Fat Tony

There is definitely some truth here about game plans but Langdon definitely has weaknesses in his game. Especially when playing on the left wing. I thought these were covered up better last year when he played in ANBs old role. I hope he plays this role again because it allows Kossie to cheat forward after the centre bounce. My point about the rule stands that the wings need to be even better at keeping their kicks in play when close to the boundary.

With the new rules for free kicks for out of bounds between the arcs, I think playing wings with their kicking leg on the boundary side will become more important. I wouldn’t play Langdon on the wing (better high half forward or on ball). Think it also means territory is more important and kicking to the pockets inside 50 MORE important. You don’t want to get split open on the counter attack.

Doubt both Kentfield and Heath play. I know there is another man on the bench but Gawn will play 75-80% in the ruck, so that's a lot of minutes for both to be playing forward.

I think the new game plan requires more skill and Bowey and Salem are losses, especially early on. Culley also a loss because of Viney being out. Looking at our list, Culley, Steele and Langford (and Sparrow) give us a few players who can drift forward and take a mark and kick a goal in a slow play. I can see us using a lot of pulled 40m kicks into a stacked forward line to these players who have a marking advantage. The main issue with our midfield is it is too slow (apart from Kossie and Windsor). And we have Kossie who can cheat forward on a fast play.

It sounds like Viney, Culley, Bowey and Salem are the most likely players doubtful for round 1 who would be selected. And May is very, very doubtful and Petty is unlikely. I can see issues implementing a new game style with so many personel issues.

Spoke to the head recruiter of another AFL team and they said they really liked Latrelle and he watched him play about 6 times last season.

The main issue I have with shifting Langford into the middle is that we already have Steele, Viney (if fit) and maybe Culley in there. That will be too slow in the midfield. I was a bit sceptical last season with Langford on the wing initially, but we discovered he has good pace once he gets moving and that he can completely open the game up when he plays on the right wing because of his kicking and being able to bring the ball inside. I think if he plays in the middle this season he will get less kicks and more handballs, which is not what we want. I also think he needs to be allowed to cheat forward and take marks. It is not about putting in a role to get the ball as much as possible, but it is about positioning him to get more kicks and take more overhead marks inside 50.

I think the idea of Petty playing as a defender (and May and TMac playing VFL) will make us worse. Goodwin was no mug when it came to building a system that worked to our team's strengths. We just have a very inflexible list of players.

I think we could go backwards because King will experiment with our side early in the year and we won't pick our best team. (i.e. Going for Adams over May.) That is not to say these are not the correct decisions from a long-term perspective. If Gawn and Kossie have good seasons we will be competitive.

Added to this Petty played some good games late in the year as a forward. I think Petty is too slow to play in defence. He has lost pace and the game has changed since 2021.

He looks slow for an AFL prospect so he will need to be good on the inside.

My critique was not complete dismissing him as an option. There are many examples of good players who didn't look elite at u18. But the point stands - he isnt quick or strong or tall.

I don't see a high level AFL athlete in the highlights.

I think it makes the season more interesting. There are a lot of dead rubber games at the end of the year.

I like all these rule changes. The last touch rule has been almost in effect anyway. The main challenge will be the ruck nomination and blocking the ruck.