On 10/3/2023 at 3:20 PM, deespicable me said:

Well Clarries second half of the year was his poorest on record (in my opinion) and against a sensational last 4 years of great years.

Easy to occur having missed 10 weeks of the season!
3 games left of the Home and Away season but still managed 27p’s and 25p’s in Rounds 22 and 24. With Finn Maginess latching onto him in Rd23. 
 

There’s not many in the AFL who could manage that after a long layoff. 

6 hours ago, Great Northern Summer said:

His first six kicks in his career were all free kicks in a match against us at the MCG from memory. Not one of them should have been paid - all dropping the shoulders. On that basis, it's against my principles to take him on :-)

So you wouldn't take Nick Daicos then either?

On 10/6/2023 at 6:00 PM, TRIGON said:

@Redleg covered it pretty comprehensively. Us lesser mortals need to take into consideration that the demands of pre-season conditioning are pretty daunting; especially so if your body is letting you down. Calling time on your career could be the sensible option, there would still be some form of financial compensation.

It all depends on what post playing package is offered. 

Theyve both won a flag in Red and Blue... both top blokes...  doubt either will figure in our next premiership.  

A wise man calls his own day.  Wish both well. Never met or spoken to BBB but all accounts well liked and respected.   Tom is also...  cut to a different cloth than many might suspect.

15 hours ago, Travy14 said:

I hate beastmode but, he is the perfect player to fill the loss of Dunstan/JJ/Harmes

If I had a choice between Jack Billings and Mathieson I know which one I would pick.

3 minutes ago, djr said:

If I had a choice between Jack Billings and Mathieson I know which one I would pick.

I’d play 1 short 

we have a better and deeper midfield than the Lions so if he wants game time he obviously won’t go to us 

11 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Wait a minute

I thought this guy was Fritsch like and now..............

Fritsch is a med fwd is he not?

1 hour ago, djr said:

If I had a choice between Jack Billings and Mathieson I know which one I would pick.

Totally agree, but one will be pretty much free, the other won't 

Grundy deal will go through quick, somewhere in the 20s.

Pick 11 won’t come into it IMO.

Shame he wasn’t at the B&F, don’t know the ins and out, hence deal will go through seamlessly.

30 minutes ago, DubDee said:

we have a better and deeper midfield than the Lions so if he wants game time he obviously won’t go to us 

You sure about that..

40 minutes ago, Travy14 said:

Totally agree, but one will be pretty much free, the other won't 

Not sure whether that is a credible criteria. Billings value would more than likely be only a third round pick. His history is far more impressive than Mathieson. His 2019/20 seasons were AFL elite. Injuries over the past 2 years has hampered his career. If he is fit again and wanting a new start he is exactly what we need. He can play both as an inside or an outside mid.

Edited October 7, 20231 yr by djr

11 hours ago, Great Northern Summer said:

His first six kicks in his career were all free kicks in a match against us at the MCG from memory. Not one of them should have been paid - all dropping the shoulders. On that basis, it's against my principles to take him on :-)

That is correct, perennial ducker / stager from the first match.

The AFL allows this which doesn't help.

One of Hotspur's players, Udogie, was red carded last night (yellow to red) against Luton for staging and they played a man down for the entire second half as a result.

After 30 odd years of discussion and examples, we can't even come to grips with sin binning or red carding a Maytard thug act.  He gets to play out the entire match AND come back the next week, plays in a Premiership, while his victim's team is a man short and a top 3 player down the following week.  Laughable.

Edited October 7, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

Adding a player like Mathieson is what the Dees of old would have done.

List places are too important now to waste spots on scrubbers like Mathieson.

15 minutes ago, djr said:

Not sure whether that is a credible criteria. Billings value would more than likely be only a third round pick. His history is far more impressive than Mathieson. His 2019/20 seasons were AFL elite. Injuries over the past 2 years has hampered his career. If he is fit again and wanting a new start he is exactly what we need. He can play both as an inside or an outside mid.

His contract is at least 1mil over the next 2 years.  Matheson will be considerably less.

This is for a depth player, not someone we are expecting to make our team. 

Billings is a better player agree though

7 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

You sure about that..

We are definitely losing a fair bit of depth with Dunstan JJ and probably Harmes all gone. 

On the other hand we need to start giving the younger guys more game time like Laurie and Woewodin, otherwise they’ll go the way of JJ.

Howes is another with big wraps on him who may well replace Rivers at half back as we look to push Riv into the middle.   
 

The reality is that quality mids are not going to come to us because they won’t get a regular game unless they are exceptional, or bring elite skills to the table. 
 

12 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

We are definitely losing a fair bit of depth with Dunstan JJ and probably Harmes all gone. 

On the other hand we need to start giving the younger guys more game time like Laurie and Woewodin, otherwise they’ll go the way of JJ.

Howes is another with big wraps on him who may well replace Rivers at half back as we look to push Riv into the middle.   
 

The reality is that quality mids are not going to come to us because they won’t get a regular game unless they are exceptional, or bring elite skills to the table. 
 

Hello butters/mccluggage, both ooc next year.

 

Edit: conflicting reports but a quick google suggests butters doesn't come ooc until 2025 sadly

Edited October 7, 20231 yr by Nascent

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

we have a better and deeper midfield than the Lions so if he wants game time he obviously won’t go to us 

Did you watch this season?

One of our major issues is that our midfield is neither better nor deeper than Brisbane’s…nor Collingwood’s, Carlton’s, GWS’, or Port’s. 

3 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Did you watch this season?

One of our major issues is that our midfield is neither better nor deeper than Brisbane’s…nor Collingwood’s, Carlton’s, GWS’, or Port’s. 

i would say our midfield is the equal of theirs in terms of its ability

mathieson isn't going to make our midfield any better just like he doesn't make the bears' side either; if 'beast mode' was playing in our best 23 i'd be more rather than less concerned about the quality of depth we have

2 hours ago, Travy14 said:

Fritsch is a med fwd is he not?

Mathieson No - McAdam yes, he is your old fashioned fwd pocket half fwd flanker, loves to kick goals, tackles to hurt and can mark & kick accurately, he won’t cost more than Harmes or JJ but will fill a niche role at the Dee’s. 183cm (6’) and 80kg.!!

45 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Did you watch this season?

One of our major issues is that our midfield is neither better nor deeper than Brisbane’s…nor Collingwood’s, Carlton’s, GWS’, or Port’s. 

uh did you watch this season?  lol  quality argument

Neale (gun), Dunkley (up and down) McLuggage (very good but more winger) Berry is a liability and arguably lost them the GF.  they have a few other good decent players that run through the midfield 

So yeah reckon Clarry Trac Viney Gus etc have them covered. plus Hunter Langdon Rivers Sparrow etc 

2 hours ago, Travy14 said:

Fritsch is a med fwd is he not?

Is McAdam another small forward? We're awash with them

6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Is McAdam another small forward? We're awash with them

He is a Marking small forward. We don’t have any of them 

7 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Is McAdam another small forward? We're awash with them

He's not a small forward.

Very similar ilk to Melksham. 

McAdam is 183cm, or six foot in the old money.   He's not a small forward.