I agree on one spot going to a tall, Crusader. That should be not negotiable from my point of view.
Personally, I'd list Motlop as an LTI. He isn't returning this year so there's no point in not utilising the spot. As for Elijah, he won't last until the MSD IMO. If we believe in him, take him. If not, let him loose and don't waste any extra time on him. Someone else will pick him up IMO. Most AFL clubs/coaches are conceited enough to believe their program is superior to others and they can succeed where others have failed.
Talent trumps everything. I recall Terry Wallace explaining why Richmond gave Ben Cousins another opportunity. They thought he deserved another chance. What a load of bullshit. If he had half the talent, they wouldn't stop to throw rocks at him. The balance between talent and risk is always the determining factor. Fortunately for Elijah, it appears he's still marginally on the right side of the equation.

Well done. It's good to have footy discussion back.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I can’t see us overlooking Elijah if he continues this path.
Not much focus on no frills Philips this preseason, but he’s most likely to get the nod for a lockdown KPD back up imo.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

If Derksen is training with us perhaps he might be preferred to Phillips who knows

Fagan telling it how it is.



https://www.afl.com.au/news/1463443/why-brisbane-lions-coach-chris-fagan-sees-st-kilda-saints-cash-splash-as-a-danger-for-the-game

You could say the same about JSOS, who is a smart footballer for half a season and Curnow who is conditional.

They should all do well this season in a new environment but I also think we will too without them.

A poster on BF said they are tipping our other SSP player to come out of the NT but not Wade.

Unless they are not on the AFL radar (or I have missed them) the players available from the NT are:

Draftees:
Taj Murray - 201cm Key position
Clay Shadforth - 179cm Small forward
Kalen Russell - 178cm Midfielder

Ex AFL:
Wade Derksen - 194cm Key position
Alwyn Davey Jr - 181cm Forward
Lloyd Johnston - 184cm Medium defender that can play half forward/wing.

I like the looks of Taj Murray if we are looking for the development of a TDK/Charlie replacement.
https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/taj-murray/



But if we are looking to add another small for the season then we might look at Clay or Alwyn who I am not sure I like the idea of.
https://nit.com.au/29-10-2025/20972/territory-young-gun-clay-shadforth-tipped-as-afl-draft-smokey

Although unlikely, if we are looking to plug our key defender hole now or add pure speed to the backline, then I still like the look of Wade Derksen and I think Lloyd Johnston could add some real damage to that back 6 or even a role on the wing.
https://www.afl.com.au/players/2886/wade-derksen
https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/lloyd-johnston-2/

Taj Murrays mother worked with my wife at Royal Darwin Hospital for many years until moving back to Adelaide mid 2025. Taj played senior footy at Nightcliff when he was about 16. Same team that Sam Walsh played for when he lived in Darwin.

I hope that Taj is a chance to get to Carlton, but his mum told us that Sydney have recently been talking to his manager. Would hate to see him go play along side Curnow when he could develop to replace Charlie at Carlton.

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“Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes."

Sounds like it could be an opportunity missed if we don't get him and Sydney does.
I'm with you, he looks like a good developmental prospect.

The ‘Slim Reaper’ is a pretty good epithet, so long as it doesn’t describe a penchant for getting pushed aside.

Territorians are generally built different though. Where Timid Tom dropped his bundle after getting pawed at by Pittonet - bad enough to fall behind Callum Moore in the pecking order, I’d wager Murray would be the type to put up a fight.

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

In any case, with O’Farrell & now Haynes out, it’s hard to sell the argument for anyone that’s not ready for the first month of the season.

Weitering, Dean & Young. That’s the lumber.

Derksen, Phillips, Paea. They’re in the building & fit for purpose.

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

With Haynes out, McGovern or young will stsrt

McGovern is 2cm taller than Adam Cerra and 5cm shorter than Patrick Cripps. It would be suicide to go into the start of the season with him as our second tall. He's a 3rd tall at best. Even Haynes is undersized. We need someone 195cm+ to allow us flexibility with Weiterings role.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Which is why I would imagine young will play round 1

Agree London and we all know his limitations but played well in match sim last week
Better than Mcgovern in my view

Yeah , Young is gonna be very very handy this year .

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All my dangerous friends

Anyone over 200cm and has a pulse will be handy this year.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I'll take two out of the three talls available. Elijah can play elsewhere. Not sure why so many have him in the team.

Maybe cause he's the only one in the team who can actually find a target and not just resort to the long bomb

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This - I'd have him well ahead of any of the other options, tall or short.

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

Hollands is a walk up best 15 player if he has his head screwed on

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Go Blues

15 is a great way to create space in the forward line!

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Congratulations CK95