All Australian REACTION + Full Trade RUMOUR Update | Zero Access Footy 28

In this week's episode, we take a look at the 2025 All-Australian team and told them what they got wrong, laugh at the Dogs for believing in Essendon, take a look through the trade rumour mill, we predict the finals (will we be right?), before we go in depth on this week's games!

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Hey everyone, welcome back to 0 Access for the episode #28 our
first official, I guess finals episode.
We are really close to finals. We are officially two days away
before the most exciting time ofthe year begins for us AFL fans
once again joined with the premiership quarter, as he has
just recently posted on the premiership quarter.

(00:21):
I may have, I wanted to point that out because I'm very proud
of you. I'm very proud of you and your
efforts to to get into the content and continuously keep
going there despite how dead it could would be.
Thanks dude, appreciate. It, But let's get stuck into one
review game of the week, and there's really not much to talk
about with this one. This happened 5 days ago.
We really thought that this was going to be a more exciting game

(00:44):
that it ended up being. Yeah, I have some Dogs fans in
my family who watched this game at our place hoping that the
Bombers could pull off a miracle.
They turned it off by the first quarter, so that was enough to
explain how this game went. Yeah, pretty much.
Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson are good.
Yeah, they're very good, aren't they?
I mean, it is against the team that they should have beaten by

(01:07):
this much for being completely honest, but they've done it.
They've made finals. I'm so glad they did not choke
this. I'm glad they did not choke it.
However, that being said, there are some individual awards and
individual moments that have been highlighted in the most
recent week. We were talking last week about
our predictions that we didn't get around to and in a week's

(01:29):
time the whole team has been released.
So we had the squad of 44 come out, I think a day or two or
maybe even the night of the timewe had filmed that podcast.
And then not long after full allAustralian team was announced.
And there are some fun ones in this one that is a Saints sigh.

(01:52):
If anyone needs specifics on to what that sound is, there is one
name. Honestly, for me there's three
names in that back line that surprised me.
And for you it's like 1 has beenhighlighted in red, emboldened
and has like a middle finger up at you.
You want to explain how you feelabout Josh Battle?

(02:13):
He who shall not be named was a good lockdown defender.
He was getting paid 900 KA year to do that but in every state
you ever see excluded any bad game he ever had, as all stats
do. Unfortunately he conceded 6
direct goes against Collingwood and that was never brought up.
I feel like that one game alone should have knocked him out of

(02:34):
any finals contention for the all Australian squad.
He just, yeah was a good lockdown defender and that was
it. He probably wasn't better than
Tom Burass. Oh yeah.
Well that was my one of my predictions was Tom Burass.
I thought early on Tom Beras wasgoing to be that guy he didn't
end up banging. I wasn't really mad at the fact
he didn't get the All Australiansquad nod.

(02:54):
I was very surprised when Battlegot it and then even more
surprised when he hit the team. I was really surprised by that
one. Another one that is contentious
to me as well, despite how good he looked in the first half.
Sam Taylor, I think while he wasgood this year, he really
started to drop off in that second half and others started
picking up where he was droppingoff.

(03:15):
Agreed, but the problem for me is I don't think the people who
can't caught up on him were the likes of Josh Battle.
I really don't think he was the one that could have made like a
bit of a scare for him. I've got plenty of other players
who I think played much more, I guess, impactful roles for their
side. Sam Taylor and the Giants end up

(03:35):
5th on the season. But I wouldn't say it's because
of Sam Taylor, especially because he had a fair few weeks
off too, didn't he? Did he not?
Yeah, I was pretty surprised of Taylor being in the team.
I understand him being in the squad that he wouldn't have been
my probably top three picks, though.
We might as well get straight into picking our own teams.
We'll start off with the back line.
Yeah, pretty clear full back in this one.

(03:59):
Yeah, in Harris as well. Harris Andrews.
Yeah, the two up there are both are locks, we know that
confirmed. Yeah.
I haven't tried to look at yourstoo much, but yeah, there's one
name who you have in that I was a little confused about.
The interesting thing is we alsohave the same dude who we both

(04:21):
or wasn't in this actual side though that you had pointed out
at the beginning of the year. Josh Worrell.
He's one I want to talk about because I'm I'm 100% agreeance
with you. It was going to be him or Kane.
I thought one of them had to geta spot.
The fact that neither of them did is quite crazy.
Ranked as one and two defenders.I think Josh Worrell had some
moments of slip up but he was always so impactful and how

(04:44):
surprising that defence ended upbeing.
I thought one of them had to do it and I was expected to see
Kane, not Worrell, but do not see either of them surprise me.
So I put Warrell in my team because I think not only his
leap but his impact getting the ball up the field.
I think with Mark Kane's role too, his role was much more
lifted up by the guys around him.

(05:04):
Harris Andrews is a leader on all fronts.
That's why the likes of Stephen May back in the day would get
his All Australian votes is because he was the clear leader
of that group. So is Harris Andrews of that
backline for Brisbane? It's why it's worked so well.
Mark Kane isn't quite like that.I think that backline is much
more of a six person job. They all have their roles.
I can't just rely on Keane to punch down everything, they

(05:26):
can't rely on Warrel to punch down anything.
But The thing is they've been really good, so I thought Keane
could have got the nod, but it'sjust up against the other people
in his, I guess, in his position.
Hence why Worrell gets it, not Kane.
It's it's very much attributed to you're either AK defender or
you're a general defender. I think it's K medium and then.
General and the worst part of the general defenders is that

(05:47):
their spots then also get taken out by the not as not as great
midfielders though. Yeah, true.
Because yeah, I think in previous years we've seen the
likes. I don't know if Dacos where was
Dacos this year? Dacos was on the bench.
Sorry, I forgot about that. That's kind.
Of funny. But I was, yeah, quite surprised

(06:07):
by the fact that we didn't see any of that or too much of that
bleeding from the midfield into those like half back, half
forward lines. I guess The only exception is
Naz, who, I mean, he had to be in there somewhere.
And because he played half back most of the year, it kind of
makes sense for him. But you could definitely make an
argument for the midfield well. Yeah, well, my my backline is

(06:30):
obviously Andrews and Worrell. I think if Callum Wilkie who
hadn't made the team, he definitely should have been like
he 100% should have been there. He was fantastic all year.
But I feel like Sam Collins is very underrated and under talked
about his importance to this gold 100% like so I've got
Callum Wilkie in my team but if we had to do simply based off of
players who made the all Australian squad, Sam Collins

(06:52):
would be my replacement. I think he had a better year
than Sam Taylor. Sam Collins, A. 100% and even a
couple others I think it was just as good.
I've got Naz obviously as half back, Bailey Dale as well.
I thought he was supreme for theDogs all year and Lucky Ash who
did tail away a little bit. But I think his first half of
the year he was a top five player according to champion

(07:12):
Dada. I would argue his.
I would argue his year, at leasthis second half even, is better
than Josh Battles A. 100%. I don't know how Josh Battle has
got in the spot, nothing completely on either, but I
guess the argument is his team. No, you can't even make that
argument because they finished 8th.
Lucky Ash finished his team, finished fifth and had a pretty
decent defence. They did pretty over on.

