binman

This quote in the article from Langford is music to my ears (and I absolutely love that he is a left footer): “I really wanted to show my kicking ability – being able to find someone up forward, whether through score involvements or in the backline, and show my in to out handballs as well: being able to get the hardball, take a few steps, get away and get the (hands off),” Langford said. “I’ve worked on driving power through my kick and find someone whether 20, 30 or 40 metres away…and finding the right option.”

It has to help there are so many WA young players in the team, and some guns are that.

I forgot Petty from that list. Taken at 37 in the draft, petts is another big tick for JT in terms of his record with talls.

Burn, baby, burn. Disco inferno.

There's none so blind as those who will not see.

Really? Given its notoriously difficult to assess talls given bigs who are 17-18 are still filling out and they don't hit their peak until mid twenties, i reckon JT's strike rate drafting tall is above industry average. I may have missed some talls, but by my recollection JT has drafted in the following genuine talls (in order): Omac, Weed, Jackson, Adams, Turner, JVR, Farris White, Jefferson, Verral and Ketfield. Of that group, only two were top ten picks, Jackson and Weed. Jackson helped us win a flag and may well help us win another with the draft picks we got from freo for him. JVR look a genius pick at 19. I have zero doubt will be in the top 3 or 4 key forwards over the next decade Jefferson was pick 15. Jury is still out on Jeffo, but they think enough of him to have extended his contract. And signs are positive that he is building an AFL ready physique. The rest are all speculative late picks. Turner looks another genius pick - a mid season rookie draft pick at 21 who is best 22 lock. Gold from a drafting perspective. We traded out Omac, but he is still playing AFL footy, and if he stays fit will play his hundredth AFL game this year - statistically very rare for a draft pick past 50. The jury Is out on Adams, Verell and Ketfield. But Adams was pick 38, and Verell and Ketfield were rookie draftees so the opportunity cost is minimal, and even if only one plays regular AFL footy JT has done super well. So by my reckoning, JT has drafted 10 talls - and only Weed and Farris White are definitive busts. Weed hurt given he was pick 9, but Farris White was a Category B Rookie, so a nothing ventured, nothing gained throw at the stumps. So at this stage, only one real bust out of ten selections. The jury Is out on four players, but really only jeffo would hurt from an opportunity cost perspective if he doesn't make it given the others were a late pick and rookies. Any recruiter in the AFL would take that strike rate for selecting talls in a heartbeat.

Very strong Logan Run vibes.

True, though none could get a game come finals in 2021, so no great loss.

You completely missed the point i was making.

This sort of rubbish is what I was talking about saty. Why the angst? Was a perfectly reasonable question. And a reasonable response is tom didn't make it as a player, but not because of effort. He was extremely well regarded at the dees in terms of his commitment to training and preparation and was extremely fit. Also was respected for his attitude and made a positive impact on culture. A great get to have him back at the club.

Sunny enough for you skipper?

Our fixture is not great from a financial perspective or for our sponsors in terms of the lack of free to air Friday and Sat night games Mitigating that a bit is we have heaps of Sunday 3.20 games, which are actually ok as they are live free to air and i susslect rate well because they run into the news. And to be honest, dees fans don't always turn up in great numbers for night games, so we won't lose too much in crowd revenue Making finals on the back of an easy draw would also mitigate the impact of less 'high commercial gain' games.

Failing to make the 8 next season and in 2026 will fix that problem.

Me too. I'll take Sunday arvo games over night games every day of the week. Well, Sunday. Add a couple of 1:20pm sat games with a red sherrin and the lions at the gabba at 3.20pm (not nearly as slippery as the night games and much better in terms of the impact of travel, ie no red eye) and it will do me nicely. And I don't mins marvel - I'm on the west side of town and by pt door to gaye one 'm there in 45 mins.