Bring-Back-Powell

The skill set he brings to the club is absolutely irreplaceable and provides a point of difference from other small forwards. Whatever the club did to try and convince LJ to stay, the club needs to do 200% more with Kozzie. A critical re-signing.

During the finals I think we missed his intercept marking and the way he was able to take goal square saving marks on the last line. Gus played some insane games as a defender this year: 34 possessions - 20 marks- 3 votes V's Essendon 31 possessions - 13 marks 1 vote Vs St Kilda (when they were good) 29 possessions - 11 marks in a loss to Collingwood on QBDAY. Conversely in finals, he only averaged 19 touches as a full time midfielder (I think) which suggests we could've been better served by Gus playing in a different position. Overall, an excellent home and away season but a disappointing finals series. Be very interesting to see where he plays in round 1 next year.

I'm noticing a few posters are starting to exclude Ben Brown from our projected 2023 forward line.

Bulldogs are understood to be interested.

The only slight knock on Fritsch was his slight inaccuracy and unreliable set shots for goal at the end of 2020 into the early rounds of 2021. However, over the last 2 seasons he's kicked 114-46 which is elite. Easily our best forward and probably between the 5th and 8th best player on the list It was an excellent move at the time to get him to re-sign for 5 years fresh off a 6 goal GF.

Been a joy to watch over the last two seasons after scratching the surface in 2020. Absolutely no upside whatsoever if he wants out next year. At least with Jackson we had a ready made replacement.

Not shocked in the slightest with those comments. He did rate Josh Wagner and Christian Petracca as both C+ players circa 2018.

Was really annoyed at the end of 2002 that we let a genuinely good player in Stephen Powell go to St Kilda due to a contract dispute. IIRC he was picked up in the pre season draft so we didn’t even get any compo for him. Powell then became a very good player for St Kilda including playing in all their finals from 04-06. He only played 2 seasons for us (2000 and 2002) but he was key cog in our midfield as a goal kicking mid. Also kicked 10 goals in the 2000 finals series.

He would definitely want to get some games next year given he was a highish draft pick and it’s year 3 in the system. Looking forward to seeing what’s he’s capable of offering the side next year.

In the last 6 weeks of 2021 he averaged 27 possessions including a tone setting first quarter in the GF. In the 2022 finals he averaged 11 possessions including just 2 possession in 3 quarters of footy against Sydney after Longmire tagged him. Clearly a massively important player to our side and fortunes, which Longmire identified in the finals.

Yeah I'm hoping he gets some games next year. Every time I see him play in the VFL or even AFL practice matches he impresses. Our forward line could do with some alternative options such as Chandler, JVR and Schache if players such as Brown, Spargo and Melksham aren't performing.

I liked his start to the year where he kicked 6 goals in the first 4 games including important ones against Bulldogs and Essendon. Mids that kick a goal a game are worth their weight in gold. The rest of the season didn't leave much of an impression on me and I can't even recall what position he mostly played. He'd be disappointed with being dropped from the senior 22 in round 20 leading into the Pies game. He was apparently listed as our best player in the Brisbane final. Cannot recall him playing well in that game.

Me too. Hard to believe he kicked 26.6 in 2017.

Just posing a question to the forum's members on an important policy announcement by president Roffey.

100% agree that injury really took it's toll on Lever. How many games did he go off injured only to hobble out the remainder of the game? Tearing his plantar fascia on the eve of the season didn't exactly set him up for success either. A key barometer to our defence. I can't recall too many good wins when he's had a poor game, and vice versa - rare that he's had a terrific game in a loss compared to say a May who has played really well in losses (Sydney final on Buddy) The highlight of his season was that central kick against Carlton with 30 seconds left which was too hot for Motlop to handle and then led to the Kozzie winning goal. Showed genuine football smarts in a severely pressurised situation.

Assume everyone's happy that Luke Jackson will automatically be made a MFC life member after he retires as per the new policy whereby every MFC flag winning player attains life membership.

His low possession count/low goal kicking output might be explained by the fact that he's only playing mid 60'% - low 70% game time. Compare that to another small-medium forward in ANB who averages high 70's - low 80's game time. Any reason why he spends so much time on the bench? He should be aiming at a 20 goal season next year. Up from a disappointing 10.12 this year from a so called sharp shooter. On the flip side, his ball use inside 50 is definitely his point of difference as an AFL player.

Played his best bulk of footy between rounds 11-15 which ironically coincided with our 3 game losing streak. Also played a ripper V's Port in the earlier season game. I wonder if he was missed in the finals as we didn't really have a dedicated non Langdon winger. I also wonder what the recruitment of Hunter will do for Jordon's chances for a game next year? Will Jordon keep his wing spot and Hunter plays on the HF and/or HB flank. Or will Hunter be our full time winger and JJ plays as a utility or at worst Casey.

I wonder if this his dress rehearsal for special comments on Fox Footy for the men’s season next year??

Was is it the year after we beat West Coast in Toronto?

Worth a shot considering we're a bit light on for ruck depth.

It's not out of the realm of possibility. In - Jackson, O'Meara Out - Lobb, Mundy, Acres, Logue and Tucker is a net loss in terms of their list for next year. Unless Jackson takes a massive quantum leap from 2022 to 2023 and become a super star. However I would expect them to finish 5th-8th and make it as far as semi final weekend if they have a good run with injury.

A certain prolific poster around here even went to the point of putting me on ignore because he wouldn't accept my view that Luke Jackson was NOT the sole reason we won the 2021 grand final. He was instrumental in that magical minute before 3 quarter time no doubt. However there were a few players who were more influential throughout that third quarter. Someone like a Bailey Fritsch should've been getting more of the credit than LJ. He was the one that kicked the two goals when we looked dead and buried.

Was correctly dropped after the Geelong loss. Was incorrectly left out of the side for 5 weeks and then the finals IMO as our coaching staff persisted with almost the same line up week in week out. His start to the season was very good and had an outstanding 34 possession game against GC which surprisingly didn't get him a Brownlow vote. I expect him to be back in the side for round 1.

You're absolutely entitled to your opinion of course. However, is the idea really that bad? The magic round replaces a round of practice matches that nobody cares about. And all clubs still get their 11 home games. The weekend of 9 March - 12 March 2023 may as well be used for home and away footy as opposed to the 9 televised practice matches that took place in the corresponding weekend of 2022.