Jaded No More

100% I think this is the issue. He is so physical but I think he's a bit scared about going too hard and getting suspended again. It's a fine balance and I am sure he will get there.

I only used those two as an example of elite midfielders. We definitely need to find another elite midfielder to complement them, especially with Viney getting older.

I am not sure why we've written off Ben Brown. Before his back injury he was having a good start to the season. I think we need to try him and JVR out in the same forwardline.

What if someone told you that player will be the next Oliver? The next Dusty? The next Petracca? Sometimes you have to take risks when you're wanting elite talent, and we are in the position with our list where we can take those risks.

Can't see this being an issue. I am sure it'll get done quickly and painlessly.

Yep, investing millions to expand the competition, but still won't invest money in professional umpiring. The AFL cares only about the money. They couldn't care less about the standard of umpiring.

Insurance policy If Schache is the answer, we have a big problem.

Trac should have been. Ask St Kilda. Oliver had his issues re: his body, and yes we got incredibly lucky to land him at 4. Being pick 1 isn't always a guarantee that you'll be the best player, we know that better than most. But if Jason Taylor wants pick 1 because he believes player X is the best of the lot by a long margin, then pick 1 is what we should try to get.

Yes we actually do. Viney isn't getting any younger, and beyond Clarry and Trac we don't have another A+ grade midfielder waiting in the wings. We've invested heavily in talls in recent years, both in terms of drafting and trading. We absolutely need to start refreshing the midfield now.

And this is what it comes down to. We don't need to stock pile good players. We already have a list full of good players, some of whom can't even get a game! We need A++ talent to help extend our premiership window and sit alongside Clarry and Trac. 3 good 1st round draft picks will be fine, but will they make us a premiership threat in 2026 and 2027? Unlikely.

I’m happy for Tassie to have a team, but the competition is already spread thin for talent. GC was a massive mistake and should be relocated down to Tassie.

Unless an interstate side ends up with pick 1 (most likely WCE or GC) and is worried about the go home factor with Reid. If he’s smart he plays it up in the hope to end up at Melbourne and we can do a trade for pick 1. Unfortunately I think Hawks will do whatever it takes to finish last and they won’t give him up so the whole discussion becomes irrelevant… unless we end up with pick 2 or 3 from Freo (doubtful) and Hawks are keen to load up because their list is hot garbage.

They are definitely not as bad as they were. They have a decent list and they’re playing with purpose. Like any inexperienced team they’ll be prone to blow outs, but they’ll also challenge sides. They have a good forwardline and a decent midfield. If we walk into the G expecting a win we will end up with the same result as the Essendon game.

I guess it depends how highly Taylor rates Harley. He might see him as better than any other two top 10 pick available. I trust our recruiting team 100%…. And hey we might end up with pick 1 anyway. Freo heave ho.

It’s a very stupid comparison. Like saying check mate Gawn is better than Jackson. Well yeah. So are most ruckmen with 10 + years of experience. Darcy is also better than Jackson for now. It’s why you don’t pay a 20 year old nearly a million dollars a year on potential and trade away the farm and then cry about it when it doesn’t immediately work out. Jackson never showed any consistency at Melbourne. He was what all 18-19 year olds are at that stage of their career and especially at that height. Inconsistent. But Jackson was also blessed to play under a generational ruckman at Melbourne and with a highly successful team. So his inconsistency wasn’t on display and nobody cared. It was just part of being a kid learning the craft. The pressure was ALWAYS coming for him when he took that contract. Especially going back to a two team footy mad state and playing for a club starved of success. It isn’t fair but it’s how it is. He should have seen it coming. It’s happened many times before.

We don’t need a few good players tho. We need A+ graders otherwise they won’t get a game and they’ll leave. We need another Oliver or Trac. Not another Laurie… absolutely no offense to Laurie I’m just using him as an example.

Poorly is very kind. Umpired like all 4 umpires had a stroke more like it.

Did Fritsch train?

Beware of the “easy” games. I’m not confident at all that this will be a smashing.

It was about as good a decision as the deliberate paid against him in round 23 2021. We did win both games though, so cheers umps.

I imagine we will have a very light week on the training track given the short turnaround, and then another interstate trip. 0 stars for the AFL fixturing. First time all year we've had two consecutive games at home all season, and it's coming off a 5 day break. Cheers Gil. At least after the bye we only travel twice.

JVR is exceptional at pack marking. We saw it at Casey and we are seeing it now at senior level. Next step is for him to work on his leading patterns so he can take those 'easier' chest marks. That is easier to teach than contested marking anyway, but it's definitely the next part of his game he needs to get better at. Which he will with more time in the forwardline and working together with the other forwards.

Hardwick is a very bitter man. He enjoys a whinge too. Can give him players all the votes in the world. They're still bottom 4.

Yes, I couldn't attend. I had a VERY big problem with it 😔

Taranto 9 votes? Wow. Nick Daicos is a freak tho.