Weed must be feeling stiff. If it wasn't for that injury, he would have played in 7 wins and have 15+ goals most likely and be thinking how good is this

Just now, Ouch! said:

Given the way TMac is playing, could Carlton see him as an upgrade in their forward line?  it would extend his career further than might be possible with the Dees. He's definitely a better player than Casboult and McGovern, and would provide McKay the support he is sadly lacking at the moment. 

I think TMac with only one year on his contract and much better form would be an attractive option for a number of teams.

13 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

The problem is that Ben Brown and Tmac are old so offer nothing long term and Jackson is a ruckman so Weideman is the only young forward of that lot. must keep him

I agree he is a must keep player, Jackson will be on West Coast radar to replace Nicnat.  Reality is though if he doesn't break into the side and cement his spot he will look elsewhere for opportunity.

3 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

How so? Other than neither applies all that much pressure I can’t see any similarities in their respective game style or skillset. Can the Weid ping a 40m pass onto the chest of a leading forward?

Weid IMO applies more pressure than Melksham, is taller, probably quicker, can play key forward or forward pocket and flank, is younger and more vital to our future and has already starred in a final for us.

I don't want Weid lost to the club. 

TBH if it came a choice between Weid and BB, I would go for Weid.

If he doesn't get games, I fear he will be lost to us.

  Ben Brown and Tom McDonald turn 30 at the end of next year.  And both of them could fall apart any moment with their respective physical issues.

It is paramount we keep Weideman.  But how?  He will want  AFL game time starting this week.

Edited May 6, 20214 yr by Pickett2Jackson

1 minute ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

  

It is paramount we keep Weideman.  But how?  He will want  AFL game time starting this week.

We are about 1/3 the way through the H&A season
He had a significant setback with injury which means he is behind others at this stage
He - like everyone else he needs to earn his position - he is progressing ok and the coach has publicly stated he is an important player current/future 

Bottom line is that a bit of patience is required all round - he will get his chance no doubt

Will he take it and lock himself into best 22 - that is the big unknown 

28 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

  Ben Brown and Tom McDonald turn 30 at the end of next year.  And both of them could fall apart any moment with their respective physical issues.

It is paramount we keep Weideman.  But how?  He will want  AFL game time starting this week.

Maybe this is optimistic but I think he’ll recognise that if he is good enough and waits long enough, his time will come. He is only one BB or TMac injury (or form lapse) away from getting in - then it’s his spot to lose. His position is no different to Harry Petty’s.

I can’t see him going. He strikes me as a well balanced kid with a good head on his shoulders. I think he’ll back himself to break in to the side and hold his spot. I certainly wouldn’t resent him if he did choose to look for further opportunities, I just don’t think he will.

There's a reason we went and got Ben Brown. I'm in the let him go camp. Bring in a young forward to fill the position in the long run. 

26 minutes ago, Sydee said:

We are about 1/3 the way through the H&A season
He had a significant setback with injury which means he is behind others at this stage
He - like everyone else he needs to earn his position - he is progressing ok and the coach has publicly stated he is an important player current/future 

Bottom line is that a bit of patience is required all round - he will get his chance no doubt

Will he take it and lock himself into best 22 - that is the big unknown 

I'm sorry but if I'm Weideman hearing that I'd be saying; "'I've kicked 14 goals in 3 weeks, including a bag of 7, don't talk to me about earning my position! Especially when Ben Brown got promoted on lesser form. Talk about patience, how about you put me in the team and one of the other players can be patient!". These would all be reasonable points from his perspective. 

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

Who will make way for him?  Just asking

I think they’ll eventually push T Mac up the ground or play him in the 2’s 

29 minutes ago, PartyTimeJohnny said:

There's a reason we went and got Ben Brown. I'm in the let him go camp. Bring in a young forward to fill the position in the long run. 

The reason we went and got Brown was not because we didn't believe in Weideman. We wanted support for Sam, yes, but we went and got Brown because McDonald's form fell off a cliff and we no longer believed in Tom.

Tom's turnaround in form has given us a great problem to have.

I'd be keeping Tom until the end of his contract and I'd hope he'd be a one club player now, with smaller shorter contracts from here on out.

29 minutes ago, PartyTimeJohnny said:

There's a reason we went and got Ben Brown. I'm in the let him go camp. Bring in a young forward to fill the position in the long run. 

I tend to agree. We had an exceptional forward in Hogan prove to us in his first 10 games that he would command his spot in the 22. I get that forwards need time to develop but Weids  trajectory suggests that he is more likely to be an average player. We should still hold onto him but definitely be scouting the junior leagues for up and coming KP forwards in the next 1-2 years. Listening to Peter Sumich yesterday, he suggested that LJ might just be that player so we definitely have contingency if we were to lose him.

They’ll move on T Mac at seasons end, they find it difficult to trust him given he’s been [censored] house two years straight, even if he has found form this year 

Edited May 6, 20214 yr by adonski

9 minutes ago, adonski said:

They’ll move on T Mac at seasons end, they find it difficult to trust him given he’s been [censored] house two years straight, even if he has found form this year 

Is this inside knowledge or your read on things mate? I doubt very much they'll be moving him on if he continues to play like he has.

Weideman is the guy that needs to step up now.

If Sam wants to play for himself then he stays out.  This year it is all about playing for the team.  If he keeps kicking on the door and that best serves the team then he will find his place.  I’m sure he has the right attitude and team focus to make it.  He would have been in the team but slipped out through injury, now he just has to wait his turn.  

