Adam The God

Not that it matters, but Bowey would be winning our BnF at this point. Has been solid in every game. Made a couple of errors, but at least he attacks and generally uses it well.

Why didn't we play the same game? We've played the uncontested possession game at times this year and it's paid off. I suspect we thought, oh we've got Max and Blicavs is out, so let's just go long to him up the line. If that's the case, Geelong conned us into that. Going long to Max is not a sustainable or winning formula. This is the only takeaway that gives me some hope. As I said in my post, our structure behind the ball and pressure is generating enough turnover chances, but our entries are still horrible. I lost count of how many times, we would kick to a nest of 2 or 3 Cats when we had 2 or 3 free by themselves. That's interesting. I couldn't see it tonight.

Very few positives we can take from that performance. We never looked like taking the lead again after kicking that first goal. However, it showed that our structure behind the ball mixed with enough pressure, creates more than enough opportunities to kick a winning score, but I'm pretty sure we kicked 2.5 from turnover for the game. We turn it over ourselves immediately when it's time to score back the other way. That 17 points is VFL level stuff and why we're rooted to the bottom of the table. And it starts with our ball movement, which is truly woeful. It doesn't help that we have an inability to hit basic kicks (sometimes under little / perhaps perceived pressure), and I think the worst sign is we have/had an insistence on going long to contests. Even when it is to 1v1 or a 3v3. Why have we moved away from trying to maintain possession at the back with short passes? It worked a treat for Geelong tonight, and it worked a treat for us in Round 1, and in the small patches across Rounds 2 and 3. It seemed a clear instruction to simply go long to the contest down the line. Sure, we had more effort (this basic non negotiation shouldn't even require mentioning), but we had no identifiable brand tonight IMO. And that's what we have to look for. I think what we want to see probably happens in stages. First, we want to be able to make the right decisions and hit the right kicks on turnover that lead to scores. Second, as we get better at that, we need to start to take more risks to move the ball faster. But we don't seem to be even attempting the first stage. It ended up looking like a hodgepodge of nothingness. I'd say Bowey, McDonald and Salem were our best. Trac, a special mention. JVR needs to play in front and if he is found caught behind, take the body. Clarry needs to do more with 30 possessions now, he's no longer a 23-24 year old mid. 4 score involvements is not enough, particularly when he gets burnt in defensive transition. We need to play Viney forward or in the VFL, we can't have our VC getting it 15 times for 7 turnovers. I'm really at a loss after this one...

It's telling Oliver has been dropped to the bench. I know it means little in the actual game starting on the bench, but that is definitely symbolic.

I think there's a balance though. We still have enough high quality senior players, 10 that I named, that if 1 or 2 or even 3 went, I don't think we'd be cutting the list too deep. Whereas, we certainly cut too deep in the Junior McDonald days, North cut too deep too and I believe Hawthorn may have cut a little deep. Richmond cut super deep, because they obviously saw a strong draft cohort in 2024, Tassie on the horizon and an ability to maximise return on some of their middle aged to older players (Bolton, Rioli etc). Richmond still have the midfield bulls in Hopper and Taranto to carry their midfield while their younger guys grow though. The thing I think you have to be careful with is cutting too deep in the midfield. Most young mids need that protection of a lot of experienced bodies around them. I wouldn't advocate trading both Clarry and Trac, because I think Langford and co need more protection than just Viney. But I think we could trade one and not upset our mix.

