PaulR

I think most clubs will be battening down the hatches with long contracts until the Tassie storm passes. This deal meant he's off-market for the Tasmanian pillaging. Club playing it smart in my book.

I agree he's an introvert, but also see him as a proud leader who would respond well to that role in the team on match days. For me the off field aspects of the captain are superflous (relative to the onfield role) and when Goody said "we could build a team aroiund Kozzie" I agreed and if indeed he's our Number 1 player we should make him our captain, he may grow into it... And BTW I don't see this happening for a couple of years (with Koz doing his apprenticeship as VC)...

Max is the ongoing obvious choice, and a great player, leader, etc... not a fan of Lever taking it on next as I believe that beyond Max's time it would need to be a midfielder, and a player capable of turning games and lifting the team off their own prowess. This limits the options at the moment to Koz, with several young players (i.e. Langford, Turner, ...?) potential depending on their continued development...

I'm happy with Maximus staying captain for the time being, Premiership captains are rare and precious, and should be revered, as Max is. I'd have Kozzie as Vice Captain and in the pole position to replace Max should he (Max) decide to step back post 2026.

Odd perspective. Disagree with your premise that he's "3 year minimum from a senior game", and given he's been on our list all of 2 months you've gone super early. Watching training on Wednesday, I was impressed by the amount of support and direction the new additions to the squad get from specialist coaches, physios and others to help them maximise their development into AFL ready players. That combined with being immersed in a highly professional squad with leaders like Max, Jack, King, Jones, Rivers (Jared) and the sheer high quality workload these players are exposed to. Maybe we should have sent a young Max Gawn back to the Sandy Dragons for 2010 and let them develop him given it would take him till halfway through 2011 to debut..?

Was watching Matthews in rehab today and the trainer was having him focus on short easy sprints but with high knees and a "snap" to the motion. Hard to explain and quite specific, I imagine, as to the area they were working on. Aside for that, some limited running, then later some gentle shots for goal. My guess would be he's still a fair way off full running, let alone rejoining the main group. Perhaps one of the Demonland physio experts can explain what he's working through..?

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.