Skuit

I'd say we had a few injuries to key players last year as well . . . AND . . . moved up the ladder.

What I learned from that article: they're persisting with Vince in defence unfortunately.

Thanks WJ. An excellent summary from an angle that hones in on some of the my thoughts which have been bubbling under the surface re. our recent recruitment as to reoccurring themes. The non-negotiable of competitiveness aside, my basic thoughts were that Jason Taylor's m.o. has been to value-add through sliders who may have had diminished recent exposure through injury (rather than sliding due to other question marks - inc. a greater gamble on especial talent-based upsides), and bolters with less long-term exposure who he has been willing to go 'all in' for at a higher cost before perhaps more tentative recruiters counter-reacting to the potential hype. The common theme is limited exposure - or, more succinctly framed, non-traditional or alternative pathways - inc. evidence of determination through some other element of adversity or lack of traditional opportunity. On reflection, Simon Goodwin himself fits this mold - coming up rapidly through a non-traditional pathway and with an other-than-footy background (as well has having to move beyond some off-field behavioural issues and unwanted attention). To date, the Taylor recruits who fall within these categories include Garlett, Hunt, Frost, VandenBurg, Melksham, Oliver, Weideman, J. Smith, Hibberd, Hannan, T.Smith, Keilty and Maynard, along with our latest crop of arrivals in Lever, Balic, Spargo, Fritsch, Petty and Baker - of which altogether a reasonable number will be expected to make up a significant portion of our best 22 in 2018. Add in the early injury/health travails of Gawn, Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw and Salem and we have a sizeable and potent mix of players who have overcome career-threatening obstacles to have even made it this far. Go Dees!

My MFCSS Pavlovian conditioning: Minor delay reported on a return from foot injury during early pre-season = Persistent feelings of deep unease characterised by sharper periods of anguish, anger, despair and self-pity prior to a settled recurrent state of weary fatalistic acceptance.

Loving Harmes claiming the #4 the very second that other bloke was out the door.

Me senses a healthy dose of small-man syndrome. Strikes already as having the potential to be an annoying little [censored]. Our annoying little [censored].

Grinning loon. Looks unhinged. I love it.

First day of training and Jesse fills Bayley in on his preferred delivery inside-50. Low and flat out in front, Fritsch.

I don't disagree. As stated, a step up on the natural attributes of. But see Fifty-5's post directly below yours as a starting point of difference. I will also add; better positioning (somewhat as an effect of the former point).

My crystal ball is a super-unimaginative more-of-the-same but better. We will play the same way but better (I think in a way that could potentially rock the competition - ultimate daring run-and-carry with crazy pressure and no concessions). Some lesser-known players might break-through and thrive in that mix - Balic, Baker, J. Smith, Hannan and Fritsch (and maybe Spargo). The players who were on an definite upward personal arc last season will continue that trend - inc. Oliver, ANB, Hunt & Maynard. Maybe Frost with a renewed role/impetus. The rock-solid players will remain rock-solid - Jetta, Hibberd, an imported Lever, and Jones (the latter truly freed up to play a significant complementary role - maybe off half back?). That's a core defensive-line to be especially excited about, (without mention of its attacking addendums) and one I predict will be talked about on par with recent 'revolutionary' examples in WC et al. And the concerns or disappointments will remain so: high-level hopefuls who perhaps under-performed this year may continue to do so through a combination of factors - a la Salem, Brayshaw, and Weids. And the stragglers in Kent, Stretch and JKH won't suddenly improve. I'm hoping we no longer have to care. Salem or Brayshaw coming on however would be a massive boon. Petracca and Hogan not quite yet ready for that 'break-out' season but will continue with their development. My predicted surprise packet this year is an unfashionable James Harmes. The St.Kilda game was a hint of what he is capable of when unleashed and up and about as a cocky HHF. My wildcards as to possible improvement: Jack Viney and Max Gawn staying fit and delivering what they are actually capable of on a weekly basis. Between third and fifth on the ladder. Injuries and slips to still haunt but be much less of a factor. No great revelations but things coming together in a revalatory way. Go Dees!

Not forgetting that Rockliff trained with us as well. Are they after intel? On how not to end up the worst ever club in history?

So now I have to self-qoute from another thread just to stay in the race . . .

