Which players have gone to the NEXT LEVEL? Who is the flag FAVOURITE? – SEN

Brad Johnson joins Kane Cornes and Gerard Healy to unpack all of the big AFL issues ahead of Gather Round, only on SEN!

0:00 Conversion is king
3:58 Bulldogs v West Coast
8:35 Players that have gone to another level
11:11 Jack Ginnivan & the Hawks
14:48 Hayden Young & the Dockers
16:13 What will be the upset of Gather Round?
19:15 Adelaide v Melbourne preview
21:40 Johnno’s rolling All-Australian team
24:53 Brownlow and premiership favourites
26:30 Tim English’s future

#afl

JN are you on the plan toade shortly yeah I can’t wait it’s uh it’s it was brilliant last year and it’s going to be I think even bigger this year I think the the size and the amount of people going will probably double I think after last year and you just all the families that are that’re heading over now have gone from 2 to four to six to eight there’ll be plenty of the cars right now if you are actually driving over there right now because no one can afford a plane fair and you you got to you’re toing your Caravan cuz no one can afford a hotel give us a call and tell us where you are stationed right now so between here and of course the great town of Adela yeah so look there’s there’s there’s brilliant matchups I think that are really important in the early part of the the season the way that that’s that’s worked out and it starts you know tomorrow night is going to be probably one of the biggest games of the of the weekend because of what the Adelaide crows need to do on their home deck against a Melbourne team that played extremely well last week although they’ll beaten in all parameters of the game their pressure was was really good and they just converted so and that that takes me to conversion is King at the at the moment like you look at the way the cats uh the way the cats kick the way the way the Bulldogs are going at the at the present time as well they um no conversion is what is separating um team we can have all the stats in the world but the most important one especially over the first couple of weeks of the season has been conversion yeah there’s no doubt about that I mean Sam Mitchell came into fully classified on Monday night and you you sort of ask him how the game went he goes it’s pretty tough you know when they’re kicking him from the the boundary line in wet conditions at the MCG now he wasn’t at all using that as an excuse but it’s just the re reality of it what they kick 176 or something um 174 like on a wet day at the G and sting kicking in the boundary line jck sides like so we don’t often look at that we we should look at it more I mean Simon Goodwin was accused of making excuses when he when he went with the expected score in the finals last year and then Port ADL win expected score on Saturday night by 36 so uh it is it is vital and it will be the difference to where your team finishes speaking of which I don’t think can I just jump in I don’t think expected score is ever an excuse but what it is saying is you’ve got the majority of your game in good stead in in good order but I mean if you’re missing goals from 30 m out well that’s the reason you lose so you don’t throw out the the proverbial baby with the bath water it’s it’s been in motorsport for some time because you you’ve got your lap time and you might do your quality lap but you might have your expected time as well that if you got everything right you would have done a a 34.4 but you’ve done a 3.4.8 you’ve you’ve cied fifth if you had got it all right then you would have cied one so it’s I understand why it’s in in the game because if they did get it right Port Adela and they got it right with that conversion they they win that game comfortably all right any other observations for Gather jonno oh for for gather round as as a whole I think Mount Barker hopefully doesn’t rain up there this time the weather is magnificent so we’re 24 25 oh nice I’ll pack the shorts and t for Friday Saturday with not much going on if you got something for me to do on Friday and Beach go to go to Port the best bakery in the world down it’s worth the hour car trip jonno let me tell you the the best bakery in the world and a magnificent Coastal spot so consumed I live I live in jalong corn it takes me an hour and a bit to drive to I’m not getting in the car oh you’re not okay head out to Norwood for the Food and Wine Festival nor now would I’m with the weather because Mount Barka got the worst conditions last year and their setup was was brilliant the ground was in amazing condition and they just got the rain and I think it restricted the amount of people that ventured up to the uh to the game so I’m I’m wrapped that they’ll get a massive look at it with uh with the with the full support which will be which will be huge all right well let’s move on to your start of your talking points just got some social media influences filming me outside of the uh Josh GARP and the boys are there follow them on Tik Tok Instagram they do some really good stuff there in adade for gather and all right the Bulldogs and West Coast you’d be pretty happy now happier than you were two weeks ago oh I’m happy with the yeah I’m happy with the Bulldogs they’re still not playing at I think a a level that will challenge the the very best but what’s your main concern I still think they they have a some some easier turnovers than they they would like throughout uh throughout the game and I think they they’ll like they would like to tidy that up a