Lil_red_fire_engine

If we are looking for improving our midfield with immediate impact then we will need to trade value. You raise the Swans midfield you are right it is not early picks but it is not first year kids either. Aside from Kennedy who was a brilliant get and Mitchell, their mids are made up of players they have invested 3+ years in from drafting. Are we willing to load up on kids and develop? If we are to trade successfully we need to consider where we have surplus for clubs that may pay overs and forward is where our best gamble would be.

Assuming Garlo out and Fitz ok. In Pedo (need to cover Petrie, Black and Tarrant), Tapscott, Spencer Out Garland, Kent, Gawn

And in my mind has been worth every cent. I got more enjoyment watching him tear it up for 15 games than any MFC player in recent years bar maybe Jurrah. Getting him right for next year makes perfect sense. Hope all goes well.

We have a multitude of quality tall forward options and the worst midfield in the competition. There will be 4-5 teams willing to pay overs for a quality tall forward. If the right deal comes we would be mad not to take it. Not saying we should trade him but his form puts someone who no one would have shrugged if he was delisted 6 weeks ago to now having some serious interest.

Or we could trade for an actual wingman.

Assuming the return of Clark we have a forward line of Mitch, Dawes, Hogan, Fitz, Watts and Howe to choose from. You cant play all of them so thats either great insurance or a very strong hand at the trade table at end of year.

Excluding Boyd who I have not seen play I think Aish has the most star quality of the draft. Scharenberg at worst will take Dunns spot in our backline from next year. At best he will be the quality tall mid we are searching for. If we have a priority my view is those 2 for sure but if we have 1, Aish for me.

I was thinking exactly this earlier today.

I saw enough of Toumpas last year to know he can seriously play. My concern is his mental fragility. If he currently does't get a touch in the first 10 minutes he seems to mount pressure on himself and then just run around without purpose. Even his interview post Geelong game showed he was greatful to be out there rather than knowing he belongs like Viney, Wines interviews I have seen. He stated he was overawed by some of the Swans players whereas Viney just tries to kill whoever is in front of him. For this reason I see benefit to playing him through Casey until he believes his form deserves to see him on this stage. Once he gets his confidence right and a full preseason I have no doubt he will be a very good player.

12 tackles..... Granted had 3 disposal howlers but 12 tackles says it all.

6. Frawley 5. Sylvia 4. Davey 3. Fitzpatrick 2. Viney 1. Byrnes

I noted an article during the week with Gilbee talking about how Eade turned his career around by believing in him and instilling confidence back into his football. If Eade ends up coaching the Dee's I think Strauss will become our Gilbee.

I dont care who they bring in. I cannot continue to watch Dunn "act tough" with some push and shove then squib 3 contests per week. He is the one player in the side that I seriously cannot stand.

I'm a believer that winning puts bums on seats. For that to happen we need a midfield. In most cases to get quality you need to give quality. I love watching him but unless he learns more tricks he won't be the difference between us being a serious contender or not.

I actually don't think its crazy at all. Again people are caught up with this marking and not his all round game. With Clark, Dawes, Hogan and potentially Fitz, Howe and Watts don't fit. They either need to become mids or should be looked at to see if we can get mids. You've usually got to trade quality to get quality.

I agree but if you were GWS would you seriously do that trade?

Happy if he stays but I really don't rate the influence of ruckman on a game. I would gladly trade him to secure a young quality mid and top up with a mature ruck for need. Gawn for Adams would be a fair trade for both parties.

If Viney gets through 4 quarters I would be very surprised if he didn't play Brisbane next week regardless of performance.

I dont think you'll find many if any howling you down now or before. He has been played as a tagger three weeks in a row and his opponent has had 30+ touches each week.

People get excited over him laying a decent bump once in a blue moon and state he is tough. Tough in todays game is running until you leave your lunch at the interchange gate and then going again. That is the bit I am not sure he has. Tapscott needs to build an engine that allows him stints to use his body in the midfield or as a hard working high half forward that wants to consistently work that hard for the ball. He is a typical flanker that represents our errors in drafting over the last 10 years. You need to be able to play midfield or be a true tall or a true small. He appears to be none of these.

I have a feeling there will be more than 1 new assistant. I am pretty sure all assistants would be out of contract.

Watching him Friday night I don't think he has much if anything left in the tank.

From being at the ground today there was nothing wrong with our endeavour. A poorly skilled side is always going to be worse in appalling conditions. We would lose the clearance then not have the skills to get the ball out of defence. Score and inside 50 count was reflective of our skills and decision making not our effort.

From the ground. Guys that went hard all day and were cleaner than most. 6 M Jones 5 J Toumpas 4 J Frawley 3 N Jones 2 S Byrnes 1 J Trengove

Importance to current performance Clark Frawley Garland Jones Dawes Importance to our future performance Clark Frawley Garland Viney Hogan