rjay

I think we will see more of 2018 but with a list capable of seeing it through.

...and my main point has been that we didn't have the list. The game plan is well and good but we need the list to execute it. I think we may well have it now, we didn't in 2018 and came unstuck against good teams. 2019 with the injury problems just made it worse. If we had of changed the game plan would things have been different? I doubt it although there were some things in 2019 that should have been addressed sooner.

It's just as simplistic as saying we were tired/cooked. There were a multitude of reasons for that loss and the ensuing 2019 season.

Totally with you here 'dazz'...

Good, the asking price for someone like Whitfield and Kelly would be too high. ...and not value for money. Whitfield has an excuse for his GF performance but Kelly was soft. It was left to the junior mid in Tarranto to fly the flag.

We didn't have the list, he knew it & has expressed similar in more private surrounds as has been reported here. It's why we recruited May...but he was only part of the story. This trade/draft period we were able to fill more gaps. No club has a perfect & complete list but ours is much closer now.

The first I've heard of us being absolutely cooked by the time of the Prelim has been on here post season. I think it's a bit of revisionism...on here & from the likes of McCartney if that's what he's implying. We were poor in that game from the first bounce. I might accept it as an excuse if we faded in the 2nd half but I don't think the cooked excuse holds up for our first half performance. The holes in our list were exposed. That prelim showed a lot of what was to come. Add the injury/surgery toll & you get season 2019.

You missed something 'SPC'...

He speaks highly of you as well 'DD'... I've found Sheeds to be a top bloke, he's been a great ambassador for the game with time for fans of all clubs & loves getting involved with some friendly banter. This he hates us stuff is always overblown on here... Seems like a conspiracy theory of the highest order...Sheedy hates us, man didn't land on the moon, vaccinations cause autism.

I know you don't like the idea 'rp' but it's much more likely to be Gawn and Jackson...

I thought Clayton was down a bit last season and was surprised that he tied the B&F... ...but if Taylor Walker is elite then something is wrong with the stats/analysis. Talk was of dropping him last year and he only kept his place in the team because he was the skipper. That's a very dodgy list and doesn't do Champion Data any favours. Daniel & Suckling, no Dunkley? Greenwood (no Oliver) wasn't he dropped during the season. Ryder dropped at Port... Ward missed most of the season...how did Rance miss?

We have a better list this year but have slid back to 12. Intereresting... I guess it all makes for a good talking point but as with last years rankings it has no actual relevance into how the season will pan out.

Well that's him done then...pension him off.

Mmmm, maybe a little premature predicting his demise. Hasn't even turned 30 yet. Certainly had a poor 2019 season but doubtful that was age related.

I rate him with Pelcan...both living off the glories of the Dicker/Clarkson/Hawthorn rebuild. I'm sure they played a role but not as big as what they profess or others would like us to believe. If they were any good they would still be on big bucks in clubland rather than trying to hold on to some relevance as media dial a quotes....

I don't think anyone is saying he is the messiah 'old'... ...but with a better season from Tommy Mac, the realisation that Fritsch is a forward, a fit Melk, a fitterTrac and the rotations through the mids the addition of Jackson and Pickett can round things out, give us a bit more balance. He doesn't need to star just play his role and it improves our forward half markedly.

Funny how we see things differently. I thought he looked out of his depth at AFL level. Think Pickett will quickly pass him...probably by the first game.

The great forwards/players show up early. I reckon this kid has the makings and will be a player from the start.

Looking at his highlights he is a very good mark. I'm not sure where the average comments came from that you are quoting but I think they are well off the mark so to speak.

I think he will impact early in his career as young Curnow did at Carlton. Jackson is a taller version, just might have more tricks & surely a bit smarter...

Just a quick question 'dazzle'...which Mick?

If he's anything like Enright let alone better...Well, Enright is one of the great HB's of the modern game.

I think they will...if you look at how the class of 2018 went there's no reason these 2 can't make an impact.

I like the look of all 3. All competitive players who love the contest. Just some thoughts on Weightman v Pickett; Weightman reminds me of a Dalhaus type pressure forward, works hard, chases hard but nothing in his highlights shows him to have any real x-factor, no special qualities other than work rate. Pickett is an excitement machine, looks the real small forward we've been looking for. Jeffy with mongrel...I can understand why we rated him. Jackson is exactly what we needed to compliment our forward line...he's going to be a real hard match up and gives us some real versatility being able to give Max or one of the mids a chop out. With Fritsch, Trac & Melk...2 of Weid, Tommy & Pet plus Pickett we're looking a lot better than we did in 2019. Rivers; these picks are always more speculative of course but I love his attack on the footy, looks like he knows what to do with it as well. Has the attributes to be player, good size & skills. If he matches those with attitude then he should get there.

I think the AFL have put this one out there as a smoke and mirrors exercise. They will get people up in arms and as a compromise (lol) push through their real agenda which is in fact to shorten actual game time. They've got good old dial a quote Jeff out there stirring the pot. Watch this space. The AFPLA will be right in it with them don't worry about that. Good old "Paddy work less/pay more" will be smiling all the way to the bank.