DeeSpencer

Kolt was linked to Sydney and St Kilda who we traded ahead of. Draft rankings are utterly meaningless. What? As if we didn’t offer absolutely everything to the eagles at multiple stages of the trade period. If anything they would’ve preferred the lower pick and extra late picks. If there is a conspiracy with the Kolt trade up it is that we wanted to trade it up yet again to get Caddy or O’Sullivan.

Kennedy is slow and a poor kick, but at least has some flexibility to play forward. Another one for the ‘if no one else is better’ category but not a prime target.

I only watched the last quarter but Finn was playing an undersized CHF role and took a couple of big time marks and looked incredibly dynamic even if he mucked up a couple a of kicks. Jagga was Jagga. Prolific but low impact. If either of them was in contention for pick 1 it has to be Finn.

Wright’s had enough of club land and wants to put his feet up at afl house for a while. It’s hard to know how much blame to give our list manager. It hasn’t been good, but we’ve had a heap of contacts on the books. We’ve also been very safe in not trading anyone out ahead of time. The guys who left were out of contract and getting big offers. Kelly O’Donnell is listed as pro scout on our ancient website. If that’s still the case he has to go. We haven’t found a good state leaguer since Hannan and Vanders and his job is also to scout players from other state league and sides. We got sucked in to Billings and Hunter. They were low risk, but very low reward. Got absolutely sucked in to extending Laurie this year and extending Schache last year. I still think McAdam was worth a go, but giving a valuable pick was stupid. Rucks…Grundy was kind of worth a try? No harm now foul, wasn’t the list managers fault that neither Max nor Grundy ultimately committed to making it work. Fullarton was pretty much a delisted free agent. Thinking anyone tall can ruck was a mistake, he’s so awful there. But he might have something to offer as a forward. I’d have gone hard for Jordon Sweet but I get he wanted to go home. We are really just crying out for a couple of bargain bin finds (both recycled players and with great late picks in the draft). I think the fundamental change I’d be making is to stop hanging on to so many of our own players and stop trying to fill the list in Oct and Nov. Get comfortable with more list turnover and bringing guys in through preseason.

We’ve lost Hibberd and even someone like Vanders who wasn’t best 22 in 2021 but was a maniac tackler and aggressive player. None of our mature age recruits the last couple of years are really physical players. McAdam doesn’t mind dishing it out but he’s wreckless. JVR as a draft pick has some aggression. There’s hope for Kolt, he doesn’t mind a scrap. And Caleb is a great run down tackler, that’s how he exerts himself physically on the contest. We need run and skills but watching finals so much of the game is guys who can turn up the heat.

Chargers, Jets, Niners

I’m not sure Keeffe didn’t offer more tho as a genuine back up ruck and big aggressive body. Riccardi a taller less talented Fritsch. The two of them in the same side would drive supporters (not just me) crazy. Wouldn’t shock me if the Giants moved on Riccardi to open the spot for Max G. Especially if they pick up Crows Himmelberg for mature depth. But I suspect they keep him to cover the young talls.

KB worth a second year and I guess you do the right thing with Kentfield, but yeah Sesto and AMW have battled to do much in preseason and have been down the back in the running. They’ve both be on the list long enough now that it’s kind of now or never. You can sign rookies any time until March now. I don’t see the need to lock up the rookie list.

Carlton’s pick 11 plus good steak knives (maybe even Carlton’s future first for some later picks back) has to be the favourite. Houston’s a quality player but as I’ve said all along if they can land Perryman especially as a free agent or even Cumming they should have faith in Farrell, Logan Evans, Sinn, Burgoyne etc doing the job at half back. The need to upgrade their wing, midfield depth and key talls.

Unless we overpay via draft pick Macrae will come with a hefty contract. The dogs won’t let him go if they aren’t getting the cash off the books. So he has to be best 22 to really be a positive for the cap. Some guys who have lost pace can play half back, but we already have Salo in that spot. Some can play wing, I’m shocked the dogs didn’t try that with him. But we have 2 starting wingers. He can play half forward but he’s a defensive liability. That’s why you get dropped for Harmes for a final. Getting value out of him requires him to start on ball. We’re probably lining up with Viney, Oliver, Rivers and by the end of the year hopefully Tracc on ball. To have another starting midfielder would be wise. But that group packs speed and hard running as is. He doesn’t help the balance that we need in there.

Mass D’Ambrosio was stiff not to be AA. Jez Sharp was best 22 for Freo all year. Oleg Markov played in a flag last year. Frankie Evans is settled in Port’s side right now. Mason Wood excellent for St Kilda. Stocker not half bad either. Levi Casboult had a good run at the Suns. Not many get chances but those who do have a reasonable success rate I think. Kaine Baldwin might be the standout from a bunch of bad names so far but teams generally wait until trade week for their better quality delistings.

Mannagh clearly had afl level talent the issue was whether he was going to play a team game and do the defensive stuff. The cats left him in the vfl for a long time this year just to get that buy in. Brew seems to be the absolute vfl midfielder. Clubs rarely go for those guys. That said, Geelong have one who when in form this year and in 2022 he makes a huge impact and that’s Tom Atkins. Brew bosses around afl listed players in the vfl. It’s a huge step up trying to do that to Lachie Neale rather than Jarryd Lyons but who knows, if he has the tank then maybe.

