DeeSpencer

Chandler is - relative to position as a small forward - slow. If he was even close to Bedford’s pace he would be a quality afl player.

Brown played some excellent VFL footy off half back as a smart, skilled distributor this year, but his combination of lack of size and not much speed doesn’t really appeal. I don’t think he’d hold up on a wing. Chugg’s a fairly unremarkable half forward, I think we’ve got enough of those as is.

Do I think there’s a bunch of people of a certain race or otherwise inventing bad things to get compensation - not at all. Do I think if someone preparing a report rings up players C and D and said this is what happened to player A and B, then it’s possibly player C throws in his story of a relationship breakdown and puts it on the club. They’d only by the billionth person alive to blame their work for a relationship struggling. The clubs version of the same story might be the player was in the middle of a nasty relationship breakdown. The club did what they thought was right by offering a place to stay, a new phone to avoid harassment and advice to the player to focus on their career. In my initial post I already said some of this is indefensible. And if the most horrific stuff is true - and I have no reason to doubt it - that alone is probably all she wrote for certain individuals. But perhaps even more damning is the suggestion it was a prolonged and targeted behaviour not just a couple of isolated incidents over 15 years. Ie, it was a culture. And for that to be the case the investigation needs time to examine a bunch of cases.

The abortion stuff is indefensible, as is the nature of the ways they went about undermining relationships. And if it was purely for Indigenous players and not the rest then that’s unacceptable too. Otherwise I imagine the coaches came at it from a point of view that it’s really hard to maintain a successful relationship with someone long distance and do the work needed to have a long afl career. Even more so if you add kids at a young age. I’m a little skeptical of some of the details. It might well have been that some players used the club as a defence for their desire to break up. Then found themselves delisted and went back to their old relationships and put the blame on the club. I know that’s pretty cynical but don’t tell me it’s implausible. Will be interesting to see what the burden of proof becomes and the split of former hawks

It’s also a bogus stat, there’s no way Tomlinson only had 2 marking contests a game, so most of them aren’t deemed one on ones, including contests that are really one on ones with a pair of flankers also at the drop. Giving up a mark on the lead or failing to control your opponent in a pack situation can be just as important.

I don’t think you’d delist a player this early in the process if you wanted to commit to them as a rookie. Usually those delistings come later and/or with an announced caveat. Phil Davis got the delist but rookie announcement.

Correct. Geelong also role out De Koning, Henry, Kolo, Stewart. In their case they rely on Stewart and Duncan for rebound as well as being happy moving the ball methodically from the back half. May could take up a more offensive role. And whilst he won't ever kick it like Stewart at his best Jake Lever provides drive too. Petty and Turner have a lot of untapped offensive potential. It wouldn't be my plan A but it would be something I'd consider.

Salem has been a consistently good player since 2017 and slowly got better and better up until last year. The idea that he was awful this year isn’t really true. I thought he got sharper as the year went on and whilst lacking a little run he was fine towards the end of the home and away season. He then played finals like an underdone player who has missed a chunk of training, had sore groins and couldn’t handle the intensity. Shouldn’t have played the second final. If he’s looking fit when they come back from preseason then I don’t see the need for doom and gloom.

Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, Rayner, Berry, Lyons, Zorko, Bailey, Ashcroft, Answorth, Ah Chee, Dev Robertson and possibly Tunstill are all ahead of him and can’t all play in the same midfield. The Lions will need cap space and draft picks. Someone will shake out. 400k less cash is a big reason why Clubs mostly get it right but key defenders is one spot they can miss. Stephen Gilham, Zac Dawson and Ryan Gardner (as a mid season draft pick post playing for the dogs VFL) are 3 who were snapped up quickly and played in grand finals. I think McMahon would be worth a good look at the tape and some train on time.

Oh yeah, Disco Turner and his 7 possessions a game is really going to be the answer to replacing Salem who was All Australian worthy last year, our best player to quarter time in the grand final and our calmest ball user down back. Don’t get me wrong, Turner’s a player, we might have to try 4 talls next year to give him more time. But speed, skill and run and carry are still the biggest priority. Salem played like a guy who had a seriousness injury then got groin soreness due to overuse after a long lay off. Every indication is he should bounce back next year.

Turning preseason in to a full extra game is not adding nothing for players. Veterans often skip preseason or play a half. Benches are longer. Coaches and fitness staff always demand match conditioning to help with game plans and to PREVENT injuries. Preseason is important, it’s just not good tv but it isn’t designed to be. It’s for the fans of individual clubs. Also the magic round works for the nrl because it’s a Sydney based comp with a couple of teams in Brisbane and elsewhere. Fans rarely ever have to travel. The AFL is a proper national comp and fans either in one or over two seasons have the chance to go to QLD, NSW, SA, WA and even NT or Tas. If they’re really lucky they can go to Geelong in winter too! This would be selling out the common fan for more money that the league executives use to justify their salaries. Franky it’s disgusting.

Rosman was a great athlete but he didn’t have any footy IQ at all and wasn’t making any progress. Shame he didn’t get to play in the VFL grand final though. Oskar Baker survives the first round of delistings. Can he hang on?

One second after you dangle the carrot he’s walking for more money and opportunity. Unless we trade someone who’s ahead of him in the pecking order

Corr is bad as a main man but a handy 3rd tall. Logue shut down Buddy this year, he was just stuck behind Pearce and Cox, an elite duo.

