seventyfour

Saints are playing well. They won't be Geelong next week but would be a decent chance against Carlton in the last round. A chance we could end up with pick 5.

Jackson was worth a goal a game, either off his own boot or other work around the ground. We could have definitely won the flag last year if we was still with us. Unfortunately it seems his mind was made up to move home and there was nothing we could do about it. Not really worth revisiting.

I really wish Billings wasn't under contract. He either plays 💩 the whole game, or if he plays well, he'll lay a 💩 in an important moment and undo all the hard work. Either way, it's 💩.

Dead rubber game played at Saturday 1.45 on the Gold Coast, with a forecast of sunny and mid 20s. If you ever wanted to debut a young tall forward there would be no better time to do it. No pressure and perfect conditions.

Kozzy will be AA next year if not this year. He might win our best and fairest. Petracca showed he can almost win games by himself as a forward. If he fully recovers, his injury may have been a blessing as it's forced us had to test what the midfield looks like without Trac there all the time. Windsor is the best draft pick since Oliver. Gawn can play for a few more years, we just need to put him on a program of rest next year. We really need to look at how Geelong have operated over the years. Turner could be a great third tall option. JVR is SO close, he just needs to take his opportunities. Hold two more marks a game and we're in business. Oliver was bad, but at least he played. 9 months ago the stories were that he'd never play again.

Lost 4 games to top 8 sides by under a goal. Our best footy is still competitive with the best, we've got Petracca to come back, Oliver surely to find it again, and young guns like Kozzy and Mcvee who are yet to even hit their prime age. There's still hope for another flag.

Pickett is goal or two away from really putting himself into AA contention.

Reckon we might lose by 10 goals tonight... and Port will only kick 12 goals.

I feel sorry for his fiance

Hibberd was 27 when he came to us. All-Australian in his first year. Played in a Grand Final 4 years later aged 31. The difference here will be the asking price.

These changes suggest Goody is serious in thinking that we're not out of the finals race. We're not going to make it and it's hurting the development of a player that can help us next year (AMW).

Melksham would be the obvious one, right position on the ground and has experience with punch ons. However I'd be shocked if we don't offer him another year. McDonald another candidate if he decides to hang it up, give him one last game forward. He's had the angry pills with the umpires lately, he could direct that at Maynard instead. The left field option... Lachie Hunter. One final game to get him to 200. He can take out Maynard and win the hearts of Dees fans on his way out.

Windsor looks like an incredible pick. The best debut season for Melbourne since Oliver, and there isn't a single player taken after him in 2023 that i'd take instead if the draft was redone. It will take years to know whether that will remain true, and it's almost guaranteed that some kid taken late will become a gem. Honestly i'd rate the draft higher than 7/10 on that pick alone. Tholstrup we'll wait and see. At the very least, he has the right attitude and attack on the ball. Seems to me the type who can build a body then become an imposing midfielder. He might time his run just right to eventually take over from Viney.

Most announcements come arvo Wednesday. They'd have training and announce then or after, media released later. Also, taking a look back at the 2022 draft national and rookie drafts... 24 key position players (193cm+) were drafted 7 have debuted. 5 have played 6 or less games Only Tylar Young and Aaron Cadman have played a lot (29/28 games) Yes we'd like Jeffo to be further along but he's not alone. If he gets a game this year, he'll be ahead of two-thirds of the KPP drafted in 2022.

Langdon is a lot like Alex Neal Bullen. Does his job every week. Always plays. Never gets injured or suspended. Pops up with an outstanding performance a few times a year. Has clear defincies, but you live with them for everything else they bring to the team. Love the signing, alongside Windsor it means we don't have to worry about our wings.

If it's a dead rubber, it would make more sense fo the AFL to give us an old school 1.10/2.10pm Saturday game. No-one will watch the game on TV so Sunday 3.20pm is a waste. Right now there are three games that will have big ramifications for finals. Every other game involves a team stuck in the bottom 6. IMO these should get the Friday, Saturday and Sunday slots: Freo vs. Port Friday night (Optus, Friday night) Brisbane vs. Essendon (Gabba, Saturday night) Bulldogs vs. Giants (Marvel, Sunday afternoon)

Deven Robertson signed a 2 year deal at Brisbane last year but finds himself stuck in the twos. Only played 2 AFL games this year. He had 36 touches and 13 clearances in the VFL on the weekend. He has struggled in the AFL but I wonder if that's the role he needed to play. He will find it tough to crack into Brisbane before finals, and with another Ashcroft coming, he will find himself even further down the pecking order in 2025. We know that Jason Taylor was extremely disappointed to miss him on draft day. Wonder if we're looking at him again. He's from WA and the Eagles went after him last year, but they'll be giving up picks to get Baker from Richmond.

Interestingly in the flag era Richmond had two midfield coaches - stoppage (Mcqualter) and spread (Caracella). This year we've had problems in both areas of our game. If we can afford it, we should follow a similar structure.

I wouldn't be against shutting down Gawn but selfishly he probably needs to play out the year and have a good game in there to secure a 7th AA.

It won't happen, but... Positional changes: Jefferson to play. If he struggles, Melksham is waiting to come on as the sub. Fullarton to play. Takes the ruck/fwd role. JVR to play 100% forward, no ruck. McVee into the midfield. Yep, i'm calling for it now! See what he and Rivers can do. Petty to play back. We don't have anyone else who can fill May's shoes. Turner to play back. I really like him as a third forward, but doesn't fit in this lineup. We also might need to prepare for if McDonald retires May out injured Howes omitted I would love to fit K Brown in too but can't see it happening. Team: FB: McDonald Petty Bowey HB: Turner Lever AMW C: Langdon Oliver Woewodin HF: Pickett JVR ANB FF: Tholstrup Jefferson Fritsch R: Gawn McVee Rivers IC: Chandler, Sparrow, Viney, Fullarton SUB: Melksham

The third round started at pick #45 in 2023. 20 players were drafted from that point. Only 8 of them have played this year, and only 3 have played 10 or more games. In 2022 the third round started at pick #39. 21 players were drafted from that point. Only 12 of them have played, with only 5 playing 10 or more games. One of them is Corey Wagner. Insanity to trade Salem for a third rounder. If we get back to our best next year, I'd prefer the chance of having a fit Salem than a kid taken who probably won't even play.

Why bother trading him then? It'd be pick 45+. We would be much better of believing that Salem can find consistent fitness, and with that, find form. He should also be put back into defense too. We tried as a midfielder to replace Braysahw, it looked OK but then he got hurt, and flung around positions, then hurt again. Send him back and put McVee into the midfield.

Anyone notice McVee seemed to be on the ball in the fourth quarter? Wonder if there is a trial run coming for the end of the season, and audition for 2025...

I've said it here before, if 1 game in the AFL as detrimental impact on his confidence and development then he'll never make it at all. If anything the exposure should have a positive impact, even if he struggles. It'll give him a real understanding of the requirements of AFL footy, which he can then take into the pre-season to get himself in a position to play regularly in 2025.

Play Jefferson and K Brown, that's all I really want. We all need to prepare for a blast from the media because it will be another very small crowd.