MrFreeze

I'd say the Hawks also used a similar undersized key defensive structure last year. IMO they look worse with a clunky Barass and Sicily there now. Im very keen to see AMW return as I feel he has similar traits to Hibberd, tough, super aggressive and fast. IMO Salo has had a very good year, and our current game style feeds into his skill set. He was often criticized for not taking on aggressive kicks but we need to reliably chip the ball in our back half to rebound.

Howes has taken the 3rd tall role TMAC played in 24 and early 25

Massive step up for Blake and Disco. Huge faith from the match committee to trust these two as our key defensive pillars, pushing out 2 premiership players is no small feat. Out with the old, in with the new!

Petty can be the 2nd ruck Turner will take the interceptor lever role, Howes is our 3rd tall. Rivers likely goes back to replace Windsor Sharp/Kolt to be the sub

Goody showing the guts to make tough calls where it matters. Key defenders with 0 mobility, who can't get close to a ground ball are a massive liability. Fast, agile, athletic defenders are where it's at.

The kid is a very good, one grab overhead mark. Keen to see what he can develop into.

Beggars can't be choosers. He is a flawed player, but probably the only proven, mature forwards on the market. Concussions issues are worrying. I hope we still have our eyes on Ollie lord or Derksen - but I am a bit tired of looking at budget options, I hope we get a big fish.

It really isn't a hindsight issue to see there were multiple players in Kolt's pick range that would go on to be decent AFL players

I think Windsor has the potential to be a very good midfielder, more than a winger. It will take time for him to build the physicality and the defensive efforts though. We also had a clear need to draft a player with elite speed in '22. I don't think his kicking is that bad, but he struggles to hit the 20-30 metre kicks that players like Salem/Bowey excel at. Playing out of the backline has exposed this. Regardless, quality key position players are more valuable and harder to find compared to mids. We would love to have Caddy or Morris but we committed to JVR/Jeffo. Trading up to get Kolt was probably a bigger error. I think Kolt will be a serviceable player, but trading 14 and 27 for 13 is a blunder in hindsight knowing Morris went a few picks later at 31.

I have seen a couple phantom draft rankings and Tarion hasn't cracked the top 20. We are all bitter over Mac Andrew but Tarion (probably) won't be drafted in the top 5. Therefore, he still eligible to be drafted by us if we so choose. And we are not getting shafted in the same way we were with Mac. I am also generally skeptical on oversized Jnrs and their ability transition to AFL level. I'd rather the string bean with potential (Mac, Darcy, hopefully Kalani too).

Awful missed tackle from Rivers

Pressure has stepped up But we are own worst enemies

Kozzy... speechless...

Love seeing Rooey up and about

Missing Lindsay's coverage Disposal is atrocious at the moment

Could be our Sam Darcy. A genuine 200cm+ forward ruck has been at the top of everyone's wish list for years. Looks at home in the red and blue as well

We've taken a tall defender pretty much every week in the emergencies, TMAC is the emg this week

It's not a Petty problem; it's a list problem. Shuffling deck chairs is bad for team chemistry. He provides a consistent target about the ground and helps bring the other forwards into the game. Calls to disrupt a very effective backline by shuffling May/Turner are delusional.

I am super excited to see this deal come to a close. Kozzy is the kind of player you can build a list around and I will be supremely confident success is on our future with him as our no 1 star player. Regarding the Jacko trade, I feel like the club purposefully spin doctored some rumours to mess with Freo. Is it a coincidence both players were 'caught' texting old teammates?

Laurie was dropped as shown via the Casey team changes. Laurie's best position is as an inside mid, not HF. Anyway, Kolt got a great write up by the VFL coach, your take is baseless Koltyn Tholstrup "Koltyn's role compliance on the weekend was a really strong once again. He got his rewards through his pressure acts inside 50 and up the ground, his tackles and smothers. His ability to be really calm and decisive with the ball impacted the scoreboard again which he's been able to do this consistently now which is great to see."

My gut is that Melksham will spend some time out after the shoulder stinger Out: Johnson, Melksham (inj), Laurie In: JVR, Jefferson, Kolt

We had a very similar 2nd quarter last week, very inaccurate with a lot of inside 50s.

Absolute weapon this fella

Tracca is our match winner today, 2 fantastic shots from 50 today

May and Lever got some old creaky bones. We clicked into gear in that last couple minutes. Patience required.