Cheesy D. Pun

3 hours ago, Roost it far said:

I think Grundy is good enough to be a useful forward 50%, ruck 30%, bench 20%

I suspect that's around what they're looking for. Reading between the lines, I think they're ok with what Max brings when he goes forward but they need Brodie to be at least at that level, when he's resting forward, otherwise he becomes a liability.

He's been great as a ruckman and imo, has exceeded expectations but the issue was always going to be where we hide him when Max is rucking.

Anyone have any info from today's praccy match?

On 9/20/2022 at 11:42 AM, Sydee said:

I'm all in on Petty being our new KPF in 2023 - probably at the expense of BBB 

If JVR has a very big summer and gets super fit and puts on more size there is no reason why he doesn't get AFL games next season

With the addition of these two I think our forward structure would be way more potent both in terms of competing in the air but also at ground level - both have also shown that when given a look they are very capable at set shot conversion 

Begs the question who replaces Petty in the backs

Problem is Petty is our tallest defender so we don't have an automatic replacement that can easily take the big gorillas or resting rucks of opposition teams

Options

Turner - I rate him highly and he is an AFL tall back in waiting - 2023 could be the year he cements a starting position. But probably needs to muscle up more - probably doesn't have the height to replace Petty's role

TMac - yep he could go back and provide a solution to help cover Petty's move forward. But is he physically able to be the player he once was - big risk IMO

Weid - seems to have found a role as a mobile ruck - personally don't think his ruck work is that great and he is particularly vulnerable near opposition goals where he gets out bodied far too easily. He also can't hold marks in general play. Some have suggested trialing him as a KPD - it could be worth a try as he has the height and is reasonably mobile - I remain skeptical due to lack of aggression but who knows

Tommo - I don't think he plays tall enough and lacks mobility so its difficult to find a suitable matchup on a regular basis - like him as a footballer and you know he is going to give 100% but I just don't think he's a KPD

J Smith - not the height of Petty but with his leap he is probably best suited to defending the oppositions tallest forward if Petty went forward. His biggest issue as we all know is injuries - he just can't stay on the park

Corey Ellison - Casey tall that IMO has shown enough to be given some consideration as a rookie listed player - not sure of his height (193cm ?) but is a late developer that could really grow in statue quickly in an AFL system   

New recruit - yes I know we all think we need another tall forward but if Petty goes forward as I believe he should we may actually be better looking for a tall back - arguably easier to find than a tall KPF 

Love this post and reading between the lines of Tim Lamb's presser last week, I believe there is a strong chance this happens. 

I can't remember his exact words but in response to a question on why we weren't targeting tall forwards, he suggested they had an unorthodox or suprise move planned for the our forward line.

I still think a healthy Joel Smith can fill the back line role if Petty goes forward.

7 minutes ago, layzie said:

Luke was red hot last night. Let's just leave it at that for now.

He's been brilliant for us for two years and is only scratching the surface. He's going to be a huge loss.

Are we really talking down Jacko here?

If I could have any 20 and under player in the comp, it would be him. He's a couple of years away from being the most dynamic player in the competition.

There has yet to be a 200cm + player with his skill set and IQ to play our game. 

4 hours ago, adonski said:

JT got too cute taking a 'ruck' who can't mark

Jacko is a natural mid but Goody will never play him there 

He's marking much better than last season and is developing that skill well for his age.

I agree that he's a mid but I don't think that strategically works for us yet on balance. There's no way he's pushing Viney/Oliver/Petracca out of the centre bounce until they're sure his body can handle it on a weekly basis.

A gun whose best is ahead of him.

The problem would be salary - 650k won't be doable for us.

49 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Yep it obliterates the number of goals past the number of minutes win rule.

Yep. 32 seconds between the first and third goals. First at 0:47, second at 0:30, third at 0:15. The stuff dreams are made of.

I don't generally agree with Dermot but I also think Richmond are still a threat.

They had a horrible run with injury and have the right system to continue winning. If they stay fit, they are in the top 4 mix.

26 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

Agree, Ben does seem to be a top shelf human and a bloody good key forward. Anyone got any ideas why North were so reluctant to keep him? It seems very strange. 

I don't see getting rid of Ben as a bad move for North. They were/are a long way off and needed to get games into Larkey, Zurhaar etc.

The part that is bewildering is the fact that they lowered his value by making it seem as though he was done. They had every chance to keep their plans under wraps and get maximum trade value for him.

To be fair, they also may have genuinely believed that his injury concerns would be ongoing and that any potential suitor would share that view (post-medical).

Agree with the sentiment here - Ben is just a top-shelf human being.

He has his place as a TV performer but he should be doing light-hearted stuff and definitely not calling games.

For the most part, ex-players shouldn't be calling the big moments. A bit of colour commentary here and there is fine but leave those moments to the professionals.

