Macca

I've picked out a few roughies at Caulfield & Randwick. Not sure anything is a good thing on the heavy tracks Reckon Jacquinot can run well in the Everest ... drops down to 53kgs and is coming off a fast 1400m last start win (Golden Rose) 11.00/3.10 is good value. Nature Strip the one to beat. Giga Kick? As for the Caulfield Cup, it's a wide open race so I'll take out a wide exotic bet! Benaud & Allegron big shows though. Smokin' Romans in great form and should get into the finish. Duais? Polly Grey in the last race at Randwick is a big chance. Loves the wet

GWS could be a trading partner as they've got picks 15, 18 & 19 West Coast have picks 20 & 26

If we do use pick 37 then I'd say we've got 2 or 3 targeted draftees. The danger is if other clubs have their eyes on the same types and get in before us However, there's a chance that we trade up in the draft as picks (and future picks) can still be traded from now and right up until draft day. Just not any players, but picks? Yes. The new ruling came in last year or the year before So in theory, we could package up pick 37 with one of our F2's to get a pick in the low 20's in this year's draft. Unless of course we want to keep our strong hand for next year (2 x F1 & 2 x F2) At a guess I reckon it's 30/70 we trade up from pick 37 this season The club (and all the clubs) will know which players should be available in the 20's range so if we're tempted, we can act (soon enough) to get a pick in that area

Forgot to mention pressure acts across the ground and defensive pressure in our forward line ... in 2021 we seemed to have at least 3 lines of defence and often in line like the back 4 we see in soccer Not so in 2022 and I believe I'm right in saying that we went from 1st to 17th in that area. That's a stat that jumps out at you But we've acquired Hunter as an attacking midfielder (with good disposal skills) so he's more so been brought in to address our F50 entry issues (in my view)

I reckon we would have shifted our game plan anyway. Our ball movement into the forward line is/was not up to par ... especially for a team with as many good players that we have on our list It did work in 2021 but not in 2022. So you change things up and make adjustments As noted, we need to start running out games again so our fitness and run in the legs needs to be addressed

That's it, Gonzo And may the better team win on Sunday ... although the Jets have got a real chance of winning. Packers not playing well

Another excellent acquisition is Hunter and at virtually no cost. Fills a void on the wing and Lachie at 28 has got another 3-5 years left if augers well New start at a new club and he'll know that he will have to work hard to get into the team and then stay in the team. His best footy is very good (B+) Lachie could be part of a different approach to our game plan as alluded to in the post above by 'RRR' More precise movement of the ball (?) as seen with the teams that played in the PF's ... especially with our entries into the forward line (less chaos ball?)

rgoroth@layzie@Dee Zephyr@Go the Biff@Clintosaurus @JV7@DeeSpencer@Dappa Dan@titan_uranus@DemonDave @Dr. Gonzo @BDA@Gorgoroth Leaderboard Tipping Comp 2 - DeeSpencer, Gorgoroth, titan_uranus, JV7, Clintosaurus, layzie, Go the Biff, Macca* 0 - The Backmarkers *Denotes 1 bonus point awarded Just the 1 point on offer this week but an added bonus point is up for grabs if you can fly solo n.b. newcomers can join the comp at any time

We're going to be difficult to match-up against because of the acquisition of Grundy For the working model we only have to look at how we went about it with Gawn & Jackson (more than 2 years worth of a sample size) We'll go about it with a few differences but Grundy is a big upgrade on the actual output of Jackson. So the results should be more fruitful in an area where we already hold sway From what I've seen of Grundy he serves as a link player through the middle as well. Regularly exceeding 20 possessions which included a couple of seasons where he exceeded 500 possessions. That's apart from his stellar ruckwork In simple terms both ruckman can patrol a certain area of the ground swapping roles occasionally. The reason why we don't often see 2 ruckman in the starting 18 is that most teams usually only have 1 decent ruckman/follower We've got 2 and that is an advantage. And both just happen to be 2 of the very best

