monoccular

It may sound heretical, but is a fit JV7 an absolute walk up start 2026? 😮 Thanks for that summation. Could be awesome additions. Makes this eternal optimist even more optimistic for 2026 Maybe not Culley and Langford concurrently in the mid - could well alternate off the wing. Rudi Giuliani empathises

There seems to be disparate opinions regarding Jake's injury. We have heard both Lisfranc and navicular - either need long term carefully planned rehab. Would it be in Jake's best interests really, long term, to write 2026 off either way? Sounds like to old one about grandpa. Grandpa always says, one door closes, another one opens. A lovely guy but an awful carpenter

Particularly as a defender. If Mihocek gets and stays fir then there will be no more need for the Petty forward experiment, though he remains a valuable swingman.

I love Jake Bowey and he is certainly a very important part of our defence, but if one injury is the difference between premiership chance and also ran then the list is cr@p Petty 2021 grasped the opportunity and earned a medallion when the in form Tomlinson did his knee - hopefully someone will seize the opportunity and make Jake earn his recall. I seem to remember when Tommo went down there were soothsayers who wrote off our season.

Fond memories of Tassie, as others have said, taking the drop kick ins from the 10 yard line to the muddy centre. Great contestant and contested mark. I seem to recall him playing CHF once Bernie Massey #37 arrived and played full back. Bernie was a very tough contester but would spoil rather than mark like Tas, though John Peck always seemed to have the wood on him. Not anywhere near the kick in specialist either - mongrel punts to the flank was his method.

The number 1 easiest to lose ball in golf - it would seem from the numbers found in the rough.

Cake Morton and to an extent Jack Watts spring to mind. Competitive, will to win and uncompromising are the essentials (as well as skill of course), but “mongrel” thuggery of the Matthews / Rhys Jones / Ditterich type hopefully has been dispatched to the garbage bin of history.

Pack of half empty pessimists - half full (or even nearly full) optimists needed. Apply to this board.

So maybe just working things out, but Campbell > smaller Max ?? So Big Max off, with smaller Max on. You mention White rucking duties - but not Kalani. All very confusing 🙃

And of course these same bottom teams will get the raw end of the pineapple with respect to the timing of the byes. Who wants a bye round 1,2,3 or 4 or the last round? Certainly not Collingwood, Carlton, Geelong, Richmond. In fact not anyone, but we know all about AFL integrity and fairness

I wonder if relocation has seriously been considered, unthinkable as that may be. They (Norf) do already play there and have a presence

Interesting oversights, in hindsight, every year. Perhaps the most classic thatI immediately recall were James Hird picked I think in the 80s or 90s range, and Chris Grant pick >100 as I recall. Every club's fanbase could well complain about those obvious oversights - every club passed on them both many times. Were all the recruiters those years inept???

Is that a hypothetical question similar to that asked of a piece of string? Fahrenheit or centigrade?

I a not quite old enough to have seen Norm Smith or Fred Fanning play, but Ox pre knee was absolutely the most exciting tall forward I have ever seen at Melbourne. So sad for all concerned that he had multiple knee injuries.

Great news DeeZone May your heart beat true for the red and the blue for many years to come.

Both Barassi and Massey committed a cardinal sin in the last two minutes and almost paid the price - “never handball in the backline” as the great Norman would shout.

Mmmm. Interesting that some pronounce Xavier as "savioer" .... not that I am suggesting anything deeper.

So true, My Lord. I used to pride myself on my pedantry but I now realise that I am a mere beginner.

😮 do we have some new basic skills coaches / trainers because the last lot couldn’t get their message across too well??

Moderators - 🤔 urgently needs reinstatement.

He could stay locked in there and get takeaway. 🙄 But seriously I am sure he knows his weaknesses, and strengths, and the need (as with almost all draftees) to build up physique. Ghosty - I don't think people are skinny shaming him, just stating what is obvious to all Kalani included.

I am bumping this thread to see what Demonlanders think, now that the dust has settled on the draft, on (given full fitness) who if any of the draftees and tradees will fit in, and where. I still have a feeling that Max Heath may fill a fifth bench position, both to give Bigger Max regular respite thus helping with his longevity, and also to allow JVR to develop as a KPF without the need to relieve rucking. "Little Max" has by all accounts shown some forward craft (that Brundy didn't) which would also make him a tall injury replacement option. Totally guessing which if any draftees will be ready too start. Tradees BM and CJ should make an immediate impact, and I suspect that Steele will slot straight in.

Good fortune to Will - and many thanks for trying to help OUR club. Didn't work but I hope you find success elsewhere, and have enjoyed having "some learnings" from the greatest.

Don’t disrespect OUR PREMIERSHIP player even though he has hopped off to the Kangaroos.