DeeSpencer

So just sit our fittest player on the sideline when half our team doesn’t run? It’s stupid. Any of the 23 out there could get injured and impact our plans for next year and their summer. You have to play someone so it may as well be one of our better players, regardless of his plans for next year. Kynan Brown is a battling skinny kid who does not need afl games yet. If he name was Kynan Smith he probably wouldn’t be on an afl list and/or no one would care that he’s in the VFL.

I think he’s going at about 70% of what’s needed. Whether he’s lazy, unfit or or just doesn’t have any more capacity doesn’t really matter.

Going at 70% work rate for the position isn’t leadership.

It’s either a coincidence or he’s doing too much, surround by new players, out of position. He’s having a dip. Anyone suggesting otherwise is mental

Seriously slow and lazy, has to decide over summer if he wants to be an afl player again. The concern is to get him fit he might have to risk doing the hammy again and then he’s stuffed.

Say what you want about Kolt but it’s hilarious you’re riding for Laurie, Woey, Kynan Brown, AMW and who even knows who else. Bunch of vfl players. Schache? Do you want Schache?

Tomlinson couldn’t pick up the 6’9 Sudanese bloke clear in the middle of the ground?

Closest ump - play on. Ump from a mile away - free kick

GWS had a big win with Callaghan pick 3 from the Pies (who didn’t care as they got Daicos), and Freo might be very happy with Schultz for the Pies first this year. But at the same time North swapping Tom Powell for Kossie Pickett and Richmond Tom Browne for Max Holmes didn’t do all that great. No one wanted the Eagles first last year (not sure it was offered straight up) and if the deal was Windsor and we give up an additional pick somehow for pick Eagles pick 4 this year I wouldn’t love that. Unless it’s Lachie Schulz and you’re lucky to get a first to begin with it’s hard to engineer a trade for a future first that you’re really happy with.

Thinking about GWS who have managed to bounce back from a bad situation incredibly well. They had a lot of players to trade out due to just always having an insanely stacked list. We don’t have a spare Taranto and Hopper lying around sadly. But it was the draft for Tom Green (and Ash) and Finn Callaghan. Don’t muck around with early picks. Then trading for Hogan who took years to really come good. Picking up a nice roll player in Bedford. And otherwise waiting for youth to come through. Replace ANB and Brayshaw with the best mids we can find in the 24-26 range just to fix the depth and health of the list. Fill out the depth talls too and maybe take a punt on someone with high upside. But otherwise JT with a top 7 pick and hopefully a few more in the top 40 of a deep draft.

Chaplin strikes me as someone who was a well paid player and a well paid assistant who isn’t all that keen on taking a bad senior coaching job, especially in Perth. He’s done a fantastic job with our backs but they also need a new system and more attack. They’ve trialled both at times this year but it might take a fresh voice. So the question becomes can Chappy move to the mids or forwards? McQualter had very little to work with this year so it’s hard to judge him. Although it’s potentially not going to get all that much better and he might be suited to take a different line. Ive always found it hard to blame lack of forward personnel on Stafford, he’s developed talent when given it. But there doesn’t seem to be enough system with our forwards even accounting for the midfield supply. Leading patterns, blocking, the little attention to detail things go missing. I wouldn’t be shocked if it was something like Chaplin to the mids, McQualter to the forwards, new backline coach and Stafford either stays in a ruck/stoppages/development job or moves on.

With Carlton’s injury list if he doesn’t play this week it will be pretty clear what the coach thinks of him. From what I’ve seen he’s prolific but very outside and not all that damaging. A third or fourth wing option (depending what you think of Woey) would be nice but it’s not the same priority as upgrading our on ball and half forward options.

I was keen on Houston because I'd have plonked him right in the centre square and said off you go, you're a big boy now. Then I'd have looked to get at least 1 other midfielder with some likely best 22 credentials in (Peatling made a lot of sense). And rounded it out with some depth state leaguer/delisted types. We probably have to pick up some talls from the scrap heap just to cover off the depth but I'm not so worried about that. A back pocket, some forward line speed too. That's all secondary to fixing the midfield. Have a run at Perryman? Alex Davies? Ted Clohesy? Finn Macrae? A few options.

To me, despite the entirely different circumstances Oliver is exactly where Grundy was. Long expensive contract, injured, questions over his application and overall value when healthy. And Grundy was a second round pick with the Pies paying 300k a year. We signed Clarry a year ahead of free agency and long term, surely there was a discount for doing that. I really do hope it’s in the 900-1m range not more. So we burn 300k and take unders with the pick but we get 600k and the pick which could be 2 good players. Obviously that’s far from ideal and the best result is we get the real Clayton Oliver on field and happy Clarry off field, but it’s a plan B if we have to use it.