(07:34):
Yeah, it's still a shocking one for me.
The ones we the same on in the back line are Harris Andrews,
Josh Worrell, Naz and technically Sam Collins as well
as Lucky Ash. But Bailey Dale for me, I just
the back I get in an individual sense right.
He had some big 49 disposals against Essendon, so many good,
good games here and there, but he was such an on and off

(07:57):
player, hence why the dog struggled so, so much this year
in in terms of their defence. So I've given Jordan Clark the
nod. I think he was actually in the
team I believe, but I've given it to Jordan Clark one because
Frio made it and the back line along with plenty of other
players. Again, it just comes down to
Jordan Clark makes the most of his position.

(08:20):
You could easily argue Luke Ryanhas had a decent year.
Brendan Cox I think has one. You've mentioned previously he's
had a pretty decent year as well.
But Jordan Clark has been that together, man that has the right
spot to get himself snuck in here, which is honestly like in
terms of all of Fremantle's players that they've got listed
for all Australian, he's probably got the best possible

(08:43):
chance of making it purely because of what role he plays.
So yeah, Jordan Clark is my, I guess, exception to yours.
Fair I I do have him just it wasborderline him and Dale I think
were the two tossing up. I think lucky Ash 100% deserves
it but because you can argue Bailey down not necessarily
contributing to a winning team, that aspect that's my.

(09:05):
Thinking but it's I think the reason he's in the team is
individually and if that's the case then put Shazle in there.
But not a single N player got in.
No. Put him on the half back, you
know. And we should now switch to our
midfield. Yeah.
Because this is the obviously going through it.
Who is your old Australian ruckman?

(09:27):
Because there was a lot of debate about this one.
Yeah, my old Australian ruckman.I've stuck with purely the
squad, right? So I've seen who you have, but
I've gone with purely the squad.Who was picked in the squad.
Yeah, I've gone, Max, gone I think, because the only two rock
men in this year's Australian squad were Grundy and Gawn.

(09:48):
For me, it's one of the 2O Luke Jackson as well.
Yeah, no, you're right. But for me, he's such a like,
he's either a forward or a rock,and so it never really crossed
my mind that he could be the rock.
I think almost he's been let down by the fact he's played two
different. Positions all year.
Well, if you're not your best Workman at your own team and
you're not going to be a better forward than Ben King, how are
you? How are you there?

(10:09):
I just don't get that. Again, comes down to like
statistically individual, like, oh, look, he's kicked this many
goals and gets in the rock in the rock and impacts there.
But it's like, yeah, but you haven't dominated a position
that puts you in that in that team.
And that's kind of the way people look at it for me.
Yeah, Max gone. It was between Brody Grundy and
Max gone. Sure, you could say Luke
Jackson, but again, his own problems gone more effective.

(10:34):
Obviously he's had his moments like both the ruckman, both the
traditional ruckman in this in this class kind of had.
Grundy has had some individuallyfantastic performances and
honestly a lot of a bounce back you for him.
I'm surprised that he got it over Sherry and I hate to let my
North bias get me and even Cameron.

(10:54):
Look, I'll even give Cameron. I'll even give Cameron a.
Shout. There were a lot of really good
rock season, even Jared Wit. No one's mentioned Jared.
Wit yeah, that's a good shout too.
No one's mentioned Wit, but considering I saw Gorn and
Grundy as the main ones in this squad, I had to go Gorn because
I think Gorn has played a more impactful role for it.
He's been really, really solid and out otherwise really poor

(11:17):
team in Melbourne. Probably one of their only
highlights for me. So considering how good Sydney
looked towards the end, I don't think that was off of Grundy
because Grundy has been a bit ofI'd say passenger despite his
results. And your midfield.
My midfield, so I've gone in my Rover or rock Rover positions.

(11:40):
I've got Jordan Dawson and Noah Anderson.
Yeah, same, same. Centre I've got Matt Raoul, my
wings I have Bailey Smith and Nick Dacos.
OK, there's a certain name they're missing that you have to
have. My recommend that I chose was
Tristan Cherry. I feel that he was very harsh to

(12:03):
miss out on the squad and I feelextremely lucky to then miss out
on the the team. Obviously his importance to you
guys was very much understated in terms of your scoreboard
impact relies solely on your centre clearance dominance.
Oh yeah. And he's the big reason to that.
I understand obviously you guys finishing 16th has an impact on
that, but I still feel there's there's an argument that he was

(12:24):
just better all around than thanGrundy, who started off really
poor and they finished off amazing.
Was better than Luke Jackson because he's actually a ruckman.
And he was arguably better than Max gone because whilst gone was
still great, his laws were probably worse than he's ever
been since he's been a superstarrockman.
And that's probably why I feel Cherry was up there.
If we're going specifically based off of the squad, I do

(12:45):
have Max gone there but I do have two Rockman in my team
which we'll get to when I go to the bench.
My midfield is Dawson and Anderson and then obviously
Richard's at my centre and then my 2 wingers are Bailey Smith as
well and Huma Cluggage. I was thinking, he, he's really
thinking. He's a lock in this.
Team, can you can you repeat? Yeah, No, I can say it.
Sorry. Yeah, yeah.

(13:07):
For me, Huma Cluggage, oh man. He was really tough for me to
pick because he is also in a scenario where it's almost a
team based thing and sure like they finished in the top four
that should influence me, but for some reason Hugh just never
came up. I couldn't I couldn't pick him
over some of these plays purely because it was almost like Hugh,

(13:29):
while he could be Brisbane's best player, there are plenty of
players on in that midfield thatcould easily be the best player
on any given day. For me it was The only exception
being Gold Coast because those two felt like massive carry jobs
outside of took Miller but Bailey Smith because I don't
have his teammate in the all Australian team.
OK Nick Dacos arguable for for sure, but he is going to pull a

(13:55):
lot of Brownlow votes and has I mean irrespective of what people
expect from him, he has had a good season.
Yep. Who else have I got in here?
Jordan Dawson explainable. He's just been ridiculously
good. This is so impactful.
And then Noah Anderson, yeah, we've talked about him.
So it's almost like the best of the best that he was coming up
against. And you can always make the

(14:16):
argument that he's not the best in his own side.
Not just this year, he was. And that's, that's kind of a
thing, isn't it? It's, it's, you have to look at
it as a whole thing. You can't pick and choose.
So maybe that's my fault for nothaving Hugh in there.
But like, you look at Dunkley, Dunkley's had some fantastic
games and he's not in my squad. Dunkley.

(14:37):
Yeah, Dunkley is just a not a passenger, but he's the one who
just sits on the outside of thatcontention.
Yeah, he's found the outside of contention, but he's like in and
under. He gets The Dirty ball.
He doesn't have the flashy plans.
Yeah. Yeah, no, fair enough.
I understand it. I still think his damage and his
scoreboard impact this year was better than any other season
he's had. Honestly, that could make him
make a good argument for him being on the high forward.

(14:58):
Yeah, it could, but I feel like he's done a lot more inside work
than previously before. Yeah, your forward line or do
you want to start with my forward line?
Are you excited about your forward line?
Do you want to talk about? Yours.
Yeah, I've got a couple in here that not might not be there for.
Others OK, go for it. I'm.
Going to start with my two key forwards which are Riley
Filthorp and Jeremy Cameron. Very nice.