little bit their pressure’s back though and that’s and I think that’s be going to become the basis of of their game but many other teams in the competition we spoke about conversion but there was about five or six teams that had their best pressure games for for the year so far and they had wins off the off the back of it so I think the Bulldogs have got back to back to that and they their ball movement from D50 to to score is a little bit more fluent than I witnessed last year so I think that will that will definitely um improve as well West Coast are a completely different different story here Jared and and I know that I messaged you during the uh during the game after Petra Chell was having a a shot about 40 m out and he didn’t make the distance and it was 3v1 on the goal line Bulldogs take the mark and go Coast to Coast from from goal line score the goal and what yeah so for for West Coast you’ve got a team that they mightn’t be as talented as the opposition at the moment well they’re not going to be more talented than any side this year and they’re but it’s the it’s the things that that don’t require Talent are really the focus for me at the minute and one of those is effort but two of those is if you’ve got a if you’ve got a teammate who’s having a set shot from 40 m out on a 45 Dee angle yeah you can expect him to score but you’ve also got to expect the unexpected in our game so why isn’t there more representation down there looking for that that one that might come their way but secondly what is going on behind the ball for West Coast when a teammate is in that position if a turnover does occur he kicks it into the man of the Mark or kicks it out in the full or it’s a point they can get the quick the the quick play play on so what is going on with mcgaven and barass the leaders through the Midfield are they setting up the ground or are they just sort of sitting there and twiddling their thumbs waiting for someone else to to do it and are you worried about Baris I’m worried about them all but I’m worried about the senior players that are that are out there the the youngsters are Guided by the senior players and they’re not in full instruction mode Yo’s good might be getting getting kicks but I’m not talking about the talent side of things I’m talking about are they are they so strong verbally out there that you look behind the goals and you’ll see mcgaven pointing and screaming and if BLS aren’t listening to mcgaven that’s on them but I’m not sure I’m seeing that at this particular Point as one of their as one of their main leaders when the play is completely stopped is there a pure desire to set up this ground to set up defensively to one be able to beat your man but the team defense to stop the opposition exiting with some sort of speed to score easily there a lot of things they can address outside of T because yeah because once the Bulldogs did that the body language just went completely out of West Coast and it was kind of like well you can you can do something about that and you can do something about that pretty quickly I’m the and it’s not so much it’s more the instruction you to tackle the smother the pressure pick your teammate up all those little things that moment so bad at Port adade for a number of years like two or three years there and and it got to the point where we started having an enthusiasm award so who could show the most enthusiasm on the ground the the people listening driving to Adelaide going what professional athletes and you’re measuring each other on enthusiasm but it got to that point and it’s got to that point with the eagle so how aggressively are you Manning the mark these are the things Smothers are you picking your teammate up off the ground how are you celebrating someone who kicks a goal all those things we started actually documenting and measuring and then handing out a weekly award for the player that brought the most enthusi and it kind of works like it kind of keeps you accountable for things that don’t require any Talent none not none whatsoever and that’s that’s where the West Coast I saw Adam tror pointing and instructing and telling teammates where to go on the weekend in a game that the dogs were never going to lose so maybe they saw that on your close checking I thought it was good because it’s not something that you would associate tror with he’s just a player that gets a lot of the footy but you don’t he’s probably BG close enough he’s he’s having a terrific year um now a lot of people coming through on the text just uh expressing their support for you K so don’t feel alone there’s a there a there’s a vast a vast quantity of people out there all wanting you to be supportive or all support there’s a few out there once you head knocked up but hey speaking of having a good year jonno uh tell me about a Mel player that’s caught your attention well Alex Neil bullan is a player that has been in the system for for some time now but it’s probably been his last couple of years that he started to just be more consistent in his performance Simon Goodwins give him a a role that he can he can play well and he’s got the endurance to get up the ground come back and but even the start of this year I think it’s gone to another level again and I was talking to to horny about Alex Neil Bull and I’m like who where does he sit in the competition at the moment from a forward point of view now we break it up of course now when we look at the general forward and the general forward is based on your