binman

Agree. I'm a huge fritter fan. And he has credit in the bank. But some of his defensive efforts (and on occasion his body language) in the second half of last season were way below par. Can't have that next season. And in any case Fritter plays his best footy when he is tackling and applying pressure so there's also self interest.

Review: Goody has been under a lot of pressure, needs to find the joy again and chillax Chris from Camberwell's (who surely posts on DL - c'mon fess up) recommendation: Sack Goody and replace him with a bloke that looks like he's seconds from a heart attack 30 time a game as he screams into his hands and is coming off yet another embarrassing Grand Final capitulation.

Pay that.

The key is starting in late October, early November.

Poor old claz has been sent to the back of the class again.

And is a dees fan.

On the bluey, sure it favors players that play the most games or play relatively injury free. That is true to a greater or lesser extent of all such awards. But this year nibbla finished ahead of a number of players few would describe as ordinary footballers who played a comparable number of games - langers, tmac and Windsor being three such examples. The same is true in 2023 and 2022. On pick 28, that was his market value, regardless of what we ended up using it for (though if using it to help land Francis, the steak knives must be Victroinox). I agree we could use several players to cover the role nibbla played - and we may well do so. But the high half forward role is now one used by most club - with many clubs having two high half forwards each week. A defined role in the way the wing is a defined role. No one is talking about us eschewing using wingers . Why would they - it's widely recognised now to be a key role (and wasn't a fee years back). All team defensive systems only works when players cover the whole ground. The HFF and winger positions are critical to a team's ability to cover the whole ground. So I think the most likely scenario is, if we can, we will employ at least one pure high half forward, ie cover nibblas role. To do so i think they'll use Chandler, with support from Spargo, maybe sharp and then spread from players such as kolt, langdon, bowey and Windsor. On bowey, he could be a wild card. Had the aerobic capacity, obviously the defensive chops and would be an upgrade on nibbler in terms of foot skills I'm in full agreement that we have the players to cover Nibbla, however we choose to do so. And I also agree covering nibblas leadership in the forward line will be a bigger challenge. JVR had said he aims to be a leader, hopefully he steps up. And I reckon Turner has the potential to be a leader down forward too. And perhaps there's an opportunity for koz to become more of a leader.

We obviously have very differing opinions about nibbla's ability gator Opinions are obviously subjective, and when it comes to assessing talent of footballers will vary from person to person based on their own assessment criteria. But whilst we won't agree on our personal assessments, we can agree on agreed facts that provide some measure of objective data to inform an objective assessment of nibbla's talent. It is difficult to argue nibblas record in the bluey supports an opinion that nibbla is an ordinary player. Nibbla's record in the bluey in his last three seasons is 9th, 6th and 3rd. If someone was looking to downplay the significance of that record they might point to the strange voting system that probably favors players who play assigned roles. That's not unreasonable, but it points to the importance of the role nibbla played and his ability to execute. And it's worth noting in that context that arguably the most comparable player in terms of playing a similar role (and in fact in a number of other ways) is langers. Nibbla finished ahead of langdon in all three seasons But even if someone argued the bluey is not a great guide to ability, third is impressive by any measure. The rest of the top ten were, in order, koz, langers (who had his best season since 2021), Rivers, Mcvee, Chandler, May and tmac. That's to say nibbla finished ahead of some very good players. That doesn't happen by accident. Nor is it a case like bates finishing high in the bluey because we had a team full of plodders. Not many players in the 160 year history of the club can claim a third place in the bluey. Leaving aside the bluey, we have an even better objective data point - how the AFL 'market' rates Nibbla. The crows just gave us pick 28 for him. Perhaps some might argue the crows were prepared to pay overs to fill a need, but if true it again just reinforces the importance of the role he plays in modern footy. But really, does an AFL club give up pick 28 for an 'ordinary' player, one who is 28 and has 150 odd games of exposed form? Even if they really need to fill a role? I don't think so. Objectively, nibbla is worth pick 28 in this year's draft. That is a fact Again, langers provides an excellent comparison. Both players were late draft picks in 2014, both play a similar role and both player's one wood is their elite athleticism And both were traded to other clubs. The market valuation of langers was pick 22, 79 and a future second round selection. In return to we got Langdon, pick 26 and a future fourth round pick. Hard to line all that up, but hard to argue a straight 28 doesn't suggest the market valued nibbla higher than Langdon. And there a couple of other relevant comparisons in terms of the market vue of players with similar strengths and attributes. We traded Bedford for pick 44. And this year we traded in Sharp. For sharp, the lions received pick 49 and a future third-round pick. The industry, full time professional football people, cleary rate nibbla as much, much better than an ordinary footballer who will be easy to replace. Dem the objective facts. All that said, i wish nibbla luck but he is no longer a demon. Time for me to move on.

