Bring-Back-Powell

A record’s a record mate.

I’d say it’s because he was a first rounder, and the fascination behind getting picked that high. I doubt Aidan Johnson, who was picked up in the late 60’s/early 70’s will get anything near 1000 posts around here.

I’d be happy with Culley.

Nothings been reported, but hopefully they’re just giving him a day off as I reckon he’s completed close to, or up to 100% of sessions. Or maybe a personal matter? Hopefully we don’t get an unpleasant surprise next week in one of Richo’s injury updates.

Watched a replay of the first West Coast game the other day to analyse what went wrong that day, as that was quite frankly the beginning of the end of our season. We couldn’t blame injury as Trac and most others were still in the side. Anyway, amongst the doom and gloom, I was 100% impressed by Caleb Windsor‘s set shot in the first quarter from just outside the 50. One of the most pure shots you’ll ever see, and one that not many on our list are capable of. Add that to the clutch last quarter goals he kicked against Port and Geelong in those wins, suggests you have a players that can seize the moment and will embrace the pressure. The point of this post is that I would like him played further up the field as much as possible in order for those goal kicking opportunities to arise (Bowey the same who I reckon is absolute “money” from 50 out on the run). Lastly, I have high hopes that he can turn out to be an Isaac Smith type. 15-20 goals a year as a class wingman who has been clutch on grand final days.

I reckon the quantity of injuries and rehabbers would marry up with this time last year, and we all bemoaned how bad of a pre season we had last year. I wonder why Lever is back in rehab? Hopefully there's no issue with Windsor.

I've just assumed he'll be in the round 1 side and possibly taken it for granted.

And the Suns for beating Richmond by just enough in the last game. Only half a percent separated GC and us.

Brendan Lade (Dogs assistant) confirmed last night that his club is eager to player other clubs in the build up to round 1. Intra clubs only get you so far. I'm sure most if not all other clubs agree.

Thanks for picking up on that. For the record remove Billings from the bench and put Woewodin or Brown on the bench of the "Best '23' pre season squad". I'm sure those two young fellas may be called up at stages throughout the year.

If they're showing a random West Coast V Richmond match sim in Perth on a Monday morning on Fox Footy/Kayo (which they are according to the Foxtel TV guide) then I'm confident our game against North will also be telecast.

Fair call with McVee and Turner. I don't think McAdam did one full session pre Christmas so he'd probably struggle to get to 80%, and he's again under another cloud.

Yeah I did think of that. However they've had 4-6 or so weeks less conditioning from a contact point of view which isn't perfect. Having said that, they're both seasoned pros and champions that know what they're doing with a combined 25 pre seasons between them, and should be expected to get through the entire season with no issues.

In order to have a successful season they say you need as many of your list doing 80% of full training sessions over pre season. This is the following "23" that have had a flawless or near flawless pre season (according to DL reports) as we head into the praccy match against North. These players have given themselves every opportunity to excel in 2025 (touchwood): B Hore May Howes HB Salem McDonald Bowey C Windsor Rivers Langdon HF Fritsch Petty Billings F Pickett JVR A Johnson FOLL Campbell Oliver Viney INT Billings Laurie AMW Sharp Langford E Jefferson Adams Verrall Sestan Mentha Woewodin Brown I estimate that 13 players have done less than 80% and they include best 23 mainstays in McVee, Petracca, Lever, Spargo, Turner, Gawn, Melksham, Chandler, Sparrow, while Tholstrupp, McAdam, Lindsey are around the fringes of our senior side. Whether that latter group number is too high remains to be seen, and it would be interesting to compare these numbers with our 2020/2021 pre season.

North head over to WA to play West Coast on Saturday 1 March. Therefore I’m inferring that we play North on the Saturday 22 Feb so North avoid a 6 day trip the following week. Plus Fox Sports suggested it’s 11am on Saturday 22 Feb, but nothings confirmed. I’m assuming both clubs don’t want a heck of a lot of fans in attendance hence the lack of notice.

Further to the above: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1266069/tickets-on-sale-for-aami-community-series-new-collingwood-magpies-on-show-before-dan-houstons-grudge-match The AFL website still saying that the date and time for our match sim against North is TBC. Fox Sports indicated it was an 11am start and the second and fourth quarters would have a planned 2 minute simulation at the end of both quarters. I'd suggest it will be on the Saturday as both clubs head out to WA the following weekend for praccy matches.

I doubt it’s that reason. SEN interviewed Jace Burgoyne from Port and he indicated that training for the indigenous team would occur next week. I think they’re just easing his load a little as he’s missing (yet again) the first 3 games and the team needs to put in structures and strategies without him.

Wasn't overly excited that we parted ways with him. We always had that luxury that we could bring Tomo straight in if a May, Lever or Petty was out. Now we're probably in a little bit of trouble if two of May, Lever, Petty and T Mac are missing in the one game.

OMG I've tried to banish that Viney kick from my memory. If his kick had a bit of elevation and less panic it would've hit a teammate and we had a very open forward line to potentially enable the sealer. The entire side lost the plot in the last quarter and it was a final we should not have lost. The other finals in 2022 and 2023 we were beaten by the better sides on the night, and yes that includes Collingwood.

The club should say to Kozzie: Have another think about it for the next 8-9 months. If you still want to go to WA, the we'll still hold you to the third year (being season 2026) of your 4 year extension, which is more than fair enough given you signed for 4 years. We will do everything we can to trade you at the end of 2026, and we'll use season 2026 to work out the best package and club (could be West Coast) that suits the MFC. "Were honouring your wish to head back home to WA the state, Not Fremantle the club." With that being said, it's pretty much a fait accompli that he won't be a long term Dee which is really disappointing.

North Melbourne @ Arden Street. Saturday 22nd Feb. 11am. 4x 25 min quarters.

Thanks mate for bringing that up. He did plead for a bit of patience in that video with respect to a few pre seasons. A handful of senior games and an average of 2 to 3 goals a game at Casey would be a good step in the right direction.

Yep, this isn’t the first time he’s talked us up. Either late last year or in early January he was talking us up on his SEN program, in relation to bounce back teams. He was also bullish about us during his call of the Suns V Dees game late in the year with respect to us contending for 2025. (Mind you he can get over excited whenever a team’s doing well in any given game)

What are Jeffo’s strengths that will not only get him a game in the AFL but hopefully provide a point of difference as a key forward going forward? What did Taylor see in him nab him in the first round?

That kind of trade is common place in the USA. Clubs will try to trade players with bad contracts and attach a prospect with it just to get the salary off the books and then use that money more constructively. Surprised it doesn’t happen more in the AFL.