DeeSpencer

North Melbourne thought they were clever hiring Glenn Luff from champion data and trading with us in a deal they won by a billion draft points. We traded back a few picks took Pickett and Rivers and they were premiership players in year 2. They took Tom Powell and who knows what with the 2nd and 3rd rounders. There’s merit in trading down or back but right now we are in a window and could do with talent who easily could be ready in years 2 or 3. The other issue is you can’t control what the future picks are. We trade for a GC. Essendon or Hawthorn future pick and they could easily both finish top 6. Even with additional second or third round picks that’s probably not the big win. When you trade up at least you control the destiny of the picks.

Agree to an extent, I think a standard list of available pick protections (top 5, top 10) is better than allowing teams to get too creative. And that it should be only 2 years of future picks, spaced by a year. So this year you can trade current picks, 2024 and/or 2026 and that’s it. Nothing for years off in the future as it encourages hoarding a heap of picks in a form of tanking pretty much.

Pendles and Sidebottom will drop off soon I hope. Mitchell’s had a couple of important finals but is really close to being ineffective, just does enough of what he’s good at in tight. They’ve got some concerns. And their young mids haven’t been good so far, although I remain very high on Ed Allan. Mihocek was meant to be key defensive depth, he’s been excellent despite his quiet game today. Always competes. Howe was meant to be their gun forward, has become a gun defender. Not sure what the list build lesson is there. If anything I guess the lesson is take chances on guys with upside if they combine contested effort and athleticism. Bobby Hill a great pick up. Markov a lovely freebie on the day he was meant to sign with Carlton. McCreery a super pick. Would like to see our list team identify and take some chances. Kelly O’Donnell’s probably in to his long nap time though so I doubt we will

I just can’t see end of first round unless Sydney and us get very ‘creative’. Second round is fair, but the system is stupid so that makes the pick quite late. Third round isn’t unreasonable if he’s not getting a big wage, but again, system and that draft itself is a mess so let’s hope that isn’t the case so we don’t get pick 55+. Really the compensation should be the cap space and we should use it to sign a more suitable player. It should be JJ out, McAdam in as both (or neither) should be free agents.

I spoke to a former demon last night who wanted to remind Kossie and the current players kicking the ball is all about smooth strokes and not belting the cover off it. Kossie operates at speeds us mere mortals aren’t capable of but you’re right, there’s times he has just take that extra quarter second. And in fairness he’s kicked some blinding goals when he does kick it purely, but there’s chances to either dish off balance up.

Charlie’s not an opportunist goal kicker, although when given an even chance he can do that. He’s a link player that relies on other parts of the chain working together. If every player in our side had the attacking work rate, smarts and skills of Spargo we’d hum the ball from end to end. Not saying he’s a walk up start in the side either, but if we want to play faster, cleaner more expansive football that scores more we need him fighting for a spot. I expect he’ll bounce back next year the same way Nibbler did in 2021.

How many would he average if our half backs ran and kicked the ball to the fat side and then to Charlie streaming open at half forward? He’d go from 10 to 15 very quickly. I also don’t care how many goals he kicks if he lands the ball on a forwards chest inside 40 and within the corridor 2-3 times a game.

A ruckman is an absolute must. Would be straight up list management negligence to go in to next year with Max, Schache, Verrall and not a genuine back up ruck. Key forward should be a must, but I’m wondering if they address it with train on players rather than making a move. Give me the 3 best delisted/state leaguers/overlooked kids and let them battle it out over summer. The draft has always made sense for mids and runners apart from 1-2 cheap back ups if they fit just to fill the list turnover.

Made some errors but not many small forwards have 9 shots in 2 finals. Charlie Cameron was mostly stinky last week. Jamie Elliot’s kicked 1 goal in 2 finals. Bobby Hill hasn’t done much since his first quarter against us. I’m hoping for a more mature, calmer, more complete Pickett next year but overall I thought his ability to go to full forward and create chances was impressive and very close to turning around or winning both games.

Dogs apparently have a future first on the table too, no doubt for later picks in return. But it takes a lot of top picks to climb high in the order. You don’t get them for unders.

I thought I was optimistic saying 2 years! But I suspect it will only be Hore and Hanks in competition.

Banno on the wing. Heath getting significant midfield time. Rightfully saving any midfield time for Paxy for second halves. Maddy Gay forward to ease her through the year. 3 talls, Goldy, Lampard and Blaithin down back when it’s probably Heath and Gay on the flanks of our best backline. (And Blaith on the wing please). Plenty of rest for Loz Pearce on the pine or forward. Zanker to CHF with Tay out. Mick’s really mixed up the side tonight and through the year. They’re getting good training in roles and positions.

She’s unusual but I don’t hate her, Jess Webster on play by play is always against us. Kind of strange when we play the best football to call

Is one of the Cats players wearing a hair net? Looks like she’s stumbled out of a tuck shop

Birch find your way to the 2’s

Aimee Mackin wow

Banno can fumble twice really poorly under little pressure then hit the spin move and lace it to Zanks. Gosh I hope she becomes the complete package one day

Gutsy run from Paxy, Sherriff and Hore and a nice hit from Paxy to Sheriff’s lead up rather than trying to get it done in one go. Good footy

Yep less Hollywood from the forwards and more accountability from the backs needed

Chylowe is on special comments, not sure who the special play by play commentator is. Thank god for Harf

Commentators wouldn’t recognise a push in the back if they copped one themselves

Goldy and lack of forward pressure both frustrating me so far. Need to settle down and win some contests

Essendon apparently will offer him a one year deal but seem to be dragging their feet. Hawthorn just waltzed in and got Massimo D’Ambrosio who I think is a beauty. We got to try someone!

Jaiden Hunter from Essendon worth a 2 year deal? Kicked goals in the wafl, got drafted mid year, kicked 4 in his second game then out with a back injury. Essendon yet to offer him a deal.

I think he’d still be moving, because clubs generally force trades through with out of contract players. But it wouldn’t be for money or length of deal. It would be a very similar situation with Bedford last year where we matched the contract but couldn’t convince him that he’d get more chances. I don’t think our coaches made mistakes not playing JJ. Just a reality that you aren’t ready until you’re ready some times. The only other consideration would be could we have moved players out to demonstrate our eagerness to give someone a bigger role. Ie. Moved Spargo last year to help keep Bedford. But I don’t see a on baller to move to keep JJ, especially when he’s going to get a free agent chunk of cash above normal offers.