position played and where and H you win your ball so Neil Ban’s doing it in a number of ways at the moment he’s doing it inside forward 50 where he can float back through he’s doing it through the wings handball receives linking up well and then he’s also supporting defense and and getting back and and being the high half forward to to be able to play that role so he sits number one in the comp ition award as the general forward this year so far second you’re all Australian too no but second at the moment is Liam Baker then you got Jack Higgins you’ve got Jade Gresham Thomas bur Tom papley J calwell Isaac Rankin Ryan Mansel Dary burn Jones in those General forward roles so you know there’s there’s some there’s some guys in there some young that are are coming into the competition and doing a good job like Mansel being in the in the top 10 Jack Higgins who’s a consistent performer Liam Baker of course and but it just surpris me when I did see Alex Neil BN sitting number one in that particular particular role so he’s having a he’s having an impact on where Melbourne are going this year so who is it at your club that you’ve seen that massive rise from this year in particular over this over the first month of football that we’ve that we’ve seen and you go through it you go through it corsy one that sticks out for me is is locky fogy at at Caron I think he’s gone to a complete new level really consistent in his in his performance Tom pal at North Melbourne Matty Johnson at Freo Arie Perkins at at the bombers has been Sensational Wang Miller at silda luy Bramble for the Western Bulldogs who would have thought he would have the start of the year that he that he has off the halfback loan Matty Roberts at at the swans was playing in the twos all last year couldn’t get a look in and now all of a sudden he’s getting 20 plus and and having a huge say on where the swans have going you go through a couple more as well Thompson D Tanner bruan I think there a couple of others that have had a great start of the year so 043 98 1116 the players like Neil bullan and the ones jonno just rattled off there who’s gone to the next level at your Club William Drew at Port adelade has been Sensational like a really really important player now and starting to get right up there with the elite midfielders of the game uh the controversy over Jack ginan this week um you would have observed this I’m not sort of talking along whether he gets the free kicks or or not that’s an Umpire adjudication and yes there are a couple there that he should have that he should have received no question whatsoever but it’s more what Hawthorn are missing out by him going into into this move now I’ve spoken about it in the past but Jack ginan when he gets the ball especially the holes tackle I looked at this one closely so he gets the ball holes is coming in he pretty much drops the ball and searches for the free kick where if he absorbs that tackle he’s got Dylan Moore within a meter for an easy release inside forward 50 and it would have been a snapshot at goal that’s what Hawthorne are missing out on because of the way that he plays it at times now he does some good things Jack inan and this is this has been highlighted so I go for me Hawthorn are missing opportunities to potentially score because he’s going into the how do I get the free kick move first rather than how do I hold on to this ball AB absorb not even absorb sometimes Kan it’s even just use his sharp step which we know he’s got use his sharp step to release it because then the then the Oppo tagged the jumper not drag not drag him around the uh for for a strong tackle or get him around the neck then he’s released and then they’re actually still going as a team because what it does it creates a stoppage then and then all of a sudden crowd congested Hawthorne missed that opportunity that’s what I’d like to see from from Jack Gan and and I hope that the Hawks coaches are are talking to him about that what they’re missing out of because of his first move and his first thought versus what his first thought I think should be you worried about the Hawks in total uh a little bit I expect I probably expected a little bit more from from the Hawks at the start of the year I love their season last year and I think and I and I’ve said about the list that Sam Mitchell and the and the staff are building athletically their profile is is second to none it’s probably one of the best in in the competition but they just haven’t been able to jail yet and get themselves going collectively so some individuals are going okay but the collection just isn’t working at the at the moment and they they’re their key positions down and I think that’s that’s the evolution of of the Hawks but their star started youngsters have been okay without being great um excuse me great yet is there a Dar of key defenders in this competition no no you don’t reckon I don’t think well no but but no there probably is but are you going to be able to secure them that’s because you need three these days you need three do you you need three and that’s what port adelay have done with with Zerg Thatcher and and rig Galia are they coming through at junior level though I jar asking well I’d say they would be that we we well 100% they’d have to be it’s just whether or not you can see the the potential in what they can bring hathorne don’t need a young young Defender to come through they need to recruit a couple of experienced keys to be able to they’re out there Jonah there’s