DEE fence

I know people love to throw around the ‘Moneyball’ concept to the point it has become a cliche, BUT, I really feel like we have recruited well, for the first time since ‘21, I feel like our retreads add some value and increase the synergy of the team. I am aware that injuries could knock the wheels off the cart with these older folk, but we have recruited well enough to increase that inside F50 efficiency. As BBub said lots of our game is ok, It has been more than a decade than since we were not fit enough, and no one has called us bruise free recently either. JC has great speed out of the back line, and while not as a reliable kick as Hibberd I can see that we need that speed and I feel like he is the Hibberd replacement (that I did have McVee for). Windsor is lightening in a bottle to go with JC and also as a mid. I also think Fritsch deciding to get his head in the game and coming up the field like a smaller version of Jeremy Cameron was a revelation and could continue to pay dividends for our inside F50. To not lose our fierce edge I am hoping Viney and Kosi (+Chandler/Langdon) are allowed to hunt the opposition at the bounce, as they brilliant at effective tackles that the opposition ‘feel’ and I think that disrupts game plans, and that they then switch back fwd, while the lighter bodies take the running roles in game. I’m not sure I have clearly described what I mean, but you get my drift that we’ve been a good tackling/pressure side lets not lost that part of our game. The new kids, well everyone can see their value no need to expand on that. For the life of me I don’t understand why St Kilda let Max Heath go for chips or why Essendon didn’t go after him, there is something really strange about this trade, is there an unofficial market in favours that we don’t get to see? The great unknown is JVR, I feel like he hasn’t been right since that dodgy suspension a couple of years back, all between the ears with him, I am kinda worried it is Weid 2.0, I was so sure ‘25 would be his year but he went backwards.

I find the Insta has plenty of content celebrating the women, I never use FB anymore, I check like once every 3 months for Luddite friends that haven’t switched to WhatsApp or Insta, and I kinda thought FB was a bit dead now compared to 15 years ago. I am not disagreeing with you that the AFLW needs plenty of support, just wondering if you are looking in the right places?

This is such a credit to the Cheer-Banner squad and yourself GW. Awesome work!

Am really getting BBB vibes from having Brodie in the squad, very very happy about it.

Chandler is a heart and soul type who can string a sentence together. Personally I hope this is a conversation for 2029… Disco would need to see more of, Rivers maybe, Lever would be ok if there was an unexpected bus in the nearer future. Viney, I think is a good vice, his intensity is Gen X, not sure it sells with the millennials (works fine for me but at 55 not pulling on a jumper anytime soon). Happy to be surprised by one of the recent draftees.

Not keen, we need consistent, knowledgeable Hawks people I know (we're not mates when it's footy), really dislike the turnovers.

McVee replacement?

I don’t think training hard has been the problem, nor desire for contest, I’m open to these being good appointments but as much as I dearly would have loved them as players at the club (Hamill was at one stage my favorite non Melbourne player), I don’t see any great coaching credentials. Very happy Troy is staying, but what I really want is to see a strategy coach of Jennings standard to join us/ another mid coach.

The real reason Geelong suspended Mad Monday were the players taking the mickey out of the Cotton On payments, nothing to do with BS and Caro etc.

Just curious but why the hell wouldn’t we pro rata and salary reduction in the contract?

Last 4 Premiers US - Oliver May Cats - Stengle, Smith, Bruhn Collingwood - Thug, DeGoey, get the idea Brisbane - Zorko, Robinson

I don’t believe you, and if true this is the ultimate Karen parenting… (joke)

