DeeSpencer

Ahhh so we should believe Tom Morris because someone said it on demonland first? Where do you reckon Morris got it from? Clearly we need to make some changes this offseason but I’m not buying Tracc will be one of them nor do I buy he’d want more than to see the kind of progress we’d all want to see.

10 am start for the VFL. The lads will be doing mad Monday by 1pm. What a way to go out for a few big names especially.

I’d be shocked if he went interstate but moving clubs in Melbourne is hardly that dramatic and Tommy seems to thrive on changes. And the key back market is crazy and limited for options. I reckon Tom would do wonders for Carlton, Essendon, North and they’d all be having a nibble. We free up salary and list spot, if we genuinely think Harry Edwards is an AFL player we need to offer him best 22 opportunity. No way he leaves West Coast especially if Barrass is gone to be our 4th or 5th string key back. And we spread out the May/McDonald age bracket. There’s potentially a win-win for both sides.

Out of contract rucks according to footywire: Kailin Lane - shown a bit in the lions ruck log jam but did his ACL Alex Mirkov - hasn't shown much development Aiden Begg - undersized and injured Liam Reidy - was more of a forward when drafted but dominating WAFL hit outs at least Braydon Preuss - I very much doubt it. Clay Tucker - only young, haven't seen a lot of him, seems to be play forward a fair bit Hamish Free - lots of concussions and not great VFL form Tom Campbell - hmmm, I doubt it. Lachlan McAndrew - huge height, athletic, developing from no idea how to play to something interesting Tim English - surely too expensive Reidy or McAndrew would both interest me. Although if we add a forward who can ruck a bit we might just see if Verrall can improve enough to own the spot.

That's simply not true, Petty took JVR's stint in the ruck in the middle of the last quarter. Gawn had an extended rest in the 3rd quarter in preparation for doing much of the last quarter. Melksham was expected to do more but that's the life of the sub some times, you can't always come in and pick up the pace of the game no matter that you're fresh. If we subbed Fritsch people would ask why we subbed our best goal kicker. If we subbed Disco people would ask why we subbed the young guy who was clunking a few marks and making an impact across half forward.

It's a full ground approach. Amon and Impey drive it a lot and they combine with their tall backs, especially Weddle to really power it from their backline. Their midfield gets called young but the reality is Day, Newcombe, Worpel and Nash are all pretty experienced and coming in to prime ages sooner than later. And then their half forwards all just run to great areas and have great flow, especially Dyl Moore but others like Connor MacDonald too. We have to start with making sure our core rotation of mids is rock hard fit, then get our backline to stop playing so scared and lazy to run, then hope we have enough half forwards with some smarts, work rate and class as well as tall forwards who don't just position down the line but are actually reacting to the ball movement and willing to make unrewarded leads.

If he has a good preseason (he missed time at various stages this summer and obviously still has a lot of muscle to add) I suspect he'll be ready for at least a string of games next year, but I wouldn't expect a full season and an automatic spot in the best 22. I think Tom McDonald's contract will likely depend on whether we get Harry Edwards, who may or may not become a best 22 CHB (not convinced by him but worth a look). Overall though: BBB 6 games Schache 1 game Tomlinson 5 games (and even T Mc and May 19 games) That's your pathway to get him 10 games pretty easily. Unless Disco takes a huge leap forward I expect Jeffo should compete and hopefully beat him for games next year so Disco can focus on the backline. But for now Disco is having a good crack and I don't want to see that interrupted.

Had it been 2021: 2021 12 - Josh Sinn 2022 3- Cadman/Sheezel/Wardlaw/Humphrey If the eagles got involved 2022: 3- Cadman, Sheezel, Wardlaw, Humphrey OR (post eagles trading down) 9 - Ginbey, 14 - Hewett +/- Reid But I don’t think the eagles ever would’ve got involved directly. They might’ve got involved with their 2022 pick split. I think our plans got screwed by the Horne-Francis trade that utilised that pick split and sent it to North/GWS. I believe were working on combining all the Jacko picks and getting that Eagles pick 3. Jeffo and Windsor vs just Cadman/Humphrey…time will tell

Doubt the eagles had the cap nor desire to pay up post 2021. Doubt Jacko was keen to leave right away. I reckon the grand final in Perth and extra time at home due to covid did us in. Freo probably started on a mega deal offer over summer. Sadly without more future picks being available the most Freo could really offer was 2 firsts and a second. Unfortunately even tho we were lucky to get pick 6 or whatever Windsor was we just fell out of the top range of the draft.

He battled through a pretty bad knee injury late in 2022 and didn’t have his athleticism to really impact forward. No issues with his application

2 massive statistical outliers. There’s reason to believe Gawn can keep going at a good level if given more support. But we had 7 A graders in 2021: Gawn, May, Tracc, Oliver, Viney, Salem, Lever. Aside from Max I’d have 3 in serious decline and 2 (Tracc, Lever) with injury concerns and 1 in Oliver in his own category.

No McKercher’s but maybe half a dozen Ryley Sanders’ level mids. Many of which might take 2-3 years to come good. Some really good tall prospects too

And they finally gave Chandler a run up the ground last night and he looked perfectly competent as a 3rd winger in spot minutes. If we can use all our half forwards: Chandler, Kolt, Fritsch, Pickett, ANB on the wing or on ball we can then put wingers like Langdon and Windsor forward for a change of pace and different look. Or throw Windsor on ball. Langdon at half forward really helped stretch teams vertically rather than just horizontally.

