Adam The God

I don't agree with the bombing, but if it goes in there to at least 1 of our talls, our smalls need to get it done on the ground.

The modern game is full of runners and smaller players. Here is a comparison to recent premier Brisbane and Collingwood, the likely Grand Finalists this year... Melbourne: Spargo (172cm), Laurie (179cm - not often in the 22), Bowey (175cm), Chandler (175cm), Sharp (182cm - often a sub) Brisbane: Ah Chee (182cm), Will Ashcroft (182cm), Neale (177cm), Levi Ashcroft (181cm), McCarthy (176cm), Zorko (175cm), Coleman (182cm), Cameron (180cm), Bailey (181cm), Answerth (182cm). Collingwood: Quaynor (180cm), Elliott (177cm), Mitchell (181cm), Josh Daicos (178cm), Schultz (178cm), Hill (175cm). In fact, you'll note, some of the better ball users in the league are sub 180cm. Along with Kozzy, you've missed Viney from our 22, they are both sub 180cm, but we actually have one of the taller best 22s in the game. The problem is less height and more impact on the game. But I'd argue you're directing your ire in the wrong direction as Bowey and Chandler have been great this year, and Sharp has had limited opportunity. You can question Spargo, but at his best, he's best 22 IMV.

I'm surprised by no omission of Fritta. I keep getting it wrong with Fritta and Melky in the same team. I do get the thinking though. Fritta, Melky and Kozzy most likely scorers, Petty will need a big game too. I assume no AJ ultimately, so Petty to play second ruck as well. I would assume Turner will stay back. Hard to know what to expect with this mix.

And then Goody would be rightly lambasted for not setting him up for success by playing him in defence at VFL level and playing him as a forward at the next level. Sestan for Fritta wouldn't have been a good move IMO. But I would have dropped Fritta.

Really liked Robert. RIP. Glad he got to go his own way, as much as you can with cancer.

Here you go, @Lucifers Hero ❤️

I like him wing for the moment, floating into the middle at times and then floating forward ala the Hawthorn game. But I think in time, he'll be another Trac, in that he'll be dangerous forward and in the middle. And can wax with Trac.

I think it makes it difficult to continue with the strategy. But we may have to trade a Fritta or Oliver or one of our WA boys, and we don't like to talk about the latter on here.

I don't think there are any rules around this. Brisbane also came from 0-5 last year. It's about game style and ability to execute. So far we've been patchy on execution, but we are seeing good signs, just not for long enough.

@YesitwasaWin4theAges vis a vis not improving our list year on year, I reckon we've had the same strategy as our initial 2013-2015 drafting strategy. Bring in an elite group together and build the team around them. In 2013-2015, it was Salem, Trac, Gus and Oliver. We've brought in Windsor, Kolt, Langford and Lindsay in two years. I'm not sold on Kolt, it's clear to me he's not of the same ilk as the other three. However, I hope he'll be an important glue player like Gus was in that group. I think we should be looking for 1 or 2 more elite picks to join our latest group. Then, I presume we'll follow the same strategy as 2016-2019, with Lever, May and Langdon, and we'll target some FAs. Overall though, I think our list is improving, but we need more class in the midfield and better finishers forward of the centre. We need to bring in guys with x factor, who will hit the scoreboard.

Bergman in allows us to move Lindsay on to the wing permanently without losing pace and ball use from the back. Alternatively, it allows us to replace Salo. Or push Rivers into midfield permanently. More kickers with pace who can defend back there the better.

Let's wait and see, Picket. This is the thread to hold me to account.

Hawthorn were Laziraus last year were they?

Even if you think the season is lost (before it started apparently), we need to play May and Lever until players dislodge them. I'm on record saying if we're to substantially improve this year, May will find himself on the fringe. There's Adams, Turner and even Kentfield at Casey. It will be about wanting to up our speed of ball movement, but wanting to balance this with guys thet can win contests behind the footy. May isn't the player he was, but he still goes alright 1v1 when not playing Tom Lynch.

I'm starting to come around to this way of thinking. I've long been anti-ruck, but I think you're spot on. Unless of course you bring +2 or 3 to the stoppage to out number.

Dogga has 15 weeks left, plus any finals Freo make. He doesn't want to be booed for 15 weeks. That's all this is. We'll see you soon, LJ.

I wasn't sure where to put this, but it will be interesting to track this over the rest of the season. I haven't given up on playing finals in 2025 and although we don't look fit enough, if we can start to take more of our chances in front of goal (a big if), we'll be in most games with our new method. Do that and we give ourselves a chance of playing finals. Here is the 2024 ladder at the end of Round 10. Notice Hawthorn... And here is the 2025 ladder at the start of Round 10. Notice our percentage. So media darlings, Hawthorn, were 3-7 with a worse percentage after this round and made a Semi Final. The players have started to believe in the system and back in their team mates. There'll be ups and downs this year, but the overall trajectory, IMV, will be upward. And the main point? There's plenty of time left in this season. We're not dead yet.

I was only referencing the fact that Hogan played better for Melbourne and for GWS because we moved the ball quicker than Freo.

I agree.

We are at Round 9.

Nah.

And Hogan played very well in our 2018 forward line that focused on faster ball movement.

Difference is Houston is older than LJ and was not contracted for years on a big deal. But like I said, LJ's big deal could actually be leverage for us. If we're pay his wage at the rate Freo locked in, then IMV they'd be owed less in terms of trade.

Precisely. I'd be letting Goody see out his contract to the end of 2026. The pass mark next year is finals. I haven't given up on this year yet either.

Yeah, it's just whether the future picks that will be compromised by Tassie will be worth as much. A club might back us to finish in the bottom 4 and see it being worth the gamble.