(15:19):
I think Jella obviously has to be a luck and Riley Filthorp,
what he's done for Adelaide thisyear, I think he's been very
much appreciated by others. It's a fantastic growth, yeah,
such a good growth. I love the beard too.
My 2 tweeners are Jack Gunston and Isaac Heaney.
Yeah. I think simply based off of
expectation, what Jack Gunston'sdone is terrific and Isaac Haney

(15:43):
has had the highs of his best, but his lows have probably been
just as bad unfortunately. But I still think his back off
of the year was enough to warrant this selection #2 small
forwards going for Cosy Pickett and Jamie Elliott, who I thought
was very hard done by to not miss not to.
Sorry to miss in the squad. 100%with the Jamie Elliott pick.

(16:04):
We've actually both got Jamie Elliott and Cosy Pickett.
I think Jamie Elliott, yeah, considering how lucky he's
finally been to have a healthy season, how impactful on the
scoreboard he has been, despite the obvious, you know, he's not
as tall, doesn't get too much possession.
He's so impactful with the ball.And again, despite all the
negativity around Collingwood atthis very moment, they finished

(16:25):
top four with him as a main forward target.
That is seriously impressive. And so if Collingwood had
finished first, I think there's there, their four to four has
cost him that spot. I think it would have been
locked. I think it would have been
locked if they had finished first.
But yeah, just happened to go that way.
I just think his answer he was the answer to their forward half

(16:47):
issues. Yeah, for a lot of the season,
no 100% right. But on top of those two, I'll go
to my other forwards. Jeremy Cameron is the obvious.
I've actually gone Jack Ansten as my other main forward.
I think his season has been fantastic.
He has been again kind of in a similar vein to Jamie Elliott.
While you could mention the fourtall Jack Constance, he has been

(17:07):
only highly rated towards the back end when he started really
getting his name in that. Column.
He missed like early games as well though, that's the thing.
Yeah, I guess you can make that argument, make the argument for
it. But the fact he caught up, he's
caught up to, I mean, not JeremyCameron.
Cameron was very clear this season but to be in that podium,

(17:27):
podium place race and I think hefinished second or third.
Finished third after banking. Yeah, that's a fantastic like
recovery, and I think it's very,very impressive for a man who's
most likely reaching the twilight of his.
Career 100% to. Get to that point.
So I think he well earned that, that second forward position.
And then for me, my I wouldn't say tweeners, but either Keeney

(17:49):
is one of them. He's still in there.
Fantastic season. Again, not quite Branlow type
season like last year that was contending considering their
circumstances, but another greatyear.
It's hard to take him off if he's playing at this at this
level. And Zach Bailey, I think, yeah,
I get it. I understand that he didn't feel
great about it. But again, it comes down to the
role he plays. I've actually put some of the

(18:11):
people who could have pinched his spot on the bench just
because I think his recognition in that kind of I've got him in
like a forward pocket position. He's been so impactful in that
forward line. Despite Eric Hipwood's poor
performances, Charlie Cameron has been quite quiet a lot of
the year. Zach Bailey picked up on where
those guys lost it and ended up being a really, really impactful

(18:34):
forward this season and definitely could make the
argument for the other two here in this in the bench positions
being in his spot. But I think Zach Bailey deserves
the recognition. You could easily argue for him
to take the bench over these guys.
I just feel if you're going to pick Bailey and it'd just be in
the wing spot in the wing, that that was his position for
majority of the year, forward, half, winger.

(18:56):
And I I understand, obviously that's what the Australian squad
does and he has been known to bemore of a small forward who
moves up into the midfield. I'm just looking at the players
who have that spot and if I wereto take Bailey and put him in
that spot, I mean, maybe Nick Dacos, maybe put him on the
bench instead, considering that's where he ultimately ended
up being, I don't know. It's interesting, but very

(19:17):
personally I wouldn't go for it.And then our benches, I'll go,
I'll start. I've got Jordan Clark, I think,
as you said, great, yeah, great off halfback as a ball user, but
also he's good enough defensively compared to someone
like a Bailey Dale who might notbe.
Got Nick Dacos and Andy Brayshawas my other two midfielders.

(19:37):
And then depending on how you see it, I've got Max gone if
Tristan Cherry plays Rock. If he doesn't, obviously, then
I've got Matt Real in my team. Yeah, Yeah.
OK. That's pretty cool.
That's pretty good. Andy Brayshaw was one that for
some reason the list I had did not have Andy Brayshaw on it for
some reason to pick from the squad, which was really weird.
So I haven't got him in this day.

(19:59):
Ridiculous. You can blame Sen Andy if you're
watching this. It's not my not my fault, but
Andy has missed my side. Which is quite wild, because
that means just the one Freo player has made it.
I'm drinking for one specific player on on your bench and I
haven't looked at your team at all, so I need to see this
player. So my four players on the bench

(20:19):
and I'm really excited to see how you react to this.
I've got Marcus Bontenpelli. Missing from my team, yes.
Ed Richards. OK, Thank you.
Yeah. There you go.
Yeah. Ed Richards was the the one for
me. He like he was #1 rated player
of the year. For like 13, I'm sorry, 22 out
of 24 weeks. Exactly.
Ed Richards gets the bench position.
Ben King, OK Ben King, 2nd placecould have taken Bailey's spot.

(20:44):
And then the other is Riley Thielthorpe.
You've gone double K. I've gone double K forwards for
the bench purely because I thinkthis year's forward race was so
intense and it's Riley Thielthorpe wasn't even at the
top of the top of that list. But you know how impactful that
man was in the forward line. He was so, so impactful.
It's just because his position was so lifted by Cameron's 83.

(21:08):
I think he finished the season with Ben King's high 60s.
We had Jack Gunston's 60s, I believe.
Ben King, Sorry. Who else is in here?
Aaron Norton, kick 60. Yeah, Aaron Norton as well.
What the hell? That's crazy to think about.
I'm glad. Look, I'm quite glad he didn't
make the squad purely because hewas very clearly a second half
of the season player. Sure, you could make my squad.

(21:31):
You don't mean your squad. OK, that's that's fair, I think,
considering where he finished inthe common.
But for me, I'm glad he hasn't made the team nor the squad.
It's again debatable. Yeah, I'm glad that's the case
because he was so clearly a second half and so clearly loved
playing along. Sam Darcy.
I think Sam Darcy is going to bea future all Australian.

(21:53):
No doubts about it for me, unless injuries completely
derail him. He's just, he's got Riley still
thought level impact, almost double that considering how tall
he is. If he gets a bit, bit stronger,
he's already quite strong. He can already work his opponent
quite well. And his heart, he just he moves
unlike anyone at his heart. So it's so exciting.