On 10/6/2021 at 7:02 PM, Fat Tony said:

One side advantage of holding a pick inside 20 is it slightly increases the chance of Andrew falling out to 21. (We won't get him otherwise.)

As a hypothetical, what happens if we use 17, then Mac is available at 21? Do we have the points to match or will we need to make a bunch of draft-day pick swaps to make it work?

2 hours ago, The Stigga said:

Yep fully fit Brisbane are a worry,

Finals experience now and have got same great young kids with Rayner a virtual new recruit.

 

Yep. Harris Andrews was also nowhere near his best and we're still more than competitive.

3 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Let's face it we done it in a canter this year beating Brisbane impressively we would have smashed them if not for Charlie Cameron's 5 goals belted Geelong and belted the Bulldogs. Is there a team out there that can improve enough to challenge us?

We should remain in the mix for the next couple of years at least but there are too many variables to suggest we are a shoo-in for another premiership.

This year, we were probably best placed, in terms of injuries, out of all the teams competing. If we have an average year injury wise, we'll come back a little and if we have a rough year on the injury front, we'll be right back with the pack.

That said, I think we still have as much room for improvement as any side out there, so I like where we sit.

I think Richmond will be competitive again, barring injury.

I like Port's list but injuries to their young talent may cruel them.

The Bulldogs could have made a better fist of their campaign late in the season and they are certainly capable of beating us but I'm more bullish about our scope for improvement than theirs.

The Swans have done everything right and are loaded with young talent. If they continue to progress quickly, they could be next in line.

I'm so glad we made it count in 2021. We're unlikely to have such a good run with injuries in the future. That said, we're favourites right now and hopefully, we can taste success on the G' next year.

On 10/15/2021 at 9:47 PM, A F said:

I still don't know what's going on in this thread. 🤣

Either do I but I'm strangely captivated 

2 hours ago, faultydet said:

You'll have 6 months to plan, and after all of our finals being in different states with locked down borders, you Melbournians still find something to complain about if you can't choose the exact day and time?

I'd be going if it was played in my home town at 3am on a Tuesday.

Tend to agree.

Also, it's Melburnians.

3 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Disagree strongly. Yes he dropped off big time last eight games but he came into the team late this year and hit the ground running. Played some blinders early on including making dusty look like a second rate player.

Yes hes long in the tooth but still worth another year for sure.

He hasn't really lost the ability to defend or even read the game but players like Rivers and Hunt have added that defensive stuff to their game while maintaining some level of line-breaking involvement.

I think if he wants to go on, they'll give him a year. Particularly given our stated aim to maintain/add experience. I'm not against that at all. 

I might be on my lonesome here, but I would think he'd at least be considering retirement.

The fact that we're a little light in his position could save him, but he's been below his best all year and if everyone stays fit, I can see him playing a lot of footy at Casey next year.

I vote we take the high road on this one.

4 hours ago, 2021 Premiers said:

You get one of these as well Grape ?

I wouldn't question that being Clarry's signature.

4 minutes ago, sugar said:

Retired permanently. The two most famous number 2's, Flower and Jones both played long and storied carriers sticking by the red and blue while ultimately missing out on a GF appearance, one by a year and the other by half a year. I don't want anyone else having to that for the dees.

In saying that, if I was to put a number on a new jumper next year it would be 2.

I'd love to see it retired as you suggest. Even a ceremonial 5-year rest for the jumper would be a great sign of respect for a legend of the club.

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

He's had a 48 goal season as an undersized full forward and when he went in to the midfield from Queens B'day on he went 32, 32, 29, 31, 25, 34, 27 and 23. All without ever doing a full preseason or committing to becoming super fit.

In other words he's a more dangerous deep forward version of Petracca after 2019 but with a raft of off field concerns and 2 years older than Tracc too. If the penny really drops for him he'd be top 10, but there's every chance it doesn't as well.

Cheers mate - yeah, I definitely missed that. I think I wrote him off before this season and didn't take much notice of the Pies.

57 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Buying high on Stringer, Heeney, De Goey, Fyfe and Dusty too.

I don't get that selection. I'm not completely sure he's even in the top 100 players in the AFL. I must have missed something.

3 hours ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

Spargo really for me - after one, of not many, good games in 2020 I recall remarking that even the Sun shines on a dogs @ss once in it's life... He's been adequate I guess... 😏

ANB I always had faith in, he has been playing the 2-way run role for 4 years and it's been a crucial part of the success - He's got another gear look out

I'm the opposite.

Although I'm not one to publically criticise, I always saw ANB as a weak link - a bit fumbly and average decision-making.

Spargo has shown elite skills and decision-making since game 1. He just needed to find a way to get around it.

Overall though, I don't think these guys have improved markedly. They're the same players but they're playing in a team that allows their strengths to shine and their weaknesses to be masked by a system with a built-in margin for error.

Fair or not, if the system falls apart, these guys are likely to go straight back to being whipping boys.