DeeSpencer

Against a side with 3 talls he stays in but against smaller line ups we really should ask what the point of Lever is chasing around half back flankers, Hibberd, Hunt and Rivers all did a better job intercepting and actually provide rebound.

Will never happen but we’d be no worse with Harmes for Petracca. His defensive work is a joke and he’s not giving much offensively. JJ and Sparrow just going about their roles. So they’re the most vulnerable. Gus more wing and Harmes to Neale makes sense. Not really his fault but Spargo struggling. Bedford and Chandler managed this week from VFL The problem with the side is mostly the best players underperforming and not the role players.

All a bit hypothetical as he’ll probably land at the Hawks but I actually think we’d keep JJ in his current wing role and use Amon on ball, rotating forward and perhaps as the 3rd winger. We need more kicking skills and run from the on ball brigade than we do from the wings. Ie. the role Brayshaw has played the last two weeks but Amon actually has the ability to hit a target.

The problem with Gawn (and Grundy) playing forward is it's really hard to carry more than 1 immobile non tackler in a forward line and maintain forward pressure. Jackson's mobility is what allowed Brown with McDonald and Fritsch to work. If that's Gawn/Grundy then we're really going to struggle to play Ben Brown. Which honestly might be ok because Ben Brown's struggling to play AFL too, so it's a bit mutual. But it probably means calling time on the structure and value of the 2021 forward set up. Gawn positioning 55m away from long bombs, with McDonald and/or JVR and/or another medium marking option and Fritsch all working to various space off that reference point makes sense. It's what the Pies are doing now with Cox and did with great success in 2018. It's often how the Tigers use Lynch.

Weid has 1 more year on what has to be modest coin, if things go well JVR takes that salary spot I guess. Both Brown and McDonald have 2 years on what would be significant but not massive amounts. Neither seem likely to play longer than those 2 years, not for big money anyway. I'd suggest our key forward budget is well and truly open for 2025, which might even mean we could bring someone in on a backloaded deal for the next couple of years too. But I'd doubt we'd even be thinking about Grundy if we had a proper big fish key forward on the line.

We don’t usually announce rookies so early in the piece, that’s interesting. AMW: Really like the Niz, he makes quick aggressive decisions with the ball and can take a mark. Groins haven’t quite held up to afl training just yet but if he gets on top of that and puts in the work I think he can develop in to something. Smith: I like the way he plays as an aggressive small defender with a great leap, but his skills haven’t come on too much and he’s undersized. A touch surprised they locked him in this early. McVee: has settled in well at Casey and is improving his output. Seems like a smart player with a good balanced all around game for the VFL level. Struggling to see the AFL upside though. Hasn’t really shown the pace, size or ball winning to fit in any backline role.

Amazing that one minute the Pies are crying foul about their silly child who throws himself in to every tackler looking for high contact, but then spent Friday night going head high at players tackled to the ground. Happened to Langdon, happened to ANB, happened a handful of times. If we play them again we need a lesson on tackling intensity. Honestly, find a list spot for Vanders and give him the first 5 minutes of the game.

The problem with that logic is: Keath, Jones, Lobb, Josh Bruce are all 30+ next year with a host of injury and other issues. Darcy and JUH are just babies unlikely to produce consistent footy until 2024 if not longer. A spine of 30+ and babies is asking for trouble. The only way it makes sense for the Dogs is if Jones and Lobb are actually moves getting made after they've already decided to move Naughton. Which means there's either been a serious falling out and/or they're interested in the Jackson compensation package. I can't imagine they're actually keen on Lobb and a late first (or 2) for Naughton, so the latter seems unlikely.

We aren’t 2008 Hawthorn, and none of our mids can consistently hit a target. But Fritsch has no problem generating one on ones and kicking goals. Naughton would have a field day. But I just can’t see the dogs off chasing Lobb and Jones and giving up their best tall

Ahh yes, it’s definitely the mostly premiership winning role players that are the problem.

