binman

Apologies for calling Lindsay Francis. I can assure you that's not his nickname - ive just got some weird version of football dyslexia and he's my new Swallow. To avoid calling Lindsay Francis I usually call him X if that helps.

I think a sausage is a goal. Or it it could be a player, who acts the fool - silly sausage.

The brain is a funny thing. Like all dees fans, when claz first started his career, I was blown away by his spatial awareness and how incredibly fast his hands and decision making were. Incredible. But it becomes easy to take for granted, and I sort of stopped appreciating it as much. And then he has a year where he's not in condition to play at his best and It's almost as if I had forgotten it. Watching that clip was a reminder he can do things that very few players can, things that can't be taught. i have to say im feeling a sense of excitement about this season I haven't for many years. Not so much in terms of expectation of success, but more seeing claz back to his best, tracc happy and firing, Windsor and Kolt's second season, Turner going up a level, Langford and Lindsay's debuts and JVR perhaps becoming the best key forward in the AFL.

This is an incredibly positive article about today's training (big chunk about claz, but covers multiple players):Star midfielder set to explode again in 2025; gun duo take big step in rehab - Dees Track Watch "It was during match simulation where Oliver came into his own and showed he is ready and raring to go for a monster 2025 season. But it was his work rate that really caught the eye. Oliver worked hard all session getting to as many contests as possible and running hard so that he could become another option for teammates. He tackled strongly and corralled when necessary, but it was the multiple diving smothers that were most impressive, Oliver literally throwing everything he could at the footy."

Like any passionate football fan I've seen any number of uber talented players accross all teams over the years. With no exaggeration in my 50 plus years of watching footy, claz is in my top 10 in terms of pure football iq and talent. From 0.56 of the vid above suggests we should all be very excited about claz this year. A reminder just how bloody good he is - and what a bounce we'll get having him fit and firing next season. He'll be like adding a ready to roll number one draft pick straight into the side.

I went to that game. Loved it. Brought back memories of going there in the 70s and early 80s. (I went to the footy every week in, I think 1979, with a mate who supported the roos. We used to alternate dees and roos games so I saw plenty of games at Arden Street that year). It's on my side of town, so I'm absolutely wrapt the praccy match is at Arden Street. I'm a lock.

But given only three drafteees have left because of the 'go home factor' in the last 10 years the evidence suggests it simply isn't an issue. And you could argue we actually did very well out of Hogan, Jackson, and to a lesser extent nibbla, leaving to go home. Trading Hogan got us May (do we win a flag without him?), Jackson mutiple first round draft picks and Nibbla sharp. It koz goes to freo we will do very well in any deal because he is in contract - at least a couple of first rounders and/or players who meets our needs. And if we were to prioritise vic boys in the draft, perhaps we dont have JVR, McVeee, Koz and Rivers at the club. That's nearly 20% of our starting 22. So if the go home factor is not an issue we need to be concerned with, prioritising Victorian players in the draft isn't being pragmatic - it is the very definition of a solution looking for a problem. The opposite of being pragmatic.

Agree. And the reality is we haven't lost that many players in the last few years because they wanted to return to their home state. Working backwards, nibbla, Jackson and maybe Hogan? Am I missing someone? If not, that's 3 in aprox 10 years. I reckon in that same period we've traded in more vic players from interstate sides than vice versa - langdon, Lever, sharp all immediately come to mind.

Agree He'll be a best 22 lock by mid season, if not before. Take it to the bank.

My understanding is Nibbla was only ever going to the crows and the deal was basically done mid season, with only the deets to work out at season's end.

Good to know you don't read replies and reactions. Can I ask you a few questions? Why do you post a football fan forum? Do you take the same approach to texts and emails? Are you wanting other posters to make a note of some sort that you don't read replies and reactions? Are you a bot?

Yeah, i reckon he'll almost certainly get taller. He's 191 cms atm, which is pretty bloody tall. Talls always grow a bit after being drafted. As an example, Bont, a player Langford has many similarities with, is now 194 cms. Admittedly he was younger than Langford when drafted, but like Langford Bont was 191 cms when drafted. By the by i got that info from this draft profile - makes for interesting reading, particularly in terms of the similarities to Langford's draft profile. 2013 Draft Profile: Marcus Bontempelli - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Agree George. And the other thing he seems to have is an elite focus and mindset - attributes that will help ensure he does everything in his power to achieve his potential. No coincidence XL seems to have the same ulra professional mindset as Taylor puts a premium on it. I'd be very surprised if Langford, barring injury, isn't in our round one team - he's the very definition of a plug and play, AFL ready draftee. The exciting thing is unlike some such players (eg wines, Horne- Francis and even Harley Reid) he's still got plenty of scope for improvement, in large part because he'll continue to fill out and get taller over the next 2-3 years.

Nup. Never do. As I have noted many times i decided to stop getting caught up and wound up by players leaving or rumoured to be leaving after being devastated and furious when Gerard Healy defected to the swans. That decision has saved me much angst over the years - not least in the last six months with all the tracc, clarry and koz want out, where there's smoke there's fire nonsense. If he goes, he goes. Just as I said about tracc we hold the whip hand in any negotiations so we'll do fine.

Oh goody, a full season of koz watch. I'll tap out now I think.

We open with a bye.

And the annual sack Hinkley noise from Port fans will start up.

Agree. Will cover the loss of nibbla too a bit because he was critical to our defence - how often last year was nibbla that last one standing inside the oppo 50?

I actually think the defensive unit will continue to sit high. The transition game doesn't work properly if the defensive line is too close to the opponents goal. The key to effective transition is compressing the ground and winning it back as close to your goals as possible. It's why for example, even in 2023 when they were playing their best footy, the pies were always a chance to be scored against on the rebound. That was one of the key reasons we struggled defensively last year. In most games our defensive line was set way higher than previous years and that totally stress tested our structure, leg speed and fitness (because once the ball is turned over up the field the defensive unit has to bolt back to defend the turnover). Steve May, who was absolutely gassed, spoke to that very issue in his post game, on ground interview after our win over the tigers. Because of his leg speed, having Windsor behind the ball will really help with our transition. But i reckon just as importantly his leg speed will help us defend turnovers because he will be able to get back quickly - something tmac, may and Lever all struggled to do last year.

I hate to see any player cop that sort injury, particularly in the preseason.

A road i have travelled many times with my mates over the years. Fair to say it's mostly been a very rocky road. I plan to keep my car in the garage for a few months this season. Well, I plan to try.

I thought the same thing- starting to look chiselled in the way he does when in top nick. That includes his face looking more chiselled, which jumped out at me in one of the photos posted from Gus's wedding. Great signs- in particular that he looks in better nick than he did right before their break (suggests clarry worked hard over the four week break and avoided too much Xmas pudding).

How many training sessions have you been to?

KP is surrounded by parkland, including a footy oval. Its the home ground of a local footy club (and looks a ripper ground), but presumably not in use during the day during the week.