Dee*ceiving

I will always appreciate what Simon Goodwin has achieved. No coach since Norm Smith was able to do what he has and he's done it under far greater scrutiny and turmoil than any of the other premiership coaches of the last 10+ years had too. That said, if we don't make finals or at the very least look to have moved forward from 2024 we should be heading into rebuild mode. History suggests not many coaches have moved from a period of success into a rebuild/second rebuild have managed that successfully. In fact in recent years that coach has jumped off/departed once the rebuild commenced/was within sight (Clarkson, Hardwick, Simpson, Buckley). I think we'd be mad not to make a strong play for Buckley or Longmire. After Simon and the public beatings he's suffered I think it would be wise to get a coach that will command respect from day 1. Buckley and Longmire both have that.

I agree he struggled in that space last year after the rib injury that he came back from after missing one game but I'd suggest we judge if that still the case once he gets a couple of games under his belt this year, I watched the all stars v Freo game and I know it was a bit of hit and giggle but he was dominant and moving very well in that game

Nailed it jnrmac. Although Simon and his mates have said they are/are trying to change our system it's still based in what worked in 2021 which worked so well because: our defense was no. 1 in the comp we had the best bull midfied in the comp (Trac, Viney, Oliver) possibly the best wing combination (Langdon & Angus) we had the best ruckman in the comp (Max) who clunked marks all over the ground and he had a very capable understudy that had a different skillset (Jackson) our forwards could mark and kick (Brown, TMac, Fritsch) we had decent depth (Harmes, Sparow, Jordon, Jones, Jetta, Bedford, etc.) it was still mostly a contest, defence and territory game Not one of those things are still true, sadly...

Ok positives first, there are a few: Kade Chandler. Might have taken the next step, outstanding effort. Tried harder and show better touch with the footy than all of his team mates. Xavier Lindsay. We've found one there. Gave his all, fights for the footy, chases hard and makes an effort to stick and break tackles Clayton Oliver. Found plenty of the footy, looks to be close to peak fitness Jack Henderson. Shows something, worth persisting with And then the negatives Too slow, leg speed and when moving the footy. When we take possession we slow up play more often than not meaning our F50 constantly looks like the Monash outbound on a Friday afternoon Our in close work is poor. Centre clearances were a disaster and have been going backwards year on year. Second to the ball, fumbly and they don't support eachother in close. By contrast the Roos took clean possession, ran to support eachother, consistently broke our tackles and actually hit their targets with their handballs Our mistakes are horrendous, Bowey kick to the corridor, Woewodin fumbled bounce when a long kick to Trac nets a goal. Our disposal efficiency was 72% but I'd dare say that's pumped up by dinky kicks that go backwards and sideways. Most of our kicks that went forward went to a contest or missed their target The forward line is a mess. Poor Jeffo getting injured early was unfortunate but he'd been barely sighted. That said I have low confidence that Fritsch, JVR and Turner will work. They seem to get in one anothers way and chunk up what could be a 1 on 1 contest by bring their oppoent into it unecessarily The coach. Too many things to be concerned about, number 1 being offering an excuse for Max in the presser. Why say anything. Max had a poor game against a strong opponent, everyone does at some stage. Nuff said

Fritter is just a little out of form at the moment, he'll work through it. Talent doesn't vanish in the space of 12 games. We shouldn't forget that we asked a lot of Bailey last year with a young, undersized forward line. JVR is still learning the traps and has spent chunks of time in the ruck. Often Bailey was the key banana out of the goal square with the no.1 defender on his hammer. We were also in poor form and without Petracca for those last 12 games in 2024. That said, if they are moving him to half forward I'd also question why that's necessary. Fritsch is the perfect medium/tall forward on the 3rd best defender, close to goal IMO. I think Binman might be right from on the pod, maybe Jeffo played Fritters normal role last week? Who's to say if Fritsch played that role he wouldn't have had a bigger goal return than Jefferson?

I like Fritta, he's been a great player and perhaps one of the best natural forwards we've had in the last 50 years. Nowhere near the player David Neitz was.

If Turner comes in for AJ and JVR is back up ruck it would probably resut in Fritsch closer to goal?

TDK does amazing things...

Could only want for AMW to have a swift recovery after that performance. Lot's to like...

