Adam The God

I think you're going too early there. Caleb's upper body strength is what is letting him down tackle wise. He's in year 3. Give him another two pre seasons in the gym and those tackles stick. Yes, he'll need to keep working on his ball use under pressure, but more midfield time gives him that.

I think there is a balance, which I'm sure you'd concede mate. Steele was never cooked, he just wasn't viewed as needed for St Kilda's midfield. I don't think Collingwood viewed Mihocek as cooked either. But they weren't prepared to offer him 3 years. That may end up being one year too many for us, but it got him across and that's the main thing, because for 2026-2027, he is a deadset lock for us. TMac struggles 1v1, but is still decent on a lead against the slower, bigger players. I agree with your overall thesis that you can't just throw the kids to the wolves (to use another cliche), but I reckon CJ has enough experience to come in and play mid-sized, Turner to Lynch. I know it's a risk, but I'd be hoping we can get a look at our future (present) defence this week. It's likely we'll need to target a trade for a KPB, ala Lever, May at the end of this year if Adams doesn't make it. 2026 is a development year though. Lynch may wind back the clock against Turner, but he's just as likely against TMac too. I'd bring in Lindsay for Heath as well. More run.

At the moment, yes. And he probably takes Taylor's spot.

Lynch is fit to play apparently, so that's the match up for TMac, but I'd be going smaller and play Turner on Lynch. I really want to see the most agile set up we can muster that can also get it done in the air. I think our best set up could well look like: Howes Turner Taylor Kolt Bowey Lever Langdon

Was anyone calling for Jones to be sacked? I don't recall anyone calling for his sacking. A few peoole, myself included, questioned whether he should be the sole midfield coach.

Look, I agree. But I expect our defence will get better as the game style becomes more familiar. Our game style will give up goals though to get goals. I don't think we're a top 4 team or anything like that but I do think we could be back quicker than anyone thought.

Yep, and at Round 9, 2022, they were 4 wins, 5 losses with a percentage of 98.

Far out that was a shocker. 5m over the line easily. And he kicked a goal from it. 🤦

See, I was proved wrong on Collingwood. I was convinced they couldn't win the flag with a defence that gave up as many points as they did. And yet they did. And even when their defence leaked goals in 2022, they managed to make a prelim. I disagree that our defence can't be good enough. And this is probably the thing, our defence, injury-permitting, should only get better as the season goes on. Yes, we have some youngsters back there who may tire, but as we get more and more confident in the system and how to move the ball from back to front, and it becomes increasingly instinctive, our defenders will start to trust each other even more. I think there's no reason to believe with the platform we've given ourselves, that we can't finish top 6, top 8. Forget top 10.

Roo, I think, but yeah, was very impressed on the replay. I watched the last quarter again today and I think it's probably his best game. I know he kicked some goals late last year, but he had real influence when the heat was on in the last.

Leadership and age demographic wise too, he should be a priority signing. Having already lost ANB and Gus in the last 3 years, we can ill afford to lose another emerging, disciplined leader, who is in the 25-27 age bracket that we basically don't have on our list.

Bison is a gun and a score involvement machine who hits the scoreboard regularly. Love him too.

Yeah, I did wonder upon reflection.

And I should say, what impressed me most wasnt his frame or contested work, but his poised ball use under pressure.

I wonder if Bang Bang is being facetious? We kicked 12 straight from set shots over the weekend did we not?

This is a myth.

At the ground I was very critical of Culley's game, but his last quarter was great. Gee, if he can run through the midfield as the game wears on, he's a big body and difficult to tackle. Very smart coaching to inject him into the centre square in the last.

Were you there? Needs to stay or something variant of it.

I reckon you just have to go with it in the good and bad times. We have that rich Irish tradition as a club anyway, we should lean into it. Might even convert some Irish backpackers to the redlegs. 😆

Brings a tear to the eye, Ghosty. Thanks. ❤️💙 Can you please have a word to Guerra about it being a permanent fixture? As an Essendon (former) man he should know.

And I get to take the boy along. He's 4-0 this year and has even started watching the game at times. 😆

Kolt and Howes really good in that play. Along with Turner, Bowey, Taylor and AMW, and that's your back half, all 24 and under.

I seriously think we should keep the Irish music at all home games after every goal. The scarf waving in the MCC was Essendon-like 1990s early 2000s. An amazing spectacle. I think it'd really lift our players seeing the scarves waving in the stands and it'd put off opposition teams, certainly interstate teams where we have the outnumber. As for the game itself, Koz was brilliant early, loved Langford's game, Chandler's best and Kolt's. All three probably played their best games. Howes and Turner down back are such steady heads on young shoulders. Trelly did some special things, didn't he? That cut back to JVR in the last was utterly outrageous. And I loved it! A great game from JVR. Sharp, Langdon, Checkers and Fritta all played their roles really well. And we got contributions from Jeffo, Laurie and Moose. Extremely happy with the win. And again, to those who said losing to Essendon would undo all our good work for the first four weeks, naaaaah.

Kozzy probably needs to have 15-20 score involvements today if we're any chance. And kick 3-4 himself. No pressure, Koz.

There will be growing pains this year (last week, Freo). This will be a baptism of fire against the double premier, but if he does well, it'll expedite our development markedly. I'll back our development team in to prepare him and scaffold him this year. But the sooner (the better) we can see a settled backline of: AMW Turner XT Bowey xxxxPetty? Lever I think we are missing another kicker or two too. XL is filling the role this year and learning the defensive elements of the game, but we need a lethal kick back there. I want XL onto the wing ASAP, so if we can fill that need and allow XL to move further up the ground next year that'd be ideal. XT's speedy development could transform our back half though with his agility and offensive capabilities.