Gawndy the Great

Recently bumped into a colleague who is chummy with one of the board members. When he spoke with him post season he mentioned that the players were over confident but that’s it. Doesn’t explain the lack of fitness and fade outs though.

I’m pretty sure one of his boys was brawling with Nevs boy at the GF celebration at the G last year.

The 6 games investment maybe paid 10 fold if we have a father son/daughter nomination down the track.

So ultimately this means the Lions at the Gabba in GF if we both get through. Only real opponent that can cause an upset are the Crows but they have been pretty average this year bar flashes of brilliance.

Our drafting strategy for the next 2-3 years has to focus on the bookends & HF line. Our midfield crop (Lingers, Hunter, Viney, Brayshaw, Trac, Clay, Gawndy, with Harmes, JJ, Sparrow to compliment, Dunstan as depth and Taj, Howes next in line) is set for at least another 5 solid years and any players we recruit now into that role will find it difficult to break through and would spend excessive times in the VFL. Its a good problem i suppose having the midfield and follower lines locked . We need to use our strong draft hand next year to find our next KPF to complement JVR (who is still unproven). We will hopefully get a solid look at Turner this year and see if he'll be able to hold down a KPF role to cover May's retirement, but if we have any doubt then we look to recruit and there is the potential backfill for Petty if he is to move forward. Begs the question what we do this year. Ideally it would have been to land Cadman, but that is unlikely. A good kicker and playmaker that we can plonk onto HB or HF lines could be something we look at as we are most vulnerable there. Hunter somewhat solves that problem, but our F50 connection largely driven by a slower / higher turnover ball movement from HB is to be blame.

We are about 2 goals less per game than Geelong. Its not much in the end given our infamous 2nd half draw.

It’s been said several times throughout the year but was staunchly defended by some on DL that are probably for the first time coming to terms with this.

Just hearing Stevie J has taken on a head coach role for Yarrawonga. Shame, would have loved him as the forward coach, but was probably never really a chance given his aspirations.

The only reason we’d try to move up IMO is to try and secure Cadman. But given reports that GWS are likely to take him at pick 1, it pretty much puts that to rest. You’d be better served recruiting a gun midfielder but maybe they see something super special about him. If however miraculously he slid to pick 5, then you’d potentially look at trying to work with GCS on draft night to give them our F1 and Pick 13 for it, otherwise if hes gone by then, play the hand as it has been dealt and take 4 picks inside 40 to next years super draft.

In all seriousness the picture of the state on the guernsey is cringe.

He’ll goto Geelong and become Stengles partner i crime. You all know it!

Could have happened 1 month ago and King might have been snagged. Damn. But 4 coaches in 1 season is not good for footy.. become a circus.

Not sure why come out with this now? We’re we trying to get him this trade period? Maybe it leaves the door ajar for Kozzy to get there. But the out of contract does us some favours. I wonder after our trades this year and potential retirements next year, whether we have enough. Fingers crossed.

Hawthorn has to be top odd for finishing last in what’s shaping up as the mega draft.

Did Mitchell to the Pies get done? That is not a bad midfield.

I think he will be a good get.

I don’t watch him play much but head to head with Weid, what is better / worse at? Or about the same?

Welcome big man.

Kind of. If you look at Grundys thanks to the Pies as comparison, you will be left disappointed. Speaks a lot about his manager too.

How does Collingwoods no deal on Grundy compare to ours regarding LJ? It is clear they have no leverage and risk busting their cap, but I believe them whereas we could afford to lose LJ and potentially get him to WC but looked like a deer in headlights.

Hold fire on the Weed trade until this is done. We could get caught with pants down.

Just as long it isn’t a sub 180cm player. We have too many short players. We have an excess in stock of inside midfield so no. If we can’t get a 195cm+ tall forward then target an all round good player with good kicking skills and pace.

So that’s 7th. Hmm. Too 4 is a stretch but even with 5 or 6 we are ahead a little. Imagine if they missed the 8 (can’t see that happening ) It could be a pick in the top 10 and potentially two if we package up our F1 with Freos F2. Boy we need to pray hard for a Freo failure.

He can move in with Sparrow and JJ.

In fairness it wasn’t just him. Matt Rendell said - in his year end review - our fitness was dodgy all year and TMac out was a structural deficiency we could never overcome and that with a good pre season we’d be a lock for top 4 again. So on this crappy day let’s just remember where we are at and it’s LJ’s loss not ours.