rjay

He will probably play off half back and maybe have a run in the mids at times...this also opens up the forgotten man, Salem to do more or more of the same...

I think we will see Jackson running through the midfield at times this year...

You tell Carl he's not playing 'La Dee'.... Personally I would play him off the bench to clean up any issues we may have with opposition players.

Yep, it was until the 2019 season. We had made progress each year but the fall off was a bit dramatic. That drop off create a great opportunity to top up our young talent & may be seen as pivotal to success when we look back. Agree that our list is in better shape than 2018 & we should expect a strong 2020 season. I don't understand those who think just making the 8 is good enough. We should put 2019 aside & judge on the improvement up to & including 2018. We made the Prelim in 2018 but weren't competitive. We need to at leat make it and put up a good show, maybe even win it for 2020 to be seen as successful.

I think Hawthorn did better 'old'...and they made the most of it. Carlton bought their flags and did a bit of a Melbourne, they didn't adapt to the changing game like us in the 60's. Hawthorn nearly fell away as well but for some smart work from the likes of Dicker. He didn't share the arrogant traits of his Carlton rivals.

With all the opposition analysis that goes into games these days it would be unusual for any team to be caught out. Fritsch can play & will be vital to any improvement in our forward line this year & beyond.

The rebuild started at the end of 2013...it was never linear as I've stated elsewhere. You pick up, you lose, you win some, you lose some. Players come in, players go but over that period you build or should build a stronger list. ..I just think 7 years is long enough to build a contender. I'm not saying we will contend, just that we should be in that position now and I will see it as failure if we don't...

Harry was Roos Folly...

It is 'Macca' but in our case we could define ground zero as when Roos took us on. I know we came from a long way back but we need to show something this year. There's a lot of if's & but's on the list for mine at the moment 'Macca', this year will tell a tale. I wouldn't take it 'Macca'...if there's real substance then the results will show better than 11.

You're playing with words here mate... We started a rebuild at the end of 2013 when we brought in Roos...part of the process was bringing in Goodwin. That means by the end of 2020 we will have had 7 years to bring in players, trade out players, basically build a club/team that will seriously contest for the flag. I think that is probably long enough. Just making up the numbers will not be a successful season.

There's a difference between how I see us going and what I see as a successful year. I have no idea how we will go this year but I am optimistic... However if we aren't contender then I think our season is a fail and by the clubs metrics if we go by what Pert and Bartlett tell us it should be seen as a fail. It will be the 7th season since Roos came on board and that's long enough. The rebuild will be close to a fail if we don't see results soon.

We need to be a legitimate premiership contender for this season to be a success. Simple... We've been building this list for long enough. Now's the time to put the runs on the board.

Also said he would miss 2 to 3 weeks...not ideal.

Didn't want to post this as I thought it might get the Oscar bashers salivating...was standing near where it happened. Melk had back position, Oscar in front and the ball was put up to Melk's advantage, nice bit of body work to edge Oscar under the ball. Given that everyone was going through the motions I wouldn't write a lot into it.

Had a bit of a wander around the park and took in a bit of the training this morning. @DeeSpencer, Jetta, Viney and Vanders were running fast laps earlier (while the main crew did the tan)...it looked as though Vanders was absolutely streeting them but turns out he was on a different program running sets of 2 laps while Jet and Vin were running continuos. Must say he did look in great shape though. Just a few general observations. Tomlinson is huge. Jackson moves well, positions himself well and is a nice kick. if he gets an early call up it will be as a forward, maybe with a run through the middle. In the ruck craft sessions Max moved him off his line way to easily but that's to be expected, a kid v the best in the game. For the time being Tomlinson may have to do the relief ruck work, not my ideal but we do what we do. Rivers has an AFL ready body, if he has a good preseason will play early. Tracs strength and balance are going to come to the fore this season...expect him to move up another notch, holds position nicely whilst fending off and taking the ball. Very hard to take off his line. Pickett offers us what we don't have up forward, don't be surprised if he plays first game. Good to see the numbers out on the track and looks like Tomlinson and Jones are not far off full training. They seemed to be putting in longer and harder work in the rehab group.

