DEE fence

I’m all over his Insta asking him to come back.

I beg to differ, I saw a change in JVR's marking in '24, is one of my season positives, he is much more a 'one grabber' now than before R6. I reckon he added 30-40% to his value with the improvement in his hands (BTW I know we are in furious agreement on how he is tracking as a young fwd).

Justice delayed is justice denied, to be clear, not talking about what justice is denied for. So many double standards in the AFL, I'd really like to see him rehabilitated, he can actually play pretty bloody well and is easily the best of any player going around compared to anyone else on the delisted list. And on the bright side he has been injury free for 12 months.

Good luck to him - I actually think he could play a role at Casey, he always seemed to go ok, and Casey has not had a great couple of years. Have wondered about him as a defender. Not sure how to explain it but I still think he has more to offer than Josh, I'd also have him as a pure back up ruck even if undersized I felt like he did ok rucking.

Am enjoying the AFLW the last few weeks (and previous seasons), Alyssa Bannan is a real favourite, something about her running is such a joy to watch. Overall I like the style they play tough but fair and playing the ball. I also think it will create a pathway for more people to take up the sport (and the Demons), something that can never be taken for granted. Not sure where they finish but you really have to credit the turnaround in perfomance.

Mids, elite disposal please, preferably robust, failing that a key defender if available that can take a year or two to fill out (May replacement). I am not worried about tall forwards I think JVR/Petty/Melks/Kozzie/Turner and of course Fritsch can get it done. Is more about game plan and connection for my money. I think this will be our last good run at high end selections at mids for a few years. They are there to be had. Replacing Gus, and to a lesser extent ANB and making up for the fact that Sparrow seems to have hit a ceiling are all factors. Viney, Clarrie are there to do the tough stuff well, and Trac / Kozzie will both be rotating in and out of the fwd line means we still have plenty of spots to fill. and when I say elite disposal I mean by foot and by hand, I still think our handball is a issue too, not just kicking.

Out of idle interest looked up the team results - (it's my old school), 7 losses 1 win over Marcelin by a goal. I still think Nathan has a clue about what is going on though.

It is an interesting conjecture, you could reasonably argue that Spider Everitt being out in '97 really cruelled it for the Saints, that Keating was a factor for the Lions in '01,'02+'03, and Gawn and Jackson in '21 absolutely stretched Brisbane defensively. I would argue that Grundy not being much chop as an ariel presence is the difference in these Grand final games, that i mention. I still think that (not including where 3rd man is allowed up GFs) a strong ruck is a big part of winning a GF, more so than any regular game, because in many ways a GF becomes a slug fest, with all the emotions involved. Grundy should have had a day out, I feel very sorry for the guy, he's not a bad bloke and I hope he finds some redemption. Much as Lever did after having a shocking '17 and an ace '21. BTW, I love Essendon so much, I wouldn't mind a F.U..... like bidding on Kako at 5, hehhehehe

Agreed and Thank you for the player summaries, Xavier, we need more elite kicks (and handballers), a Bont would be too good to be true, even if he was a 3/4 Bont, would still be a massive win. Tobie as insurance on Salem not getting back to the level (this isn't fat shaming, but I think Salem is not looking well still, like he is carrying weight or fluid) I think JVR and Petty will work, so would have Harry at 4. But honestly I trust JT and the recruiting team so much. We are fine as a team for courage and contested ball, need some players to capitalize on the hard work with good linking play.

Sitting here in my office in Baidoa, Somalia, I have stress-eaten a packet of Java house macadamia bickies, a bag of Natural Confectionary dinosaur jellies, a packet of bbq almonds, and am about to get into my cheese stash, reading this thread. I find this whole saga, more stressful than the Type 63 107 rockets Shabbab lob at the UN base next door and I'm not even joking. And it's not Oliver leaving that is killing me, though I am depressed about that, it is how inept the club comes across in the media that is truly triggering. Geelong might as well put a collar on us and parade us along Eastern Beach Road.

