poita

I honestly can't see what Ivey and Bannon contribute that we couldn't get from two witches hats.

We all thought that keeping this list together was a good thing, but the reality is that we haven't added to the group in recent years and other teams have gone past us. We need to find a way to add foot skills and pace at year end. If that means trading a few experienced players (eg Mithen, Birch, Gay, etc), so be it.

We've got massive problems in every part of the ground at present, but it is the forward line that is the most bewildering. We have four genuine leading / marking options (Harris, Hore, Zanker & Bannan) and not one of them leads or plays in front. It's horrible to say, but Bannan and Zanker have played as though they are scared of getting hurt in recent weeks. If they can't get a cheap kick out the back, they are simply not interested. It's definitely not a talent issue, but there is something awfully wrong down there. The number of times a North player took an uncontested mark five metres in front of a Melbourne player inside our 50 was phenomenal, noting that we actually won the inside 50 count despite kicking just one goal. That's partly on the woeful disposal of some of our midfielders, but playing in front is something you learn in the under 8s. Fitzsimon was clearly our best forward yesterday, and I'd probably rate her game as 3/10. At least she was prepared to provide some effort and physical pressure. The rest were witches hats.

Aside from Hanks and Goldrick, they've all been truly awful. A totally inept performance.

If Adelaide win 100 - nil, their percentage would sit at 233.46%. If we win 50-49, our percentage would be 233.56%. If it is getting that close, every West Coast score is a big bonus to us. Similarly every point we prevent Brisbane kicking makes a big difference also.

I think the AFLW season needs to start mid-year, ideally during the AFL bye rounds, then run for 17 weeks + finals, such that we get to the grand final by end of October. The benefits would include: for at least part of the season you run alongside the VFLW comp, so players outside the 21 can play a game each week. you make the most of quiet periods in the AFL season around the bye weeks and post-GF to focus on AFLW. as much as the AFL want otherwise, you don't have 12 months of constant football and there is clear downtime for fans. Clearly supporter fatigue is having an impact on crowd numbers. in some markets double headers are an option, particularly where AFL games are scheduled for 1pm.

I hope we keep 6 and then see if WC are interested on draft night. Maybe offer to trade 6 for their 2024 1st round pick, which will hopefully be top 2. Then we'll see how keen they are on Curtin.

How many clubs own the land their training facilities are built on? I know St Kilda lease Moorabbin from City of Kingston.

There are definitely players on our list we could afford to lose, and about a dozen who we would be desperate to keep. Six months ago I would have said Tayla Harris was critical to our success but, with the form of Zanker and the emergence of Campbell, we almost look better without her. No doubt the AFL will give incentives to the bottom clubs to attract players, but there would need to be significant money involved to get the top players to move. As an aside, I'd definitely be asking Ellie Blackburn if she is happy losing each week, or if she wants to come and play finals at a decent club. She'd have to take a pay cut, but that might not be her key motivation at this time.

Failing to take a genuine midfielder at pick 6 would be the biggest drafting mistake this club has made since the Weideman debacle. If Caddy has the ability to become a big bodied midfielder in the mould of Patrick Cripps, then I'm definitely interested. Otherwise, no thanks.

Turner was a weird selection at the time, and his injuries since haven't helped his case. The club's website lists him as 193cm and 78kg - that is a long way off key position size and he will be 22 before the start of next season. How much size is he going to be able to put on in five months? I'd certainly prefer to move him on, and have a list spot available for a draft slider.

So you're happy having 10 small forwards on the list and no midfield depth? That's bound to end well for us.

If I were any of Spargo, Chandler, Laurie and Moniz-Wakefield, and Melbourne were bringing in McAdam and potentially Billings this trade period, I would be getting my manager to find me a new home as soon as possible. Of course, it's possible that there won't be any interest because none of them are particularly good, but I certainly wouldn't be expecting those four to be playing regularly next year.

Did McAdam approach MFC via his management and say he wanted to play for us, or did we approach McAdam and let him know that we were interested in him? Either way, a future second round pick, which could sit closer to 20 then 40 if we don't get our [censored] together, seems a high price to pay for a 28 year old with 50 AFL games to his name. If Joel Smith stays fit, he'll have played more games by the same age and we know how inconsistent and injury prone he has been.

No wonder West Coast are reigning wooden spooners in both the AFL and AFLW when you read those comments. How pathetic for a senior coach to say that. The sooner the AFLW has an A grade comp and a B grade comp, with promotion and relegation between the two, the better. Then we won't have to waste our time playing against these pissant teams.

This is the biggest concern for me too. I get that you can't move on ten players each year, but we've delisted one rookie this year. You can't tell me that there isn't a single player in the state leagues who would offer more as a third round pick than any of Schache, Laurie or Melksham rehabbing an ACL.

So every other decent team has room in the cap to improve their lists (Coll Schulz, Bris Doedee, Port BZT & Ratagolea), but we're dumping players for chicken feed? There better a bigger payoff to come than has been mooted to date.

So our tough talking has resulted in us getting a future late second round pick that we'll probably pizz away in another bone headed pick swap before the end of trade week. How incredibly brilliant.

How incredibly dumb. The obsession this club has with stupid pick swaps is infuriating. Let's not forget that Bailey Laurie and Sam Weideman were both taken with pick swaps, so it's not even as though we get decent players from them.

Billings would be a clear upgrade on all of Chandler, Spargo and Laurie. I think he fills a need more than McAdam as well. Given the likely cost is probably only a 2023 or 2024 third round, I think it is worth taking the chance.

How does going to the Bulldogs help Harmes get regular midfield time? Surely their midfield is equal to ours, and probably bats deeper. Regardless, we are seriously lacking midfield depth and anyone thinking that Laurie might ever be an AFL midfielder is delirious. Woewodin may get there in a couple of years, and Howes is not an inside mid.

Hopefully Saturday's performance was something we had to get out of our system. The games against North and Brisbane are massive in the context of this season, and the $1M prize money. Collingwood's draw has been extraordinarily easy this year, dodging all of Adelaide, Brisbane and North. Thankfully they are not a great team, but they could win their last four games. Who knows what to make of Brisbane - they are probably a little behind the best teams, but are capable on their day. Adelaide could well win their last four, especially with a home game against North.

Such a disappointing performance for 2.5 quarters. Far too many passengers in such a big game, and some underwhelming coaching as well. Playing down the grandstand wing all day was predictable and played into Adelaide's hands. Our centre square line up didn't work until the last quarter and our defence is too slow and reactive. Zanker was excellent, Goldrick and Mackin worked hard, but not many others played well.

Well done to Deakyn Smith but let's be honest, he is just a serviceable player even at VFL level. 15 touches and 2 tackles a game is hardly setting the world on fire. No wonder Casey finished mid-table if he and Steele were viewed as their best two players for the year.

Regardless of our draft picks, we definitely need a couple of mature bodied midfielders to replace Jordon and Harmes.