I've come in late on this discussion 'Macca', but I agree that our list has been substandard. That recent list of our top 10 players of the last decade pretty much showed that up as a fact. The Champion Data rating last year was a joke... I do like the way we look now and they have us at 12...a better list than the one they rated as best in the AFL. Part of the problem has been development, coaching etc. but you still need quality to work with. The trading and additions we've made over the last couple of years have strengthened the list...we just need to get and keep them on the park. I know you're not a fan of our forward set up and for good reason...it's our weakness. I think Fritsch could be the wildcard here but he is going to work best as the 3rd forward in a traditional set up...Tommy is a number 2 at best and we don't have the Key...It's going to have to be manipulated to work. We don't have the players to play a traditional forward set up...maybe with the mid sizers we can make something work. Goodie is going to have to earn his money and pull something out of the bag... As the thread is about the Captain...I've said it before but Gawn as sole skipper for me. ...but I don't think it will make a world of difference. Get good cattle, coach them well and keep them on the park.

I reckon it's more about our midfield connection with Gawn and how we are going to use him as a get out kick from defence and who is going to be the 2nd banana...the connection wasn't that great this year and we have to also account for 666. Injury risk, I guess it is the same but I've got to admit I always worry more in preseason... Another thing not mentioned with the media naming their best 22's. I would think maybe there would be 8 on the bench giving us a best 26. Makes sense to me...

That's why it's not the same thing. After season 2019 we need to coordinate our game a lot better. Playing a couple of games with teammates would seem a much better preparation for us than one or two of our key players playing a 'Micky Mouse' game.

Hibberd has been known to enjoy his time off and generally takes his time to ramp up. Not the best, not the worst... ...but it looks like he's come back in better shape than ever and has a point to prove after an average 2019.

Well I Guess we have a bit of off season time and a dose of hindsight now to re look at this... ...and what the club has done to address things. Yes, we did drop off and of course missed the finals. The lack of a decent preseason certainly didn't help but a number of the points I made after the first game have also proven out. The law of averages said that we were likely to see a drop off, you can't just keep steady lining in an upwards trajectory...but I don't think any of us expected the drop off we had. The list was overrated, the hype about us having the best list was just that...hype. We've looked to further address list problems in this off season and I'm happy with the work done. More on this later. Frost was moved on, not delisted as I called back then. He actually had a better season than I expected but I don't think he adds anything other than pace and entertainment value when May is up and about. Unfortunately we badly missed May for most of the season. Tommy Mac has to prove himself this coming season if we are to be a threat...injury is an excuse but he also has limitations and should really be seen as our 2nd tall forward. Can someone else take the mantle? can Tom be a good 2nd banana? or is he going to fade away as he did when a KPD? Weid, injury again...not a lot to show in 2019....hope???? Jackson??? too early...but will be handy. Petty??? I really think he is a defender and we should use him there. Small forwards...let's hope Pickett steps up early as I don't have faith in the others. Trac...put in a solid season, maybe will give us a bit more of the x-factor this coming season. Will have more mid time. Fritsch...will be better if settles as the 3rd forward option. Can play. The mids...Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney and co...will be better for a good preseason and an attitude adjustment. I expect big gains here. KK looks to be gone, the recruitment of Langdon is a real bonus. Hibbo struggled, can he get back to 2018? or is he on the chopping block. He's training hard which is not a regular habit so at least he's giving it his best shot. We really had missed on some class kids with the recruitment of Lever and May...I think we might have made up for it this draft. Looks like we could have 3 beauties. Put a rejuvenated midfield on the park, May and Lever in defence with maybe Harmes joining them... Forward line still a raffle...but looks better with Fritsch there, Trac and other mids rotating, Tommy doing his bit and we look a chance. Richo and Burgess are good additions. Some goods kids pressing for selection and hopefully this story is a thing of the past. A blip on the radar on the way to ultimate success.

On the club site now... AFL training sessions Date: Friday 7 January Start time: 9.45am Location: Gosch's Paddock Let's change the date to the 10th of Jan... Someone is still in holiday mode.

...back to training, the club don't have any details up at the moment but are the players due back on the Friday? or are they back the following Monday?

These were pretty memorable knickers... Sorry, you meant kickers...

Corey does a lot right but just doesn't have the reaction time to make good decisions when the pressure is on. You can just see his mind ticking over, good players get it right often, great players are freaks. Will be handy depth...

I agree with both of these posts... ...he is small, average pace (too slow for his size) but has high footy IQ & is smart with & without the ball... The tackles are the big negative for me. Opposition teams used it to advantage, he was their exit strategy. He's useless to us if he can't fix this.