Random Task

I was referring to the kangas. Collingwood are still a dangerous team and no easy beats.

I'm looking forward to seeing them get flogged by 100+ points ?

1st world problems but I'm finding the lack of team announcements on Thursday very irritating. Was hoping that would be reinstated for this season.

I'll admit I had reservations about using a high first round pick on him but thank god we did. Absolute gun and doesn't need many touches to influence a game. To think he was only seen as a third rounder + to rookie chance until quite late in his draft year.

Was keen on him during his draft year but haven't closely monitored his progress since then. From memory he's a skilful lefty with pace which I thought would compliment our midfield nicely. Can't see Sydney giving him up easily though.

Not so much keen on Smith but the rest are interesting prospects. Wonder if our interest in Weightman from his draft year remains. Ash and Stephens from the same draft are also unsigned thus far and ones to keep tabs on as well, although their cost would be quite high. Pretty sure someone here mentioned Ash had itchy feet and was considering a move from GWS already, hopefully there is some truth to that.

Braeden Campbell, pick 5 in last years draft, has taken out the round 2 rising star nomination for his 25 disposal game against the Crows. This makes it back-to-back nominations for the swans with both players drafted as part of their academy as well. Nominations Round 1 - Errol Gulden - Sydney Round 2 - Braeden Campbell - Sydney

North had 13,000 odd to their round 1 game vs port apparently. Was stated on radio but curiously its left as "tbc" on the afl website.

Hope Jones is still in their team come our game round 9. Brown, Weid or McDonald should have a field day. Horribly out of form. Cripps seems to have mastered the art of handballing to his teammates ankles as well.

Carlton losing always puts a smile on my face. Shame Collingwood couldn't lose as well. Heats gotta come onto Carlton soon surely.

Not sure going in with 19 players will do us any favours

To qualify for a nomination for the rising star award you need to be both under the age of 21 at the start of the year and have played less than 10 games prior to the commencement of the season. For Melbourne we have Jackson, Rivers, Sparrow, Jordon, Chandler, Bedford, Bowey, Laurie, Rosman, Bradtke and D. Smith all eligible to receive a nomination. Errol Guldon has taken out the first nomination with his 19 disposal, 3 goals and 10 marks on debut for the Swans against Brisbane. Nominations Round 1 - Errol Guldon - Sydney

Bump. Topic might be a bit premature to talk about this early in the season considering Angus has just come back from injury, but an article on the AFL website today lists Angus as not attending a single centre bounce with other options preferred including Jordon, Sparrow, Harmes, Neal-Bullen, Pickett and Jones. His peak form come in 2018 when he played inside mid and seemed to have the best connection with Max in the centre. Obviously there are fitness considerations at the moment but it also widely suggested that we have a number of attacking midfielders with perhaps some less inclined to run hard the other way. So where do we see Angus in our midfield mix now? Jordon and Sparrow are supposedly liked for their defensive intent which compliments the attacking nature of Oliver and Petracca. I'm struggling to place Angus in other positions on the ground where he can excel. Thoughts?

Have a great day to all those that are going. I just got home from nightshift and have another tonight so will be watching on TV unfortunately. Can't wait to get back to the G in the near future. Dees by 27

Congrats Jordan. Hope you play your role well and enjoy your debut with a win.

It'd be a fair effort to wake up without a pulse.

Ah yes you're probably right actually. Ignore me.

Interesting tid bit from an article today on afl.com saying we were interested in Caldwell. I don't think I once heard us connected to him in the media which shows there's a lot going on in the background that never makes the news for whatever reason. I know a few of us on here were keen on the dees making a play for him. "While the Giants lifted their offer to four years to keep Caldwell, the Bombers also had competition for him in Melbourne, with St Kilda also interested." https://www.afl.com.au/news/549397/why-jye-chose-essendon-over-staying-a-giant

Probably already been said before but wouldn't surprise to see Petty given a go up forward.

I haven't forgotten at all and I am not upset in the slightest with our selections as I recognise I have insignificant knowledge of U18 footy compared to our recruiting team. In 2019 we traded multiple picks including futures to secure pick 8 that would eventually be split for 10 and 28 ultimately landing us Kozzie and Rivers. However even after all that trading prior to the draft, we attempted multiple times to move up in the order. Our first attempt was to move up and try to nab a sliding Robertson, although we had little to no trade currency to be in the conversation for him, and the second was to ensure we grabbed Rivers ahead of any potential rivals. This year we saw no such attempt to trade for any player either before or after our consecutive picks. Now maybe we did and it simply wasn't included in the footage to protect club intel, but that's where my comments were coming from. These videos below play out the edited footage of our draft night from 2019 which I found to be more illuminating and interesting to watch. Obviously a pre-Covid world but it's interesting to see the discussion and demeanor of all involved, particularly Goody, in comparison to this years video. In my personal opinion, Goody seemed less enthused about our first two picks in 2020 but there could be a myriad of reasons for that. I say less enthused because of the reassurance Tim Lamb and Jason Taylor were providing him, particularly when Taylor talked up the recruits during there selection and immediately after that Tim Lamb got Goody's attention again and said we've got the best two kicks in the draft, turned to Kelly O'Donnell for him to reiterate that point as well. Or perhaps my perception of this is wide of the mark.

I found this really interesting. Goody did not seem enthused at all, I'm guessing due to their size, and had to be reassured on their quality. Its good to know that the recruiters aren't easily over ridden though and their research and opinion are respected. Also compared to last year it seems we weren't interested in trading up for any players in particular, although perhaps they just didnt include the footage to keep that intel in house.

Is Lord Nev a 45 year old Geologist?

1. Harmes - Was a damaging weapon with his ability to shut down the oppositions premier ball winners and hurt them the other way. Has the ability to hit the scoreboard and seems to be lost in the back half. Perhaps a return to a mid/forward role will be the catalyst required to return to form. 2. Wiedeman - The time is now for the weed to impose himself in the forward half and become a consistent threat. With Brown taking the number 1 mantle and defender, conditions are primed for him to cause headaches for opposition. 3. Brayshaw - We've all seen him at his best and want him to return to that form as soon as possible. Delayed start to pre-season with a foot injury so has a bit of work to do to catch up. Time for him to stamp himself as a starting centre square mid or at least in the first rotation. 4. Petty - Have high hopes for him as a key position player and suspect he will he more suited to the backline. Only had the few games to show his wares but displayed great hands and reading of the play. I believe he would suit as the second key back position allowing lever to zone off more and enable him to play his intercepting game more effectively. Has shown he is capable of holding his own and providing a target in the forward half. 5. Rivers - Love the kid and was stoked he slide through to us on draft night. Will be vital in the back half as our defence unit goes through a small transition period with the likes of Jetta and Hibberd moving into the end stages of their career. Apologies to T-Mac, Lever, Pickett, Sparrow and a more accurate Fritsch. Players like Gawn, Oliver, Petracca Langdon and May are crucial to our performance and I have high expectations for them to perform regularly.

Not sure if this has been posted already but found extended highlights on youtube. May want to listen with the volume lowered unless you like high energy techno music.

With all due respect dazzle I think you're being a bit disingenuous here. Firstly you know that we got two consecutive picks. Secondly Taylor said he will start in the back line, which is a common path for young players in their development. I suspect he'll be a winger/high half foward long term but if he makes a half back or even back pocket spot his own I won't be complaining. Many clubs have picked up non-key defenders in the first round of recent years.