Could someone please fill me in on exactly what Flanders brings to the table that would add to the mix at Melbourne?

I confess that I don’t watch a great deal of the Suns games so I checked back on his possession count in the last five games …

14, 8, 16. did not play, 15

The last game was a thrashing against Richmond so he wasn’t exactly shining when they were beating up an AFL weakling.

Someone convince me please.

17 minutes ago, Mister Ed said:

Could someone please fill me in on exactly what Flanders brings to the table that would add to the mix at Melbourne?

I confess that I don’t watch a great deal of the Suns games so I checked back on his possession count in the last five games …

14, 8, 16. did not play, 15

The last game was a thrashing against Richmond so he wasn’t exactly shining when they were beating up an AFL weakling.

Someone convince me please.

I’m a bit like you in that I don’t watch a great deal of Suns games, especially when they play in the pink attire but I’ll make an exception tonight.

I was however, at the game up north on the coast in late June when Melbourne played the Suns and he did give us a bit of a touch up that day as I recall. I checked his stats and he had 28 touches which placed him third overall behind Tracc (32) and Noble (29) so if Steven King could get him playing consistently at that level, then he would be an asset.

Also, worth remembering is that it’s not necessarily the number of possessions that always count, it’s also their quality.

53 minutes ago, Mister Ed said:

Could someone please fill me in on exactly what Flanders brings to the table that would add to the mix at Melbourne?

I confess that I don’t watch a great deal of the Suns games so I checked back on his possession count in the last five games …

14, 8, 16. did not play, 15

The last game was a thrashing against Richmond so he wasn’t exactly shining when they were beating up an AFL weakling.

Someone convince me please.

He's played to a level that Sharp, Billings, Spargo, Handerson, Sparrow, Brown, Kolt (yet) & Woewodin have not.

We need players from somewhere to fill list spots and an actual AFL player is far superior to a good VFL player.

We can’t have AA players on every magnet, so upgrading these guys is a major step forward

50 minutes ago, Mister Ed said:

Could someone please fill me in on exactly what Flanders brings to the table that would add to the mix at Melbourne?

I confess that I don’t watch a great deal of the Suns games so I checked back on his possession count in the last five games …

14, 8, 16. did not play, 15

The last game was a thrashing against Richmond so he wasn’t exactly shining when they were beating up an AFL weakling.

Someone convince me please.

Flanders is a midfielder who has been squeezed out by Rowell, Anderson, Davies, Miller and Humphries.

He’s playing the high half forward role which we know is high running intensity for low possession return - see Tom Sparrow as an example.

The question for list management is this - Can Flanders evolve into a high quality midfielder if given the opportunity? In 2024 he averaged 30.9 disposals per game at 80% efficiency. The 5th highest count for the league.

To my mind we need to chase player that at a minimum -

1- fill a perceived hole in our list present or future

2 - immediately improve your bottom 6-10 players

3 - improve depth and provide just in case scenario, a la TC.

Wade Derkson shores up our tall Back stock

Max Heath would improve our ruck stocks immediately

Sam Flanders immediately improves our best 23

These are the types of players we need to improve our list.

3 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Flanders is a midfielder who has been squeezed out by Rowell, Anderson, Davies, Miller and Humphries.

He’s playing the high half forward role which we know is high running intensity for low possession return - see Tom Sparrow as an example.

The question for list management is this - Can Flanders evolve into a high quality midfielder if given the opportunity? In 2024 he averaged 30.9 disposals per game at 80% efficiency. The 5th highest count for the league.

Are we seriously a chance though?

3 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Flanders is a midfielder who has been squeezed out by Rowell, Anderson, Davies, Miller and Humphries.

He’s playing the high half forward role which we know is high running intensity for low possession return - see Tom Sparrow as an example.

The question for list management is this - Can Flanders evolve into a high quality midfielder if given the opportunity? In 2024 he averaged 30.9 disposals per game at 80% efficiency. The 5th highest count for the league.

3 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Flanders is a midfielder who has been squeezed out by Rowell, Anderson, Davies, Miller and Humphries.

He’s playing the high half forward role which we know is high running intensity for low possession return - see Tom Sparrow as an example.

The question for list management is this - Can Flanders evolve into a high quality midfielder if given the opportunity? In 2024 he averaged 30.9 disposals per game at 80% efficiency. The 5th highest count for the league.

Second this.

It's an awful role for an accumulator to remain effective in. Sheezel was used similarly early to mid season and he fell off a cliff until they threw him back into centre bounce.

Flanders played majority off HB flank in 24 but surplus to requirements there once they traded for Rioli.

Not 100% sold on the fit, and queries about damage by foot imo but definitely the profile of player we should be looking at.

36 minutes ago, BigDavidNoitzzzz said:

Second this.

It's an awful role for an accumulator to remain effective in. Sheezel was used similarly early to mid season and he fell off a cliff until they threw him back into centre bounce.

Flanders played majority off HB flank in 24 but surplus to requirements there once they traded for Rioli.

Not 100% sold on the fit, and queries about damage by foot imo but definitely the profile of player we should be looking at.

High half forward is where midfielders go to die

You need a particular type of player to play that role - it was why Nibbler was so valuable for us

51 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Are we seriously a chance though?

If he nominates us we are

Otherwise not sure we’d have the draft capital to compete with other Vic clubs

Flanders has been squeezed out of the Suns

Rioli and Noble play the defensive runners

Rowell, Anderson, Miller, Humphrey, Davies play key midfield roles.

Flanders has been relegated to the bench on rotation or as a half forward.

Suns have another 3-4 young guns coming through to fill roles, like Graham, Lombard, plus draftees Patterson and Addinsall.

He would be smart to get into another AFL team and get the $$ contract up

8 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Are we seriously a chance though?

I think the appointment of King puts us in the picture more so than before.

15 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

I think the appointment of King puts us in the picture more so than before.

King will also have his own opinions on Flanders. I know Flanders played quite well under him, but he might also see the limitations...

Last year he was the 9th highest player in supercoach scores with a 119 AVG and lowest score was 91 which is ridiculously consistent!

So if played in his ideal role he is a absolute gun.

Had a good first half.

On 11/09/2025 at 03:10, Little Goffy said:

Very General Haig.

We already have enough butchers thanks

4 hours ago, kurtneverdied said:

Last year he was the 9th highest player in supercoach scores with a 119 AVG and lowest score was 91 which is ridiculously consistent!

So if played in his ideal role he is a absolute gun.

Yes, he was in my team.

Dimma says no way is he looking or would consider trading Flanders. But I guess it depends on what the player thinks !!!

"A midfielder squeezed out..." is a repeated theme in this thread.

Would he look at Melbourne's list as it stands and think "Well, I can easily get CBA minutes in that team"?

Oliver can't play anywhere else and Viney as a pressure forward seems possible but not a certain success, Pickett was up to 90% CBA in some games this season, presumably Langford will be in there more and more, Rivers arguably plays his best footy in the middle.

Or is he happy to play at half back?

What are we going to give up in the way of picks for FLANDERS , considering we we only have second rounders to date. Also I will ask the same question for Windhager and Heath.

Hopefully we are not going to give away our next year's first rounder.

On 13/09/2025 at 08:02, BW511 said:

He's played to a level that Sharp, Billings, Spargo, Handerson, Sparrow, Brown, Kolt (yet) & Woewodin have not.

If these players are your benchmark I think you’ll be shocked when you have a look at his price tag

38 minutes ago, Coolx2 said:

What are we going to give up in the way of picks for FLANDERS , considering we we only have second rounders to date. Also I will ask the same question for Windhager and Heath.

Hopefully we are not going to give away our next year's first rounder.

Forget about Windhager. He’s staying at the Saints.

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Dimma says no way is he looking or would consider trading Flanders. But I guess it depends on what the player thinks !!!

I saw and heard that from Dimma but I sensed a bit of resignation from him that Flanders is definitely keen to move.

I would consider Flanders. It would be hard to get recognition in that midfield where Rowell and Anderson get all the plaudits.

Isn’t it funny when they want another club’s player, the language is so different from when they want to keep their own player?

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

If these players are your benchmark I think you’ll be shocked when you have a look at his price tag

Isn’t that the point, you get what you pay for

Hoping king and Flanders both publicly endorse a trade to us at the beginning of trade period and we hawthorn them down to unders. Pick 23 as a starting point and eventually roll our eyes late in the piece and give them a future third with it.

I feel safe picturing Flanders locked into a high accumulation/distribution role off half back.