34 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Talk about paying overs 

After this season it will be difficult to get anyone with some pedigree at 'market rates' D11.  We wont exactly be high on any Managers' 'best fit' priority lists.

We should apply the Selwood rule with Brayshaw and get as many of them as we can. You can't have too many Brayshaws. 

We need pick number 2 to get Anderson or Kemp. Who knows one of them could become a P.Cripps. I think Brayshaw  wold like to be with his brothers in the west. Having said that we should somehow get a top 10 pick . We should get Langdon with a second round pick. I would like to pick up Wines , B.Hill and Amon. However B.Hill would cost overs and may not be viable. 

Gus grew up and went to school in Melbourne.  His parents live in Melbourne.  He has a brother in the Army, Andy plays for Freo and Hamish is on Eagles list but hasn't played an AFL game and could easily be delisted this year.  Gus may go to WA but doubt it will be for family reasons.

He has 3 years to run on his contract and our highest Brownlow polling player in ever so long.  Has proven courage and resilience.  Surely, a club just doesn't trade out a player like that unless he asks to go.

Edited August 30, 20195 yr by Lucifer's Hero

I'd keep Gus, but part of me agrees with the ruthlessness needed here.

I just think that Gus, Oliver and Harmes/Viney are our go to centremen. Get our stoppage set ups fixed, get miles in the legs and two-way-running back, and I believe we have the strongest young midfield in the competition.

The least flexible out of those guys is Viney, but I'd be trying him as a small defensive forward with midfield bursts next year. I'd have Harmes on a wing with centre bursts and floating forward. And I'd have Oliver and Gus in the middle 90% of the time. Harmes/Viney and whoever else plays with Clarry and Gus should be very much the defensive midfielder in most set ups, because Clarry is an excellent tackler. 

Therefore, Gus needs to improve his endurance and two-way-running.

The element that throws all of this up in the air is the Petracca x-factor. I believe he should be in there too, but only if he greatly improves his endurance. That probably then pushes Harmes to the wing and Viney to half forward most of the time. Only problem being we become very see-ball, get-ball, with little defence given an Oliver, Gus and Petracca centreline. Those stoppage structures will be so vitally important next year.

26 minutes ago, A F said:

I'd keep Gus, but part of me agrees with the ruthlessness needed here.

I just think that Gus, Oliver and Harmes/Viney are our go to centremen. Get our stoppage set ups fixed, get miles in the legs and two-way-running back, and I believe we have the strongest young midfield in the competition.

The least flexible out of those guys is Viney, but I'd be trying him as a small defensive forward with midfield bursts next year. I'd have Harmes on a wing with centre bursts and floating forward. And I'd have Oliver and Gus in the middle 90% of the time. Harmes/Viney and whoever else plays with Clarry and Gus should be very much the defensive midfielder in most set ups, because Clarry is an excellent tackler. 

Therefore, Gus needs to improve his endurance and two-way-running.

The element that throws all of this up in the air is the Petracca x-factor. I believe he should be in there too, but only if he greatly improves his endurance. That probably then pushes Harmes to the wing and Viney to half forward most of the time. Only problem being we become very see-ball, get-ball, with little defence given an Oliver, Gus and Petracca centreline. Those stoppage structures will be so vitally important next year.

@A F - I agree and even go the next step because I find Viney's skills limited, he would be the one that I would trade - and that would feel a lot easier if he didn't have his surname, and was made captain a bit too early for my liking. 

Viney's passion is great - and his skill set is limited.

I kind of hope he gets traded- because broadly speaking, it means we are getting into a ruthless space.

Edited August 30, 20195 yr by Engorged Onion

I can’t help but feel that if Gus wants to stay, he’ll also want to redeem this year’s season. 

I cant imagine a player going from a season like he had in ‘18 to the one he just had, and thinking there was nothing to prove. Everybody around him would have been so stoked about being 3rd in the Brownlow that year, and the silence around him this year would have been deafening. He knows what he has to do next year, and if he wants to do it the MFC then by all means let him. 

Edited August 30, 20195 yr by Mel Bourne

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Gus grew up and went to school in Melbourne.  His parents live in Melbourne.  He has a brother in the Army, Andy plays for Freo and Hamish is on Eagles list but hasn't played an AFL game and could easily be delisted this year.  Gus may go to WA but doubt it will be for family reasons.

He has 3 years to run on his contract and our highest Brownlow polling player in ever so long.  Has proven courage and resilience.  Surely, a club just doesn't trade out a player like that unless he asks to go.

Aren't his folks in WA now?

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Aren't his folks in WA now?

Hadn't heard that but could be.

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family. 

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Hadn't heard that but could be.

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family. 

Not sure at all, just thought I read it somewhere once. Given his current role it's probably more likely he's in Melbourne.

Yeah would definitely have to be more to it IF it was ever to happen.

1 hour ago, A F said:

I'd keep Gus, but part of me agrees with the ruthlessness needed here.

I just think that Gus, Oliver and Harmes/Viney are our go to centremen. Get our stoppage set ups fixed, get miles in the legs and two-way-running back, and I believe we have the strongest young midfield in the competition.

The least flexible out of those guys is Viney, but I'd be trying him as a small defensive forward with midfield bursts next year. I'd have Harmes on a wing with centre bursts and floating forward. And I'd have Oliver and Gus in the middle 90% of the time. Harmes/Viney and whoever else plays with Clarry and Gus should be very much the defensive midfielder in most set ups, because Clarry is an excellent tackler. 

