DeeSpencer

Even in December that's not how you scoop up a ground ball. Bet he fell over.

Lever's lightness on his feet might be what makes him such a good interceptor and good in traffic but I wonder if he needs to be taught to literally dig his heels in.

Yep the Richmond game was a case of going 2 down. Geelong we kicked too many points and wasted too much energy for 3/4's. The midfield losses set us back for the Adelaide, North and GWS games and meant we weren't at our best against St Kilda and Brisbane. Unfortunately I don't really think they were an excuse for the Collingwood game.

"You wouldn't say comparatively it's an absolute need but we rated Harry and that's a good selection to sure up our defensive stocks going forward" I'd say they are really happy getting to pick Petty and it's a situation where we didn't need a young key defender in terms of really balancing the list but it was still a great opportunity to add a good player to an important position. A best available pick but then a little diplomacy where he doesn't want to declare the kid a jet yet and also a nod to how nice it is to keep a deep list of talls

Gawn is important but we can restructure with the Tommy Mc/Pedersen ruck combination. Hogan is important but we've won games without him and again Pedersen/Tommy Mc isn't a bad key forward pairing and if not those 2 Weeds is hopefully available. Lever might prove vital, the Crows sure were a better team with him playing well (bit of chicken and egg there), but Frost and Oscar can at least do a job some weeks and Hunt and Hibberd can intercept and drive from half back. Viney might be our most important player but then again his absence might see more midfield time for Jones and Petracca and then it comes down to finding guys to play wing and half forward. The biggest factors with injuries are: - In game injuries that leave you down 2 players early - Injuries to multiple players from the same position group - injuries to groups of players at the same time that leave you short handed and also struggling to get recovered players back in to the team at the same time.

I think Bernie has reached the age where it's fine to use him as needed during the year instead of planning a position for him. Whether it's half back, wing or tagging in the midfield he could provide fresh legs as the season goes on. The Tigers fell in to using Jake Townsend as a defensive forward when Caddy got injured and gave Jack Graham a run as tackling midfielder who ended up tagging Sloane, both were fresh legs who weren't even in plans until just before the final. Bernie is the opposite in that he's towards the end of his career not launching it but I think he could provide more value as fresh legs and a designated role when one opens up.

2017* and there's some truth in this. The AFL app actually had Lewis as one of our hardest attacking runners so he was constantly working to get in to space, but clearly his defensive running was badly lacking. I like the idea of him setting up the defenders, especially if he's got 3 weapons in Lever, Hunt and Hibberd to work with across half back. It probably means Salem and Brayshaw in particular have to get super fit so they can play midfield and rotate forward if Lewis gets the half back role.

I love both of those guys but Hibberd is very aggressive at winning the ball and taking the game on so it doesn't really surprise me that he isn't the best at marshalling the troops. I'm shocked that Jetta isn't in the leadership group and isn't given more responsibility. Really though Lewis will take Vince's spot in the side so I'd probably put it on Bernie.

Swung by for a quick look. It was unbearably hot in the sun. Forwards: Hogan, Pedersen, Fritsch, Bugg, DJ, ANB, JKH Doing some kicking to position and blocking Mids: Huge group with the 3 rucks - Jones, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Harmes, Balic, Maynard, Tyson, Stretch, Salem, Baker Doing a stoppage and spread drill Backs: Oscar, Frost, Lever, Wagner, Keilty, Lewis, Vince, Jetta Some kicking and also some lightly contested marking or spoiling. Really the focus was on early body work and movement not on the contest Not sighted: Vanders, Viney, Weeds, Hannan, McKenna, J Smith, T Smith, Hunt, Garlett, T Mc, Hibberd, Melksham, Kent, Spargo, Perry Troy Chaplin was coaching the backs. Max Rooke the forwards. Benny Matthews the mids with Egan watching on I believe. Macca and Goody floating around. They broke in to a talls group who practiced contested marking and in close agility and and a couple of groups of smalls who did some kicking work. I left when they started to do running. Looked like Stretch, ANB, Wagner got an icy pole and were excused from the running. Maynard and I think Hogan as well. I think all of the midfield group aside from Balic and maybe Baker went and formed the best running group, plus Vince, Lewis, Jetta, Bugg, JKH. The first few runs looked like a good pace and the groups stayed together.

Yeah I want to know about Cat B rookies. 3 spots open. Surely we fill at least 1 of them. Then a bit of talk about the 4 new recruits of course. And if you could ask if the club have used analytics in recruiting.

