Play to win.
Build winning spirit to give us all a good sense of what our list is capable of, and what we actually need in 2026 and 2027.
Also may keep players new coach sees a role for, and makes us attractive to FA/ Trades.

All signs suggest Sydney ends up Top 4.
That gets us Pick 15 to 18.

If we do make 10th, that will be a great effort from here.
That gets us pick 8.

If the Draft rules are (likely) not changed from last year, we will use our first on Walker (I think he will be pick 3-6 with new U18 players putting their hand up for top 5).
If he's picked at 3, it pushes our Sydney First Round pick 15 to pick 22?, or pick 18 to pick 28? If Walker is Pick 4...then its pushed to pick ??? and pick 5 ... Just guessing. Sidex knows the numbers.

We can Trade our Sydney First Round Pick as a First rounder before the Draft, for a player, and use a later pick(s) to make up the shortfall in points to match the Walker bid.

Then we have 2 First round Picks for 2027 to Trade if needed.

Play to Win.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

R1 - Carlton
R1 - Sydney
R2 - Norf
R2 - Gold Coast
R3 - Brisbane

If we can get one of Herbert or Van Hattum in the door ahead of Cody, we’re doing exceptionally well.

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

Read this a couple hours ago. Been on my mind. I'm curious what you think Cru.

Tank or Try?

Only guarantee we could have a pick before Walker is if we are Bottom of ladder and we would have to tank to make that happen.

Maybe 2nd last we can take the pick and use the Sydney first plus some to match walker, but there's no guarantee, lets say, Richmond wont bid on Walker, given he was an NGA player for them.

Bottom 3 teams

1. Richmond.....Tigers could call Walker at No 1 knowing we would match, just to shit us.
2. Effendope....Target Bewick, but would pick other, maybe Walker (to shit us) before Bewick if they had the chance.
3. Carlton ..... Target Walker
4. Port ..... Target Cochrane, They wont end up 18th. Cochrane will be called out pick 1 by Tigers, then they'll call out Walker, then Bewick....why not? No gurantees.

We have to wait for lady luck or end up 18th.......hence Tanking? I don't like Tanking, unless its the last 3 rounds of the season and everything has gone to shit.

Maybe Carlton will have a bit of luck swing our way and end higher than WCE, and North. Personally I think we are better than StK, Port and Melb and Coll, but that requires trying to win. I think we can win 6-8 of the remaining games IF we try...not enough for 10th....no mans land.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I thought Bewick was in the 27 draft?

Correct.

He's so good they decided to let him in this year.

Essendon* always gets the best player in the draft didn't you know?

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

I just read that Darcy is out for the foreseeable with recurrence of a calf injury

I'd rather Darcy in then out. Jackson is very athletic and Reid is going to have his hands full there, however this is now his time to shine.

Yes I agree with that, Darcy has looked extremely cumbersome whenever I've seen him recently, the less oppo pace b the better for us

They still have Bolton.
He loves playing against us.

What position will he play?

The one that damages us the most.......midfield/forward.
We need to put Williams on him if that is the case.

Out: Pittonet, Harry, Elijah
In: Reidy, Wilson, F Young

Wilson gives us more run, mobility, and dare in the backline and should help with transition. Also frees up L Young to move to the forward/ruck role exclusively and McGovern to play purely as a fwd. Could do the same with Saad but would like to see Wilso given another chance.
Reidy straight replacement for Pittonet, if Reidy is still unavailable then we have to bring in HOK.
F Young makes our fwd line better as he is in good form, I don't see the point bringing in an out of form HOK just to give us another tall in the fwd line as he probably won't have any impact. I'd rather us try to change the way we bring the ball inside 50 with a more mobile and open fwd line, really what do we have to lose?
Acres and Hewett both playing well enough to be considered but I don;t see either of them improving the team balance overall.
Boyd, Cottrell, and Lord all play well enough to be promoted, but not sure who they replace? Maybe Byrne for Lord or Cottrell?

I think we are trying & we’re still going to finish bottom six.

If it’s their pick, Richmond won’t call Cochrane at #1 while they’re sitting on Armstrong, Sims, Faull, Fawcett, et al. They might come for Cody, but there’s not much to be gained now that bids don’t move blocks of picks out of the order.

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

No doubt then we offer Darcy a "fresh start with a formerly big Melbourne club" at the end of this year and give Freo a high pick plus take his salary on...........

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This is generational trauma, Dad.

Doubt it. Voss will be gone by then and hopefully start to look at some more ‘athletic’ types.

Thanks GE. Would have preferred him over Cox.

Hopefully Reidy keeps on crashing into both Cox and Jackson and softens them up. Cox can be made lame and fatigued, also making him less dangerous in the Forwadline.

Im started to think we might go with 2 rucks Reidy and OKeefe. But then again we do have Young who we can move around in 3 different positions. Maybe HOK can be more physically maligning?

I wonder why Derksen and Reidy were rested last Friday night?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I like this post.

I like it because it does say we have many options to choose from. That's a good problem.

We have the 3 Tall Defenders in Weitering Dean and Haynes.
I can see Gov and Young in the forwardline (if not Young, then HOK)
We need another running defender, and if that's not Ollie to make room for Acres on a wing or Lord to add a mid, it should be, based on last VFL game, Saad, Boyd, and Wilson would be also in line for reasons you suggest.

I liked seeing Cottrell. His kicking was really good, but I have no idea if he's ready for AFL. He's been back for 3 weeks, and played half a VFL game 3 weeks ago.

Have a good feeling in this game. Similar feeling vs Pies game.

I don't think we are that far off, or far away from beating a Finals contender. We need a scalp. Players need nourishment. The Elijah situation may just well galvanise the group just as Curnows Camp did. We didnt win after the Camp, nearly did, but after that week, we went on a roll. Not saying we will, but footy is a funny game and brings out all sorts of surprises.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Think the impact WCE selection of Dean had on moving our pick 16 to whatever ... pick 22???? I think same thing will happen.

IMO we need 12 wins to finish 10th. That 9 wins from the next 17 games. Win 9 and lose 8. We have something to play for.

I dont think Vossy is coaching for his future at Carlton, at the very least he's just coaching to win and get his winning percentage up before he hangs the jacket.

You didn't answer the question. Tank, for 17th or 18th or end up bottom 6, say 12th?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I have no doubt we are looking for a No 1 Ruckman, now we realise Reidy isn't impressing, and HOK has a way to go; he turns 21yo this year. Baby in ruck years.

Darcy's knee is as bad as Pittos. He's not going to get better.

If Darcy was the 2023 version, I'd take him in a heart beat.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue