Macca

New coach and a new start for the list My reckoning is that all the players will get their opportunities and we could easily see some talent emerge With the 3 players you mentioned, they all need to get a step ahead instead of a step behind. If that doesn't happen, they won't make it It's such a fast game these days and the players need lighting quick skills For whatever reason, I still vividly remember Lindsay's first disposal last season. Gained possession and then hit a target 25-30 metres away without blinking. A great sign But the talent up North is going to be hard to match

No, of course not but the comment was more about what you said (D's fans) He was fantastic tonight and because we don't care for Geelong, him dining out on them tonight was good to watch I found myself wanting him to keep up his dominance. Really strange but I feel that way about Hogan all the time. And Neal-Bullen It's hard to hate premiership players

We're lucky we've got Jason Taylor Even if he just drafts enough talent for us to stay relevant (as a minimum) But ultimately, you need lots of Stars to win big 2021 we had 5 AA's and another 4 or 5 who went close to AA honours The perfect storm and most here watched the GF at home

Cats will probably play finals but they're not a threat for the flag (they've got 10 home games at Kardinia Park) The 2 Queensland teams have talent to burn as do Sydney. Absolute midfield dominance and their mids kick goals

Ha ha! Swans & Suns will take some beating but the Blues & Cats aren't much chop We might make a run from 9th or 10th 1988 is best remembered for the heavy GF loss but I remember that year for the run we went on from round 22 onwards (we had to beat 2nd placed Carlton just to make the finals and then won 3 finals from 5th spot to make the GF) We weren't a great team but we still made the GF

Yeah Gonzo, I thought we might have traded the pick to get another 1st rounder for the 2025 Draft But, apparently, next year's draft has a deeper talent pool than the 2025 draft But at pick 25 or so, there's a good dose of luck attached in unearthing a top player. But you never know (Stevie J was pick 24) 😃

We needed a cleanout and we got it But to win more games than we lose we'll need at least 8-10 standout players week to week ... and we're a ways off that standard Need match-winners too. Gawn, Kozzie, Langford and .... maybe Steele, Windsor, Rivers, Turner?? Time and patience with the youngsters along with the senior players lifting their standards will see 8-10 wins? Maybe a few more

Yeah, understood So he wanted out and on top of that, he's now rubbing our nose in it (a kind of justification for moving clubs per se) Back to his best, it must be said Anyway, we'll be ok without him. We just need to get 60 to 70 games into all our young players (and that includes the upcoming 2026 draftees) All up, we'll have a dozen or so players aged 23 or younger who will, hopefully, all turn into good players (or, at least a good percentage of the dozen or so prospects) Reality is that at some stage we were going to have to move on from Oliver, May, Petracca, Gawn, Viney, Brayshaw, ANB et al. It's just happening a bit sooner than we thought

He's rubbing our nose in it UGH

This must have been what it was like watching Barassi play for the Blues in '65 (Petracca this time) It's hard to stomach but we did get 3 first rounders for him XT, Latrelle & ????? ... just need one to be A grade (2 would be immense)

Pick 17 or 18 coming our way (yippee) They will be thereabouts if they listen to Hardwick intently. Petracca is already making a big difference Cats are cactus by the looks of it

I agree re a proper home ... much needed But it's not the main reason for success or failure I've got recruiting & therefore, talent, right at the top of the tree. Everything else runs a long 2nd, even coaching And it's not a bad thing to do it tough whilst pampering can sometimes be counter-productive Another huge issue is when the players rule-the-roost. If a club has that problem (as we have done in the last few years imv), then the best training facilities in the world won't make an ounce of difference

Although there is this (Oct 2023) Essendon & Adelaide expressed interest ... https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/afl-trade-news-2023-clayton-oliver-deal-explained-problems-with-melbourne-demons-handling-of-injury-rehab-offfield-concerns-contenders-to-trade-for-him-essendon-adelaide/news-story/e3943b5bcf82d4230637f9787273d9b2

Yes bing, and that's why Goodwin was kept out of it But regardless of what people thought about Pert (or Goodwin) I can't imagine Pert not consulting with Goodwin & the FD re shopping Oliver around At the time, Goodwin said nothing either way, and there's your answer, right there 'No comment' can mean a lot

You're right, it wasn't 2023 But 2023 was when the ugly mess kicked off. 11 weeks off with the Phantom hamstring injury, the incident with the training staff and rumours aplenty I won't mention all the other incidents that happened in the 2023 off-season but there was plenty going on ... google helps