Are we in reset mode (topping up) or rebuild ?
I'm trying to be as pragmatic as possible with this Gap analysis.
I think we are in a reset phase because we have at least

I think we keep our bookends McKay and Weitering
KP
........players named after dots good chance to fill a spot in 2027.


FB: Dean Weitering................Wilson
HB: O'Farrell .......................Florent + Cerra
Ruck:xxxxxx
RRC: Walsh Walker Smith......Lord+ Cowan
Wings: Carroll Hollands
HF: Hayward.......................Ison + Moir
CHF: xxxxxx
F: Ainsworth........................O'Keefe + Byrne
FF: McKay

19 players for our Best 23. Missing CHF, Ruck, HB, Mid or look at depth below to fill spots


Depth

Keep for 2027

B: Charleson Duffy
HB: Newman Monohan
Ruck: Reidy
RRC: Hewett Cripps B.Campo
Wing: Cottrell Chesser
CHF:
HF: Kemp Young
CHF:
F: Williams Evans
FF:

Not only are we desperate for a RUCK ( for Pitto)and CHF (Charlie) we are desperate for a bit more speed at HB and depth to cover the loss of experience:

McGovern. Saad, Haynes, Young, Acres Fogarty, Boyd, L.Campo ... let alone Cuningham, Martin, Betts

or..... injuries will continue to kill off our chances in 2027.

GW and CD have a lot of work to do from now till Trade time attracting new players and a coach.
Mark McKenzie (Hawks List Mgr) will be next year if rumours are true

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

You're being too practical. I think you've covered the issues we don't know enough about AFL's secret mens business. The veto.

But I will add, its OK to be well versed in the legal position and implications, but do they have the will to see whatever chance we have to fight for our rights?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I've been sidetracked by the attention the Carlton Minutes require to review:
Tanking, Coaches, List Mgr, FA's, Trade targets, fkn AFL Draft rules....Board Members
Its never ending. I know I'm not the only one.....but....

My Accountant keeps reminding me my 2025 Tax return Deadline is this Friday.
I've left everything till the last minute, I have so much paperwork to attend to.
I hate paperwork. I'm retired,

I just told the Valuers I'm desperate for numbers tomorrow, and they say, 7 days.
I can't find the Paperwork for my Contributions. Can't say I'm really trying.

I can't focus whilst my umbilical cord keeps pulling me back to Royal Parade.
I need a stable Carlton for my life to be stable. Holidays don't solve that either.

Skiing only gives me temporary relief and snow dependent. Its not a fix.
Given up on Surfing. Not much to look at the beach after all the early birds are gone before 9am.
Maybe I have to go back to work...too late....

Beer O'clock.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We’ve got résumés, they’ve got results.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Yes Bondi , being retired is hard work .

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All my dangerous friends

Its not as easy as it looks Mick.
You know the saying....idle hands, the devils work.....Yep that's me.
TC is hell, where I belong

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I hope we'll give Gov and Young another year. Never expected to say that, but Gov looks like he has plenty left in the tank and Young fills many roles we won't be able to fully address in one summer

Like most of our mental weaklings, McGovern won’t survive the new coach’s preseason.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

That is the unknown, but I'd like to think if there was a slimmer of hope we could get them on legalities our legal team will be all over it.

This is true.

7AFL
@7AFL
"This was a brutal blindside."

"My understanding is he's considering his legal options."

Tom Morris on Carlton's Head of List Management Nick Austin departing the club

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"I said I'd tell you the truth. Didn't say you'd like it." - Finch

I'm considering mine against him.....

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#DonTheStash

I've been considering mine against Carlton for longer than I can remember.

The board should do something useful and be considering theirs vs the AFL

We need a few big men: Ruck and CHF, and depth in those positions.
I'm a fan of what Young brings to the team as opposed to being blinded by his shortfalls in a team lacking cohesion at times. ie losing the plot.

