Opinion Non-Crows AFL 13: Offseason

[WaynesWorld19]

I'm ambivalent .....would be happy with a night GF ....or keeping the tradition

I do think a night GF is inevitable though

 

[Coopers]

Floor is a solid A grader?

Yeah, it'll be a dissapointment if he's not better than a solid best 22 player.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Pou played 3-4 decent games at the back end of '23, but hasn't shown much otherwise. Even when fit, he's been pretty underwhelming.

It's a no from me unless he can start putting some consistency together.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I was sitting back after the North Melbourne Game thinking that on the brightside for Port fans, they had JHF to come back into the side........until i realised he played.

ooof that makes that North loss so much worse.

Basically played their best 22 and still got pantsed.

I think this is the worst list in the AFL by a long way.

they have less than zero depth. They have about 10 AFL quality players and thats it.

Port will have no choice but to do a full rebuild. Wouldnt surprise me if Carr is already starting. Refused to select Luko. The whole selection smacks of an audition process.

Now lets talk recruits.

Jordan Sweet - Could be playing for a top of the table Western Bulldogs
Esava Ratugolea

27

Esava Ratugolea

Age

27

Ht

197cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.6

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.2

4star

MG

131.6

2star

D

8.1

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.5

3star

MG

109.0

2star

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

133.8

3star

- Could be playing for a top of the table Geelong
Brandon Zerk Thatcher - The opposite of top of the table but achieved nothing in that move
Joe Richards - Likely be playing in Collingwoods best 22
Jack Lukocius - Could be playing for the Crows and be very likely in the best 22

All these players came running for the promised land. There is no chance any of these players would be at Port if they knew what a disaster the next few seasons will be like for them.

So I have questions. Surely any manager worth their salt would have mentioned to them the realities of the state of the port list? questions were arising back in 2023 as the depth was shrinking fast. Not a single expert saw them as a genuine premiership contender and they said the aging list would start taking a toll. Yes 2024 gave some vindication as they made finals, but it was on the back of just over reliance on the midfield.

Just six players are gone from the Preliminary finals side that got belted by Sydney in 2024. Houston can be added through suspension from that year.

This is the result of an arrogant list management never being told no.

 

[1970crow]

Good bloke clause.

I think there should be room for discount when you’ve played a certain number of games without being reported and it’s a footballing action and in play.

 

[Redline]

Saints might be prepared to wear some of that salary if they get decent trade capital in return. We should be talking.

I doubt it but even if they did they would want a a couple of very high picks especially if they were paying part of his salary. He wouldn't be worth the next two years first rounder and more.

 

[Rotayjay]

I just don’t get how St Kilda are affording this many players on high salaries.

NWM on $2M, De Koning $1.7M, King would have to be over a million,
Marshall would be close, Phillipou on a million and they would have had to pay a lot to entice Flanders across.

Thats a huge amount on their top end.

Because the rest of their list is shit, as evidenced by losing their first two games despite splashing a lot of money on recruits.

 

[Cromulant]

He will be, yeah.

We need to be like Geelong - a continuous seeker and getter of talent. Big name, every year, forever

Im not sure he will be

 

[treeman]

People concertrate a lot on their good players but if you go into games with all of Jones, Evans, Berry, Mackinlay, Wehr, Richards, Lord, Durdin and Watkins in your 23, you're always gettable.

The thing is when some of those players played their first games people were saying how good they were and how did everyone miss them. People were in love with Jones, Evans and Lord in particular. Even on this very forum. Yet now they are nothing more than mediocre players at best. Ken Hinkley did they built them up to think they were amazing. Without him I feel they are missing out on a lot.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Thats an insane amount of cash if true.

He's a massive FIGJAM, always has been. His brother has a similar attitude too.

It runs very much in that family.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I was sitting back after the North Melbourne Game thinking that on the brightside for Port fans, they had JHF to come back into the side........until i realised he played.

ooof that makes that North loss so much worse.

Basically played their best 22 and still got pantsed.

I think this is the worst list in the AFL by a long way.

they have less than zero depth. They have about 10 AFL quality players and thats it.

Port will have no choice but to do a full rebuild. Wouldnt surprise me if Carr is already starting. Refused to select Luko. The whole selection smacks of an audition process.

Now lets talk recruits.

