Opinion 2024 and Beyond

[rustycrate]

I like Stretch.. Hes clearly got a lot to learn about how to play footy, but his effort are in line with McLean. Love his second efforts when the ball is in dispute, also love his tackling efforts (easy to see his Rugby Union background)
Hes definitely had a good run with coaches / mentors.. Dean Cox - one of the best ever, Hickey would have been a great mentor, and now Grundy..
Hes put on 20 kg in two years! Listed at 101kg beginning of 2023, will be interesting how much heavier he is beginning of 2024.
Agree Ladhams career is at a crossroads - needs to put in a huge effort or, at worst this contract is his last, at best will make another list but only ever be backup.

Plus Stretch is, as his nickname implies, very tall at 209cm. If he makes AFL grade week in week out, is durable, can tap ruck, can stay somewhat mobile he will be GOLD.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I'm hesitant to comment until after the trade period. Our lack of depth was seriously shown this year, and we need to make some improvements, not just continue to homebrew the team. We have a solid base, but a base isn't enough

THIS!

In 2022 the Cats had the depth to cover and rest their stars so they were in top nick for the GF.

In 2023 the Magpies had the depth to cover injuries to several key players, with a solid group of depth players battling for spots.

Our best 22 when fully fit are as good as any team, but it's unrealistic to think we'll be lucky enough to have our best 22 fully fit for every game through the home and away season and through finals.

Our lack of depth cost us late in 2022. It cost us much earlier in 2023. In 2023 we began to lose close games as the holes in key positions grew. Still we made the GF in 2022 and finals in 2023, despite our lack of depth.

Depth means players can be rested when they need to be without a big drop in team performance.

Depth means we don't have to take a risk with an injured player.

Depth means we can better tailor our team to exploit an opposition weakness or nullify and opposition strength.

Having filled our ruck needs, added more defensive talent, matured a few more young 'uns and pimped our midfield, we have plenty of exceptional young talent, some old hands to steer the ship and, most importantly, enough depth. With another preseason adding maturity and strength to younger bodies, I believe we can go all the way in 2024 without having to rely so heavily on luck.

I don't consider the loss of Pyke such a big deal. His recruitment was timely for helping us perfect the fast attacking game style we'd introduced the year before he joined but I expect we've sucked most of his coaching brain dry. No doubt Horse enjoyed bouncing ideas around with Pyke, and I don't think we'll get to thrash West Coast as heavily as we did last time, given Pyke knows us so well. On the flip side, a fresh assistant coach will bring in fresh ideas.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I want to see Sheldrick break out this year. In and under beast

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I want to see Sheldrick break out this year. In and under beast

Agree.

We have had one of the worst performing midfields in the Comp.

The basis of a massive knock down and renovation has been put in place.

We have recruited a more than decent ruck and a quality mid. Hopefully Gus is ready, fit and firing.

I really hope our Coaches are onthe ball and devise new midfield tactics.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Agree.

We have had one of the worst performing midfields in the Comp.

The basis of a massive knock down and renovation has been put in place.

We have recruited a more than decent ruck and a quality mid. Hopefully Gus is ready, fit and firing.

I really hope our Coaches are onthe ball and devise new midfield tactics.

I don't think we even need new midfield tactics, we needed the cattle to be able to carry out the tactics and I think we have that better this year. Hopefully we finally have a tap ruckman that can give our mids first use and if it all clicks and they can get it out quickly to our dynamic ball users, we should go from ho hum midfield to dynamo midfield.

 

[rustycrate]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

View attachment 1849579

Thanks Rusty. A lot of water to go under the bridge.

 

[caesar88]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

View attachment 1849579

This board will go nuclear next year's trade period.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

This board will go nuclear next year's trade period.

Hehehe… I might invest in a bomb disposal suit or hazmat suit at the very least when I suggest some players who could be traded.

 

[caesar88]

Hehehe… I might invest in a bomb disposal suit or hazmat suit at the very least when I suggest some players who could be traded.

No need. I have a state of the art bunker specially built for that exact purpose.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

No need. I have a state of the art bunker specially built for that exact purpose.

lol … with one or two players I might suggest could be moved on, you are one of those I am most worried about.

 

[caesar88]

lol … with one or two players I might suggest could be moved on, you are one of those I am most worried about.

Ah I see, so there's gonna be some tense conversations in the bunker right before I lace your canned beans with rat poison.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Ah I see, so there's gonna be some tense conversations in the bunker right before I lace your canned beans with rat poison.

feeding me canned beans, laced or not, while I am in a confined space is perhaps not advisable.

 

[caesar88]

feeding me canned beans, laced or not, while I am in a confined space is perhaps not advisable.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

The Newscorp analysis today only mentions a few OOC'ers

Errol and Logan the 2 obvious ones, Ollie, Hayward and Rowbottom.

Errol - speculates on a potential long term extension eg. Blakey
Logan - suggests a 2, or 4 year extension to get him to free agency
Ollie - will be the priority FA signing
Hayward - only mentions he's a FA...
JR - we'd want to tuck away early

 

[RUNVS]

Our forward line looked pretty functional in 2023 when Buddy was not there. I am definitely not too worried.

 

[Callipygian]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

View attachment 1849579

Hopefully a lot of those are sorted by mid-season. Lots of work for the list managers to do! I guess it will help them to finalise our draft to inform whatever choices need to be made. After that hopefully we have a steady stream of announcements trickling in over the next 9 months or so.

 

[sataris]

Top 4 without George Hewett

29

George Hewett

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.7

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

10.3

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

3.3

5star

D

13.8

3star

K

4.8

2star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.4

3star

?

Is this real life?

 

[Dan87]

Our forward line looked pretty functional in 2023 when Buddy was not there. I am definitely not too worried.

We looked better than Carlton but were never in front and kicked 9.14 to lose our most recent final

 

[mtooler]

Just updated the list for 2024.

18 players out of contract. Who is a must? Who is walking the tightrope?

We are all just sitting around waiting for the draft to happen.

So I thought I would give us something to talk about to pass another 15 minutes.

View attachment 1849579

You are a legend mate, thank you for going to the effort for us fans.

 

[mtooler]

The Newscorp analysis today only mentions a few OOC'ers

Errol and Logan the 2 obvious ones, Ollie, Hayward and Rowbottom.

Errol - speculates on a potential long term extension eg. Blakey
Logan - suggests a 2, or 4 year extension to get him to free agency
Ollie - will be the priority FA signing
Hayward - only mentions he's a FA...
JR - we'd want to tuck away early

I agree with 80% of their perspective.

 

[tombomb]

Hope we are looking seriously at Corey Warner as a small defender. Looks to me like a natural to play that locked down role.

Thought he showed good progress in the reserves this year, but still think he is only an outside shot to develop into more than just a fringe midfielder.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Hope we are looking seriously at Corey Warner as a small defender. Looks to me like a natural to play that locked down role.

Thought he showed good progress in the reserves this year, but still think he is only an outside shot to develop into more than just a fringe midfielder.

wouldnt say he is a natural for that role

Still he might need to learn the ropes to keep his career going.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

CODE Sports (paywalled)