I don't know Blue1, I would have played or at least given others an opportunity ahead of JOM well before this extended stint in the 22 this season. He's rarely impressed and even by his own admission a week or two ago, been disappointed in his own performance. I feel Brodie has been pigeonholed as only being able to play as a pure inside mid feeding handballs like Fyfe and Serong but his size and athleticism are more advantageous forward than anything JOM has done. It's puzzling. I would've had Ras running a wing/half forward ahead of both though.
In short, we certainly do need a small forward Shades. I just don't rate many in this year's draft class so trading is probably our best option. Our picks if we use them are in the top 20 and there's no small forward I like in that range unless someone takes a huge leap in the next 6mths.
Joe Berry has done some good things and has clean hands but I don't think he has the speed or special talents needed to be a guaranteed success, he'd be a lot more down to development. He kicked a few goals last week for Vic Country and has been doing it all season in the Coates League but when I watch him, I just don't see as many of the standout small forward qualities that translate to AFL. Hopefully he shows off a few more tricks in the coming games.
Similarly, Isaac Kako has looked the premier small forward leading up to the u18 champs and kicked a few goals in the rain last week. He seems like more of your typical hard bodied small forward who plays like an opportunist with great speed who works hard defensively. He seems like someone JLo would like up forward and can kick a goal but will need to be picked in the top 40 selections given he's in the Essendon NGA academy.
There's a few others in the next range but I've only really focused on Malakai Champion since he's a West Aussie and been easier to watch his games in the past couple of years. He has kicked a goal or two here and there but rarely kicked a bag. He was very good in the u16 Championships but I haven't seen him improve enough since then. He has nice skills but lacks pace. Most small forwards when they play at colts level end up playing a mix of half forward and midfield to showcase their wares at the lower level and I've seen less of that from Champion, or at least he has far less impact when he goes into the middle than I'd hope. A goal a game and less than 14 touches a game has been very disappointing and it's translated to the u18 Championships with underwhelming performances. He's in the OOFTIT's NGA so you'd need to bid on him before 40 and I wouldn't do that.
I'd prefer to develop our current small forwards or look to trade in one however there's few decent small forwards on the trade market and none that I'd consider making a serious bid for. I believe Jesse Motlop is out of contract next year like Warner so poaching him would probably be at the top of my list. It should also be mentioned that Freo have some very highly rated small forward talents in our NGA who should be available next year or the year after pending NGA rule changes.
Keep an eye on Fred Rodrigues who had 22 touches (most for WA) against SA as a bottom ager (he's a midfielder but playing half forward mostly for WA with stints in the middle) on the weekend and has looked a million bucks. He's probably pushing to be a top 10 talent next season so we'll likely miss out on him as a bid will come too early. There's also Basil Hart who is also a bottom ager this year and won WA's u16 MVP at the championships last year. He's a half forward who has pretty good size and excellent speed/skills. I worry both will be bid on before we have the chance but if you put the right support and development into them, there's every chance they come back to Freo.
