DeeSpencer

JT has: - made a bold move for Oliver - offered what would’ve been the Jacko pick for Zak Butters - drafted Jacko - made a really bold move for Pickett - made solid moves for Bowey and JVR at the back of the first rounds The case against is Weid and to a lesser extent Laurie. Although they were both the second players picked and didn’t seem specific targets like Pickett was. Strength of the drafts doesn’t matter because there’s no guarantee a team does a deal for a top prospect next year. It might be picks 8 and 12 but no one will give us 5 next year. If you’ve found someone you think is a special prospect and is gettable you don’t care that next year has equally special prospects.

There’s some character concerns stuff floating around, would you say that’s usually WA teams dropping a prospect back? Or is there something there?

When I said a few weeks ago the rumour was we were trying to go up I knew it meant very up. So not surprised at all by that. There’s a player we very much want.

More in terms of his role as a low possession goal kicker. Less height, more leap but some similars as a rangy type. If he can be 3/4’s of peak Ben Brown when he was kicking 60+ goals he’d be a good pick.

He has bravery and reach in the air to take contested leaps, plus can read the play to time leads inside 50. I like him as a FF for the way the game is played. Pretty much a shorter, slower version of the King twins. Or a younger, healthier but lesser version of Ben Brown I wouldn’t call him a 3rd tall. I think he can hold his own as a FF but in a limited role rather than that of a true do it all key forward. Josh Kennedy at the Eagles was a full forward who struggled to ever get a kick outside 50, so it’s not impossible. My concerns are: - he doesn’t look a great athlete on the ground. Haven’t seen his 2km time trial or sprint but I doubt it’s a strength. - he doesn’t seem to have special foot skills. I wish he was a left footer because they seem to get time and space for snaps - those factors mean he’s low possessions and at this stage of development not a great defensive presence The power of JVR and the reach of Jefferson would be an appealing combination. Thunder and Lightening. But if they’re both B graders we’ll have spent a fair bit of recreating a lesser version of T Mc and Ben Brown. The upside: Darling and Kennedy.

Eagles, Chiefs, Niners

Best Melbourne cha cha cha chant I’ve heard since 2018 by the way. Credit to the army for bringing it today. The crowd was rocking in the last

Seeing what Carlton have built at Princes’ Park for ‘the home of AFLW’ is ridiculous. All the money has gone to Carlton and there hasn’t been a single upgrade for the fans. The place is even more decrepit than it was in the 90’s. The way for us to get anything built is to fabricated a politically beneficial cause. The best part of it is it doesn’t even have to be true!

Had a huge last quarter back on ball. For 3/4’s she played predominantly half forward flank and ran around whilst her opponent sat back and cut off every forward attack. Many of our experienced and best players - Paxy, Birch, Daisy, Hore, Harris, Goldy. Purcell were quiet for 3/4s. They lifted in the last

It was, no counter attack. And it should’ve been 5 goals not 2 big last quarter from Birch. Credit where it’s due

Swirly breeze hasn’t suited our game style all day but we’v been massively outcoached. Inability to establish a chf and ff to nullify all North’s spare North will win this comfortably with the scoring end. My favourites Birch has stunk it up and Paxy on Kearney has been awful. Paxy just racking junk possessions but never sticks to structure. Also no point playing a fast running style of footy when the umps refuse to pay holding and never let your runners get on to the ball

I’m not a fan of our depth but let’s not rehash that. Jackson, Rivers, Pickett and Bowey played in a flag in years 2 and 1! Forget year 1. That’s a bonus. But year 2 is realistic for good draftees who have the physical tools and traits to play roles. JVR might contribute next year. Not saying I’d swap them but a lot of that list in his draft would play for us next year too. Nas, Lohmann, Wilmot, Chesser. Barnett, Jefferson and George after a year out are odds against to be best 22 in 2024 IMO. They’re 2025 guys. If they’re the best player and likely to be guns when they’re 23-30 years old then go for it, but it would be ideal if we get the best player on our board and that is someone who can play early.

