Tarax Club

The only bloke on the list for his size that goes harder would be Jack Viney.

Hence his four leaf clover rated performance. Dare I say it Spuds get potato water. I'd prefer a Beamish myself!

Beauty and the Beast On his return from a relatively lengthy injury or suspension spell on the sidelines. AJ played an absolute bottler of a game for Casey against Carlton’s VFL side. With five goals and multiple marks. Statistically it would have to be the high water mark of his season. Described in his MFC mini-bio as an ‘athletic brute’. When on song, his value to the team is exemplified by his bullocking efforts and 1%’s. To have an impact at AFL level, his involvement in the game would need to evolve from cameos, to more consistent full blooded efforts. Another preseason may allow him to build a bigger ‘tank’.

Others simply need to get a life…

Luker Kentfield plucked from obscurity ‘24 mid-season draft, tough start to the season just past. Has determination in spades and hint of mongrel about him too. Got better as his season progressed. Been duly rewarded for his efforts with a contract extension for next year. He has the presence of a true forward. Can take a big mark in a pack and reliably finishes by kicking powerfully and straight. Not wishing to put undue expectations on the young bloke. But he is well positioned to emerge next season IMHO.

Admittedly have been an admirer of how Brody Mihocek has gone about in the past. List management team must have been offered the elixir of youth or been dabbling in the dark arts. If this is the primary target of their trade/free agent acquisitions. Tim Lamb as the architect of this purported recruitment? He truly is cooked.

Queensland is no longer the Australian Rules backwater it once was. Neither is the whole state in the shadow of the Victorian and New South Wales hegemony. Brisbane/Gold Coast is now right up there with Melbourne and Sydney as a mega metropolis. Southern migration of families must have boosted under age participation in Aussie rules significantly. Yet the AFL’s colouring in book still myopically misidentifies Lions as Bears. On the Gold Coast the most recent begging bowl of draft concessions, surreptitiously joins the Sun’s other skeletons in the closet. Can visualise CEO Dillon feeding the chickens. Maybe Chris Masters services could again be in demand in the Sunblest State.

Titled ‘The AFL is in danger of becoming a ‘two-tier competition’ as multiple club captains search for the exit door.’ Well worth unpacking this analysis by Chris De Silva. Meritorious of a Walkley nomination or its equivalent for sports journalism. Echoes through a number of posts in this thread. Or is plainly influential. Paul Roos views on the topic get a good airing. He identifies free agency as being beneficial to the powerful clubs. Contradicting the original intention of allowing lower clubs to acquire quality experienced players to assist their return up the ladder to premiership contention. Quote: “It has completely backfired on the AFL and I think it was predictable.” According to Da Silva … ‘a growing number of prominent AFL voices’… which include Eddie McQuire are calling for a change of trade rules to give the clubs some power back. Roos further comments, “I think it’s time that players are contracted to the league and they can be traded anywhere, any time, any place because it has gone way too far in the players’ favour.” Further he said, “Players need to be mindful that if they are signing a contract this is a contract.” The article than continues to illuminate on the trend by clubs to offer very lengthy contracts. Of which Kysaiah Pickett’s is currently the longest. There are pitfalls with that too, serious injury, peak prowess, mental well-being and form decline with age all impinge on maintaining the star quality of a player. (Though modern sport medicine has supported the retention of older players who are still most capable performers). During the last post season trade and draft period, it appears a few strings were pulled by MFC list managers to retain players on existing contracts. Agree with the prevailing view here, that the cozy cartel of clubs and big media dominating the competition needs a shake up. But is the AFL too enmeshed in the facade to be capable of pulling the levers for the benefit of the whole competition? As George Orwell may have said, some clubs are more equal than other clubs.

Strictly recycled steak knives at Tim Lamb's farewell barbecue. Bunnings to supply the snags.

Luka Kentfield has shown some promise. He can lead, mark and kick strait. A pre-season could do him wonders. JVR needs to turn back the clock to his debut season. Jettison the malaise of the last two seasons. Clay in the hands of a good succeeding senior coach?

Like to think with a new senior coach some unheralded players may get greater opportunities to flourish. After being overlooked or undernourished thru lack of exposure by the previous regime. Jack Henderson does of course have a second bow as a trained agronomist. So his skills could be in greater demand with King Steven’s arrival. Who has expressed a desire to greet and meet not just the old hands but the new crop, first and second years’ green shoots. After all his alter ego did write Children of the 🌽.

