deelusions from afar

Haven't seen much of pre-season training but with the extra bench spot I would think the big Moose (Heath) should get a go. He did ok up forward for the saints last year and at his size can be a good get out kick (hopefully we see less of that with the new game plan but it's always needed from time to time). If Moose fails to fire, I'd think it would be a mix of AJ or JVR. Surely White needs some years to develop. Haven't heard of Culley doing any ruck work at training - seems to have come from a random article (maybe not researched) but I stand to be corrected. What is more interesting for me is that if Moose plays (presumably spending more time forward than in the ruck), and Mihocek plays, surely there's only room for one of JVR, Jeffo and AJ - especially if we have Melksham and Fritsch in the mix. Playing fast football in terms of ball movement will require fast forwards (with lots of repeat efforts) - will be interesting to see who is the preferred option at the end of pre-season.

I'm more confident in the list than most - I think we have players that will embrace new roles, responsibility and game style and surprise us. Having said that, with significant list turnover, coaching changes and playing style changes, I think the first half of the season will be pretty much a write off and I am expecting to see threads like "Time to go Kingy?", "Maybe Goody was the right guy" and "Petracca = God" etc on here at the half-way mark. When everyone has given up hope for 2026, I think we'll start to bank a few wins and come home with a wet sail to scrape into the final 10. Obviously I hope we start strong and continue it but most teams that have had the kind of personell (on and off the field) that we have normally take a bit of time to get things to click.

He could be... but as far as I know he has only played forward (maybe a few midfield minutes) at VFL / AFL level. Couldn't we go for the best lockdown small defender not on an AFL list (if Bowey was put on the long term injury list). Surely there would be some decent ones there - maybe not stars - but very reliable players that get the job done shutting down the most dangerous small forwards week in week out.

Could we pick the best specialist back pocket player that is not on an AFL list. I feel like at AFL level, so many back pocket players are players that couldn't break into the midfield, half back or as a small forward. Surely there are mature age back pocket players that could do well at AFL level?

Agree - just clickbait article where (for example) they have a "pass" mark for 8 teams making the preliminary final!

Out of interest, have we done any simulations regarding final 2 minutes and need to score / need to protect the lead. I appreciate ball movement is probably more important but do remember when Macrae came into collingwood, they apparently did these drills from day 1 (they had a lot of ball movement work to do as well with the slow moving buckley style being replaced with Macrae's approach).

Agree he had a better first season on the wing but I think the player Windor should be modelling his game on is Max Holmes who Geelong can put wherever he's needed most - half back, centre sqaure, wing etc - so don't mind him getting some experience there even if he didn't set the world on fire. Even in his first season he was very good in close so I think he can definitely be a centre square burst player.

Bailey Humphrey is that player

Could he play the role we supposedly wanted Nairn for?

How the game has changed - a 195cm mid! He moves well - has genuine pace, comfortable in congestion, is prepared to kick both feet and is a threat in the air. We're not the only team doing this, but having the likes of Langford, Culley and now Onley adds a different dimension to our game. IN the future when we can't rely on Gawn down the line, the extra height will be handy!

Is it possible for someone to jump in and select Kalani before us or is there any kind of restriction on that as he's a father son and been passed up in the draft?

Got nothing against the guy but with 2/3 draftees this week small forwards, looks like its going to be even harder for Henderson to get a look in next year. Does he have enough upside to still make it?

Is he over his injuries or is he likely to be in the rehab group over summer?

I remember when we draft kozzie people said it's too high for a small forward. he only averages 9 touches a game etc... look at him now. Happy to trust Taylor and co (but I am very surprised)

The current version of myself LOVES this as this means we get another crack at a prospect I've wasted too much time reading about (Pickett, Dovaston etc) I fear that the Nov 2026 version of myself will be like "we traded the chance to get Y or Z so that we could draft X last year?? Really? What the hell were we thinking?"