Colm

Massive thank you to all our track side reporters for all your work throughout the preseason. love reading them all each week. Disco Turner seems to be one that has flown under the radar a bit. I was hoping he would kick on this year and get a run of games. Any of our track watches have an insights on him?

He may have slotted into the backline but he’s hardly playing the same role. Locking down the best small forwards in the game.

Yeah I agree with you AF locking down the best small forwards might be our Achilles heel this year. Hibberd did a lot better last year than I thought he would given his injury troubles early in the season. Cameron did get the better of him in the finals but overall he was superb. But he’s a year older now and has dodgy calves. Hunt sometimes played the role but he’s gone. Really we still haven’t replaced Jetta. We will need someone to step up this year to fill this role.

Via the AFL app

Not concerned about having 3 tough games(Freo, Carlton, Pies) leading up to the bye and another tough one(Cats) after? Or do you feel we would have our loading period prior to that? I notice we have another very short break during the Bye. (10 days)

Another simple one. Now that we know we will have 2 firsts and 2 seconds going into next years trade/ draft period does it give him more enthusiasm for that draft and how does he rate it at this early stage?

Maybe we are looking to put Petty forward?!

My two big hopes for next season is another flag and for Kossie to sign a new contract.

Great minds😂

Cal mentioned that GWS pick 15 is gettable and that we would be keen if we can’t get a deal done with the bombers. I think I would prefer that. Gives us a staring hand this year and next. Wonder how confident the club is on Kossie staying beyond next season. If they think he’s off I wonder will that play a part in who we select. Might make Brayden George more appealing.

He also said that Sydney would be open to trading out both their first round picks for future first.

When you’re looking to trade in or up the draft you always pay overs so future first and 37 seems about right. We are only using one pick this year anyways. The fact that we are willing to trade out a future pick for 19 says to me that we do rate this draft as we clearly think there will be a quality player or players still available at that pick. JT often sees things a bit different to other recruiters and pundits and if he thinks there will be a good player for us at 19 then I’ll be stoked if we make the move and get someone in a year early as we have in previous years.

Poster in another thread that Jefferson has put on 6kg and is now at 84kg. If he continues to put on muscle at that rate then he may have an impact in the first team before 2025.

@IvanBartul13 HS phantom is the second phantom that has Sydney taking your man Josh Weddle the pick after ours. You think we are a chance to pick him up in front of them?

@Debbiedowner36 really hope he signs before start of next season. We should know what we can afford to offer him now that the trade period is over.

Yeah maybe. Or future 2nd for GWS pick 31 and then 31&37 for 22.

Given where Cal has Alwyn Davey Jnr at 17. Essendon's pick 22 could be available.

From what I have read Jefferson is going to take years to develop. I think we need to draft a player that can have an impact in the next year or two with at least one of our picks, preferably 13.

Given that he hasn’t really been mentioned in any of the phantoms or in the top 30 prospects, if we were keen on him would we not be better to trade up from pick 37 into somewhere in the 20s and grab him or another key position. Grab a good midfielder if one slides to us with pick 13 if not grab a good lockdown/ rebounding defender to cover the loss of Hunt and a replacement for the pig. I’m keen on us getting a good defender with a strong body that will be ready to play next season. Could also allow Bowey to play further up the field.

I tend to agree with you. I think some posters are overrating our draft hand next year. Let’s all hope Freo fall down the ladder and their future pick will be inside the top 10. But they have a very good core of young players that will only improve. There’s every chance that our draft hand next year will only be a late second rounder better than what Sydney (14,17 and 42) is this year. Nobody is raving about the great draft position Sydney is in this year. It all depends on how JT rates the talent in this draft but I’d be surprised if we don’t at least improve our second pick this year.

Interesting that you have us taking two endurance runners who will probably play wing. We just trade hunter to play on wing and we have JJ, Gus and Langdon who can play there. Have you just gone for what you think is best available at both of our picks? Agree we would pick Hollands if he was still there at 13

Yes but know their luck he will request to be trade there in 2 years and they will end up with 2 top 10 picks from this draft.

After a season where we virtually give no new young talent games we simple have to next year. The problem is that few were banging the door down to get a game. I only watch half a dozen Casey games this year and kept a close eye on Laurie, JVR and Howes as they were our higher picks. Laurie was the pick after Bowey and JT raved about both of them at the time. We could do we his quality kicking too but I didn’t see him put in one game where he played well in 4 quarters at VFL level. JVR looks good and should get games but people need to lower their expectations of him for next year I think. Howes looked ok in patches and hopefully will benefit from another preseason. Really hope that an extra preseason sees a big improvement in some of our younger players and that we bring in a couple through the draft that will be able to make an impact next season.

Do you know if there’s greater depth next year as well as better top end talent?

God I hope WC get picks 8&12. I think that would swing the balance back in our favour. If Freo don’t up their offer I’d take pick 8 and a seal of future first. It’s still unders but at least we get high end talent.