(22:15):
I guess the future of what this league could look like.
But 2K forwards is definitely one that made me go, am I doing
the right thing here? I don't know how I feel about
it. And then obviously the questions
you brought up with Bailey beingin that position, yeah, the the
you question. And Richard's I want to question
your Marcus Bondembelly because I know he was in the team, he

(22:35):
was on the bench in the team. Was his seventeen games better
than Humour Klugger's 23 games? So that's a really, really good
perspective. That's a really good
perspective. Because that's the way I view
it. Was Bondembelly's 17 game season
better than Hugh's 23 game season?
Because if it wasn't, then Hugh should be in the team over him
without a doubt. Was his season better than Andy

(22:59):
Brayshaw's 23 game season? Where I I think Brayshaw was
clearly better than Sarong because you saw Sarong was.
A wrong way get tagged. And yeah, that's the reason I
didn't Chuck. Him and it shows, probably more
important, but it doesn't show consistent level and the ability
to deal with it, which is why I have Brayshaw over him.
I'm very interested that you've gone Bond because I specifically

(23:19):
left him out, same as Sam Taylorbecause they missed those few
extra games. Yeah, OK, see, I almost forgot
that Bond and Pele a lot miss, missed those few games.
Bond and Pele feels like a legacy pick at this point.
Does it's kind of the same with Max Gorman.
It's like you can't, you can't believe the All Australian squad
without those names in there. And so Bond and Pele has, don't

(23:40):
get me wrong, he has played All Australian level and absolutely
deserves to be sitting along those guys for this season.
But yeah, the argument is Hugh Mccluggage's work and body of
work has been won over a longer period of time and two,
potentially more impactful. Again, for me, it comes down to
the idea of like, it's almost like they have more to work

(24:05):
with. Bond and Pelli sits at the top,
despite the fact that Richard's has technically played better
than him this season. Bond and Pelli just sits at the
top of that club and it's almostimpossible to believe that
someone could outplay him in in his own team.
So yeah, the argument is Richards could make that team
over Bond, Mccluggage could makethat team over Bond because of
the fact that played more games and there's almost something

(24:27):
mentally in my head stopping from taking out.
And that is such a pathetic way of making your all Australian
team. But I think I'm literally
blocked in your head. It's the worst way of putting
it. But other than what you just
said, I agree with what you're saying.
And I think that could very easily influence me to put
Mccluggeon over Bond and Pelley.Perfect.
Well if we want to just do a quick summation of our teams

(24:49):
total, I have removed all the ones that did not make the team
the squad and gone with the actual team that I have chosen.
We'll start with our backlines. H Harris, Andrew Sam Collins,
Josh Warrell Bailey Dale Lucky Ash and Isaiah Wanganine Miller.
I feel like this is pointless considering we've just gone into
discussion about it, but I guessfor short form content we're
going. No, just wrap it up so we don't

(25:11):
need to. Go back Laurel, Andrews, Clark,
Wankerny, Miller, Rock, Collins,Ash.
I've gone my midfield, Max. Go on.
Jordan Dawson, Noah Anderson, humour.
Cluggage on the wing, Bailey Smith on the wing, Ed Richards
in the middle. Who was your captain?
I forgot. And your vice captain?
Jordan Dawson was my captain. Noah Anderson's mine.
And Anderson for my vice. Aris Andrews is my vice.

(25:32):
Not Cameron, Captain, no. Definitely not.
That's quite crazy. You're midfield.
So my rock was gone. Dawson Anderson Rail make up the
midfield with Smith and Dacos onthe wings.
And your forward line was. Haney Gunston, Elliott Bailey,
Cameron Pickett. Mine was Jeremy Cameron, Riley

(25:53):
Thorthorpe, Jack Gunston, Isaac Haney, Keziah Pickett and Jamie
Elliott. And your bench?
Was Bon Richards King Phil 4? Mine was Jordan Clark, Nick
Dacos, Andy Brayshaw and Matt rail and that wraps up a 2025
All Australian team. It's just crazy because like
we're thinking we're looking back on this knowing that we've

(26:14):
started from day one of the season.
I think that's really cool that we've managed to kind of see it
all progress. So a little bit introspective on
0 Access footy. Still don't understand how he
has shot him up. Your name was in that team.
It does not matter anymore. Does not matter anymore.
Yeah, let's have a look at Bing Getty's Deal or No Deal Second.
Ever. Pointed.
We don't have all the people in the background, sadly.

(26:36):
I'm really sad about that. Yeah, do better, Ethan.
No, I'm joking. You did good.
Well, what I'm doing do. You want to stay in producer
Ethan's good books, are we? Yes.
What I'm going to do is I'm going to go through every single
team and list the players that are rumoured to go to them this
offseason. Some teams have lots, some teams

(26:57):
have very few. Go through the confirmed and
some of the requested as well tomake sure there's a bit of
clarification. So we'll start off with
Adelaide. Sam Draper and Calamarche are
the two they've offered Arche a deal to try prime out as that
premiership experience if they potentially don't get over the
hump this year. And obviously to look at getting
a younger Rachman with Riley O'Brien towards the end of his

(27:17):
career. Understandable.
Calamarche's 5050 at this stage in my opinion, but Sam Draper
looks more likely to head to Brisbane at this stage even
though Adelaide didn't make a new meeting and he was a bit
more convinced. Brisbane Lions Oscar Allen has
been basically confirmed to go to them.
It's basically going to be Band 1 compensation which results in

(27:38):
West Coast Big 2. Jordan Ridley as well just
recently requested a trade there, although it was shut down
by the by Essendon 10 the. The players tend to get their
way with this and I find it veryinteresting for Brisbane's sake,
the potential outs that they're going to have this year with
also Sam Draper and as I mentioned just before, being

(27:59):
linked to them as well. And then being the heavy
favourites, who do they drop andwho who can potentially leave to
greater opportunities with theseplayers and potential draught
picks as well because they've got Academy players coming
through because the list spots are going to be very tight by
the end of the year. There is.
Those are the only three that I've seen so far linked to

(28:19):
Brisbane. We just find it very interesting
that Jordan Ridley has been shutdown so quickly.
But play, as I said, players do find their way there.
Carlson, we know how interestingof a trade period this is going
to be for them. Liam Ryan has been some
interest. He hasn't specifically requested
to them but he hasn't requested out of West Coast.

(28:40):
Could they get it done? Very possibly, but at the moment
it is favoured towards St. Kilda.
Jack Petra Trelli has been linked as a difference in terms
of the players that currently have that extra speed, an
outside run that they don't haveon any of their current small
forwards. Buku Commerce has been linked if
Jack Silvani potentially leaves.They've got a couple in ruckman
here as well, given Tom Dekarning leaving in, Liam Reedy

(29:03):
from Fremantle and Ned Reeves from Hawthorne given Lloyd makes
resurgence. And then I also think they
should target Sam Flanders, which has been brought up by
John Ralph, obviously Sam Walsh,we know how important he is to
that midfield, combating the likes of Chara Cripps and
Hewitt. If they can get another one of
those outside midfielders in Flanders, he complements them a
lot better. I think that that makes it

(29:26):
quickly bring up. A point for Carlton.
Where does Jagger Smith find himself in that team?
Good question because he probably doesn't start off half
back. That was my thinking.
Where the hell does Jagger Smithin here?
Does he get weeks in the VFL before they bring him up for a
week? No, a pick that high.
I feel like you start with that Murphy Reed role.

