are predicting we can’t do. all the signs are positive IMO and topping up with 2 potential A graders next week will be great for morale around the club. Thanks all for the great training reports and five players who are massive for us to improve are AMW Jeffo Petty Disco and Howes. Can’t wait for our older group to join and all in for a great pre season to right the ship for our fortunes to improve greatly in 2025.

How are other clubs getting two academy or nga or F/S picks each year? Because they are handling it by getting points for the trades If the other Clubs can do it so can we if we are prepared in advance. But the AFL robbed us with the rules change.

We probably can get a very good second mid at 9 but it’s crazy IMO not taking a good KPForward prospect and sure up our spine and better to trade and draft sensibly on good mids available in 2025.

No no no JJR Rogan Recipe for disaster. Trust me players are graded for a reason and a pick 5/6/7 have greater skills and ability plus professionalism than a pick no 45/46/47. You have to pick the 123 out of those. Good luck on your judgement or needs basis. Its reduced to nothing short of a guessing game You quoted players like lotto no’s If you have like picks 5 and 9 we have a 89/90% chance of two absolute quality A graders and the style that suits our game. You might be after retain types down Round 3 and you have very little control over your selection with all the Clubs scratching for the remaining best even in a deep draft there are no guarantees if it’s rafferty’s rules down the order. Some people get caught up in the romanticism of the draft and are far too cute. What a disaster if we risk two A graders the very year we need to rebuild on the run. The draft is not a lottery if you have two top 10 picks. If you start off with a pick 30 odd it becomes a lottery and not everyone wins the bigger prizes. Leave that to Pies and Others who traded like millionaires and need good judgement and luck at the draft now.

Irrelevant. If Mac was our first pick we would have made the points somehow even if we wanted JVR. You have to look at it that we would like both not just be satisfied with one star. Clubs are doing their homework if they want the best.

Ridiculous !!

OD does not give any room for player development no matter what age. Granted we can make an opinion but really it’s not helpful in a Club as all players are there to be developed. The ones that do ie McVee and AMW are good samples and are now looking AFL standard. Each player on our list is on a journey and to rule out at 20 yrs or in their early years at the Club is premature IMO. Having said that some D/Lers are of the opinion that we give players too long to make it. That is OD ie 2 years is long enough. We would have no Gawny on this time scale and no Joel Smith. I believe 4 years can be too long depending upon circumstances ie injury and team strength in the relative position ahead. 3 seems a good average in the real world of AFL. Bill Laurie is in his fourth year and no doubt is in the last chance stage. Some others are also on their last chance I guess.

Good point about as a Gus replacement. Warming to that but Langford and Tauru would be ideal.

Where is a forward ? One of each a mid and forward way to go. Tauru Armstrong or Shanahan?

Depends upon who we play.

Gary Pert has not left yet. He has announced with the club he will leave at end of the year. Also he will be a consultant ensuring the work on the Training base is being kept moving. So while it’s great about the mood and vibe you have to be careful IMO to sheet it home as a result of all individual recents happenings. If you are in the inner sanctum yes many may have those opinions which would be closer than a fan at training especially the first day of the youngsters who are more likely to be on top of their game if they have done the work required the coaches. I do agree Tiers that Brad Green has accomplished much in a short time and without any heavy hitting so no doubt this is apparent especially for Simon who could be a completely different person this year. As the review suggested but only the person involved can be fully understood when things change and they feel free or released.

Enjoy your free time off!!!

Photo if possible of Jeffo please. ???!

Good to see you are following Barrett and Maclure in thought process. To say about Petty still wondering if he still is considering returning to Adelaide after he about 3/4 months ago signed an extension of I think 2/3 years is breathtaking In the extreme. I do though agree that we need or it is prudent to take a good key position player along with an elite midfielder in the upcoming National draft. I would prefer Tauru but feel that North with pick 2 might grab him so either Armstrong or Shanahan at 9 whoever is available might be the best choice. Remember we do have some flexibility as Petty Turner Rooy Adams and Tmac have all played forward or back during some part of their development or career. Let’s see who the expert JT goes for as that’s the only poll that counts on the night.

Wow Just what the doctor ordered!!! The good news continues ever since Brad Green took over. Next a post on McAdam will have him also fit and ready to fire. Anyone know???

Under your criteria NO ONE will be fit to leadership duties at our Club. Some players are leaders and your worry that say Lever has to be too concerned with his own play is over blown. Joe knows if he makes an error and he speaks quite authoritatively at pressers. He IMO could be a Captain. And how is Riv going to get experience if not encouraged in this fashion yo become a leader. He has already adopted better than your opinion by the Club and commentators plus experts this season to his role in the midfield. Sure he is not the finished product but generally is performing well. Look for what players have as attributes not what you see only they don’t. Faith in ability is a rewarding thing in Clubland. It creates positivity and spirit that helps breed success.

I am certain Troy Chaplain would have made moves to eradicate this if he felt what you are intimating. Yes in most team situations you would think it would be disruptive to the backline boys but I think it only is when something goes wrong so there is a genuine reason for some “collaboration”. I can’t say I have visually seen it live or really had it bought to attention on TV by commentators so your worries seem to be needless. They compare it to a husband and wife arguing in the kitchen!!!

May not make our best team if Chin doesn’t start kicking more goals. Sorry but we need this vital component in the forward line to improve.

And be improved also with Doedee plus Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall as f/s and academy players. Not sure McCarthy will step back in as he replace Cameron or LoMan. But he will add the depth factor like Gardner also. Coleman is a bona fide A grader if he picks up from where he left playing. However our depth should be much improved with all the youngsters with another pre season gaining AFL fitness and bodies. Even some of our role players should have greater fitness and form as most had so so 2024 campaigns. Bowey Melksham Petty Chandler and even Salo and Maysie can all be more valuable. And if Trac and Clarry are back to best or near best that will make for a big difference in our midfield and Sparrow is the big question if he fulfills his potential with performances of a 5/6 year veteran!

McAdam will need to be very match fit as well to have any chance.

Agree with you sons on this fact that we have to get 2 high skilled outside running mids to change our midfield mix. The defence and contest mantra has resulted in an imbalance of our team and also finishers up forward are perhaps needed .

Gee John I cant understand your reluctance to embrace Disco. His game vs Suns on Collins the very highly regarded FB was a real cameo in waiting of how he might develop. One on one and body contact plus his great pace and accurate kicking. If he fails forward he will still make a good interceptor down back. Hopefully he has put on 5/6 kg over the break to help his chances of marking against contested marking beasts down forward. I also like Disco’s attitude of commitment never give up and single minded determination plus his team ethos. A great teammate to have. Not sure but he could be a 30/40 goal kicker this season.

You guys when talking about alleged faults with recruits are so over the top e we the faults. Part of a young players role is to be developed by the Club. 18yo’s are not ready made players usually. They need upskilling etc. Granted disposal is hard to change sometimes but you ou would not have 44 on your list if you only look results and not the upside on young draftees.

Disagree do who is elite consistently ? Sons ?