Surprised so many are bothered by this. I doubt there was a player available better than what Pedersen and McDonald did and there's always Weideman who can be used alongside one of those 2 if needed. Having a back up would take away from Mitch King's development time at Casey and he started coming on in the VFL last year. If he gets a solid preseason now he'll relish the playing time at VFL level. It would also all but rule Filipovic out as a viable AFL player because without the VFL reserves there's no where for him to play besides riding the pine at Casey and maybe getting a few minutes game time forward or in the ruck. I like that we've backed a couple of young guys in and it might not take that long for them to become worthy back ups and if/when that happens we'll have a much stronger list than if we stunted their growth with a dud.

Warner has broken a number of good stories. I think it's important that the game has investigative journos digging in to the workings of the clubs and the League. Especially now that the Herald Sun has such a symbiotic relationship with the AFL it must not be easy for them to remain unbiased, same with the AFL media guys.

She's had her moments but I'm not sure she's as biased as some are making out here. Mostly gave it to those who deserved it, without fear or favour. That said, she was very heavily a politics in football writer and that was her strong suit. Personally I'm not sure the political side of the game deserved as much coverage as it got and therefore you had regular articles that were based on rumour or opinion pieces. There were times that the game went through great scandals and drama that required heavy coverage but a lot of the time I felt like Caro could've held out for the bigger stories. Clearly she had fantastic sources in the Essendon saga, maybe a bit too fantastic. Jake Niall will make a good head football writer because he has the understanding and interest in all facets of footy - politics, business, trades, drafts, scandals and most importantly in the actual games themselves with a nice mix of new age and old school break downs of games.

Well once he's smashed it to the ground I hope he comes out in to the sun to run a few laps. Size matters for young talls but endurance is just as important if not more these days.

Not sure about that. Looks like it should be: Jack Viney, delayed start from pre xmas to mid January. Seems they are being very conservative and he's coming along slowly. I'd also like to know how Sam Weideman is training the house down whilst also being stuck in the inside group. What exactly has led him to be held back so much? Any time estimate on when he can't start at least out door running?

I didn't know Clarry broke 3 seconds and I wasn't saying he was slow, clearly he isn't. But I'd stick with the statement that his agility is elite and rephrase and say he has fantastic burst speed and importantly can use that in traffic, but I imagine plenty of players would sprint by him from the 20m to 50m mark if he was in a sprint race. I guess the point is people on here were disappointed we drafted an inside ball winner and not an outside line breaker. Petty did a 3.17 20m sprint, very solid time for a tall but from the look of his highlights he isn't breaking any Hunt or Frost like linebreaking runs. My athletic comparison with Oliver is really saying this guy might be far more athletic than meets the eye and in time might be capable of some attacking play, just like Clarry has and hopefully will do even more regularly from next year. I get the feeling the footy department favour agility and burst over pure pace. They like players who can break out of traffic and suit the kicking and change of angles plan more so than just running opponents off their legs.

Red hair Country lad Late entry to the elite talent pathway after relocating to boarding school Underdeveloped physically Standout games with standout attributes Unpopular pick due to already having similar players on the list with many wanting a needs based pick Not overly quick but elite agility (for his position, 8.29 according to AFL draft central) All of those criteria apply to Clarry and to Petty. I remember many on here saying we should've picked Parish because we already had Viney, Tyson, Petracca, Brayshaw etc and didn't need another inside midfielder. Talls take a little longer but if in 3 years time this guy is looking good and playing regularly there won't be any complaints. Personally, I think we needed a key defender, but even if we didn't I like the pick.

Interesting thoughts. I'll caution on Joel Smith's disposal and say we haven't given him enough rope to show mistakes yet. I'll also say Frost made good progress in his game with the ball in 2017 - running out of trouble not in to it and hitting up shorter options. The main reason to pick Joel is on the basis that I hope he reads the play much better and if we are going to be zoning so much that's such a vital aspect. Let's see if he can come on this preseason. I can't see Vince as part of the best team and I think Lewis is training with the defenders. Lewis' two way running was caught out big time last year and I think he'll be better keeping the game in front of him at half back. I'd add Tyson or Stretch - a young midfielder capable of running all day over Vince. Can always shuffle Salem to half back and Lewis to wing depending on match ups. Trac is now running in the main group like an AFL player. Still a long way off a top end midfielders running but he's probably ahead of where Clarry was this time last year. Hopefully he improves. Either way I think he'll start playing equally mid and forward if not more mid. I can't see 3 talls working, especially when none of them are great tacklers and chasers. The way to make it work would be to play Hogan on ball in rotations which can certainly happen but then it takes away our best forward. I'd be adding another forward be it medium or small and using Petracca, Hannan and/or Fritsch as the 3rd or 4th taller options.