(29:48):
I can see it, but it's almost like Jagger Smith, they've
brought him in as a future midfielder, so I'm really
interested to see what role he works himself into because God,
what an awful start to his career.
It was documented really early this year.
I'm really keen to say what Jacob Smith can make for himself
within this side. We move now to Collingwood, who

(30:09):
have been linked to Jack Silvani.
They are one of the front runners with him, obviously the
Craig McRae going on a date withhim, that was cute, OK.
They've also been linked with Ned Reeves as well as someone to
potentially replace Mason Cox, who could be on the outer by the
end of this year. Essendon Liam Ryan, one of the

(30:31):
teams that could potentially be in the running for him.
They've got the money. They would probably want a small
forward to help develop the likes of Kako and another NGA
product they've got coming through.
Yeah, Marcus Winteger, they're one of the teams he was
mentioned to, although I think he would have buffed up their
offer to four years now, which looks more promising for him to
sign. And then due to the money they
do have, they'll obviously go and target Jack Silvani as a

(30:53):
player who is on the outer looking to stay in Melbourne and
another defensive option for them to go to if more injuries
happen. It's a very interesting thing
for Silvani to go to, potentially Collingwood or
Essendon, giving the family tiesto Carlson.
God, what a nightmare. The booing you will see if they
play Collingwood or Essendon early and he goes to one of them

(31:14):
would be ridiculous. Yeah, it'd be.
It'd be almost too much for the Silvani family.
My goodness. Fremantle haven't been linked to
too many as of this moment, however John McVeigh still has
not signed for Melbourne and there is rumours he might head
back home to WA and they are oneof the teams linked.
Geelong. How many superstars do you think

(31:37):
I'm going to name? All of them.
Charlie Kern with Farmland. Yeah, Charlie Kerno, James
Wobble, who is looking more favourably to go to Geelong at
the moment, Roland Marshall being involved, Zach Butters,
who won't leave this year, more than likely planting Oliver
interest from last year. And apparently Ollie Lord, which
I haven't heard from before, butthere was a name shout from
there. Gold Coast, Lots of talent

(31:59):
coming through in this offseasonthrough the draught with four
Academy players. And so there's going to be a lot
of exit meetings where they haveto get rid of players.
But the four players they are linked to so far, Charlie
Kerner, obviously that link. Jamie Elliott really trying to
pry him out and fix those small forward spots and an experienced
Premiership play up. Really.
Collie Elliott's on the ants. Collingwood with their targeting

(32:21):
of Silvani, Those likes sort of murmured away.
Some of them are experienced players.
Brody Meyerchecks 1. Jamie Elliott was one.
Yeah, and Bowie Mccreery's another who Gold Coast are
looking to target as another small forward.
Very interesting stuff with withGold Ghost.
Because they've got already, like we've discussed before, how
crazy Gold Coast can look like in the future with all their

(32:42):
future talent that could come through.
Adding those types of players, experienced players, is
something that I did not see Gold Coast getting.
Honestly, I thought, I thought they just wouldn't be able to
drive them out. But if they can do that, that'll
it'll just start a new era like this finals run and just hitting
finals could be the start of a brand new era for Gold Coast A.

(33:04):
100% on the Dynasty GWS, the other expansion team obviously
targeting Marcus Winteger and Rowan Marshall from Saint Kilda.
That's because Karen Briggs hasn't really hit the strides of
the back off of 2023 cents and that has caused some issues with
their stoppage game. Windy obviously because there's
a good young midfielder in the ties to Finn Callahan, which is
why I think could have tried to bring Callahan in.

(33:25):
They've also got a couple older players of key defenders due to
legally and potentially leaving and finding some replacements
for Taylor and Buckley who have shown to miss some games over
the last years, and Jed and Laverte and Joel handling.
Understandable. Hawthorne looking at 2
midfielders, Zach Butters and Petrarca.
Pretty stock standard there. There are a few players though

(33:46):
that could be leaving a lot of players.
Yeah. Well, do I want to go into him
considering I think some of themcome up in other teams in this?
One, there are a couple that come up in other teams, not too
many, but there's. Because if we're talking about
players leaving Hawthorne, who are the ones that we start with?

(34:07):
So there's been rumours of Cam McKenzie being.
He's the one that I was going tobring up.
His manager came out and said toSaint Kilda he's happy to leave,
give us an offer and we'll send that to Hawthorne.
Hawthorne rejected immediately. The drummers are potentially one
of their key defenders who aren't in the team at the
moment, potentially Sam Frost orJack Scrimshaw or James Blank,

(34:29):
one of them potentially leaving as well to greater
opportunities. There are anyone else here that
I see? James Whirlpool's the one as
well as a midfield option. He's the one that's heavily
linked to move pretty consistently at the moment.
Yeah, so Warpell is one that I heard things about and it makes
sense because he's kind of finding himself more.

(34:49):
He's come off as sub a lot in the late end of the season.
If they're trying to bring Butters or pachaka in, I think
Warpels the one that goes. Yeah, there's a lot of change
with them midfield, hence why they're targeting those upper
echelon they. Would love them as depth though,
and I think those backline, despite the names not being
massive, backline depth is so important, so, so important.
I think teams like Brisbane havebeen so lucky that have had

(35:13):
backline depth and we're seeing it pay off in spades now with
the likes of Answorth being injured.
With that being being injured, yeah, we're seeing how helpful
having that depth is. So don't sleep on the fact that
Hawthorne are losing those guys.So moving on to Melbourne now,
they've actually been involved with Marcus Winteger, one of the
clubs who would be offering him a contract at the young

(35:33):
midfielder to replace the likes of Oliver Petrar and Viney.
Max Heath is a backup Brockman as well from Saint Kilda which
is very, very interesting. Wade Dirksen from GWS is a
medium forward option and James Whople as well from Hawthorne as
another midfielder to move away from those likes.
North Melbourne, your team. What have we got?

(35:54):
Charlie Swargo. Look, I'm not mad at it.
I'm glad that we've been. Like as a small Ford who isn't
30 centimetres. Marcus Windagger obviously
offered him a five year deal. Some NAFI thought it was 1.2
million with an incentive for a 6th year.
Such a N thing to offer. You're not even offering Harry
shares all that much money. It's such a N thing to do, such

(36:17):
a N thing. Oh my God.
That's really bad. And then you've also been in
linked with Jake Lever as a potential helper down backward
alongside Comben Logue and Toby Pink.
I'd be very OK with that. Toby.
Pink Shadow might go. Put Adelaide, Jude and Naz not
coming to them. They've got Jacob Ware, who's
like a small defender winger from the Giants.

(36:40):
Let's all laugh at port. Let's all laugh at port.
No more Naz, let's all laugh at Port Richmond's been linked to
Malcolm Roses junior as just a good young small forward.
I'd also probably include Alex Davies and that as someone to
potentially move away from the on Prestia St.
Kilda. This is where the bucket list

(37:00):
starts. Yeah.
TDK has confirmed Liam Ryan has requested a trade to Melbourne
that St. Kilda are one of the favourites
for him. Jack Silvani, there's a lot of
rumours for their Leka Leah as well and Sam Flanders.
There has been some involvement of Saint Kilda's saying We are
Done and Cam McKenzie as well. Well, this is the beauty of
Saint Kilda having the treasure chest of money.

