old55

MCG is 25 minutes on the train from Hampton station.

We're not getting access to FAs - on top of the competition from the "big clubs" we're up against Tasmania and their sign-on bonuses. What I hope for is that we can retain our young talent from pillaging by Tassie - one OOC player from each club can go there as a FA with access to big sign on bonuses. Langford, Windsor etc ... We need to continue to build through the draft next year with our 2 first rounders or trade for Bailey Humphrey who we've already established a relationship with.

We'll lose heavily on occasion this year because we're going to play an attacking style. Twenty point defeats went with Goodwin's defence first approach. I'd be uninterested if we were going into 2026 with the same-old - vive la difference and accept the consequences.

Thanks @Demonland We never seem to be scheduled vs Sandringham at TBO, just a few hundred metres from my house. The most accessible match for me is vs St.Kilda at RSEA Mmorabbin but that is just before on the same day as MFC vs HFC at the MCG. None of the fixtures really tempt me, it's a long way to Casey and the viewing is rubbish.

Kossie?

No A grade mids in the AFL last year then? Best results were Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith with 2 x 40+ games - are they B graders?

A man's got to know his limitations ...

You're picking up the slack.

I think it's reasonable for the player contesting the ruck to know who his opponent is so I'm in favour of retaining nominations.

Lachie Neale, Matt Rowell, Caleb Serong, Max Holmes, Jordan Dawson, Tom Green, Will Day all apparently not much chop then?

Max has been a fantastic captain IMO. Agree, Rivers and Chandler the succession path.

It cuts both ways, because I'm partisan MFC I'm unhappy that McVee has moved, but at the same time I was all for trying to pry Windhager out of the Saints. Then there's the ruthless delisting of Brown and Woewodin, I also support this.

Yeah, we're not playing 8 backs or 4 tall backs. One of May, Petty, Lever or Turner has to go and I'm picking May. I also think they're not going to be able to deny Xavier Taylor a spot. He'll kill someone to get a start.

Today's shuttle run results https://www.instagram.com/p/DR_XTPYkSHZ/?igsh=MXNlNjNncXltazhueg== Sharp, Laurie, AJ, CJ, Chandler ...

Looks like Oscar Allen.

Here's my take on the injury front which I shared at training today ... We're in development mode with a new coach and a young list (yes I know we are 2nd oldest by average but that's skewed by a handfull of veterans). We're not in contention and I expect a bottom 6 finish. We need to cycle through the list and find out who's going to make it and where, and who's not. Of the 44 listed players there's less than a handful that, if fit, wouldn't be ready to play AFL - White, Berry (needs to get his running up to AFL standard), maybe Onley - the rest look ready to go including Mentha, Kentfield, Taylor, LSP and Matthews. We need to find out what they've got. Some injuries open up opportunities.

Still prefer Judas McVee

The latter is much more likely with a young team in transition to a new style of play. Goodwin gave us the former with his defence-first orientation.

Named #1 pop song of all time by Billboard. Dancing Queen, also mentioned in this thread, at #2. https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/2-abba-dancing-queen/ Scroll down for #1, up for the later numbers.

Quite possible that 14 years of Taylor > 5 years of Petracca. Then it's LSP vs McVee.

So the updated Petracca trade looks like this: Petracca + McVee + '25 2nd + '26 2nd for Taylor + Pickett + Matthews + '26 1st Our '25 2nd (28) got swallowed up in GC bid matching but it was very close in value to the pick (30) we used on Matthews. A bit to play out with the '26 picks, and then 5 years to really assess the deal.

Praying for snow, as usual ...

I like GWS, I hope Clarrie does well there and they win the flag. But Steele for Oliver is a very good trade for us.

Great work thanks!

How's the weather Don? Still raining?