Deeko2

It would be hard to be a talented kid from Melbourne, drafted by the Hawks and then want out to another Melbourne team within a couple years to chase success. It's never a great look - especially in the eyes of the supporters who hold long memories. **cough Howe cough** At least if you're an interstate player, you can drop the 'go home' factor in to escape if you like giving supporters a little understanding. The one thing the Hawks will be able to offer is some serious $$ to any kids with talents. I don't see how they can even be meeting the minimum salary cap at present with the current shambolic list of players. They'll soon be able to front load a few for long term contracts but god knows who that would be.

Daz - In my comment I was talking about Yze and Oliver, not Seston. edit: I don't really know anything about Seston to be honest. Why would someone play in the GV when under 18 still? I get it if you're a senior player and chasing some $$$ but is it common for U/18's to do this??

Both Goulburn Valley lads so I'm guessing they may have bonded over that when meeting. Hence why young Harley Reid will slide straight in seamlessly ;)

I agree with your first line. It's always hard for a young key forward in the firsts to get much of the ball when they're outnumbered in the air and always have a decent backman on them. If he was playing a loose man in the defence or up and round the midfield all game I'd be more worried (with that stat line) but as he'll most likely be deep forward, I'd just like to see him contest hard and clunk a few. Disagree with your next line however. The kid is far more talented from the games I saw last year to not exceed the rating of 'handy workhorse' level as a player. I do think he'll surprise a lot. 50/50 on the last point. I always think you need to reward the blokes playing best but I really think that Schache is literally the 'break glass in case of emergency' player. He's had so many chances at the top level in multiple roles across different teams and still failed to really own a position long term. The moment a big went down this year I've always thought JVR would be next in line. You have to give him a taste at some stage and see where he's at and I think a lot will be pleasantly surprised. The energy that youth bring is always infectious and it's a good time, early in the year for a taste for a few games. If it doesn't click, he can return to the mid day show with the knowledge of what's required in the ones.

All this kid has to do is kick a few bags of 5 this year and he'll nearly demand a seven figure contract on a long term such is the hype around the brothers. As much as I rate them both, I don't see how we could possibly afford a King brother with the big contracts already in place for so many of our premiership stars. Yes, we'll lose BBB, TMac, Hibberd, Melksham and a few other fringe players in the next 24 months but in the twilight of there careers, they'd surely be on bugger all and we'll need to free up some serious coin for Kozzy who I think we just pay him whatever he wants - such is his importance. I'd rather us take our two first rounders and bring next years forward again (someone will bite) and inject another crop of elite talent to learn from the best in the business.

This is the most excited I have been for a debut since Trac was picked. The kid has some serious courage in the way he launches at the pill and the ability to split open packs. I would have played him Rd 1 ahead of both BBB and TMac as he contests so hard in the air and on the ground as well where the elder statesman (BBB especially) add little value once the ball hits the turf. I've been impressed with BBB's ability to snag some opportunistic goals this year, however he still plays like a flanker and gets moved under a high ball so easily which gets frustrating. TMac has really struggled from what I have seen as well. This kid is an old school, pack hitting CHF and I can't wait to see him develop with us. Not expecting much in his first few games however but I really believe he'll be a jet for us long term.

Well said McQueen. I doubt many here have ever been in a position where astronomical amounts of cash was offered for you to return home and do exactly what you want. I have nothing against what Jackson decided and won't even boo him when we play them. He'll still always have a special place in my memory for his efforts in 2021. I also have no doubts he would have been feeling incredible amounts of anxiety around his team mates last year which would have effected his performance and still would be impacting it now which isn't fair for a kid still finding his feet at this level. Do I feel sorry for him however? Goodness no. He still made the decision. This is always the risk players take in signing huge contracts before they're really earnt. His manager and Freo are the ones that need a good kick up the backside for filling his head with [censored].

