Nascent

Herald Sun alleging that the dees do not want Lobb as part of any trade and that the dockers are likely to go hunting for draft picks. Lobb linked to bulldogs who could end up with a top 10 pick. Guess they're suggesting that freo may try and acquire pick 10 for lobb, although surely that trade would need freo sending picks back to bulldogs as well to balance. However, freo do not have a 2nd and 3rd rounder this year due to last years trade period. Paper states that if Jackson does request a trade to freo then Lloyd Meek 'appears certain' to become a demon.

Aaron Cadman joins the road to the draft podcast. https://www.afl.com.au/news/798894/listen-rebels-sharpshooter-aaron-cadman-giving-recruiters-food-for-thought Edit: he states he's 196cm now for those keeping tabs on height. Edit 2: Cal tipping him to be a top 10 - 15 selection.

Covid going to cause a lot of havoc over the next couple of months. Hope our players are smart about socialising from here on out. Might cost us top 4 or themselves a spot in the team around finals time.

Sounds like a good target to take over the number 1 ruck role come 2025. Vic kid as well.

Guessing no debuts if we haven't heard about it by now.

On a totally unrelated and non-vindictive note, can anyone tell me when Sean Darcy is a free agent?

Sad, highly doubt we will get anywhere near his worth.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/798692/rivals-circling-another-giants-midfielder-jacob-hopper-bombers-skipper-dyson-heppell-still-waiting

Hawthorn favourites and blues out of the race for Karl Amon according to Jake Niall. No mention of us. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/blues-out-of-the-race-for-port-free-agent-look-at-draft-instead-20220713-p5b1e6.html

Thought Weideman and JvR acquitted themselves quite well considering the at times torrential rain making conditions a nightmare for key forwards. Must say thay JvR looks to have superceeded Weideman already though with impressive contested marking and body work. I'm hoping at least one of JvR or Laurie gets a debut, both have earned it in my opinion.

This is going to be a fun thing to hear 5 times a week for the rest of the year.

Out: Bedford, Sparrow, Bowey In: Laurie, Hunt, one of JvR or Weideman Think we need our 'preferred' forward structure with two talls. Can't envisage having 2 debutants in the one game though.

3 - 37 at quarter time. Missed the last goal scorer for us but camera zoomed in on Laurie coming off the ground so presume it was him?

Rivers looking sharp tonight.

Melksham with an outstanding contested mark then fluffs the around the corner kick 15metres out.

Mitch Brown with a cheeky soccer off the ground goal.

Laurie getting a few touches in the middle. JVR and Weideman playing well so far.

When was the last time we played without Oliver?

It's predictable but usually not a major issue when playing on a normal sized oval and not in a sardine can. Our mids just couldn't clear it.

Think there is enough smoke to be concerned about a fire right now. Particularly with "in the know" posters suggesting as such. While we shouldn't give up on re-signing him, I think the club would also be canvassing all there options in the event he does leave for WA. West Coast would obviously be the preferable option as Freo have very little trade capital as it sits. They've traded out their 2nd and 3rd round picks this year so only have pick 15 and a pick in the 70s currently. Maybe they will acquire something for Lobb but as it stands, freos first offer would probably be something like 15 and Sturt or Meek.

That's disappointing but not surprising. Have to focus on getting the best return now. Pick 16 - 18 would be a massive failure.

Feel we need another tall in if they're not going to rest a ruckman in the forward line for the majority of the game. Weideman, Brown or JVR. Not great options but we need another target.

We could point the finger at the small forwards like Pickett, Spargo, ANB and Bedford... but the reality is our midfield got smashed all game and had us on the back foot. Shocking disposal and decision making from a lot of players as well. Can't see us playing that badly for the rest of the year, I hope anyway.

Oliver needed to go then.

We should be buried. So many let off's tonight.