DeeSpencer

So after all that we’ve ended up with 2 clear cut best 23 out, and as much as Viney would be handy only one in Bowser who could be vital for the way we want to play. And most of the 23 we do pick on the weekend will have done a very solid block of the preseason. Bummer about Luker and Jeffo but it seems they’ve both escaped longer injury and can be back running sooner than later.

If we even use Culley in the ruck (which is just a theory so far) it will almost certainly be with JVR/Mihocek taking the centre bounce before swapping forward. And the key forward rucking inside 50 and a key back rucking inside d50. Unless we are totally disorganised on field I doubt we’d have Culley as the actual centre bounce ruck.

Gosch's Paddock📆 Tuesday, March 10 ⏰ 12:15pm - 1:00pm ⏰ 2:45pm - 3:30pm 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Light recovery sessions (player choice of session) 📆 Saturday, March 14 ⏰ 11:00am - 11:30am 📍 Gosch's Paddock 🏃‍♂️ Session type: Pre-match captain's run

The success teams have had with a designated 23rd man has me thinking we really might consider Melksham for that role. Doesn't play the first 20 minutes of q1 and sits for a chunk to start the 2nd and 3rd too. Assuming Culley gets the nod the last spot might be down to Kolt, Sharp or Laurie.

There is one thing I’d like to see from Gawn this year which is a couple of extra rests on interstate trips, particularly Perth. We need to look after him and he needs to accept that. But I’m not concerned at all about Heath’s development, let’s see him dominate at VFL level the way Reeves and Moyle do.

No. There’s an argument that Max didn’t sacrifice enough in 2023 with Grundy but that erases just how poor of an effort Grundy made up forward and how sloppy he was in the ruck. (And that we didn’t have the right forwards to carry a second ruck). Very few teams are playing two rucks. Collingwood don’t even have a mature option on the list to back up Cameron. Not the Dogs. If their main guy goes down they take key backs and chuck them in the ruck. No one is crying for the lack of opportunity for Ladhams, Reeves and Ned Moyle. All 3 are older and better than Heath. If they were healthy and demanding a game I’d hope we’d restructure things to give Kentfield or AJ a go in the forward/ruck role. But that’s forward with some ruck, not a second ruck.

I’m not sure that tall trio is scaring anyone. Windhager has the best record of anyone against Koz and Latrelle had 2 touches in the last game he played. At the other end the Pies undersize backline actually helped them take care of Sharman, Higgins and Ryan. Those guys will give us trouble with the right supply. As with most games tho the midfield will be the most crucial factor and the Saints having a hit out helps them a lot. They need a lot more from Nas, Phillipou and Flanders. If they fail to fire it does leave room for the Pickett, Windsor, River, Langford show, I really hope we see it. But Ross Lyon teams don’t let that happen very often.

Playing opening round is a 3-5 goal head start and our most proven midfielder is a guy they just paid to leave (purely for on field reasons). So whilst I think they’ve spent millions of dollars to finish 9th they should be too good for us.

5 of the first 6 teams that might contend this year that are coached by real coaches have gone for extra runners, often on ball. Only Brisbane went with something different and that’s probably because their best side includes Draper so why not give ZZ some minutes in his role. But McCluggage gets injured and they run out of legs. Not sure who our equivalent player is, likely one of Laurie, Sharp or Kolt.

80% Howes. 20% they go with the line up they tried in the first half vs North/second half against Richmond where Howes moves to the wing, Kolt moves to half back. Either way expect us to be zone heavy and fairly open at the back. The idea is that any/all of Howes/Kolt, CJ, Petty, Lever, Turner can latch on to a small/medium and intercept or beat them.

I’m not sure we’ll see it week to week, and just coming back from a broken arm against a team with 2 genuine rucks is probably not the week to do it too much. But Culley as second ruck is entirely in line with the Geelong/Bulldogs use of the likes of Blicavs and Dunkley. It’s totally logical. Gaining an extra midfielder around the ground is a huge benefit in transition, and the key talls at either end can take the inside 50 stoppages.

Have to give credit to the AFL for concocting a round where almost none of the results are enjoyable. I’ll probably take Dogs over Lions and Saints over Pies, but there’s little to cheer for in the other 3 matches.

Fritsch - test Culley - test Mihocek - test Henderson - 2 weeks (source - Ghosty) Kentfield - 6 weeks Viney - 8 weeks Bowser - 3 months Now for the complete guesses AMW - 1-3 weeks McAdam - 2-4 weeks White - 1 months? Campbell 4-6 weeks Johnson 8-10 (hammy surgery generally 3 months) Jefferson 8-10

Tom Sparrow wins our B+F Harvey Langford gets dropped for at least one game at Casey Paddy Cross debuts in March

There's certainly a fan communication aspect to it, it's nice to know roughly when guys will be back. AFL fantasy as well, Supercoach and the other leagues people play are a valid way to follow the game. And yes, gambling probably trumps all. When the league takes so much money from gambling partners and players can be suspended or fined heavily for as little as telling their family that they'll be playing forward it does seem like the league should enforce some standards on injury reporting.