They've clearly cut the list and cut it far too deep and will struggle to stem the bleeding now. I'm not sure why Sicily, Wingard & Impey etc would be keen on staying other than $$ in the short term. It will take them 4-5 years to rebound for another shot if they nail their drafting and development. That's a big risk to the remaining few senior players. I doubt the clubs administration/coaching departments would be worried about losing whilst getting excited by high end picks. Still, I'm not mentioning the T word yet as I agree that they desperately need to turn that list over as it really is in horrible shape. Its almost arousing how horrible it's become. If it's at the end of year and they throw an unco ruckman on the ball for a half, keep you're most dangerous forward on the bench for the second half of a close game or send your All-Australian backman up forward for the second half of a match after giving one of the best CHFs of our generation a bath for the first half and replacing him with a forward flanker who then copt a hiding then Yes, I'll mention the T word a lot more and be out for blood.

Barring injury, will play well over 300 games and most likely finish his career as our most decorated player ever (subject to a couple more flags). The thing that excites me about Clarry (and Trac) is that he's a wonderful contested mark and was a really good junior forward. I have no doubt when he gets a tad older, he'll be able to spend more time up forward and have a genuine impact there as well as the midfield.

I was feeling a bit gloomy still after our performance so I wandered over to a Freo forum to make myself feel better, feeding from their negativity..... I wasn't let down and wow did I get my fill. They're ready to burn the whole place down and start again and already wanting mass changes and the coach sacked. I never had much against the dockers as they've always been rather irrelevant but reading some of the arrogance coming from supporters and administration when they picked up Hogan and Jackson really left a foul taste in my mouth. So yes, I'm quite enjoying this whole 'death ride' experience and well and truly on board for season 2023. This will be the second time in my life cheering on the Eagles on Sunday. The first time ever was 2018 GF where I found myself watching as a completely neutral supporter until they kept showing Eddie pumping his fists and jumping out of his seat when the Pies got away early. It was then I remembered the hatred of the filth > dislike of the eagles. So let's go West Coast! Bring us home a top 5 pick!

We're in a little purple patch where focusing on the now is a lot more enjoyable over predicting the future. A hell of a lot can change within 24 months and the game will evolve again so who knows that the team will look like. It is nice however reviewing some peoples teams and seeing the quality and premiership talent on display. It wasn't long ago that everyone's future teams would have listed P1 starting rover and P5 on a flank with P18 on the bench. Ah.... the glory days of 2007+

Only one thing? I think the idea of getting games into the kids was more of a Bailey thing over Neeld anyway as the latter went for more experienced recruits continually rather than keep hitting the draft. You're spot on though with the core of right young players. You need that committed and talented group to build around.

Agree completely. I'm hopeful young Bill will come on and forge a decent career with us but he's clearly behind JJ who has at least show he can have an impact in the ones. I'm happy however young Bill got a bit of a taste so he's aware of the difference and where he needs to be at. He looked very good in the twos on the weekend. Hopefully he can maintain the rage and continually destroy it at that level.

I'm fairly certain we didn't with the view to one of Max/Grundy would be lurking deep forward to release TMac/BBB (or both) higher up. We also picked up Schache who is fairly similar to the Weid and would be expecting JVR to play at a minimum a handful of matches this year. In my opinion, a C-grade forward is hardly worth burning cash on (admittedly it wouldn't be much anyways)

I probably should have made that part of my trip down memory lane a little bit clearer that he did have a young lad with that name. Thanks WJ 😅 And through the wonderful world of social media, here was dads grab

I can't recall exactly the zones growing up in Echuca in the late 80's early 90's but I remember a few Echuca lads having pictures in there Geelong uniforms on the wall. Paul Brown as one but can't recall the others. The only connection to the dees at this later stage was our coach, Simon Eishold. Obviously he wasn't every Melbourne supporters cup of tea after his VFL career finished but my goodness he was a good footballer in the GVFL. I played in Tongala's last year within the GVFL and played with a superstar undersized CHB Mark Reid. Ironically nicknamed Rowdy as he rarely said boo, he was probably the best contested grab of the pill I had ever seen. There is a photo of him in the club rooms standing on an opponents shoulders taking a one handed screamer. Ridiculous stuff. He would have only been 6ft and was always the man to lock down some very big lads running around in the GVFL in those days like Mark Porter & David Mensch yet agile to go with the elusive and also mercurial Saad Saad. Tongala had a handful of absolutely amazing footballers with a quite a few playing VFL/AFL but sadly the depth dropped away and they couldn't keep up and they went to the MFL I think in 2007(ish).