(37:21):
They're able to. They've got to spend it somehow.
They've spent a lot on Nas and alot on TDK, but they've still
got some more baby. Yeah.
Hell yeah we do. And for anyone who doesn't
understand the salary cap, you got three years to pay 90 up to
95% of where you get one year topay 105%.
So you can basically bank salarycap.
What St. Kilda have done is all their

(37:42):
players that were on anything close to 8900K, they basically
front loaded them all. So they're out now on maybe
what, 500 KA year Max? Hence why they're able to bring
in so many plays. They've got players coming off
contracts and signing lesser deals because we're all dog shit
and not good enough anymore and that way we're able to front
load contracts. Max King is probably the only

(38:03):
one who's able to earn a lot of money this year and we're able
to move around his money howeverwe want.
Sorry first. Gives us a lot of easy terms.
Easy way of saying it, all the players they already had apart
from Nas who they've resigned was were paid all their money to
begin with. Yeah, right.
So the longer they play, the less they make.

(38:23):
Yearly they've earned all of their money in the front half of
their contract. So when they say front loaded
means all the money's at the front of their contract the
first couple of years, now they don't earn nearly as much,
meaning St. Kilda have more money to spend
elsewhere. Correct.
Sydney are a team that is going to be very interesting because
they're going to look to buy once again after getting likes

(38:45):
of Grundy Adams a few years ago.They're linked to two key faults
and Kono and Hugo Hagen. There's not a lot of interest in
Hugo Hagen anymore as there might once have been.
However, he did do his rehab along that coast.
So there's that rumour there andobviously Charlie Kono
potentially looking to go there but can't shut that down as a

(39:05):
trade request. He probably won't leave, but
players do often get what they want.
Malcolm Roses junior as well as another small forward to
potentially replace the likes ofTom Pappley.
Eventually this goes to Eagles. This is very interesting because
they want to apply for an exemption because the free
agency compensation pick works as a net in net out.

(39:26):
If Allen leaves but they get in Brandon Stasovich who is 1 they
are linked to, then the compensation pick becomes less.
It doesn't become pick two. It might be an end of first
round pick. And that's the exemption they're
asking. They're asking for it doesn't
matter. We just want to keep that pick
2. They're also interested in
Jugman Fee, the same player the Fremantle is, the West Coast
Melbourne player, sorry the WA Melbourne player who is yet to

(39:48):
sign a contract. Interested in Will Phillips from
you guys. Just another couple midfielders
and Neil Erasmus from Fremantle as well.
Just someone who can come in andplay to replace the likes of
Shade, Gaff, Shui and Tim Kelly over the few last few years.
Can I very quickly ask you what your thoughts are because we
have talked about this before onthe podcast.

(40:10):
That exemption I think really could change opinions because we
have said Eagles deserve that compensation pick for Alan.
Yeah. Do they still deserve it with
Star Savage along with it? Because that's essentially what
happens. They when they lose Alan, they
get Starsevic and pick 2, not just pick two as we had

(40:31):
mentioned before, because pick two would then turn into
Starsevic is what we're kind of saying we.
Also mentioned that they should get compensate priority picks.
Yeah, I said they should get oneat the end of this start of this
year's second round, start of next year's second round that
they both have to trade. I was very firm in that belief
given what the AFL did only three years ago for you guys.

(40:53):
Yeah. I don't know if that affects
this specific thing though, because if they apply for that
exemption, I feel like they won't get those priority picks.
And then if they do get it, it basically means that they get an
A start of first round, end of first round, pick their own pick

(41:15):
and then obviously those two picks that they would need to
trade compared to just pick one and pick 2.
Because I was all with what theywere doing because obviously
similar situation in the north. They've just been stuck in in an
absolute. And I think their their case is
even bigger considering how big of a club West Coast is.
They can make the argument, you know, the club, the AFL relies
on this club being good. So it's in your best interest to

(41:37):
help us out. Yeah, this almost feels, I don't
know, with the way it's been presented, it feels like they're
asking for such a large, I guessaddition on top of what has
already been suggested. I don't know, West Coast is a
massive thing we could get into with how low they've gotten and
what they possibly deserve. But we'll see how it goes.

(41:59):
I just, I find it very interesting that while they have
are getting this massive, massive deal, I guess to help
them out, asking for Star Savagefor free basically is
interesting. It's an interesting move.
I don't know what they're going to do, what the AFL will do
about that. And the final team is the

(42:19):
Western Bulldogs, who at this stage still look as the front
runner for Jack Silvani. They're linked to Jacob where
Neil Erasmus, AS2, sort of smaller midfielder and defenders
to potentially replace the likesof Libra or True Law and then
also Zach Butters. They seem the favourite for when
he potentially leaves. As of next year, that is all of

(42:40):
the trade news. It's a lot of trade.
There's a lot of, it's a lot of potential, a lot of potential.
And when does it? When does it kick off?
No idea. Fantastic.
We'll just see trade start kicking in.
All of a sudden we're like, oh, it's exciting now.
Live in the bud. Oh.
Yeah, exactly. Nick Dagos gone to North
Melbourne. Oh thank God, Ethan has been

(43:02):
saying he's going to win the next 10 brown lows.
He'll shortly do it at North. Let's go, let's go.
We move to week 1 of finals. Now we finally get into the fun
stuff. We've had a lot of dead rubber
games. Nothing is dead rubber now.
We have got everything exciting.I'm super keen to hopefully see
that Friday night game at the MCG.
The only Melbourne game we'll find out though.

(43:23):
We'll start off though Thursday night at Adelaide Oval, probably
the most exciting game of the round.
It's so good we get to see it inweek one game. 1 Crows versus
Pies again at Adelaide Oval. Oh my God, am I excited.
This is going to be such a good game.
I don't know about you, but thisgame ties into one of my bold
predictions that we're going to mention in just a second right

(43:45):
after this preview. But yeah, crows, those pies
could go either way. I know that a lot of people are
down on the pause at the moment for good reason, but we saw with
their most recent game, this could go either way.
It really could. If controversial calls are to
happen again, it will be even more outrage and what happened

(44:06):
in that yeah, in that match up in the regular season.
But where does this game come down to?
I'm not sure. How long have we said that we
want to put into this, into thissegment?
We want to go 1012 minutes. Doesn't matter, doesn't matter,
Talk about them. Beautiful Crows versus Pies.
Then I think I want to talk first about the Crows because
with them and how good their players being, what worked

(44:27):
against them last time, against the last time they played the
Pies. Efficiency inside 50, both
offensively and defensively, where they were able to score
from only 35 or 36 inside 50s run.
They kicked eight goals or nine goals or whatever.
It wasn't. Whereas Collingwood struggled to
score inside 5071 inside 50s forjust the eight goals for the

(44:48):
Crows, they were able to score and they were able to defend
both inside 50s. Whether that's able to hold up
again against what could potentially be a new look
Collingwood is going to be the question.
But then you also want to question will the Adelaide
midfield get beaten that convincingly again?

