Bring-Back-Powell

All of them are pretty ordinary. If we're the designated away team, can't we just wear a white clash jumper, which are by far the most effective clash jumpers in world sport.

What will be the level of booing on the richer scale for Judd? Will it be Scully levels (10) where Melbourne supporters forgot there was a game of footy on or Jordon (0) on the other end whom I'm pretty sure didn't receive a peep from our crowd. Hope he has a very mediocre career at Fremantle and Isaac Rankine once again makes him look like a bush leaguer on Good Friday night.

I expect us to win 5 to 7 games next year, so I'll set the pass mark at 6. 10 wins is a little on the optimistic side. Our midfield will not compete with the top sides on a consistent basis.

I don't think I've read that before about Windsor.

How can you put a Clarry in the conversation of modern day greats where he averages 5 goals a season?

Excellent appointment. People who have aspirations of being a club administrator would have Brian Cook's poster on their bedroom wall. (with PJ a close second). He was one of the key men to turn Geelong around from a mediocre organisation on and off the field in the late 90's to one of the modern day powerhouses. Not sure how him spending a day week imparting his wisdom to Paul can be considered a negative.

My level interest in this Origin game has gone from a 1 out of 10 to a 4 with this news. Probably also means he'll miss one of our two practice matches.

I hope we don't get to the point where we need to get Paramount for the Saturday 1:20pm game, Netflix for the Saturday 4:35pm, Stan for the Saturday night game and Disney for the Sunday 1:10pm game. I see us heading there in 8-15 years time.

Out of the two players that left, I actually hope Trac succeeds more than Clarry due to the fair compensation GC provided to us, (and don't get me wrong I have no interest in a Trac and GC success story) It will sting more if GWS benefit from a rejuvenated Clarry after exchanging a packet of chips for him. Meanwhile, I'm not shocked he hasn't thanked the fans on social media. The bloke was ostensibly sacked from his workplace and presumably wants to see the back of us.

14th - 17th next year. 8 wins on the optimistic end of the scale. 4 wins on the pessimistic end of the scale. (A very outside chance to be in wild card contention in August if the players embrace and respond extraordinarily well to King) I don't believe I'm being pessimistic. Just realistic. I can't help but think that Trac is an atrocious loss (for the now). We lose his score involvements and his overall magic that no one else at the club is capable of. Having said that, I'm pumped with the traded in players and the young recruits, and particularly pumped with the new direction that the club so desperately needed. We were on the road to nowhere by July/August of this year.

Thought his goal against the Dogs (rd 22) late in the game from 50 out to put us in front showed that he has an appetite for the big moment - that's a good sign.

Taking 4 players before Nat Fyfe wasn’t exactly state of the art drafting by the club in 2009. Also, (allegedly) promising Rory Sloane’s parents that we’d pick him with our second to fourth selection after Jack Watts. Only to then proceed to pick up Blease, Strauss and Bennell while allowing Sloane to be picked up by Adelaide in the 40’s.

Pert often referred to our balance sheet as being one of the strongest in the league. I wonder how it now stacks up?

A month ago, Fox Sports/Ben Waterworth had him ranked 43rd in the draft and compared him to Joel Freijah who was mighty impressive as a tall goal kicking mid. 43. RILEY ONLEY Position: Midfielder Size: 194cm Clubs: Shepparton United/Scotch/Murray Bushrangers AFL player comparison: Joel Freijah Fair to say Onley has divided opinion among recruiters this year, but the back-end of his championships campaign was undeniably impressive. While he had a consistent four-game carnival for Vic Country — he averaged 23.0 disposals, 9.8 contested possessions, 6.8 score involvements, 4.8 marks and 4.0 clearances — Onley’s last two matches were particularly eye-catching. Against the Allies, he finished with a team-high 28 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 13 score involvements, seven clearances, six marks and six inside 50s. Then he looked powerful and confident against Vic Metro with 22 touches and six inside 50s. It was a strong statement from the big-bodied midfielder after a quiet start to his draft year. Fans of Onley reckon he has all the traits of a modern-day midfielder: Size, speed and endurance. Others point out he needs to work on his outside game and defensive pressure. Some would have him outside the top 30, while others reckon he deserves to be in the teens now. It’s just one of those drafts.