not many I mean the swans sted to pick one up ended up getting hamling from uh I mean obviously from fre from Freo obviously there was a few people in the in the market for Ben Mai Hawthorne didn’t get one so that’s North got none north three they don’t have one yeah so that’s right they got they got a couple that just picked up a couple well one in the draft and they had the young kid come through 30 seven who’s looks tremendous after two games I can’t even remember his name but uh I was surprised he wasn’t the rising star to be honest jonno but um it’ll be interesting my personal belief if you want a key Defender go and get a key forward and turn him into turn him into one yeah it’s not a bad option actually turn him into one a lot of T coming through about the players that have gone to another level at your Club Morris rioli Junior I’m not quite there I mean he has some good moments and was terrific on the weekend but doesn’t do it consistently yet gr Meers definitely young has exploded in the m but Hayden young Hayden young has been good for the last couple of years off half backline yeah but now as as a pure Midfield I agree with that yeah it was a good move by the coach coming into last season the last three or four games you played him in the middle and what what works for Hayden young is their handball receed numbers are up for so they’re marking and and going but they’ve got great representation and run from behind so Hayden young plays as a midfielder but he get still gets in behind it at about 780 out from defensive goal and then he receives there to be able to release to half forward effectively and and it’s working really well for for fro do you think they’ll make the finals I don’t think they will oh je I think well yeah exactly like kilder last year if they banked the winds early then and they’ve already got them on the board if they can get themselves to seven from 10 then all of a sudden they’re a realistic chance of playing west coast twice as well yes so there’s two Derby of the Derby so there two uh they’ve got c p play West Coast the Bulldogs Richmond Sydney s kiler Collingwood and Melbourne so their next run up into the B round 13 is difficult I think we’re going to know a lot more about them on the weekend and in in the coming couple of months uh jonno you were pretty good at nearly picking an upset uh in round one proper what game is most likely to cause an upset this week so I’ll give I’ll give you the options can Adelaide beat Melbourne can tinin beat Port Adelaide uh well I’ve tipped Adelaide to beat you there it is question on what on What basis could you possibly pick the Adela football club off 34 points against a team that finished 14th last year I think they just get it done there’s no scientific they must not there’s nothing scientific about this I just think that they they are not going to start Z and four or 0 and three that 04 they just I just can’t see them losing at home to Melbourne off another short break viney potentially out he’s crook at the moment yeah May which that hurts and and may of course but they did that well last week Melbourne that was my biggest biggest concern with Melbourne and lever going in with the injury clar but he played very well he actually tried a little bit too hard early lever and got his got into his Groove in the second quarter and and had an outstanding game for for the D and he looked pretty sharp so but I I don’t know I just think Adelaide will get it right on their home deck big game Thursday night footy and I think their Stars will will come and I think dwson will lead them extremely well I don’t want to take anything away from Richmond except to say that all those people who said their pressure was great it wasn’t it was 173 Which is less than average but Richmond had a fantastic win let’s just put it straight on the on the top magnificent great to have their first win was it their pressure moments more than a complete pressure game because they’re actually quite inspiring 52 tackles to 44 there was some inspiring moments that would really lift you as a as a teammate well I’m only going off the numbers but nevertheless it was a great win but it was actually a great loss to Sydney and it could be a loss that could cost him a top four spot and yet it seems as if it’s just being swept under the carpet if you were advising or talking to the Sydney Swans players right now which seem to just turn up and expect the win to happen what would you be sort of assessing and what would you be addressing Jon o uh it’s kind of difficult to to pinpoint one thing cuz they they played they had a poor start so I think that’s what address first up is poor start into a good second quarter into then M tackle sloppy kicking yeah but I think the well the start comes to all of those sort of things and we watched them live against Collingwood and it was Rob bottom who had an unbelievable first quarter but their pressure against the pies was was brilliant so that’s that’s upstairs isn’t it in terms of their mental approach to the to the game so you got against Collingwood who reigning Premier and the mentality of the pressure in the first quarter against Richmond aside they expect to to win and they would have gone in that to end of that game expecting the win they play the West Coast Eagles this week so I think the first quarter is What will what will determine the outcome of this game whether it is just going to be a flow through win by 30 points against the West Coast Eagles or