He plays a different role to BBB, so we easily can have both in the squad.  His time is approaching rapidly - a forward line with three differently skilled talls works at WC, and can absolutely work for us.  Throw in Fritter, Kossie, Spargo and it is an insane forward set up.

As a #9 draft pick that has now been developed, would think the picks coming back would have to be significant to let him go.

15 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

44 games in five seasons. He has to make an immediate impact and kick bags of goals if and when he returns to the side. He has not offered much different to what Mitch Brown offers.

This worries me, as well. Can we afford such patience? Just look at the potential that our forward 'team' offers without even thinking of the Weed. It is enormous, both in the air, on the ground, around the ground, and out-and-about for the ball. Then there is the capacity for renewed forward pressure acts against opposition defenders who got lucky. Then there is the increasing capacity for our smaller fleet to unleash havoc with opposition structures and strategies simply due to their mobility and teamwork.

 

 

26 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

If Sam wants to play for himself then he stays out.  This year it is all about playing for the team.  If he keeps kicking on the door and that best serves the team then he will find his place.  I’m sure he has the right attitude and team focus to make it.  He would have been in the team but slipped out through injury, now he just has to wait his turn.  

He plays a different role to BBB, so we easily can have both in the squad.  His time is approaching rapidly - a forward line with three differently skilled talls works at WC, and can absolutely work for us.  Throw in Fritter, Kossie, Spargo and it is an insane forward set up.

As a #9 draft pick that has now been developed, would think the picks coming back would have to be significant to let him go.

we don't get a top 10 pick for Weideman mate. would be lucky to get a late first for him. Most likely early second round. 

We are keeping the footy punditry on its toes as we make them skip from one player's contract negotiations to the next. Each time a pundit writes an article implicitly critical of Melbourne's alleged tardiness in signing a required player, he or she is barely halfway through basking when we sign said player and force the punditry into changing its focus to another player. It's a masterly military performance. The question now is whether we change tactics and concede Weid is expendable and has trade value.

Deserves to be playing in our AFL team on form at present and will rightfully look to leave at end of year. He’s too good for VFL, is in ripping form there, and would comfortably play a role in our forward line at present.

At 23 years of age, he’s a key part of our future forward line. Brown, TMac, M Brown are all 29+ and near the end. Jackson is no good as a tall forward and projects as a ruckman and midfielder. If we lose Weid, our list demographic breaks.

11 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Deserves to be playing in our AFL team on form at present and will rightfully look to leave at end of year. He’s too good for VFL, is in ripping form there, and would comfortably play a role in our forward line at present.

At 23 years of age, he’s a key part of our future forward line. Brown, TMac, M Brown are all 29+ and near the end. Jackson is no good as a tall forward and projects as a ruckman and midfielder. If we lose Weid, our list demographic breaks.

Weid will get his chance this year. 
If he takes that chance, he will be signed. 
 

The Club has finally lifted the Bar. Players have to perform 

50 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

we don't get a top 10 pick for Weideman mate. would be lucky to get a late first for him. Most likely early second round. 

you're right

I think we could get mid second for Tom Mac and the salary cut would cover Weideman.

My concern is that the money men have not fully factored in L Jackson. His 2022 price could be very significant.

TBH while I would be concerned if Weid left it wouldn't worry me greatly. 

Edited May 6, 20214 yr by Diamond_Jim

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

I'm sorry but if I'm Weideman hearing that I'd be saying; "'I've kicked 14 goals in 3 weeks, including a bag of 7, don't talk to me about earning my position! Especially when Ben Brown got promoted on lesser form. Talk about patience, how about you put me in the team and one of the other players can be patient!". These would all be reasonable points from his perspective. 

Yep he has - however its a big jump from VFL to AFL as he and others have shown time and time again

Ben Brown has a body of work at AFL level that quite frankly leaves Weid for dead and that is why he got the call first

For the record I have always doubted the recruitment of Brown - he does in my opinion have some significant deficiencies, however despite what I think he's kicked a lot of goals for a team that was fairly average so he must be doing some things well

Weid seems like a well balanced young man with a sensible head on his shoulders he knows that if he keeps performing well then his chance will come - as I said when it does its up to him to take it

It may come through the lack of output from any of Brown, Tmac or Jackson or through an injury (hopefully not)

If it was up to me and I had to keep one of Brown or Weid at this time it would probably be Weid - based on potential not runs on the board

7 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Weid will get his chance this year. 
If he takes that chance, he will be signed. 
 

The Club has finally lifted the Bar. Players have to perform 

He is performing. He’s averaging 5 goals a game and was performing better than Ben Brown at the same level, yet Brown was promoted ahead of him. Brown had less goals, less marks, less tackles - promoted ahead of him.

Weid has right to feel hard done by as he’s performing better than those around him, yet not getting the same opportunities at the next level. If I was him I’d be leaving. Why be loyal to a workplace that isn’t loyal to you? Why put in the work and outperform others, only to watch them promoted unjustly ahead of you?

We need to keep improving our culture and reward those performing well, not those with a bigger name or reputation. 

He will be a regular in the side after the bye. Will sign IMO. 

2 hours ago, PartyTimeJohnny said:

There's a reason we went and got Ben Brown. I'm in the let him go camp. Bring in a young forward to fill the position in the long run. 

The reason is because Tmac has been trash for 3 years and we needed a big mature body to help out Weideman. 
Make no mistake, the club planned to have Ben Brown and Weideman as our two key position forwards in 2021. Injuries and the unexpected form of Tmac have thrown those plans into disarray.