Figure this is better here than in the imploding thread Thank you for this and it helped form a thought bubble that has been percolating for awhile. Trac has had a game plan built around him, no problem with that, but he represents a considerable amount of effort for others that fill in for his defensive running etc. While he has a license to roam and burst, it means others have extras to do. Now while I don’t mind that when it works, when it doesn’t work it is costing us flexibility with other game plans and I’m pretty sure every coach in the league has got the memo. Now I’m not sure that Tracc gets how much is done for him - and without doubt he does a huge amount to prepare himself, but these poor me vibes kind of stick in the back of my throat. I can understand the Coach thinking the ‘Tracc Play’ is stale and needs a rebuild. Tracc not being onboard with that or whatever leads us to the current scenario. I dearly love the bull like power and leg drive, but almost equally (big disagreement in my family about this) I think his lack of confidence in his set shot kicking has become a cancer for other forwards, I love the manic miracle goals, but the percentage of routine money in the bank shots has dried up so badly I am not opening a vein about the prospect of him leaving. (Check back when he kicks 6 on us).

Thank you for this and it helped form a thought bubble that has been percolating for awhile. Trac has had a game plan built around him, no problem with that, but he represents a considerable amount of effort for others that fill in for his defensive running etc. While he has a license to roam and burst, it means others have extras to do. Now while I don’t mind that when it works, when it doesn’t work it is costing us flexibility with other game plans and I’m pretty sure every coach in the league has got the memo. Now I’m not sure that Tracc gets how much is done for him - and without doubt he does a huge amount to prepare himself, but these poor me vibes kind of stick in the back of my throat. I can understand the Coach thinking the ‘Tracc Play’ is stale and needs a rebuild. Tracc not being onboard with that or whatever leads us to the current scenario. I dearly love the bull like power and leg drive, but almost equally (big disagreement in my family about this) I think his lack of confidence in his set shot kicking has become a cancer for other forwards, I love the manic miracle goals, but the percentage of routine money in the bank shots has dried up so badly I am not opening a vein about the prospect of him leaving. (Check back when he kicks 6 on us).

I was ready to pay a kings ransom for the kick, for all that he was/is a scallywag that was an immortal kick, you could retire happy with that.

A Gen X player in a Gen Z world, love his fierceness, incredibly important player for us. Will remain a tackle machine, a human version of a big cat hunting on Animal Planet. Think back to that 1st tackle in the 21 GF. When we play finals next he will be leading the way in pressure acts. Between him and Kossie we go very well for pressure around the ball.

Pairing ANB with Tracc is not a silly move by Adelaide as ANB created a great synergy with how well he performed the support roll. I am comforted by the fact that Hawthorn survived Buddy leaving and Brisbane was a basket case when Fagan arrived. Track is not Buddy, and we are not as [censored] as Brisbane was.

Felt like he had the riot act read to him midway through the season, as he found some mojo and his half forward efforts were part of a welcome return to form. I was ready for a trade early on but now think keep.

Role player, who gave Nic Daicos a legitimate bath, demonstrating commitment to team, seeing him snaffle Nic legally a micro second after Daicos had taken possession was a Joy. Basically reinvigorated the wing role a few years as an OG and has been happy to perform whatever since. Love and Keep are two words that come to mind.

this makes me happy

Remember the prelim against us, was so salty and referenced un-named excuses, he was at least a little better against the Lions yesterday, but still felt forced. Anyway, 9 prelims for 1 GF or whatever it is, the guy can coach and gets a lot out of his players, he's a great coach lets not turn into Victa here (lawn mowers).

It never ends well does it, in other news how much do you reckon the Essendon fans are thinking they have the wrong brother and that is why the soft cap for senior coaches salary hasn't been exempted.

fair call I guess, he was early 2nd round. my point stands, young blokes have done just fine with us, it's the retreads that are the challenge. it was the career killing comment that got up my nose.

Turner, Bowey, Rivers, McVee, Petty, Bedford, Jordan were all average picks all turned out to be diamonds in the rough, our high end picks of recent times have all been strong (a watch on JVR) the only black mark would be our pick ups from others clubs post '21, has been ordinary, but Goody's career killing empire, give it a rest. Even discards like Oscar, Jayden and James get a gig, granted we have issues with the game plan, but so much else has been on point.