DeeSpencer

I assume it's a lot cheaper to fly Aspley and Southport frequently and the Vic standalone teams a few times a year than it was to run the entire NEAFL. This is a cost saving exercise for the NEAFL whilst trying to keep the notion of a top grade comp in NSW/QLD. Although I'm guessing the NSW and QLD top leagues actually do better just on their own. The quality might not be as strong as it was but they'll be better comps for more players.

Yes down back, but he can move on ball or forward if that’s the case. Spargo doesn’t have to be nearly that level of player though. His competition are guys like Dan Rioli and Luke Dahlhaus. That said, Spargo was also one of the very best juniors in his time.

Good luck to Aspley and Southport giving it a go. And also Northern Bullants coming back to life. (Why not Preston tho?). 6 teams North of the Murray, 16 below. Not sure how you make that work in terms of conferences/divisions whatever you want to call them. I can't imagine Aspley and Southport are keen to fly almost every second week.

Langdon and Smith can easily rotate through the high half forward spots. Langdon brings good pressure to that role, where as Smith has often played that for the Hawks to provide an outlet target from the backline. I like a lot of what Baker does but until he has a proper preseason I won't have much confidence in him doing it repeatedly. I think it's now two summers in a row where he hasn't been able to stay on the track and really take big strides with his endurance.

Hibberd and Smith are on one year deals and probably both outside chances to make it to 2022 and Rivers whilst a good size isn't going to be in the side as a tall exactly. We need proper defensive depth at every backline spot and until we've seen if Hore can be better than that he's worth a year to work it out. If Caleb Daniel can make an AA team then Spargo can be a regular player. Sure it would be easier at his size if he was lightning quick but he's a smart footballer, he can build endurance and strength to get to more contest and stick tackles as a high half forward. He took a step forward late this year.

Good luck to Sam going back to coaching and a small role at the club. I don’t understand why the Casey job is going to be part time. Surely it’s too important not to be a full time person even if they split their time with more at AFL development level. There has to be a strong connection with the AFL and VFL sides. We can’t go back to players doing one thing at Casey and another AFL level Edit: Unless this means it’s a part time role moved in to someone else’s job portfolio. Ie. Someone with more afl experience

It’s good to know we can sign our highest priority acquisitions but we need to get rid of Tom’s contract. It’s dead money that we just can’t carry. Whether it’s front loading existing deals, extending current players or even just signing delisted or mature age players there’s so many ways to use the cap space.

He could do a 2 year extension with an option for another 2-4 on top, that type of deal will become more popular. Gaff and J Kelly started that. Either way, if we could get him signed until 2023 that’s long enough for now!

Mahoney to North and Richo in to his job has been doing the rounds. Personally I’d see that as a mistake. Richo’s a coach, find him some players to coach up. Don’t shoehorn him in to a different job

I like the way the Bombers implode so aggressively. Meanwhile we just slowly smolder along

He spent 3 quarters avoiding contact and then he went back with the flight and dropped a chest mark. Which I said he does. But watch him running at a high incoming kick, he doesn’t get his arms up and open his body. Jackson’s a year older and Petty should be back. 4 key forwards is enough, use the extra spot on developing players.

There's nothing honest, consistent or reliable about him. Apart from the occasional strong chest mark he refuses to put his body on the line and jump with outstretched arms and therefore can't be trusted to compete in the air. He'll play well one week when given time and space, he does lead hard and well for the ball, but the entire structure of the side falls down when you've got talls who don't compete. He was dreadful against Sydney, which led to him being dropped for the Freo game and them trying Preuss (a predictable failure). If we trade for Ben Brown I wouldn't bother keeping Mitch on the list. We have assume BenB, Weid, Jackson are all ahead of him and Petty should be too if he's progressing well. 4 key forwards is enough. Use the list space elsewhere.

That's what it comes down and that's where I've had my doubts in the past. It's hard to say this and not sound like you're knocking him but Jones was a 1 man team for a long time and hardly the most successful or inspiring captain. Apart from 15 years on the list there wasn't a lot to be said for keeping him on as a coach and leader from what I could tell. But him embracing that role towards the end of the season demonstrates that he's keen for it. If he puts the same energy and enthusiasm in to mentoring the next guys as he has in to his own playing days this could be a very good decision.

Boak had a poor 2018 played as a forward and then went back in to the midfield in 2019/2020. It's unlikely Jones is going back in to the middle. Jones is a year older so next year for him will be the equivalent of 2022 for Boak if you're comparing apples with apples.

James McDonald was captain in 2010 and had played 16 of 22 games. It's not culture to extend Jones because of McDonald. Every decision is different, especially one made 10 years apart. The same thing applies to the 300 games. If the games are gifted the milestone loses its significance. I've been against Jones playing on for 2 years now but funnily enough I'm starting to change my mind. I'm actually ok with this because I think Jones made a couple of important changes to his game this year. 1. He seemed to embrace defensive efforts far stronger than he has in the past 2. He embraced a coaching/mentoring role more and got involved in that at the end of the season. Leadership and coaching are our best ways to improve this offseason. Experienced players are required to get the messages across and set the tone. If Jones has that in him he'll be a far greater asset than the list spot.

