Its Time Again

Reminds me of Robert "Bones" McGhie the Richmond '73&'74 Premiership player. Had tats when tats weren't popular. Tough as nails, agile and very skilled. Famous for having a smoke on the ground during the breaks. Like Crackers Keenan and many others in that era. He looks the goods.

@old dee I wouldn't get too worked up about him going through to the rookie list. I would say after we used pick 30 every club knew if they tried to pick him we'd use up a late pick for him so there was no point after that pick. Irrespective of that plenty of great players have come from the rookie list including Judd McVee who we just got pick 24 for. Here's some Geelong Premiership players from 2022 who came from the rookie list. Blicavs, Atkins, Close, Zac Guthrie, Henry Stengle, Tom Stewart would have if not injured, Jack Henry, Tyson Stengle, Max Rooke in 2011. I'd take another Blicavs and I can see that potential in him except he's probably a better footballer than Blicavs when he started.

Really don't think you have to justify your great relationship with the players on here Ghosty. We are just glad you spread the love and pass it on here.

That's the most exciting quote I've read all pre season. As you say One Can Dream. I'll join that dream of yours if you don't mind.

I know highlights are tricky to form a opinion on but based on his I'm really surprised he didn't go top 30. I guess we see what we want to see but I thought his kicking was excellent. He does what I was taught a hundred years ago which is to stab pass short passes that stay low. Most of his kicks in the highlights hit targets. Whereas my one concern about Taylor's highlights is that he has one of those nasty kicks where the ball pops up high like Langdon. He appears to have that special burst of speed breaking out of packs that's gold. I guess we've seen plenty of players over the journey with highlight packages like this who don't have the necessary mongrel to get in and get the ball and stay involved for a full game. Tholstrup has started like this, he's just missing the will to charge in and get the ball. Hopefully it's coming in 2026. Perhaps that's the knock. We'll know soon enough. But on those highlights he looks like a top 10 pick not a rookie.

The draft rule is any player nominated as an FS and not taken in the draft can be automatically drafted as a rookie by the nominating team prior to the commencement of the rookie draft.

@Ghostwriter or anyone else. Does anyone know why CJ is on a modified program. I assume he's injured or his pre preseason wasn't good enough to start with the players. Any idea anyone. Thanks in advance

Got to say I find this really significant. Over the years I have read that many new coaches have a common fault of wanting to control everything from the beginning and they end up coming unstuck in many different ways because of it. I think this shows a great level of maturity and self confidence to let his assistants take control straight off on his first training day. It's a great sign. Apparently Scott gave his assistants a lot of trust and corresponding independence. I have heard that it was known in the coaching fraternity that Goody never did. I think it's fair to say we mostly don't have a clue how things work within the inner sanctum of the coaches and the club more widely. It's a complex dynamic nowadays and very important to find someone with the self confidence to manage it in the best way.

Hmmmm. I assume DH is your partner. Hope DH doesn't stand for D@ck Head! Might be something I get called at home from time to time by my significant other. Usually when losing my sh@t watching my beloved team ripping my heart out. Our dog always knew when I was watching the footy and would wait when she thought I wasn't looking and bolt as far away as possible. But anyway. I digress. Go Dees. Best day of the year.

I thank Tom Scully. He taught me a valuable football lesson. I was apoplectic at the time when I first heard the news our no. 1 pick could walk out on us after just two seasons. But life moves on. The sun came up the next day and 22 players walked out on the field the following season. He became Hogan. Hogan became May. May became an integral Premiership hero. Scully had 1 to 2 good seasons and otherwise was a very ordinary pick1. No players who walk out on our club are worth getting worked up about. We'll get replacements and move on. Thanks for the lesson Mr Scully.

I live in eternal optimism that if you throw enough darts at the board you will hit it eventually. Surely on the law of averages we are due for a hit. Smith finally cracked a best 23 spot just before he destroyed his career but I'm hoping for more from Berry. Earlier and better. We can but dream.

@red and blue forever thanks so much for all the work you put into this. I really appreciate it. I often refer to it. It's a great resource. 11 outs this year. More than any other team. I can see a potential for another 9 or 10 next season. As bing181 says potentially nearly half the team in two years. The the new coach is stamping his authority before he's done a minute of coaching. Now for the on ground results. Reminiscent of the clean out under Roosy. Who would have thought at the end of 2021 that was going to happen. Is it already only 12 left from the Premiership team.

I have to confess I have hardly watched him but remember some nasty turnovers in Hawks late games this year so I was super unhappy about this but based on the suggestion on here I just watched rd9 this year v Hawks. I have to say having watched that I get this. What stood out for me in that game was how well he set up off the ball and kept presenting for outlets in chains running the ball out of defence. The single thing that has stood out to me about the Cats is how well they set up behind and in front of the ball. I expect to see that as an early standout under King’s coaching and CJ did it very well in that game. He looks made for it. His disposal was fine in that game. Now I get it. He’s not top 10 but he’s solid and I reckon is made for how we are going to play under King.

Can't really equate the two situations. He chooses that drive (which incidentally is one of the most beautiful in the country) so that he can live at Moggs Creek where the Dangerfield extended clan live.

Not sure you're entirely right about this. Even the ex coach gave a backhander to having to drive out to Casey. A two hour drive per training day. I'd be pretty confident that is a factor. McLean certainly cited it as a reason for leaving the club. Lets not revisit him for anything other than he is a direct example.