DeeSpencer

Can never have enough good small forwards!

Based on what’s left I’d take Max Kondo and just stack a strength on a strength with medium defenders. Build the wall back there and worry about the midfield next year.

CDT played exceptional footy in the Coates league last year, hence he came in to the year a number 1 pick fancy. Robey is a bit of gamble on a limited sample size with no champs. But he ticks a lot of boxes in terms of character and work rate. If a SANFL ressies player who hasn't stuck in the elite system isn't a gamble then I don't know what is?

We're getting a bit off topic here (sorry for the people who dislike that) but I do wonder if the funneling of Indigenous players in to NGA's rather than just putting that money in to state league clubs hurts players. Port NGA seemingly did nothing for Pickett. Where as if those resources were with Norwood he might've stuck around for more than 3 matches in 2023. And the SANFL and WAFL clubs have 100 years of connections to their regional zones And in Victoria I really wish the Coates leagues clubs would align with VFL standalone clubs (or reform the VFA) and actually have a clear pathway for guys who miss out. There's some for alliances, Geelong to Geelong, Eastern to Box Hill, Oakeligh to Port, Dandenong to Frankston but largely it's up to the kids to make it and without reserves or a history in that organisation they have to find a way to star at local footy just to get a good look in the VFL most of the time.

Whilst that looks great in hindsight I think the track record of plucking guys from obscurity across most clubs is poor, they need to go through the grades. In this case Latrelle needed to live and settle in Adelaide away from home in Tumby Bay. If you want to identify an error it was not getting Isaiah Dudley last year as a train on player. Matching without trading to get more picks in - which would’ve cost them at least a future 2nd - would’ve given their first rounder next year a points deficit. Adding a points deficit to probably an early first round pick is a bad bad decision. Really they made their decision with the trade up and selection of Sharp that Sweid was on the table if he went in the first round. They came up 1 pick short!

The beauty of Stewart is whilst he can play taller he almost never starts games as one of the Cats 3 tall defenders (SDK, Henry, O’Sullivan) because he can match up on smalls and provides the rebound and skills of a flanker. Gives you 4 talls and allows for more zoning and to just blanket teams in the air. Listening to JT that sounds exactly how they see Taylor fitting for us.

We aren’t using that pick unless maybe we need to for White. Pass or trade for a F4 most likely. No reason to have more than 36 on the senior list and better to keep a train on spot for Sinnema and other hungry mature agers.

There’s a few red flags: concussion, recurring calf injuries, lack of contested possession and lack of improvement at Coates league where he’s basically the same player now at 18 as he was debuting at 16. But at some stage the talent outweighs the negatives. We’ve also drafted a junior team mate of Windsor, Kolt and Lindsay. Which is probably more coincidence than by design, but Harvey is the only one we haven’t paired up.

The club seems keen to give Adams a crack at replacing May. X Taylor hopefully replaces and improves upon Judd. Latrelle replaces Spargo and hopefully lets Kozzie play half forward not just deep forward when he's in the forward line. We were very unlikely to replace Oliver where our picks fell. We were never going to replace Tracc. It's probably going to take top 5 picks in strong drafts to replace those guys. Or if we're lucky a Humphrey trade.

A few more than that. In fact our last 3 number 1 picks in Windsor, Langford and now X Taylor all went to public schools. Windsor was in the sports program at Rowille Sec. And the last 2 apparently turned down scholarships to private schools.

Byrne and Ainsworth the 2 Twomey linked us with. Tai Hayes the obscure VFL player he linked us to. Not sure this is the spot to go for needs too much but a mid who can play forward early on would be very handy. Phillipou, Allen fit the bill

You got to be Maynard levels of not very bright when you’re this good at footy to not get a scholarship. The good news is that often makes for a very good footballer

I’d have taken Nairn and Barker if I went then hawks trade back route. But I do think Schubert is very handy because he’s a really hand ruck who can develop as a forward. Anyway, always trust in JT and think Latrelle can play. Just not sure we maximised our hand in a draft that should’ve been more about rebuilding the list than individuals.

I don’t think Taranto, Hipper or especially Prestia played a role but Lalor, Smillie and even Hotton are all see ball get ball players without a lot of defensive game. A runner with their second pick was always likely. Then Cumming is the most team orientated and defensive of the mid/forward types. You’re spot on that he fits better than Robey.

Hawks traded 9 for 10 and 22 in trade week. Trade 10 back with GWS for a future 2nd. Traded it again with WC for another future 2nd. Traded a future 3rd to slide their second pick up. I reckon that’s incredible manipulation of the draft. They’ll end up with Nairn, Schubert, 2 figure seconds in a much better draft. We’ve got Latrelle.

30 right now. Carlton and West Coast have picks that might get chewed up but most academy bids now will push it back. Probably ends up 33-35

X Taylor is a player, will need to find his role and place in the club but Kingy should sort him out. Latrelle is a gamble, but Kozzie didn’t do a whole lot in his draft year. No club is better placed to get the most out of him and he’s got some genuine moves - and we sure have genuine needs.

Would be a nice result for us, although if I'm Essendon I'm picking the 3 Eastern Ranges boys. Which could work for us if Adelaide put their future first rounder and 16 on the table for Sharp and we can do the patient thing for once.

Bruce Reville just played in a flag. If he can do it so can Culley. I have my doubts on Culley, he has to be really sharp defensively or he’ll keep getting caught out for pace. But he also did about 1 in 3 sessions last year then got injured. He looks fitter already this year. And it’s all hypothetical anyway. Who cares about who is in our best team if we’re good again. The more important thing is getting better.

I’m low on Steele but we can only hope it’s not that bad.

Fartlek in small groups now. JVR in with Langford and tasked with trying to keep up with Kolt, Culley and Windsor. Probably 30m off after a few laps. Jeffo right on the back of AJ putting 15m on Howes. Kentfield putting 40m on Lindsay and Adams. Time will tell if these young key forwards are any good but looks like they’ve all put the work in.

Match sim (minus the rehab guys, Berry, Mentha, Melk) is designed around white exiting 50, kicking it up to Nath Jones to spoil and then a quick counter from half back to score (hopefully). In to the corridor then long and deep inside 50 (to advantage) seems the aim. A couple of Sharp turnovers (before some better moments). Howes and Lindsay prominent.

Repeat sprints for half, repeat 200’s for others. Sharp, Sparrow and Chandler dominating the 200’s. Culley from Kolt the best of the sprint group. But like the way Jeffo, JVR, AJ and Kentfield powered on. Berry with a bit of a welcome to afl moment on these.

CJ and Hendo doing laps. AMW was in rehab, now in a small forward group doing snaps with Chandler, Fritsch, Mentha, Sharp Mids doing one on one ground balls: Lindsay, Langford, Culley, sparrow, Steele, Kolt, Laurie, Windsor, Salem, Bowser Talls are doing some one on one marking. Moose and Gawn. Mihocek, May, Melk in a little veterans trio. Petty, JVR, Jeffo, Kentfield, T Mc, Berry, AJ, Adams, Howes. Geez we’ve got some talls. That’s without even mentioning Disco and Lever. Petty and JVR both look leaner and to be moving better than last year. Berry is perhaps a little shorter than his 194cm quote, moves well enough and kicking from an earlier drill seemed good for a guy who hasn’t played footy in 6 or more years?

So is Josh Dunkley but he sacrificed his game because his ball use and movement aren’t as dangerous as others.