Dee Terminator

Because we are committed to paying a portion of Clayton's salary through until 2030, and the amount was material, we are required to recognise that expense immediately, even though the cash payments will be made in later years. Given the immediate recognition of the expense, our player salary payments will run at a lower level through until 2030, i.e. the next five years'expense will be 100% of our salary cap MINUS the payments related to Clayton. So for us non-accounting types, and there’s plenty of them on this thread, If we put the Goodwin/Oliver payments to be made over future years to one side, what would be the operating profit for this year?

Yes great work Kev. Upliftng stuff!

Taylor Whitford (ex-VFL Casey Demons coach, newly appointed AFL Development Coach) said this in the Casey 2025 review - “Bailey Laurie developed his game this year to a point where he is now a dominant VFL player.” Laurie ran second (143) to Riley Bonner (149) in the Casey B & F.

Laurie is 23 y.o. and was drafted no.22 in the 2020 draft after Bowey at no.21. They were similar types - excellent kicks and described as “the two best decision makers in the (2020) draft”. In 2021 a spot opened up for Bowey at half back and we all know what happened thereafter! Laurie didn’t have much luck. He missed the first two months of the 2021 AFL season with a broken eye-socket after colliding with Hibberd at training. And then Covid cancelled the 2021 VFL season. Laurie has since played 12 AFL games, 9 of those as substitute (the death seat for a small forward). He is regularly in the best in the VFL, usually playing as a mid, but there were no spots there at AFL level. The Club obviously sees some quality in Laurie and has put an unusual amount of time into him for a player with only 12 senior games – 2026 will be his 6th season - but he has never been tried as a half back, an even more important position in the Steven King era where we want players based on what they “… do with the ball in hand” and players who “… play on instinct”. Laurie - Is still a good decision maker and a beautiful kick (based on the track reports I’ve read, but subject to the definitive opinion of Binman) - Has high tackle numbers - Can run – (he won the pre-season time trial a couple of seasons ago) I think he is just the sort of player that King might try at half back, at least as a backup option, rather than playing him in positions where there is nothing available for him.

Another thread that evolves into more weeping and navel gazing about the departures of Petracca and Oliver! Time to move on! They have left the building and there is plenty to look forward to!