Have we built a premiership list? Ok, when?

[FR0GGY]

I was thinking of both. Not an area worth investing in this year.

What’s your wishlist?

 

[Rotayjay]

I think we can win a flag without another A-grade midfielder, but we are much more likely to do so with one. Our backline and forward lines are fine. The coach's box also leaves a lot to be desired, but the chances of Nicks being shown the door are **** all until he misses finals.

 

[relapse]

We're an A grade mid and a great coach away from winning a flag in the next couple of seasons.

 

[Mattrox]

Now, we have built the list now. Now for that minor detail.

 

[Bob Neil]

Our development from last year to this is incredible and far beyond anything that could have been expected. Nicks has silenced a lot of the doubters and got us to top two at the end of the minor round which is an excellent achievement.

That said a genuinely great team - and one that wins premierships - is one that beats other excellent teams under finals pressure and, when needed, on the road.

If we can win a final this year to make a preliminary final then it’s a great year. The pessimist in me isn’t convinced that we’re ready to go beyond that yet but I’d love to be proven wrong.

 

[PCORF]

Hopefully we can win it this year. It all depends though.

One advantage is we have had quite a few hard fought wins against top sides like Brisbane, Hawthorn and Collingwood. When next month arrives we'll have to meet them again and possibly Geelong too. They are 50/50 games and you need to get everything right.

Keane and Worrell = brilliant seasons. The underrated heart and soul of this team.

 

[Velvet George]

My OP was overly optimistic and deluded, I’ve changed my pick from 2027, we are no chance to we’ve blown it.

Too many holes. Weak midfield, too many “what ifs” to hope that it becomes elite.

Half back is a weakness.

Development is crap.

And of course, if we don’t sack Nicks this year, he’s coaching in 2027 and there is no way in hell this bloke is a premiership coach.

Special mention to Hamish and Justin, how the **** do you rebuild with so many top picks and fail to build an elite midfield.

 

[Crowboto]

The list is good. The coach is not.

 

[Viva la Mattner]

My OP was overly optimistic and deluded, I’ve changed my pick from 2027, we are no chance to we’ve blown it.

Too many holes. Weak midfield, too many “what ifs” to hope that it becomes elite.

Half back is a weakness.

Development is crap.

And of course, if we don’t sack Nicks this year, he’s coaching in 2027 and there is no way in hell this bloke is a premiership coach.

Special mention to Hamish and Justin, how the **** do you rebuild with so many top picks and fail to build an elite midfield.

I really think if we sack Nicks and we get a competent head coach we will make top 4 in 2027 > 2030

 

[jackster83]

Player development is completely non-existent.

Until we fix this, it doesn't matter how many early picks we have.

 

[Velvet George]

The list is good. The coach is not.

Good yes, premiership material?

 

[skam85]

In Roughead we trust

 

[Crowboto]

Good yes, premiership material?

With the right coach playing them all to their strengths they are close and certainly better than the shite that was dished up yesterday.

 

[Samcro24]

Good yes, premiership material?

There’s a lot of gaps

 

[ABAB]

Player development is completely non-existent.

Until we fix this, it doesn't matter how many early picks we have.

Don't get confuse with player development and not being selected by Nicks. Both Edwards and Dowling should have played more AFL games by now, even Ryan should have been picked a few years ago on SANFL form when Smith was somehow still being selected. Rachele, Soligo (fitness struggle) and Curtin have developed into potential A graders, Thilthorpe and Worrell have developed into A graders. Cook has developed into a very good player when most clubs would have delisted him a year ago.

 

[ABAB]

There’s a lot of gaps

Ruck gap has been filled with McAndrew but we will need to draft or recruit a young Ruckman. Midfield will be with Dawson, Rachele, Rankine, Soligo, Curtin, Bailey, Peatling with Draper and Edwards development through there (I wouldn't mind Pedlar having midfield minutes). Laird retired with Cummings playing back, Dowling taking Cummings spot on the wing, Walker retired with Ah Chee taking his spot (Thilthorpe, Fogarty and Ah Chee is a better forward structure).

 

[Samcro24]

Ruck gap has been filled with McAndrew but we will need to draft or recruit a young Ruckman. Midfield will be with Dawson, Rachele, Rankine, Soligo, Curtin, Bailey, Peatling with Draper and Edwards development through there (I wouldn't mind Pedlar having midfield minutes). Laird retired with Cummings playing back, Dowling taking Cummings spot on the wing, Walker retired with Ah Chee taking his spot (Thilthorpe, Fogarty and Ah Chee is a better forward structure).

