Lil_red_fire_engine

Hogan is a very good player however he has not lived up my original expectations and I am confident he never will at MFC and confident he likely wont at another club. His numbers speak volumes both in possession and work rate which is why he is spoken of so highly but they don't mean much for mine once you scratch the surface. I recall salivating at him rag dolling Rance early in his career, launching at the ball and splitting the packs with contested grabs and commanding the front spot so he could protect it drop as he read it faster than all. Whether it is his back problems, his numerous life challenges he has faced, his personality or our game style he has not looked like being that player for 2-3 years. The facts as shown before is he has consistently had a limited impact against the better sides and has big possession and goal games against the lower sides. He struggles to kick 50 but doesn't like playing deep and when he plays high he gets the ball but holds it up too long. He is a good field kick but a set shot in a pressure game from 35-40 in front I would not have him in the first 5 players I would want to take the shot. Whilst I think he has improved his demeanour if we don't play his way or he can't get his way it is pretty obvious when you have him beat. How often have you seen him have a quiet first quarter or half and fight his way back into a game? Whilst I think he has given his all as an individual I have never thought he has been fully connected with the team both in performance and brotherhood the way most others appear these days. The facts are also that when not there we have played a higher scoring, higher pressure brand of footy. This is particularly shown against the better sides in our run home this year. If this was last year the sky would be falling but we have now seen that T-Mac is not a one hit wonder forward and we have seen the emergence of Weideman as not only a capable player now but a potential star if he matures on the natural path that forwards do. I suggest he has raised going or not committing to us post 2019 but I wouldn't be surprised if we brought this to a head and I don't think this is a one way conversation. I think we have seen the opportunity to maximise this situation to try to solve our broader deficiencies and make us a stronger team. 2 first round picks with use of one for May and KK and holding one inside 10 for the best available kid in the super draft or on trade for something bigger that brings us more speed and carry makes sense. I would back our list management and recruiting to get it right once again.

Fritsch played all year. Lockhart not on our list. So Petty one player who may help us moving forward.

I looked at Casey and wondered where our development would come from. Really no players that will develop and break into best 22 only depth.

The guy has played 6-8 games in 2.5 seasons and has never got through a full preseason. Let’s offer a 26 year old with leas than 50 games experiences in the 20-26th spot on our list 2 years based on this because we owe him more than he owes us. He should stay based on us backing him over that time unless his ability to support his broader family makes this untenable. If his body and form holds up he should back himself to get another 2 years.

2nd in the 2015 B&F and twice in the 22 best under 22 in his formative years after being a highly rated junior. Hard to say he did not excel early on its more about whether he can return to that and more. HIs career stalled once concussion hit and being it is well touted how poor their culture player management and development has been seems like a player who could significantly improve into the player he looked like he would become with a hit of the reset button at another club.

We are talking about a guy who was to be delisted 8 weeks ago. I would prefer him to stay but anything more than a 1 year deal until he can get through a preseason and full season injury free would be negligent in my view. I also understand why he would want to leave for family business and security if the swans are wiling to offer an extended term. If we can use him to generate a three way trade to attain one of our other targets in Preuss or KK this could be a win for all. In saying that I like what he brings and hope he stays on a one year deal but I don't see him better than edge of best 22/good quality depth moving forward.

We dont know whether Lever, Omac, Frost would really work as we only played the three of them together once I believe in round 3. Based on us choosing to not though at the time it was clearly not our preferred set up. This is my take though on the situation based on each player. Lever is an emerging super star who will play better in his customary role as the third tall/marshall the backline. He will in essence replace the Lewis role in my view next year. People have got over excited by Frost having a good month of footy. I will still remember how many marks he misjudged under pressure and cant see him playing more consistent footy than what he showed. He has good dash and has improved his decision making and execution but I will never trust him fully. I would trade him whilst his value is at its highest. Oscar is trending toward developing into a very good player. When I watch him though I think second quality tall like Astbury or Hooker or Thomson rather than a Rance or Hurley or Tarrant. Whilst he will get stronger and will improve his athleticism he will never be fast off the mark and I doubt will ever be aggressive. This is where May comes in. May played on Hawkins in the last game of the year when the Cats smashed them by 100 points. Hawkins kicked 2 goals. Ben Brown kicked 4 goals across 2 games on him. Buddy was held goal less the one game they played against them whilst May took 14 marks. The only one that really beat him all year was a Kennedy with a 5 goal performance in an 80 point West Coast demolition. He is a quality player with a competitive aggressive streak and that has been in a low team with poor culture and development. He will be better than he already has shown with us and that says alot.

He will cost more than a 3rd I suggest. Former 5 pick with 78 games to his name and slowed by injury. I wonder if Tyson could work?

