Young Blood

For me it has to be both. We will have to be really active and creative - Split the picks: Our pick 6/7 for Gold Coasts 10+20 and a player back perhaps) - Use first pick - Trade second first rounder for Houston (or other similar caliber player) - ANB for pick 27 (crows) or 32 (Port) - Sign Peatling (the exact player we should be prioritizing... basically another Rivers) Look at other out of favour players like Ben Hobbs, Reef McInnes/Finlay Macrae, Matthew Owies, Jack Lukosius. Any other similar suggestions?

If I was Petracca watching our most recent games (especially Freo, GWS and dogs) I would be so frustrated watching how our midfield has been coached. The way we're setting up at centre bounce and stoppages has been giving us a complete disadvantage. Last week was a little better but still. If this is any indication then who knows how much more there is to it with the midfield group and its dissatisfaction. That in turn would cause all sorts of potential conflict. I know we shouldn't speculate but it just seems rather obvious to me that in Minnies first year that we've had our poorest output from our midfield. I know he's had awful luck with Gus out, Trac going down and Clarry's lack of fitness, but like I said our structure around stoppages to not deny opposition clear outlets has been quite concerning.

Well, you're never going to be able to pursue nor catch happiness with that attitude :)

Wait this makes no sense. You knew the season was over the first game against Sydney because Bailey ran out onto the ground looked like he didn't want to be there. So Bailey goes on to kick 4 goals and really fires up. Is that what you mean by he came good eventually? So by the end of the game you had some hope the season wasn't completely over?

Its a shame he's not a Victorian. A local Western Sydney boy so if GWS are in fact upping their offer and can find a place for him in their best 22 then you would think he'll most likely stay. It will be very interesting to see what happens now that GWS have players returning from injury, coming back to that midfield rotation. If he doesn't get much opportunity through the finals this might sway his decision making. I can see him being their sub through the finals if they have a healthy list.

Sorry to disappoint but he will certainly be playing these last two games. As he said and Goodwin reiterated, He wants nothing more then to sing the song one more time and will be playing to help us get a win in the next two weeks. Would love a send off at the MCG where we beat the pies with Nibbler getting stuck into them.

Seeing Jack in anything other than red and blue would have been so weird. It probably exists in some twisted parallel universe somewhere. Happy to stay in this one.

Yes he's a role player, but the level of intensity and incredible aerobic ability this guy has at good pace is elite. 11th in the comp for pressure acts this year. None of the above players you mention have the tank that ANB has (besides Laurie who doesn't have the agility/speed to play as a pressure forward). Its going to take a while for those guys to build the leadership qualities that Nibbler has. I don't think its going to be a simple task replacing one of the best pressure forwards in the comp along with his experience.

Are they not allowed to be unhappy if this is to be the case?

Do you think there's something sinister at play? All within a few weeks trade rumours around Clayton, Viney, Trac and now Nibbler (the latter the only legitimate one obviously) We've historically been extremely tight with inside club affairs. This seems particularly out of pocket for us to suddenly be so leaky...

wow what a year its been - Clarry's off field problems and fitness (poor blokes been vomiting at every match) - Gus retires - May injures ribs twice (can have longer term effects as we saw with Langdon) - Trac goes down with a horrible injury bringing contention around club medos - The team runs our of steam fitness wise and reverts to defensive front half slog football - Someone in Tracs camp makes it known he's unhappy with the current state of the club - Impactful injuries to Gawn, Salem, Windsor and Bowey And now this as a new fresh punch in the guts. ANB one of most consistent players will be sorely missed....

Oh no no I agree. I was actually just impressed that no one had entertained what it would look like yet (yes setting a low bar for Demonland). Not inviting this at all! no interest in trading a generational superstar in his peak years :)

I'm a little surprised there hasn't been at least one person on here yet entertaining what we would be asking back in a Petracca trade, lol.

Agree with all of the above. You won't see him much at centre bounces. His contested ball work is a bit of a weakness, but as Hinkley says he is a 'good out-number player' meaning he is someone you bring up as an extra at stoppages across the ground for an outlet as an elite ball user.