(45:08):
Well, yeah, obviously, because that's where the game's always
won and lost. I understand that.
No, no, I get what you're saying.
I understand what you mean by that.
But yeah. You do lift I think, yeah,
without Rankin, I just don't sayit from Adelaide specifically
and I think Collingwood with this reset and the ranking of
their own in Jordan Tagawi, which is that forward half game

(45:30):
breaking midfielder. He looked really good against
Melbourne, has now had a week off as well to prepare.
I think calling this is obviously a lot of this Adelaide
team's first ever final series as well, especially together.
Whereas Collingwood, they've they've been there and done
that. And I think that experience that
know how and how to prepare and how to really narrow down on

(45:52):
tactically how to beat this team, I think gives them a
bigger edge than the home crowd advantage.
And without ranking as well, I think it leans more towards
Collingwood at this stage. I understand the experience
aspect of it all, but I want to quickly before I mention the
stupid comment that I said before.
In terms of if the game is obviously one through the

(46:12):
midfield, I'm more mean right? Was the inside 50 domination
purely because the midfield outperformed?
Not purely, not. Yes.
OK, So I want to, I guess, will we see that same kind of
disparity? Will Collingwood win the Inside
50 battle again? I believe so, yes.
You think they'll do it again? See, that's where I think it

(46:34):
won't. I think they'll if they don't
win it, they'll even it. And because of how much better
those key positions are for Adelaide in terms especially in
the forward, because do we see Jeremy Howe again?
No, not for this week anyway. He's not the number one reason
the backline is so good, but God, he's shown how important he
is in terms of his backline. Disruption is shown in spades

(46:55):
how much they need someone like him because you've got your your
your key defenders who are sticking on those players that
they're obviously going to be caught up with those with those
guys. Maybe you can be a bit lenient
on some of them, like text, but if you even show a sign of
weakness against him, he'll run straight though you still, I
think the Pies are going to be shocked here.

(47:17):
Really sure. I think this could get up to a
big margin. I want it to be close.
I want it to be close. I really, really do.
I want every single final game to be close, but I think the
Crows take this one by 45. I, I say a world where that
happens, like no doubt in my mind that that's probably the

(47:38):
more favourable thing at the moment.
But I just think this time to prepare for Collingwood, given
that it's an extra week, I thinkit favours them, especially with
their older legs, it just gives them a four week runway to
absolutely spend everything and I think it's just going to be so
hard to get past them. So I'm going to go Pies and I'm
going to have them winning by 17.

(48:01):
I just think that their system is in a better shape even with
their poor performances over thelast few weeks.
I can see it happening, but the problem is it just hasn't
happened as of late. So that's why I'm going Crows,
cats versus Lions now qualifyingfinal #2 at the MCG.
This one feels a bit safer for both sides because it's more

(48:23):
like their form has been really good so they can afford to play
like can't afford to play a bad game.
Obviously it's finals, but if they do play a bad game right,
their form and their structure is a lot more set up to play
whoever they come up against in Week 2.
In terms of who I think will winthis one though, it's really,

(48:43):
really fun. I want to make a deep dive into
this game, not just this game, this small modern day rivalry,
right? These guys keep matching up
against each other in these big games.
They've been prelims in qualifying, finals over and over
again against these guys. It's really interesting.
It's been so back and forth. Cats obviously beat them in 22
in the prelim to get to their ultimately premiership winning

(49:06):
season and then Lions last year and they've met up before in not
so massive circumstances, but prelims especially.
It shows the trajectories of these side and the fact they
keep clashing shows how good their dominance has been.
So that's something I want to get off my chest very quickly.
Cats, it's not at the the home ground per SE, but it it's so

(49:33):
hard to tip this one. It's so, so hard.
Cats have been so good all season.
That they have. They thankfully get Shannon Neil
back because he comes back off suspension.
It's just the one game against Richmond.
Jeremy Cameron been talked aboutall year, then midfield looks a
little different with Max Holmesand Bailey Smith being a really
nice tandem. Sean Manner has now been

(49:55):
officially announced as the AFL's best young player at 28
years old and their back line continues to show up when
necessary. What's interesting for me is
this team has had a really easy run coming into finals now.
They've had their little tough game against Sydney, but they
have not played any really toughcompetition for a good month and

(50:17):
a bit. Is that going to affect them?
I think so. I know that they are used to
playing against teams and can always pull out a great
performance when necessary, but the Lions I think are going to
really shock A-Team like the Cats who have just not been
able, not had the preparation toplay against a team like the

(50:38):
Lions. It's leaning to me, Lions, by
how much? I'm going Lions by 20 because I
think ultimately the cats can perform, but just they're not
going to know how to how to readjust to this type of
competition. The Lions have one of the best
options on Jeremy Cameron at this stage and Ryan Lester, he's
been one of the best and he's been such an underrated piece of

(51:01):
this giant line Lions team all year.
The character Andrews, the way he just clears the ball with his
spoils, just ruins any chance for the Geelong smalls to get
into the game. And that's such an important
piece of their system. And I think the way the Lions
move the ball and the way the Geelong unable to defend ball
movement anymore, I think is thecritical pace to this, where

(51:24):
they're just going to be able tomove the ball with A's on a
bigger ground where there's morespace for them to open up.
Geelong, I think it suits them heavily and I'm going to go
lined by 33. It's going to be such a good
game, it is. It's going to be so good.
It is. Giants versus Hawks first
elimination final. The first team who is going to
be taken out prematurely Saturday arvo at Angie.

(51:46):
Which doesn't mean too much honestly, if I'm being honest.
Hawthorne have never won at Ng Stadium.
That is an interesting little fact.
That is crazy because I was going to say the Hawks take this
one. I hate you Josh Battle is not
winning. I.
Forgot I forgot, it's the Josh battle curse isn't it?
In terms of the game, I want to make this a little shorter,

(52:09):
although you could say that the impact is a bit high considering
one team goes out with this one.Is there any like individuals or
any like certain matchups that you think could influence this
game? Does Hogan come back in?
That is the real. Question.
That is a massive question. I forgot that Hogan.
Everything lies on that. I I actually not.

(52:30):
Not for me. To say.
Everything giants still win. Yeah, I would just say
everything. They've got some spark plugs
too. Yeah, Brent Daniels could come
in as well. That's what I didn't even.
Remember Jack? Jack Buckley could come back in
for. Them Jack Buckley would be huge.
Sam Taylor's already been playing, right?
Yeah, I know he was out for a little bit, but the likes of
Stringer, does he turn it on? He could.
Come back in. Yeah.

(52:50):
Oh. My God that could be a lot of
fun to watch him in finals again.
The Giants could have three of their best forwards included.
Yeah, this is going to be a really interesting game, but I'm
I'm just looking at the Hawks. Josh, what at all could come
back in? Yeah, well, could be good.
Whether you risk it off a back is the real question.
Is it a no Will day, no Hawthorntype situation?

(53:10):
Yeah, Yeah, it could be. Could be, yeah.
I'm gonna go giants. I'm gonna swing Giants.
Why? It's just feeling more with
them, with their inclusion. Sure, they don't have Hogan, but
like Cadman has shown a step up.You've seen the likes of Callum
Brown step up occasionally. They've got some really big
spark plugs. They could make a run this year,
they really could. But they are so topsy turvy.