Disagree on easily, but agree woey might be a good option. The role, often spoken about by AFL footballers as the hardest role in football, demands elite fitness, total team first attitude and discipline. I reckon woey has those attributes. In fact the high half forward role might be woey's best shot at being a permanent best 22. I'm not convinced he works as a half back flanker, nor a mid and the wings are taken. Doesn't leave many options.

Yep. And make sure not bring him down for a mid season game against freo at the G.

And once their career ends we all be like: https://youtu.be/L8XQZYIiNgo?si=00s7OWb9cA0zF-VR

Nibbla wasn't/isn't a defensive forward. He plays the high half forward role involving all game gut running up and down the ground from arc to arc that ALL teams now employ. Nibbla is the best in the business at that role and I have little doubt he play it at the crows.

Chandler and/or Sharp is my guess. But Langdon might be a left field option as he is the only player who could match nibblas aerobic capacity, ability to cover the ground at speed and repeat sprints.

This x 1000. One key aspect of having a decent seconds is being able to replicate the optimal structure and systems used in the ones. It's super important because players who are promoted are better prepared to slot in to an analogous role and adhere to the systems and structures. It means almost having a mirror team in the seconds. So, Campbell is Max. Johnson is roo.

Yep, that's what i was referring to too. I had my binos on them at that the time. Tracc walked away with a wry smile after the tackle. By the by, Kolt's hair is full 70's permtastic.

I went. Some random thoughts: - is there a more beautiful sporting precinct in the world? - Not sure why the players looked so hor and bothered, it wasn't that hot, in the shade - tracc was doing fast laps, stopped right in front of me, on his haunches gasping. Looks in incredible shape. He's a beast. - on tracc, if I was goody I'd tell him not to EVER kick under 40 metres. He is so much better kicking long, weights the ball beautifully with his long kicks. - Langford is bloody huge. As waynewussell noted he and kolt both tackled tracc at one point, was very willing - clarry looks in much better shape than he was this time last, and even at season's end. But is still a ways off his very best condition - which is OK, preseason has just started - clarry's effort was first class, pushed himself very hard right to the end - clarry's class stands out like a flashing light. At one point he scooped the ball of the deck one handed and in the same motion hanballed into space so his targeted receiver did not have to break stride. Thing of beauty. - tmac was in unbelievablely good shape. Best I've ever seen him. Trainer of the session IMHO. His effort and intensity was off the charts. In one drill he missed a target and screamed an obscenity in anger. - great to have chunk back at the club. Vocal. Encouraging. Good energy. And as an added bonus his tree trunk legs make clarry's look positively svelte - at the end group of about 12 players, almost all forwards, did a goal kicking drill. Four things worth noting. - One, no petts. It would appear he us defence bound. - Two, group included bowey. He came over near me to take somd snaps from the boundary and I asked him if we might seem him up forward. He said, no but we might see him on the wing and he hopes to snag some goals - Three, roo barely missed a goal. Beautiful, neat kicking action that looks exactly the same every time, from whatever distance - Four, Turner kicks the ball unbelievably hard. Also dead straight. He looks very focused and driven. I have a feeling he will really impose himself next season

Darcy Fort was at the lions for much the same reason.

Exactamundo.

Like me.

Bonus points for managing to make rhe bombers look silly.

Both he and petts can play swingman.

It was interesting to hear goody predicts Jefferson will get a chance pretty early in the season. Petts go back when Jefferson comes in?

Our best 22 next season might include pick 2 (tracc), pick 4 (oliver), pick 5 (langford), pick 7 (windsor), pick 9 (salem), pick 9 (melk), pick 11 (Francis), pick 12 (kozzie), pick 13 (Kolt), pick 15 (Jefferson) and pick 19 (JVR). Our best 22 with six top 10 picks and 10 top 20 picks. And that doesn’t include the winner and runner up in last year's bluey. Not bad.

Bump.

We drafted in two tier one players. Happy days.