INS and OUTS 2025

[TDJ44]

Recruiting

North - shite
Glenelg - flag favourites
Sturt- quality of quantity
Eagles - crap
South- still shit
Norwood - gone backwards
West - not as shit as previous shitness
Central- Quality

North has been good. Glenelg unbelievable. Sturt, second only to Glenelg. Eagles very good. South, struggling. Norwood will probably get Rokahr back. He's returned from the West and Norwood are "arguing" it's for his primary work so should be able to void his playing contract with Swan Districts. So, he'll be a huge in. West and Central average. I'm not as excited as UK Fan, one recruit looks good others hopefully will be okay. If we lose Dudley on top of Munn, Schiller, McCormack and Mclennan, then I think we'll be fighting for a spot in the 5, of course also subject to Port and Crows.

Yeah I agree,our recruiting looks average.
It started off nicely with Tomkinson but nothing much after that.
I was hoping we'd pick up a couple more.
Certainly hope I'm proven wrong.

[sib]

There has been no announcement from Adelaide that they have signed McAndrew. In fact he still went to Norwood Training last week for one session. More to say hi I think.

[UK Fan]

Recruiting

North - shite
Glenelg - flag favourites
Sturt- quality of quantity
Eagles - crap
South- still shit
Norwood - gone backwards
West - not as shit as previous shitness
Central- Quality

North has been good. Glenelg unbelievable. Sturt, second only to Glenelg. Eagles very good. South, struggling. Norwood will probably get Rokahr back. He's returned from the West and Norwood are "arguing" it's for his primary work so should be able to void his playing contract with Swan Districts. So, he'll be a huge in. West and Central average. I'm not as excited as UK Fan, one recruit looks good others hopefully will be okay. If we lose Dudley on top of Munn, Schiller, McCormack and Mclennan, then I think we'll be fighting for a spot in the 5, of course also subject to Port and Crows.

Yeah I agree,our recruiting looks average.
It started off nicely with Tomkinson but nothing much after that.
I was hoping we'd pick up a couple more.
Certainly hope I'm proven wrong.

I might be biased!!!

[azza1719]

I'm a bit more positive about Centrals recruiting this off season. We've covered the league players we've lost. Adding Grant, Gasper, East & M Lochowiak back into the league team that played in the prelim. If we lose Dudley to Freo Callinian and/or Anzac Lochowiak will step up. Mixed with the natural improvement of a lot of players I'm optimistic that Centrals will be around the mark again.

[DOC]

There has been no announcement from Adelaide that they have signed McAndrew. In fact he still went to Norwood Training last week for one session. More to say hi I think.

There was. Early December. He has a SANFL contract with them.

Norwood and the Crows have a not so secret agreement that they will release him should Strachan be fine.

[southernbulldog]

So technically he could play for 2 clubs in the one season

[robranisgod]

So technically he could play for 2 clubs in the one season

As recently as 2022 Luke Surman played for both Port Adelaide and Norwood. There have been many other examples of that happening.

[DOC]

So technically he could play for 2 clubs in the one season

Any one can. Just have to be cleared by June 30

[southernbulldog]

Thanks guys i forgot about that

[wenchbarwer]

I'm a bit more positive about Centrals recruiting this off season. We've covered the league players we've lost. Adding Grant, Gasper, East & M Lochowiak back into the league team that played in the prelim. If we lose Dudley to Freo Callinian and/or Anzac Lochowiak will step up. Mixed with the natural improvement of a lot of players I'm optimistic that Centrals will be around the mark again.

Centrals seem to be very big on Mihail, bit of pressure given he's only played about 15 league games in 6 seasons.

[northerner]

I'm a bit more positive about Centrals recruiting this off season. We've covered the league players we've lost. Adding Grant, Gasper, East & M Lochowiak back into the league team that played in the prelim. If we lose Dudley to Freo Callinian and/or Anzac Lochowiak will step up. Mixed with the natural improvement of a lot of players I'm optimistic that Centrals will be around the mark again.

Centrals seem to be very big on Mihail, bit of pressure given he's only played about 15 league games in 6 seasons.

The guy has been amazing with his positivity around the group despite missing the best part of 2 seasons. He is super fit right now. Definitely keen to see what he can bring.

I see lots of upside this season. The Club felt they need quality over quantity in terms of recruits. All 4 recruits are expected to figure at league level. The last two seasons saw 35 recruits and some never played at the higher level.
On top of the 4, a lot of faith is being placed on the younger lads who have played 20 to 30 games being naturally better and stronger, as well as some long term injured players being virtual recruits (like Mihail)
East is another "recruit" after 15 months out... he is one of our best 8 players and will be a big asset. His inclusion allows Lange to stay up forward.
Max Monagahan is highly rated and just the type of quality ball using mid that we lack...injuries restricted him to one league game.
Chisholms fast-tracked pre season started in July after major back surgery, and he never got up to his elite playing level.
Grant and Gasper will return after missing the finals side (who still managed to beat Sturt).
Tomkinson and Annands inclusion will allow Beau Tbomas to play permanent forward.
Look for big progress from lads like Barry, Liddy, Gasper, Dittmar, Posthuma and Callinan.