Think you’re harsh on Bowser, I reckon he was set for a big year before a really nasty injury. The kicking will bounce back if we get a midfield that can run and provide options. Moniz is a great package of traits but has no idea what he’s doing and no tank, has to get through a preseason this summer or it won’t end well. Depth utility/wing is probably the best we’ll get from Woey. Howes could be something but he’s just soft and doesn’t demand the ball either. His good form at Casey last year saw he really keen to get the footy but apart from Langdon and few others this team doesn’t believe in running and demanding the pill. Not sure what you’re not seeing with Kolt, super work rate for a young player in the hardest spot on the ground. Does a lot of smart things with things like tap ons. Makes mistakes but generally that’s because he’s trying to be composed and follow instructions. Is he a high end talent, no. But with his frame and enough juice in the legs he’ll do more with the ball as time goes on.

Just saw this, we’re on the same page

Jack should’ve been captain this year, Gawn has battled manfully but he’s paced himself even when not injured and hasn’t always attacked the contest with the intensity of a player in their prime. Can’t have Tracc next year after such a serious injury. Can’t have Lever, don’t trust his body and don’t trust his play under pressure. Honestly if they wanted to reward effort and being a great clubman they could give it to ANB for a year.

Houston’s a better kick because he’s steadier than Farrell and just a much better overall player. I wouldn’t call a high possession winner with an intercept marking/all round game and designated kicker a role player. If that’s a role player then who besides key talls and mids isnt? Port have Sparrow and Chandler level players, most teams do. They’re worth more to us than anyone else. Durable, prime age guys who crack in every week, even if they’re both fringes of a very good side. We should offer them someone of quality in a role they don’t have. Given Georgiades probably has to play key tall they do miss a 3rd tall and I doubt they want to leave JHF there as they did last night. They bought on Watts, they’d be the perfect suckers to bite on Fritsch. A future first and Fritsch for Houston and steak knives would be lovely.

We finally get rid of all the old broken down or ordinary tall forwards and you go get 2 more? And you expect ANB and Koz to do the work of 5 players being the midfield and running depth as well as pressure forwards? I mean, maybe if we sign David Teague we can attempt to score 150 a week and win by a goal? Not sure where we are finding the money to pay Houston and Cumming without giving anything up either. Nor am I sure who’s playing back pocket out of that group. Hard to convince Cumming to come and play back pocket each week.

He’s just about exclusively playing CHF in a long down the line team and his goal kicking has been awful, but in terms of doing his role he’s done it well since the bye.

He’s physical, aggressive, willing to have a run in the ruck, mostly a good set shot. The perfect solid number 2 to a genuine star but lacks the leap, pace, quick thinking to be the guy.

Petty’s in sneakily decent form since the bye, the bloke is putting in one heck of a shift this year all things considered. JVR had a poor game but isn’t going anywhere, plus we need his ruck minutes. I can’t imagine Max is going to put the cue in the rack but if he does it’s Fullarton in. Disco got a full game again after a run of games as the sub and whilst he’s making more than his fair share of errors he’s competing strongly. I doubt they want to stop the momentum that he’s building. Fritsch….it’s not pretty but the man is just coming off his first ever pass of the ball inside 50. We’ve witnessed a genuine miracle. No point tanking his trade value by putting him in the 2’s now. Plus I liked some of his mobility and ball winning last night even if the execution was poor and defensive stuff was its usual grim efforts. I just don’t see a spot for Jeffo who’s physically still a long way off, is best suited getting on the end of quality ball movement (which we don’t have) and is still making improvements with his consistency at every contest at Casey. Max Gruzewski who’s been better at VFL than Jeffo has played 4 games and had totals of 4, 2, 3 and 3 disposals and 1.5 marks a game. Been subbed off twice. Laid 1 tackle. Kicked 3 goals in 4 games. He did a role on Harris Andrews yesterday which was the first time he’s actually contributed positively to the team performance. The same people desperate to see the kid play will jump right off by half time when he’s barely touched it.

The solution is to target undervalued assets and build the list without compromising it. Free agents, fringe players cheaply available, mature age pick ups, trade back in drafts and accumulate bonus picks. As well as trading our players when the time is right to sell high. And if you do chase a big fish make sure you’ve got them on the hook and pay with peanuts (late first rounders). There’s really 2 factors that make chasing Houston in any way feasible - Port are willing to let him go for a fair price for compassionate or other reasons and we can get the deal done with a package of later picks.

I’ve never seen anyone move slower than the Tugboat on the goal line, geez he got lucky there. Standard ok Tomlinson first up game, more than likely he’ll back it up with a stinker next week.

Billings? Fine game. 3 times in the last quarter when he had scoring changes he completed fumbled and Boak gained more space on him the longer the game went. That said, he gave up about the best he had. So I don’t see any reason to join the pile on. He was a late in playing just about his last ever game. Oliver was bad all night and awful late, most of this site downplays just how bad he’s been.

You reckon leading a top 4 team that just beat the flag favourites by 100 points all night with no fit mids, the backline full of plodders and probably half the side sick was out coached? Goody put on a defensive clinic and we had more than enough chances to win.