DeeSpencer

Something a tad more modern and also works with our current strategy of taking some risks and getting some publicity. Ghosty can do the banner - he can teach you, but he’ll have to charge!

It’s a big if but if Sparrow can routinely produce 20 touches (with decent efficiency) and 10 tackles he might offer more than Viney in this new game plan due to his outside running. Viney and Steele in the same midfield gets us right back to a lack of speed and spread. If by some miracle Viney was back this week fully fit I’d be rationing him and Steele plenty of half forward time so we don’t disrupt the balance. If Viney could basically play a chunk of Laurie’s half forward minutes plus a few midfield rotations when fresh we’d be maximising his skillset.

Culley played wing for most of the first half against St Kilda then went deep forward to counter Wilkie as a defensive forward. Freo he played a bit everywhere, starting forward and then ruck and then on ball in the last quarter. The last two weeks have seen him playing almost exclusively on the wing. He’s had moments of quality with the ball and been useful as a marking target both out of the backline and sprinting hard forward to create a mismatch. But he’s also given up some footy to his opponents and occasionally been beaten for pace/awareness defensively. We’ll know more about him after another month or two but I think for now they’ll trying to solidify him as a solid wingman then they might try some more utility stuff with him.

He's absolutely good enough to get a game on merit, but assuming he does and isn't a mile off the pace he needs to be kept in or even brought back in to the side through some ups and downs as most young players are - especially key forwards. That's not gifting games, it's just not overreacting to week to week output.

Interesting hire, not the longest coaching resume or at the most successful club. We told Gia we couldn’t hire a coach from a bottom 4 club then did that for our women! But very experienced footy guy. Used to the semiprofessional standard with a mix of egos and athleticism that is the VFL which is similar to the AFLW currently. Background in teaching. Have to assume he isn’t looking at the job to springboard to mens coaching or rebuild a reputation. Hopefully he’s Mick Stinear 2.0

Yes, but when we’ve Mihocek’s experience and Fritsch’s nous there’s a crunch on spots. We have to find a balance that gets Jeffo 10 or so games and Luker at least 5 if they’re both healthy. Plenty of games to go around but some of them might require a rest or trip to Casey for Jake.

Petty would move from his ruck/back/forward utility role back to Key back. Luker or Jeffo would come in to the forward line with either Luker or JVR rucking. Tom was solid against Carlton and ok against the Suns in very tricky match ups. I’d keep him and give the young key forwards another week of training at least. But at some stage the likes of T Mc and Melksham have to make way for some younger guys.

Happy to put my hand up as a doubter. He's taken some big strides forward. But in the interest of full disclosure I'm not sold on him being a long term player just yet.

Keep a watch on Billings getting a call up to the Dogs in a similar situation. If he stops kicking for goal like someone with shell shock he could still add something. Bonner’s always looked great until genuine AFL pressure comes on. Then his brilliant kicking gets ugly. And the back flank is such a durable position and also one where most clubs can send a midfielder back then fill that depth mid spot (eg. Brisbane with Fletcher last year). Ken Hinkley’s in favour of smaller lists and teams having more freedom to pull in replacement players when needed. Personally I’d suspect that would be a disaster for development and for non footy states especially. But it’s an interesting one for someone like Bonner.

Not sure Anderson, Powell and Touk would count as one paced, maybe not express but they’re great midfield runners. We took advantage of Tracc and Humphrey out and especially of Rowell being underdone. I feel like Rowell has been best on against us for most of the last 5 or so games. No doubt he was rusty but Steele, Sparrow and even Windsor and Kozzie pressured and tackled him superbly.

They kicked very well but we controlled territory so when they did go forward they had space and King, Read and Walter were all top 10 picks for a reason. Mobile talls who can clunk marks and find space inside 50. Throw in Uwland and the average draft position of their multiple goal kickers is very scary. (Throw in Tracc and Humphrey and good luck). Culley, JVR and Latrelle missed ones they would’ve liked but I was happy with the way we generated good looks especially given 59 inside 50’s and a crowded forward line at times. Targeting the big wingers and Langford hopefully starting to hold his marks leading up at the ball.

Thoughts on the new VFL guys after 2 weeks: Cheffers: A bit of a shuffly runner and unusual ball user but one I’m absolutely watching. Can really stick a tackle and his smother/take the ball/run in to an open goal was super slick. Stanley - pace, smooth kick, playing the Windsor role. There’s clearly worse guys on AFL lists. Sinnema - extremely impressive for a first year kid. Probably just lacks a yard of pace or elite kick for a small outside runner. But he’s giving it a great go. D’Angelo -24 year old scrappy inside mid with an unusual kicking action but has stepped right in to the middle and taken on AFL listed mids. Much needed soldier. Gatt - half back/wing who has a real crack. Nice find. Scapin - smooth mover, need to see more Pipicelli - undersized forward/ruck who has a dip. Big Wally Pip! Laplanche and Craven we saw last year. Both did admirable jobs across half forward.

Jeffo - looked electric early, aside from his set shots he’s just on a different level to the VFL. Now to bridge the gap! Kentfield - thought he looked sluggish until he had a good run in the ruck. Bit more confidence in the knee and he’ll push up. AJ - pretty solid. Hendo - only played a half I think, not perfect but looked to have his touch back. I liked Heaths game. Matthews - great chase and commitment X Taylor - think he took a big step forward, made a heap of mistakes but there’s a vision that makes sense.

6 - Gawn 5 - Steele 4 - Pickett 3 - Chandler 2- Sparrow 1 - Melk Want to give a shoutout to Chandler who starred in his role as much as you can do I reckon. He single handedly shut down so many Suns counter attacks just chasing, pressuring and worrying guys out. Absolutely ChinMogged Rioli, Noble, Anderson!

Former Box Hill and Freo player who trained with the Hawks over summer. His space is special at times just a matter of whether he can do enough of other stuff to be back on a list