Lil_red_fire_engine

How is this a huge gamble? At worst you get the existing output of a 21 year old elite intercept defender as already seen. At best you get the expected incremental improvement of a 21 year old 196cm defender over his next 4 years of development into what should be his peak. Skys the limit. Anyone that thinks we paid overs over rates the draft. Even so I suspect we will use 27 and 35 to get back into the top 20 some how. Those that say let him walk to the draft, North have deep pockets and I suspect would have snapped him up before us. Similar to the Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong models, pick your targets, be open with what you think is fair, get your player and move on.

Let me get this right. He was taken pick 14 (probably pick 3 on count back of that draft now). Now has 50 games investment in him, enough to be an AA squad member at 21 yet is not worth 10 and 20. What would you want for an out of contract Petracca? I am not saying we pay 10 and 20 but if thats what ends up being required it is fair value.

Fair few there you're over rating. i think it's assured he will finish top 10 in their B&F and probably top 5. Will be interesting to see. Also we are talking about a kid 5 years away from his best footy with 10 years probably left. Not exactly apples with apples.

How did the Cats tall forwards go tonight. 8 marks and 5 massive spoils to go with the best disposal efficiency on the ground in a pressure match. Not his best but I would suggest he would feature higher in the coaches votes than 16th or lower. Is a super player who is already statistically the best intercept mark in the comp which is fast becoming a crucial role in today's game.

You have noted they're 13 cms and 8 kilos in size difference yeah?

Likely if I asked most who the best 3 key position defenders are they would say Rance, Hurley and McGovern. Would be worth looking at how often any of them play on the main key forward or even the second one this year.

Lever went as a mid first round picked and if you re-ordered that draft now you would have him at worst 3rd behind Trac and Heeney. He is a player type that will only get better as his body matures. Our first pick is likely to be around about where he got picked that year (but not better) yet some think that and some steak knives will get the job done. It will take our first pick and some serious quality unless we put a deal forward that means we could walk him through the draft (unlikely). Whilst I am sure we wont entertain it unless he wanted out,the Hogan article aside from the emotion attached is not that far off logic. We have proven we can kick good scores without him and this was before we unearthed T-Mac as a forward option. We have proven we leak multiple goals against tall forwards and need to improve the quality of our transition from defence. A lot on here are unsure whether O-Mac and Frost are the answer. I assume some on here are worried whether we have already seen the best of Hogan. It could be argued Lever is more important to us having a tilt than Hogan. Granted you would want to keep both but if push came to shove........

Those stats are hard to argue with but the query is do we think developing the two kids that have 88 games between them is the answer or do we need more., Lever is a jet but as I have stated where is the examples of him playing on and beating number 1 forwards or even the second tall? He is played as an intercept and usually Adelaide leave Talia and Hartigan or Kelly to the two main jobs.

My biggest concern on Lever is he has limited exposed form on a first or even second key forward but everyone is guessing that's what he becomes. My view is he would have played a similar role to Smith or Wagner in our side on the weekend not that of Oscar or Frost. With lets assume Hogan and T-Mac forward this week he will likely play on neither and get Watts or Hannan/Trac. Even when Talia and Hartigan are playing they still prefer Kelly to play the third tall defender role to free Lever up. He is a jet at the role he plays and would love him at MFC I just don't think it is for either of the two key posts (granted he could play there if required particularly as he matures).

I doubt we will make it happen however, if we did everyone is assuming all interest in Lever is as a KPD. His skill set could also see him become a highly damaging midfielder in the Fyfe mould or maybe more so just as an attacking half back. I think this is more likely as there is not much exposed evidence of his ability playing against the best or even second best KPFs. With T-Mac showing current ability to play the forward/ruck role which will be hard to fill short term we may not be as stacked with a backline of O-Mac, Frost and Lever as we think. We are also assuming all stay fit and healthy and in form.

That cant be right, only 26 games experience, and has inconsistencies in his game that may get better with experience. Should be killing it every week like I am certain Rance and May did every week at that stage of their careers.

It would be great for those that watch Crows games to post who he plays on each week. I will do my best to do this. As I have stated you will find he rarely plays on the first or second forward making him hard to compare to O-Mac in particular. I dont disagree he would be starting 22 but I dont see him being as necessary as other positions we need to sort for a flag tilt.

On exposed form, playing on the third best forward most week's, Lever looks a jet. However can someone explain what our back 6 looks like next year with Lever? Also what they would be willing to trade. Then explain how that gets us closer to a flag. Find me a forward/ruck and quality ball carrying mids before we start throwing what we would have to to get a player that is a nice to have not must have.

We have enough that can play that role we need someone that can play that role and shut down a power forward. I am yet to see whether can do part 2 as he is rarely exposed to them with Talia and Hartigan. Dont get me wrong he is quality but what we would need to pay (if you could convince him( for not being sure if he fits the role we need worries me.

Lever played another great game. As the third defender. The adulation at present comes from his reading of the play and his rebounding with good decision making not his ability to stop a primary forward.

With Talia and Hartigan at the Crows when does Lever ever play on a decent key forward? He looks great as a third tall interceptor but not much I have seen of him taking the number 1 job.

I had a good look at him last night and can see why we are interested regardless of his last name. We don't really have mids that have speed that can play outside and really push for metres gained. This and he still fits our competitive inside mantra. He can also add to our half back run creating further flexibility with Hunt for 2018. I suspect his outside game and kicking will also look better on the bigger space of the G. Its a matter of convincing him and the rest would take care of itself. You would think if he doesn't stay there we would have to be the option.

May is exactly what we need and should be gettable. He is out of contract. Convince him we are the home for him and the rest will sort itself out for something fair and reasonable. We also need to find some further outside midfield speed for the wings and flanks.

Ignore my post I thought he was out of contract end of this year and forgot he had signed an extension til next. I think if he was out this year he may have looked for other pastures, cant see Saints not persevering. For his style of play and body type and the way the game is going he needs a massive engine and he doesn't seem to have the capacity to build one. Think he will end up a good player but it will take time and good is his cap. He certainly is no Trac.

I reckon Paddy's next club will benefit. This all seems to be moving to him wanting to leave at the end of the year I reckon.

That appeared to be the case. Great double page piece in the Herald Sun today on Trac. The paper version has a comparison table of Trac v Fyfe v Bont and one other I cant recall on their first 25 games. Very comparable granted neither of the other two missed a year with an ACL. Curious to see if he starts in the pivot today?

Jones and Viney lead by effort and ethic but they are not smart footballers and struggle to see the game unfold and then demand when and where their team meats should position or what to adjust on field when under pressure. Listen to Hodges commentary in our last quarter he could basically read what we were doing wrong immediately at the stoppages and what we needed to do. That is the type of leadership that Lewis brings and we need.

But how many of the games elite stars (father sons aside) come from outside the top 10? You are certainly more likely to find them early.

I think he's well balanced. Accepts McCartin injuries aside will probably be a good player. The problem is they saw a massive whole in their list and just plugged it with the number 1 pick who best fitted need rather than chasing need later in the draft or through trade. It is pretty obvious Trac has special traits that you expect with a top pick and only his body or his application wil stop him being elite. The issue is with McCartin he will at best be a meat and potatoes good player. Would be an interesting discussion if they had taken Wright instead.

Mentioned in another thread but an inside mid who has 36 touches at 91% DE is almost unheard of.