Young Blood

Not sure if exact role. I think like most tall defenders he would have to have trained to build his 1v1 ability while peeling off his man much like May does to intercept when needed. In Tomlinson's SEN interview on Monday he noted how even though he's still a slighter looking tall that Petty is super strong. He's the perfect option to backfill May. I hope he can come in and just half as many contests as he can this week to free up Lever and allow Tomlinson to body up their strongest tall. Side note. Lever was incredible in that last game. He has most definitely improved his body work. I know he isn't taking the oppo's no.1 biggest forward but he is rarely losing contests this season against some bigger bodies still.

Yes look apart from some key distinctions such as: • Sparrow belongs to the Family: Passeridae while swallows are members of the Family: Hirundinidae. • Taxonomic diversity is much higher in sparrows than in swallows. • Swallows are bigger and heavier than sparrows. • Sparrows have a stocky body while swallows have an elongated body. • Swallows make mud nests, but sparrows never use mud. • Swallows usually fly around water bodies whereas sparrows prefer to fly around terrestrial ecosystems. • Wings are characteristically elongated in swallows but not in sparrows. Once upon a time a Swallow at the dees might have been a nice edition but I'm quite happy with our Sparrow especially if he has higher taxonomic diversity.

I've been seeing it most weeks. The ones who consistently get in to help tackle and create a stoppage are Kozzy and Spargo. But overall as you say team tackling has been excellent.

Obviously have more trust in this team based on the start to the season but its the way they've been winning and swinging momentum in games that gives me more confidence. Over the last few years I've felt that we've been able to challenge teams and throw ourselves at the contest to stay in it or come back. But there's so much more backbone to the resilience this year. The word I keep using talking to people is how proactive we have been when a team challenges us. Instead of going defensive and just make it a contested slog, players like Trac, Viney, Hunt and especially Langdon are moving with the ball and giving us forward momentum out of contests. I like most others am still concerned about this game. We're a far better team in better form for sure. But Hawthorn across their first four games haven't been as poor as predicted early on. - The big comeback against Essendon -They hung around against Richmond matching them for two quarters before Tiges put them away in the last - Came back from five goals to almost beat the cats in the last - Slow start against the dockers and getting bullied in the last around the ball was probably their worst loss by far If we play to our strengths and apply the pressure we SHOULD be fine.

I think its pretty obvious he clearly hasn't yet developed his forward craft skills (Nic Nat pointed this out in the commentary). He's played predominantly in the ruck as a jnr. and is now being asked to simply compete in the air forward of the ball when he's not helping Max out. While he isn't clunking them consistently yet I haven't seen him beaten in a marking contest yet, he generally halves the contest which is fine for a 19 year old still learning every game. The answer is he isn't a forward... YET.

Bracing for this first photo of the eye after hearing on SEN this morning and this forum that it looks pretty gruesome.

It was mentioned on the Gus n Gawny podcast the other week that Casey's forward line could look pretty ominous in the air for this week or the next. Ben Brown, Majak. Weid and maybe Mitch Brown all to return through the VFL it seems. Sheesh.

The only player who I thought was average and didn't contribute much within his role even was Tmac. Besides his inside 50 tackles being a game high and competing in the air at times I thought he struggled to be effective in this one. I'm sure a great contributing factor was the way the game was played. Opposition flooding the forward line is always going to make a key talls day really difficult but I would have liked to see more of him leading up at the ball across half forward like Petracca does so well when he's down there. He still lacks intensity and that one grab marking ability he showed a few years back. So often is first to it in the air but fumbles it with hard hands. Didn't love the one hand attempt running back with the flight needs to be tougher in those situations. Anyway clearly he stays in as the best fit tall option in the side and looks to bring more of how he played against the saints.

lol I think you missed the Jesus puns

I'm interested in the defensive side of Laurie's game. His offensive skills look good enough for him to really push for selection with our need for good ball users in the forward line. It's an interesting mix we have of small forwards. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Here's some stating of the obvious for my own amusement mainly. Kozzy is clearly the most talented and electric. His skills are already A grade, great mark and leap for his size and I was surprisingly impressed with how well he covered the ground with his running. Skies the limit. Just needs to mature and stay in games more. ANB's main strength is still his tank and pressure/repeat pressure acts. Thought he was building a bit before he got rubbed out. Kicking not as bad as it used to be. Not the best decision maker. Spargo has good skills, decision making and his pressure is probably the best of the lot perhaps. His size always an issue but intreaguing to see how he goes this year Hunt has his speed and decent hands marking. Very average kick and I think lowest on the pecking order IMO. I don't see him playing but for depth this season, at least I hope. Chandler is another forgotten mosquitto due to injury and lack of opportunity. In his one game he looked lively with his tackling and pressure. Hopefully adds to the competition for spots. The above unpacking makes me think Laurie could slot in well with our need for better ball users and his creativity. Note: I'm leaving out Sparrow and Bowey. I know they will both probably spend a fair bit of time forward but they both seem to be stronger up the ground and this stage and maybe less goal sense? Both have great potential regardless.

Oh I don't think he will see much midfield time. Well not in the middle per say. You don't have to start in the centre to impact stoppages and contests around the ground which is what AVB does so well. I meant using his body to block and tackle creating opportunities for our mids in contests and stoppages wherever that may be. He does most of his work in contests on the flanks and wings.

