Would love Chip to have a read of this article...

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows-superstar-says-loyalty-and-success-drives-his-football-unlikely-to-accept-lucrative-free-agency-offers/story-fndv862c-1226920625678

It's the same with Reiwoldt from St Kilda...

He said he'd never move to another club as winning a grand final with an opposition team just wouldn't be the same as winning one with the guys you have spent years with and formed such strong relationships with.

If Frawley goes, it's for money. And if he says it's for success he is dumber than even I thought. Clearly we're improving as a team.

And yesterday again proves playing without him is no big loss.

It's the same with Reiwoldt from St Kilda...

He said he'd never move to another club as winning a grand final with an opposition team just wouldn't be the same as winning one with the guys you have spent years with and formed such strong relationships with.

If Frawley goes, it's for money. And if he says it's for success he is dumber than even I thought. Clearly we're improving as a team.

And yesterday again proves playing without him is no big loss.

But having him in defence with Hogan up front makes us a much better team.

Do not over-pay him though.

But having him in defence with Hogan up front makes us a much better team.

Do not over-pay him though.

Perhaps. And perhaps not.

It's very different now. Look at how well the whole team defend now. We still have Dunn, McDonald and Garland to take the big boys.

Frawley's influence as a player at his age should be much more about setting an example, teaching the younger guys, being a real leader of the club. I don't see that in his nature and I never have. It's as if he's floated through his career and on game day he just 'gets the job done' kind of thing. He doesn't play with the same intensity Dawes does.

I'm ready for new and fresh faces at the club. Players who haven't been part of the MFC conditioning. Of course it will be up to the club and Frawley. But in my view, if there's a player we think could be a real culture changer and leader at our club in the draft this year, I would much rather take the compo pick then to continue with a player who seems to be going through the motions when he plays.

McDonald is getting way too many kicks...

Frawley back.

What an inclusion down there in the next few weeks!

McDonald is getting way too many kicks...

Frawley back.

What an inclusion down there in the next few weeks!

IMHO the poor player in our back line was Grimes.

It is fortunate that the Tigers could not hit the side of a barn because he gave them some gifts.

Watched the replay this morning, he put in a poor one, I think he was Close to MFC W.O.G.

McDonald is getting way too many kicks...

It's definitely a worry.

One thing we definitely lack is an elite user of the ball in our back six.

If Frawley is to go back on his return he will need to improve dramatically on his games there early in the season.

On his early season form, where he wouldn't chase and gave half hearted efforts, I would prefer the current back line.

The back line improved tremendously as soon as he was sent forward.

It's definitely a worry.

One thing we definitely lack is an elite user of the ball in our back six.

Silly comment.

Dunn and Garland are composed and rarely make mistakes.

Tommy Mac on the other hand......

Silly comment.

Dunn and Garland are composed and rarely make mistakes.

Tommy Mac on the other hand......

Silly comment?

Nobody, (aside from a Melbourne supporter) would consider either of those two elite kicks of the ball.

Dunn may have an accurate long kick. However he is a very average shirt to medium kick as well as a questionable decision maker.

Garland's ball use has improved but again, he is not an elite kick.

Elite kick JR...

Burgoyne

Hodge

Guerra (when he played)

McKenzie (Gold Coast)

Goddard

Etc

IMHO the poor player in our back line was Grimes.

It is fortunate that the Tigers could not hit the side of a barn because he gave them some gifts.

Watched the replay this morning, he put in a poor one, I think he was Close to MFC W.O.G.

Whilst I agree that Grimes' disposal is pretty bad (I believe I yelled "turnover specialist" in the third quarter), what I noticed from the replay is that Dusty's influence on the game was almost entirely quelled when Grimes took the job. He'd been absolutely feasting on us up to that point, and Grimes took him (for the most part) out of the game. Roosy also singled Grimes out in the presser as having had a great game, so I'm not sure that he deserves worst-on-ground billing.

Whilst I agree that Grimes' disposal is pretty bad (I believe I yelled "turnover specialist" in the third quarter), what I noticed from the replay is that Dusty's influence on the game was almost entirely quelled when Grimes took the job. He'd been absolutely feasting on us up to that point, and Grimes took him (for the most part) out of the game. Roosy also singled Grimes out in the presser as having had a great game, so I'm not sure that he deserves worst-on-ground billing.

Understand what you are telling me autocol

But who would you shift the mantle to?

Perhaps. And perhaps not.

It's very different now. Look at how well the whole team defend now. We still have Dunn, McDonald and Garland to take the big boys.

Frawley's influence as a player at his age should be much more about setting an example, teaching the younger guys, being a real leader of the club. I don't see that in his nature and I never have. It's as if he's floated through his career and on game day he just 'gets the job done' kind of thing. He doesn't play with the same intensity Dawes does.

I'm ready for new and fresh faces at the club. Players who haven't been part of the MFC conditioning. Of course it will be up to the club and Frawley. But in my view, if there's a player we think could be a real culture changer and leader at our club in the draft this year, I would much rather take the compo pick then to continue with a player who seems to be going through the motions when he plays.

yes, but this is all part of the culture he grew within StmJ. we've seen many this year change there ways with the new broom supporting changed ways.

so chip can also, he he has it in him. if he wants to.

In this new age of free agency, we have to respect a players wish to wait until his contract expires. More and more players are going to hold out so we may as well get used to it. Smart clubs and/or well run clubs will make sure their good players are continually under contract so as to not fall victim to free agency.

