DeeSpencer

No point giving up until the list lodgement date. Maybe the surgery wasn't the panacea but his calves could still be adapting to the recovery from surgery and different dynamics without the plantaris. Personally still sticking with my uneducated belief that his running action and posture aren't ideal.

He’s close to a zero defensively and he’s very soft at the contest, particularly in the air. He could be useful in April running to space but he’s not the kind of player you need in September. Essendon probably delisted him because they are sick of playing back half counter attacking footy and want to get serious about playing like a finals team.

Backline: Hore, Oscar, Smith, Lockhart are our 7-10th best defenders and all around the mark, they’ll all have to play during the year but unsure if any completely lock up a spot. A bit early to tell for Rivers. Mids: The 2nd year trio of Dunkley, Sparrow and Jordon should push for games. Sparrow probably has the most ready made upside due to athleticism. Baker is still the hope for the second half of the year. Forwards: The most open group. Any of Mitch Brown, Petty, Weid or Jackson could grab hold of a tall spot. Plenty of small options. But my overall tip is that Kade Chandler is best 22. Unfortunately now his broken wrist might see him in VFL and needing to prove himself to start the season.

Every time I’ve seen Stafford doing ruck specific training Jackson has been with the rucks. But otherwise I’ve seen him with the forward group and with the mids (including rucks) about 50/50. And I’ve only seen him do match sim a couple of times, both times with the forwards. Gawn has gone head to head with Preuss as the rucks. If he gets a game early in the year I expect he’ll be the back up ruck for the 5 minutes a quarter that Gawn rests, and then will play forward for the rest of his allocated game time. If he’s good enough and physically up to playing then won’t he be our best relief ruckman option?

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He doesn't have a particular athletic advantage - stamina, size, strength, speed are all average or below. But he's certainly moving more freely and looking more confident and involved on the training track. How was he meant to beat a man if everyone he played on had more strength and healthy hips? After this summer he should be on par for fitness and strength with his opponent and moving better. He has the kicking (goal kicking a bit up and down but generally good, field kicking can be very good) and handballing skills (one of the best in the side at using both hands) to be a talent. Plus on the days where he lays a tackle he can get on a roll there. But it's a matter of whether he'll consistently find the ball and consistently hold his marks. He flies bravely at the ball but sometimes I think he's doing more to make a contest than to hold the marks. Half a season more up forward to see if he finally can hold his marks and get involved more and if it fails then time to try him down back where his opponent will take him to contests.

I’d say yes and no. I think I’ve seen a greater desire to switch the ball. And move the ball around the forward arc. They also hit up the diagonal half forward switch in a drill the other week. Overall I’d expect better pressure and defensive efforts more than a complete change in ball movement. Yesterday I wasn’t overly happy with the decision making and skills. Even allowing for good pressure and tricky weather it was messy. For example in the side to side keepings off drill I thought Clarry was still messy and firing off suspect handballs when I’d like to see him using both hands and adding more stop and start. I don’t want us to be more like Hawthorn were, I want more like Richmond now which is high tempo but on the back of really great football smarts. They always keep their space and positioning and don’t overcommit to the contest. Not sure we’ve taken much of a stride there yet.

Just a suggestion but if you load multiple photos in to the one instagram post you can then move them all across far more easily. You can tag the individual players in each photo rather than the caption.

Match sim. Blues v Greens with 2 players in pink bibs going both ways (Sparrow and Hunt). Seems roughly probables v possibles Lever, Jetta, Harmes, Salem, Hore Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Langdon, Petracca, Gus T Mc, Weid, Fritsch, Jackson, Kossie Harmes from half back hits Viney in the corridor who snaps on his right to keep it moving to Petracca. Trac darts it up the corridor to Pickett who dishes off to Jackson running inside 50 for the open goal. First bit of this was messy but the blues are finding their rhythm. R

Blustering conditions and fatigue playing havoc with the keepings off handball mini games. One group trying to work the ball around the backline. The other half going wing to wing. Harmes, Langdon, Petracca excellent with work rate. But not many excelling with skills. Not sure there’s a player on the list who can tackle Kossie when he’s shake and baking. Maybe Nev. Or Vanders - who I hope is having his usual Wednesday off.

Forwards doing a drill that works the ball to the wing then in board 45 then a handball to a runner who hits a leading target. Simple stuff that really should be flawless even in the blustery conditions but I’m impressed by Weid, Nibbler, Hunt and Kossie being very sharp. Jones is still a cut above most as well

Melksham boxing May jogging Bennell kick to kick Spargo, Oscar, Baker, Tomlinson rehab. Petty and Smith were with the rehab guys but have gone back to the main stuff. Nathan Jones back in with the forwards

Yes, inactive list players can be replaced in the preseason supplemental period. Or in the midseason draft.

