We still lack established class & depth up forward. Wouldn’t surprise me to see blokes like Gresh & Guelf getting more games than most would like.
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Yep, we have 1 AFL level small forward in Kako. Then its those 2 VFL level players and then a bunch of unknown kids.
So hopefully some of those unknowns get some game time again this year, and a couple come good.
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Our forward line is definitely a work in progress - but we are starting to look like we have some depth and class in both the midfield & defence
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Maybe getting close to time to bring in an established big forward? Like Richmond did with Lynch.
Who that is I don’t know. Suggestions welcome.
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Some seem to think you can play 6+ inside mids a week. In reality, it will always be 4 main inside mids and the rest will be predominantly half forwards
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Jed Walter is the guy, then target one of the elite smalls in this year’s draft (Arki Butler).
Caddy/Walter and Kako/Butler with a rotation of Robey/Durham would be a great start.
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Born: 8 June 2005 (20 years), Perth
Height and weight: Height 1.95 m, Weight 97 kg
Education: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School
Jed Walter: Bring
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Robey looks like a long shot to land a senior selection in the first half of the year. But he’ll be worth the wait mark my words.
would love to see Sharp go straight into the middle against the Hawks along side Merrett and Caldwell. Let Caldwell get in the opposition faces and thank them for both Merrett and Dyson (via the pick we would have gotten had we traded Merrett!!). What a joke of a. Club they are. They’re the Pommies of the football world
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Arki will go very high. He’s a phenomenal player for a 17yo (turns 18 in April) and played as an under-ager for Vic Metro. Not especially tall but powerfully built, dynamic, a natural leader and very mature.
Was fortunate enough to chat with him in November and he says he’s a Bomber fan but added that it’s pretty hard to follow us at times. Can’t argue with that.
Way-too-early 2026 draft predictions have him at about #4, with Blake Justice (5 months younger) just outside the top 10.
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I’d take Jed Walter every day of the week, but it’s always hard to get a young quality key forward out of a club. Ben King might be a better chance as a restricted free agent?
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This makes sense for us as we will finish likely around that area and we need a quality small forward and he’s a bomber fan. Sign me up
Because he missed 8 weeks of training?
Let’s just see how the next three months play out.
Nice insight.
Not sure it really makes much difference, but picking up another highly rated draftee that’s a Bomber supporter (after Sharpe & Robey) would warm the soul.
And Kako it’s makes for a good crew
Born in Perth grew up in Queensland. Sunny Melbourne might not agree with him?
Except today.
Question - why would you not consider Farrow for an early run of the new draftees?
He seems to move really well and is a great user of the footy.
Sort of game that might translate quickly to AFL level imho.
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Best 23 Zero Hanger
FB: Mason Redman, Ben McKay, Jordan Ridley
HB: Archie Roberts, Zach Reid, Andrew McGrath
C: Xavier Duursma, Zach Merrett, Brayden Fiorini
HF: Jye Caldwell, Archer May, Kyle Langford
FF: Isaac Kako, Nate Caddy, Matt Guelfi
FO: Nick Bryan, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham
I/C: Angus Clarke, Dyson Sharp, Jaxon Prior, Zak Johnson, Peter Wright
Stiff to miss: Archie Perkins, Liam McMahon, Elijah Tsatas, Jade Gresham, Will Setterfield, Harrison Jones, Saad El-Hawli, Jayden Nguyen, Lachie Blakiston
Unavailable: Nic Martin
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Stiff to miss: Jacob Farrow.
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Our ruck division is seriously compromised. Essentially from Bryan, Blakiston, 2MP and Vigo, just the last 2; Blackiston and Vigo will be able to shoot it out to determine who will play round 1.
Not only do they need to learn the new rules, but they need to try and improve over the next 60 days.
The lack of a very good incumbent means we will probably have the worst ruck division in the league until Bryan can compete with Blakiston and sharpen his competitiveness against the other rucks in each team.
Blakiston is pretty much an unknown in the centre square as a tap ruckman but is capable of following up the ground ball, and might well be more mobile than Vigo or Bryan .
One shock outcome of this might be that Peter Wright is asked to act as number 1 ruckman in round 1 with Blakiston coming off the bench.
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Zero Hanger are monkeys… but fair play, probably the most likely 23 for me… except maybe Bryant still out injured for Blakiston.
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