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Fair enough that looks better but I think we need either Tauru or Armstrong in our 5 or 9 selections. 83 might surprise ( if we have it this year) and a good mid is easier to find in subsequent drafts. Yes a great one like Clarry Trac or Gus or Jack is greater I now but an X factor CHF or CHB is a win win IMO.

Sorry the info on AMW and Howes is in the AMW summary of 2024 season.

The reality is it’s easier to deal with injuries when you have them for the whole season. Also in that Brisbane scenario they had a player of A grade to bring back halfway during the season. Will Ashcroft yes just as skilled and tough as Daicos and I know it matters diddly squat but the Lions I have no doubt would have won the 2023Flag with Will in their side on GF day. Why say that. As I live in Brisbane I saw his half season in 2023 and was brilliant and after he acclimatised back into AFL pace in a month just was a fantastic boost on what he bought the Lions in late 2024. He was like a horse trained for the Melb Cup ( Grand Final) as he improved in each Final and his impact grew to his BOG status in the Granny. We need a player like him in our midfield and last season more than ever. Caleb Windsor is very like Will but probably wing or centre suits him better where he just needs a bit of space to create his magic. Time will tell That’s why Caleb should be in the centre all season from Round 1 to direct our play and get our full bang for buck going into our forward line in 2025. We should start a Campaign for “The Duke for Centre in 2025” now. Trust me we will regret it if we don’t get the right mid/s in the draft. ( Actually I want Tauru with our no 5 pick as an X factor KPPlayer. Forward or back) we can get a good mid from 9 IMO as the depth is there. It really is so typical of the press and many Dees fans see our team as on the slide. Yes if all that happened in 2024 repeated itself maybe a chance of no Finals again. But I am backing in the following improvement like in 2021 from 2020. 1. Oliver Petracca and Salem to regain their best form and be ready for stellar seasons. ( No guarantee but we are talking about 3 greats in our 2017-24 journey who despite all the going’s on are very proud and champions in their roles. ) 2. Just about every one of the following has an upside ( no matter how much considerable or just in the 1%ers. JVR Petty Turner Kossie Fritta Windsor ( see above) AMW and Howes ( see both above) Kolt Jefferson Adams Laurie Verrall Sparrow ( at long last) Chandler McVee Bowey Maysie Kentfield Pup Brown and both Sharp and Campbell have been needs based recruits who will make is better prepared as a team. 3. new Assistant Coaches Bassett and Jones if this transpires. And no forward line with Stafford’s “ coaching”. 4. Surely Goody has room for improvement not only in his horrible use ( make that NON USE) of our Sub. The AFL may save us and rule 5 interchange and no 4 and a Sub. Immediate Improvement. 5. The off season will have affected the team as well as 14 th place last season being the highest placed team in the AFL ever to win 11 games and remember lose 4 games by a goal or less. 6. Our 2022 to 2024 have been disappointing no doubt so an improvement is possible as no doubt other teams are believing the same. 7. The media and other knives throwers and muck takers will try and say nothing has changed at Board and FD and coaching level but we should obliterate that [censored] and show them our window is not closed. 7. I defy our harshest critics to look at the upside we have and forecast another year/s of underperforming at our top level. It’s there for us to show who we are again and not waste our rebuilding the run while our champs and A and B + are still vital players who will lead the way again with the youth to follow. 8. Anyone a betting person should get on sensibly our odds for Finals and Flag. Oh maybe a Petracca or Oliver Brownlow or if Caleb is still eligible the Rising Star. 9. Go Dees with an easier Draw also if the AFL don’t shaft is like they did Adelaide last season.

Could we try AMW at half forward also? I think he has skills around goals also which might prove very valuable for our attack. This might also react in his favour if his fitness is in doubt. But the Club would be all over this already I have no doubt. Wing might be another chance. Has he got the pace and tank? Should be a big improver I reckon along with Blake Howes nowhere had had a very promising debut season. He has also huge potential up forward.

Some how I don’t find most of the sarcasm in D/Lers is astute or not clever. Let’s not make fun that can easily be misconstrued!

Your lumping of Adams and Jefferson AFL progress as the same is lazy and incorrect. We all know of Jefferson’s gains in the last 10 games for Casey as he was nominated for the last 3 rounds an emergency for our AGL team. He kicked 29 goals in the season mostly in those last 10 games and was even complimented by naysayers and doubters for his genuine improvement and also his game awareness plus tackling robustly. Granted Adams is not at that stage yet but has a contract for 2025 ( not sure of for 2026) to progress. He might see the light like Jeffo did improve quickly on his third year. I believe one mid from the top shelf this Goodyear plus a tall like Tauru or Armstrong as a top tall in 2024 provides balance for both attack or defence seeing some of our existing stocks can swing for both. Even Adams has played previously up forward. Certainly Tauru has also. And I expect Harry Sharp although a replacement primarily for ANB will be in our midfield mix of runners plus hope that Pup Briwn is given every opportunity to also get in the midfield mix which is his great forte I believe. So we maybe are not as far back for mids if you add McVee also. Let’s wait and see, time will tell I guess.

Talking to Nev about coming back to Melbourne in some capacity no doubt coaching. That’s what the topic/ conversation is all about.

No The clubs classified as expansion get favourable draws then another lot (middle six) an harder draw and the top 6 which we are in got the harder draw.

Shows how the new Clubs are protected doesn’t it?

Tauru absolutely. Match winner in the waiting

Great effort by all and deserve to make 8 if we beat the Hawks which will be very hard. But not impossible by any means. BTW Timothy it is round 10 I believe. We have a 5/4 record.

Boy we won’t beat Cats at 83 can we move up and trump them like they did with Holmes to us?

Good point UGTBK. I say grab either Tauru first or Armstrong if available up to our pick 9. A mid is still good to get with this list depth.

Just hope either North or Saints don’t both take Armstrong or Tauru before we get a chance of one of them. If not then is Jonty Faull a good enough tall to risk at 9? Prob not although Cal said finished season well.

I was a worst critic but I think you are exaggerating. He is good overhead but just a fraction slow with ball in hand after a mark like JJ used to be.

Bit he was according to all reputable journos going to go to US until the Petracca saga. That is undeniable that he favoured us 3 mths ago then changed his mind.

You haven’t read the email Moo. Jeffo is now clunking them and tackling over last 9/10 games. Get up with the program and give the kid a go.

Yes yes BAC.

If you believe you are in contention or near that rank then needs basis in this draft is essential. Thats why st 5 Tauru or Armstrong and a mid at 9. We could easily pick a mid at 5 maybe Langford if availabie and either Tauru or Armstrong at 9 whoever is still left.

I want Tauru for his versatility and X factor and at no 5 also.

Disagree never enough talls. Grab Tauru at 5 and one of the top mids even at 9. Tauru is an X factor as he plays both ends and a freakish mark. A game changer in other words. One mid this year plus Sharp and Brown to surprise with run and carry to assist our game plan.

Really Darkhorse !! suggesting a forward who was a nice bloke but failed in sO many simple ways at footy to assist our young forwards now is like the most ridiculous comment and idea I’ve heard of. Next you will want Mark Neeld to be part of the Dees next coaching succession plan. Please be a a very dark darkhorse and don’t stand for any board or FD positions should they become available in the now or future.

Here here Sydee