DeeSpencer

In normal years there’s a few players drafted on their under 17 form but mostly it’s assessing guys in their 18th year. In theory there should be a handful of Clayton Oliver, Bontempelli type bolters who would’ve jumped up in addition to next years crop. So possibly a few players per round in the draft more than usual. The counter to that is those guys are eligible for the midseason draft as far as I know. So if they come on strongly in the early games they could be snapped up mid year.

The club has done this for the last few years. They have draftees stay with a team mate for the first week or so. I assume it's for things along the line of getting to know a team mate as a mentor, getting some tips on routine and a chance to ask all the questions they might be afraid to ask without that closer bond. Probably just cuts down a lot of anxiety about when/what to eat, when to wake up, what to pack, which way to drive and where to park etc etc. Given all 3 are from SE Melbourne they'll probably all go back to living with mum and dad next week.

I'd rather walk in the middle of the Monash than hear the horrendous noise of a basketball stadium, no one should be subjected to that constant thump thump thump. But yes, basketball stadiums are good community facilities, well done. No one works in these areas, just subdivision after subdivision, everyone has to commute for work. Slowly as the cheap home builds start to fade and without any investment in infrastructure the area will become increasingly soulless and more unappealing. I'd have more respect for the people that live there than the property developers who raked in millions then got the heck away from it and the councillors that allowed it to happen. I'm not anti the outer suburbs or the people that live there, I'm anti how little time, money and sense has been put in to making them succeed because if they don't succeed they are going to cost everyone. For a start I'd build the transport to be ready for the housing not 30 years later, heck I'd even build a Frankston, Cranbourne, Berwick train line so these suburbs are connected to a relevant hub in Frankston that isn't an hour away. Then instead of allowing row of home after home I'd mix in some medium density apartments and townhouses around the transport hubs and some business zones to attract jobs. Maybe even get lucky and get a restaurant that isn't a McDonald's. Then I'd spread the ovals out around the suburbs so everyone has easily accessible green space that doesn't involve driving to the same facility. At the moment all they leave is a wetlands which is just code for 'this area was too boggy to build on'. Building every sporting field together is a cop out and if there's not even good transport or surrounding businesses I don't see how it helps the community. To make it sound better they've gone out to sign professional teams but so far are looking at 1.5 training bases. Good for them if they can get Melbourne City to actually play games there but the Dandenong boutique stadium makes far more sense, so I'd be hoping they can get the funding to get that happening.

Imagine it how? The entire project is a tremendous rort. Instead of building community facilities throughout the new housing estates (aka future slums) they've taken the development money and put it all in one place. Then they've splashed out on getting semi professional teams and training bases instead of actually providing the community with what they need spread around the suburbs so local businesses can merge in with facilities. It's the sporting version of an awful suburban shopping centre with the same crappy parking and soulless vibe. Just maybe when they build the train line in 30 years it might stand a chance.

They have potential for a Bulldogs style short term super rise before it falls back to earth IMO. Brayshaw, Cerra and Serong are that good that they can carry a midfield in the same way Bont, Macrae and Libba did at the Dogs in 2017. Particularly if Darcy gets fit and takes a leap. The right midfielders only need a few preseasons to go from below par to a really strong group, it's not like the big guys who need time. If the young guys carry the midfield it allows Fyfe and Walters to be a 2 man forward line rotating on ball when needed, or supported with Taberner, Lobb and Sam Sturt. Alex Pearce getting healthy would be huge for their backline, but if it doesn't happen and they are just Luke Ryan, some top end kids (Young, Chapman) and a bunch of misfits they are still so well drilled up the field that they'll be decent. Young midfield takes a big leap + reinvigorated high end talent + well drilled role players is the method for unexpected success

Both teams rebuild at the same time. The Saints rebuild went haywire earlier, so they added King, Clark and Coffield. Then topped up with the likes of Brad Hill and co. Melbourne stayed on track, but fell apart in 2019, so we added Jackson, Rivers and Kossie. We've gone for Ben Brown and added a few more picks rather than trade ins. They've got more depth, but the argument for us is May is better than Howard/Carlisle, Petracca is better than their best mids and our young talent fills the gaps they've plugged with imports the last two years. They certainly aren't too old or lackings kids though. That's a bad take.

5 grand finals in 22 years is something we could only dream of. The easy argument is he should’ve called time around 2011 ish. A premiership, 4 grand finals, a home base and financial riches. But he’s also guided in the Buckley era and 90 seconds from winning the 2018 flag. Their footy department has made errors since losing Balmey, that’s hardly a shock, and it’s time, but hard to be too critical. Same goes for staying until the end of 2021. It’s disappointing for members that clubs aren’t democracies and boards get to handover power but a smooth transition works best if you get it right. And there’s not a single club that seems keen on elections anyway.