Do you think we played better with or without him this year? What role would you train him for next year over preseason? Where you see his improvement coming from? I would not be pushing him out but for the amount we have invested in him cap wise I would want a clear plan or be maximising any want he has to go home if it's there.

The question isn't whether Jesse is a good player. The question is do we play better without him and IF he wanted to go home whether we could maximise it to fulfill some of our key deficiencies in outside speed both this year via a high position in the draft as well next year loading up in a trade or FA with the cash saved.

You don't seem to have answered my query rather answer ones that I didn't even pose. Your wings don't need to be quick but they need to be able to run hard and carry well. The option to be quick is a bonus but not if you cant repeat run or if you turn it over on connection. Think Sidebottom and Gaff (the 2 All Australian wingman), neither are fast but run themselves into the ground and still connect with quality. You have confirmed though that midfielders who play in the middle also need to get uncontested ball and started to get that right balance over the last 6 weeks but clearly not yesterday. Note I am not saying that Goodwin doesn't rate speed. I just don't think it has been a priority over the contest and he has not had reasonable ones without flaws at his disposal.

Would have agreed on this 2-3 years ago. However I think the role of the hard running wingman who pushes hard back and creates the central connection and then dashes forward as an option is back in vogue. If it was just another mid then wouldn't Tyson and Jones be able to play the role close to as aptly to how they play in the pivot? We desperately need to develop them on our list (Stretch, Baker, Hannan, Fritsch, Kent) or go and bring some in.

I truthfully don't think he had much to start with. We were just excited by his occasional dashes, spoils and goals. We need pace but repeat pace and class. He is not the answer and I suspect a fair few clubs will overvalue his assets at trade time. Unrelated but I would love to be a fly on the wall of Trac's end of season review and also curious to see where he lands in our B&F. He needs to quickly mature of mind and decide he wants to be a serious footballer that maximises his god given talents or can see him coasting to an ok career only.

Watch his game today. All the pace in the world but is mechanical and cant hit a target. Does not have the smarts or the repeat sprints in him to play wing. I would rather trade him for overs to a team that cant see his many weakness to his few strengths or he will spend most of the year at Casey.

Don't disagree on point 1 but Garlett and Hunt reinforced in todays VFL GF that they are way off being the answer. Its a shame neither Stretch nor Kent couldn't get an injury free run second half of the year.

Is he retiring with one year left on his contract or you think he will be traded in a straight swap to get Josh Kelly?

You are aware Garlett is on our list yeah? Lets see how Jetta, Rioli and Ryan go next week. They had 2 tackles between them yesterday.

Me and the demon sympathising wife (mad bomber member at heart) are doing the 7.30am up and 7pm back from Melbourne. I said no all weekend until first thing Monday morning that the tickets went on sale. Then jumped on one of the new release flights. Now sitting here Friday night I would have been seriously kicking myself if I hadn't changed my mind last minute. For those in the know what is the best transport option from airport to Optus? Any decent brunch spot close by worth it pregame?

Nearly a week on and I am still in the state of mind that Tyson must make way for Smith. We must bring more size and speed to our backline to combat their forward line. We must bring more run to the outside midfield. Smith in and Fritsch to the wing is the way. This is not to do with Tyson who whilst not bad had limited impact on last weeks game. Its about team balance to defeat a side that is different at a ground that is different in conditions that are different.

Fritsch had him early. Hibberd then had him late. My simple view is Smith is taller, faster and stronger than Fritsch. Fritsch is a better outside runner and link man than Tyson on a wing. Tyson was not poor but nor did he do enough to cement a place. Its a better set up against a better team.

Everyone calling for no change please put forward who is playing on Kennedy, Vardy and Darling. It is clear to me watching the VFL today that Joel Smith plays. Offers so much versatility against the Eagles front 6 and is hard and fast. Tyson the unlucky player to miss as this will shuffle Fritsch up to the wing.

I thought Fritsch was close to our worst player last night, seemed very fumbly and not his clean self, he also had the Gunston match up early on. I also don't see a natural match up for him against the Eagles forwards and think his run and skills forward of centre would be more valuable next week. If someone could advise how we are setting up for Kennedy, Darling and Vardy forward?

Anyone who says bring in Vince against a team who has Ryan, Rioli and Cripps in their forward half is unfortunately selecting with their heart not their head. That or they have poor memory of Vince recent form.

6.T-Mac 5. Viney 4. Petracca 3. Jetta 2. Spargo 1. Hibberd

I think we will go no change but I would subject to how he goes tomorrow I would bring in Joel Smith for Tyson. He wasn't poor but he had limited impact and he is not suited to the outside where he is being forced to play. Fritsch is also better up the ground.