The club has brought Schache in as a back-up (forward, back or sometimes in the ruck) Low cost and versatile but not first choice. And there's probably at least 10 list spots that are regarded as not being starters. Role players and back-up role players, insurance for certain positions (for example, the ruck or KF, KB), development types, draftees and project players However I did notice that Josh picked up 15+ possessions against us in a 3 match stretch not so long ago. So we've noticed him and now acquired him Chances are Gawn and/or Grundy will miss a game or 2 so we'll need some sort of back-up in the ruck. Or we might want to manage/rest either player periodically It was either that or draft a beanpole 18yo late in the draft (and we haven't been going down that path in recent times ... for any sort of late picks) I wish him well

It's not quite over yet Teams can still trade draft picks (not players, obviously) from now right up until the National Draft And that would include future picks So pick 37 might not be done and dusted if we decide to bundle that pick with a F2 to acquire say, a pick in the early 20's in this year's draft That may or may not happen but it can happen

I'm happy with the deal that we ended up getting There was what he was actually worth vs a truckload of potential and/or what we originally paid for Jackson (pick 3) In raw terms an underperforming player with no more than C+ output wouldn't normally attract 2 x first rounders and a 2nd rounder Not even close At one stage I fell into the hype of generational talent but is that really going to happen? I've changed my mind on his future worth and reckon his best might be B or B+ (or less) This year he learned very quickly that opposition ruckman play for keeps. He lacked physicality and lacked presence For a supposed prototype midfielder of the future, he fell way short

Any pick we get for Weideman (3rd rounder?) could be bundled up with a F2 for a better placed pick in this year's draft And you're right, we've virtually abandoned using any 3rd rounder on a draftee. Makes sense too as the likelyhood of drafting a good player past pick 35 is not good You're probably better off with a delisted free agent as a DFA doesn't have to be trained up from scratch So a $500k* investment (over 2 years) on a pick 40 and beyond seems high risk *Salary, FD spend around that player etc etc

This is just a guess but I reckon we might use 1 or 2 of the F2's for a pick (or picks?) this year (moving up in the draft as well?) We've dealt with the GCS & GWS before so there's the conduit Thus keeping 2 x F1's for next year's draft ... and we can move up in next year's draft using those 2 F1's (along with any other picks we obtain)

We could do that as well as draft 2 players ... by my reckoning it would be 1st or 2nd round for draftees as that's where we've trended

So next year we have got 2 x F1 & 2 x F2 And this year we have now got picks 13 & 27 only (plus the late picks only to be used on a rookie upgrade or 2) Pick 27 will be needed for Grundy (at least) But we need another pick (or 2?) this year if we are drafting 2 or more players (by all accounts our 3rd pick will be Chandler upgraded) So 1 or 2 of next year's picks could be traded for another pick or 2 this year ... we could deal with GCS or GWS for that to happen Moving up in the draft this year is on the cards as well

Another way to view things is if Jackson stayed how much would we have paid him ongoing? (after such a disappointing 2022 season) And was he going to improve? Maybe not There would be no Grundy, no to the 2 x 1st round picks ... or the extra 2nd round pick Our first pick would have been in the 30's and that's about it. As we've found out, Hunt, Bedford, Weideman (?) going wasn't going to add in top end draft picks. Only Jackson had real currency Clearing Jackson allows to the club to renew & add players and clear out a few others to make way

The original figure we heard was $10.5Million over 8 years! Recent trades with Freo ... Jesse Hogan - we got pick 6 (May) & 22 (Sparrow) Colin Sylvia (RIP) ... pick 23 (Bernie Vince) Ed Langdon ... all up, I x 2nd round pick So we're way in front and we can't rule out winning the Jackson trade LJ is going to have to turn out to be a proper gun whilst we'd have to recruit in a below average way with the 2 x first rounders and 1 x 2nd round pick 3 good players with those 3 picks? Why not? Plus, we replace LJ with Grundy with (another) 2nd round pick All up, conceivably 4 good players to replace 1 who might be good. And we get a big upgrade in the rucking dept. I'm backing Taylor to make the deal a win for us. And there is no reason why Taylor can't continue to turn 1st & 2nd round picks into good footballers That's what he does