Whilst decent compensation remains, we're not badly placed if we lose Frawley. If, for instance, we received a pick immediately after our first pick in the ND for James, we could use that pick (or the other one) in a similar way to how we used our pick 2 in the last ND. In fact, why wouldn't Todd, Roos and co go down that track again?

That pick may end up as high as pick 6-8 depending on how many wins we end up with but there's any number of clubs who might jump at the chance to get a top 4-8 draft pick. We might do business with GWS again if 1 or 2 of their players are homesick. But that's just one of many options.

The way I see it, we're in a win/win situation unless the compo becomes a 2nd round pick. I have no idea whether Frawley will stay or not and if I did have an opinion one way or the other, it would be a guess. However, I do reckon that Roos knows the lay of the land or is at least making contingency plans for life without Chip.

Unless Hogan makes an appearance this season or a couple of our key backs get injured, I'd expect Frawley to remain in the forward line for the entire season. I reckon he'll grow into his role as the season progresses.

Whilst I agree that Grimes' disposal is pretty bad (I believe I yelled "turnover specialist" in the third quarter), what I noticed from the replay is that Dusty's influence on the game was almost entirely quelled when Grimes took the job. He'd been absolutely feasting on us up to that point, and Grimes took him (for the most part) out of the game. Roosy also singled Grimes out in the presser as having had a great game, so I'm not sure that he deserves worst-on-ground billing.

Roosy has already shown a reluctance to pot players in his pressers. I think he was trying to pump up Grimes, because the alternative is giving up. Martin killed us yesterday. I lost count of how many times Grimes lost him in traffic. I remember Grimes winning a single contest yesterday - in the third quarter. The rest of the game he turned it over, made horrible decisions and failed to lay basic tackles. It's good coaching from Roos to pump up Grimes. I'm just not sure Jack has the footy brain to make it.

Understand what you are telling me autocol

But who would you shift the mantle to?

Watts?

Roosy has already shown a reluctance to pot players in his pressers. I think he was trying to pump up Grimes, because the alternative is giving up. Martin killed us yesterday. I lost count of how many times Grimes lost him in traffic. I remember Grimes winning a single contest yesterday - in the third quarter. The rest of the game he turned it over, made horrible decisions and failed to lay basic tackles. It's good coaching from Roos to pump up Grimes. I'm just not sure Jack has the footy brain to make it.

Roos is less concerned about mistakes than effort and willingness to adhere to the game plan.

Exhibit A Terlich.

Longer term we need to address the quality issues in relation to disposal and decision making but hopefully the decision making becomes more ingrained and the players trust it more.

Grimes makes a large number of clangers as do McDonald and Terlich. Over time these have to reduce or thy will get replaced you would think. I said it before but I think they defend well - its when we have the ball in hand that is the problem.

Roos is less concerned about mistakes than effort and willingness to adhere to the game plan.

Exhibit A Terlich.

Longer term we need to address the quality issues in relation to disposal and decision making but hopefully the decision making becomes more ingrained and the players trust it more.

Grimes makes a large number of clangers as do McDonald and Terlich. Over time these have to reduce or thy will get replaced you would think. I said it before but I think they defend well - its when we have the ball in hand that is the problem.

McDonald almost always beats his man. Even Terlich provides great run off half back, though he often neutralises that by turning it over by foot, but at least I can see what he's trying to do. Give Terlich twenty or thirty more games and I'd hope he can eradicate those errors from his game. What does Grimes offer? He's a decent reader of the play. He can drop into holes, ala Maxwell or Rivers. But he doesn't hurt the opposition enough. There's no real weapon there. The spoil against Dangerfield in Adelaide was brilliant. His best moment for the year, but he's the captain. This is the thing. We need more from the captain, otherwise he should give up the captaincy and focus on improving his own game. This is what I'm getting at. We can't have our leaders consistently turning the ball over. McDonald's young and Terlich is playing his third season of footy (effectively).

Apparantly we have increased the pressure on chip to 're-sign

Apparantly we have increased the pressure on chip to 're-sign

Sauce?

Was a report on the telly

Take it with a grain of salt... Stevo reports Frawley is in discussions with the club to extend his contract.

Didn't someone report a few weeks ago we were discussing salary options with him?

If he re-signs do you guys think he will play as a back or forward in 2015 and beyond?

Maybe he will swing back and forward depending on how we can cause the best mismatch for the opposition

Once Hogan is up and going its back to the backline for me.

One thing has not been mentioned here at all is how good Tom Mcdonald has been this year as a defender. In fact he has been absolutely super form! Has shut down Franklin, Reiwoldt, Hendersen and Hawkins in the Nab cup. Frawley and Mcdonald in the backline is a formidable duo with Hogan and Dawes up forward.

Natural forwards and backs in their natural positions.

The unknown is what if Frawley ends up becoming more of a formidable forward?

I can see a forward line containing Hogan, Dawes and Frawley. 3 talls to give the opposition team lots of headaches. Dawes as the lead up forward, Hogan to play deep with Frawley playing as a floating forward or as a decoy. Frawley is quick for a big man and that can't be underestimated - especially if we end up playing tempo footy or if we want to catch teams out on the break.

Comparisons could be made to Neitz in this instance but for different reasons. Besides all that, Dawes, Frawley and Hogan have all had their injury issues and we might only have 2 of the 3 available on any given weekend. Watts is finding his feet as a high half forward where he can also use his pace.

What will be interesting is what talls we go after in the off season.