PaulR

Agree on Jai Culley, his size and presence in the middle, plus his forward skills bode well for a big impact in 2026. He plays like Bont or Fyfe in his movement through traffic and physicality.

Went to training as well. One drill they were running was in groups of 6 players about 40 -45 m out from goals. Five players would start with a ball and quickly feed it to the sixth player resulting in them having 5 quick shots on goal. Then rotate to the next player and repeat. It got competitive, and in the group of six players containing Kossie and Trelly they were clearly loving competing to claim 5 goals. Fun to watch and of the new players recruits Pickett and Onley stood out. Latrell’s seems most likely for round one, great hands, feet and movement, wow good. A lot of work on fluid and fast ball movement, rebound and attack. AJ looking trim and AFL body, was in the thick of it and looks at home and at the level. Could break in if the planets align. Another who looked very solid was Steel, just runs to right spots and reliable as expected. CJ also is a real solid talent. Otherwise the team are building into the Xmas break nicely. Was great to come down and check it out in person. Very friendly vibe and great to see the new talent fitting in.

Was just watching a Jeff White - FirstUse, video on three teams game styles, Pies Saints and Blues... but halfway through the video was removed..!! I like his work and loved his reasons for liking our new coach choice.

I agree with your point on Gunns and Salmon farming, but think a well executed multi-event indoor stadium in the heart of Hobart could be a boon for Tasmania if managed well. Like MONA already is… they need tourism, and to try and reduce the ongoing exodus of talent.

Double down on my comments. Clayton Oliver EVERY BIT AS GOOD!

The Eagles last won a flag in 2018, so they’re a couple of decades off earning any pity or support. Try 56 years in the wilderness… that’ll sort the wheat from the chaff in their supporter base. 😛

Young teams with talent can get their tails up, and go a long way. I’m optimistic for next season, and a 2018 like surge is not beyond us. The core of the 2021 team is still there, and the new talent is top notch. Our new small forwards plus McAdam (potentially) will allow Kossie to play more mid-field time, and as Goodwin said when Kossie signed the big deal, “he’s a player you can build a team around.”, and we are. I’m hopeful Kossie in 2026 takes control and by season’s end is our next captain. Our backline still looks elite in the competition with AMW and XT quality additions and May and Lever well capable of having great swansong seasons, they’re proud men. Our midfield will continue to get silver service from Maximus, with Viney and Steele to provide resolve and persistent aggression and poise. Then, aside from Kos, we have a handful of young talented emerging mids looking to earn their spots in the middle, with Langford, XL, Culley, Windsor, Kolt all with another level to find. Our mid field should be dynamic, but possibly at times erratic. Our recent recruits (prior to this year) have mainly been top 10 midfielders… Finally the forward line, our Bermuda Triangle, here is when Kings new gameplan, experience with Geelong, and completion of the work done the last two seasons under Goody, should all come together with more impact at the pointy end. Watch Jeff White’s analysis… I saw Trac on a Yo-Pro yogurt ad on a tram and am not unhappy he and Clarry are behind us. Footy is a team sport and if we can rediscover our unified team, we’re capable of going a long way in 2026 and beyond. Go Demons

That was underwhelming…

With Trac and Clarry gone, Langford plays midfield. On the wing we have Cully who can play the “tall marking wing” role you mentioned. XL to be further developed as a mid/HBF. I guess Nairn would be high HFF to further develop our connection into the forward 50. Jeff Whites video covers where our focus is, and where we can rapidly improve.

I liked Jeff’s analysis and his related reasoning as to why King as MFC coach is a really good thing. I think hearing things such as Fritta training higher up the ground, our likely draft kids, our recent draft pickups (XL and Harvey), are a sign that we’ve been looking to implement Jeff’s point for a year or two, we just needed better users of the ball. Losing Bradshaw, Nibbler and now Trac has crueled us in this area for years. Excited by what King can do to remedy this.

Clarey’s exit is on Clarry. He made choices that spoiled his elite game and rendered him a shadow of the player he was. All on the back of a huge paycheck and deal from the MFC. I loved him in his prime, and wish him well. But his fall is his, not the clubs.

I think the rise of Langford and Cully as mids who can damage going forward, would have to be considered. XL another who showed a bit prior to injury, and there’s Windsor who could be effective along side players like Bowie, Chandler, Rivers and my fav for the 2026 phoenix award, AMW, who’ll add dash and hardness to back pocket. We’ve got a very promising young group of players.

He looks good, composed effective with ball, with a nice side step and movement in traffic to get into position to deliver well. Reminds me of Cam Raynor in ability to orchestrate in space. Agree with question on his ability to do damage… few examples of long kicks with impact. I’m not a fan of Dovaston at all, reckon he’d be exposed at AFL level.

Jacob Farrow looks a treat as a HBF/Mid from WA and one of Xavier Taylor or Sam Grlj as available. reckon theres enough talent at our picks to simply take what we can with them (i.e. not trade). Also think Picket will slide, his write up talks of a good result at reserve level SANFL which is a level below where Kozzie was playing at a similar stage, reckon a number of teams will pass on him early as clearly a work in progress only at 24 in Cal's phantom due to name/brand recognition...

Made the change. 😢 Bye Clarry, loved your work while it lasted. Gotta move on.

Grading the Draft is such a weak intellectual process and pure emotion claim, given there is actually no data on the results of a draft until sever (or more) years after the draft. Would prefer they (AFL media) rolled out evaluations on the 2022 draft where there is real data.

Hawks will toss them at the Dons... to further salt their wound.

In retrospect Buckley referred to and was hesitant to get involved in solving the [censored] that Kings had to, and we’re seeing play out this trade period.

Not if the Hawks have traded away their F1 for 2026 to get Merritt…

What if not moving Clarry on last year was the board’s decision and not Lambs?

Good.

Some feel the need for a scapegoat, Lamb the easy target. I’d prefer to reflect on the players (Clarry, Trac, McVee and May), as well as their coach during the past couple of years (Goodwin) and the exec and board who signed off on it all and let it run… A well meaning mid-tier manager running contracts with the direction of the above seems too easy a target. Or it just that he’s the only one left at the club we can blame?

I like this. The MFC really need a win.