Was looking at the AFL experts predictions, and they've all put a line through us already.  I'm a little more optimistic, but then I realised how hard it is to actually pick the ladder and get any team in the exact position.  And then I had a thought for a system to judge how well you did.  Feel free to get your selection in before the opening bounce of the season.  Figured I'd keep it to home and away, with GF winner & runner-up selections as bonus points to keep it interesting.

SCORING

* exact ladder position = 5 points.
* within 1 position either way = 4 points.
* within 2 positions either way = 3 points.
* witihin 3 positions either way = 2 points.
* within 4 positions either way = 1 point.
* GF premiers = 10 points.
* GF runner-up = 5 points.

I've only just thought of this idea, and the first bounce is not far away, so i've literally put 10 minutes thought into it, but time is running out, so I can't dilly dally.  I admit it might be a little optimistic - but here it is

1 GWS
2 adelaide
3 richmond
4 port
5 geelong
6 melbourne
7 sydney
8 western bulldogs
9 essendon
10 st kilda
11 west coast
12 carlton
13 fremantle
14 hawthorn
15 collingwood
16 gold coast
17 brisbane
18 north melbourne

GF premier = GWS
GF runner up = Richmond

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/del-...4z51k.html

Carl Adams,
Mason Blakey,
Ben Caluzzi (Calder Cannons),
Daniel Costanzo, Deven Costigan,
Max Dreher (Northern Knights),
Christian Farchione (Northern Knights),
Alex Federico (Northern Knights),
Sam Fisher (Sydney Swans),
Matthew Harman (Northern Knights),
Josh Hill (West Coast Eagles),
Ben Hurley,
Jordan Johnston (GWV Rebels),
Mitchell Kemp (Bendigo Pioneers),
Kane Keppel,
Jason Kingsbury (Frankston Bombers),
Jordan Lynch (Eastern Ranges),
Chris McCabe,
Angus Milham,
Brendan Myers (Wagga Tigers, GWS Academy),
Jesse Palmer (Port Adelaide),
Harrison Payne,
Fraser Pearce,
Ethan Penrith (Northern Knights),
Marcus Stavrou,
Glenn Strachan,
Andrew Tyquin (Sunbury),
Jean-Luc Velissaris (Calder Cannons),
Jason Williams (Keilor),
Tom Wilson

There are only 13 players left from last year.

With the season just a few days away and expectations of an improved on field performance high, it is with interest that I start up this year's Jim Park Medal Thread.
Voting last year was patchy, with the votes coming from as few as 12 people one week to 24 the next. Hopefully we can perform in such a way as to make our people vote.

But I have a 1t question before I set up the spreadsheet and let it rip: do we want to retain the Jim Park Award as it is?

ok. Looking at 2017, to make the 8 not only did you need the wins  (12 minimum) you also needed to score about 2000 points or more over the season (22 games). Or 91 points a game. 15 goals. Richmomd scored 1992 in the H & A games.

We scored 1594 points. 71 points a game. We exceeded 91 points only twice in 2017 (with a few others in the 80 point range).

So roughly 400 or so extra points are needed, loosely.

3.5 more goals a game, 1 goal a quarter.

I note we scored 89 and 97 points respectively in the two recent JLT games.

Factors that should improve our scoring (potential) in 2018:

1. A less defensive mindset/system - very evident Bolts has removed the handbrake...

2. A more even, deeper (emerging) midfield - (led by Special K) Cripps, Murph, Kennedy, SPS, Fish, Cuners, Lang, Curnow (x2).

3. Organic development in players - Charlie C (20g in 2017), Levi (34g), Crippa (expect 10+), Harry Mc (the great unknown), SOJ (19g, 2017), Pickett (10 given injury), Fish (10+ expect), Wright (good for 25 odd).

4. New additions - Dow (10 goals +), Lang (15 goals), Garlett (12goals), Kennedy (10 goals).

Looking at the basic numbers, an extra 20 points (3.5 goals) or so a game is not really that much to attain.... in my opinion.

My summation? If Big H steps up and kicks close to 20 goals in 2018 (and/or Charlie goes nuts and kicks 50), we'll make finals.

Bam.

Stumbled on this little gem this afternoon - had not seen, nor heard of it. Haven't played it yet but expect it will not appeal to my music taste but a nice little find never the less.

It was a fundraiser with all proceeds going to a trust for the benefit of PM.

Anyone else seen this or own a copy?

I will be upfront here and state that I have no interest whatsoever in the AFLW, the little bits of seen look no better than an U/15 boys game.

Question is, will this version of the game really stand the test of time or will it be a short-lived idea ??

Hopefully there are a few more good players to vote for this week.

