Nietaphart

I always get nervous seeing an Oliver thread bump. 🥴

Binman had foot in mouth syndrome and suggested Langford or Johnson would be the cause for Fritta to be dropped. Yes his intensity is a concern, but his goal kicking is too valuable. The club goes from a 12 goal kicking game to a 10 goal game on average. No point weakening an already weak part of the game. Scoring is fundamentally what wins a game. To put it in a simplistic way.

Does this take in consideration oa knee injury and lack of mobility in 2024. How does that match up with other mid forwards in the game? Being played as a KPF when physically suited to a HFF role? Kozzie and JVR are different types of fwds therefore they are not 100% comparable. How does all Fritta’s stats compare to similar fwds in the AFL. Including goals per game? Stats are great, but need to be used appropriately, and in comparison to similar types of player. Not with a small fwd who is elite defensively and an athletic beast, and a crash and bash KPF in JVR. Stats are a useful resource, but are flawed at the same time. Every expert in The game talks about natural ability to read the game. How do you stat a tagger vs a natural ball getting midfielder. Who has more talent to read the play and get the ball? Who has more impact using their strength? Stats are great to prove a point, but they don’t prove a point as AFL is different beast of a game. Too many variables as evidence with the interpretation, umpiring and adjudicating the game. Getting back to the point, there is no way Fritta gets dropped in 2025 if his output is 41 goals for the year. I suspect it will be more as last year was a poor year by his standards. He is more a 50 goal a year forward if you average out those stats.

41 goals is not something to be sneezed at particularly when playing in a team that is poor moving/transitioning the ball fwd and without it’s A grade midfielders. 200 goals over 4 seasons is elite for goal kicking. None of the playing group mentioned will have the same impact as Fritta, and I am not talking just about goal kicking. Oppositions place their best backman on him due to his scoring impact and ability take the game away. Love the man, but at least understand the deficits placed on him with the game plan, lack of viable support up fwd, and not being allowed to be HFF he is. He is not a KPF. Too much expectation on the guy, then perceived supporter disappointment is being placed on him. IMO.

Frittata goal kicking record speaks volumes despite a poor (by his standards) year in 2024. Im interested who you think would take his spot if dropped? He was one of the few who had surgery post 2024. It may explain a few things.

Jefferson averaged 2 goals a game when playing fwd at Casey in 2024. Transfer that into the AFL and he is a weapon. The more experience at senior levels he gets, the more consistent and confident he will become. A JVR and Jefferson combo could be dynamite in years to come. Two very different types of players to match up on.

Johnson averages under a goal a game, and does not get enough possessions (rarely gets into double figure stats for kicks) at VFL level to warrant a round one selection. I get the romanticism of a new playing coming to the club, and the need for a backup Ruck who has a physical presence up fwd, but he was overlooked by 17 other clubs for a reason. I’m hoping being in a professional sport’s environment will turn this around, but a round one selection is unlikely. Tom Campbell is more likely to fill this void than Johnson.

I still don’t understand how Anderson is invited back to the club in any way. Why he represents us at the tribunal is mind boggling.

I’d rather Petty and TMac as swingman in the fwd and backline. Both have runs on the board whilst Jeffo and Johno are yet to fully dominate at VFL level . Neither are proven at VFL level to be given first shot in round one. I have high hopes for Jeffo and can see he is a natural fwd. Unless either of them can impact in pre season games, they will be playing for Casey round 1 imo. Im also hoping Petty rises to his high standards. Last year was right off for him recovering from his foot injury. TMac had a very good season in 2024 after a poor year in 2023 with the same injury.

His goal kicking stats as a medium fwd are up there with the greats of the last many decades. 6 goals in a GF is up there and above 99% of AFL fwd’s in the history of the game too. I grade him as elite in his role.