BAMF

Who usually takes this out these days? It used to be Tmac and ANB. I feel like last year was in groups but Bedford was a standout?

The opening post is a tough question. Assuming all our guns play to the same level as they did last year it would have to be... Brayshaw Pickett Ben Brown Weideman Melksham The last one is a hope and a prayer. He was so damaging in 2018 but has been nowhere near it for the last 2 years. He didnt get dropped last year because (I assume) he was a leader up forward which we lacked big time, but his performance was terrible. 4 out of my 5 are forwards. It was a rubbish up there last year.

It is the biggest hole in our list. We have recruited 3 players who could fill the position too but I doubt they would be ready for the big time. I wonder if we just continue to rotate with Vanders and Tomlinson like we did last year with Jones helping out from half forward flank (could see Jackson rotating through here too), or if Baker is ready to take the spot full time. I have my doubts.

"Probably at a point of my carer where I really need to step up now" Yep. I wasn't one of the posters who thought he was going to come on in leaps and bounds after 2018, but he is 12 months behind where I think he should be. Hope the pressure isn't getting too much for him. Hopefully Ben Brown will take a heap of pressure off of him and he can settle into his natural game. Hoping for Sammy to play 20 games this year and have 25+ goals.

Indeed. Its something that you would read from one of the posters on here which you wouldn't even bother responding to. I was shocked that it was in a fox footy column.

Yes, Whispering_Jack went digging as he was also interested. Below is his post from a page back.

Fingers crossed we are staying out of debt in the short term in anticipation of going into debt to get a brand new training facility.

Tell us what? Edit: Never mind. Went back through a couple of pages and found out. Mostly agree with you.

Starting to wonder if we took Bowey first knowing that there was major interest in Laurie and allowing more time to see if a good trade offer would come in from another club.

No point giving him a go unless we think he will make it though. With covid financial impacts our resources are limited. No point taking up a coach, physio or other for a player we think is a really long shot and only given a chance due to being tied through our academy

As mentioned in the Jason Taylor interview, Deakyn has been invited to train with us over the summer.

Personally, I don't think these are major areas for concern and I am quite happy with the way our list looks structurally at the moment. Small Defender: Jetta is in his last year 2021. Will hopefully play around 6-12 games. Lockhart is Jetta's immediate replacement. His fans oversell his capabilities and his detractors undersell. He has been doing better than average in my opinion and am happy going into 2020 with him getting the most game time of the options while also realising that he isn't going to beat his man every single week. Bowie will be training as a defender (as mentioned in the Jason Taylor interview) which I am extremely happy with. I don't know about his lock down skills, but with his pace, agility, aerial ability and disposal skills, he is well placed to make the defensive area of the ground his own in the long term whilst also being able to push up the ground too. I don't have much of an opinion of Chandler, but happy to continue his development opportunities for another year to see if he had what it takes. We also have a number of other smalls on our list now who could fill the role if they don't make it in their preferred positions. I'm thinking Laurie, Spargo and Pickett. In summary, our first choice is probably a bit past it. His replacement is ok short term, and long term we should have it well covered. Tall Defender: May, Petty and Lever are my choices for tall defenders. Petty should be ready to play OMacs Gorrila minder role next year and will release Lever to do what he does best. This trio should be our defensive team for the next 4 - 5 years. Smith should not be getting a game unless injury occurs. I pulled my hair out on multiple occasions in 2020. Tomlinson is a utility and will provide depth in this part of the ground or wing position. The areas we are lacking in my opinion are 1. The wing. Which hasn't been sorted out this trade period. Tomlinson can play the role but doesn't excel. Vanders plugged the gap last year, but certainly is not ideal. 2. Backup Ruck. If Max goes down we are not in good shape. I was stocked that we traded Preuss out for a great return, but now we don't have a backup number 1 ruck. I view Jackson as more of a second ruck and wouldn't want him thrown in their for long periods while he is developing. As I said to start. I'm actually quite happy with our list structure and feel that we can cover the holes well enough to push hard this year.

I think you have a point. I don't think you need evidence at all to express your opinion. My initial reaction was that Geelong had known we were highly likely to take him.

https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/tag/deakyn-smith/ Deakyn Smith | Outside Midfielder/Forward 22/08/2002 | 179cm/68kg Part of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy, Smith is a lightly-framed outside midfielder who can also rotate forward. He has good speed and plenty of raw talent, but is working on adding polish and consistency to his overall game.

Started with: 2020: 26, 53, 68, 69 2021: r1, r2, r3, r4 Players: Hannan, Pruess Ended with: 2020: 18, 19, 28 (21: Bowey, 22: Laurie, 34: Rosman) 2021: r2 (bris), r3(wb), r3(hawks) Players: Ben Brown

[censored]. Missed this... [censored] the afl website for being so [censored].

Massive bio here https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/fraser-rosman/

Kevin sheehan: Fraser Rosman Sandringham Dragons, NAB League / Collegians FC Height: 193cm Weight: 81kg 30/05/02 Bio: Super athletic tall forward/midfielder who showed his aerobic capacity in running a 2km time-trial in 6 minutes in the Sandringham Dragons preseason before impressing in practice matches averaging 16 disposals and 5 marks. Showed raw potential in representing Victoria Metro in NAB AFL Under-16 National Championships in 2018. Left footer with his lopping running style and potential ability to play midfield has led to comparisons to Hawthorn’s Isaac Smith. At Victorian testing in March his 2.93 seconds for 20 metres was a conformation of his impressive speed for his size.

Ok. Carroll on the board. Happy that we haven't missed out... But do we pick him?

[censored] this is excruciating....

Geelong then us.... Carroll on the board Edit: prepare for us to pass on Carroll and go for another small... :D

Next pick at 33?

Cal Twomey phantom Pick 24 178cm/76kg 24/3/02 Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro Forward/midfielder Another player who gave scouts an insight into his capabilities last year in the NAB League, with Laurie piecing together an excellent finals series for the Oakleigh Chargers. He's a smaller midfielder who can also be positioned inside-50 with good foot skills, a turn of speed and dash of skill. Has his fans in the second round.

Knightmare phantom. 24. GWS - Bailey Laurie Height, Weight: 179cm, 78kg Profile: With impressive speed, agility and evasion, Bailey Laurie impacts games as a small forward who can push through the midfield for periods. While his movement stands out, he lowers his eyes and finds inside 50m targets by foot, is an excellent front-and-centre crumber and provides second and third tackle efforts.

Everyone is saying he is a small forward, but in sure he played a lot of wing? @Whispering_Jack