If we can'tt find these big men, then Young stays.
Gove was basically delisted end of last year and when we couldnt get the ddeal done with Bulldogs for Kharmi Gov was saved from the scrap heap. No one wanted him. But he has been great this years. Lets wait till the end of the year. If he's fit and firing, he's retained at least for depth.

The point is, we need to make space to fill gaps we know we have, and that includes depth. How many changes do we need to make? If we are spooners we may get Van Hatton and walker, then have 2 x 2nd and a 3rd and 4th pick. That's 6 spots to fill or 5 is we are 17th and higher. I don't think that's enough change till fill gaps. WE are targeting FA like Amartey. He wont be the only one, and I'm sure there's Trade targets (unless Austin's book was empty). I think we need to recruit for depth too.

I'm looking at 10 changes.

I listed 8 players to let go, including 2nd year FS Lucas campo. Who else do we let go if we keep Gov and Young? I forgot to add Elijah. Williams? F.Young? My boy Charleson? All out of contract. Pay out contracted players? Motlop? Cottrell? Have to keep Pitto for depth, and OKeefe to develop.

Trade out Cripps? Doubt it. Bookends, Weiters, Mckay? Cuts too deep imo. Kids need good experienced players around them.

Difficult decisions.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

2026 Draft - This is a Total WTF moment! Just some bored musings.

So we get Cody Walker - Tick

Then what? Wright says the club will be aggressive. Not alot of value there - Crippa and McKay I guess.

HOF should be back to start holding down a KPP (Hopefully FB aided by Dean or Derksen) - Tick
Harry Dean has another pre-season in the Gym - Tick
Weits plays further up the ground - Tick

Capt obvious would suggest we need a 202cm athletic ruckman
HOK is just 22 in December. Still time. Can he turn the corner?

If we need a replacement for Pitto then who? What does Reidy need to do to take the extra step? Fitness is probably 1 thing straight away. He's 25 so surely 2027 is make or break.

Can we land Butters? Mmmmmmmmmmm. Have to be a massive offer......like really massive. What can we offer him? He wants success, so that leaves us struggling. Maybe Davies and Boak have some sway with him.

Derksen turns 25 next month. Can they turn Derksen or Dean into a mobile KPP forward? Dean is 193, Aggressive and quick on a lead. Lovely kick.

Who goes? Crippa (31 last March) or McKay (28 in Dec)? I would vote Crippa if it is now or never.

I suspect Ison will pass Moir in 6 games. Ison has far more aggression, intensity and desire.

Extremely confident Byrne will be best 23 in 2027.

Wilson (21 next month) will hopefully play the large majority of the rest of 2026 and train with the onballers in pre-season. He is AFL material.

The 2 Irish boys are treading water. Monahan injured and Duffy seems still well off it. From VFL watches, does Duffy look any chance?

Cera - What has happened to Cera? He's only 25. He has AFL talent. Maybe leave him on a wing for some games and see what we get.

Carlton is a pure Rubik's cube to me. I have no idea.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”

Hey Cazz , I believe a vacancy has just opened up in the recruiting department . Putting your hand up ?

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All my dangerous friends

I think Duffy has reached his peak, he's an average VFL footballer. Unless we see an amazing transformation in the rest of the VFL season then no need to keep him on the list. I'm less sure of Monahan's upside but I feel he's also just a good VFL footballer.

I'd also trade Cripps to get some value before he's truly passed it, and before the compromised Tassie draft. We need to keep Weitering and Harry as bookends otherwise we are entering full rebuild territory. We can replace most or all of what Cripps brings with Hewett and Lord.

Fair point on Crippa and filling his role, but.......
The problem is, and without looking to see which team is on the push and requires a player like him, he doesn't hold that much value anymore.
What do you think we'd get for him and where would you trade him to?
WCE don't need him yet, maybe in a couple of years he'd be the perfect fit but he'll be done by then.
Personally, I think Weiters is the one to trade, while he still has good value.
And with HOF, Dean and if we trade in another decent upcoming defender, would we actually miss him?

As for Harry, I'd trade him to get Walter, but that won't deliver us any more picks in the draft.