Bring-Back-Powell

Happy with AMW re-signing. I know it was only a match simulation against North but he looked terrific that day and he was absolutely penned in for the GWS round 1 game in the absence of McVee. (Mind you JVR played his best game of the year in that match simulation so I'm sort of arguing against myself...)

I reckon he'd be secretly hoping his team loses week 1 so he can have a crack at the GF.

If Steve May's performance last Saturday was indicative of his projected 2026 footballing, then I'd replace him with McGovern in a heart beat. An absolute heart beat.

Trac is now completely unreliable in front of goals which isn't good enough for the third highest AFL player next year. Something for him to work on over pre season. The club's overall accuracy has been pleasing since the mid season bye. 108.87 (55%) which is significantly better than the 46% before the bye. Continue this into next year and we'll be giving ourselves at least some chance of winning some early season games rather than beating ourselves.

He’s definitely over compensated. For example in round 4 vs Geelong, he deemed Dangerfield in the best 3 players of the round with a 3 goal/20 possession game. Sure he was good that night and kicked a couple of snags in the last qtr, but was he in the top 3 out of 207 players for the round?? And fast forward to this weekend. Why did he give Gunston votes but not Harry McKay who also kicked 7?

I assumed Howe would be playing as he was progressing well last week from concussion. Aside from Hill, they're basically full strength and in a good position to attack September. On King's B'day they had Maynard, Schulz, De Goey, Lipinski and potentially others out.

The eye test confirms to me that our defence has gone down the toilet these last 2 years. Yes, we've definitely sacrificed some defence in exchange for offence which is understandable. However our lack of hunger at times is clearly obvious. The failed/half hearted missed tackle by Ed Langdon on a Bulldogs player in the second quarter of round 22 sums up a bit of our 2024 and 2025 seasons IMO. The times where the oppo just waltzes past us because we can't put enough pressure on. In order to win a premiership you need to have your defence in order. The last 10 premiers have typically been the second or third best defence (on average) in terms of points against with Melbourne in 2021 and Hawthorn in 2015 being the #1 defence. I'd be worried if I were Brisbane or GWS who are 8th and 9th respectively in points against.

Trac's on $1.35 million next year if you believe Jon Ralph. I would be amazed if teams in the window could afford the third or fourth highest paid player in the league who's more likely than less likely to be declining and is a horrendous kick of the football.

I know Garry Lyon's most valuable player on AFL 360 (best 3 players across the entire round) isn't the be all/end all of awards and talking points but I feel like an opposition player always features in his weekly 3-2-1 votes without fail. Greene, Dangerfield, Rankine, NAS, Gunston, Richards, Rowell....the list goes on. The point being that most weeks we've had a player that absolutely dominates us whether it be in the midfield or a player kicking monster bags on us. This just didn't happen much before this year.

The margin probably could have been as low as 3 goals given Sharp missed a couple of goals in the last quarter that a half forward flankers is paid to do and Gawn missed his 35th elementary set shot for the year. If Harry Sharp isn't nailing his goals, I'm not sure what else he's bringing to the table??

The margin will be interesting in this game. Hopefully we can keep things respectable and deny the Pies a top 4 gig. Very rough calculations but if the Pies beat us by 60, then the Suns would have to beat Port and Essendon by an approx combined 120 points. If they beat us by 40, then the Suns would have to beat Port and Essendon by an approx combined 100 points. Fair to say if we can keep it within 20, the Pies supporters won't be overly happy.

Interesting given May, Turner and Howes were all at sea and T Mac has been our most dependable defender this year.

Happy for May to go as long as we keep T Mac. May's game on the weekend was one of the poorest MFC's performances I've seen from a senior player in recent years. And his game before that he allowed a woefully out of form Charlie Curnow to kick 2 quick first quarter goals to set the tone for Carlton.

You're correct. Trac polled in 7 of his 14 games and had 16 votes prior to getting hurt.

Was T Mac injured or tactically subbed out?

I tried to justify that we're not far off due to all those close losses. But the fact is when the game is on the line, we are continually found wanting and the opposition's gun players always rise above ours without fail - whether it be against a Collingwood or Dogs or a Carlton or St Kilda. The only game we dug in this year was against Brisbane and that was a complete anomaly. (technically against Freo too but that was a real fall over the line operation) You also look at the overall product that was dished up against Hawthorn, particulalry our abhorrent skill level, and you see a team that's nowhere near it. The eye test will tell you this. I've no idea if a coach can fix all of this, but at the moment we appear to be a genuine bottom 4 side heading into next year.

Fritta saves his best for Hawthorn: Round 9 - 4 disposals/0 marks/0 goals Round 23 - 8 disposals/1 mark/0 goals/0 score involvements. How is it possible that a forward can literally have not one involvement in a score for the entire game?

100% agreed. It’s not unprecedented and we wouldn’t be the first bottom 4/5 side to lose a couple of close games to good teams. I reckon we’re miles off being a top 8 team next year.

I’d consider managing Kozzie and make up an injury. His round 24 suspension last year against the Pies derailed our start to this year and we can’t afford to have him on the sidelines for round 1 next year. And let’s face it, bad things always happen we play Collingwood.

Kozzie just but he seems to be slowing down these last 2-3 weeks. Maybe he has one last bag left in him. Could see Fritta landing on 38 and Kozzie on 39. Melskham looks tired if the last quarter of last week's an indiction.

I have Pies still making top 4 even if they lose to Adelaide. I can see Brisbane, Freo, and Hawthorn all losing 1 game each meaning Pies finish above them and finishing 4th assuming they beat us next week. Good things happen when you go on an insane 13-1 run between rounds 1 and 16.

Clearly played his best game of the season last Sunday.

Sounds like a viable dinner option...

I’m not a fan of his new role as a half forward flanker that pinch hits in the middle and I hazard a guess that he isn’t either.

I gave Goodwin his dues last week in another thread where I commended him for his 9 years.