DeeSpencer

Going on 40 this year. Maybe back up is a better word for it. There’s room for 4 talls and/or Disco covering all 3 of the main guys in the short term (or Petty forward)

That Dylan Stephens wing role looked wide open in the prelim and grand final (less so against us)

Topped up in the trade period and now have replacements on deck for Ben Brown and May. After getting Lever and McDonald replacements in Turner and JVR last year. Plus a big hand next year to hammer midfield and quality flankers. Get some pace and special skills in the rookie draft please

Hotton would be a point of difference as a true midfielder. Inability of our smalls to go on ball hurt us

Not convinced he’s an afl player

It might pay off next year. And the returns could be higher than waiting 4 years for a young ruck

I wouldn’t trade up for him but Hudson O’Keefe is very underrated if he was available at 38. Great combination of athleticism and physicality. Similar to Draper at Essendon

Very hard to weigh up the supply to JVR given Casey had a lot of entries but also a lot of targets. 36 goals in 18 games was a great results. Jefferson isn’t as physically ready but should play more as a full forward and with less mature competition for targets. Either way, set the bar at about 1.5 goals a game and hope he clears it.

Her work rate was so immense in the grand final she seemed to have completely cramped up by 3/4 time. But her ball use isn’t as influential now that pressure is way up and there isn’t huge space for her to run in to. And the younger more explosive players get the bulk of the midfield minutes. I maintain she gets a little bit out of structure with her running too. Lizzie Mac should be back on the wing next year for more outside run. Plus Mackin another year of learning the game. More wing experience for Lampy. Sherrif, Mitho and Hanks can play the high half forward role and more speed inside 50 is already a priority. I think the club would be doing their best to keep her, especially if Daisy goes as well. But if she’s got personal reasons to go there’s football reasons not to break the bank to convince her otherwise. Either way we’d wish her well. Kearney has the All Aus record but you can make the case that Paxy has been the most consistent aflw player over the competitions existence.

Hogan? JVR? Nick 426 Smith?

I think that's fairly reasonable and I've had similar thoughts, especially with JT going for Weid over Curnow and McKay (and a bid on Hipwood). They had visions of Weid as a big pack crasher from an early age and whilst he could occasionally do that he often couldn't get his timing right. Weid really struggled to be a dynamic athlete too, the burst off the mark and change of direction just weren't there. And he didn't pick the ball up in flight quick enough at AFL level. There's so few 1 on 1 key defenders left these days and they're encouraged to attack contest and mark. It's not a wrestling contest as the ball arrives all that often. The wrestling still happens, but generally before the contest. Jefferson will have to get fitter and stronger to beat that style of defending but he has a chance. His contested marks aren't big push and shove style but his bravery and ability to contort his body, his reach plus his timing on his leads provides some hope. Hopefully he has the smarts and physical gifts to beat defenders in multiple ways, which then means he can set them up being unaware if he's going lead or jump on their heads. He can thrive in our current game style the way Ben Brown did at the end of 2021. But yeah, he'll have to do his share of dirty work and make some ugly entries look prettier than they are. If he's up for the scrap he can succeed.

Plenty of slower developments lately. Petty, Sparrow, Jordon even Spargo’s poor 2019/2020 after a strong first year. Better talents play early. Worse talents never play at all. But if you factor that out somehow I think you can have some faith in our development. It would’ve been nice to see JVR have a run but he got better as the season went on at Casey and should get his chance this year. Jefferson is skinnier and has more tank to build but he can follow a similar pathway.

I think the highlights are overselling his ground ball work. Pre-injury Charlie Curnow was mobile enough to play as a midfielder. I don't think Jefferson is anywhere near that level of mobility. But he's got a touch of class when he gets the ball which is the sign of a good player. And he's well aware that he has to contribute in that aspect of play which I really like. I love the Jarrad Waite call. He was a key forward with a heap of talent and nice all-round game who really took until late in his career to get the best out of himself. El Jefe compares himself to Naughton who is just insanely brave and also probably the best pack mark from any key forward. Yeah, I'd be pretty happy with that.

Think you missed pick 1 there.

Out to 38 at the moment. 17 picks between 22 and our selection. Barnett, George, Cowan, Ryan, Charlie Clarke, Hayes, Hotton, Hustwaite, Keeler, Burgiel, Gruzewski, Gilbey, Gallagher, Magor some of the more prominent names. I doubt there's anyone we'd put a first rounder on the table for. Second rounder to move up we'd look at but it's possible clubs will put better 2nd rounders on the table than ours.

I wonder if we secretly had more interest in Hewett and tried to keep it quiet. He might’ve been the great result JT was talking up. That or Allan going earlier and Hollands or Buss sliding. The guys who went in the rest of the first round weren’t really ready to go prospects either, at least in positions of need anyway.

I meant home grown as in drafted, not local

El Jefe Dont love it, don’t hate it. But if we have it right we could have a pair of home grown key forwards for a decade which would be exciting

I don’t agree on Dusty’s kicking, could use both feet and be super smooth. Makes mistakes because he’s high risk/reward But Humphrey is in that mold as a super powerful, evasive and creative mid/forward. His power bursts through the screen, not sure what people lamenting his highlights are watching. Probably most similar to De Goey but without the off field drama.

Agreed. She’s been very good with the occasional stuff up all home and away season. Probably found the pressure a little hot the first 2 finals but came in to the games. Today she was on from the start.

Turf conditions looked far better than a lot of afl/w games. Remember round 1 v Adelaide? Not sure on facilities but it was very pretty and looked a lovely mix of stands and hills. The only issue was 8,000 just isn’t enough for a grand final. Perfect for home and away up to prelims, but for grand finals they need to get closer to 15,000. They’ll need a way to erect temporary stands like at the Grand Prix to get to that capacity. Otherwise future Queensland aflw grand finals need to be at the Gold Coast if the Gabba isn’t available.

They had 5 in the 22 under 22 to our 2 as well. Tahlia Gillard didn’t even make the squad. Today, she shut Wardlaw completely out of the game.

Come on Essendon. You know you want it

Westy absolutely stitched up

Optus, Adelaide oval, neutral matches at the Sydney Showgrounds, Casey fields and now Springfield. The Dees have many homes.