whether it’s going to be a 60 plus or a 10 goal win and I think the first quarter will determine a fair that the Thursday night teams are in jonno has unexpectedly picked Adelaide on what can only be described as a hunch because he thinks they won’t go zero we’ve all Jared and I were having a chat in the in the break around the this game and we’ve all been a part of teams where you go over and play the Adela crows and you you’ve got their measure you’re you’re a better team than them throughout that year yet they’ll just surprise you at home and I think Melbourne will be in for a surprise tomorrow night the axe has been sharpened by Matthew Nicks who says that they’re in a dark spot five changes ball a sha Peddler omitted Murphy Miller injured buts Parnell cook Barry Nan cvis in and for the very settled demons who get stronger they welcome back Steven May he’s going to be sore you would think Steven may but he is going to take the place of Marty hore so miraculous recovery from Steven May um so the courage is on Full display there he probably have some um bandaging he’ll have a mattress he’ll have a mattress he’ll have to go three sizes up for the jumper he’ll have the shaen knee brace he will tayor Walker is there any question mark on him and his Fitness no not that I’ve heard um his father-in-law passed away a week or so ago so the family’s been going through a difficult spot but I don’t think there’s any doubt um that he will play and I think I think he back’s okay so they need him and they need him probably kick to kick I don’t know how many goals was Tex needed he needs to kick three at least for them to kick a winning score maybe four three or four well depends on how many fog he’s going to KI well they need 10 plus between Isaac Rank and foggy and Walker fogy didn’t get out of a puff lastek be very lucky to still be in the side so does that change anything Johnny no it doesn’t I still think I think Ford of Center the Adela Crower that’s where they that’s where their talent is and yeah Melbourne’s defense from a from a tall point of view is strong but they got some ground level players here that I think can cause some some issues and I think I think Jord Dawson gets it done honestly I just think he gets it done I think the the coach coach will put it on him this week to to not only lead the side with some intent but also to use the ball extremely well and wouldn’t surprise me if it’s the if Jordan’s there just give it to him this week because I think that’s critical for his kicking kicking skills to get back to their very best all right let’s move on to your regular spots and we’ll start with the rolling all Australian team we got a bit more information now jonno yeah it’s starting to uh starting to sort of build up not too many changes this week starting to build a list on the side jar that I know you like is you throw about eight names at me normally on who should be in or or out of the team I’ve gone with Nick flon who comes into the into the team Sammy Taylor and uh Collins in the back pocket Tommy Stewart Blakey and Whitfield is the half backline Errol gon calb song survives Josh Kelly on the wing Daniels McKai and petraka across the half forward line bayy Fritz comes in Hogan and kerno Jackson Heeney and green remain in the middle of the ground Ral Bond Butters and Warner survive the bench it’s just probably until the next couple of weeks when everyone’s played and the barys the played well enough to be all australi yeah I do you reckon yeah I do on the wing I do yeah he wasn’t as good on the on the weekend but there are some players well there’s there’s some players on the sidelines like Alex Pierce we mentioned NE bowan earlier picket and G Melbourne have got three that could easily jump straight into the team I think Hugh mccluggage has been pretty strong he could replace Gordon on uh on on a wing in coming weeks Patty Crips is strong Luke Ryan from Foo has had a good start good start to the year but you just can’t get him in at the moment the tall backs was it was so the fullback semi Taylor Collins and Blakey are the three well that’s that’s where it’s tough at the moment because you as Pi had a better that good Collins has been very good I’ve loved the way that he’s uh started the The Great Wall of Pierce has been inable he has been and Zack Merritt’s another Unlucky One at the moment but Merritt I think gets in you ra there’s probably question marks on on Ral at the moment golden at the moment bayy Fritz the small forward spot is another one that I think will just go through the whole year and we will Lebon flow on who gets that particular always interesting as well gor’s been Sensational and has had a monopoly on it um Timmy English hasn’t started as well this year he was he was okay on the weekend and got himself going but Luke Jackson had a flyer so he starts in the rck at the moment but that’s where there may be two spots if Luke Jackson keeps going really well he could go to a forward pocket easily and Max Kan doesn’t think he can play in the for pocket you don’t think so Kane no I need to see it first okay well I I don’t think he can’t but he’s nowhere near as effective in the for pocket as he’s in the RO the ground yeah I mean that that’s his spot all right would you pick up Dustin Martin if you were the goal Coast J yes wouldn’t even blink at it okay how much how long how much oh how much probably threeyear deal at 800 a year that’s a pck out from him of about 50% that’s a pay cup for 33 yeah exactly so that