Less and less keen on having pick 14 in a draft with a fairly strong top 12 then a drop off. Im keen on Allan but pretty confident he’ll be gone. Barnett, George and Jefferson all seem risk/reward and long term prospects. As is Allan. In many ways that’s what the draft is for and patience can be rewarded but it sure would be nice to get someone who can impact early.

I think they try to invite everyone who will go top 10, so they can have the group photo of the top 10. But they don’t want anyone there who won’t get picked in the first round because it makes it very awkward for them left stranded without a club. I’d assume Jefferson is still a strong chance to go first round but seems very unlikely to go top 10, so there’s little reason to invite him. I don’t know if there’s a list published of who’s attending but I’d say Ashcroft, Cadman, Sheezel, Wardlaw, Phillipou, Humphrey, Tsatas, Clark, Ginbey, McKenzie, Hollands, Busslinger are 12 who are all just about first round locks and will satisfy most of the top 10. They’ll probably sit back and wait for the phantom draft mail to see if they need any last minute invites.

Unless they’re game changing talents I don’t think picking rucks early is a good value proposition. That said, there’s clearly a point in the draft where getting a good footballer is better than rolling the dice on an inferior talent Barnett seems to read the play well and launch/extend his arms when marking far better than most junior rucks. Whilst not on the level of someone like Jacko he does look a solid athlete too. I’d probably be a little disappointed if he went at 13, but if we trade back to say pick 20 he’d be a good pick.

9. Ginbey (Eagles) 10. Mackenzie (St Kilda) 11. Busslinger (Carlton) 12. Hollands (Bulldogs) 13. Allan (Eagles) 14. Jefferson (Melbourne) 15. Weddle (Sydney) 16. George (GWS) The relevant section of the HS phantom draft. I still think trade up is a possibility but increasingly unlikely. Trade down for an early 20’s pick quite possible. Weddle, George and Jefferson all have similar merit if we stick to the original pick.

Seattle Detroit Dallas

Adelaide having the most access to him and no interest is a big red flag

I’d say Hore and Purcell should be locks, with the other 2 in strong consideration at least for bench spots. Hanks very unlucky to miss the squad

Was very good down back when given more of an intercepting role, especially when Lever was out. But as the season went on his constant desire to peel off and intercept rather than man up meant we had too many fold back defenders. The ball lived in our back half. Hence why it made sense to move him back to the midfield and play someone like Hunt who would aggressively defend an opponent and cut off outlet kicks. He didn’t turn it over much down back but that’s because he would give and receive chip kicks in to the pockets. Very rarely did he take more aggressive corridor kicks and even more rarely did he run the lines - both vital attributes for a successful back flanker. He was more effective as a midfielder than I imagined. Giving him the starting position of tagging someone like Neale was wise. It minimised his defensive lapses and took away from the downside of too many ball focussed mids. But boy was he inefficient with the ball in the midfield. Overall he had a good year but I just don’t agree with the value of such a long contract and surely plenty of $$$ to a player who’s greatest attribute is versatility. There’s a downside to every position Gus moves as it throws out team balance given he doesn’t blend in as a role player nor does he have the standout attributes to be locked in any given role. I have no idea where he’ll play in 2023. I assume they’ll give him a chance to win an on ball spot but I still think our best midfield mix needs speed and skills around the big 3.

Loz Pearce clearly wasn’t right, full credit to Harris rucking so much. Hopefully the week off sorts Loz out. Our mids who have been bullied by the Crows for years really got on top. Purcell and West super in tight. Hanks and Mitho getting inside and out and Paxy in the high half forward role. I liked the use of Hore on ball if she’s struggling forward and I think they even sent her to Marinoff to clamp her late. Plenty of improvement too, with missed chances in the first and third especially and some uncharacteristic mistakes by some of the defenders.

Should’ve been Hore’s free kick and not Randall’s. Hopefully nothing silly from the MRP on that

Credit where it’s due she’s only been half as stupid as she usually is in finals. Even done some good stuff too

One of the better turnaround wins I’ve seen from a Dees side. Love that they stuck to the game plan and ran the crows ragged

Slow start not a surprise given we haven’t played a good team in weeks but geez we’ve made awful mistakes and the umps have stitched us up