Young Blood

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1078333/melbourne-demons-star-angus-brayshaw-retires-after-long-history-of-concussion

Too upset to comment properly at the moment. Had to remove myself from the office at work as was tearing up. My favorite player just retired too soon and its heartbreaking. Take care Angus, we all care about you so much and feeling for you at the moment.

I think we're a bit spoiled with JVR as a 20yr old who has been able to impact the game and play his role well as KPF in his second season. Key forwards aren't meant to be that good so early on. Jefferson will take a little longer after kicking 23.17 in his first season with Casey he was definitely inconsistent but definitely showed really good signs. I'm actually bullish about him. I watched quite a few Casey games last year and to me he is a natural footballer. He has that similar trait to Fritta where he reads to ball so well and uses his body really well to leverage and guard space where the ball drop is. Also has great hands for marking. He will obviously need to put on size and work on his running/aerobic capacity. But he has the tools and tricks. Maybe not this year. He just needs to build on last year. But expecting a big future from Jefferson.

Went from averaging 1% CBAs to 11% but went many games without attending any. I imagine this will be part of Goody's plan again to increase that number. But more likely on a need basis to either bring him into the game or give a spark. He's so so important up forward for pressure and creating. I'm more interested in him fixing up his kicking and composure in front of goal. After kicking 41-18 in 2024 he dropped last year to 37-30. Would love to see a chart of his shots on goal as well because it generally seems they're from good angles and not far out.

Sorry I should have highlighted the 'so many' part. Definitely expected some but I thought we had improved :(

I wasn't expecting so many alarm bells to be ringing on here after an average practice match...

I haven't read or heard either of those statements, is this on the demonland forum? Or other bogus media? Just genuinely curious. I've heard him referred as a premiership player and I suppose in my eyes that makes him a champion of sorts. He is a reliable key backman who has been moved forward and showed very positive signs in a small sample size. He could, IF he can find some consistency with his fitness be the key forward that could make a huge difference to this side. Far too many 'IF's' for my liking, but definitely no unequivocal statements.

Yeah I hate to say it but by all training videos and photos the high arc/ball drop remains his style of kicking. I don't think that's going to change unfortunately. It would be quite a big adjustment as Sue says for an engrained natural kicking style his whole career to suddenly change it now consistently.

Another great insight into the maturity and amount of work this guy has done off field to keep getting better. There was a moment where he pulled back when talking about taking over a game and said he needs to trust his team mates more to make the right decisions and play their part. I did notice last season there was a lack of trust at times and he took it upon himself to try to do everything. While I think this is mostly a healthy sentiment and holistically a better strategy I do hope he continues to have that confidence to go ahead in games and take the bull by the horns like he did late in our comeback against Brisbane last season. No one could stop him. My favourite part was talking about the forward line and stating the glaring issue being forward line delivery as opposed to just the forward line group being the main issue. He admitted that kicking is still an issue for him and his midfield team mates. I really hope he can improve on this and find better consistency. Also mentioned how the new recruits will help in this area as well.

Just curious is this just based on your visits to pre-season training? Or have you watched their Eastern Rangers/Oakleigh Chargers or Under 18 National Championship games? Hoping all of the above comes to fruition.

The ball drop pics are especially fantastic and really give a good indication of kicking action/result during set shots. You can see JVR, Chandler and Kolts ball is perfectly straight with the leg, body and eyes lined up with the ball before impact. Kozzy's is still looking inconsistent where he needs to adjust mid kick potentially... But I'm no expert just thoughts. Other observations which have probably been made by track watchers: - Taj looks to have put on some serious muscle - Windsor looks a pure athlete with long powerful strides and a beautiful kicking action - I'm sure all players are wearing sports watches to track their running/heart rate etc. But during match sims it seems a little dangerous no? I've seen some horrible facial fractures from watches worn in physical sports. I sometimes wear mine but with a sweatband over it so as not to cause other injury playing footy and basketball. Just another thought.

Ouch. Wouldn't it be nice to have a fit (clean) Joel Smith right about now. If we start the first few games without the players mentioned above its not a terrible forward set up IMO. But we're certainly going to be short. I've put some ideas below. F: Chandler Fritsch (Schache/Clayton/Jefferson/Kolt/Tomlinson) HF: ANB JVR Billings or Spargo (replaced by Koz R1) Regardless we're definitely going to need Trac rolling through the forward line more to start the season by the looks of it.

I think we're all mostly happy with Tmac moving down back for depth. But with such concerning injury clouds a month out from season up forward (Petty, McAdam, Melk, Jefferson, BBB) We might have to re-consider. As picket fence suggested there is always Shache...

This is pleasing indeed. Both in recent years have put on extra weight to play deep forward and on key backs. I can't help but feel with two elite runners for their size that this has impacted their fitness a lot the last few seasons. I'm fairly bullish about Tmac going back as even last year in short stints at the end of games filling in back there he was sound and steady. Loving hearing how motivated Tomlinson sounds to be to get back in the side. If he is lighter hopefully his pace is better and can move up the ground more as a marking option.

