Roost it far

I don’t think you want to swap between game styles during a game or in season. I think we’ll be attempting to remain defensively very strong whilst releasing our HBF’s, wings and onballers to run, carry and kick bullets to the corridor or forward half. I think during games you can throttle up or back certain aspects of your plan rather than switch to a new plan. Finals remain a defensive slugfest unless you get a lopsided game and then the attacking flair of a team will come out as it did on GF day last year. The fact Windsor is being looked at as a HBF option means we’re looking beyond Salem which I think is smart. Our DNA has to remain contest and defence but we need to work in a way to bring it forward faster and with more precision. Once that kick comes into the forward half we need to be confident we can defend it coming out when the opposition win possession, which they will plenty of times. It’s here we were exposed last year. Fitness is key to this game as you’ve got to be able to transition back to defence, win a contest and then be team ready to go again. It’s a brutal plan. I don’t want to see May left back on a more agile opponent and get torched on the rebound. That’s where the likes of Windsor and McVee, amongst others, need to be continually ready to cycle back and defend/win contests. The best way to win a contest remains numbers. Not just around the ball but on the outside to receive. It’s an intriguing season coming up. Personally I don’t think Hawthorns total run will hold up so they’ll be a watch as well.

What the articles do show is that the media are slowly coming around to what’s been happening at the club. A quiet, focussed preseason with few injury concerns and an extra month to hone fitness, skills and game plans. I won’t be surprised if we start being mentioned as finalists for 2025.

“Are you playing bowls” Gotta love Bernie Vince

The Age article is such lazy journalism. It’s simply a rehash.

“Petracca has returned to the fold and Goodwin has assured him he is rekindling his passion for the game and has what it takes to coach” ”Petracca has said he’ll give Goodwin one more year but he’s out if a coaching change doesn’t occur for 2026”

I think Kolt looks a little startled everytime he gets the ball. He plays like a farm kid thrust into the big time.....funny that, that's exactly what he is. I wasn't sure last year but I'm starting to think this kid could be anything in a few years. I bummed about his injury but it appears they got onto it early. He's got time on his side.

He could be playing by round 6 so I doubt it, I’d be putting Kentfield on that list for George or Culley

Is Windsor injured? Please tell me it isn’t so.

🤦‍♂️

Not to worry, we’ll revert to long down the line by round 5 😂

White shorts, grassy knoll, background 1.32

??

You have to hold, theres only one guy buying!

Another obvious reason the fixturing of round zero/one is ridiculous

We’re doing nothing for the racing club unless we pay a lease fee to them which I’m not sure we do. What we are doing can be seen as a benefit to the wider community who will have access to elite grounds every weekend of the year and at various times during the week.

Jefferson’s lack of AFL games is not the problem here. Everyone grows into the game at different rates. Some play first year like Caddy, others take 3-5. It seems clear enough that he has AFL attributes as described by Casey and track watchers. The questions that need answering are does he have the requisite hunger for the contest to be the player we all want? If he doesn’t can he adapt his game to still be a solid citizen? Or better still can he free the shackles that largely exist in the mind to become that hungry player? Comparing him to others is what we all do on here but it’s not going to give the answers we need. Let’s hope he emerges this year as a third tall because if he does we’ll all be happy.

Just send all the kids to the draft, no nga, no zones, no concessions. [censored] teams get an extra pick between rounds. It’s unnecessarily complicated. I think they like it this way so they can cook the books

With the same risk of injury so just play the practice match

You can add Chandler to that list

Thats how I see it as well. It’s not even a park. There’s a glorified dam and hectares of grass interspersed with dirt tracks and bitumen/concrete. Melbournes presence in an elite facility for 17 hours a week could only be a boon for the area. It’ll come down to whether any powerful people in the community don’t want it or want it for something else. We should have an answer by the middle of the year.

Whilst all injuries are disappointing I think we’ve had a great preseason. Bar Tholstrup and Kentfield we look to be set to have a full list to choose from in the coming weeks. I’d actually like to see Kentfield put on the LTI and see George bought in. I think he’s got more upside. I’m just not seeing your long list of injuries.

Did he look a likely future star?

Reports suggest Adam’s has had a solid preseason. He’s a big boy and marking contests always favour the backmen as he just has to spoil, much much harder when you have to mark, especially against a guy your size.

I know but I started my century a bit back because of the dearth of talent prior to the current crop