(53:30):
It's going to be like, which giants do we see in this
Saturday game? Going to be a lot of fun.
I'm going Giants take it by. It's got to be close.
It's got to be 7 elimination final.
Make it close. I'm going Giants by 24 because
that is Josh Battle's number andhe does not deserve anything
greater than that. Yes, all right.
Saturday night at Optus, this time for the Fremantle Dockers

(53:54):
and G GCI. Guess I was.
GC Sons. I was struggling to speak their
Gold Coast, their first final ofhow I wanted to be a fairy tale.
I really do to be what they go they're.
Not playing Shut up Dockers VS Sons.
I'm going to let you speak to start off you after a bit.
Dockers have insane talent everywhere, but so do Gold

(54:15):
Coast. It all depends on Alex Pearson
banking. Gold Coast really struggled to
score without King as their headbeats in that forward line, with
the likes of of Jeffrey being moved to down back and and Jed
Walter being out. So poor Joel Jeffrey.
Yeah, No, he hasn't. Against poor.
Did you see how he played? No.
Oh my God, it was awful. Yeah, I think there's a reason

(54:37):
he was tactically subbed out. OK, understandable.
For the most part, he's been pretty good for the year I felt
at least. But yeah, Alex Pierce, the way
he what he did on Sam Daisy, I think if he replicates that
against Ben King, it's pretty easy to the Dockers for me.
I'm I'm hoping for a fairy tale.I really am.
But it also comes into a little bit of a bold take prediction.

(55:01):
I'm bringing it back to that. I think this game's going to go
to extra time. I think this is going to be an
extra time special that the Sunstake out.
Suns are gonna take this one by five points.
Suns. In a absolute thriller, I think
that what Ben King's gonna fire,I think he's gonna have his

(55:22):
opportunities. It is going to be a really
interesting battle for Gold Coast back for Harry.
Mental four I would love it for I would love for this to happen.
But it's going to be, it's goingto come from the likes of Ben
Long and Joy Farah. Those guys are going to have to
step up in big ways. Sam Flanders would be nice to
have him have a fantastic game too.
I do not doubt that they've thattheir midfield's going to do
well. I think Raoul and Anderson,

(55:44):
Anderson, to be fair, hasn't been as reliable in these last
couple of weeks, but almost 95% of the time, Anderson's reliable
rail always gives 110%. I think their their midfield's
going to get over the top of them, especially with the likes
of Wits and Miller around to back those two up.
It's going to be a fun game. It's going to be a fun.
Game. I think the Dockers get out
early and then the Suns just keep clawing and clawing and

(56:07):
clawing back. The Dockers kick another couple
late, and then the Suns kick tworeally, really late goals to get
it even closer. I'm going Dockers by 11, but I
think it's a really strong contest for a lot of it.
Oh. I'm so excited.
I'm so excited for finals, man. I'm going to try and watch every
single game. There's no exception.
I want to watch every single one.
Finishing up today, we are goingto do our three bold predictions

(56:32):
for the AFL finals series. Yes, you, you.
Mentioned one of yours potentially just before, so
we'll start off with you today. Yeah, I did give away one of
them. One of my bold predictions is
that one of the games in this first week will go to extra
time. And as I've mentioned, that's
going to be the Gold Coast and Dockers game with Gold Coast
coming out on top. Just need some more excitement.

(56:54):
Excitement in my life. Considering how open the season
was in terms of dead rubber games, we just need to make up
for it somehow. So long as we don't say you
Geelong put Adelaide qualifying final like last year, I don't
care, yeah. No, that's right.
It's completely fair. And then my second one, trying
to remember off the top of my head, I'm always up.

(57:16):
Yes, that's it. The loser of Adelaide versus
Collingwood will go on to lose in straight sets.
It's going to be, it's a bit, I did mention it, it's a bit cheap
to go Collingwood out in straight sets, but on the other
hand Adelaide in straight sets too isn't out of the.
Question, I'm just going to go straight into my my first one

(57:37):
Adelaide go out in straight sets.
Yeah, do it mate. Mentioned it last week.
Because so many people are saying Collingwood out in
straight sets. Adelaide, I think, is a really,
really bold one, but it's possible.
I'm saying it because they wouldplay JWS if they lose to
Collingwood and JWS always went on on the road.
Always. Somehow.

(57:57):
For whatever reason they don't do well at home, which means
Hawthorne could very well beat them.
But like somehow they just went on the road.
They did it to put Adelaide a couple years ago in 2023.
I would be very confident in them doing it again this year.
What's your second? My second.
Is there will be an umpiring decision that whether it's

(58:17):
correct or not will be talked about significantly, exactly
like the Adelaide Collingwood one with the Riley Thorthorpe 1?
That's a really good one. That will just be absolutely
slanted in the media with. Yeah, that's a really good one,
'cause they always find. Something this is This is weak
one specific. And like get robbed, there will
be a. Close game.
Robbed right in front of me here, we get a right that's

(58:40):
gonna be. That's a good one.
Yeah, so that's my second one. What's your?
Final one, My final one is Ben will kick six goals in his first
finals game. So I think it would be such a
nice, like it's exciting storyline to have.
Of course I mentioned the guys around him like John Farah and

(59:01):
Ben longer going to need to havegood games.
But in terms of a first finals game of your career, in terms of
really making an impact against the Fremantle side at home that
is looking to make a statement, a big game from banking is
necessary and if I think that Gold Coast are going to win it,
he's going to have to kick 6. I like it because I did mention

(59:21):
that battle between him and AlexPierce.
It's a really good one, my finalone.
We see absolutely 0 comebacks inthe entire AFL final series.
As in, no one is losing at half time or losing in terms.
Of within two goals, I would consider a comeback unless it's
extraordinary time, time constraints, because what we saw

(59:44):
Brisbane do last year with the Iwas actually the two GWS games,
not just Brisbane with the Sydney betting, GWS after being
down and Brisbane betting and GWS.
I don't think anything like thathappens.
At all. So you think it has to go in
order to win? You have to get a lead first.
Based that or it stays within a.Goal.
I've described sport. In order to win, you must have

(01:00:10):
the lead far out. You've had an absolute stinker
today mate. Jeez.
Oh, but it makes it better. Big night, big night.
Last night was it? You're about to say something
else. I was about to lose Oh my God oh
I think that is the perfect place oh wait, haven't you said
your last one last one. I think that is the perfect way

(01:00:31):
to end off today's episode. Let's store 0 access footy.
Oh no, donkey of the week I. Didn't even realise that was the
donkey of the week. Well, because we didn't do it at
the start, donkey of the week, I'm going to do it quickly
because it was really funny. It's going to the Western
Bulldogs, not for missing the finals but for training for a
finals game that never happened.The scenes that were described

(01:00:51):
at that training, where I've never seen such a sad training
session because their final season was was going to get by,
was relying on an Essendon win after 14 straight losses and
they all knew they were screwed.Yet they had to go to training
in case it somehow happened. Oh my God, it was funny.

(01:01:13):
It was so funny. But that's what happens when you
put up a disappointing two quarters in your so called
elimination final. So it's it was just
unprecedented. It was funny and that's what 0
Access Footy is all about, pointing at that stuff and
having a laugh. So appreciate you guys tuning in
once again to 0 Access Footy. Be sure to follow us on all

(01:01:35):
platforms to be grateful to see you all on those other
platforms. Well, I thank them once again
for joining me here again today for another successful episode.
Thank you guys very much for watching.
I'll see you all very soon. Let's go final baby.
I'm excited.