Agree most disappointing particularly for 45 minutes during 2nd and 3rd qt. Nine unanswered goals was damming. The disappearance into the Frankston (Bermuda) Triangle was on the whole team, AFL and VFL listed players alike. The winning ‘streak’ to get to the finals proved to be illusory. Frankston’s performance that evening as KC mentioned was a finals outlier. Nonetheless proved to be a formidable opponent. With a team of unheralded players who had a blue collared attitude. Add to that some unexpected polish. Proved to be a home ground ambush. Tom Campbell never gave up, Bailey Laurie, Jed Adams, Paddy Cross and Luker Kentfield showed some fight. But the last qt. comeback, commendable as it was seemed bound to fizzle out from so far back. Onwards and upwards in ‘26!

Jed Adams, Luker Kentfield, Noah Yze and Paddy Cross all deservedly got recognition by their coach. If list spots are available the later two will hopefully get serious consideration by the list management team. Casey has been a rewarding alternate pathway to the big league for a number of players. Like to see that trend continue.

If Max Gruzewski can be somehow prised off the GWS list that would be a mini recruiting coup d’ etat.

New era. Assistants? This Guy’s the new doorman at the ‘G change rooms. N

Judging from the awards videos and the Red Carpet ‘Glitz and Glam’ gallery. Haute Couture or dress sensibility in general at the MFC is virtually in the toilette. The most pressing need is not a Senior Coach replacement but the appointment of a Dress Deportment and Grooming Coach. This is not a comment on the WAGS with the exception Caleb’s Mum who left the rest of the G&G in her train. Always like a mature woman. Back to the blokes, kudos to Nathan Jones, Steven May, Jacob Van Rooyen and Koltyn Tholstrup. They all know how to find a button. Marty Hore and Kade Chandler and Charlie Spargo receive get out of jail cards because of shoulder injuries or surgery. Yes, the modern suit coat is akin to a waiter’s bum freezer but l believe button holes and coat buttons are still provided. Ties don’t start me on ties! Not a Windsor knot to be seen (Caleb excepted). Jed Adams half mast effort is a disaster. Billowing white shirts look so like those of the chorus extras for the March of Toreador song from Bizet’s opera Carmen. Or were they moonlighting as the function waiters? With crowd numbers plummeting the AGM financials could be a black hole. No excuses the reason for the Club’s on field malaise is in plain sight. Sloppy dress sense equates with poor performance. Pull your socks up, button up and fly right.

Congratulations to Captain Max Gawn on his third Keith Bluey Truscott Best and Fairest award. Can’t recall a better acceptance speech, croaky voice and all. Gracious, generous, empathetic and thoroughly good humoured. Bravo!

Hot item at the Avatar gallery, ‘bub!

A fallow year but expecting a couple of older heads and some younger up and comers. Harvey Langford to get the best first year gong and vault into Valhalla.

Quote: "This raises an interesting situation at the MFC. We have no coach yet we seem to be making decisions on who comes and goes." old dee posted this a week or so back in another thread. Until a senior coach is anointed, the leadership vacuum has allowed plently of derogatory comment from the old and new media. Much of it speculative and uniformed. Judging from the wannabees on youtube etc quite a mob are wrestling and elbowing wishing to get their mugs on air. From those still at schoolies to some not so credible hasbeens still hanging around a 💩. Last night was not a great night for a number of the young blokes, considering most of the team went missing in the 'Frankston by the seaside Triangle' of 2nd and 3rd qt. But a fairer assessment over the late season Casey revival. Would have recognised the contribution of a number of the AFL listed younger players. There has been an investment by the club in developing this group. Some will go on next year, some will be delisted. Indeed some contract extensions have been announced. That is the reality of being on an AFL list for the more speculative picks. I'm sure wiser heads will make considered judgements based on performance and potential. After another loss at the end of disappointing season. Inevitably a plethora of shoot from the hip cowboys set up shop. I'll await the real outcome.

A modicum of fair adjudication would help. Not forthcoming of course. Casey valiant last quarter. Goodnight Irene.

Casey are coming!

Commentary is brown paper bag worthy. Jai Culley clunk and goal. AJ goal! Is there a heartbeat?