D Rev

I think B Brown is still a while off. You can't discount Weid kicking 7 too much, but it was against a fairly poor team. I don't think M Brown deserves to stay in and Weid has more of a future than him, so why not get him back? I dont think we need to experiment too much (5-0) and Fritsch has always played his best up forward. I like McDonald on the wing suggestion, he's been covering heaps of ground / being a good outlet target, so it makes sense. As a winger, he can also provide another tall in defence to help Tomlinson / Lever / Petty (if they all survive). Alternatively, I thought Spargo was particularly terrible on the weekend, but McDonald is possibly a bit tall for that spot. Now sure who to come in there.

I don't think Gus is natural as an outside mid, I liked some of the things he did off the back line

Is there much hope of Hogan returning? He has seemed disinterested since he got there, he seemed to love being at Melbourne (who knows why?!). Would be a good swap for both McDonalds

I like it.

Not sure if it's been raised, but if TMac isn't fit, it might be worth shopping him to Hawthorn; they seem to have the dark arts behind them in regards to fixing crocked players. Don't know what we'd get for him, but at least it'd be an ease on the cap. One of the main impacts of the cap is that you can only really afford up to 6 great players in a team, which means the rest have to at least bring effort, which so much of this lot do not do. I would be merciless with those who have not applied themselves. Our weakest area (still) is up forward, with not enough stability or even strategy. Weid did well and should be given the chance to assert himself as the #1 forward / leader up there. While we did play against weaker sides with him in, I see Jackson as the natural fit with Weidemann up forward, so much upside and run. Brown to support. For now. Of the small forwards, Pickett is the only one I would lock in. Keep Spargo and Hunt (if he pulls his head in) as they provide effort. Hannan and Bennell (well...) are good finishers but apply no pressure so can go. Melksham should only play up forward and only be kept if he takes a salary reduction. Could see Fritsch having some value in the market and he may be replaceable with Petty. If the club has an psychologists, they need to get his goal kicking back to 2019 standards by the start of R1 2021. For the mids, we need to work out the Brayshaw / Viney conundrum. We seemingly can't have them both in the team as they can't play other positions. I reckon there would be pretty big interest in Brayshaw, but I actually think he is the better player. Harmes should be played as a tagger, crazy that he hasn't been. The team should be built around Gawn, Oliver and Petracca. I reckon Jetta and Jones will both retire (at least). Kade K could go too. Baker and Landgon looked great on the wings and are well worth keeping with. I love AVB for his effort. Probably wouldnt walk into our best 22, but a good player to have in the 2s teaching effort. North fans still love Preuss, I wonder if we might get a pick for him? Pretty redundant with Gawn, Jackson etc. For the backs, I was largely happy with this unit this year so wouldn't change much. May, Hibberd, Salem, Lever (needs a kick up the [censored]), Rivers and Tomlinson (!) should be persisted with. Id probably hang onto Smith as the tall back up. Oscar probably has some worth in the market, it's worth testing. We also have Hore coming back. For the others; the Wagners, ANB, Chandler, Sparrow, Kade K, Nietche, Jordan, Bedford, Dunkley and Bradtke are all making up the numbers and readily interchangeable. Likely none will impact our future, unless they are on too much $$$.

One of the things that stood out on the weekend was how much effort the whole team put in on the weekend, which certainly included Hunt. I would have the likes of Jayden and Spargo in ahead of others who don't apply any pressure every day of the week. It's mind boggling that the Coaching staff don't prioritise this. In a league with a salary cap and few stars, you're always going to be filling out the team with ~10 players who are largely interchangeable with the bottom 10 of any other team. The difference with these players is effort. We should definitely hold onto Hunt (at the right price).

I haven't been able to watch too many games this season due to home schooling in the mornings and then working in the afternoons / evenings, doesn't leave much free time. Still, I caught this game and well, why did I? This club has had an issue with a lack of leadership and intensity for a long time, perhaps since Neitz and the 2000 GF crew left? Jones has held the ship together and I admire everything he has done for the club, but he has never been able to bring the others with him. I thought this is something that Lewis would have brought (taught) from Hawthorn, but he seemed more interested in seeing out his contract. The lack of intensity and (in conjunction with) leadership is apparent. The inconsistency is maddening. Goodwin obviously cannot get these players going. In more recent years the club seems to have got more caught up in Footy jargon rather than success. They talk about their brand, connections and learnings - but have little to show for it. The effort is appalling and the results follow. We deserve the downhill skiers tag. Particular zoning in on Lever, Melksham, Hannan and Fritsch on that point. There are other points to be made around recruiting, selection and player development, but that's for another post. I don't know why we don't put in effort every game, but it isn't happening under Goodwin and needs to change.

With O Mac reminding us what a CHB who plays his man can do, allowing Lever to play loose and TAKE intercepting marks, where does Joel Smith now fit in? Back up for Lever (I dont think he reads it well enough), or up forward (I dont think he kicks it well enough)?