Bring-Back-Powell

He sounds like a genuinely good fella off the field. And his season last year wasn't as bad as a lot of people made it out to be. Should be in contention for round 1 and the match simulation that I saw a couple of weeks back would back that up.

Agreed. I'm hoping Hunt lines up in the forward line come round 1 and should be considering he's coming off a 4 goal game. Is one of our more natural goal kickers, and a pretty reliable set shot for goal.

Just an opinion but I strongly reckon this will happen, and have thought so for a while. He's a strictly permanent inside midfield that should be taking at least 80% of the centre bounces, clearly plays his best footy there (per 2018) and the club is doing his career an injustice by often playing him in a useless half forward/half back flank role or on the wing where he's too slow.

Are we talking about Majak Daw when comparing Weideman. Pretty sure Daw was drafted 5 years earlier.

Jack Hannath was that man. He had a bit of a cult following with us despite never being listed.

They could probably rush him to round 2 with no match practice but he probably won't be able to run out the game very well, which probably hurts the side even more than if he missed the game - particular if we cop an injury or 2 during the game.

So is the plan to have T Mac and Jackson as our stay at home key forwards while Daw rotates between forward, second ruck and bench? While Mitch Brown is back up if any of the above gets injured. I'd personally have Brown ahead of Daw (with Jackson being the second ruck) as he has a few more runs on the board since 2019.

You also mentioned Matt Scharenberg which I'd hoped we'd have a look at. Too good a talent to be out of the AFL system. Although he probably wouldn't help our injury issues right now.

100% agreed. I’d be flabbergasted if Farmer plays round 1 irrespective of Pickett’s availability. Time for Bedford to step up however.

Just hope we can see the boys play in round 1 at the G. I have looked forward for that ever since we were forced to watch the Carlton V Melbourne game in our lounge rooms between the two VIC lockdowns - and for those that attend every game in VIC, it was a strange and not particularly great feeling. It will be the final nail for us VICS if all the clubs head off to SE Queensland just in time for round 1 and stay up there the entire season. I get the feeling hubs are more than just a contingency this year and the AFL be willing to ditch Victoria at the flick of a switch if the other state governments close their borders to us on the back of 1 community transmissible case - which they will. Hope I'm wrong!

You could argue attending training is one of the four accepted reasons to leave home - Caregiving. You're showing the players you care by attending training, and you're showing care for your fellow demonlander by providing them with a training report.

Yeah, pay that.

Is that the same Dwayne Russell that basically said a few months ago that Luke Jackson won't make it as a player?

Sounds about right I reckon, 10-12 weeks from surgery. Is scheduled to start running in early March, and then maybe 8 weeks to do a mini pre season and a couple of scratch matches. Should be in a Dees jumper by round 5 if the surgery was a success, would be my guess. Be interesting to hear Richo’s take.

They could bring back Oscar as a possible key forward option, but then I remembered they had to play O Mac at full forward just so he could stay out of the way in one of the Cairns games, such was how poor he was that night. Unfortunately he played one too many woeful games at the club to be given a lifeline. Did Josh Jenkins get axed from Geelong? He’d be one I’d consider.

I know it was years ago but an AFL player that once kicked 6.4.40 and received the 3 Brownlow votes in a game of footy warrants consideration. There was also a game in 2018 at the MCG against us when he was marking every thing that was coming his way in defence. I’d have a look at him provided he doesn’t spend the entire season in the medical room.

Hope we get to see that video heaps of time this year for the men’s team as well. Congrats to the girls on this statement win. Standard was very good and we kicked some outstanding goals tonight.

Agree with all you’ve said except that McCartin at his best is clearly better than Mitch Brown (unless it was Ben Brown you were referring to). On footy talent alone, I’d be taking McCartin. But we need to stop taking punts on the Bennells and KK’s of the world and invest in surer bets.

This is a bit exciting. Fantastic report Picket.

Yes of course I'll be attending the G but am fully expecting all the VIC clubs and Gil to be heading to SE Queensland in time for round 1. We (VIC) just can't take a trick with the handling of COVID.

We really need Fritsch to step up in the early rounds and be a Tim Membrey like prolific 40 goal a year mid sized forward (although Membrey had a quiet 2020) Unfortunately he'll now attract a much better defender now that BBB and Weid are out. I was expecting Fritta to be a major beneficiary with the recruit of BBB, but that will have to wait.

If we get Paddy McCartin would that make us the first club in history that isn't GWS to have the first 3 picks of a draft on the one list? On topic, if the club doesn't feel as though Mitch Brown will contribute more than the odd cameo here and there and that Jackson is too raw, then we must take advantage of the SPP and select a professional goal kicker to help out for the first month, and then be retained for depth.

TBH I have no confidence in making the 8 either. We have a 93% success rate in missing finals since 2007.

The glass half full brigade (ie- Gawn) reckons Brayshaw and Viney will be there for round 1. VDB should be ok if he warrants a game.

Agreed. He was mostly rubbish last year. He was good in 4 games last year but totally went missing in the last month when we really needed a key forward to stand up. For example he had 2 possessions and 0 marks in one of the Cairns debacles.