old55

Agree. North also have the highly rated Brayden George on their list, recovering from an ACL. If Ben McKay leaves, as expected, then they have Todd Goldstein at 34yo and Nick Larkey as the only two players over 194cm to have played 30 games. They have Corr at 194/120 and Logue at 193/64 next in the pecking order. They need KPs.

Agree. You can add Howe too. They don't have any weak links. The defence first way we play means good opposition is never out of it too, so they'll be there-abouts even if we play our best. We can beat them but a lot will need to go right.

As I posted in the Reid thread, we can rest easy that if Taylor rates Reid as worth it then the hype is real. He has a tremendous record with players like Reid.

Jason Taylor has an impeccable record with mids, not just the players we've drafted but the ones he has coveted e.g. Butters, Humphrey. I have total faith he'll have a definite view on Reid and other possibilities like Duursma. We will actually be in a position to execute on his plan with the Freo pick. It will be interesting to see where Curtin is expected to fall and that will influence WC. North have a lot of mids and he may appeal to them more than say McKercher, especially if they succeed in their bid for Sanders. They may have two picks before our Freo pick too via McKay.

The newsbreaker!

Ah Chee playing well

I thought he had some lower half bulk too, not skinny though the hips which will be good.

You're right. I was probably thinking of McKay vs Carlton.

Beaten by Casboult against Gold Coast. Beat Johnson (who's been dropped again) against Collingwood. They're two pretty different players.

Yes he wasn't Robinson Crusoe against Essendon.

Has really struggled since his concussion ...

You've somehow come to the conclusion that miraculously Max is going to be able to sustain 75% ruck gametime week-in week-out from here on in and that Grundy is going to play the majority of his gametime forward. You've further claimed that this has been poorly communicated by the club. Guess why? Because that's not what's happening and you, like others, seem unwilling to take Goodwin's clarification at face value. Yes it's true that the Max forward experiment has not been as successful as hoped, but it's not being abandoned in favour of your model above. Grundy is going to play a bit more forward, a bit more effectively. There wasn't a perfect solution when Jackson decided to leave, Max can't ruck 75% gametime anymore and we're in the flag window. They had to conjure out of available opportunities and make adjustments as necessary on the fly. We're far better placed now than if we took Lobb or McStay who were the only other alternative.

There was a post from @Billy claiming a source. It wouldn't be a surprise given his lack of opportunity.

If those three leave then there are three available spots - we're not "back where we started" even if we do recontract Hibberd and Melksham because they're already on the list. Dunstan is out of contract and likely to be delisted too, Laurie is reported to possibly be on the move. We'll have enough spots.

He's done that because people like you are "reading into" it.

Look I get that you're a lifelong office bearer of the Consolidated Key Forwards Union and you see this as a demarcation dispute and a personal affront to your hard won skills. Grundy is just going to play a bit more forward, a bit more effectively, that's the aim and it's reasonable.

The whole point is that Gawn can't sustain 80-85% ruck time. That's why he drove the acquisition of Brodie Grundy and the Grundy's contribution so far this season enable Max to deliver against Brisbane. Take another look at my numbers above: If this nett gametime continues and Max increases to even 60% ruck and 15% forward, and Brodie decreases to 40% ruck and increases to 25% forward you're still way off your 75% forward and bench Grundy.

I think you've bought a swag of hysteria shares rpfc

How do you calculate that 75% bench and forward for Grundy? When together they have been sharing the ruck about 50:50 and Max has played more minutes forward because he has played 75% gametime vs Brodie's 65%. A total nett gametime of 140%. If this nett gametime continues and Max increases to even 60% ruck and 15% forward, and Brodie decreases to 40% ruck and increases to 25% forward you're still way off 75%. I reckon they'll each play between 15 and 25% forward and this move is to maximise Brodie's contribution in that role.

Quite right DS and Goodwin didn't even say "each". "We see Brodie and Max playing 10 minutes a quarter forward of the ball."

As you have pointed out, we're going to have picks ahead of 89 from some combination of Jordon, Harmes, Tomlinson and Laurie leaving. Picks with points attached. And as you intimate, there's 2024 picks available for trade too. There'll be heaps of flexibility if there's a bid at 56.

Trade Barrass to Sydney and trade that pick up a bit if necessary?

Thwart us how? I reckon there's a very slim chance we'd be targeting another player with our next pick after 56. How many times has JT done that? Worst case we have to use it and can't trade it into 2024 4th round and the bid rules may even allow that. I'll sleep soundly.

I too hope he stays, I think there's a narrow window where he chooses to stay with us - plays the season out including the GF on field, and Harmes and Laurie both get traded. Unlikely but possible.

It's not at trade, he's UFA.