Davos

We can bounce back to contention next season, but we won't without making some considered changes. Sacking Goodwin isn't the answer - 3 top 4 seasons in a row means he's earned the right to attempt a turnaround. I'd start by reverting to our method of the past 3 seasons. We built the team to play a heavily contested and defensive style of football, not to move the ball quickly via slick (skilled) ball movement. We aren't Pep Guardiola's Barcelona or Manchester City, but we can be any of Jose Mourinho's title winning teams at their peak. You'd hope Clarry can find his mojo again with a full pre-season - he's clearly out of shape at the minute and not playing with any confidence (like most of the team). Can't see how we continue with the same coaching group. From the outside looking in, it seems the players are tired of the same voices and some fresh ideas are required. Although I'm a fan of Choco, he's a big personality and can be overbearing. As has been discussed, Stafford seems to be a "good bloke" hire - the forward line constantly underperforms, even without elite personel to work with. We have to change the way we recruit via FA and trade. Although I understand the thought process behind pursuing AFL proven players for mid draft picks (Hunter, Billings, Fullarton, Schache, Dunstan), I think it's pretty clear now that we'd be better off taking the kids and using the cap space currently spent on bang average depth pieces to throw our hat in the ring for higher quality free agents and trade targets. We should be either getting a sure fire best 22 player, or we go to the draft and back our ability to develop over time. Of the players we've been linked to, I don't mind the noise around Josh Battle but Angwin seems extremely mid. Lastly, you would hope this is the worst our forwardline will ever look. Jefferson should offer more than Disco (and this season's version of Petty) next year, and JVR will have another pre-season under his belt. I can see a world where Petty becomes a competent forward again a year removed from his foot injury, or you could swing him back to the backline and get the premiership winning band back together (if he's still around). This season is a write off, but I'm not buying the "window closed" noise. Yet.

He's an absolute unit, and is pretty clearly too good for the VFL based on his GF performance last year. Far better ruck prospect than Fullarton, although he is a pure ruck and will offer nothing as a forward. Can't imagine we'd be the most attractive option given Max stands in his way.

That's a great call. A Cam Pedersen level player would be a good outcome.

Kane knows ball.

I hope Blake Howes is the correct answer here, but I think Laurie is the most likely given his reported early form on the track. There's scope for him to develop into a version of Brad Close this season, which would be a terrific outcome.

Hell yeah.

I wouldn't go as far as saying you should never take outside mids or small forwards high, but it's undeniably a riskier propostion drafting kids who have yet to prove they can win their own footy. I'm in on Windsor if JT is, because he's more than earned our trust and has a proven track record of nailing high draft picks, but it's a big call to pass on Curtin (which now looks likely) in favour of a kid who hasn't proven he can win the hard ball.

I'd be happy to draft him purely because I dread the thought of playing him for the next 10 years. He's going to be a Papley/Milne/Green level antagonist.

I'd implore everyone to go back through the past 3 drafts, take away academy kids, and assess the performance of every player taken between picks 25-35. Those picks are worth almost nothing to us - this deal is fine even if we sit on 6 and 11.

I'd probably do that deal.

I'd almost prefer to trade out of 13 in exchange for a future first + change given how this draft is shaping up. I'm not enamoured with any prospect likely to be available in the teens. Sit at 5 and pray McKercher falls, then pocket the extra asset for next year when we may be in a position to make a play for a true ceiling raiser (see - Z.Butters) or have a dip in a more favourable draft (have conducted zero research on next year's crop, but I assume it's less compromised at the top end than this one).

Yeah baby.

Draft Shaun Mannagh and prosper.

Mannagh is an AFL footballer. Unbelievable game. Chol has a really laconic on-field disposition. Stat sheet will read as if he played a good game, felt he was just too big for the Werribee defenders + GC did a great job getting him space inside 50.

Love Butters as a player, but reckon his chat would be horrendous. It'd be like us bringing Oliver to a meeting.

Bloke will be a absolute weapon in country footy.

For the most part I enjoy your posting, especially regarding list management, however I think you've missed the mark here. KPDs don't need to play with "flair or dare" - in fact, I'd prefer they didn't *cough* Sam Frost *cough*. Agree pace is an issue now, but I feel he barely put a foot wrong this season (outside of the Hawthorn game) and was probably mismanaged (dropped after the KB game when he shouldn't have been). He's solid enough and lifts the performace of the entire defensive unit when he plays. Also, your last point is flat out wrong. I've spoken to his family today an can confirm he's more than happy to stay. I also think he'll play most of the season if fit next year - regardless of whether Lever and/or May are fit.

Not tall. Not athletic. Good hands, is competitive and looks like he'll end up being well built. Reckon his ceiling is Brody Mihocek. Also, like Mihocek, has a Werribee connection.

Bingo. We've been unlucky this year with injuries to essentially all of our key forwards (BBB, TMac and Petty). Petty, with a full preseason training as a forward, and JVR with another year of development, combined with Fritta as the third tall should be more than potent enough to win the flag. Then you have Jefferson developing at Casey and Schache as a break glass in case of emergency option. Go and get a capable back up forward/ruck option (Chol? Fullarton?) and I wouldn't have many concerns about our key forward stocks. Steven May has shown signs of decline this year. I'm hearing Thommo will look for another club this offseason. We're going to be heavily reliant on the development of Disco and/or Jed Adams next year. Even if one of those guys develops into a good footballer, we'll still be in the market for a KPD when May retires given we clearly play our best when Lever can play as the third tall. tl;dr - Draft Connor O'Sullivan to ensure our current strength remains a strength.

Don't reckon we need to analyse this beyond agreeing he's shown enough to suggest he could be a good player at some point, but doesn't yet have the body to stand up tot he rigours of an AFL season (which everybody knew when we drafted him, so I'm not really sure why it's a point of contention now).

McAdams' game more closely resembles Melksham than our other small forwards. Probably keen on him as a replacement / cover for Melk.

Gut feel tells me that O'Sullivan will be the pick if we get wiped out and Reid, Duursma, McKercher and Curtin are gone. Don't reckon that will be considered a reach by draft time either - I feel he's being slept on a bit at the minute. Keen to get your thoughts on this @dazzledavey36

Viney.

Trade Clarry!

I've read a few supporters raise the point that there's a "new player x" every year. Normally I'd agree with them, but Reid is so clearly different gravy. Barring injury, I can't see how he isn't a star of the comp.