VNightCityLegend

Season is almost here…. Tottenham are pissing me off massively. Can’t watch anymore of that rubbish. Yearning for the footy to start! Doesn’t matter if it’s pre season… just want to watch the Dees.

Schwarz is my all time favorite player, but it’s a bit silly trying to predict. “Experts” didn’t even come close to tipping Collingwood to bounce back in ‘22 under a new coach. https://www.afl.com.au/news/717215/crystal-ball-our-predictions-for-the-2022-afl-season-are-in I am optimistic we can push for finals (top 8). Defense, on paper is still extremely strong. May had a pretty underrated 2025 season and that Geelong game stands out forefront of mind. Lever coming back from injury under a new system that would for sure look to protect the back 6 a lot more than it had over the last 2 seasons would be a priority for King and the coaching staff. On top of having the likes of Turner, McDonald, AMW, Salem as added support, it’s still a pretty solid backline. Xavier Taylor is looking good for round 1. Midfield is ok, BUT a lot of players like Rivers previously couldn’t get a look in due to the lack of opportunity with Trac and Oliver hogging the middle, we just don’t know how good they can be. Same goes for the forward line. Fritsch, JVR, Mihochek as targets with Pickett, Chandler and even Sparrow (who can be reinvented as a defensive forward) crumbing, there is enough forward threat. Just comparing some players pound for pound with that 2022 Collingwood side: Sidebottom = Langdon N. Daicos = Langford Mihochek = JVR Moore = Lever De Goey = Rivers Hill = K. Pickett Ash Johnson = Fritsch Maynard = Howes WHE = Melksham (if fit) Elliot = Chandler, mid sized forward, can take a mark and great pressure player Crisp = Sparrow Howe = Petty Quaynor = Salem McCreery = Windsor I trust King can turn the likes of Petty, Rivers and Langford into superstars and turning the likes of Howes, Sparrow and Chandler into extremely good role players. JVR doesn’t even need to kick 50. If he and Mihochek can kick 80 between them, that would set us up for a big season.

Well said. Hindisght is 20/20. Lucas Cook was the prime example of this. In 2010, he was named AA CHF amongst names like Treloar, Libretore, May, Heppell and Gaff and was likened to Nick Riewoldt. A player of his ilk was a clear necessity at the time of his drafting. There are a lot of variables and sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss. It’s part and parcel. Even someone as good as Jason Taylor has had misses on top of his unbelievable scouting and drafting record.

First it was Halloween, then it was the invasion of American fast food chains, then it was the change in scorecard graphics by Channel 7 and Fox to mimick the NFL and now this. Not to mention Gen Z cousins of mine are now using words like “candy” and “biscuits” instead of lolly and scones. Really hate how Americanized and how obsessed this used to be great nation of ours is so obsessed with the Yanks. AFL is a game of attrition similar to football/soccer where squad management is a major skill. You must predict in a sense and have foresight to fill any holes that may arise during the season. List management is one of the most underrated skill in the game. Having a "top 10" diminishes this quite a bit. Not a fan. Imagine being Gold Coast who finished 7th in 2025 (60pts) getting knocked out by 10th placed Sydney (48pts) a side who rallied late in the season and in some really good form. Just doesn't seem right when you compare the body of work Gold Coast had done opposed to Sydney.

With regards to next season and beyond I’ll just leave this here… No one can predict jack. Not the media, not anyone. Brisbane were $81 for the flag and out of the gate in round 1 smashed the reigning premiers. I still believe we have a capable list with extraordinary talent and so many players who can now now show their true potential when it comes to the midfield. Don’t think we can come close to winning the flag, but we can make finals. Melbourne is living proof across 21-25 that talent alone isn’t enough. With a new direction, I believe we can prove duds like Sam Maclure wrong in 2026, hence building towards another flag in quick time. I believe in the list and the new look club.

Come on… the everyday layman suffers worse than these $300k average wage footballers who often travel or stay overseas, away from loved ones for long periods of times. Commodity traders as an example, travel so often that they can go 5-6 months away from their home country. My mate is Global Business Development Manager for a service company and only has a chance to visit family and friends in Australia 2 months a year. McVee can’t survive domestic 3-4 hour flights? 😂🤣

So long Judas McVee.

Please to GWS. If he is to come good again be good at GWS. Would hate to go up against a prime (or close enough) again Oliver wanting to prove the club wrong on Kings Birthday and rack up 35 disposals, 80% efficiency, 5 scoring involvements and a goal. Would legitimately be vomit inducing.

If we can get Humphrey, it would legitimately have potential to be the equivalent of Salah to Liverpool for 35 million pounds. Absolute Bargain

Actually, on paper the team itself still has enough quality and players like Rivers who can really breakout to cause enough of a threat to potentially make the 8 with luck and proper in season management of players. We may not contend in the sense of the top 4, but can fall into 7th to 8th. Defense: Turner, Lever, McDonald, Bowey, AWM (if ready to go), Petty, Howes.. Mid: Viney (seriously underrated ball winner still although disposal is rubbish at times), Rivers, Langford, Langdon, Lindsay, Windsor, Pickett, Culley Fwd: JVR, Chandler, Fritsch, Michoek- seriously smart player who is a good contested player, but at worst, he’s foil for JVR and bringing ball to ground for the likes of Chandler and Pickett to crumb. Sparrow is the other who can really get back to his best under a new setup as his defensive ability like tackling is still pretty good. I expect us to miss again, but I also cannot help but feel we can also get a new coach bounce and stay alive for finals late into the season.

Whinges and cries about our small crowd sizes (even though it’s not true according to the home crowd tables over the last 2-3 years) and chooses Gold Coast… 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤡 …What a clown…

Was fairly confident about next year in spite of Petracca certain to leave, but if the Oliver reports are true, I’ll have to re-assess expectations. Can’t be losing May, Trac and Oliver and expect to rebound and contend, let alone a top 6 finish. Oliver especially has shown he is still capable and with a full pre season, he can play top level footy again in 2026. In saying that, the kids on the list are really good. As long as there is a clear direction and pathway forward, fans can cop another season without finals.

Wish Trac all the best with his life and the injury he sustained, but let’s remind ourselves that the grass isn’t always greener (Ablett to Gold Coast and his incessant premiership talks, Deledio to GWS at the end of 2016, Fevola and Beams to Brisbane, Gibbs to Adelaide, Vickery yo Hawthorn..) But, good riddance to Petracca and I have full belief Guerra and Smith will lead this club really well and back towards the top end.

Have strong belief in him. Underrated intercept abilities and decent kick. Panics under pressure, but really can’t blame him in a side that wets the bed quite often, particularly in the midfield with little pressure applied. With McVee going back to WA, Howes will get plenty of chances under a new regime and a coach who can hopefully get him to become like a Connor Idun, a really good defender and undervalued player in the comp.

I’d give anything to be as successful as them in terms of contending year in, year out.