People always reel off names through the midfield, and it looks ok on paper. All of those players bar Bailey are available to us now, it just hasn’t worked.

Basically relying on Draper, Curtin and Edwards to be A grade to elite… at the club with the worst record of developing midfielders.

We should have moved heaven and earth to get 2-3 established midfielders. Oliver, Petracca, Merret types. Even Parker puts up good numbers for north.

3 midfielders that can actually rack up possession. Release Dawson back, Rankine forward.

 

[Viva la Mattner]

People always reel off names through the midfield, and it looks ok on paper. All of those players bar Bailey are available to us now, it just hasn’t worked.

Basically relying on Draper, Curtin and Edwards to be A grade to elite… at the club with the worst record of developing midfielders.

We should have moved heaven and earth to get 2-3 established midfielders. Oliver, Petracca, Merret types. Even Parker puts up good numbers for north.

3 midfielders that can actually rack up possession. Release Dawson back, Rankine forward.

We ****ed up the Oliver one , were box seat and then dropped him like a hot potato when looked like we were a chance for Petracca

GWS swooped in and rest is history

 

[Coopers]

Ruck gap has been filled with McAndrew but we will need to draft or recruit a young Ruckman. Midfield will be with Dawson, Rachele, Rankine, Soligo, Curtin, Bailey, Peatling with Draper and Edwards development through there (I wouldn't mind Pedlar having midfield minutes). Laird retired with Cummings playing back, Dowling taking Cummings spot on the wing, Walker retired with Ah Chee taking his spot (Thilthorpe, Fogarty and Ah Chee is a better forward structure).

Will Dawson be an old man before Draper and Curtin are at their peak though?

If that's 3+ years away, Tex is gone too

 

[ABAB]

People always reel off names through the midfield, and it looks ok on paper. All of those players bar Bailey are available to us now, it just hasn’t worked.

Basically relying on Draper, Curtin and Edwards to be A grade to elite… at the club with the worst record of developing midfielders.

We should have moved heaven and earth to get 2-3 established midfielders. Oliver, Petracca, Merret types. Even Parker puts up good numbers for north.

3 midfielders that can actually rack up possession. Release Dawson back, Rankine forward.

Curtin has been out injured, Soligo has struggle with his fitness and Rachele has looked very good back in there. None of them have played together at the right time this year. Dawson and Rankine both been down, Peatling starting to find some form after a hammy at the start of the year.

 

[Velvet George]

We ****ed up the Oliver one , were box seat and then dropped him like a hot potato when looked like we were a chance for Petracca

GWS swooped in and rest is history

Haven’t paid much attention to GWS, how’s he going?

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Haven’t paid much attention to GWS, how’s he going?

pretty bloody good

 

[Velvet George]

pretty bloody good

View attachment 2595080

Good on him

 

[CDC60]

People always reel off names through the midfield, and it looks ok on paper. All of those players bar Bailey are available to us now, it just hasn’t worked.

Basically relying on Draper, Curtin and Edwards to be A grade to elite… at the club with the worst record of developing midfielders.

We should have moved heaven and earth to get 2-3 established midfielders. Oliver, Petracca, Merret types. Even Parker puts up good numbers for north.

3 midfielders that can actually rack up possession. Release Dawson back, Rankine forward.

Parker is 34 this year and his days of playing midfield are coming to an end. Ironically, he was the player we asked the Swans about in the swap for Tippett. They knew what they had and offered Jesse White and Pick 22. We took a 'principled stand' and got nothing but a bunch of damaging draft sanctions.

Merrett and Petracca would have cost more than we had to offer and Oliver isn't the player he was and too slow for the modern game. Defensively he's a a major issue. Jack Steele is looking like a brilliant move by Melbourne, quality person too and only 30 but I doubt we considered him. We have invested a multitue of top first round draft picks in players we hoped would be elite midfielders with little success as yet. Curtin may well be a gun but there's a lot riding on Draper coming good and quickly. The 2024 draft is looking like one of the best all-time.

 

[ABAB]

Will Dawson be an old man before Draper and Curtin are at their peak though?

If that's 3+ years away, Tex is gone too

Walker will more than likely retire end of this year, he is really struggling defensively to cover his opponent. I can see Dawson still in the midfield in 2 years time but haven't way less minutes and more playing back and forward.