Nascent

Geelong just seemed to be working harder than us. Better running contest to contest and have more numbers at the drop of the ball. Also helps they're winning clearances. Are we loading again?

Can't win a clearance to save ourselves.

Is that Kobi George our nga prospect from last year?

Dare say we probably need another tall target.

Well, we're not playing well and certainly have a lot of improvement left in us for the second half. In that context we're doing well to be within 4 points.

Saved by the siren. Weird quarter.

Stengle causing massive issues. Is it slippery or just high pressure causing the fumbles?

Demons Dogs Pies Suns Saints Port Lions Crows Blues (really hoping for an upset here)

Thought we could have a dedicated thread to discuss player movements both Melbourne and non Melbourne related as player movement speculation ramps up in the back half of the season. Please keep any Luke Jackson discussion to his dedicated thread. To kick things off we have an article in The Age suggesting GWS is having yet another salary cap squeeze with Tim Taranto possible a casualty with Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood and Essendon all interested. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/at-least-four-victorian-clubs-chasing-taranto-20220706-p5azjv.html

Are we making of that as we will?

This video covers two Victorian prospects in Matthew Jefferson and Aaron Cadman for those interested in a key forward in this upcoming draft. Harry Sheezel gets highlighted near the end of the video and further touted as a possible top 3 selection.

Out of contract at the end of the year and nearly 2 years on he is, expectedly, very much a work in progress. We all know talls take time and he hasn't exactly had an ideal start to his career with covid interruptions to the ressies last year. With that in mind, given his height, marking ability and athletic traits I hope we keep him on for at least another year and see if he develops. Not sure has the footy IQ to play midfield/wing but should have the ability to play either end of the ground. Given our current dearth of tall forward depth, I wonder if the best way to take advantage of his skillset is to be as high half forward lead up player?

https://omny.fm/shows/road-to-the-afl-draft/champs-stars-the-prospect-whos-come-from-the-cloud Good listen for those that are interested. Small discussion on Finn Emile-Brennan with suggestions that he could still be available after pick 40 however his kicking is a real weapon and may have appeal to clubs earlier than that. Aaron Cadman mentioned by Cal as the leading forward of the draft and likened to Harry McKay in the way that he's progressing. Both comments made around the 10.40 mark onwards. Their timestamps on the episode guide seem way off. Cal also a big wrap for Harley Reid for next years draft.

Despite his flat patch petracca sits equal 3rd in the coaches award. When he is on he is unstoppable.

Haven't given up on retaining him but doesn't sound great at the moment. If he does decide to leave, I can only hope he looks after us as much as Cerra looked after freo. We spent pick 3 and have him as a centre piece for life post Max. Luke leaving would disrupt our list management significantly and would result in us needing to maximise our return from him to cover our ruck and tall depth issues. So if he's truly deciding between us and his family back in WA, then he should be open to both clubs and look after our interests by dealing with the club that presents the best trade offer to us. It's the least he can do after we have given him the start to a career which includes a premiership and tutelage under the best ruck in the game.

Think we'll get a better idea of the Key Forwards at the end of the champs. Aaron Cadman has entered round 1 calculations recently while highly discussed players Harry Lemmey hasn't been in great form it seems and Tom Scully at the moment seems to be playing school footy instead of state league games. Scully kicked 37 goals in 7 games at U18 level but at 201cm, there has been doubt about how he would match up to quality defenders that aren't giving so much height away. Keeler probably rising as SAs best key forward prospect at this stage. https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2022/06/28/scouting-notes-2022-afl-u18s-south-australia-vs-vic-country/ #38 Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide) 23/04/2004 | 198cm | 88kg | Key Forward North Adelaide star, Keeler produced another strong performance to solidify his first round hopes. Stationed primarily up forward with Foster and Barnett handling the bulk of the ruck duties, Keeler looked threatening in the air from the get-go. Although he will always have a relaxed style, he looked to play with real intensity against Vic Country – an area of his game which has been critiqued at times with North Adelaide. Clearly enjoying the bigger occasion, Keeler’s second term was vital in SA entering the main change with a slight advantage. He finished with one goal, but should have had as many as three or four if he had converted some gettable set shots. #25 Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels) 3/03/2004 | 194cm | 88kg | Key Forward Arguably now the form key forward of this year’s draft crop, Cadman made good of the limited opportunities which came his way. Country was incredibly wasteful going inside 50, but the Greater Western Victoria forward still managed to snare a pair of goals. His high level forward craft was evident, with clean marks on the lead and strong work one-on-one, contributing all of his three scoring shots in the opening half for 2.1.

I started a thread on Aaron Cadman as a Key Forward prospect to keep an eye on. Other key forwards to look out for are South Australian trio Isaac Keeler, Harry Lemmey and Tom Scully.

#25 Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels) 3/03/2004 | 194cm | 88kg | Key Forward Arguably now the form key forward of this year’s draft crop, Cadman made good of the limited opportunities which came his way. Country was incredibly wasteful going inside 50, but the Greater Western Victoria forward still managed to snare a pair of goals. His high level forward craft was evident, with clean marks on the lead and strong work one-on-one, contributing all of his three scoring shots in the opening half for 2.1. https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2022/06/28/scouting-notes-2022-afl-u18s-south-australia-vs-vic-country/

Gawn listed as 1-2 weeks away on the clubs injury list so barring an unknown injury I would imagine it will be no change.

Very good grabs by young Reid there. Think he is in the 2023 draft class. Didn't spot our NGA prospect in Finn Emile-Brennan who was supposed to be wearing 13. I wonder if he was donning number 30 for the game today?

Sheezel is going to be a star, there's talk of him challenging for top 3 this year. Walter is a 17yr old 198cm Key Forward eligible for the 2023 draft. Unfortunatley he is part of Gold Coasts Academy where they will get first rights to him. Can someone remind me if they are still able to pre-list their academy players without using draft picks? Becuase that would be a massive coup for them. If not, I'm fairly certain they can match bids anywhere in the draft compared to Victorian clubs that can't match within the first 40 selections. Either way, massive win for Gold Coast.

Enjoy the game everyone, I'll miss yet again because of work. Will hopefully be an enjoyable watch on replay.

Our sub will be over 180cm for just the 2nd time this year. Could make a good argument for Tomlinson since we've gone in smaller and Petty has been sustaining a few injuries recently. Otherwise I wouldn't be surprised to see Hunt who can cover back and forward.

This probably doesn't stop people from going, but a lot of the atmosphere that makes this game a special experience watching live has been taken away. This piece from 9 years ago articulates my feelings better than I can. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cut-out-the-hype-and-maintain-the-atmosphere-20120930-26trd.html

Pretty good idea, should come cheap with the lure of a premiership and he's more than capable up forward as well.