Scared is putting it mildly. He looks like he's been dropped in the middle of a Vietnam jungle every time he's taking a set shot. I don't mean to trivialize it but he genuinely looks like he has sporting PTSD. I'm just not sure moving to Melbourne can cure you of a St Kilda disease.

Peatling says he’s staying. Davies signed on. How’s the young midfielders list going: Riley Garcia Ted Closehy Jack Carroll (WA bound)? Ben Hobbs (contracted) Finn Macrae (contracted) Thomson Dow Jai Culley Feels like we’ve got to get one of them unless we’re getting a quality name or have some secret state league gems.

Yes. Fun first half in Brisbane but after that it was clear he’s a mile off

Huge news for Casey! Verrall’s worth more time. Sestan and AMW have talent but I’d have been in no rush to sign them, if they can’t improve their running they won’t make it.

I’m hoping he goes top 5 so we can get someone better. I don’t see it at all.

I’d give it one bad year and Bucks will get as much if not more heat. The media turn on everyone and love a tall poppy

Blue is Allies not just academies. Shanahan for instance isn’t an academy eligible player. And Tassie guys. Bold is Vic Country. Dandy players can play for country and FOS is from the bush just plays for Oakleigh.

The ‘we need to play a different style’ people need to understand we optimised game style based on the strengths of our playing group and you can’t simply adapt it without changing players. That’s why the list management has been such a big let down. A fresh preseason at least gives us some options but if you want to play something even remotely resembling Hawthorn then we need (at a minimum): - highly skilled half backs at full fitness Ie. Bowey and Salem, plus tall backs willing to get in on the counter attack - 4+ on ballers that can really run - multiple half forwards that go up and back - athletic tall forwards that lead and jump at the footy and no passengers in the forward line At no stage this year did we have the midfield, backline or forward lines capable of high tempo footy.

Why? He’s just a lesser version of Goodwin in every way except he gives long drawn out quotes with big words in the media. If we sack Goody the worst thing we could do was get another Collingwood has been at the club.

They couldn’t match a bid for Gulden if it came early first round after matching Campbell and drafting McDonald. Replace him with Rowbottom if you like. Or McInerney. Those 2 are the supplemental high quality midfielders we really need. The academy has been a huge leg up, their drafts run hot and cold and the bonus early picks have helped the hot. The point is they develop players really well, but so do we! Not amazing? A top 10-15 player of the comp at 38???

15.8 Qualified NGA Players (a) For the purposes of this Rule 15, a Qualified NGA Player means a NGA Player who: (i) was born in Africa or Asia; or (ii) has a biological parent who was born in Africa or Asia; or (iii) is an Indigenous Person; or (iv) is a CALD NGA Player Seems they changed or narrowed the rules from parent born overseas to parent born in Africa or Asia. Very much a missed opportunity by the AFL to not include Polynesia given the quality of athletes and the fact most of them play rugby codes rather than footy despite many being well suited. They're giving up the chance of several Dusty Martin type players (in style more than quality of course). I assume the club has checked that his parents weren't both born in Samoa and have tried to argue that if they speak Samoan and have strong culture that he should fit as a CALD player.

Aside from poor old Sammy Weideman every first and second rounder we had for years played in the 2021 flag. And since then we developed Bedford from a guy who barely touched it at Under 18’s in to a good player for GWS. He just needed one more summer and regular games. Got Chandler, McVee, JVR up to the level. Made Disco in to something interesting. Windsor had a great start. Kolt got better as the year progressed. Howes has been a bit slow but he’s had a few injuries and is built like a rake. Jeffo couldn’t touch it in the vfl last year, was one of the better forwards in the vfl this year. Aside from Bill Laurie most of our kids are at least on track with their draft positions. We’ve had a shortage of good picks and a shortage of picks full stop. The Swans have an insane knack of Gulden and Warner type wins, but they also burn a bunch of early picks. Geelong keep doing their thing and find hidden gems everywhere, sadly including Max Holmes who along with Dempsey are by far their best young players. Especially from those they actually drafted themselves. But finding freakish talent late in the draft isn’t really a fair measurement. Overall development of young players is the least of our worries.

Got any names? Because Geelong have the inside track on guys like Henry and Bruhn and are now getting Cotton on to pay Bailey Smith. Ginnivan and Gunston were unusual circumstances. D’Ambrosio was great use of Essendon being Essendon. But players of that calibre rarely fall out of clubs. Chol they paid a fortune too and presented opportunity, but half decent prime aged tall players are rarely available and he’s only half decent too. The best player who makes sense for us is Peatling and Collingwood and the Dogs are super keen on him too. There’s a dollar amount when you have to fold your offer and he might just prefer other clubs. We can squeeze Carlton’s cap and get Matt Owies maybe, but it’s Matt Owies. Ted Closehy, Caleb Mitchell, Nathan O’Driscoll, there’s a few interesting out of contract players available but it’s slim pickings.