I've been a bit meh about our drafting for entirely unreasonable reasons. I wanted some extra excitement, as to playing style and the unknown re. potential ceiling and development - Liam Ryan, Jack P. etc. Also wanted speed and run, speed and run. A developing KPD isn't so exciting. However: From my amateur perspective and with all the highlight package provisos (and I'll readily put my hand up and acknowledge that I'm no junior talent scout); this kid looks the absolute goods. From the available footage: reads the play exceptionally well, technically sound, clean in the contest and by foot, and unflustered/steps up to the level of competition. With basically one year in the system. It's uncanny to me his early similarities to a certain recent trade coup in Lever. He will also now be learning his craft in part from Jake Lever. My crystal ball: he will shine in the VFL from day one and cause some early selection issues/personnel reshuffles. And without intending to open a can of worms, is a step up on the natural attributes of Omac and will be a ready and fairly prompt replacement. I'm willing to go early: steal of the draft. Somehow overlooked due to the sense that it was a poor one for KPD's and his rapid ascent making most recruiters a bit nervy to buy in on that spike. Go Dees.

Astute with a little inside intel - Todd's nephew was a teammate of Petty's this season.

This makes up somewhat for our horrible mistake in cutting former Norwood recruit Alex Georgiou.

Cheers intrepid researchers. It was sensibly iffy. There's a massive difference between the all-time121 consecutive goal-kicking games of Peter McKenna compared to the current playing group efforts of Jake Melksham at 12 games. Well, not just massive, but easily quantifiable at one tenth - the same as say comparing Billy Stretch to a 300-game player. But, on a separate note, and now that the dust has settled somewhat - I've been meaning to respond to the Jack Watts Once Kicked the Glorious Winning Goal Against Collingwood on Queens Birthday and So Therefore and So Forth peoples (although I agree that it was winning and that it was glorious) . . . . . . from my very rough estimate (i.e my terribly poor memory), Jake Melksham kicked the 'sealer' in at least four games in the back half of the season. At least two of those were genuine bona fide sealers (e.g had some element of clutch and broke the last resolve of the opposition). I've already openly eaten humble pie as to the man - but the Milkshake contribution of 2017 is still lacking in acknowledgement and respect.

A few quibbles as to selections, but if you can move past this, and any prejudice against the 'List Manager', the general thrust of what Wallace says here is fairly close to the mark.

I'm going to take your word for it but this stat sounds rather iffy.

Rename it 'The No JW No J/O Thread' and we could maybe push this one out to a thousand odd pages.

Hey guys. Just forwarding the argument from AFLHQ. It's not my own (although I don't agree or disagree with that specific point as I haven't given it any critical thought and mentally run through the likely or potential scenarios, primarily because I don't like the idea to begin with). Carry on.

I don't like it all. But contrary to the bolded, the argument is that it will contribute to equalisation - that a weak team is likely to get better value in a trade when the need is more urgent from a strong team. That point however is also open to speculation.

Ditto my thoughts as to the suggestion of half-back. Up front, but more in my mind as a partner for Petracca. It's evident that CP5 already makes the opposition tense and he receives a lot of close-checking. A second player of that nature would be fantastic and cause all sorts of match-up problems for a modern defence.

The current FD have to date demonstrated: - a willingness or even a plan to draft in players with non-footy sporting backgrounds. There are several in this draft slated around our picks who may offer extra value due to this fact. - a bias toward multi-dimensional players as to position (a possibly partially flawed approach in my own opinion). - an extra interest in Casey-listed players and our investment in the continuity of our affiliation. - a wgaf attitude as to actual skills. I also believe as subjective speculation that we won't be looking to rectify our perceived short-comings - height, pure pace, foot-skills - but will be on the hunt for players who are capable of executing our game-plan - super super fast movement. That said: -

500 × 364 - bibliomama2.blogspot.com

By reports, and photos, the slimming down of both Max and Jesse strikes as quite dramatic. To the point where it's not just a case of being super-fit (surely they haven't arrived at this ideal shape through sheer hard will while others in the past haven't put in enough) but a deliberate different re-direction in body-shape. Both you'd ordinarily think could do with retaining some extra heft in their usual respective roles. I think something is on the cards re. our game-plan/their respective roles. ?