I’d rather go in to the draft with a useful pick and then trade out of it if needed. Clubs routinely overpay on draft night, it’s really hard to move up the order. I just don’t think we’ve taken enough picks in recent years. Obviously this year with list reductions and an uncertain draft isn’t the year to have a huge number of picks but I’d still like to give Jason Taylor at least 1 chance in the top 40.

North don’t have a leg to stand on when attempting to hold Brown. - He’s out of contract - They haven’t offered him a deal - There’s clearly been acrimony between him and the club It’s a farce he isn’t a free agent after 7 years of service and a year for their VFL side. He’s pretty close to a delisted free agent too when there’s no interest in keeping him. I’d be kicking off negotiations with a future 3rd round pick and might go to a future 2nd rounder and a swap of other picks. That’s in line with the value of Sam Frost and that’s about all they are getting. My message to the Brown camp would be we need every possible asset to build the rest of the list as well, so stay solid with us and we’ll get you in but we’re done being the roll over trade guys

Interesting article about Brown from 2018. - Tore his ACL in his under 18 year - Jason Taylor when he was at Collingwood met with him and offered him a rookie spot after a year of rehab in Melbourne - Has a big tank - Highlights some of the previous concerns about his game https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/why-ben-brown-is-the-afl-s-best-draft-pick-20180427-p4zc0e.html

He had numerous games under half a dozen or possessions. Disposals aren't everything but half back flank is the easiest spot on the ground to get the ball. I can tell his fitness isn't great because he plays low time on ground, I've seen him run in the offseason and he's often taped up and hobbling along. Against the Saints we bought back Rivers, which well was due. As well as Oscar for a taller back line and Josh Wagner as an experienced fit player who was going to run to receive the ball and to fill gaps in the zone. We played a very good team defending game and played kick to kick to keep the dangerous saints away from the ball. It was probably the best coached game of the season and a selection victory. If smart judges couldn't work that out after the game they weren't very smart judges. Lockhart's too small and doesn't have Nev's super human defensive capabilities. He can't be a pure shut down player. He has to find the ball and be an attacking option. He did that at Casey but has yet to make the step up in to that kind of role at AFL level.

Agree on Smith's kicking, but our defensive system held up for most of the year and Smith providing run to get back to support and options on the way out that should only get stronger. It will be up to Yze to get some class around the midfield and find targets going inside 50 more often. If Smith sticks to what he's good at - running 30 and bombing it 60 - he won't have to nail too many hit up kicks. I assume you mean Shaun Higgins? He'd be great and we should absolute be investigating him. What would it cost to get him when Geelong want him though?

Polec has the most upside but he''ll cost either a decent draft pick or a lot of cash, plus he might not fit the culture. Where if Smith is the right player for us he could enhance the culture - we need to assess his leadership credentials thoroughly and not just assume it of course. Phillips is another where draft pick and pay cheque come in to play. That might not matter if we're planning on getting 5 years out of him but I have a sneaky suspicion the AFL might've seen the best of Tom Phillips. There's also the matter of whether the Pies want to actually give him up. Phillips only has 1 more year on his expensive contract, if they push out Treloar they could look to keep him on a better deal after 2021. There's certainly pros and cons and I can talk myself in to any of them but the most important thing is getting someone that can do the role and does what they are bought in to do. If Smith is bought in to do the job for 2 years whilst we draft or develop a long term replacement then that's job done.

I’m a Lockhart fan but he’s at risk of becoming the backline version of Hannan. Not quite consistent enough, doubts over his fitness, often taped up and not looking 100%. I’d almost have a rule that if you need something taped you can’t play for guys like Lockhart. If we want to play a high tempo ballistic game he has the smarts but he needs to be much fitter to keep making an impact. Otherwise we should look to having more 188cm+ defenders who can all zone and intercept mark. Not many teams are playing smaller lock down defenders these days. You got to be up the ground and running unless you have size.

Depends what our overall game plan and list strategy is. As long as they have good tackle pressure and can read the play very well I’m ok with having some inside mids, talls and even the occasional flanker without top pace. They have to bring skills and ball winning to counter but if they do it’s ok to have a balance. Geelong are like that. Port and Brisbane are similar. The Richmond model of pretty much the entire team being super quick works for them but even they drafted a guy like Jack Ross who isn’t quick. But he’s a good tackler and ball winner and has played some very good football for them. I was fine with Sparrow, JJ and Dunkley as our midfield depth. It’s our lack of effective quick flankers that concerns me more and we had a whole lot of other picks to do better on them.

1 goal in 10 games this year. Hamstring injuries in a speed player. Makes me concerned about Aaron Davey like decline. He’d cost our future first which bans us from trading future 2nd and 3rds for Ben Brown et al But most of all I think we might have only 1 more big ticket recruit in our cap if we want to keep our core. If a players not perfect and will cost upwards of 700k that’s a lot of opportunity cost. I want a ticket in the Merrett and Kelly free agency sweep stakes

I don't think we officially confirmed Tomlinson until the start of free agency last year even though it was well known. That's the best way to do it. All these other free agents picking out clubs (some restricted) get a wave of publicity for the media but the club gets nothing. Wait until the official start on Friday, put him in a club polo on the club website and get all the clicks for us and our sponsors.