drdrake

Our game plan was based around winning the contested ball, mainly at stoppages. We backed ourselves in to win the contested ball and when that stopped happening we couldn't set up aggressively behind the footy and the ball just exited our forward 50 at a rapid rate. Lot of factors our 2 main big body mids had injuries, unfit, issues, was viney and second string mids at the contest. If Oliver and Petracca stay fit, May, Lever, Petty stay fit and the young talent improves no reason why we can't rebound quickly

I think the recruitment team for Melbourne Aflw side knew our list was on the slide, we would struggle to keep up with North, Brisbane, Adelaide. If we keep those players yep we make finals, most likely finish 4th to 8th, could we win the flag, IMO no. Can we do a quick reset and go again I think we can but unfortunately we will have to give up some stalwarts to get the picks we want.

The great thing about the rise of AFLW is the rise in participation and improvement of pathways for young girls. The downside of that for the players that have been around since the early years, the young players coming in are more talented footballers. I don't think our women's side can win the flag in 2025, they might make the 8, but I do think we have enough young talent to contend again with an aggressive draft hand this year. Very similar to our men's side, add a couple of high quality mids this year and we can get back into contention real quick.

I think both should go. Really liked the development of our talls this year and I think to get the pick upgrade from 10 to 2 for Mithen is a big win for the club. Your keep Pearce, Paxy needs to retire and we have a young list that will contend for the flag again very quickly.

There comes a time for players when another year on an afl list is just as important as how many games you play. Tom will fight for his spot but he knows where he is at. Petty, interesting with move, a good move. Wonder if this season we left him struggling up forward, interest for Adelaide drys up, new extension and he is back to the backline

I think it will be the club encouraging her to look for options. Based on her onfield performance this year the club is trying to use any currency she has to advance our pick and get her contract off to someone else.

Even Lily would admit her season wasn't a good one. You would take this deal, good for both parties as I see her on the fringe next year.

We will find out the reasons at some stage. Certainly hope it is not health related for him or his family. I think it may be, got this offer from Tasmania, love the swans but want a commitment past 2025. Swans sorry John we will review mid year, ok then see ya later.

Tasmania

It looks like a draft you will still get good players into the 30s.

I still think we may off load 9, maybe to fremantle for 14 and 30. Freo jumps up to get Allen and I think there is still enough quality at both 14 and 30

Our CFO has just re written the budget for 2025, you couldn't ask for a worse commercial draw. Gws, suns, freo as home games mcg games to kick off the season.

It's funny watching the evolution of the pathways over the last few years. Still very much based around athletic capacity rather then skills, that is evident in the draft combine testing, not even sure if they still do the kicking and handballing tests. As Players are getting fitter and defending is more like soccer zones protecting space rather than an opponent, skills in particular foot skills are becoming a much higher priority. If you can't hit targets by foot you can't work through the zones and will get hurt on the turnover. Rather have a player with great skills and a footy iq and teach them to run

Once you hit 15 to 16 years old changing your kicking biomechanics is extremely hard and as soon as pressure comes on you revert back to bad habits. What can improve is decision making and other skills, but kicking near on impossible to improve field kicking.

As good as Tmac was this year, I think he should be depth. Howes needs to come in as that third tall defender or we back in Jefferson up forward pushing Turner back. I think they will try Salem as a mid again, I liked AMW when he played another preseason and I reckon he will claim a spot

Mithen has had an extremely poor year, just turns the ball over, makes very poor decisions with the ball. If it wasn't for our injuries she would and should have been dropped. Rigoni should have come in 3 weeks ago, is quick runs with the ball and a smart player by hand and foot.

Hawthorn has 2 future first round and 2 future second round picks, the Eagles should want a top 10 pick this year, or something later in first round plus a future first. Bit off pick swapping still to come

Sharp is young, we add 2 high quality players plus Sharp. We have potential FS and NGA next year that you would think be around that mid second round to third rounders at the moment. So we have the picks to cover these.

I would say we had no interest in using pick 54 and 65

ANB played as an extra mid, massive tank just ran up and back all day. Sounds like this guy is the same. We should offer 28, 40, 49 to Brisbane for Sharp and pick 20.

If we can land pick 9 with future first and pick 28 you would take that, maybe try to get future third back as part of the deal.

He was often our deepest forward, looked great when he got in behind the defenders and lead back to goal. Opposition's are smart they just kept a couple of players behind him took away that back space and as soon as it hit the deck they knew there would be little defensive pressure from Fritsch. He got lazy and just wanted the easy goal out the back. To me his role needed to change, get him hitting up as a high half forward, then working hard forward. He is extremely smart and good at ground level.

Great efforts no doubt, if a club offered me 2 top 10 picks I would jump at it. Nothing to do with a bad season, it is how he prepared for the season. I also don't believe we can win another flag with our current midfield. You need to plan for the Tassie Drafts, Oliver had trade currency although that seems extremely diminished now.

What Clarry are you talking about the star or the one that played in 2024.

I'm the opposite, all for trading Oliver if the trade value was worth it. On about 1 million a year to play AFL, that is your job, it's your responsibility to prepare yourself to perform your best. The club has a small window to cut him loose or you are stuck with him for the length of his contract. Next year If he turns up and plays like he did this year no club will want him including Melbourne. The only reason Melbourne won't trade him is because the return for him is no where near adequate.