Fat Tony

The Pies have doubled down with another shocking contract for Grundy (which is even worse). They have been lucky that they have had great academy and father son picks, plus ex Collingwood supporters who want to play for them for under market rates.

Thanks Doc. I think it would be a mistake to let Hunt go, particularly given Hannan will depart. I often wonder if he scratched Goody's car or something, because he averages more goals than just about anyone in the side.

What about Jayden Hunt?

Smith passes to Smith, who goes long to Smith. I hope I pronounced that correctly.

It smells a bit like a Shane Woewodin scenario. Good player but a bad contract and a salary cap squeeze.

Agree with Bolton and Castagna being the type of player we should go for. (Not easy to find.) AVB has played forward a lot for us and I still think he is still the best pressure player we currently have. He only really gets a game because of his intensity and tackling.

100%. Players like Dusty, Trac, Cripps and even Danger, Bont and Fyfe are amazing in the contested work but don't have a big advantage when the ball gets into the open. The key is to maximise the number of contests they get to and minimising the energy they expend to get there. Playing forward also maximises the gain from winning contests.

Petracca a B grader. Please!

I would prefer Petracca spend more time forward. Let him start in the middle and drift forward like Dusty.

While I still have reservations about the impact on our forward pressure, one of the possible advantages of recruiting Ben Brown may be the potential ability to play him as a third ruck option if Gawn and Jackson both get injured (at least for centre bounces). With Preuss departing, it means we don't really have to carry ruck insurance and so more of our salary cap is in our best 22. It also could be interesting how we can set up in a defensive zone with Gawn, Brown and Jackson behind the ball. This could be a bit of a nightmare for the opposition if we can get them to kick down the line. The other thing I was thinking is that AVB could play a key role if we go with Brown, Weideman, Jackson and Fritsch, because we are going to need someone who tackles like a mad man.

Thanks Doc. I think L Jetta and I Smith for nothing would fill our needs and not cost very much in terms of capital. I know they are short term solutions but they would give us time to find long term replacements.

We didn’t need to give 3 years though.

Lewis Jetta any chance?

Brown is a good player and will be relatively cheap to recruit. I think the main concern is that our Plan A will become 3 tall forwards (Brown, Weideman and Jackson) plus Fritsch. There is not a lot of tackling pressure in that group. Is that capable of being a premiership forward line? Is it even a good strategy in the modern AFL game? I have my doubts but it’s not impossible. The other worry is Brown’s form and fitness. Are we buying yesterday’s man?

If the Cats win tonight, they will be known as a great side. All premierships sides are. Even the ones that bob up and win out of nowhere (which Geelong clearly won't be).

More like a consistently great team that finally put it together in the finals.

Can’t see it given his contract would mean we would pay a big chunk.

They are a great team if they win tonight.

Do the Giants have academy players at the top end of the draft this year? Are they going to want picks or points?

It amazes me that people don’t rate Geelong. The Cats finished 2018 in eighth but with the second highest percentage and then came up against a side that was white hot in the finals. They then won the minor premiership in 2019 and blew a half time lead in the preliminary final against the Tigers. This year they are in the GF. And they nearly always beat us.

The Cats have realised that the key with Free Agency is really salary cap management - not drafting - and this is only possible by consistently making the finals. They obviously got lucky with Father Sons and superstars wanting to come ‘home’, but they also recruited well out of the draft over a long period. They also have one of the best coaches and a massive home ground advantage. While Geelong’s list demographics look terrible and it looks a bit like a Ponzi scheme on the edge of collapse, it looked the same pre Dangerfield. I wouldn’t be betting on a big dramatic fall given the Cats’ structural advantages and superior management.

At least wth Ratugolea you will be getting his best years. With Brown you are getting a player who is past his prime and best at playing in a position which potentially no longer exists.

Hogan doesn’t have any value in picks given his contract.

This might suit our side. Kick it long to Gawn in the pocket and have our best snappers on the boundary line to take the free.

Great post. This doesn't also include the fact that we have a logjam in the midfield and one midfielder (Harmes or Brayshaw) either misses out on selection or we have a midfielder rotate through a spot in the forward line. I know you like Viney forward, but my view is Petracca should start in the middle for centre bounces and then almost play as a permanent forward after the game re-starts. He is the best forward in our midfield group and can play more minutes that way. I would use Dangerfield (vs Collingwood) and the way Dusty plays as the template for Petracca. This way, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw and Harmes can all play midfield, along with Petracca in the hybrid role. I would also consider pushing Melksham back to half back. I know he struggled a bit in the backline in 2017, but he was playing as the deepest small defender then. Hibberd/Lockhart can play the deep small defender role for us. I think Ben Brown and Weideman would play the same role and share many of the same weaknesses. I am circumspect whether Brown is the right fit for us. I also think we are underestimating the improvement of Jackson, Weideman and Fritsch have in them. And that Brown has probably already played his best football. I don't like both Pickett and Spargo in the same side and much prefer Hunt/Hannon. Having both is one too many midgets. My seven, without Brown would be Weideman, Jackson, Fritsch, Petracca, Hunt, Pickett and another midsize player (which could be Melksham but I think we need someone who tackles). I think if Brown becomes the seventh player we become too top heavy and leak pressure.