Sydee

It's hard to be creative when the go to option is consistently bomb the ball to the left-hand pocket - ok maybe a slight over exaggeration but our system of efficiently moving the ball to our forwards certainly needs some work - we get far too many inside 50's that result in zero score conversion

Correct - @DeelightfulPlay supporter of many long years - still have my footy records from the 70s 😀

Easier said than done it seems - had plenty of time and chances but yet to deliver on that front Similar to Weid - early draft pick, skills seems ok , passion/heart/aggression seem to be missing For both this trade period probably represents their last chance - it’s make or break time - big summer and hopefully comes out firing on all cylinders

I’m not writing anyone off simply saying I’m not convinced he will make it as an AFL footballer There are hundreds of guys that a good footballers but never quite reach the level required Howes is neat in his ball handling and disposal but I he doesn’t get it enough at VFL level to suggest to me he can impact at AFL level Does he have any significant stand out qualities ? Pace , evasion, disposal , marking , physical presence? If he has they have been shown in cameos only hence - so I’m not convinced - as I said very happy to be proven wrong and we won’t know until the end of next season or the one after that (assuming he has no more injury concerns)

Before we try out anyone they have to earn it Laurie, Howes and Woewodin haven’t yet ticked that box IMO If Laurie can improve his fitness he might get a look next year - he does have skill just not convinced he is currently an upgrade on anyone in the 1s Howes I’m not convinced will make it - I know he has plenty of people here that think he’s going to - very happy to be proved wrong Woey is a good honest footballer - good enough to be a regular AFL player ? - next year will tell us a lot more I think

Hustwaite reminds me a little of Pendlebury

My concern is that we have spent the same time trying to get Weid to the level required and failed - not saying it can't happen and both might surprise all their doubters - let's hope Josh can Like Weid, he looks like he lacks real vigor and aggression or confidence - does have some ability clearly but sometimes that is just simply not enough

Tomlinson might be ok as a May replacement (if needed), but I don't think he has the tools to offer what Petty has (ability to play on the really tall forwards) or Lever (intercept marking and elite reading of the play). Not writing Tomlinson off but he would need to really improve his mobility and reaction time to get a regular game in the 1s Lots of people have made a case for Petty forward through necessity just like Neitz. Fact is we don't have a tall forward who can take contested marks, kick reliably, and compete strongly if the ball is on the ground - Petty can do all those things as he has shown. No doubt we lose something if we take him away from the back six - I think he is our best defender in fact I think he is massively under rated and he would be one of the first 5 or 6 picked if I was a selector I think BBB is pretty much cooked - Goodwin has openly admitted his knee will never be 100% and just gets managed. JVR may help next year providing another tall target (probably in the Melksham role) but we need to temper our expectations of what he can deliver in what will be his first year in an AFL team. If we can't get Petty out of a KPD role, then I think we are back to trialing J Smith as a forward option - obviously they tried this at the end of the season with limited success however Joel had just returned from a long period on the sidelines with injury (again 😒) in a role that he was unfamiliar with - I'm still hopeful he can make the transition to the forward line and stay on the park

Yes, we do - but none of that is relevant when he has stated clearly, he wants to go to Geelong if he is going anywhere And yes, I do watch lots of games and many Collingwood games actually

And a very very good, contested mark - loved his aggression

Grundy has nowhere near the leap of Jackson - nor does he have the same ability or leg speed I'd say he is a better ruck in most situations other than centre bounces an area where his lack of leaping capacity is a disadvantage Grundy has Jackson covered in most statistical areas other than goals per game (Jackson has probably spent more time in F50) and disposal efficiency (I think most people underestimate how skilled he is by both hand and foot) I have no idea how this will pan out over the next 2 to 3 years but my preference would have been to keep LJ but that was obviously not possible

Maybe statistically he stacks up similar or slightly better than Weideman - it's a pretty low bar though tbh Every time I've watched Schache play my impression is that he is slow and lacks any real intensity I was astonished to see he is listed at 201cm as he certainly doesn't play that tall - his inability to physically compete is worse than Sam IMO who has at least shown some level of vigor when thrust into the ruck Maybe I'm just a bit underwhelmed generally about what has happened during this trade period - at this point my assessment is that we haven't improved our list nor (apart from Grundy as another ruck to replace LJ) addressed our most pressing needs. Obviously, we still have pick 13 and may deliver a future gun but whoever it is we know will take tile before they make a meaningful contribution

Hope not he is a downgrade on Sam Weideman - can't see why we would even entertain this

He is wanting to leave to play with his brother at Geelong - don't think he is what we need anyway

If true I'm personally very disappointed - we will get SFA in return and they should have tried him done back as a last resort We have a relatively short list and can ill afford to lose another player above 195cm - he has the skills - there are plenty that don't

Would prefer us to try him in defense before accepting SWA - definitely no for Schache who has half the intensity of Weed

Isaac Keeler ?

Get set for another extended period in the also ran category with sharp creative thinking like that

JVR will have a much better chance of success if Petty is playing forward Turner will have more chances if Petty plays forward Howes - I am doubtful he will make it given his lack of physicality - please don’t even try to compare him to Robert Flower Laurie is skilful but he lacks speed and imo is too similar to Spargo Chandler performed really well in VFL - that unfortunately doesn’t guarantee it will translate to AFL - he probably deserves a few chances in 2023 AMW has skills but doesn’t get much of it at VFL level - hard to see him playing AFL tbh Taj W could be a very handy player just seems to lack pace - if he had Bakers speed he’d be a walk up start

We will never know unless we try it I'm a big fan of Petty forward providing it doesn't undermine our back six too much I have doubted Weids ability to be a KPD due to his lack of aggression but the more I've thought about it the more I think it's worth a shot Some may disagree with me, but it seems KPD might be a bit easier than KPF a) you are not doubled teamed b) you have to follow your opponent rather than being the play maker - of course it helps if you can read the play and peel off to intercept at times but is seems an easier brief to stop your opponent marking the ball and compete at ground level rather than having to take contested marks and convert shots on goal If Grundy comes on board, I think this could be the logical next stop for Weid - it could be the best for him and the team overall if it allows Petty to play forward

Maybe right but IMO that would equate to us getting a very poor return in investment

And the question stills hangs out there - what happens if both WA clubs offer tripe for LJ? Does he do the right thing and sign a new contract with MFC or does he screw the MFC and run home and give us the bird I'd be a little nervous if I was him - looms as the meat in the sandwich if you ask me Fremantle have had plenty of time it seems to get their house in order to do a fair trade but look miles off doing so atm

But I thought it was MFC deciding where he goes depending on the best trade?

Harsh - maybe its more of a reflection of everyone outside of Melb knowing our small forwards were not performing to the same level they were in 2021 but our coach being extremely reluctant to make changes or take a few risks with selection or positional changes