manny100

Add J Smith to the out of contract players. Probably circa $300k savings. Not sure whether McVee and AMW have already extended their contracts? They can expect a raise. Melksham may get another year with a raise from current rookie money. I would not want to be in charge of doing the payments spreadsheet. It would do my head in.

We will have a fair bit of cap space at the end of this season. Between Brown and Hunter who will likely finish up probably around $700/800k. TMc and Tomlinson if thet stay will be on lighter contracts saving a Min $300k between them. If say Timonlinson leaves add another say $200/$300k. Compensation for the Brayshaw contract is 90% for next year. $750k x 90%. So we will have a few $ up our sleeve. We may have to carry a little over for 2026.

Fullarton in for Max. If Petty could ruck he could have been an option.

I think the plan with Kentfield is to have a back up forward when Petty and/or Turner go back when T Mc and May finish up. So IMO there is/was sound logic in picking up Kentfield.

Interesting read. A recruiting manager is only as good as his next lot of draft picks. So far JT has looked good. No complaints from me. A premiership was nice. We have a lot of kids with potential.

I am surprised but then i realised/remembered that we had 11 players 22 or under in the team last week. So it makes total sense. The bench will be interesting. Who misses out?

Melks plays deepish forward which is tough. He will come back through Casey. If Harry Petty does not get up may be time for Jeffersen to get a run. I think Goody would be looking closely at Jeffersen's development. With Harry and Disco we have a replacement for May or T Mc when father time starts snapping at his heels. Jeffersen will likely get a sniff or 2 or 3 this season.

Best available regardless of position if we get a top 10 pick. Free agency for what we need. We had 11, 22 years or under players against the Lions. How many of those will be elite or Very good at least? Time will tell but we need elite players coming through.

AMW retains his spot effectively replacing Rivers who has moved into the mid. Depending on match ups Salem or Bowey if fit for Tomlinson. With May, Tomlinson and TMc all hitting the wrong side of 30 i would be giving Jeffo a go in the seniors later this year. In the next couple of years either Turner or Petty may have to go back to cover for retirements/delisting.

Laurie may well be one of those players that takes 4 or 5 years at VFL to become good AFL players. The coaches rate his ability.

AMW shows the value of a good grounding at Casey. Not many can come straight in. Well into his 2nd Casey season Jeffo if he holds his form should get a run later this season even if it means 'managing' one of the forward talls. Its good management to give developing players a taste before the next pre season.

Looking forward to watching AMW, Kolt play. . and also Rivers in the mid. Hopefully the carry overs get back on time for the 1.05 pm VFL game tomorow. Typical fixtureing could have been a little later or Sunday.

AMW has knocked down every door in the house. He has been in cracking form most of the year. Congratulations. Last week we played a competition most 22 and under players - 10- could be 11 this week? Wonder if Salem gets up? We lacked enough wheels as a team. AMW has wheels as does Brown - and it goes without saying Windsor.. Kolt is no slow coach either. We certainly are undergoing a team/list refresh.

All recruiters have misses. Its about the players with lousy picks and rookies that matter. With luck Windsor, Kolt and JVR will be elite. Fingers crossed for K Brown as well. I have high hopes for McVee and Howes also. Can take a few years for a player to come really good. After his 3rd preseason we may see Jeffo start being a serviceable KP on his way to being good at the top level.

Some perspective. At round 15 we played 10 22 years old or under. I have not not been surprised at all by our slump. We need all our guns available in top form. No need to say anything else about this. North 8, GC 9, Dee's 10. At the lower end we have Cats 4, Blues, Swans, Don's, Lions and WCE 5. North and GC have had heaps of early draft picks in recent years so access to silk. Surprisingly our recruiters have done well. We will know how well in the next couple of years.

Yep, just wait until he fills out. He will be huge.

We were ordinary but for perspective we played 6 young players tonight (I include JVR). We are in effect in a mini rebuild or list refresh. We probably will finish bottom 6 or 7.

Great to see Kynan selected. He has been very good in his 1st season of VFL. Quick and evasive and reads the play well. He sets up play, has goal involvements and kicks a few himself. IMO eventually his ability to read the play will see him excel as a mid. As a forward if the oppo take their eye off him they will pay. His form this year surprised me. I thought a couple more preseasons would get him right for the big time but if you have what it takes then you get rewarded.

All the best in recovery Christian, No thuggery against maggies. We do not want suspensions for round 1 next year. Given no pre season for Clarry, Gus gone, Tracc out for year our midfield looks shot. Viney looks like he might have a minor calf issue. Time to play ANB mid with Sestan on a flank (he does not have ANBs tank though) and bring in Tholstrup for mid/forward duties. Also i think we will see young Brown play a few games this year as a forward/mid. He reads the play well and has pace and evasive skills.

Every year we have had a few games where we look slow, flat and uncoordinated. This year we have player availability issues and we have a number of inexperienced players in the team. A slump was always going to happen. With Tracc out I think we will struggle for the rest of the season. It was obvious from tge start of the season that we were undergoing a list/team refresh.

Luker looks like he could fill out and be Darling body size. Has broad shoulders. Definetly worth perservering with Luker.

We were always going to slump at some point. No preseason for Oliver and Petty. Brayshaw retires, Smith gone, Melksham ACL. Plenty of young inexperience: JVR 31 games, Windsor 13, Laurie 9, Howes 11, Turner 8. Chandler 46 games struggling. Billings not the answer. Tholstrup, Sestan and K Brown need to get games this year. Casey performances warrant it. Need to look at Free agents that will make a difference. Draft well this year. Given that we will likely get Kalani White next year i would consider trading 2025's 1st rounder back into 2024 draft.

Our depth is not is strong as we thought. Most premiership have good runs with player availability. Brayshaw retired, Oliver and Petty no pre season, Smith out, Melksham knee. And now Tracc out. JVR 31 GAMES, McVee 38, Windsor 13, Laurie 9, Howes 11, Turner 8. Not a lot of experience. Chandler, 46 games has not set the world on fire. Billings just a fill in. McAdam hardly ever on the park at the Crows. A slump was always going to happen. We need to get some games into Tholstrup, Sestan and Brown to see what they can offer If we want to stay in the window we need to get a decent free agent in and then recruit wisely via the draft. We may not make the 8.

All the very best for a speedy recovery Tracc, cheers

JVR and Windsor - our shining lights Both were ok today. It was our experienced players (except Gawn and ANB) that farted and fumbled.