Jordan Sweet - Could be playing for a top of the table Western Bulldogs
Esava Ratugolea - Could be playing for a top of the table Geelong
Brandon Zerk Thatcher - The opposite of top of the table but achieved nothing in that move
Joe Richards - Likely be playing in Collingwoods best 22
Jack Lukocius - Could be playing for the Crows and be very likely in the best 22

I beg to differ on the recruits ...... they're the very reason PORT are a bog average side

Theoretically, if you were correct & these were good recruits ....overlaying them with JHF, Butters, Rozee, Georgiadis, should have made Port better .....well obviously, Ports recruiting team thought that to be the case

All the players listed have been in/out of their original sides B4 coming to Port for a Contract that ensued JS & income

People keep peddling the "Lukosius is a good player" rubbish ......he's gonna be one of those "what could have been" type players .....all the skills & athleticism, but no heart for the contest

I'm thankful every day, Lukosius never landed at the Crows

 

[adelaidecrows]

I beg to differ on the recruits ...... they're the very reason PORT are a bog average side

Theoretically, if you were correct & these were good recruits ....overlaying them with JHF, Butters, Rozee, Georgiadis, should have made Port better .....well obviously, Ports recruiting team thought that to be the case

All the players listed have been in/out of their original sides B4 coming to Port for a Contract that ensued JS & income

People keep peddling the "Lukosius is a good player" rubbish ......he's gonna be one of those "what could have been" type players .....all the skills & athleticism, but no heart for the contest

I'm thankful every day, Lukosius never landed at the Crows

I never said they were good recruits. All I said was it is likely that they would all be close if not playing for those sides.

 

[Vader]

I was sitting back after the North Melbourne Game thinking that on the brightside for Port fans, they had JHF to come back into the side........until i realised he played.

ooof that makes that North loss so much worse.

Basically played their best 22 and still got pantsed.

I think this is the worst list in the AFL by a long way.

they have less than zero depth. They have about 10 AFL quality players and thats it.

Port will have no choice but to do a full rebuild. Wouldnt surprise me if Carr is already starting. Refused to select Luko. The whole selection smacks of an audition process.

Now lets talk recruits.

Jordan Sweet - Could be playing for a top of the table Western Bulldogs
Esava Ratugolea - Could be playing for a top of the table Geelong
Brandon Zerk Thatcher - The opposite of top of the table but achieved nothing in that move
Joe Richards - Likely be playing in Collingwoods best 22
Jack Lukocius - Could be playing for the Crows and be very likely in the best 22

All these players came running for the promised land. There is no chance any of these players would be at Port if they knew what a disaster the next few seasons will be like for them.

So I have questions. Surely any manager worth their salt would have mentioned to them the realities of the state of the port list? questions were arising back in 2023 as the depth was shrinking fast. Not a single expert saw them as a genuine premiership contender and they said the aging list would start taking a toll. Yes 2024 gave some vindication as they made finals, but it was on the back of just over reliance on the midfield.

Just six players are gone from the Preliminary finals side that got belted by Sydney in 2024. Houston can be added through suspension from that year.

This is the result of an arrogant list management never being told no.

Bit of chicken and egg stuff going on here. I'd argue that many of Port's list problems were because of the trades done to bring these players into the club - most notably the horrible Luko/Ratkins trade. These trades robbed them of the draft capital required to bring decent young talent onto their list.

You're essentially saying that the players would not have agreed to be traded to Port if they had realised how bad the team list was. I'm arguing that the team list is weak because of those trades.

 

[Vader]

I never said they were good recruits. All I said was it is likely that they would all be close if not playing for those sides.

I'm not convinced that Luko would be anywhere near Adelaide's best 22 for starters...

That's one sliding doors moment where I was eternally grateful when the doors slid shut, and am even moreso now.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Bit of chicken and egg stuff going on here. I'd argue that many of Port's list problems were because of the trades done to bring these players into the club - most notably the horrible Luko/Ratkins trade. These trades robbed them of the draft capital required to bring decent young talent onto their list.

You're essentially saying that the players would not have agreed to be traded to Port if they had realised how bad the team list was. I'm arguing that the team list is weak because of those trades.

yes i agree. they were sold a vision and i think the argument is the club did not deliver and screwed those players. The Luko trade was poor because frankly we both know it was an anticrows Trade. Its the same reason they throw their hat in the ring with everyone they target. Its to screw recruits away from us, yes it works when the players are good, but id go so far as to say they have been caught out more than once in their desperation. Luko wasnt a player they needed but they were so desperate to **** us they couldnt help themselves.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

I'm not convinced that Luko would be anywhere near Adelaide's best 22 for starters...

