15 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

 

I understand the point you are both trying to make, but I don't see Thompson as a straight swap for Bugg or M. Jones. The truth is we need to find better skilled outside midfielders to compliment the likes of N.Jones, Viney, Oliver, Tyson, Brayshaw etc. Our midfield lacks line breaking ability and FWIW I would have M. Jones in our best 22 as it stands because he plays a complimentary role to our other mids. (This is a problem I agree, but we don't have an Issac Smith on our list.)

I'm not really making that point, although I know how my post looks.

Bugg isn't part of any 2017 side I ever imagine.

It's the young players I mentioned that are fixtures in my side.

18 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

 

I understand the point you are both trying to make, but I don't see Thompson as a straight swap for Bugg or M. Jones. The truth is we need to find better skilled outside midfielders to compliment the likes of N.Jones, Viney, Oliver, Tyson, Brayshaw etc. Our midfield lacks line breaking ability and FWIW I would have M. Jones in our best 22 as it stands because he plays a complimentary role to our other mids. (This is a problem I agree, but we don't have an Issac Smith on our list.)

I agree but I don't see how getting Thompson at all compromises our ability to seek out those sorts of players.

1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

But he would make our midfield slower and I can see problems in playing Tyson, Thompson and Oliver in the same side.

Notwithstanding the fact that he's a superb inside mid Oliver is far from slow.  If you have the perception that he is you're mistaken.

Sounds more like a romantic appeal than anything, like Ablett playing one last year at the cats.

Personally, I am backing our boys to go up a level next year. Jones, Viney, Gawn, Watts, Vince will be great leaders. Are we lacking some class? Possibly and thats what we should look for.

Experience will come with more games into the kids.

2 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Notwithstanding the fact that he's a superb inside mid Oliver is far from slow.  If you have the perception that he is you're mistaken.

I love the look of Oliver but he needs to kick more rather than handball backwards all the time. I also think his pace is only around average for his role and I think he needs to build his tank. IMO he will develop into a similar player to Cripps.

The point I am making is that Tyson and Oliver will be a better player with fast, skilled players around them and Thompson is not fast. (Hence my lukewarm yes.)

1 minute ago, Fat Tony said:

I love the look of Oliver but he needs to kick more rather than handball backwards all the time. I also think his pace is only around average for his role and I think he needs to build his tank. IMO he will develop into a similar player to Cripps.

The point I am making is that Tyson and Oliver will be a better player with fast, skilled players around them and Thompson is not fast. (Hence my lukewarm yes.)

I'm only interested in discussing his speed - we know everything else.

His speed is better than you assume.  It's better than average for his role.  He ran a 2.99 seconds for 20 metres, which is above average for an inside mid.  And even then I wonder if his pace has since improved, as he was trying to get his skin-folds down (96 to 59) for DC.  He also ran 8.11 in the agility test, which ranked third at DC.  So not only does he have good speed he's very agile and far more agile that your typical inside mid.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2015-how-clayton-oliver-became-this-years-bolter-after-he-was-snubbed-by-vic-country/news-story/8b3101ee5546515ad780986d366f42c3

Recruiters believe Oliver could be the next Ollie Wines.

“They both have big, thick bodies, big long kicks and great attack at man and ball — powerful midfielders with good speed,” one expert said.

4 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I'm only interested in discussing his speed - we know everything else.

His speed is better than you assume.  It's better than average for his role.  He ran a 2.99 seconds for 20 metres, which is above average for an inside mid.  And even then I wonder if his pace has since improved, as he was trying to get his skin-folds down (96 to 59) for DC.  He also ran 8.11 in the agility test, which ranked third at DC.  So not only does he have good speed he's very agile and far more agile that your typical inside mid.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2015-how-clayton-oliver-became-this-years-bolter-after-he-was-snubbed-by-vic-country/news-story/8b3101ee5546515ad780986d366f42c3

Recruiters believe Oliver could be the next Ollie Wines.

“They both have big, thick bodies, big long kicks and great attack at man and ball — powerful midfielders with good speed,” one expert said.