Is likened to Rylee West from the Dogs who I highly rate and had a fantastic season with 39 frankfurts.

FWIW our best 2 week period for the year was against Brisbane and Sydney where we looked like a genuine top 8 side those games. We beat the premiers away and were far too good for a depleted Sydney, but played a high quality brand of footy that day. Our forward line hummed on both days and it comprised: Petty, Fritta, Melksham, Johnson and Kozzie. No JVR or Jefferson.

Not specifically related to taking a KPF at the draft, but: A lot of people can't stand Petty but his season as a forward was slightly underrated, and if anything his stint as a defender in the early rounds was what let him down this year. Sure he only kicked 20 goals from 19 games which doesn't look good. But if you take a further look under the hood - he only played 13 games as a full time forward, 1 game (GC) where he was concussed before half time and 1 game (Ess) where he played up forward for a cameo appearance. So if he played all 23 games as a full time forward he's kicking 34 goals for the year which is quite satisfactory IMO. We have a number players (around 5 or 6) who have kicked 30 goals in a season. Compare that to GC who have only 3 players on their list (King, Long and Jamarra)

This is good They can't beat GWS in a fit. A potential double loss. Hawthorn will beat them in Launceston. Likewise Geelong at GMHBA They're appalling against Brisbane at the GABBA, and are at risk of losing to Brisbane twice if the Lions are in a mood down at PFS. The new look St Kilda are an absolute show against the Suns to end the season at Marvel. St Kilda will have 38,000 screaming fans willing them over the line for a wild card birth. We will likely lose to GC twice due to the midfield disparity, but emotions will be running high on Easter Sunday with Trac so you never know. It's not out of the question they go 13-10 and lose the wild card final, but unfortunately they have Hardwick steering the ship.

What gets lost in the wash is that McAdam can actually play. I can recall he was instrumental in a shock 1 point win over the Dogs at Ballarat in 2022 with a couple of goals, some contested grabs and a clever pass which set up a goal. He averages 1.4 goals a game which is prorated at 32 goals a year if he ever managed to play a full season. Most clubs only have about 4 players on their list who have managed a 30 goal season. Whilst he's out of sight /out of mind and likely won't make it as a Dee (if you're a betting person) , I can see a world where he and Kozzie could case a few headaches together next year.

A long term Salem succession plan down back?

Fox Footy is must viewing tonight as they shows the best of the recent number 1 picks in mini game packages: 9:30pm - West Coast v Melbourne 2024, the day Harley Reid killed us 9:50pm - Melbourne V Port 2024, the night Horne-Francis killed us. 10:30pm - Melbourne V Brisbane 2024, the night Cam Rayner killed us. 11:20pm - Bulldogs V Melbourne 2022, the night Ugle-Hagan killed us. 11:40pm- Carlton V Melbourne 2024, the night Jacob Weitering killed us. Enjoy 🥴

We got him for a 2027 future third round pick so essentially a packet chips. You pay for what you get, and we can't be angry and upset at the club and player if it doesn't work out.

I'm obviously all for the wild card round. It's clearly the best initiative the AFL have brought in, in years. The pay off will come in rounds 20 - 23 when more games become more relevant in terms of finals implications. What I won't be a fan of is Craig Hutchison's hunch that the wild card will be sold off to a particular state in the coming years. As in both games would be locked into a particular city, say Perth as a hypothetical. Not in favour of that at all and it contradicts Andrew Dillon's notion that all top 8 teams will host at least one final under the top 10 concept.

Wouldn't be surprised if they bring this back for round 1 V St Kilda considering it's close to St Pats Day. Agreed, the jig was really fun after each goal. The atmosphere was terrific that day V GWS and we did everything but win the game. I'd assume it would be a once a year thing, not an every home game thing.

A nice succinct answer. His older brothers are a bit on the ‘meh’ side.