That's one sliding doors moment where I was eternally grateful when the doors slid shut, and am even moreso now.

I have been consistent on this, I never wanted Luko from day 1, aka his draft year. Rankine was the one and we've got him.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I'm not convinced that Luko would be anywhere near Adelaide's best 22 for starters...

That's one sliding doors moment where I was eternally grateful when the doors slid shut, and am even moreso now.

I do.

Some players are star players who are star players regardless. Luko is a star player who needs stars around him. If he was in our side, id have no doubt he probably not only would be playing but in a more successful side hed probably be performing well. Port struggling worked against him. Its also a team heavily built on midfield dominance with half of his team mates being the best part of dogshit and would struggle at Sanfl level. Cant be expected to perform in those circumstances. Add the extra demorilisation when you realise the arrogance around playing with your friend thinking a premiership was a certainty, cost you a premiership and could end up costing him an AFL career

 

[SugarShane]

They've used up their A material in Week 1

The bozos at the Advertiser sitting on "Carr Crash" all off season waiting for their first loss.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Josh Carr

Josh Carr

Age

45

Ht

179cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.8

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.3

5star

CL

2.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.8

3star

's coaching reputation is all built on one illegitimate flag at North Adelaide.

 

[Vader]

yes i agree. they were sold a vision and i think the argument is the club did not deliver and screwed those players. The Luko trade was poor because frankly we both know it was an anticrows Trade. Its the same reason they throw their hat in the ring with everyone they target. Its to screw recruits away from us, yes it works when the players are good, but id go so far as to say they have been caught out more than once in their desperation. Luko wasnt a player they needed but they were so desperate to **** us they couldnt help themselves.

I'm not convinced that their motivations were to screw the Crows. I think they genuinely wanted him - and given the lack of talent in their forward line that's understandable. It's just that he's no good.

Nobody is going to outbid another club just to screw the other club. Doing so is obviously self-destructive, as you end up paying a massive price for a player you don't really want anyway. Similarly, nobody makes a F/S bid earlier than they really rate the kid. It just doesn't happen.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I have been consistent on this, I never wanted Luko from day 1, aka his draft year. Rankine was the one and we've got him.

to be fair we didnt need luko. We had players of his ilk so paying a high price wasnt needed and we had other plans.

 

[Vader]

I do.

Some players are star players who are star players regardless. Luko is a star player who needs stars around him. If he was in our side, id have no doubt he probably not only would be playing but in a more successful side hed probably be performing well. Port struggling worked against him. Its also a team heavily built on midfield dominance with half of his team mates being the best part of dogshit and would struggle at Sanfl level. Cant be expected to perform in those circumstances. Add the extra demorilisation when you realise the arrogance around playing with your friend thinking a premiership was a certainty, cost you a premiership and could end up costing him an AFL career

Luko is the living embodiment of the Fabio ad - "I can't believe he's not butter". There's a reason why Hardwick wanted him gone from GC. He's not someone who lifts when surrounded by better players, he's simply soft with no heart or desire for the contest.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I'm not convinced that their motivations were to screw the Crows. I think they genuinely wanted him - and given the lack of talent in their forward line that's understandable. It's just that he's no good.

Nobody is going to outbid another club just to screw the other club. Doing so is obviously self-destructive, as you end up paying a massive price for a player you don't really want anyway. Similarly, nobody makes a F/S bid earlier than they really rate the kid. It just doesn't happen.

Wasnt the argument he wanted to play forward but GC played him in the backlines. Clubs dont just choose to not play someone who is a good forward player in the backlines. So I agree he isnt that good. He is essentially Ports version of Jones where they over paid for someone who is basically a flanker.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Luko is the living embodiment of the Fabio ad - "I can't believe he's not butter". There's a reason why Hardwick wanted him gone from GC. He's not someone who lifts when surrounded by better players, he's simply soft with no heart or desire for the contest.

Yeah But GC have a glut of better players and Luko was found out. He isnt the worst player, he is just not worth what Port paid for him and I think they were desperate to get him and it has everything to do with making sure he didnt end up with us. Hey they saved us the potential pain I guess.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Yeah But GC have a glut of better players and Luko was found out. He isnt the worst player, he is just not worth what Port paid for him and I think they were desperate to get him and it has everything to do with making sure he didnt end up with us. Hey they saved us the potential pain I guess.

It is kinda funny he is on $1 million, but I don't think it's a huge concern for them, look at their squad, they have lots of money.

It's the paying a first rounder for him which will hurt.