Your biggest POSITIONAL concern heading into 2025 is:

[Rusty12]

Less concerned about Ruck. Tim may have a great season, and even when he wasn't competitive last year, we played some great football.
Don't move Lobb; leave him to settle down back.
Although Ruck can be really important, just how important can also be completely over-valued.

Duyrea, would be a blow, but even with him, we will get carved up by some smalls, I think we can go close to minimising the damage done if we lost him.

The inside group are elite, and are elite at winning the footy, really good with pressure inside the contest, however are not the most gifted or effective when it comes to defensive running.

That's why I am saying the outside group is my biggest concern, as they need to cover and make up for the inside group's one flaw. There were periods last year when this happened, and we were on fire as a team, and then the elimination final against the Hawks showed just how far off we still are in that area. Until we can go close to matching the spread when we don't win it, or turn it over, it will be another year of 6th-10th.

[GVGjr]

I’m concerned by all those options and it makes me depressed how many holes we actually have.

I don't see them as genuine holes more a few spots I wish we had a slight upgrade in.

[Mantis]

The inside group are elite, and are elite at winning the footy, really good with pressure inside the contest, however are not the most gifted or effective when it comes to defensive running.

That's why I am saying the outside group is my biggest concern, as they need to cover and make up for the inside group's one flaw. There were periods last year when this happened, and we were on fire as a team, and then the elimination final against the Hawks showed just how far off we still are in that area. Until we can go close to matching the spread when we don't win it, or turn it over, it will be another year of 6th-10th.

I've been banging on about our piss poor defensive/transition running for years and it is probably the area of our game that frustrates me the most.

If we don't win/ maintain possession the likes of Libba & Adz aren't effective in helping us win the ball back which places extreme pressure on our defenders who as a group need heat on the ball coming in or can struggle.

[Grantysghost]

Outside mid. Williams had a great year last season but I worry about his defensive efforts at times. He's certainly locked in to a wing until he's not. Other than that we have a rotating cast of thousands that all seem to be good VFL players at best. I'm liking the reports re Davidson however we can't bank on a guy with 0 games to his name. If, and it's a big if, JJ can stay fit then that could release Freijah however again, he's a kid.

So yeah we are short big time in this position, and with the speed and run required in the modern game I think it's our biggest concern.

I wouldn't hate trialing McNeil here, although it appears this hasn't been happening in the pre-season and he's locked into a high forward role.

[Mofra]

I've been banging on about our piss poor defensive/transition running for years and it is probably the area of our game that frustrates me the most.

If we don't win/ maintain possession the likes of Libba & Adz aren't effective in helping us win the ball back which places extreme pressure on our defenders who as a group need heat on the ball coming in or can struggle.

This is why Richards is so important to us. As a former defender he does actually try to defend when we don't have the ball.
I do have high hopes for Sanders in this regard. His back half VFL form did seem to be quite high in tackles. Matt Kennedy is also quite good in this part of the game.

[Guest]

I think the dogs are perfectly balanced. My two main concerns are small lockdown defender. If Duryea gets injured I’ll be biting my nails. I see bramble and Bailey Williams becoming solid lock down defenders. Joel feiejah is to talented to take that role in my opinion. The other concern is our half forwards (pressure players) mcniel and Vandermeer are to hit n miss in that role. I understand it’s an extremely hard role to play I just want more from them. More touches, and more goals. I’m a believer Arthur jones could be the half forward player to take over and in the near future I’m really bullish Josh Dolan will be a fantastic half forward for us. I’ve seen a few worried about our midfield but i think we’re fine. Trelaor and Libba are old but i see Kennedy becoming the new Libba. Sanders and Hynes have great futures aswell.

[Garbs_7]

Yeah outside mid / wingers for me. Williams is a very solid player and had a good year last year, but not exactly your prototypical modern day winger IMO and we are more playing him there due to lack of better options. Have a lot of faith in Davidson taking up a wing spot from early on for us, but he is still a first year AFL player who will need to get up to speed at that level and maintain his body over a 23 round season.

[FrediKanoute]

I've gone lock down back. I just think that whilst mids and forward ice games, not having someone who can control the likes of Charlie Cameron or The Wizard or Rankine or Green is a real issue. It can hurt you so much more.

[jeemak]

I’m concerned by all those options and it makes me depressed how many holes we actually have.

Not sure if you're aware, but we're totally stacked and want for nothing..........

So much has to go right and a lot of improvement from maturing players needs to happen if we are to take another step. Much of the former is out of our control, but I'm hopeful the latter can materialise through good development, coaching and management.

[DISHLICKERS]

Wing - Seems like it is a position we cannot settle players in.

I also feel it is a position that needs the role description identified clearly and choose players that can execute the role.

[LongWait]

I've gone with something else. We have been beaten up badly in finals in recent years and it's been Melbourne and Hawthorn's midfields that have out muscled, out-contested and bullied us. I think we need more mids that have genuine physical presence at stoppages.

[JanLorMill]

It’s got to be ruck. We’ve made finals with all sorts of deficiencies but lost finals because of our ruck.

[Sedat]

It’s got to be ruck. We’ve made finals with all sorts of deficiencies but lost finals because of our ruck.

And won finals with Lewis Young/55yo Stef as our no 1 ruckman. Save for 2021, the no 1 ruck/stoppage/clearance issue has hurt us consistently and fatally in every final since 2019. Our experienced core of mids during that time have to share some of the blame - their defensive work setting up at stoppage or in transition without the ball has been disgraceful in some of these finals losses. Losing finals virtually the same way for 6 years has been incredibly frustrating but sadly predictable.

Finals are a completely different beast to H&A - if you don't have 100% unflinching competitive intent at every single contest (stoppage, groundball or in the air) you're finished. Our 2016 team was full of ultra-competitive hard-arses - there were a good half-dozen more ''talented'' teams that year but none of them stood a chance against us in September.

[mjp]

I've gone with something else. We have been beaten up badly in finals in recent years and it's been Melbourne and Hawthorn's midfields that have out muscled, out-contested and bullied us. I think we need more mids that have genuine physical presence at stoppages.

Bont, Liber and Kennedy aren't ticking the box for you?

It feels like the club tried to address this with the out Macrae/in Kennedy decision...

[bulldogSimmo]

Now the first Intra-club is done (we WON! Yah!!) what would you say your #1 biggest positional concern going into 2025 is?

Ruck? (AKA 'I don't trust Tim when the heat is on')
Small forward? (I mean, we have guys who play there. I guess.)
Lock down small defender? (AKA the "If Duryea gets injured I'm booking an overseas holiday" group).
3rd tall defender (AKA can someone just move those deLck chairs around for me just ONE more time)
Outside Mid (Well, on the wings were gonna have Williams...and some other bloke).

Don't seem to be able to vote on my phone. Am I missing something?