I have about 15 questions about the leaks and need to better protect our draft board but I’ll save those. 1. Obviously I’d like to know what role they see the new guys in and if he’s concerned about Bowey’s size or Laurie’s speed (he won’t be but it’s worth asking). 2. Plans for the 2 remaining list spots and train on players? 3. Tall and medium defensive depth and lack of list changes there. 4. ‘Targeting’ certain attributes in recruiting, why? Sounds like it goes against best available which is dangerous 5. A review of previous drafts. What’s his process? Did the clubs mantra of ‘competitors’ overshadow the need for skills and run and lead to us playing catch up?

Collingwood is all meant to be public space, they never close anyone out in normal times I don't think. Hawthorn you can wander around Waverley. The Saints and North you can easily wander around unless they've upgraded the fences for AFLW games. Essendon you might have to stand in Melrose drive but you'll see in. Same goes for Richmond and the Dogs if you're willing to stand next to Punt Road or Gordon st. Of the Melbourne teams it might only be Carlton that can truly lock down their ground. That's why the teams agreed not to spy on sessions that are deemed closed for all clubs. Most clubs wait until their camps or train at special venues for there more secretive game plan sessions anyway.

His playing days at Melbourne consisted of a whole lot of shirking contests and responsibility. 300 games means he’ll have something to offer but I’d rather an experienced qualified coach who has a commitment to the club. If Lewis’ is just going to hang around over summer before resuming media duties I don’t see that as value for money.

What does Lewis have to do with quality people? No idea why we keep topping up his superfund

Moving on Junior was the wrong cultural decision because it didn't value leadership and experience. Playing Jones if he doesn't deserve it would be the wrong cultural decision because it would be gifting games. He wasn't gifted games last year, they made him work to get in game shape and from round 8-12 anyway he was actually better than he got credit for and better than the other options. If we're thinking lets get 6 games in to him and then wind him up we're kidding ourselves. The aim should be to trust him to get as close to 6 on merit and if he's 1 or 2 short then maybe we can bend the rules. If he hasn't earned any games or if he's only earned a few and we're in finals contention then he'll just end up short of the mark but can hold his head high that he's had a heck of a career.

Is or has Isaac Smith relocated to the Geelong area? If not, he's managed to get to Waverley for a decade, I don't think he'd be too worried about another 20 minutes on the freeway to Casey for 1 covid summer and maybe 1 day a week in season. We do have a perfectly adequate facility as is, we've just temporarily relocated to give the women and other AAMI teams more room. Overall I think it will be a positive. Brand new facilities, privacy, a chance for some team bonding on the car pool down. A really bold move for a club would be to build a training base on the Mornington Peninsula and relocate players down there. Even bolder would be to relocate the entire club to a new ground in Frankston or Mornington. The Saints move to Seaford was about a 1/4 measure, if they shipped whole club the other side of Frankston it could've worked. Fortunately they've been bailed out with great new digs at Linton St. But the number of gun players from the Peninsula might out number the Geelong guys. Tom Lynch, Weitering, the Jones brothers, Hunter Clark, Hibberd, Sam Sturt, Will Hamill, Hayden and Lachie Young, Whitfield and so on. Given so many players want to live in Torquay it's hard to imagine they wouldn't like somewhere on the Peninsula just as much.

There's no evidence required, it's clear as day. Cal Twomey had 1 correct match in the draft after the 2 top picks in his phantom. He had no idea who was going where. But he seemed very strong on Holmes to the Dees and it was consistent across the other phantoms. Even Paul Amy had it. The word was out. Then Geelong trade in right ahead of our pick and grab him. Don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work that one out. The top 20 was pretty much all players who dominate in SA/WA or had produced great bottom age years in 2019 (or 2018 under 16's for Bruhn). Outside of Angwin who the Giants saw as a need and had the Duursma tick of approval it was a night for proven performers at the top of the draft. Clubs wouldn't have been lining up to grab a guy with 1 nab league game and a good trial game early, they would've tried to sneak him in as late as possible. I don't know why I'm getting criticised for suggesting this basket case of a football club that hasn't won a premiership in a million years might not be great at their jobs?