RIP James Harmes from this list

In Regards to Taj I think this statement is most valid. There is no clearly defined position or role for him at the moment. I remember ANB (the old #1 whipping boy) coming in as a pure midfielder and playing consistently there at Casey, unable to really break into the side. Then ANB was able to find a niche as the high half forward role and really own it. I hope Taj can find his niche and do the same!

I'd imagine its just a matter of him getting up the strength and size to play AFL midfield. Watched him get pushed off the ball easily and often last season. He's the same height as Viney but a lot lighter obviously (maybe 8kg's). I can see him and Woey coming in for depth and chop out but doubt they will spend a lot of time in the middle. Keen to see who will be battling it out with the mids at training the next few weeks. I understand Rivers has the size and ability but very little experience in the role at AFL level. Interesting Gus was training with the backs but might be a factor of reducing the physically contested stuff as much as possible still easing him back in.

Love seeing Gus without the fluro vest!!! There should be no pressure or expectations on Gus after what happened last year. But if he can manage to get his mind and body right he might just be the most important piece for us as full-time midfielder this year. I know this is a discussion that will be had on this forum in future weeks and months, but I really liked Gus' impact through the period Clayton was out last year. It was a small sample size but I thought the change in dynamic in the midfield was refreshing and gave us a different look with more versatility. In no way am I saying our midfield will be better without Clayton (potentially) but provides different opportunities and dynamics to be really effective IMO.

I promise I'm not setting out to be a contrarian but I feel like this year the forward line is the least of my worries oddly enough. There are so many question marks going into this season. I trust this side to be competitive no matter who is on or off the field but this is the least confident I have been in having a settled team to build continuity heading into next season. Forwards Yes there is perhaps, system, method, positioning et al that needs improving but much of this as has been noted by @binman and others, until the midfield and wings can improve their disposal and decision making, then this will continue to be an issue. Personel wise I expect JVR to improve, Fritta to have a better run at it health wise, McAdam to provide more options and the smalls to find some better consistency and continuity playing with each other to create and hit the scoreboard more. Of course Petty is the biggest IF regarding his health. If he can play the majority of the season I genuinely think he is the most imposing, physical and natural tall forward we've had since Hogan and should be the focal point. If the somewhat of a pipe dream in Brown being fit enough again to impact a full game is true then that's a bonus. Double bonus would be Jefferson working his way into the main side and performing as I think he has the tools. Backs I know a lot of people talk about depth but I think we're a little bit more thin down back then we have been previously. I think our tall stocks with Tomlinson, McDonald, Turner and Hore are 'OK'. But with Hibberd gone, Smiths uncertainties, Rivers potentially spending more time in the middle, I'm a bit worried about our mid-sized players. The biggest IF for me is can Salem finally get some luck and fitness back to play consistently again. Mids It has been our constant and biggest strength these last few years and right now its the biggest concern right now. Elephant in the room I know its only January but in eight weeks we have our first game and one of our two best midfielders isn't training. Gus rightly so is being eased back in and there won't be pressure on him to slot straight back in. I actually think the period without Clayton last year gave us a different look in the middle that I liked a lot. But will Gus be ok? Can Sparrow be a 20+ disp, impactful consistent midfielder? Can Trac go up a notch again (defensive improvements?). Without Jackson or Grundy what happens if Max goes down? Sorry for the long post. As much as there's many concerns I'm also excited to see how the team tackles all of this. Sometimes adversity brings upon more change and dynamic which this team has lacked in recent years. Go dees!!!

You didn't consider that this may have been for privacy reasons? Not everyone wants their identity public, especially in the heavily scrutinized world of AFL football.

Like other family ties. Grandad played two games for the Dees in 1927. Went on to captain the Zebras and had some success there.

I was trying to think how many players in the last few years have nominated Melbourne as club of choice for trade/free agency. Ed Landon, Ben Brown maybe others I'm missing? Either way both these players saw an opportunity for a clearly defined and needed role in the best 22. I'm hoping that McAdam has similar success in this regard. He's shown consistency as a proper lead up target with great forward craft with some genuine speed and marking ability. I don't see why he can't flourish at Melbourne.

Love the tackling

Andy simply siblime photoshop work there. Throw Kolt's head on Windsors body. Genius

I hope he really pushes our wings next year. I felt Hunter in particular was too comfortable in his role and lacked intensity in many games last year. Its interesting not since maybe 2017 have we drafted proper inside mids. The last few years we have looked to improve our outside players with a bit more class. Rivers (2019). Bowey (2020), McVee (2021) Windsor (2023). As its been stated often here, our midfielders lack consistency with their affective disposal by foot so adding these types and building them into the best 22 can only help.