binman

Which is one reason I think they might struggle. Like last season, the best midfields will monster theirs. They need a big bodied mid somewhere near as good Fyfe in his Brownlow year. Putting so many eggs in the Jackson basket meant having to settle for a player at O'Meara's level to try and plug the gap.

Yep. But can't see him being better. Omeara - at his third club and managing chronic injury - is at the back end of his career. He is a long way from the elite big bodied mids like cripps et al that serious flag contenders need. Mundy was still playing at a really high level last season- which was remarkable given his age Arguably only Brayshaw was as important. I suspect freo will be thrilled if O'Meara can match Mundy's 2022 output. By the by, i watched the first half of freo's sim. Not sure how he went in the second half, but omeara was underwhelming in the first half.

I'm not convinced about that. A bit will depend on how much time Fyfe spends in the midfield because they really lack big bodied mid in the Trac, Oliver, Bontempelli, Cripps mold. Such players have become critical because they win so many 50-50 contests and provide the option of not having to send an extra to each stoppage - or in our case even having one less mid at stoppage. They are really going to miss Mundy for this very reason.

All excellent points. There is another important element - sexual assault and harassment (and of course family violence) is overwhelmingly men perpetrating it against women. And it occurs in the context of the fundamental drivers of sexual harassment and assault (and family violence) - gender inequality and the belief that a man is entitled to exercise power and control. Is there an issue with the power balance here? Maybe, as Steph is the captain. But it is not harassment if her teammate has no issue with Stpeh's behavior. I note that to hopefully avoid the silly whataboutisms that so often come up in such discussions - 'but, but women use violence and sexually harass too!'. Whataboutisms that completely ignore the fact that gender inequality and the belief that a man is entitled to exercise power and control over women and children drive sexual harassment (and family violence). De Goey sexually harassed/assaulted the woman because he felt entitled to (and please, spare me the whataboutisms that the woman in the photo apparently said she was fine with his behaviour).

He'll play i reckon. They will want him to build some momentum ahead of a round one selection. My guess is of the young players, JVR , Chandler, McVee, Bowey and Turner will all play. And maybe Verell (to cover maxy?), Laurie AMW and Woey. Hibbo, Jordon and Tomo all to play. Fritsch too if right. If i';m close to the mark with those guesses that's say 8-10 players to come in. They will probably play a mega extended bench (coxz last week was the dress rehearsal) so maybe 6 players who played the first four periods against the saints will have to come out. My guess on those 6 players are: Lever (injured, so no brainer), Maxy (practicing the break they flagged they want to give him during the season?), May, Tracc, Viney and Brown. With limited minutes for Langdon, Oliver and Kozzie.

Short answer - number 2. But only because in Kozzie (assuming he is playing more midfield minutes), Mcvee, Hunter, Salem and Bowey we have five reasonably high possession players who can be trusted to hit high risk kicks to the corridor. My tip is this season the Pies will find it a lot harder to hit those corridor targets this season because opposition teams will put a lot more work into the players they use to hit corridor targets - Nick Daicos (who apparently has been training with the mids) being the key player to blunt. And so will struggle to score as freely - and will cough up more goals though turnover. Net result - more lost games.

Maybe, though Goody obviously doesn't agree. Be that as it may there is no chance selecting him last in the season was about trying to convince Jackon to stay.

Absolutley no way they were still trying to convince him stay anywhere near the end of the season. The decision was made mid season, and in all likelihood well before then - hence goody and key leaders talking to Grundy mid season. They played him because we needed a second ruck. Pure and simple.