takes him to 36 800 year plus there’ll be a lot of incentives on the back of this deal as well yeah so got to give him an incentive based contract no there’ll be yeah some offline incentives that that would be attributed to this if I was doing the deal you reckon he’s going to do the Buddy and just continue to go I don’t know don’t know it’s it’s it’s it’s because we don’t hear from Dusty too much you just don’t know but I think he’s I think he’s footy over the next probably six to 10 weeks will tell us a lot about uh about where he’s at and and hopefully he goes well because we all love watching him should we talk brand medals oh brand the brown L medal I think it’s still in Isaac hey’s hands at in the early stages and I know this is going to roll throughout uh throughout the year Tom Green from gws wouldn’t be too far behind as well and outside outside of that maybe Caleb song’s had a couple of best ons but I still think even Isaac Heeney although they lost on the weekend might still pinch one he was he was their best he was their best player um and he’s he’s leading the coach’s votes as as well so I see Isaac Heeney there and then we look at the the Premiership race and what teams we consider to be in that Premiership race at the moment couple jumped in so we had gws Melbourne Sydney jalong and Carlton I think who you can consider that could take it out y this year have you dropped any of those uh no I’ve brought Carlton in though to that uh to that crew Weston buo I think I dropped Port Adelaide out of there actually coming through the second list which is in the uh in the mix we hope will’ll jump into contention and create some excitement the Bulldogs fre Port Adelaide Iden go Coast still at the moment pies and the Brisbane lines sitting that second second block although Brisbane haven’t won this year I still think they sit there and then Richmond Adelaide North Hawthorne and West Coast the ones that can’t do it this he’s surprised at how poor Adela have been yeah I have to start yeah absolutely I think we all have and I think it was a bit of a surprise Stephen surprised Matty Nicks I think the fact that they haven’t been able to get any sort of uh continuity going in in their performance as a as a team so they got a lot of work to do now they’d be lucky to to get to the bottom part of the uh of the eight and that would be a huge climb for them from this start bit of news around from your club jonno I just saw on AFL news at Tom Liberto has signed a one-year contract extension I I suspect I’m late on that news I haven’t been on social media today but the other one is that the Western bulldogs and Tim English have started contract discussions I don’t know if it’s been reciprocated from the English camp but the Western Bulldogs have put a contract offer to retain the all Australian Ruckman according to Kumi what that look like from you Kane a I’m very hesitant to pay rman big money very hesitant what about length what about years um it’ll be six or seven that’s what that’s where it will land um it’s going to be a big number because I mean clearly the West Coast have got a dir of Super Players they’ve got M Flynn over there but they’re going to surely probably put a contract with a one point something in front of him the Bulldogs go if you want to go and play at West Coast for the next 5 years good luck to you that is that is the downside that’s right so the question on the West CO how much how much of a difference could he make to them do you think he have the issue it’s not a that new influence because he’s a totally different different beast but we’re talking about a significant influence that a player could instantly make to your to your Midfield what I think the target of eagles and gin yeah but I think the target of the Eagles almost needs to be younger because English I don’t know 26 is he now 25 26 by the time he’s 30 I think you know if it’s impossible to do though but like a horn France if you can get them a couple of years in or Target some West Australians that are 22 23 that is more appealing to me and pay them big money like if you get an explosive midfielder or anyone with Talent um I’d be spending my money there more so than paying Tim English 1.2 million and by the time he’s 30 then the Eagles probably might be ready to play finals so anyway um we say but I think it’s a really important discussion that they will be having I reckon right now do we rise too quickly and spend out all our tickets now just to get to you know at best eth or do we accumulate which is what North Melbourne are doing picking up lots of young a graders and then rise in two years time and go and bang your million dollar contracts out then got to be the draft doesn’t it has got to be the draft rebuilding it has to be the draft they have to have one rule there no trading yeah I I actually agree with that I think need to build it from within and get a really good Core group of 6 to 10 young guys together that that can take the club take the club forward yeah that’s that’s the model like so Essen and have gone for four experienced players but they gave nothing up to get them other than a big contract and that’s fine if you can cop the the hit with the salary good luck to you but it doesn’t affect your draft Capital so yeah they need some experience can you get them on the cheap or can you get them through free agency and you pay the wage but you don’t pay the compensation and then you got to go to the draft and I suspect that is what they will do