seventyfour

Gold Coast academy players. For example, North bid on Walter with pick 3. Walter gets drafted at pick 3 to Gold Coast, but North still has their pick, so it pushes back to 4. Two academy bids so far, so our picks slide back 2 spots.

78

Outside game and speed is what we want. Ready to play next year? Not sure.

Pick is in, it's Windsor. Welcome Caleb.

FYI the AFL website seems to be ahead. My Foxtel stream is behind by about a minute. Sanders taken at 6. https://www.afl.com.au/draft/draft-tracker

The AFL probably forces it to be that way for fake drama.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/10/28/the-brother-of-demons-forward-receiving-draft-interest-from-interstate-clubs/ Article says we have spoken to him. If he attacks the ball like his brother, then he'd be worth a look as a rookie project. Hopefully has a cm or two growth left in him. I'd prefer to take a punt on SVR than keep Schache on the list for another year. No idea why we gave that contract. If Schache is playing in the AFL, even just to cover an injury, we're cooked.

That's kinda my point though. Reid could also get struck down with injury, and suddenly all of that draft capital is gone for nothing. At the end of the day AFL is a team sport. Recent flag sides have shown that you need truly elite players to win, but also need talent across every line. Three first-round picks gives us a chance to find an elite player AND strong talent to fill other roles. Pick 1 just gives us Reid who could be the next Ablett or could be the next O'Meara.

Colin Sylvia had 37 and 4 in a game once... Billings has only kicked more than two goals in a game four times. If he plays for us, he's a midfielder, not a forward.

I have been very open for years about not rating Billings at all. Has all the skills but is too inconsistent. However, he provides the depth we sorely need after the departures of Harmes, Dunstan and Jordon. Would be OK trading our future third. We need to keep pick 41.

If we trade for pick 1, there is no doubt i'll be excited to have such a talent on our list. But he is one player. Imagine he has a career like O'Meara or Rayner. We could use 6 and 11 on our next centre bounce midfielder and our Steven May replacement. Nail those picks, plus some trades or free agents in 2024/25, and perhaps our premiership window extends.

We need to develop a tall who can play at the other end of the ground in 2-4 years. Tommo is cooked, May doesn't have long to go, Petty might keep playing forward and Turner is no certainty to be a regular AFL player.

We're completely stuffed if Petty leaves. No depth in tall stocks at either end of the ground.

Not interested in trading for Reid. Having what could be the next Petracca on the list would be nice, but possibly having our current and future first round picks could set us up with the next Oliver, the next May and a KPF.

Points are just convenient way to look at pick value. Picks 7 and 8 are together worth the same points as Pick 1, but you wouldn't trade Picks 7 and 8 if the player at pick 1 was Christian Petracca.

Underrated Harmes game was 2018 elimination final against Geelong. Kept Selwood quiet, then had a crucial moment in the third quarter. Got lippy at Selwood while running to the boundary, Melksham got involved and Selwood ended up giving away a free for high contact. This was 100m off the ball, which was in Tom Hawkins' hands lining up for a regulation set shot. The moment possibly won us the game.

Who is even left as depth? Laurie, Woewodin? Yet to debut - Howes, Moniz-Wakefield? Concerning.

Win another flag (or two) with us under the current contract, then he can go if he wants. This highlights a need to draft a defender this year. May will decline, Tomlinson is nearly done, Turner is still unknown and Petty ideally plays forward, with the possibility of leaving. Not much to fill defensive post in 2-3 years time.

Could he play as a mid-sized, defensive forward rather than on the wing? Basically the Melksham role. Both are the same height, Duursma has elite athleticism which Melksham does (or did) have at the same age. It sounds like McAdam is the target for that role, but just a thought. I'm all for having more x-factor in the team (pardon the pun).

I can feel a big Kozzie game coming. Historically he hasn't shown up in big games. He was nearly there last week. Gave us the spark we needed in the third quarter, just didn't convert his opportunities. Tonight is the night.

Trying my luck - anyone have a spare barcode? I'm heading in by myself but would love to bring a mate. Went to the game in support of his Saints on the weekend, he has offered to return the favour if I can get one!

Got lucky and got in early somehow. N54, amazing seats. Stoked.

Pray. Honestly, nothing else you can do other than queue and hope.

I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur. If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year.

Tommo isn't perfect, but when he's in the side Lever plays so much better. IMO the positives of Lever playing at his best outweigh any negatives that Tomlinson brings. I'd play both Smith and Tomlinson for flexibility . If Tommo is playing poorly, he can be subbed off and Smith shifts down back. If Smith isn't having an impact, he can be subbed off for a midfielder or forward. It's then just a question of who the sub is. I like Hibberd for that role but it's risky. Otherwise, McDonald is good insurance for the forward line and the ruck.