Goes missing is just wrong. All small forwards go missing. Look at the Pies guys last night. McCreery nothing for a half. Ginnivan wasn’t even playing. My issue with Koz is his inconsistent efforts at the contest. Would love to stamp that out of his game. Like Fritsch’s defending or selfishness, best to get on to it early. But when the alternatives are just far inferior players I can’t see why we’d do it now.

The results have been different but a lot of what we're doing right now is very similar to 2020 under Burgo.

1. The midfield in particularly isn't at peak fitness and isn't deep, and obviously we don't have key forwards at peak fitness to draw the ball and encourage opening the game up. 2. The game plan requires a lot of energy, physical and mental. 3. Some valid excuses: Alice Springs 6 day break, Perth trip, backline injuries in earlier games

Good 3km time, but no speed. Needs to build repeat speed, repeat efforts and size to go on ball where endurance comes in to play. If he could start playing midfield at Casey he’d really offer our midfield something, but as a half forward he’s just an inferior version of Spargo, we can’t carry 2 of those types

Also can’t outrun his shadow. Punxsatawny Phil ain’t the answer

Sure. But if you replace ANB with JVR you’re effectively asking Melksham to go back to playing as a half forward flanker. You’ll get all the errors Nibbler makes, maybe 1 good kick a game and none of the defensive running. I can see a Melk and Nibbler out, JVR and Harmes in double change. But I don’t think things are that drastic.

We aren’t replacing our fitness player with a teenage tall. Just not going to happen

There’s some of that, but plenty of his using it well and drawing runners. We also rarely kick or handball to him early or quickly. If we used him quickly it would encourage his next disposal to be quick too. So often he’s the last resort after inside options get shut down. Then the next kick in the change is shut down too

Because that’s our game plan and Darcy Moore exists. The worst ones are when we go slow, position the talls and still shank it not even getting it deep in the pocket. Is the plan flawed? Are the personnel flawed. Hard to say which, or if plan B is better. But it’s hard to watch right now

He played well. The only reason to drop him would be if they want to go back to Gus on the wing. Our midfield badly needs more speed, but I doubt it will be with JJ out to make it happen

If inside 50 speed of delivery and inside 50 numbers of defenders were measured there’s would’ve been twice as fast with half as many defenders. There’s issues with the defensive stuff but we’re so slow to move it in there defenders are so rarely under pressure.

Have to think about moving Gus back to half back again. But then you’ve got the same issue of a slow backline that can’t kick or push aggressively up the ground and the ball sits in our backline. Otherwise it’s Harmes for Sparrow. Maybe JvR for Melk. Maybe. Maybe Bowey for Riv.

If Gus stays on ball it’s a toss up between Harmes and Sparrow. ANB and Melk are doing their roles and I can’t see them being moved from them. If Gus goes back it’s a toss up between Hunt and Rivers. Goody rarely changes winning combinations, which makes me think Gus stays on ball. Gus also fills in as the third winger which takes that role away from Harmes. Harmes: Versatility, speed, experience, perhaps a slight edge in forward craft (marking, crumbing) Sparrow: Healthy, defensive motor, built like a brick, makes things happen with his power out of contests

He’s just the perfect vice captain is he not? The Sergeant Major. The attack dog. He could take over from Gawn for a couple of years. I’m not quite convinced by Petracca, Lever or any other option just yet, but hopefully they have time. And when they do take the job they should have Viney as 21C

Targets: - McStay - don’t want to debate this again but he’s a good afl player and off to Coll - Gunston - Logue - probably a defender, could be a value buy and swing man with Petty - Lobb Worth a look: Grundy Meek E. Himmelberg - has the size and athleticism, has threatened to become an afl player James Stewart - awful injury run, has skills but probably a defender these days Caleb Marchbank - defender and a huge gamble but you never know Wade Derksen - just a great name Emerson Jeka Could get a train on run: Frampton - back up ruck Oscar Mc - the return! Aaron Francis Chris Burgess - probably a good state leaguer Schache - 3rd time lucky?