Watching him play, I don’t see Oliver’s pace as being exceptional. Oliver hits the clearances on the move and has great hands. He will be a fine inside player, but he won’t be a line breaker.

Trengove had similar sprint results and he never looked quick at AFL level even before his injury.

FWIW I wouldn't say Wines is quick either.

1 minute ago, Fat Tony said:

Watching him play, I don’t see Oliver’s pace as being exceptional. Oliver hits the clearances on the move and has great hands. He will be a fine inside player, but he won’t be a line breaker.

Trengove had similar sprint results and he never looked quick at AFL level even before his injury.

FWIW I wouldn't say Wines is quick either.

Oliver is like Sam Mitchell, he is explosive and extremely quick over his first few steps which is all that matters for the role he plays.

40 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I'm not really making that point, although I know how my post looks.

Bugg isn't part of any 2017 side I ever imagine.

It's the young players I mentioned that are fixtures in my side.

If Thompson had been here this year under Roos, would he have taken the spot of Bugg, or (say) Oliver?  Bit of a philosophical question I suppose, as I know what you'd do if you were selecting.

I'd share your view if I could be sure that Thompson was taking the spot of a lesser player, but I'd be concerned that his place in the side would be at the expense of junior players we need to continue the development of; a similar dilemma Brad Scott alluded to in his conference re: Brent Harvey.  

This needs to be balanced up against our young midfielders needing senior players to aid their development, but I don't think Thompson is this player.  He'd be here probably for a year only.  

I love Thompson as a player, but I'm leaning towards no, reluctantly.

19 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Watching him play, I don’t see Oliver’s pace as being exceptional. Oliver hits the clearances on the move and has great hands. He will be a fine inside player, but he won’t be a line breaker.

Trengove had similar sprint results and he never looked quick at AFL level even before his injury.

FWIW I wouldn't say Wines is quick either.

I didn't say he was a "line breaker".  You said his speed was average for an inside mid, I'm saying it's above average for an inside mid.

I agree that it hasn't often been on display, but I disagree with your views on his speed.

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

If Thompson had been here this year under Roos, would he have taken the spot of Bugg, or (say) Oliver?  Bit of a philosophical question I suppose, as I know what you'd do if you were selecting.

I'd share your view if I could be sure that Thompson was taking the spot of a lesser player, but I'd be concerned that his place in the side would be at the expense of junior players we need to continue the development of; a similar dilemma Brad Scott alluded to in his conference re: Brent Harvey.  

This needs to be balanced up against our young midfielders needing senior players to aid their development, but I don't think Thompson is this player.  He'd be here probably for a year only.  

I love Thompson as a player, but I'm leaning towards no, reluctantly.

I've never understood this line of thinking. If you were concerned about stifling the development of junior players, you wouldn't trade for 3 C Graders (Melksham, Bugg, Kennedy), as we did this year. I suspect that our talented young players will play seniors if form warrants, and it would be the fringe players that would make way for a Thompson type.

 If a junior player doesn't warrant senior selection, then he needs to develop at Casey. I thought the days of gifting games to kids was over after the Bailey years, but that clearly wasn't the case with the Pedersen/Weideman selection farce.

 

58 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I didn't say he was a "line breaker".  You said his speed was average for an inside mid, I'm saying it's above average for an inside mid.

I agree that it hasn't often been on display, but I disagree with your views on his speed.

Off topic slightly

Anybody watch in awe as Dangerfield broke our lines 5 times for 3 goals. He went through tackles at speed but his acceleration is the best I have seen

Just now, jackaub said:

Off topic slightly

Anybody watch in awe as Dangerfield broke our lines 5 times for 3 goals. He went through tackles at speed but his acceleration is the best I have seen

Fastest player in the league.

It was Judd like at his very best.

2 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Fastest player in the league.

It was Judd like at his very best.

I'd love to see a 100m sprint between Dangerfield and Jayden Hunt.

11 minutes ago, jackaub said:

Off topic slightly

Anybody watch in awe as Dangerfield broke our lines 5 times for 3 goals. He went through tackles at speed but his acceleration is the best I have seen

Unstoppable.