Very happy to see Kade get his go. Clearly a very hard worker who deserves his chance. I'm not 100% of him being a best 22 player however in a good team. He has some good tricks up forward (not great) and is a good midfielder in the twos but won't get a look in playing with the big boys. It could be because he reminds me of Ben Kennedy so much that I'm slightly scarred. Prove me wrong though Kade - hope he kills it.

I'll admit that I may have got this one wrong and was very happy for us to trade some decent picks for him. I remember a game against us in the wet three years back where he was super. Had some wonderful passages where he setup a couple goals for Freo and I think he jagged one or two himself. He looked like a future superstar. That game seduced me that he was a star. He definitely wasn't scared of the harder stuff at Freo. I'm wondering if he's got a new role that is taking time to adjust to but not sure. Pretty happy we didn't pick him up now but I wouldn't mind another couple young gun mids coming through.

I hope this is true as much as we all do, but how many times do we a similar story for injured players every draft year? It feels like such a common narrative when a player misses a couple matches and they end up sliding and **insert AFL club supporters** claim to have struck gold. The couple days after the AFL draft, every recruiter would be strutting around like a young Freddy Mercury after just killing it at the draft. Anyways, back on topic - From the 2 minutes of highlights I have seen of the kid, I like the look of him. Looks courageous in the air with good hands and aggressive intent. Basically, everything I like in a KP player. Not sold on his kicking action however. The dees would have to the best club for any key position defender to come to in the AFL when it comes to learning from two of the best in Lever & May. Imagine these two, teaching you positioning, blocking, structure etc. I think we'll be sound in the defensive unit for years with players continuing developing from the best. I've always thought a reason why we've always had great rucks is the knowledge passed from one to the other on top of their natural skill. Stynes develops White, he develops Jamar, he assists in developing Gawn and then so on. Hopefully young Adams gets similar treatment from the backs.

One of my good friends was heavily involved with Carlton years back and flicked me a message that Jack Watts had just done a medical with them after about his third season with us. I scurried so excitingly to demonland to drop the massive news thinking I was the first with a scoop only to be politely correct by the demonland faithful that Mr Watts was indeed having a few frothies on an overseas end of season trip with the lads and I was in fact a goose. I ended up giving my mate a call and just got the standard "lol" response which was deserved. A couple lads I know are working in similar circles now basically in their dream job. They're always giggling at these rumours and keep their cards very close to their chests. If they were ever to leak out info about targets/trades, then it would be game over for the career. So I always struggle to believe people when they're advised of these little scoops about contracted players or potential targets unless it comes from the target or there managers first. Loose lips sink ships..... and end careers. Why would you?

The dogs are going to get massively screwed with the Dunkley trade with the Lions. The bloke is a star and will end up going there for two picks around the 20's. One this year and one next. They have every right to be upset at losing a current B & F star for unders but it's comical when rumours come out of a footy club stating they're willing to let him walk to the draft to prove a point. Like us with Jackson, sometimes you just need to take your medicine and move on.

Oh definitely! There weren’t many for them who didn’t pull there weight. I understand what you’re saying around around not getting to obsessed with picks but it definitely seems more likely to jag superstars earlier than later in the draft.

The top end talent is still always the nucleus if any good team along with some decent role players. Petracca, Jackson, Brayshaw, Oliver and Salem were all in our best players on the day and along with Fritsch, this crew won us the game.

I think the Hawks will pry from their clammy grip to be honest. Ignoring the Clarko mess for a second - North are well ahead of the Hawks as they have already bottomed out, have the talent in the squad with high draft picks this year straight into the system. The Hawks are still 12 months from bottoming out to access that talent. They won't start rising up until 2025 imo. They'll be VFL level like in 2023 & 2024 and my god it will be beautiful to watch!!

Some excellent memes here with the Shac/Weed comparisons. Good for a late night chuckle. I feel there is no improvement/decline here however we’ll likely get Shache as a delisted free agent where as Weed nets us a third rounder. That may assist us somewhere in the grand scheme of things