FB: Jetta. Oscar. Hibberd HB: Lever. J Smith. Hunt C: Jones. Viney. Salem HF: ANB. Hogan. Melksham FF: Garlett. Tom Mc. Hannan Foll: Gawn. Oliver. Petracca int: Tyson - inside/outside mid Lewis - back Brayshaw - mid/forward Harmes/Vanders/Fritsch/Spargo - forward I still think Lever is better loose, so finding that 2nd taller defender is hard. Right now I think Smith can pinch it from Frost. He's just as good an athlete and has huge upside. Lewis will take Vince's spot as the loose half back kicker. Salem and Brayshaw have to get fit and play midfield. They need to be around the ball. Theres a spot for a marking or pressure forward depending on how they use Hannan, Petracca and Hogan. Too early to put them in but Spargo and Fritsch will be in the frame. if our young mids get super fit we'll be able to play the game on our terms and have a very good team. If not, the cracks will appear.

Jones is 29 and has the fitness and skill to transition to an outside role. A couple of injuries won't change my mind on that. Vince won't be missed if he rarely plays this year, Joel Smith and Lever - different players sure - can replace his backine games. Or Lewis moves to half back and Stretch plays on the wing. Lewis will be clinging to his spot in the side for one more year, that's fine. Pretty much we are phasing out Vince for now and putting in Lever. Phasing out Lewis next year and there's a raft of players ready to replace him - Spargo could play half forward, Melksham on a wing in 2019, easy. I don't know how Tom Mc will go as a forward but it's increasingly clear he's done as a defender. Oscar and Frost have played games out of necessity. They were good enough to move Dunn on but that's about it, a healthy Garland might've played at times if available. Look at the best and fairest rankings to see the coaches thoughts. Keilty - I don't mind him - but there's nothing to suggest he's a permanent AFL player so far. Right as we sit there's more chance he's delisted than promoted in 12 months and I don't mean that to be harsh, that's the reality for mature age tall pick ups, they have to dominate at VFL and get games to stay on. I actually think Keilty's best value would be as a Pedersen swing man rather than ever being best 22 anyway. There was no reason to play Fritsch in the midfield at Casey. He was their most consistent path to goal and developing well. The Dogs did the same thing with Hannan, hid him in a forward pocket until he was drafted. Hannan clearly has something to offer up the ground at AFL level. By all reports Fristch has excellent endurance and a lovely kick, so moving him to the wing or half back has to be an option and doesn't require a massive bulking up. Petrucelle looks like a forward to me. Too shonky a kick to play midfield until you've done years of work there. Express pace for pressuring would be nice but I'd go for ability to kick and mark more. Worpel seemed a nice player but has to be in the contest, either at half back or on ball. Would he dislodge any of our inside mids? I'll stick with Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Tyson and Brayshaw over Worpel.

Frost has a limited tank. If he's streaming forward one way he wont' be streaming back. He's also a shonky kick and not a natural reader of the play. His opponents pick up the flight of the ball quicker than him. I like him as a player but he's still yet to solidify his spot in the team and the reality might be he's best used as depth.

Put 2016 down for Weeds, time will tell but we ended up with a similar pick and he's a year ahead. Put 2018 down for Lever, unless we end up in the bottom 4 I'd say we've come out with a good result there. 2017 we traded back from pick 10 to pick 36 as part of the Lever deal. If Harry Petty can make it as a solid key defender then that's also a good result.

Could've had him at 37 if West Coast were scared off as well. Unfortunately the talks of substances, nights out and defects only made them keener.

I forgot Petty fell over and broke his elbow at Norwood training but that shouldn't be a problem. Good signs that he was out there training pre draft. Country SA defenders. Ingerson, Rivers, Petty.

Flags are won with Rance, Astbury and Grimes as well. Or Morris and Hamling (with Roberts) shutting down Franklin. Or Brian Lake. Or Scarlett and Harley. If Weeds comes on we trade Tom McDonald or Hogan. Cross that bridge when we come to it. Weeds has all of Cam Pedersen's games to play first before taking games away from those guys. Jones has plenty of time left. Vince and Lewis were both ordinary for most of the year. Getting Salem, Oliver, Brayshaw and Petracca fitter means they'll be the possession winners with Viney and Tyson. Along with Hunt, ANB, Melksham, Hannan, Harmes, Stretch. Give me those 12 with a lock down defensive unit and a functional forward line and I'll be happy. 3 picks of running players. 1 pick on a tall and I can see a tall defender being of much more value than a tall forward or back up ruck.