A disappointing season will finish this weekend when we play Freo over in the West. Hopefully a few of our WA supporters will be there to make some noise.
We do have a reasonable chance of winning, but we will have to make a big change to what we've been doing of late. Getting the ball out of the middle will be a start!

Backs: G. Pound, D. Hardiman
Half-back: K. Loynes, K. Gillespie-Jones, S. Li
Mids: D. Vescio, K. Grieve, N. Stevens
Half-forwards: M. Gay, T. Harris, G. Gee
Forwards: B. Moody, S. Hosking
Followers: A. Downie, S. Audley, L. Brazzale
Interchange: J. Hosking, T. Lucas-Rodd, L. Arnell, K. Harrington, B. Kennedy
Emergencies: S. Last, R. Hicks
Ins: L. Brazzale, L. Arnell, K. Grieve

Outs: M. Keryk (omitted), T. Cochrane (omitted), L. Attard (omitted)
Interesting that Darcy has been named on the wing. But at least she might get better access to the ball.

Freo:
B: A.Williams 9, T.Bresland 5, E.Gooch 8
HB: M.Caulfield 29, E.Antonio 12, D.Hooker 17
C:                    K.Donnellan 15                     
HF: L.Webb 16 , A.Atkins 37, K.Gibson 21
F: S.Cain 20, T.Haynes 6, G.O'Sullivan 22
Foll: A.Janz 30, L.Mascall 14, H.Miller 19
I/C: A.Sharp 1, C.Davidson 33, L.Filocamo 4, A.Lavell 7, T.McAuliffe 25                 
Emerg: B.Smith 18 G.Houghton 27               
In: K.Gibson, A.Sharp
Out: J.de Melo, S.Barr

As you can appreciate, I think we know that we are still in development mode, and one of the things we are looking for is to develop a winning attitude, as well as a winning feeling.

Irrespective, the conversation surrounding who plays when is occurring and largely it will vary depending on what our aims are.

Team balance is one.
Learning opportunities with guidance is another.

Realistically I look at it, and I can see a few "constants" that are likely to be the case for our team selection, irrespective of what value we perceive they bring to the table.

What I can see happening is that the following players will be picked most weeks unless injured, or struggling for form/fitness majorly.

Mature agers, team leaders, onfield coaches, call them whatever you want:

Marc Murphy
Kade Simpson
Matthew Kreuzer
Ed Curnow
Dale Thomas
Levi Casboult
Matthew Wright

These guys are going to play pretty much when they are available and even if we think they are struggling.  They are there not to perform well themselves, but play their role to the best of their ability and ensure that the team is playing the right way, and that other blokes are playing their allotted roles or learning to play them properly.  These guys are only going to exclude themselves from selection if they are struggling big time.


The next tier:

Jack Silvagni
SPS
Matthew Kennedy
Patrick Cripps
Harry McKay
Darcy Lang
Lachie Plowman
Jarrod Garlett
Caleb Marchbank
Jacob Weitering
Zac Fisher
David Cunningham
Charlie Curnow
Tom Williamson
Jarrod Pickett
Ciaran Byrne


These guys are no longer "learning" to play football.  Some are learning to compete, or learning roles, and some weeks they will benefit from dropping down to VFL level to polish up something or work on their leadership ability, but you will find that these guys are going to be 15-23 gamers for the year (some more likely to play more than others).

The next Tier:

Sam Kerridge
Jed Lamb
Liam Jones
Sam Rowe
Aaron Mullett
Cam O'Shea
Matthew Lobbe
Nick Graham
Andrew Phillips
Matt Shaw
Alex Silvagni

This group are role/depth players who could surprise and play every week but are more likely to be filling in the gaps for team balance that we cant quite get right from the aforementioned.  I expect some to play frequently but most of them will be doing well to get 10+ AFL games for the year and will be the VFL equivalent of what the first tier I wrote down do for our VFL team.

The Next Tier:
Paddy Dow
Lochie O'Brien
Tom De Koning
Angus Schumacher
Harrison Macreadie
Cameron Poulson
Pat Kerr

Youngsters that are still firmly on their L plates and looking to find their feet at this level, or learn roles.  Some might emerge instantly and play like seasoned pros (looking at Paddy Dow mainly or Cam Poulson hopefully) but realistically if they get anywhere near 10 games for the year, they will be deemed a roaring success.  (Projected anywhere from 0-10 games with anything else being an outlier).

This is where I see our list for 2018.  This is likely to be how our MC select our team for round 1, and will contain a few but not many surprises, mainly regarding team balance and opposition match ups, but anticipate that some are going to be ahead of others in the pecking order simply because we need them to be.  I expect we will see the 3-4 year draftees playing pretty much every week unless their form is putrid (and even then we might persist because there is little they can benefit from at VFL level).