Our age balance of our list needs a bit of work for sure, especially if we are pushing again in 2027.
My only concern is if both Harry and HOK get injured then the cupboard is pretty bare and although the game is evolving you still need a tall target, even if it is just to bring the ball to ground.
And aside from HOK at 21yo our players that play as tall forwards are at the back end of their careers.
Reidy is 25yo but is penciled in as a ruck that can go forward.
We should always be developing at least 1 tall defender and 1 tall forward IMO.
Maybe that is HOK this year.
Anyway, I still feel we may be a little exposed this year, I hope not as I'd prefer we play a brand of footy where goals are being kicked by mids, wings, half forwards, small forwards and talls.

Yes KPF a real issue and I spoke to someone connected with Adelaide and they were stoked to get Ludo where they did
Rated him like most a lot higher -did say he thought would take 3 years to really develop

Yes KPF a real issue and I spoke to someone connected with Adelaide and they were stoked to get Ludo where they did
Rated him like most a lot higher -did say he thought would take 3 years to really develop

Ya know….

there are many things to be excited about
with this new batch of players…and each one
has their own +’s….

But the one I’m hoping will surprise us all…
and hopefully reaches a higher level than where
he is now…?

That’s Reidy…the beast…

Oh how I’ve yearned for a big solid man*…a
Mumford type…one who scares the living crap
out of the opposition…

I don’t really know if Reidy…or as the boys nicknamed him…
Reidy…has this in him…I’m just hoping he can
surprise us all and become this player…

Go forth and frighten young man…


kindest regards tommi









*…..poof….

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Felt exactly the same Sidey. Agree with the addition of Ludowyke. Really don’t understand why we are carrying Fogarty or Motlop, as I would rather have had the spare spot for a KPF and KPDAND, as it turns out likely we give Elijah a spot …. he will have to earn.

But I keep looking forward to the better draft next year knowing we are likely to use our 2 firsts on Walker, and snag a couple sliders in the 20’s, but there’s also a ready made KPF FA next year available, one Ben King who we may have our eyes on. Yes there’s also Butters and Humphreys possibly available, and all 3 will have plenty of suitors. Surely we will want to snag one with our war chest.

IMO We won’t have picks to do a deal for Butters when Port match our offer, and we won’t offer much more than $1M. I wouldn’t pay the earmarked $1M+ for Humphreys either, but can see us offer King $1M.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We have a great group of mids and tall HFs on our list. Add Elijah and a couple will be playing in the VFL for years to come.

There’s no question we are short one genuine KPD in 2026, but by 2027, 197cm HOF returns and Dean will have had 2 preseasons under his belt, we look set with 2 KPD and a third very tall, in Dean.

Lewis Young is out of contract end of 2026, Haynes unlikely to continue after 2026, Gov will be gone, maybe Newman too, and we are likely to still require a KPD for depth in 2026 and beyond if we don’t find one this year.

I’m not panicking. I like the list and trust our List strategists. I’m sure a KPD will be added this year, with HOF likely named as an LTI for 2026.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Right on Tommy
The great unknown.

Could be our Trump Card ( playing kind, not the narcissist)
I reckon it’s a 50-50 chance of success…..this year

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That'd be great if we could get him, but I doubt he'll leave.
If he was going to leave he would've put his hand up so the Suns could get Curnow.
Even if we did offer him $1mil, the Suns could still match it and force a trade.
My concern is more for the 2026 season though.
I agree we should've let another player go or not bothered with Elijah.

If we manage to snag one of those 3 players next year, I'd be pretty happy.

So much negativity about us needing a KP forward. Trust the ‘new’ footy admin, they know what there doing……….McGovern will move back forward and take Charlie’s spot.

It's not negativity, we have a hole in our list that needed to be addressed at the draft/trade/SSP this year and we had the opportunity to do it.
For the record, I am pumped we drafted and traded in so much depth and speed to play the modern style of football being played and can't wait to see it all put together in round 1, but you still need talls and depth.
We lost Curnow 194cm, Silvagni 194cm, TDK 201cm and Lemmey also 201cm and only added Reidy to replace TDK and Dean to replace Silvagni.

As a comparison for next season:
Carlton - 4 x 2m+ and 5 x 194cm+ players, total 9
Adelaide - 4 x 2m+ and 7 x 194cm+ players, total 11
Brisbane - 6 x 2m+ and 5 x 194cm+ players, total 11
Pois - 4 x 2m+ and 9 x 194cm+ players, total 13
Geelong - 7 x 2m+ and 3 x 194cm players, total 10
Dorks - 4 x 2m+ and 10 x 194cm players, total 14

A big concern is we are not really developing anyone in the 2s this year.
HOF is out injured most if not all of the year.
HOK will be in the seniors.
Dean will be in the seniors round 1.
Duffy will most likely be gone at the end of the season.
And we are 1 injury away from only having 1 key forward and unfortunately for us it is not if, it is when.

McLovin is only 191cm.

So no matter what way you want to look at it, we are still 1-2 tall players short in the side and will be stretched a few times over the season.
What I wanted to point out was we could've taken Ludowyke to develop and we most likely won't be taking Derksen either, leaving us short and marginally exposed (more so when we get injuries).
And as Bondi has pointed out, there are other players on our list that probably don't need to be there given our acquisitions this year.
So it's not so much negativity as it is a valid point on the reality of our list.

Onley (195cm) is another we were talking about that could've been a good addition, even though he is a mid, he could've easily started as a CHF in the 2s.
Anyway it is what it is and I just wanted to make the point.