That’s not what I said. Collingwood have been rumoured to pay 1.5 million of Grundy’s deal. Tomlinson’s 500k could take that down to 1million. In no way would that excuse Collingwood from paying a good chunk. How the deal gets structured year to year will depend on the clubs books. We’d just have cap space to front load. Brodie himself might be keen on that too, he might take a little haircut for another 500k upfront to invest. God knows he needs a hair cut

I’m conflicting myself but I’m ok with it in a position where we have no depth, have struggled for years to find answers and the player coming in could stick in the best 22 relatively easily. M Brown, Dunstan and Baker were never going to be picked by Goodwin unless we had a stack of injuries and were always going to make way for other options. If JJ or Langdon got injured and Harmes/Gus were needed elsewhere I’d imagine Newnes would stick in the team at least for 2023. Woey and Howes are more 2024 options I think.

Unless the deal was horribly back ended and has big money left on it I can’t see us dumping Harmes. We gave him years over dollars surely? You don’t give 5 years for Harmes if you’re paying top of the market. He showed in the last 3 games of the year he’s clearly still a better wingman than JJ. And at the same time we missed his pace and tank through the middle. Brayshaw gets all the credit by moving to the wing for 2021 but Harmes selflessly played forward, 5th on baller and 3rd winger which is really tough going. No complaints. Never lacked effort. If we signed Karl Amon or some other versatile quick midfield then sure, move off Harmes. (Who id imagine still have solid positive trade value btw). But can we really move off Harmes when the best Casey player to fill his role is Taj Woewodin?

Hi Toby, you’re about to waste your career playing in the sub vest in your most important developmental years, can you stay longer just in case Kossie leaves? I can’t imagine that goes down well.

I think it will be Essendon. Bedford (3rd rounder) and Tomlinson (-3 rounder). We’ll give you Toby for free if you take Tommo and his 500k. We then tell Collingwood we’ve got an extra 500k to pay Grundy but we’re only giving you a 3rd round pick (or a swap of 2nd’s designed like a 3rd). They’ll probably be happy enough with that as it gets him off the books far more easily.

I really think we need to bring in some cheap depth players to see if they can crack the 22 or at least provide more cover than young kids given our window is now. Some options already have threads, like a Josh Corbett. Here are some other ideas. Darragh Joyce - 25 - 194cm - 95kg 25 year old Irish fella delisted by the Saints. VFL form has been strong. Good athlete. Could well provide cheap key defensive depth if we moved Tomlinson Liam McMahon - 20 - 198cm - 89kg Pick 31 in the 2020 draft, cut after 2 years. Played as a forward as a junior but the Pies settled him as a key back . Nice kick, skinny and needs time. Not the most physical or athletic but with his height and skills he wouldn't need to be. No point expecting skinny kids to be physical either, train him up and see if that develops as he adds bulk. Surprised the Pies didn't want to see a 3rd year with a bit more bulk. Jaxon Prior - 21 - 189cm - 85kg 3 years on the Lions list and hasn't quite locked down a best 22 spot, has played some half back or wing. With Dunkley and Ashcroft coming in and Brisbane needed picks and probably cap space he could be squeezed out for a cheap deal and pick I think. I like him as a winger with his big body. His long left foot would provide something different for our midfield mix. Wouldn't expect him to walk in to the best 22 but he'd provide some competition to JJ for a wing spot. Jack Newnes - 29 - 185cm, 86kg We all know Newnes, can play half back but wing is his best role. Just a very playable outside runner. Nothing special but runs, kicks, not the worst at the contest. If we want a year or two of solid wing play that allows us to use our current midfielders through the half forward line more he'll provide it.

They'll have McKay, Logue and Corr, with a mid season draftee Dawson taken last year. He'd be further down the depth chart at North than he would be with us.

A 3rd rounder for Tomlinson feels about right. But I think we'd be giving it up not receiving it.

Melksham kicked 4 and dominated the grand final, looked a class above everyone else on the ground. If JVR played the game Melksham did on the weekend the demonland servers would be melted in to the ground. ANB was a 35 touch running machine when he last played VFL. The idea that either Chandler or Bedford would be significantly upgrades on anyone just isn't true. Chandler might be a slight upgrade if he can drastically improve his defensive attention, improve his burst off the mark and start dishing quick handballs more often. Might. Bedford probably leaves, but won't have a long career if he decision making and composure don't drastically improve.

That's absolutely true, and once again I'd reiterate my enormous thanks for JT and his team putting together a premiership 22 with their early selections and trades. I think we had a number of backline injuries early this year and only saw Hunt step back in to the 22, with Smith and Tomlinson given chances they didn't take. Similarly Dunstan and Bedford had a go and JJ played most of the year despite being a fairly limited player at this stage. Same for ANB, Spargo all the other whipping boys. We didn't see much of Sparrow and JJ in year 2. They were hidden away in the hub but apparently playing very well in scratch matches and then burst in to the side in 2021 in year 3 with stronger bodies. I hope we've got or can find some youngsters who step forward in a hurry, I just haven't seen it from a long line or rookies and late picks so I don't have a lot of faith.

The Grundy deal is a sunk cost, they can either take 650k from it to pay McStay or not. I'd be more than happy to pay McStay that. We're paying Ben Brown and Tomlinson god knows what next year. Certainly more than the Pies will be paying Treloar and Grundy. That's going to be the reality of contracts now with so many older guys around the free agency age signing big money deals.