8 minutes ago, Django said:

I'd love to see a 100m sprint between Dangerfield and Jayden Hunt.

Yeah but Danger does while breaking tackles not swerving Amazing really

9 minutes ago, Django said:

I'd love to see a 100m sprint between Dangerfield and Jayden Hunt.

Dangerfield is pure power, whilst Hunt is pure speed. 

17 hours ago, KrazyJay said:

Just thought I would pass on a bit of banter that I heard over here in Adelaide on the 5aa sports show this afternoon... Regular segment on a Monday arvo where old man Cornesy joins Mark Bickley and Stephen Rowe and have a p155 and moan about how much Victoria hates SA footy and how both local teams went on the weekend.... blah....blah....blah...

But at the end of the show Cornesy was saying that Simon Goodwin has apparently made contact with his old mate Scott Thompson and asked him if he'd be keen for a 1 year playing contract for 2017 with a view to moving into a coaching position in 2018.... Has apparently been offered a low ball 1 year deal to stay a fruit loop

We lost the bloke for the best years of his career obviously but wondering what peoples thoughts are on the possibility of a reunion... Cornes did go on to say that his family is settled in Adelaide but all three blokes agreed that it would be a fantastic career move and a win for Melbourne ...

Absolutely.  We have to let Goody set his plans & getting Scotty Thompson back in, a very professional footballer,  is a great idea on a short term playing contract. He can also help set the game plan & his maturity will help.

 

The other thing is we can make amends to how he parted & his time when at the Dees, at a time when we weren't developing players very well.

I think this can only help us develop further next year.

15 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Thommo may have distinct value as a potential coach but a player ? 

He's good but we aren't in a window looking to plug gaps

Let's evolve 

Footy is not all about the kids, like life.  Make it all about the kids & spoil them.   They must earn the rewards.  

 

Goody must want the Thomo in, as confidant, & to help general the troops onfield,  Both in the red & blue & also at Casey.  He will see close up whats happening on field with the players, as Goody will need to make decisions at the end of 2017, re list management.

 

Thomo would be great to pass on tips & help the leaders onfield.

We need leadership no doubt.

I would be looking at someone around the 26yo age group.

Watching Thompson the other night, I think he is done and another year is not going make him any better.

1 minute ago, rjay said:

We need leadership no doubt.

I would be looking at someone around the 26yo age group.

Watching Thompson the other night, I think he is done and another year is not going make him any better.

No, but he can make us better thru his knowledge & guidance.  

Its leadership we lack the most, followed by speed & skills.  In the light of our most recent game at Catland, we do not want to regress next year without Roosy,  So I would say that more mature experienced leadership to help support the players, is crucial.

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/shows/rowey-bicks/former-teammate-makes-thommo-an-offer-to-leave-crows

1 hour ago, Django said:

I'd love to see a 100m sprint between Dangerfield and Jayden Hunt.

Dangerfield won the GF half-time sprint 3 years in a row.  

Jordan Murdoch thrashed Hunt (4th) in 2014.  Dangerfield beat Murdoch in 2013.  Dangerfield >>>> Hunt

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-27/young-cat-wins-gf-sprint

43 minutes ago, DV8 said:

No, but he can make us better thru his knowledge & guidance.  

Its leadership we lack the most, followed by speed & skills.  In the light of our most recent game at Catland, we do not want to regress next year without Roosy,  So I would say that more mature experienced leadership to help support the players, is crucial.

He has to be able to get a game though 'DV8' and I think he would struggle next year.

46 minutes ago, rjay said:

He has to be able to get a game though 'DV8' and I think he would struggle next year.

I think Goody, & the footy dept will know if Thomo can get thru games, But remember, he will be able to play both at the Dees & at Casey if needs be.  We are still teaching kids in both teams. So his on-field guidance will be beneficial for both.

Our recent growth in young players, & in terms of our new culture are not set in concrete, yet. They are fragile.

Maturity stability & experience are whats needed, & to maintain the same platform that is bringing us the new positive growth.