What are the chances we move McGovern back into the forward line?

I suppose slim, considering Kemp looks good there and has time on his side.

Not sure we'd get much for McGovern in a trade, so probably not worth doing.

I rate his ball use very highly, but unaccountable defenders shit me up the wall.

What if we tried to start a new trend, the oversized forward line? Harry, Charlie, Kemp and Brackets?

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Well done Liam McMahon for winning our VFL b&F

That's huge.

Great mark. Straight Kick.
Sounds like something we'd like.

Rookie him!!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Boom

At 22 he seems a step ahead of Harry L

100%

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Thinking holistically, I agree that we look better with a second genuine tall defender.
The question is - do we have that player or do we need to get that player?

Young can fill the role but he has many weaknesses, some of which he has had since he arrived.
Perhaps they say to Lemmey "You're unlikely to get a game as a forward in the near future, but if you train as a defender and attack pre-season with intensity, there's a spot as a tall defender available from round 1."
Perhaps Silvagni returns and plays defence now that Kemp has shown he's a possible third tall?

One presumes we have to replace both S. Durdin and Marchbank at the least.

We have decent depth in the small/medium defender area, but I reckon we need to recast the defence somewhat in 2024. Perhaps the next step in O. Hollands development is to spend a season at half back? Maybe Docherty returns to the side and to defence? If the staples in defence are Weitering, Newman and Saad, what's the best combination to support them: McGovern, Boyd, Cincotta, Cowan, Young... Docherty? O. Hollands? Kemp? Williams? Wilson as a half-back? Lemmey? JSos? Williams back to defence?

As I said - we actually have some options here already on the list. The question is what's the best combination?

And, given that we have decent depth, does that mean we have some trade currency? I have to admit, that, as much as we seem to play better with him in the side, I think McGovern might be the most expendable in the sense that he might get us something half decent in return.

Given the age profile of our defence, I'd rather we groomed (!) Olli for the role than swing one of the vets back there. Especially with Binns and Campos increasing the glut of wings.

Fair assessment.

Lemmey was tried in defense in the VFL, then went back forward for last 6 games. Looked a bit slow in defense for me. Some liked him there.
I thought Lemmey's selection was as a replacement of Levi for the Fwd-Ruck given TDK was likely to be one day the No 1 ruck or lose him to FA.

Another thing we need to be mindful of is the following players contracts expire end of next year:

(Backline staples you mentioned) Age next year

McGovern 31
Saad 31
Newman 32
Docherty 32

Others

Fantasia 30
Silvagni 28 (Fwd Ruck)
Kennedy 28
Hewett 29

Scary isn't it?

Kemp also comes out of contract end of 2025

Young has time to turn things around, but we still need to release Weitering to an intercept role, or find a great intercept mark.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Acres turns 30 next year.

Oli, Binns, Cottrell are ready to take on the wings if Acres runs out of luck, and both Camporeales will be developing next year. I think we are right for wings but I get your point re Oli has been a revelation at HB, and Billy Wilson looks like he's got a bit of speed too, as does Cincotta.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Any chance we can develop a young mid? Wasn’t Wilson drafted in the view of being a midfielder. Certainly hasn’t been played there though.

Can Kemp play midfield? Wasn't that where he played as a junior?

I'd love to see it.

Not sure if it would work, but just curious to see how he does.

Something to try in a preseason game, maybe?

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If there can be only one, I’d go with Jack Carroll.

We didn’t break Jack Martin, but he is broken. As for Owies… I just think that there are a dozen Matt Owies out there & we’re the only ones in the market.

File him alongside the Matty Wrights of the game. Those guys that went alright for a bit, but they’re not Eddie so what’s the point.

Jack Carroll is just starting to come into his own. There are tough decisions to be made, but this isn’t one of them.

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

These are tough threads because no one likes highlighting the deficiencies of young players. Especially those who work hard.
No doubt Jack Carroll is a hard worker but sadly his skillset isn't consistent AFL quality IMHO. If he's getting a game in our team every week, we're going nowhere. His ball winning is OK, his athleticism has improved (credit to him) but his foot skills are sub par. Cooper Lord will go past him rapidly, if he hasn't already.
That spot should be going to another developing player IMO.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

read a report where jack wants to go back west and will ask for a trade. i think maybe it has legs? maybe this is why we drafted Lord? i thought the lord pick up was strange since we had jack.

what would jack get us from weagles? a 3rd rounder?

Hopefully we are considering adding McMahon as a rookie

Unless he’s going to play in defence, I don’t see how.

Curnow, McKay, Silvagni & Lemmey.
Weitering, Young.
McGovern, Kemp, (maybe) Haynes & Duffy is probably better behind the ball.

SOS will come back from injury & we’ll be wondering why we’re carrying so many forwards.

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

He’s better by foot than Walsh, Cripps & Kennedy…

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

* Assuming we say thanks & goodbye to Sam Durdin, Akuei, Marchbank, Matt Carroll, Mirkov & Cuningham. Plus, find good trades for Martin and Owies (or Jack Carroll, but preferably Owies).

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