Aww Fat Tony. I wish the AFL landscape was that nice and considerate. Welcome to the modern world. I don't think Trac would care it doesn't really hurt his reputation. He's just driven to succeed and is stating if the club won't come to the table to improve the list/coaching then he would consider leaving. A superstar player exercising his power.

I suspect this is all tactical. The timing is important to note now that we are well and truelly out of finals contention. Its not as common practice in AFL but in other pro sports like NBA a player superstar (via their management) will voice concerns with the current state of the club in order to encourage club management to make more substantial moves in trading and signing to improve the team. I really do think this is Petracca using his power as our best player to put pressure on the club to make big moves this off season whether it be with the playing or coaching group. He's 28 in the prime of his career and wants another premiership preferably at the Dees.

Maybe I'm wrong but there seems to be a misconception that Houston plays midfield. He's a high half back and doesn't really spend any time at centre bounces. He does come up high to stoppages across the ground but is there as an outlet. His bread and butter is as an attacking rebounding defender. If he was to play for us we would have more freedom to trial Judd in the middle and continue with Rivers in the middle. Its probably not a popular option but I do think Salem with a proper preseason training with the mids could be a good option as well. Given how late the news was of Gus retiring I felt like we threw Salem in there with little preparation and it hasn't worked too well. With a proper preseason and health I think its worth another try. We are desperate for better ball use in the midfield.

This is so sad. What happened to turning up for your team because they're wearing the red and the blue? I hope you called them out for being fair-weather supporters with a poor excuse. Maybe I won't rock up to games from now on until we get a dominant key position forward.

Wait are you actually serious with this statement? Fascinating. How many is plenty? This is one of the more ridiculous things I've heard this season. Only supporter base I know that would do something so immature is Carlton. Should I contact the club and tell them we're losing fans at games due to Petty being played at CHF? If its plenty they might want to know.

Didn't Gus announce his retirement a few weeks before the first game against Sydney? If you want to call that 'well before the season started' then good for you - I certainly wouldn't

Doesn't he play for Freo now?

No he doesn't go through the middle. Half back is his position. Think Rivers'/Salem's usual role HB role but plays higher up the ground. He's an elite ball user and decision maker as a rebounding HB. He would sure up that position so Rivers and eventually Judd can spend more time in the middle. He'd be a perfect fit for a side thats dying for better ball users.

Oh god. Enough with the in fighting over such trivial things. The wording of 'Severely undermanned' vs 'missing key players'. Who cares. Having Trac, Windsor and May might have made the difference in a tight game, or maybe it wouldn't have! If you want to be critical of the team thats fine. We're all frustrated with where we're at currently and giving our own two cents and different perspectives can be interesting in working through it all. But no need to have a go at other posters for things like making 'excuses'. If thats annoying to you thats ok you can disagree and make your point but spare the carry on towards other supporters. FWIW, Today I watched our first games against Port and Dogs earlier this season. We looked a difference side in our ability to run and spread and break the lines so much better. What a difference fitness makes.

Here here @binman terrific coaching and effort from a playing group that is clearly not anywhere near full fitness. We were missing 3 of our top 5 players (yes I will continue adding Gus) along with Windsor and Bowey and almost pulled off a huge upset against one of the most damaging, in-form sides in the comp. As far as skill execution goes this is definitely the poorest we've been since 2021. I know we lack kicking efficiency, especially in the midfield but even handbells are way off at the moment. Do we think that's also a fatigue factor? Players are clearly choosing or being told to get it on the boot to gain territory and create contests further up the ground. I feel this has to partly be due to the fact that we don't have the fitness to spread or break the lines at the moment. Earlier in the season we were able to do this far more often.

I would say this is the most likely strategy we would be trying to implement. Freo would be the obvious choice if they had someone they really like at pick 6. Give us two of 12, 13 or 16 for pick 6 (with other future or 2nd rounder involved probably). But there are other teams primed for this trade as well. Especially Richmond whose first picks are 5 and 27. They're surely going to try to improve their first-round draft hand.