Since everyone else is, I shall gives this a go. I think this is based on what we currently know. Like others have mentioned there could be a number of kids knocking on the door primed to play round one. But we won't know any of that until after preseason. My projection is based on what I've seen this season and the reports I've heard about players. Lockhart May Lever Rivers Tomlinson Salem Langdon Oliver Jackson Brayshaw Weideman Melksham Fritsch Brown Kozzy Gawn Viney Petracca Int: AVB, Harmes, Hibberd, Sparrow Its all based on versatility. Yes this goes a long way to being able to make mid game changes that help us with changes in strategy. Tomlinson stays in at CHB. I see a lot of people have him out of the side for Petty/McDonald. I think both those players will be used if we have injuries to key talls but both lack the mobility and foot skills of Tomlinson. I thought he grew into the role and the coaching staff seemed to like him and his potential there. Also has the ability to play wing/mid/fwd which is so handy if say we wanted to go smaller down back for instance or needed more size on the wings. Jackson on a wing. I can see us experimenting with him a fair bit this year. Apart from one of the games in Adelaide while I liked his attack as a fwd I thought he worked best further up the field. With him and Weideman providing lead up targets and Max able to play more defensive it should be pretty beneficial. He looks to have put a lot of off season work in and I think we'll see him best 22 each week this season in whatever capacity. Harmes I was really reluctant to put in the side. I felt he was the poorest of our regular 22 last season. Looked sluggish, perhaps played out of position. I noticed he's put a lot of work into his body in the off season becoming leaner and this usually translates to better commitment and I think he'll find his way back rotating between mid/HF AVB might start seeing more time on the sidelines if we find he's making us a bit too tall and slow. But for now his physicality is just too important in tight. Frees up guys like Trac and Viney to wreak havoc. I was weighting up between ANB and Sparrow. The off season narrative suggests ANB is on the outer and this goes along with us drafting players that excel in his position. I think this could push him and I still think he could be best 22 with again his versatility to play well in the stoppages. This is also why I picked Sparrow ahead Melksham was based purely on the mediocre reality of what he did and could still do for the team along with the fact that he's Goodwins baby and an experienced head. Side notes The small fwd battle continues to grow! Love that Kozzy, Bedford, Chandler, Spargo, Hunt and now Bower/Laurie will be competing for a spot Making this list really made me realise how deep we are this season. Depth Backs: Jetta, Hore, Smith Mids: JJ, Jones Baker (with so many in the side that can rotate through) Tall Fwds: McDonald, Brown, Petty WOW!!!

Stud. What a trade. I still hope Hogan can resurrect his young career at GWS, I genuinly wish the best for him as someone who has been battling the last few seasons mentally. That being said its one of a very few occasions MFC have come out on top with a trade in recent memory.

Thought he took a step forward this season in his development. Seems highly rated among the coaches/playing group and a really likable kid. A lot of folks here saying he's unlikely to find a regular spot in the team but I wouldn't be so sure of that. Was given more opportunity this year then I thought he would and some valuable time in the middle and both HF/HB. Had he not got the injury I think there's a chance he continues to play out the season. At 183cm and 82kg he's super solid and developed for his age. Love his attack on the ball and showed flashes some poise this season with his limited possession. I think he will put real pressure on someone like Harmes who I thought was the most disappointing this season. They both play tough contested style football, pretty much same size/weight and could both be pushing to play that HB/mid role next season. I hope and think Harmes might turn it around but I also like the pressure this kid puts on some of the seniors. Also one of Viney, Trac, Clayton or Brayshaw were to get injured (touch wood) Sparrow is looking like someone who would step up and push to the next level as excellent depth for us.

Love the kid. In a team that isn't overly skilled and more about winning contests then anything else its so important to have some class forward of the ball. Salem provides it down back while I think Fritsch is set to really flourish in the half forward role with his field kicking and wonderful marking/reading the ball. At just 23 he still has so much room to grow. He's never going to be big but if he can just put on a tad more size and strength the tackles will stick and he can stand up better in the contest. I like that he's a quiet assassin. Reminds me a bit of Hawthorns Bruce with his craft around goal. Just needs to tidy up the set shots. I think he will.

His disposal is still lacking with the way he drops the ball but at 25 you would hope he can make it servicible. Certainly less of an issue being a forward. Makes sense to sign him on with Hannan leaving. Plays a very similar role as a pressure forward to can lead up and mark. Small forward stocks are still solid with Spargo, Hunt, Kozzy, Bedford, ANB (tbc)

yep

With Oscar leaving I can see Petty being predominantly involved with the backline next season. So the extra depth in the forward line isn't necessarily a bad thing. Still would be an odd move if we do end up with Ben Brown. Perhaps an insurance move. To me we already have Mitch Brown as that fourth tall option behind B.Brown, Weid and Jackson. But I think Mitch only signed on for one year right? Hasn't been delisted yet?

Tom has one foot out the door. Has been sited meeting with other clubs. Collingwood keen to have him in their backline.

From Sam Edmund on SEN this morning:

Same here. But I think North were one of the worst performing sides this year. You only need to look at our 2019 to see how players performance can drop off when the whole team is playing so poorly, There's so much upside still there for him at 27. If we can get 40 goals out of him which I think is entirely realistic if he plays most games then it will be worth it.

If both he and Weid can combine for 80-90 goals next season I will be happy. Its pretty exciting the potential of having two genuine targets next year. I know there are big 'if's like if if Ben Brown can get over the injuries that hindered him this year or if Weid can put together a consistent full season. I think both are possible. e.g. combinations in 2018 Tmac + Jesse combined for 100 goals Josh Kennedy + Jack Darling combined for 91

I thought he was very solid this year. His physicality in the back half is so important. If my brother passed away suddenly I would just fall apart. Amazing he was able to perform the way he did with everything else on top of that.

Urgh. Similar to Lynch deciding to join Richmond this really sucks as an opposition club. Deflating

I'm glad we're clear of Mihocek. He's a tough solid player but one only needs to watch his highlights to find he's predominantly an opportunist when it comes to goal kicking. Finds space as the third tall. We already have similar players of his type/role.