It's the media that will hold us to ransom I'm afraid. They'll pour it on us thick as the bad guys if we hold him to his contract or god forbid, seek fair compensation

IMO Koz handled that really well. He was honest Acknowledged he is contracted 3 more seasons Confirmed he's homesick at times and has friends at Freo But also noted he loves the club and that he can be himself and can have honest conversations. He may still seek to get to Freo at the end of the year but ideally the narrative becomes, "KP is contracted guys, if you really want him make Melbourne an offer that's too good to refuse, or perhaps you don't want him as much as you'd like everyone to think?"

Would be a fever dream, but dreams can come true 😄

I had a crook guts last Saturday...still managed to put in 4 beers, 2 reds and a 300gm rib eye! 💪

Anyone remember Troy Wilson at the Eagles? A meataxe full forward from the WAFL who made a big impact for a short time at the Eagles. If AJ could emulate TW for a season or two we'll have some fun!

Was a bizarre appointment at the time and even more in hindsight

Nice work LT. Short forward line but a stack of talent. Perhaps a bit slow overall (backline very slow). Only Davey was express pace. Trapper, Langdon, Farmer better than average. Ben Brown or Jesse Hogan are others that would be good enough to be in that team but didn't play their peak years for us, i guess that disqualifies them. Is the McDonald on the bench James or Tom?

Thoughts on those selected Robbo was a gun, has to be in. 428 goals for the Dees! Davey did play a few games off half back/wing, Back pocket is clearly a mistake Shwarz best was behind him post 2000 Rivers not yet but probably eventually Cam Bruce definitely, was a gun Howe can GAGF Stiff to miss out James McDonald Travis Johnstone Kozzy, but maybe a season or two more in red and blue needed Nev Jetta Some from left field/what might have been Mitch Clark Jack Grimes Jack Trengove Matty Whelan Bernie Vince (loved Bernie) Further left field (wild card emergencies) Ricky Petterd Luke Tapscott Troy Broadbridge Steve Powell

The whole industry needs to grow up with the trading and contracts stuff, including fans. I love Kozzy and prefer him to stay but the reality is he is contracted and should not be permitted to leave/be traded to his club of choice unless it's a win/win & the onus should be on the player and the destination club to make play. The whole trade system in the AFL is childish and laughable. Full of loopholes, contrived and consistently tampered with by clubs, players, player managers and media. Another thing the AFL could choose to tidy up but they choose not too (or are incapable of). Options a contracted player should have Remain with current club to honour the contract Advise their club they wish to be traded to club x. Work with club x and current club to facilitate a win/win in the knowledge that if it doesn't work out they remain where they are If they are hell bent on leaving, they can invite their current club to shop them seeking the best offer in the knowledge that they could end up anywhere or remaining where they are. End of story...

Big fan of Cam's. Also very courageous despite being undersized to play ruck/key position and kicked the footy a country mile.

I like Wallbanger for young Harvey Langford... How about? Keitel or Harvey Danger --> Flagpole (sitta)

Come on mate. Roy George! Sounds Irish to me...

Windsor gets it, runs 20 and kicks it 55. Bowey gets it and hits a chest 35m away for a shot on goal. I like it... Also like the experiment of Aidan Johnson as an old fashioned battering ram second ruck. Make a few teams think twice about roughing up Max. Doesn't have to kick goals, just compete and hurt people. Thow in a suplex or two...

If the AFL wants to discourage long term contracts they should put their big boy pants on and allow clubs to trade in contract players where and when they want. The clubs are left with their pants around their ankles currently with players able to request (read demand) a trade and nominate their club of choice and also have the benefit of free agency. It's the proverbial tail wagging the dog! Agree. But the whole situation reeks of another AFL orchestrated outcome that protects them first and makes sure the player gets his due to avoid long term legal ramifications. Suspect there is a secret win in there for the Dees somewhere despite the ongoing salary cap pain. Disgusting!

Like an unwanted bowel movement?

Agree, great summary. On top of that & under his watch; Clayton and Christian are back in the fold and not saying/doing things to embarrass us We obtained another top 10 pick in a strong draft He's communicated outstandingly well to the members, and; Called out non-sense, gutter reporting (eg. Clarrie cleaning out his locker), via his personal Twitter