179cm for Laurie isn't small, the game is just fascinated by big mids when most of what they do isn't impacted by aerial contests. Matt Rowell, Lachie Neale, Dion Prestia, Luke Shuey types keep dominating games at that size. Add in Viney. I'd like him to be quicker, but he has elite agility and an above average tank, assuming he can get stronger and leaner he should have very good burst speed. If he can win or be trained to win contested ball with that agility he'll make a very good midfielder and that's the kind of mid we lack. The big question mark is we just didn't get to see him have his top age season and progress in to the midfield and show he can do it. I assume the recruiters have seen enough of his school games and NAB league games to be comfortable with his ball winning. Bowey is a good athletic package too, speed, agility, endurance, jumping (power) all very solid. From what I've seen he doesn't look a natural at pressuring like Kossie and seems more keen to play like a winger, but maybe that's ok too? How often is Ed Langdon disadvantaged by height? If Bowey can do everything Langdon does and can kick that's a good player. I'm getting more convinced the best use of him in time will be half back in a Caleb Daniel/John Noble/Lewis Jetta style role which means he has to be as good as he possibly can be to make it at his height, but JT seems sure he plays above his height, so we'll have to trust that. Those 2 definitely have talent, it's just whether they can develop and if we are prepared to play a more open running style that doesn't rely on size and contested footy. There's a lot to like about Rosman but he's an athlete turned footballer, the form just isn't there. He's a project for Choco.

Nope I stand by it. We leaked last year with Jackson and Pickett. We leaked again this year. Whether it's deliberate by any individual or whether we are overplaying our hands by being too keen we make it clear for the world to see we wanted this kid. Stop kidding yourself that we didn't. Geelong are good. They'll finish at the top of the ladder. Almost worst case scenario is they play finals given their home ground advantage. Whether they hand over pick 10 or pick 18 next year they won't be too worried. Melbourne are every chance to finish in the bottom 6, hopefully we don't, but it's a possibility. That makes our future first far more of a risk and much more valuable. The Cats also knew exactly who they were getting. We went the early trade and were left with a fairly uninspiring collection of talent.

It was a series of bad decisions starting with the Northern state club academies - especially with the Giants getting the Riverina and Heeney on cents on the dollar, to the NGA, to allowing bids to be matched with a combination of late picks with stuff all value pushed together. I think everyone agrees the AFL needed to do more to develop kids in NSW/QLD, and to keep the pathway of Indigenous players improving and to make sure new immigrants got involved in the game the same way as other Aussies have, but it really was the worst solution.

Thought I'd watch a half and make some notes 39:20 JB - clever tackle to cause turnover that leads to shot on goal (will need to work on strength/technique) 40:30 BL - beautiful step and hands to get out of trouble, then follow up and creative handball (but a little soft) to spring Macrae 42: 10 JB - hunts forward to tackle, play bounces around and back towards him and he doesn't overcommit, snaffles a turnover, wears a tackle and dishes to the runner who misses 42:40 BL - ball goes out of bounds, Laurie attempts a crafty flick over -sign that he's thinking 42: 44 BL - sneaks ahead of his man for an intercept, but fumbles and can't win back the ground ball 46:55 JB - doesn't overly attack the drop of the ball - which seems consistent - but is quick to tackle and force a contest 47:10 JB - misses an incoming kick, possibly confused with a team mate? follows up but quickly tackled 47:25 BL - attempts and fails to push his man under the ball 49:25 BL - ignored by multiple team mates, misses a tackle after the turnover 51: 22 JB - first man to support at a contest on the wing, gets the handball and nicely releases to a team mate in space 53: 05 BL - clever gather and quick hands 54: 05 BL - staying up at a stoppage swoops on to a loose ball but Noah Anderson is already on it! 56: 05 BL - breaks nicely in to space but his team mate doesn't use him 56: 20 BL - protects the drop of the ball nicely but drops a mark ?pushed/ ?sun in his eyes? 56: 55 BL - gets beaten to it by his man at the stoppage (Butler, bulldogs draft pick '19) 57: 02 JB - zooms from the stoppage to half forward but then only forces a fumble, could've won the ball or tapped it on, Laurie comes in to tackle after it bounces around ---------------------- QUARTER TIME 1:07:10 JB - gathers at the stoppage, evades and releases a nice handball under pressure 1:07:50 JB - pushes up to the wing (is playing high HF), marks, steps a tackler to get corridor side, Matty Rowell has snuffed out his plan though and drops back, so he goes outside of the boot and shanks it. 50/50 if he should've taken the easy boundary option first time. After the throw in he zips on to a loose ball and gives the simple hands Bit of chasing and around the ball but nothing significant for both for a while here 1:15:35 BL - pushes up for the backline switch, fluffs the corridor kick but follows back up and gets it back to his man. More scrappy player and JB almost gets a chance, puts on some pressure and tackling 1:20: 20 BL - wins a contest with a nice bump off, steps and gives the little handball under pressure slightly behind JUH who fumbles, BL gets back on it, steps, releases a perfect handball on his left to a mate who should've scored 1:21:28 JB - snags a handball, quick hands, gets it back, quicker longer hands. 1:27:00 JB - uncontested mark, takes his time and goes long with good accuracy to the contest. Gets beat pretty easily by Anderson on the clearing kick out ---------------- HALF TIME Laurie: the step and composure in tight seems legit, he knows how to evade and where his team mates are. Unfortunately not enough of it because he's starting on the bench and deep forward and doesn't get a lot of chances. He's very quick to take off forward, he might have to be a bit less rolling of the dice at AFL level Bowey - sharp hands and knows where to run to receive the ball in space. Not overly convinced he's a forward though, he plays like he wants to be on the wing. Doesn't really hunt the drop of the ball or his tackles, more of a swooper. A few times he annoyed me with the habit of walking after the contest was over, bit of a pet peeve. 0 from 1 on difficult kicks after looking in board but I sense he's willing and able to pull the trigger.

