DeeSpencer

Our ruck and only key forward (and best goal kicker) were likely to fall apart at any given moment. Hard to blame them for keeping tall insurance

Agree, picked absolutely the right team. Need a big summer of skill work but you can’t drastically improve skills of limited players with no key forwards to influence ball movement. Healthy forwards and a touch of class will change things. Just a matter of whether we can snag a couple of ready to play forward and mid options, plus develop the likes of Howes, Woey, Laurie, Chandler who can potentially all take us forward.

Watch the tape. Fumbly under pressure and can’t play through contact. Any threat of being tackled and he’s hot potato-ing the ball away. Stiff as a board, doesn’t bend his knees and looks like his spine is in traction Incredibly left sided. Not sure he’s turned on to his right once in 40+ touches. Limited athlete, no penetration in his kicking, no power, not tall, average speed. Aside from a lovely 15-25m hit up kick there’s not much that’s conducive to afl footy. They’ll have to completely retrain his approach to the contest and that’s very hard with a guy who’s been playing footy all his life in the top juniors. Work rate, professionalism and ability to find the pill gives him a chance but as a defensive runner (forward or mid) more than anything. He’s coming in to the system as a role player and a top 40 pick for that is unlikely.

Add Buku Khamis to the slim list of available tall forwards. More of a mid sizer at 190cm but can go back and is even willing to have a dip in the ruck. I’ve liked glimpses of the way he gets on the lead and jumps at the ball. Would fit in the category of - surely better than no one.

There’s a couple of areas that lend themselves to having chairs at Casey. Wouldn’t be hard to have a couple if designated chair areas.

JJ might be the first previously delisted free agent to move for a decent salary (he has value, it won’t be a nothing deal). latest I read on compo value. Given he’s 22 and free I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets top 50%. In fact we should offer him a 50% contract and hope whoever beats it gives him enough to get 2nd round compo: The bands are as follows: - Top five per cent = first-round pick - Top 15 per cent = end-of-first-round pick - Top 30 per cent = second-round pick - Top 50 per cent = end-of-second-round pick

Available key forward options: Chol: not the best at the contest but has a nice left foot and can ruck, has one season of good footy under his belt Patrick Voss: solidly built aggressive forward who Dons fans have wanted to see play. Not the biggest or quickest but has a go Chris Burgess: does very well in the VFL but hasn’t tasted afl for a while. Journeyman type Jacob Kositchzke: fallen out of favour at the hawks. Seems to have some athleticism and aggression but has struggled to impact It’s slim pickings out there

We need guys who can take a mark or halve contests but I’m not convinced they have to be 200cm. For instance Curnow is probably more effective than McKay even if he spots him close to 10cm. Petty and once he gets more strength JVR will be very effective at that even though they aren’t 200cm. They have the strength to wrestle and the leap to attack the drop of the ball. Jones has a leap and long limbs, I think he’s be good at that with the right development. More so we need someone to develop quickly in to a back up. Right now it’s either the very old or very young and it’s unlikely we get a big name. The less names, as I’m about to detail, aren’t very promising.

They’d have to embrace being a second option but there’s no way Gawn gets through seasons healthy anymore. He’s not even healthy now! It’s different than sitting behind a 27 year old ruck who’s not going anywhere for years to come.

The dogs have offered Sweet two years to sit behind English who is absolutely in his physical prime and unlikely to miss games. If Sweet wanted to stay he’d sign that already. We can offer him 3 and just about a lock that Gawn won’t play all games or even be playing in 3 years and our lack of key forwards will present opportunities too.

He has all the talent - size, athleticism, skills, but some guys just don’t have the tank for afl footy no matter how much work you put in to them.

Goldy - old, no draft cost, probably looking for a gig that comes with coaching opportunities in the future? Flynn - free agent, will need cash but no pick, career back up? Fullarton - more of forward than a ruck, really poor man’s Luke Jackson. Could have upside with more game time. Hayes - doesn’t lack for talent, Port have never been able to get him fit or trust him to run out a game. If we had Burgo? Sweet - really solid back up, but Bevo never plays him. Wouldn’t offer anything forward. But could carve out a few years as depth and start when needed. Brynn Teakle - looked amazing to start his career but injuries and then sanfl form has been underwhelming. I’d take a flyer on the upside Chol - certainly fits as a forward/ruck. Plenty of talent but not sure he’s a structural player (maybe that’s ok). Preuss - lol 1. Teakle 2. Sweet 3. Fullarton Would be my preference depending on what we do with key forwards. Chol and Fullarton rank higher if we don’t bring in a forward.

Lack of continuity is really hampering him. Burst on to the scene playing some decent footy (probably got up to pace faster than the other 2) and pretty much playing the same level 4 years later. If you got his body right there’s still a combination of pace, endurance and contested ability (especially overhead) to make a good footballer. But with constant set backs his ball use and decision making is a mess. Just can’t see how you’d be brave enough to offer Port the required trade capital to get him when contracted.