According to the story it's nearly $1Million a year for 7 years That's close enough to $7Million reasons to go elsewhere. It's any wonder he seems so happy with his lot So often it's about the money and all the rest of it is a furphy But let's face it, a lot of us here would take the money (along with the opportunity to go home)

The Thousand Guineas is to be run on Wednesday (back in the day it was a day off and at the Races!) I like She's Licketysplit (3-1) but Boogie Dancer (3-1) has got very good form as well ... Tajneed at 11-1 represents excellent value Up at Warwick Farm on Wednesday the Gloaming Stakes will be run (from the postponed meeting Saturday) ... Williamsburg has drawn wide but will come into gate 9 with all the scratchings (and it's a backmarker anyway) A serious chance at 3-1

Points awarded everywhere! (well, almost everyone got amongst it) Leaderboard Tipping Comp 2 - DeeSpencer, Gorgoroth, titan_uranus, JV7, Clintosaurus, layzie, Go the Biff, Macca* 0 - The Backmarkers *Denotes 1 bonus point awarded .

Aggressive and competitive beasts get to more contests and get more possessions And then do something constructive with those possessions. In A grade style (we are getting 2 x 1st rounders & 1 x 2nd rounder ... that exchange is normally reserved for a proven gun player) He gets outmanoeuvred too easily in ruck contests as well ... taps to advantage? Negligible Marking skills - bog average That wasn't and was LJ this season Unless he was playing possum. Over the next 2-3 years, we will find out how good he's going to be And if we can turn those 2 first rounders into good players as against 1 'maybe' good, we win the deal. I can't see great (LJ) And then there's the 2nd rounder which could turn a profit as well ... we've done very well previously using 2nd rounders on experienced talent Do your best work, Jason Taylor! Time will reveal who has won this deal but it could end up in a win/win as well How did you see things, DS? Footnote; How about this trade? (compo, actually) Hawks got pick 19 for Buddy then won the next 2 flags without him

Picks are overvalued so we possibly won't be getting enough if Jackson turns out to be a stellar player But, what are the chances of that happening? Who knows? I have my doubts A lot of self improvement is needed by Jackson ... especially with regards to his marking and getting to enough contests ... related to possession numbers. He disappeared a lot in games this year and that's hard to do when rucking He (LJ) regressed this season and was often quite a disappointment with his output. Weighing it all up we might still do quite well when considering that we've got a recruiter with the midas touch with regards to the use of 1st and 2nd round picks Drafted Oliver, Salem, Petracca, Brayshaw, Kossie as well as the use of 1st rounders on Lever & May And we've done extra well using 2nd round picks on established talent or through the draft ... Langdon, Hibberd, Melksham, Sparrow, Bowie, Jordon, Ben Brown etc etc (JVR & Lawrie are showing promise as well) And our recruiting has to be judged over a number of seasons (at least 4 or 5 years) Not just one off season ... but it has to be said we don't often miss these days anyway As an example compare our recruiting from 2005 - 2011 as opposed to 2012 - 2018. It's like chalk and cheese and the latter time period led to a flag The former time period led to nothing but misery. Bust after bust after bust So there's no point sweating the small stuff (one 2nd round pick here or there)

49ers, Eagles, Miami

Golden Mile wins the Guineas ... another masterful ride by J-Mac. James Cummings again! Too good! I hope we get to see it past it's 3yo season. Anamoe has raced on so why not! Btw, Gator has tipped 6 of the 8 winners at Caulfield today ... freely available on racing.com, Sportsbet and Best Bets