On Jackson, I'm firmly of the view we are a better team with Grundy in it than with Jackson - at least for the next 2-3 seasons (Jackosn will be crazy good when he hits his peak in his mid 20s, still four years away). So, i wish the young fella luck - and i hope he enjoys watching the Dees leave Freo in our wake. And doesn't struggle too much with regret. Such a negative and exhausting emotion. I also hope he copes ok with moving to freo with the expectation of spending more of his time in the ruck than he did at the dees (coz he is on record as saying that's where he most enjoys playing) - only to play the exact same role as he did at the dees - a forward and back up ruck to a clear number one ruck. He will also have to cope with the irony of knowing if he had stayed at the dees he would likely have got way more ruck time given the dees want to give Maxy much more of a chop out this season - not to mention the chance of a adding a second flag to his resume,

This game was our serious dress reherseal for round one, just as was the case in 2021 and 2022. I doubt we will have a full strength team next week, and they will probably try some different things eg some new set plays, different positions, some younger players. Meaning it was a bit of a blow to Jordan and Hibbo. From the saints game, the only changes I can envision is harmes out (who did look.a bit rusty - though in his defence it must be hard playing that utility position - same goes for sparrowwho also had a quiet game). Jordan or maybe hibbo in (Gus could play more as a mid and hibbo takes his spot). Given his versatility, jordon could be 23rd man.

I was thinking much the same thing about koz. He's a brilliant field kick. In addition to good technique, he has great vision and the confidence to take on difficult options, so can really set up dangerous scoring chains. If he can average 15 plus possessions we get a lot more value out of his field kicking. Hunter is an even better kick, and also creates dangerous scoring chains. He has that ability the best left footers have to exploit the split second of space lefties get when the defender instinctively shapes to cover a right footer. I think Mcvee will be in the round one team, and hopefully can keep his spot when Salem comes back. He looks class. Fantastic, fluid technique, calm, makes good decision - and hits targets. Bowey looks in great shape, makes excellent decisions and has a case to being the most reliable kick in the team, certainly up to 35-40 metres. With Salem, that's 5 elite kicks in our starting 22, who get 15 plus possessions, reliably hit those crtical 25-40 metre kicks, have tricks and set up rolled gold scoring opportunites. That translates to kicking more goals through quality assists and fewer scoring chains breaking down with junk turnovers (thst often gift the opposition a scoring opportunity). The other factor is those five players almost certainly have goody's approval to take on risky kicks to the corridor. That's obviously the best spot to enter 50 from, so three or four more kicks thst hit the target in the corridor makes us so much more dangerous. The four playing all hit corridor targets against the saints, and I'd be guessing collectively were involved in a lot of our scoring chains. Good times.

I watched the first q of the freo crows game. Jackson played pretty well. As wxpected Darcy was number one ruck, but Jackson probably played about 40% in the ruck. Did some nice things when the ball hit the ground. Played forward mostly when not rucking. Marked on the chest leading out from full forward. And from 30 kicked gun barrel straight for a goal. Which was when the penny dropped he was no longer a Demon player!

You'll have to find that aisle yourself. The 16 year old stoner will try to help, buy ultimately give up. 'What's a cauldron do? So, it's sort of like a bucket? Maybe try the cleaning aisle? Number? Um, down that way? It's hot in a cauldron? Um, maybe try the outdoor sections where they have those outdoor heater thingos. Yeah, nah, sorry man, can't help'

Exactly. Lyon, Malthouse, to a lesser extent Buckley, and arguably Roos, had an identifiable game plan - variation on an ultra defence first, bugger all offence and boring opposition and neutral fans to death. Can Lyon develop a modern system? Even if he can, it will take st least a season. And the list is got holes everywhere, not to mention some injury concerns.

100% bowey is in our best 22. For one thing he is one of of only a handful if elite kicks we have. And he has footy smarts and plays that critical half back distributor role super well. Though needs someone on the other side. Would/will be salem. Suspect it will be mcvee round one (which would make for 2 young half back flankers). His dropping last year felt like a development thing to me, perhaps to temind him AFL is not all about rocking up and winning.

I don't think it will be our best team. It wasn't last year, or the year before. In both years we had our best 22 on the first practice match. Unless there are injuries I suspect we saw the round one team today (with the exception of jvr). Melksham might be an in perhaps.but Chandler would probably have to come out, and I'd prefer Chandler.