Every team has plenty to look forward to next season some with more optimism than others.
Recruits are one part of the puzzle; organic growth and healthy players are another (less acknowledged) piece.

[Aerie]

For the Eagles, the most important signature was Jack Hayes, and to also get brother Nick returning, is a huge bonus. Jack would be in the top handful of players to play for the Eagles since the merger. His influence on a game is enormous, whether that be up forward or in the midfield. I suspect the Eagles will need him more in the midfield, especially with Nick able to be a marking target forward, to join Ballenden and the emerging Weckert, who may benefit most of all from the return of the Hayes brothers.

Kobe Mutch is an interesting one. His best game for us was the 2021 GF. He was sluggish when the chips were down in the 2022 season and then left for South. The Eagles are crying out for midfielders, but Mutch would want to be a better player now than when he left, to be of benefit to the team. At 26, he should be coming into his prime.

Oliver Megins is a mature ruck from South. Didn't seem to be a lot of excitement from the handful of fans who saw him in the pre-Christmas trial vs West. With Redden retired (again), there is a spot there. Brinker-Ritchie was looking promising in 2023, but missed all of last year with injury. Jordan Lukac is another option, who has all the tools if he can take his game to the next level. Of course, there is Jack Hayes as well, but ideally, one of these three takes position as first choice. If Megins is good enough, there is a position there.

Likewise, Liam Puncher, from Sturt. With the loss of Luke Thompson, there is a big, irreplaceable hole in the back line. Puncher is a young AFL aspirant from NSW, who won Sturt's Reserves B&F last year as a key back, but is looking for more opportunities at league level. If he is good enough, he should get his chance.

The Eagles lost a huge amount of experience in Thompson, Goldsworthy, Firns, Redden and Troy Menzel - so they have recovered that experience somewhat with their recruiting and will hope some of the juniors coming through take the next step.

[another grub]

No cheerleaders

No wonder wedgie left

[southernbulldog]

Northerner love your summary where do you see the following players in the scheme of things.
Larkins,Barreau & Pearce who was very good early last season .

[northerner]

Northerner love your summary where do you see the following players in the scheme of things.
Larkins,Barreau & Pearce who was very good early last season .

I preface these remarks by saying they are entirely my opinion, but I don't see any of these in the top 22.
Out of the 3, Barreau is the one I personally rate because there is no facet of the game he cannot master, but he had a flat season last year and needs to impose himself for the full game.
Larkins is a great ball winner but turns the ball over so very often. There was a thought he might be more efficient as a defender.
Pearce... if he wants it hard enough, you never know. But I think that Beau Thomas has leapfrogged him as the key target.

Interesting to hear that Sharp is unlikely to be playing league in the first half of the year, with the Club ensuring he is concentrating on Nationals at that stage. Likely to finish the season in league.

[whufc]

Northerner love your summary where do you see the following players in the scheme of things.
Larkins,Barreau & Pearce who was very good early last season .

I preface these remarks by saying they are entirely my opinion, but I don't see any of these in the top 22.
Out of the 3, Barreau is the one I personally rate because there is no facet of the game he cannot master, but he had a flat season last year and needs to impose himself for the full game.
Larkins is a great ball winner but turns the ball over so very often. There was a thought he might be more efficient as a defender.
Pearce... if he wants it hard enough, you never know. But I think that Beau Thomas has leapfrogged him as the key target.

Interesting to hear that Sharp is unlikely to be playing league in the first half of the year, with the Club ensuring he is concentrating on Nationals at that stage. Likely to finish the season in league.

Not surprised with this. Have heard of a few players who are now being managed up until Nationals. Once nationals are completing pending their draft stock will determine the second half of the season for them. If Sharp has an absolute belter of a nationals and is all but set to be a top 3 pick it will be interesting to see if he does then go and play league in the second half of the season.

[wenchbarwer]

I reckon you'll find it is very much the U18 programs that are telling them not to play league until the second half of the year, and not the SANFL clubs.

The state junior programs have always enforced "no play" periods, and seeing Sharp is involved with the AFL Academy (and therefore the AFL by extension), there's no way they're allowing a potential high draftee to slog it out in a League side and miss the nationals.

[DOC]

Yep.

It is the AFL that does it. They see it as their player as they are in their academy.

Did it twice last year with Sid Draper.

[UK Fan]

BTW Doc and think you have yourself a good recruit in Will Splann.

Sliding doors moment when Rhett Montgomery came back to cdfc last season.

Will was firmly entrenched in our best 22 up until that's stage, he's a very good key defender

[DOC]

His form in your reserves shows how hard it was for him to get back in the league side. Three 20 plus disposals games, high mark numbers and okay tackle stats for a key defender.

I can only recall two others from Centrals making the big switch, Demasi and Norsworthy. Worked well for them.