5 hours ago, GoD's67 said:

Really, injuries don't impact performance. Why were the Swans 0-6!

Yes, of course injuries impact performance. Every side would like to have their best 22 playing every week.

Collingwood had more of their best 22 out than us in that last game, and much less to play for, and GWS have had a lot of injuries throughout the whole year. So you can still win games with injuries.

I thought we did pretty well during the middle part of the year, when we did have several good players out plus the 6-day breaks, as Simon Goodwin urged us to.

Inconsistency was the problem - and thankfully, Simon Goodwin knows it. It's now a matter of what he does about it.

5 hours ago, GoD's67 said:

Really, injuries don't impact performance. Why were the Swans 0-6!

Bollocks. You use the exception to prove the rule in terms of their performance over tbe season. But prove the rule by noting they went 0-6. Becuause of injury. If not the single biggest deteminant of success, close to it.

Gone

4 minutes ago, Unleash Hell said:

Gone

Where to? 

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Where to? 

Over there.

1 hour ago, Unleash Hell said:

Gone

When Stringer is officially traded I am looking forward to this headline (remember you saw it here first - unless it has already been used!)

DOG GONE

Stringered out to dry. 

I think he is gone

3 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I think he is gone

Stringer?

3 minutes ago, binman said:

Stringer?

Watts 

I too think Jack is gone. For a senior player of Jack's talent to be dropped twice in the first year of a new coaches tenure is asking to be traded. And I suspect Goodwin will review our list with half an eye to players he would trust leading into finals and a GF, and Jack would be very low on that list...

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by PaulRB

20 minutes ago, binman said:

When Stringer is officially traded I am looking forward to this headline (remember you saw it here first - unless it has already been used!)

DOG GONE

Herald Scum used it yesterday: "JAKE DOG GONE"

2 hours ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Herald Scum used it yesterday: "JAKE DOG GONE"

Damn

2 hours ago, PaulRB said:

I too think Jack is gone. For a senior player of Jack's talent to be dropped twice in the first year of a new coaches tenure is asking to be traded. And I suspect Goodwin will review our list with half an eye to players he would trust leading into finals and a GF, and Jack would be very low on that list...

i know i am repeating myself but Jack is only 'gone' if he agrees to a trade or they elect to pay out his contract (which would be included in our salary cap). He has a contract for at least next year and perhaps even 2019.

If he is interested in going it would only be to a team with a realistic chance of winning a flag in the next 2-3 years. Which outside of us leaves the Crows, Tigers, GWS and Swans (the cats are gone).  

Yes they could threaten to play him in the VFL if he refuses to agree to a trade. But i very much doubt they would make that threat, let alone carry it out. And those that think he is a lazy footballer who loves the party lifestyle would probably think he would take them up on the offer anyway.

So Watts stays unless a trade involves him going to the Crows, Tigers, GWS or Swans. 

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by binman

I'd hate to see the club trade Watts. Unlike many posters here, he has class. And ability. I think he can add massive value to this squad going forward.

That said, I won't be shocked if gets traded. He lowered his stripes late in the season. 

I'd love nothing more than to see this bloke lift the premiership cup wearing the red and the blue. But it might be just that - just dreamin'.

At least one more season please MFC.

 

I assume all the Watts talk is just rumours and BS?

or has anyone got any concrete information?

I don't think we'll trade watts but I'm sure he's on the table if someone wants to cough up something good. 

 

AFL Tonight  said in two different segments that Watts may be traded.

Someone is pushing this scenario.

Can't help but feel the "Watts being traded" articles are similar to the "Cotchin is a bad leader" articles. Easy to write, just there as click bait and fill up inches in the paper.  

Watts will be moving along to the Dog House...

2 minutes ago, Dee tention said:

Watts will be moving along to the Dog House...

And what would we be getting?

Watts, with his talent should have won B&F's and be an All Australian by now. I know he loves the Club, I only wish this was reflected in his effort and application. I used to be against trading him but lost interest when he turned up in suboptimal condition to start preseason.

On 9/12/2017 at 1:10 PM, JackDeMan said:

Definitely trade him. He needs a huge kick up the bum to get the best out of himself. That a player with around 150 games needed to be disciplined at the start of the season is an absolute disgrace. He should have been selected into the leadership group. That the players didn't, and that he was not selected for the pre-season games for not working hard enough in the pre-season, suggests to me that he is a player we can trade. BTW, he did play a pretty good game against Collingwood in the last round, but that's the tease. Trade him while we can - bundle him up in a trade for Jake Lever.

About half way through the first quarter in the Collingwood game, the ball was kicked forward to an open forward line and Jack was trailing his man by at least 5 metres.  Given what was at stake, that was totally unacceptable. 

Garlett's rushed snap at goal (when he had more time) in the first few minutes was equally as unacceptable.  

The game was lost there and then.  We had our chance at taking the initiative and decided to pass.  The Pies sensed a kill and the rest is history.

Looking upon both those moments as a coach would,  you might have the red marker out. 

But here's the thing, both players might be better value kept in preference to what we might ever get in return. 

However, I would be inclined to not play both players in the same team.  And against good opposition in a big game,  I'm not sure either player could be expected to excel.

 

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by Macca

8 hours ago, Redleg said:

AFL Tonight  said in two different segments that Watts may be traded.

Someone is pushing this scenario.

 

8 hours ago, wheaters31 said:

Can't help but feel the "Watts being traded" articles are similar to the "Cotchin is a bad leader" articles. Easy to write, just there as click bait and fill up inches in the paper.  

Brian Waldron puts out a random tweet with nothing to support it!!!

Then radio, tv, newspapers are all going on about it.  Obviously none of them have contacted the club or else they would say 'melbourne had no comment when contacted'.  That alone suggests there is little truth to it.  All click bait. 

Waldron achieved his goal: Keeping his name in the media.

I think it is all rubbish.  Waldron is a St Kilda supporter and a few weeks ago he said they were interested in Watts. 

I just hope the club has got around Salem and Watts and told them where they stand.  

I also hope they both stay.

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

 

Brian Waldron puts out a random tweet with nothing to support it!!!

Then radio, tv, newspapers are all going on about it.  Obviously none of them have contacted the club or else they would say 'melbourne had no comment when contacted'.  That alone suggests there is little truth to it.  All click bait. 

Waldron achieved his goal: Keeping his name in the media.

I think it is all rubbish.  Waldron is a St Kilda supporter and a few weeks ago he said they were interested in Watts. 

I just hope the club has got around Salem and Watts and told them where they stand.  

I also hope they both stay.

Not that this is the game breaker, but we just put Jack and Jesse front and centre of a sponsor's campaign.

I don't think we would do that if we were contemplating getting rid of him. 

Then again, if the marketing department don't know what the FD  is thinking, that could cause problems.