seventyfour

Sam Mitchell is a classic example. He had a very quick first step but generally lacked athleticism otherwise. Amazingly smart and tough football player though.

Selling it short IMO. Closer to 70,000 would've been Melbourne - or 10,000 neutrals supporting us.

Looks like they all signed 1 year deals. Happy to give all of them 1 more year. Makes sense to me. All five of them are young and have a bit of 'project player' about them. Gives us stacks of list flexibility if we suck in 2025 and need to rebuild at the end of next year.

I didn't even rate Macrae when he was making All-Australian teams. Acculmates but doesn't damage damage with his disposals. I've never watched a Dogs game and thought "geez Macrae has been good tonight". There were always other players with more impact.

Richmond would be silly not to give him a year or two, Daniel Cross type of role.

What a weird career for Jake, but a very good career all things considered. Never quite found his spot at the Bombers. Went through the drugs saga then came to us, and was in much the same position until Goodwin put him forward of the ball, which was a masterstroke. In 2018 he was incredible. 32 goals and was one of the best i50 ball users in the league Then he regressed? Couldn't make it into the 2021 flag winning side. 2022 he looked done. 2023 had a late season resurgence, including that forever memorable goal against Brisbane, then unfortunately got injured. With the way he was playing, the injury took away a goal or two a game and may have cost us a shot at the flag. Will hit 250 games in 2025 if he plays every week.

Melbourne Football Club with a home base in Williamstown? Really? Sentimentality aside, the conditions for footy down there are regularly horrible. Worse than Casey.

Unfortunately a review all but eliminates any shot at the flag next year imo. We need it, for the future, but it'll be harmful for 2025.

O'Sullivan is an interesting one if injuries are holding him back from a higher rating. There have been others in a similar boat, Joel Selwood comes to mind, who slid a bit in the draft due to injuries which was amazing for the clubs that drafted them. Then there's players like Brodie Kemp who slipped in the draft due to injury, and while a solid contributor, he isn't the Bontempelli type some compared him to.

Horrible defending by Sydney. Flashbacks to the days of Garland and Rivers spoiling each other.

A lot of complaints about letting Harmes and Jordon go, but both have done absolutely nothing in the finals they've played. Don't care about a tagging role for Jordon, 5 touches and 1 tackle is [censored].

This is actually a great piece of media timing by the club, credit to them. 4.30pm on a Friday in the middle of the first week of finals. There's no better time to sweep the news under the carpet. Media and fans are focussed on the Port debacle and the game tonight.

Needed to happen. Sounds like Brad is interim, fine with that, fans will probably be happy.

If Armstrong and Smillie are available from 10-13, I hope we have a plan to get a second early pick, likely targeting one of the picks Richmond will get from Freo.

A lot of good, experienced, mature players chose years and cash to go to St Kilda in recent years. Hannebury, Jones, Carlisle, Howard, Kent to name a few. They all achieved nothing. St Kilda have been stuck on the mediocrity treadmill and the only way out is for them to add young, a-grade midfield talent which they could do with two early picks this year. Trading Houston would be a dumb move - but good luck to them.

I really, really like what Riv brings to the team. His potential for further growth is a key for us challenging in 2025. I expect that he has been promised a full time midfield role next year. If so, i'm hopeful it'll give him a huge up for a good off-season and massive pre-season. His time on ground %'s dropped in the back half of the year, perhaps showing he didn't quite have the tank required for midfield. I back him to get there and think he could be a huge difference maker for us. A midfield ready Rivers and a fit Oliver - suddenly we have a scary midfield again, and can leave Trac to spend more time forward kicking bags.

Jagga played for Richmond VFL so they've had a good look at him. With the slight frame, there's more time needed for development, which fits their list profile perfectly. On paper, Langford looks the most likely. I'd be very happy if we picked him up. Seems likely that one of Langford or Smillie would slip to pick 5, i'd be very happy with either. Both read like they could play immediately.

Sounds like he'll leave at the end of next year when two years of future trading opens. Might be the right timing. By then we'll know if Oliver is able to make it back, we'll know if May still has it, we'll know if Rivers is a midfielder and if Petty can actually play forward. If all goes our way, maybe we're a strong team and do some damage. If not, he'll leave and it'll be rebuild time anyway.

Good, less chance of a first round pick(s) going out the door.

Mid year draftees are often older. but Luker isnt. He's the youngest player on the list. Didn't even have an AFL pre-season. Deserves a chance.

Yes. I love tall midfielders. Cripps, Bont, Tom Greene.

I'm looking forward to: Spargo getting a chance to play Salem no thyroid or soft tissue injuries Petty a full uninjured preseason

Straight swap for Trac

Tomlinson is an UFA so he doesn't need to be traded. He'll either sign a deal with us or walk to another club for free. At his age and status it's highly unlikely the contact he'd receive at another club would get us any compensation.

He's in the top 5~ for goals kicked in the entire league in the last 4 years and kicked 6 in a Grand Final. I know things are tough right now but [censored] me, some people seem to have a wish for us to end up like North or West Coast, or god forbid, Melbourne 2011-2013