Therefore, Gus needs to improve his endurance and two-way-running.

The element that throws all of this up in the air is the Petracca x-factor. I believe he should be in there too, but only if he greatly improves his endurance. That probably then pushes Harmes to the wing and Viney to half forward most of the time. Only problem being we become very see-ball, get-ball, with little defence given an Oliver, Gus and Petracca centreline. Those stoppage structures will be so vitally important next year.

Good post.

I agree with trying Viney as a small forward - he could solve all our problems down there.  He has legitimate speed off the mark, would provide genuine contested crumbing and ferocious defensive pressure.  The knock on the idea is that his kicking is inaccurate and we've had a problem with goal conversion.  But I could live with that - we've been living with ANB!!!

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

@A F - I agree and even go the next step because I find Viney's skills limited, he would be the one that I would trade - and that would feel a lot easier if he didn't have his surname, and was made captain a bit too early for my liking. 

Viney's passion is great - and his skill set is limited.

I kind of hope he gets traded- because broadly speaking, it means we are getting into a ruthless space.

I'd agree with this too but it's very easy to forget just how influential he was in that finals series last year off an injury-riddled season.

Edited August 30, 20195 yr by A F

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Hadn't heard that but could be.

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family. 

No, they do have family over in wa, but their parents live in Melbourne.

2 minutes ago, deebug said:

No, they do have family over in wa, but their parents live in Melbourne.

That is what I thought.  Thank you for confirming.  That takes the 'go to WA to be with family' reason out of the discussion for a Gus trade request, if he requested it.

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

Good post.

I agree with trying Viney as a small forward - he could solve all our problems down there.  He has legitimate speed off the mark, would provide genuine contested crumbing and ferocious defensive pressure.  The knock on the idea is that his kicking is inaccurate and we've had a problem with goal conversion.  But I could live with that - we've been living with ANB!!!

Jack Viney needs to become a role tagger - ala Ryan Crowley, or for the oldies, Robbert Klomp (who, btw, won a colour TV from Canberra Television for a bog performance of 7 kicks, but nullified a dangerous forward)

'Jack!!!??? See number 5 over there?'

'Yes, coach!'

'Good, don't let that bastard breathe!'

'YES COACH!'

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Gus grew up and went to school in Melbourne.  His parents live in Melbourne.  He has a brother in the Army, Andy plays for Freo and Hamish is on Eagles list but hasn't played an AFL game and could easily be delisted this year.  Gus may go to WA but doubt it will be for family reasons.

He has 3 years to run on his contract and our highest Brownlow polling player in ever so long.  Has proven courage and resilience.  Surely, a club just doesn't trade out a player like that unless he asks to go.

Apparently....Brayshaw’s old man might be in the running for the vacant CEO position at Freo. 

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Apparently....Brayshaw’s old man might be in the running for the vacant CEO position at Freo. 

I see.  People have added 2+2 = fairy tales. 

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract to follow mum and dad West.  Methinks the Brayshaw boys are made of sterner stuff. 

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I see.  People have added 2+2 = fairy tales. 

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract to follow mum and dad West.  Methinks the Brayshaw boys are made of sterner stuff. 

I completely agree. 

There was talk his old man might be in line for the CEO position at the dockers which is why people i think thought Gus might head over that way. though it now sounds like he will be taking up a position at NORF as the CEO there so i don't think the temptation to go to Perth would be huge.

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Hadn't heard that but could be.

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family. 

That might depend on what we get in return though LH.  You don't think he'd be keen to join his bro at some point prior to contract ending?

People's feelings/views can change on a dime sometimes, let alone over an entire season.

1 minute ago, Rusty Nails said:

That might depend on what we get in return though LH.  You don't think he'd be keen to join his bro at some point prior to contract ending?

People's feelings/views can change on a dime sometimes, let alone over an entire season.

Yes, maybe.  But I would think unlikely 1 year into a 4 year contract.  And to join Freo? 

If Gus asks for a trade just can't imagine it is sentiment to play with little bro.

I would prefer he got Andy to the Dees!

4 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

I can’t help but feel that if Gus wants to stay, he’ll also want to redeem this year’s season. 

I cant imagine a player going from a season like he had in ‘18 to the one he just had, and thinking there was nothing to prove. Everybody around him would have been so stoked about being 3rd in the Brownlow that year, and the silence around him this year would have been deafening. He knows what he has to do next year, and if he wants to do it the MFC then by all means let him. 

Mel B,

this is the best post I have ever read. Absolutely spot on. 

 

I'd trade every other mid (barring Oliver of course, before losing Brayshaw. How many players have gone through second year blues and went on to become genuine stars.? This was his 4th season, has missed a fair chunk of games through concussion. He could be a bit burnt out physically or mentally.? He also hasn't had the on field support that was so prevalent last season. Which would have made his life a whole lot more enjoyable out there each week.

 

Brayshaw is a keeper. Fantastic player.  Over his concussion issues and 2018 showed his gun potential.  2019 not ideal but he wasn’t alone.  Need to retain Oliver-Viney-Brayshaw-Harmes-Petracca and add outside runners like Langdon & Amon and gun pick #2/3 like Anderson or Ash. 

On 8/30/2019 at 2:04 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Hadn't heard that but could be.

Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family. 

Can 100% confirm that they are in Melbourne

Edited August 31, 20195 yr by Cam Schwab's Whiteboard
Apologies - Just saw someone else confirm this for you.