I think our plan would've been pick 12 and ANB (directly or otherwise). At pick 6 it just isn't worth it for us and Houston suddenly has to be worried about our future even though we nearly beat Port with no May, no Tracc, Oliver stuffed etc. I'd still really like Houston, but I can see why it might be off for all 3 parties involved.

Future of what? He can't defend and doesn't offer enough in attack. He's had an ok first season at the AFL level but needs a massive preseason rather than be gifted any extra games. Has to come back stronger, more physical and more willing to get the ball.

In: Bowey, Woey, Laurie, K Brown Out: Howes, Billings, Oliver, Melksham McVee and Rivers a half in the midfield each. Viney to do his thing for 75% of the game. Sparrow, Laurie, Kolt, ANB, Pickett all frequently rotating as the 3rd mid. Next week is the week for goodbyes or hellos. FB: McVee Tomlinson Hore HB: Salem McDonald Lever C; Langdon Rivers Woey HF: ANB Petty Chandler FF: Fritsch JVR Pickett Foll: Gawn Sparrow Viney Int: Bowey Laurie Kolt Turner S: K Brown

I’m sorry but I’m not really worried about your imaginary credibility rankings. I never hated Gus, I just thought he was a solid but overrated player that we could’ve moved on from rather than committing a long term deal to. For a number of reasons including his concussion history. But mostly to diversify the list talent by bringing in more outside run and skilled players rather than having so much tied up in similar types. This season has certainly raised the question of whether Gus was a bigger leader than I thought from the outside although those things are hard to judge. And of course I’ve missed him as a player this year because he would’ve been very handy.

There’s no major injuries here nor are there any indication any of them were at significant risk of worsening through playing out the game. Grinding out games and seasons is the life of an afl player, especially a combative inside midfielder. I think I’ve kept my criticism of Oliver relative mild this year and I spout off on a forum. A forum I’d suggest no one at the club reads. I’m not targeting the club or players directly. And I suggest the club have ways to protect players from a few critical forum posts. God knows they get a lot worse.

Subbing out one of the 4 mids we had in the team (2 of which aren’t even full time mids) for Melksham and overloading the forward line would’ve been just about giving up. And Melk was sub because we’ve got Gawn half injured and young key forwards. Plus no one better at Casey. No issue with asking Clarry to push through. He still won more contested possessions than the rest of our mids.

We get Burgo, we make Petty happy, keep Nibbler, play at our favourite ground, bonus home game with gather round. I mean, maybe we should just do it.

We had no need for Peatling in 22 or 23. Certainly did this year with JJ and Gus going out. Definitely agree that we should’ve aimed for younger and higher upside recruits the last few years. Although they would’ve been dice roll types like Oleg Markov types not sure things. We can now offer cash, picks and importantly best 22 opportunities.

Has all the hallmarks of a future whipping boy but can do enough as a half back or half forward to fill a role and does his best as a tagger. And all signs point to us having at least 1 if not 2 or 3 midfield/defensive half forward players.

I think Nibbler and a future second is wildly optimistic for Houston. Nibbler and a 2025 first sounds spot on. Even if they allow trading 2026 picks I can’t see us getting back in to the first round with picks alone. It’s too far off for teams to want that pick, unless they’re a deep rebuild side somehow ending up with 15-20 and gambling that we’ll be awful. I suspect it will take another player to get in to the first round again, which may well happen. But wait and see on that. I’m pretty confident that barring any off field concerns or injuries that Langford goes top 5. Lalor has a wide draft range that generally will be influenced by interviews and 2km time I think given the production just hasn’t been there for a variety of reasons. O’Sullivan’s such a strange one. About as well rounded as a medium sized midfielder gets - run, speed, sharp skills, overhead marking, balance, kicks goals. Everything you’d want in a 182cm midfielder. Exactly the kind of midfielder we need to balance our midfield. Comes in to the year the presumptive number 1 pick then just hasn’t had the year due to injury. But he reminds me a lot of a young Trent Cotchin and I wonder if the Tigers will ultimately think the same. If he just has 2 or 3 dominant Coates league games he’ll go back to pick 1, but if can’t put anything on tape he’s suddenly a bit theoretical.

1. Langford - I think the athleticism doubts are overblown and he's so good around stoppages and with a marking outside game and penetrating boot 2. O'Sullivan - pure class 3. Ashcroft 4. Lalor - I'd go this high on him, just so explosive 5. Draper -good speed, hands and vision 6. Jagga - he's rock solid but a bit meh Not a huge fan of Smillie and not sure where the talls fit in just yet.