I listed Hannan in with Hunt and Jackson as X factors because after picking the right balance of talls and mid sized marking players as well as ground level guys I think that last spot will be for a guy who can make something happen. I certainly feel like we haven't seen the best of Hannan but yes what we have seen the last couple of years has been inconsistent and hampered by injuries. But most teams have one forward who is inconsistent but a dangerous match up and Hannan's pace and nose for a goal makes him that kind of player. Like all our forwards he has to work on his positioning and connection with the mids and I'd to see him stronger at the contest at times. And of course he has to improve defensively to lock down a spot - something which isn't easy when hampered by injuries. I think he's capable of having a good season and being in the best 22 if they get him fully fit and confident, but if not we might be better served with someone like Hunt who can rotate up on to a wing and be dangerous as the out the back forward. Or we might just blood Jackson who could be a tricky match up forward and then strengthen the ruck minutes without Gawn.

I sparked this debate last year and I think the great thing about Salem is he has such an economical kicking action and balance he can quickly and reliably gather the ball, change direction and get the ball to his boot and where he wants it to go. A number of posters found photos where he’s more exaggerated in his action but I’d expect they are where he’s winding up for a longer kick. I wish we had more players with balance and a fast release to their kicking actions.

Great photos 6, love the ruck ones. Preuss is a scary sight a few feet in the air. Apart from that the Kozzie shots are wonderful.

Sparrow reminds me of a young Harmes. Physically capable and willing at the content. Skills and decision making need work. Id like to see him get 25+ a week at Casey for a stretch just so it’s 25 times he has to use the ball and improve. If he does play in the short term I’d like to see him used like Harmes has been as a tagger. Could end up half forward or half back due to his good aerial game but he’s going to need to improve his ball use for that to happen.

5 mids in to 4 inside mids spots just doesn’t work. Oliver and Viney aren’t getting shifted. Brayshaw plays his best on ball. Petracca needs an extended run in the midfield to show he can do it. Half back where Harmes can use his run and ability to compete isn’t that much different to the midfield in importance. Makes sense to use him there. Langdon on one wing. Tomlinson on the other where he’ll be asked to do a role I’d imagine. Vanders a bit of everything as a utility mid/forward. Yes Vanders is a risk but everyone else is unproven, although the young guys should do very well at Casey. Bennell the even bigger question mark and the dream scenario would be him coming in to the midfield mix during the season.

There seems to be a clear gap between the top 7: Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Petracca, Brayshaw, Langdon, Vanders and Tomlinson and the rest, but it’s still early days. It’s a long season so Harmes likely ends up back in the midfield for some part of the year. Jordon, Sparrow and Dunkley should push for games. And Jones will have his moments if made to work for a game and then used correctly. Im still a believer in Oskar Baker having some strong afl qualities. If they get his body right and give him a catch up preseason he could provide something in the second half of the year.

If we go with 7 forwards then you don't need to rotate them through the midfield all that much. If you go 8 you're looking at more midfield rotations. At this stage I'd probably say 7 forwards. 2 mid sizes: Fritsch, Melksham 2 talls: T Mc, Weid/Petty/Brown 1 x factor: Hunt, Jackson, Hannan Which then leaves: 1 high half forward: ANB, Jones, C Wagner, Spargo, Chandler, Bedford 1 crumber: Chandler, Pickett, Spargo, Bedford Until Pickett shows he's got the fitness and ability at AFL or VFL level (which could be as soon as the first preseason game) I think Chandler is ahead in the order. He's not rated highly enough on here.

But if you get a champion what do you do? Trade him last October for whatever a club will offer? Wait until he hits free agency and lose him for one late first round pick? Grundy is an extra midfielder and worth the contract I think. Most grand final teams have very solid rucks. A lot of teams have traded for them - Nankervis, Jolly, Ottens, McEvoy. Which often costs a decent draft pick and over 500k in today’s contracts. Keep Grundy, pick up a cheap midfielder or flanker and you’ve got a better list than sending Grundy away, finding a solid replacement and having extra spending money. In Collingwood terms I’d rather Grundy and John Noble from the mid season draft than trading for a Nankervis and keeping James Aish.

7 years is too long but it’s almost deliberately too long, just like Buddy’s deal. You’ll get salary cap relief at some stage by agreeing to extra years. The Pies were probably going to have to match a 5 year 6 million dollar deal if he hit free agency or accept just one compensation pick. You’re better off just signing 7 years 7 million and trying to win a flag whilst you’ve got a very good list.

I think we’ll see Fritsch, Melksham and Tommy Mc get the most time isolated as the deep target. Whether we play 1 or 2 talls alongside that group is up for debate. At this stage I’d suggest Jackson will be hard to leave out, but until we get some games it’s just a projection based on traits. Although I’d consider him a mix of ruck and forward flanker. Weid v Petty v Brown? Tough to choose. And a heck of a job first up trying to compete with or space away from McGovern. Very early but I’d lean towards Petty.

Victoria 1. Gawn 2. Oliver 3-4: Viney, Harmes Petracca, Fritsch, Salem, T Mc All Stars May injured I would assume we rule him out. 1. Jetta 2-4: Lockhart, ANB, Vanders, Wagner’s, Petty? I don’t think we have anyone end up playing for the All Stars.

Blind Freddy can tell you the air is awful and people should avoid exercise outdoors if it’s purely recreational. But the Essendon saga showed doctors get overruled when competitive edge is at stake and the tennis today showed dollars and schedules can overwhelm logic. The AFL medicos have probably done some research before the China games. Makes a lot of sense to send out a warning before a club takes an unnecessary risk.