The Kings Ransom
Premiership Player
- Aug 30, 2021
- 4,229
- 4,987
- AFL Club
- Gold Coast
A disappointing end to our season, but, overall a real step in the right direction.
So many positives.
We were the 5th best defence.
Collins again a rock and AA squad nominee. Noble and Rioli were huge additions and really transformed the team. Jeffrey showed he is an AFL level player.
We did this whilst playing without our second best defender the whole year - our second and third tall defenders are both 21 years old - any other teams doing that with young players in key positions - I don't think so. A mid season KPD played 8 games (also 21 years old).
We were the 4th highest scoring team.
King kicked 71 goals a club record
Long kicked 45 goals (can you even comprehend this at the start of 2024) and made the AA squad
Humphrey continued his progression and showed he can win games for us.
We did this whilst playing 2 x 19-20 year old key forwards for 37 combined games and a barren small forward department. Read really came on and Walter showed glimpses. Both have huge upside, but things to work on for sure.
Our midfield was the engine that drove us
Anderson AA, Rowell AA
Miller a great year coming back from injury affected 2024. Miller, Humphrey, Graham are going to be an excellent mid-fwd rotation. Can include Flanders if he gets his back right and sticks around.
Witts a monster. Moyle should get more opportunities next year. Surely Witts gets rested a bit more frequently.
Overall
We won a bloody interstate final. Amazing experience for the guys and you can see how the positivity around this will spur them on into next year - and to encourage people to stay and attract others.
We actually stayed pretty healthy. Ballard knee was unavoidable. Graham's shoulder was unavoidable. Flanders back was troublesome. But we hardly missed 90% of our best team throughout the year.
Some indifferent themes
We let teams kick multiple goals in a row against us on a number of occasions. Threw away some great positions to win.
If we have the game on 'our terms' we look very dangerous. But we don't seem to be able to win through other avenues if our style gets interrupted. To win a flag you have to be better than that.
A bit disappointing that Rogers, Lombard, Graham, Moyle didn't get more game time this year. Either through injury, form or selection reasons. For me, Moyle in particular. Witts another year older. We know that Moyle is a great VFL ruckman, but is he a decent AFL ruckman.. not quite sure. Wish we found that out before our stars are in their prime so we can pivot if needed. For Rogers - for a team who has limited small forward - you wish he got a few more games. Only kicked 1 goal in his 7 VFL games - obviously playing more mid. But is he someone that can come in and kick goals for us??
I am ok with Mac's year. He had to play a role that probably doesn't suit his best attributes and he lead the league in spoils. I think he showed increasing levels of maturity as the year rolled on. But, we didn't really see the best of him. Where was that guy who took intercept marks for fun last year. Wish we saw this a bit more. Didn't take a huge leap like I thought he might.
Negatives
I only saw 2 games live this year (both losses to Brisbane)
Not that many others!
I'll probably do a deep dive into some of the stats players and team at some point.
Hoping everyone can put in their thoughts about the season as a whole.
So many positives.
We were the 5th best defence.
Collins again a rock and AA squad nominee. Noble and Rioli were huge additions and really transformed the team. Jeffrey showed he is an AFL level player.
We did this whilst playing without our second best defender the whole year - our second and third tall defenders are both 21 years old - any other teams doing that with young players in key positions - I don't think so. A mid season KPD played 8 games (also 21 years old).
We were the 4th highest scoring team.
King kicked 71 goals a club record
Long kicked 45 goals (can you even comprehend this at the start of 2024) and made the AA squad
Humphrey continued his progression and showed he can win games for us.
We did this whilst playing 2 x 19-20 year old key forwards for 37 combined games and a barren small forward department. Read really came on and Walter showed glimpses. Both have huge upside, but things to work on for sure.
Our midfield was the engine that drove us
Anderson AA, Rowell AA
Miller a great year coming back from injury affected 2024. Miller, Humphrey, Graham are going to be an excellent mid-fwd rotation. Can include Flanders if he gets his back right and sticks around.
Witts a monster. Moyle should get more opportunities next year. Surely Witts gets rested a bit more frequently.
Overall
We won a bloody interstate final. Amazing experience for the guys and you can see how the positivity around this will spur them on into next year - and to encourage people to stay and attract others.
We actually stayed pretty healthy. Ballard knee was unavoidable. Graham's shoulder was unavoidable. Flanders back was troublesome. But we hardly missed 90% of our best team throughout the year.
Some indifferent themes
We let teams kick multiple goals in a row against us on a number of occasions. Threw away some great positions to win.
If we have the game on 'our terms' we look very dangerous. But we don't seem to be able to win through other avenues if our style gets interrupted. To win a flag you have to be better than that.
A bit disappointing that Rogers, Lombard, Graham, Moyle didn't get more game time this year. Either through injury, form or selection reasons. For me, Moyle in particular. Witts another year older. We know that Moyle is a great VFL ruckman, but is he a decent AFL ruckman.. not quite sure. Wish we found that out before our stars are in their prime so we can pivot if needed. For Rogers - for a team who has limited small forward - you wish he got a few more games. Only kicked 1 goal in his 7 VFL games - obviously playing more mid. But is he someone that can come in and kick goals for us??
I am ok with Mac's year. He had to play a role that probably doesn't suit his best attributes and he lead the league in spoils. I think he showed increasing levels of maturity as the year rolled on. But, we didn't really see the best of him. Where was that guy who took intercept marks for fun last year. Wish we saw this a bit more. Didn't take a huge leap like I thought he might.
Negatives
I only saw 2 games live this year (both losses to Brisbane)
Not that many others!
I'll probably do a deep dive into some of the stats players and team at some point.
Hoping everyone can put in their thoughts about the season as a whole.