I have to say it was impossible watching at the ground to work out what sort of game plan Lyon is running with. And they looked pretty bloody average.

Rebounding half back seemed to be role. I suspect he'll take Salem's place and role - with bowey on the other side. Rivers is a lock down back, so not sure where that leaves hibbo. Gus played back today, so if he goes into the middle hibbo could come in.

100% agree on all three. It looks like Mcvee has Salem's spot for now. Nice kicking action and finds targets. The team really got around him early when he hit up a forward with a sweet hit that set up a [censored] on goal. Hunter's kicking inside 50 is exactly what we need. In addition to setting up scores, he creates a problem for oppos trying to bypass Langdon. I love that both have shaved heads. I think a key factior in how much Grundy improves us will be how well he and maxy combine. It might take the first handful of games to build their chemistry. If/when they click they will be a formidable combo given their size, ruck craft and incredible fitness. That combo is an improvement on maxy and Jackson. So that's a win right there.

His endurance is pretty good now, and will only improve, so a bit a bit depends on the level he can get his athleticism at. Playing as a mid at Casey might help him develop his running power and athleticism. He might be one of those players who take a few pre seasons to get in optimal athletic condition. This is his fifth season, and he is just shy of 50 games, which by the by is pretty impressive as his first game was at the start of 2021 - meaning he has played almost every game of the last two seasons. He's coming into his prime phase, that 50 to 120 games zone, and i reckon his combination footy smarts and good decision making is a skill set too few players have. He'll just get better from here, and I could see him elevating his game to another level. If he does he isn't going out of the best 22.

Jordon could play half back, effectively replacing Salem. JJ has the discipline and defensive nous. And in almost all his games he essentially played a half back role. He's a terrific footballer. Super high footy iq and does whatever job the coaches ask him to do..You can see why the coaches love him.

Credit to you RPFC, you called the issue with forward defensive pressure early last season. I didn't think it was an indication of an issue, but you were proven right and i was proven wrong.

All excellent points Brownie. At the risk of being captain obvious, I'd add that in addition to negatively impacting on match day performance, carrying injury would also have an impact on a players' capacity to build and/or maintain fitness levels (even if they continued to participate in full training ie not rehabbing). Logic suggests there is a correlation between the length of time a player has carried something (and the specific injury) and the impact on fitness levels. As an example, let's take Maxy and Lever. Both appeared to be 'not quite right' from at least mid-season (probably all season for Lever). Their performance was clearly impacted, but it is very likely so was their fitness. No surprise then that they both looked totally gassed late in games at the back end of the season. Thats two of our best 22 not at optimal performance or fitness levels for nigh on half a season. I think it is reasonable to assume there were quite a few more in a similar boat (eg Salo, BB). And even more players again who picked up an injury that impacted fitness levels as the season progressed. As you say, the suggestion is we 10 or 11 such players come final time. So almost half the team. No wonder we struggled. Bottom line, as you say, they struggled to run out games in the last fifth of the season. That was clear as day. And if someone didn't believe their eyes, the scoreboard told the tale. In our last five games, not once did we out score the opposition in the second half. Working back from the semi, the margin at HT and full time in our last five games were: Lions game: up by 22 points at HT, lost by 13 - a six goal swing Swans game: down by six points at HT, lost by 22 - - a three goal swing Lions game: up by 66 at HT, won by 58 - one goal swing Blues game: up by 8 points at HT, won by 5 points - 0.5 goal swing Pies game: up by 17 points at HT, lost by 7 points - 4 goal swing To be crystal clear I'm not saying fitness and injury were the only factors at play. But in my opinion, fitness and injury were, by some margin, the biggest factors in our poor performance.

Our game plan in a nutshell.

I listened to Kate roffey's agm speech earlier today. She mentioned we had quite a few injured players, some of whom no one knew/knows about