I like him. Athletic hybrid forward/ruck. Wouldn’t star, but could prove ok depth and there’s a possibility he finds a role as a tall who uses his athleticism to largely do a role and stay out of the way. Price should be negligible.

The AFC is going to be a bloodbath, there’s maybe 10 really good teams and the 3 stand outs from previous years (Bills, Bengals, Chiefs) might take a step back. I just like the Jets defense and play makers even if Rodgers isn’t great. Probably got too clever in my nfc pick. Thought the SeaHawks defense would take a step forward and Geno could back up last year. Might be eagles, cowboys and niners still as the class of a weak conference. Falcons nearly won the division last year didn’t they? Panthers with a rookie QB. Tampa with Baker. Saints going to the well again with an ageing team and Carr. All Ritter has to do is play point guard for a really good offensive play caller and surrounding talent and the Falcons will be right there if not winning the division. The bears will be bad. Had a stack of camp injuries which ruined their ability to get continuity which they need with something like 11 new starters and new back ups. Defense should be better if they can stay healthy for a month but it’s a bad d line and they need that time together and some bad weather. O Line hasn’t had any practice time together and Fields just isn’t going to be an nfl qb unless he gets Ohio State like time to pick his throws and he’s still a mile off getting that. They got a reality check today.

Divisions winners AFC North: Bengals East: Jets South: Jaguars West: Chargers NFC: North: Lions East: Eagles South: Falcons West: Sea Hawks Super Bowl: Jets def SeaHawks

Jags Packers Titans

I don’t hate it, I’ve wanted Salo in the midfield for years but the issues are; 1. Salem’s struggles have to be related to fitness due to injury/illness impacting his preparation. Moving him on ball seems unwise when he’s already battling to run at half back. 2. Who comes in down back? Turner or Tomlinson? Disco provides a little athleticism, Tomlinson a little rebound, but neither really make the backline faster or more skilful. If we stick with Tracc on ball alongside Viney and Clarry and can get buy with JJ and maybe Woey then the one I’d roll the dice with across half back would be Sparrow because his huge work rate would give us extra transition help and he’s strong in the air. Wouldn’t help with skills but Riv, Bowser and Judd are there for that. Everything should be on the table but as it stands Tracc more forward and hope Viney, Clarry, Sparrow, JJ and others can break even in the middle is what I’d go with.

Would you have given up the Fritsch goal? The right thing to do was to let Fritsch kick the goal, let Gus get off the field and then for Viney and others to make a stand. The flat start was disappointing, but the pies running game is so slick I can see why players were caught out at times. We beat them up around the ball for 3/4’s after that. I’ve said all year we need a Vanders but it’s hard in the modern afl to find an expendable nasty/clumsy player. JVR sat McStay on his backside and he’ll miss next week because of it

I disagree, I think mobile key forwards are the future and whilst a 200cm one would be ideal we really only need a combination like Petty and JVR who can both take a mark or crash a pack despite not being 200cm. The concern is depth behind them and finding a playable ruck option. I would’ve liked someone like Harry Jones for insurance/developmental reasons, if he gets his body right he’s a nice lead up option who could compliment the main man. Obviously his body is a huge risk but it’s a risk I’d have taken barring any better alternatives. Hawkins gets those chances one on one because Cameron draws attention. Same with Daniher and Hipwood. Same with Curnow and McKay. Once you’re bombing it in it’s too late unless you’ve got Levi Casboult and Max King playing together. Sydney had 3 big talls last night, looked awful. Once Parker went to full forward and Amartey got sent to the pine they looked very good.

Out: JVR In: Grundy Out: T Mc In: Woey or Spargo (Tracc forward) Out: Gus In: JJ Possibly Out: Hibberd In: Turner/Tommo (matchups) Got to go with a forward line of; FF: Pickett Grundy Fritsch HF: Tracc Smith ANB Int: Chandler That has mobility and skill around Grundy/Gawn as the long bomb target and Smith as the lead up. If that means a midfield of Viney, Oliver, Sparrow, JJ then so be it. Tommy could actually be a decent sub, coming on fresh when the pace is out of the game.

Perennially injured and can’t kick but he’d at least offer fresh legs on the wing and is strong overhead.

I’d have gone after Harry Jones but his injury history is as bad as most of our talls. New club might’ve helped. No doubt we’ll call Richmond and ask on Lynch but I don’t love the odds of it happening or the odds of him staying healthy. Need to audition some state league or delisted options over summer. Must, must have someone train for a list spot. But classy mids and flankers are more likely and reliable predictable ball movement will incentivise the forwards to lead better and create more hit up marks.

He and Tommy Mc could’ve competed in the senior Olympics at half time. Race with their Zimmer frames

He had a very good first half winning some vital contests. Was far from our worst