The NGA is being heavily wound back over the next 2 years. Next year top 20 picks will be excluded. The year after top 40 picks will be excluded. Whether that's too little too late to stop the damage done I'm not sure but at least they are on the path to correct it. If they get serious about free agency and axe compensation picks - or at least early ones - they could get back to a draft where the first two rounds go 18 picks a piece more often than not.

I'm inclined to agree, but I think Tom also deserves a fresh look wherever he plays. He's now cooked as a forward as much as he was down back, so he has to get more mobile and take a fresh approach wherever he plays. He has an aerial game that Tomlinson just doesn't have and that Hore will always struggle with due to lack of size. And he might be more accepting that he'd be just a role playing defender rather than back years ago where he was kind of the main guy back there. I can't have him in best 22's right now though. His most likely spot down back could be if May went down and we needed someone to take the big forward in a stopping role.

There's no doubt we needed half forward talent upgrades but these young guys are going to have about as much success as the Hannan and ANB's of the world if we don't fix the midfield. Our midfielders largely escape scrutiny if they rack up 25 touches but they're the ones butchering the ball. Laurie and Bowey need to get up in to the midfield too because they should help the skill level there. We missed a chance to turnover the backline group a bit as well. Every year there's decent mature age defenders late in the draft. We didn't need top picks or big name trades, just a couple of handy young state league guys to improve the depth.

Rowell, Anderson, (Dyl Williams inj) Bryan, Bianco Ugle-Hagan, Phillips, Stone, Macrae, Laurie, McInnes That has to go down as one of the best junior teams of all time.

My guess is Freo said we've got 2 academy kids we're keen to draft already and like every club a pretty full list, come back next year when you're bigger than 169cm and 65kg. I think they'd still get the discount on him next year so they haven't lost out. 10 goals in 7 WAFL Colts games indicates he's got some level of talent. But unlikely to be at the level where Melbourne or any other club show significant interest in him in this draft. Certainly would make a lot of sense if we now get him to train with the club and have a look at him over summer.

Backline: FB: Hibberd May Nietschke HB: Salem Lever Rivers Int: Hore There's no good solutions for the last 3 defenders. Hibbo was mostly decent last year when he kept it simple. Hore's undersized but at least should provide an honest contest and does most things well enough. Smith, Tomlinson and Lockhart are around the mark but unconvincing. Petty's an option but I think we'll prefer a nimble backline. Nietschke - coming off two knees, not particularly athletic or skilled, but both preseasons when the match play as started he keeps finding the ball, one to watch. Midfield: C: Jackson Petracca Langdon Foll: Gawn Oliver Viney Int: Harmes, Laurie It's time to shake things up a bit here. Harmes back in to help the defensive side. Laurie in as we need a class ball user to get the handballs off the crash and bash types. Jackson to a wing, give him room to roam and develop when not giving Max a chop out. Forward: HF: Hunt Petty Spargo FF: Fritsch Brown Pickett Int: Bowey Speed, skill, pressure. Both Hunt and Bowey can rotate up to a wing, Fritsch as well. Laurie particularly flips the other way to go forward to not over tax him. And Petracca chops in as the 3rd tall, or Jacko when height is really needed. I've consistently said I don't like the Weid and Brown combination and prefer Petty as someone who'll find more of the ball and gives more at ground level. Hunt's really a wildcard, will mostly be quiet but chips in with goals and has a bit of height around the 3 smalls.

2 rookie spots. There were very few live picks in the rookie draft, I'm sure pretty much everyone on our potential list is available so we've got to get a few out to Casey to have a look at. We should keep at least one spot for the mid season draft when every NAB league kid who didn't play this year gets a chance to show they should've been drafted.