Jones also not known as a small forward, and played no minutes pre-season. Would Clark have been picked this week if he was available having also played no preseason games ?. Sinclair would have but then again he is an AA. Jones sounds like he has his work cut out to get back in Ross’ good books bas...

Good luck to the kid. Highlights our lack of small forwards though, having traded out Gresham , we put all our eggs in the Butler basket. Our list managers missed a trick not bringing in a ready made small forward to cover Gresh. Great opportunity for Collard to fast track his career if he can make ...

Sinclair and Windy would be massive ins if fit.
Both can play half back
Sinclair can go for a burst in the middle
Windy can be an extra lockdown small defender if required
If they both fit then Jones plays at Sandy I reckon.
Windy most likely starts as the sub.

In 12 months time we may very well add Garcia and Ari to that list.

Plays round one for mine I agree - unless Wndy or Sinclair are fit. Cordy and Battle will come in to play the key defensive options - but we usually play a running defender on the bench - and we are out of options until one of Windy, Clark, or Sinclair is ready. Ari will have to pinch hit giving Na...

B: Stocker Cordy Wilke
HB: Bonner Battle NAS
C: Wood Steele Hill
HF: Wilson Membrey Henry
F: Higgins King Owens

Foll: Marshall Ross Crouch

I/C: Byrnes Sharman Phillipou Shoenmaker

Sub: Jones (if available) or Garcia

Anyone know how the Saints listed players went in the 2nd game ?

Lots to like . Knows how to put himself in the right positions. Once he gets some confidence, and matures ( decision making, concentration) he will be a very handy player. Reminds me of a cross between Wilkie and Battle the way he plays, with a bit of Dougal brain.

On a positive note, the fact we butchered the 2nd half will have RTB crawling all over that 2nd half vision to try and make sure we don’t repeat that against the cats. If Sam PP got 4 weeks , then Jimmy gets 6 . Head high bumping with feet off the ground , is exactly what they want to stamp out. We ...

Ross will be well aware that our best 22 isn’t capable of winning the flag this year. But they are capable of making finals and getting valuable experience Like the rest of us, he is trying to figure out which players we’ve drafted in the last 3 years are capable of making the team good enough to co...

Maybe, the coaches like something they see - a young lad with a kick that is a line breaking weapon. Maybe they want to fast track his fitness, because it’s the only thing holding him back. So rather than just let him develop organically over the season like some of other draftees who may not be qui...

Lyon has effectively cleared everyone out now. How long was he CEO 12 months? This sounds like it was Basset's plan after the 2022 review all along. Classic corporate toe cutting Appoint Lethlean to head toe cutter . When the job is done , the toe cutter always the last one to be shown the door by ...

I imagine how and where the ball comes into the forward half will be a particular focus for RL over the next 6 weeks. He did a great job in fine tuning the defence over the last preseason, and I imagine his major focus this preseason will be to improve our scoring output.

What needs to happen to go from bottom 4 for scoring to top 4 for scoring without compromising our top 2 defence ?

How do you fast track our first, second and third year players so they can take us to the next level without the need to give up wins ?

Many will look back on the Toce era with rose coloured glasses- the 2 x academy boys , the south Australian boys in Wilkie, Sharman , Nas and Pou, and possibly Keeler , plus throw in possibly Wilson & Collard from this years draft. Even more so if one of the other players I have not mentioned fr...

Barring injuries, the only space that has opened up is Grehsam's small forward role. We finished 6th, and lost our first final. That team isn't going to improve in 2024 without some serious change of cavalry. The "possession is 9/10 of the law" matters in season, but pre-season it's all o...

It looks to me it’s another “program” appointment ie whilst Toce may well have been a good talent spotter, was he able to put a talent identification program in place that did not just rely on himself ? Perhaps, or perhaps they think Dalrymple is better placed to put a program in place that is a mor...

It’s a lack of cattle imho . How many of our forward line would get a starting gig at a top 4 team ? King , and perhaps Mitchito ? We desperately need a 2nd tall. Jack Hayes is all heart and will keep presenting but he is a short term solution at best. Membrey our 3rd tall who plays as the 2nd tall ...

I’m surprised RL hasn’t opted for a run with player - essentially the Clint Jones role. I wonder if that’s a Boris Enright preference rubbing off onto RL ? Windy was very successful in that run with role in his first year but not used in that role that I can recall in 2023. I also don’t think he is ...

Barring injuries, the only space that has opened up is Grehsam's small forward role. Gresh averaged a goal a game, and Butler's form fluctuates quite a bit throughout a season, so I reckon if Hotton stays fit and can snag a goal a game at Sandy, he will be a chance to get selected at some stage. I g...

Windy, Pou and Wilson (and Michito) will be driving the standards for the next 10 years.

some curious moves - and non-moves.
Caminiti stuck with 47. How many games do you have to play to get your name permanently etched on the locker ?. I I'm guessing he will be the only one with his name on the #47 locker if he eventually qualifies!

What I loved about this draft, was that we had a clear focus on reshaping the list with some players who have speed, and not afraid to take the game on. Sandy could be great viewing next year. Keeler and Collard will likely be staples in the weekly highlight reel and some run and gun highlights from...

Otiman, I think you might find Adams has already left the building

There was always going to be a few players who felt on the outer with Ross so really unsurprising that Coff and Billings decided to leave. Gresh following the money - fair enough. None of the rest were going to help get us deeper into the finals. I would expect a few more looking to leave end of nex...