I find it interesting the way some posters are writing about our list and choosing to frame it in this way. We're not where Hawthorn were. We're already 3 years into a re-set and list reshuffle that is now seeing our game style shift with it. If anything, our approach has been closer to Geelong's, where we acknowledged the shifting trend of the game at the end of 2023 and drafted for speed and ball use. We've since spent 4 first round picks on midfielders in two years. Prior to that, 2 first round picks on tall forwards (JVR and Jefferson). Within that time we've picked up a key tall defender at the Petty pick with Jed Adams, who is starting to come along nicely, and Judd McVee has turned into a legit AFL level player, one of my favourites. Add to that we already had relative youngsters (two first round picks) in Kozzy and Bowey, and we had Rivers in the same age bracket as Kozzy. This is our team drafted over the last 5 years: McVee Adams AMW Bowey ??? Windsor ??? Langford Lindsay Kolt Turner ??? ??? JVR Jefferson ??? Kozzy Rivers That's a significant injection of AFL level talent in 5 years. Question marks for me over AMW, Kolt and Jefferson, but I really like AMW and think he'll make it, but acknowledge it could be too early to say. And really like the energy and power Kolt brings too. Add experienced premiership players in Lever, Petty, Langdon, Salem, May, Max, Trac, Oliver, Viney and Fritsch, and our age profile is really pretty good. If we can get our game going this year, a free agent or two in the 25-27 range would be handy, but unless they're a Butters or Callaghan type gun, I think we're better hitting the draft for these type of players. If Trac, Clarry and Kozzy stay, we might have to trade out of 2026 and 2027 to get into 2025. I'm sure the club is thinking this way. Providing we believe the 2025 draft is strong enough, just keep adding to our under 25 talent pool. Number one on my wishlist would be a speedy small forward ala Kozzy / Papley / Watson.

I think our midfield across Rds 2 and 3 played like the 2018 midfield. All one way traffic, little two way running, but would still win their possessions at the coalface.

Well, Harvs was spot on with his selection prediction. I'll never question you again, @Harvey Wallbanger 🙌

I think I need to read posts more carefully. Sorry @Harvey Wallbanger . I'd missed that detail in your post. Howes won't play if he was in the B team. Old duffa, Adam.

I'd hope so. But I thought the discussion there was trading Oliver and Trac for picks to get Butters.

He also needs big bulls around him to get the ball. I love him but he's been shown up in a few big finals now... It's why we need balance in our midfield.

I don't think we have to go scorched earth, nor do I think we're totally changing our midfield. We're balancing our list and midfield more. Many have cried out for better ball users, more pace in the side etc. Well, with our last 4 first round draft picks that's what we've gone and got. The only guy I'm not completely sold on is Kolt, but I do really like the energy and pace he brings.

Grass is greener. Put Kozzy, Windsor, Lindsay and McVee into our team, and who knows...

I like my jokes to be funny, even better if they're not punching down.

You may not have, others have. It's one set of rules for everyone else and not us, like we operate in a vacuum.

Is that comment necessary? Such a cheap shot.

So who plays on Stengle? I'd be surprised if Howes comes out mate, but we'll see.

Ah yeah, I love how we can use injuries for other teams, but our injuries are considered making excuses for ourselves. Again, it seems grass is always greener.

Sure, but not really what I was saying. I was talking about those who come cheaply. But I love Butters. Absolute gun. Would love him. Particularly, if we trade Trac or Clarry.

The guy who oversaw the richest club wallow in mediocrity for 4 years? And yet you want to get rid of Goody? The grass is always greener apparently...

Absolutely. Unfortunately, far too many in the modern world like an immediate fix or they get frustrated and want to blow everything up. The immediate fix is rarely how life works.

I don't expect us to win tomorrow night, but I do expect Kozzy's inclusion to have a transformative impact on our ball movement and defence from stoppage. If we can get our ball movement going and aggressive forward handball ala Round 1, I think we could be a chance.

At this stage, perhaps you're right, but let's see how he goes with more pace around him that spreads the field and gives him options.

We just want guys that can kick, run and make good decisions. If they come cheaply, have leadership qualities, even better.

I think we'll move Windsor, Lindsay and Kolt into the midfield, so we're going to need wingers that have toe and can kick. He's shaping up nicely, and another left footer. Clarkson era Hawthorn-esque. We could have 9 left footers in the 22 by next year: Salem, Lindsay, Langford, Chandler, Adams, May, Viney and then the likes of Fritta if he stays and Sinemma. 6 of them (Salem, Lindsay, Langford, Sinemma and Adams) all good kicks. We are watching us transform our list on the run. Our 2026 midfield could well be led by Windsor, Lindsay, Langford, Kozzy and Kolt. with support from Oliver, Viney and Trac. We've gone from a brutal, power midfield that wins stoppage (Oliver, Trac, Viney and Sparrow), to a much greater balance between ball-winning bulls and good users.