old55

It's a bit disappointing that our new recruits aren't wearing their numbers on their training tops. At least they weren't last Wednesday at Gosch's.

In another world he joined us, Pendles was knocked out and we won the 2023 flag.

I'm fine with JVR rucking as long as we have 3 tall forwards. Most likely the same as last year - Petty forward and TMac back. The only alternative is Johnson plays and rucks. JVR and Disco forward, Petty back and TMac at Casey. I don't have Jefferson in the frame at this stage.

Starting page 52 for those in for the schadenfreude https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/from-the-president-oops-no-not-from-the-president-i-was-hacked.1282084/page-52

Agree. I really like Chandler but he's not going to kick goals from forward line stoppages, he's the likely ANB replacement. Spargo isn't kicking stoppage goals either. I think Brown is probably a wing or small defender. I still have hopes for McAdam but he's more along the Jamie Elliott lines, marking small forward. I can see why we drafted Mentha and are trialling George. You're right, GWS has a heap of small forward types and just drafted two more.

Yeah there’s no-one. That's the biggest problem with our list - it's not ruck, not KP, not midfield - it's small forward goal kickers.

That's a pity, I was going to offer you $1000 to expand on your thoughts ...

You saw him take his top off, no doubt 😀

Cheers thanks, he's in ripping shape.

Any idea who the taller, well built train-on with the longer hair is, GW? I thought the players called him something like "Jai" in the match sim.

Sharp has some great burst speed and agility too. It's a handy combo with his endurance running.

Kossie and Shai Bolton would be some combo!

I hope we heavily into Andy Brayshaw.

Ginnivan

Chin, the new ANB - in more ways than one ...

I'm not sure how you're calculating "only 240 midfield minutes". Are you ignoring time on? If so that's not really correct because midfielders are running pretty hard in those stop-play minutes to make position. I think it's 360 minutes of midfield time for 3 nominal midfielders. Assuming midfield players play about 75% gametme (it can be a bit more or a bit less), ie 90 of 120 minutes - Oliver can only play midfield so all his 90 minutes are there, Petracca and Viney (cue @Adam The God) can play some forward minutes, but mostly midfield (at least 70 each) minutes, Kossie is slated to play mid-forward too so that's at least another 45 midfield minutes, we've used up 275 of 360 midfield minutes. As you say, Goodwin is fine with mid-fwd but doesn't play mid-back roles so if Rivers is going to play midfield all his 90 minutes will be in there - that uses up all the available 360 minutes. It doesn't leave any for anyone else except cameos, but there’s nothing really too wrong with a core midfield of Oliver, Rivers, Viney, Petracca and Pickett. Like I said we need to change things up from the old troika.

14 of the top 18 players in the 2023 draft played AFL in 2024, including all of the top 10.

If Salem is fit he can do everything Bowey can do even better, and he sounds fit. I don't think we can just go with the same old midfield troika that we have since 2018, the opposition knows it too well. We need Rivers and Pickett in there regularly to shake things up.

I think the beauty of drafting Langford (and Petracca) as forward marking threats may mean we can play your extra runner instead of my tall.

I didn't commit above, but if I did it would be TMac, Tholstrup and Langford for my three openings. Back 7: May, Lever, Petty, Salem, McVee, Windsor, Bowey Midfield rotation 8: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Rivers, Langdon, Sharp, Langford. Petracca and Langford in the mid-fwd rotation. Forward 7: JVR, Turner, McDonald, Fritsch, Chandler, Pickett, Tholstrup. Pickett and Tholstrup in the mid-fwd rotation.

Based on track reports I think there's some open slots. Back 7 is pretty solid: May, Lever, Petty, Salem, McVee, Windsor, Bowey There's an opening in the midfield rotation 8: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Rivers, Langdon, Sharp, mid-fwd There's two openings in the forward 7: JVR, Turner, tall-fwd, Fritsch, Chandler, Pickett, mid-fwd. Pickett is in the mid-fwd rotation. Three are in contention for the tall-fwd slot: TMac, Johnson and Jefferson. Four are in contention for the two mid-fwd slots: Spargo, Sparrow, Tholstrup and Langford. The sub probably comes from this set too although Melksham may have a say. Brown could surprise and hopefully Lindsay gets match fit quickly.

I think we should play 6 plus Max in the 22.

I like your line up but I'd definitely want someone who can play tall as sub. A medium like Melksham or Hore might suffice. I think Lindsay will struggle to be ready R1 having missed pre-Christmas in rehab but hopefully he's established in the 22 by mid year. Looking at the lists it's very clear to me that our biggest need is another dynamic goal kicking small forward. Kossie moving to midfield is good but it leaves the cupboard bare. I like Chandler but I think he'll play higher up the ground like ANB did. We've got Mentha and maybe AMW if we switched him forward again, not enough IMO. I'd be trying to trade in an established player, maybe someone like Rachele.

Interesting that we bid on GC's Harris with the pick they traded to us. That's pretty unusual I think - see mens' draft and Kako. Maybe there was some hard dealing in the trade by GC. BTW, I have no doubt Harris is worth pick 2.

Kolt has a different solution.