I have to say the Gawn segments on the MMM breakfast (I think I only watch on IG) play well, as does Daisy when he's not doing betting ads. Not nearly ad negative as the footy classified misery, or sanctimonious as 360 often is. I find myself watching most of them, anyone else?

About time, he's had some good moments but they have become rare. Fox is at a pretty critical juncture, if they continue pushing merde like mid week tackle etc, it has become to much of a circle jerk. Stopped looking fresh 2 years ago. At it's best 360 was must watch but really found less and less need this season. Front bar with it's gags, and the way they skewered the airlines on flights is actually more on pulse, despite the buffoonery.

It is really easy to be happy for Chris, they were a proper rabble when he joined, he gave credit to oppositions when he lost, was always a pretty straight talker, and overseen progressive improvement. I actually see what Fages has achieved as setting a pathway for Daisy to come into the Men's team one day (Demons of course). I know StKilda had a female coach, but I can see Daisy being a tactical/midfield coach, not just a development coach.

Not against this. The man understands alot about rehab, has spent alot of time watching when injured, was a great player and presents as a decent human, reasonably eloquent as well. Never struck me as FIGJAM either.

@Binman did Mills run over your cat? Without doubt stupidity and alcohol involved, but he hardly strikes me as a recidivist. Not sure anyone has an inside line on what happend exactly, but wrestling going wrong with or without alcohol not exactly unprecedented and can also involve bad luck. I'm not sure we need to make Mills the poster boy for bad behaviour on the grog, DeGoey does a much better job.

I have to say, mad respect for the way Oscar celebrated with his team. Class act, genuine happiness not a shred of poor ne.

Yep, that's my space too, this makes me feel 5% better https://youtu.be/-PCUrVJwvJk?si=-3CQUtYdPfmVZASt

@binman your memory is functioning much better than mine. Thanks for taking the time to expand on that interview.

Not arguing that the season wasn't disappointing, but we had a couple of games Essendon, Carlton etc where I thought we had serious presence, when we went back to a more contested style mids season, we still had failures (obviously) but I did see presence. Lots needs fixing but even the close games we lost, there was heart and presence on display. I think more tune up than rebuild. Speed and Kicking on the shopping list for sure. Some people are blessed with tanks, those who don't, do need a few seasons, as was previously mentioned Tracc took a few, there was an interesting interview where Burgess explained this but couldn't find.

I've played Ultimate with Kenyans Ugandans and Sudanese here in East Africa, and some of them are elite in terms of speed, strength, and reaction time, and competitive as all hell. Really thought they could play if there was a pathway. Used to love getting the Sherrin out after matches. It was the marking ability that really impressed amd the willingness to launch regardless of consequences.

Really surprised me this season, determined young fella is Tmac. Totally good decision. Tomlinson needs a reset, so often he has a great return game into the side, and you think why did we drop him previously, and then the follow up game he doesn't deliver enough and becomes a bit of a liability. Really yoyo's on form. Tmac has been consistent when injury free. So I get the club's decision.

My Hawks mates were moaning big time about Frosty, but Sam Mitchell really smoothed him out, is definitely a feather in his coaching gap, the redemption of Frost (i loved his heart but not his execution to be clear). That he busted his foot is just bloody horrible.

Watching teams that are playing finals and thinking about our season I've had a nagging thought that I thought was worth a thread. Keen for a discussion that leaves out personalities, feuds, and rumour, and to try and keep it evidence based etc, aspirational I know. Anyway was looking for stats based on effective handballs. We often talk about needing better skills by foot etc but I'm beginning to think it is not our footskills leading to turnovers as much as it poorer hand-balls. I couldn't find a stat for effective handballs, just overall disposal efficiency, with the team distributed pretty much as expected. (May and Lever rule here). In summary I don't think our disposal by foot is as bad as we think, I do however think we need to improve in handball. Thoughts?

This you QD?