Lil_red_fire_engine

Everyone seems to think the top 7 is set aside from order. That is very rarely the case one month out. We still lack outside polish and its not like Parish is small he is a standard mid size and by all reports also fits the competitor non negotiable we appear to be carrying through. If he is the best pure mid I would snap him up at 3 and just take the player we think has the highest ceiling at 7 that is available and back in our development process to make them realise their potential.

I wonder what role people expect Tomlinson to play for us. He is not quite a mid, forward, back or ruck. Has a tank but that is about it from what I have seen.

I suspect Bugg should be PSD or delisted FA unless we don't intend on using pick 50 elsewhere?

I note that the word "trades" is plural. They said last year its not about each trade but the net result. Lets see how the rest of this plays out.

Let it be noted I don't rate Howe or Toumpas and would have been disappointed if we re-contracted them. However on face value it appears we did not hold our nerve in that trade and look to have come out the worst of the 4 clubs. Time will tell but does appear a disappointing result.

Has speed, has maturity, kicks goals and has played some bloody good football. Is also prone to making some absolutely appalling decisions, going missing and frustrating supporters like not many others. Pick 25 in a weak draft is worth the punt. Money seems fair although length of deal if 4 years a risk. Clean slate now that your a Dee Jake welcome aboard.

Ch 7 reported after speaking to Melbourne IF he chooses Collingwood it will take alot more than a straight swap for Kennedy. It inferred we have a deal agreed in principle with Suns if he chooses there.

I think its more a recognition we lack toe and some run and carry. Each of them have this and also don't mind a hard ball and can kick a goal. Challenge with each is we are probably compromising on the consistency of their skill execution.

I don't care if he was a number 4 pick he is not up to it. If he was in contract still you would persevere but seriously re-contracting him if he wasn't a high pick there would be no discussion. Is not fast, is not hard, is not clean of decision making or disposal execution under any type of pressure. I was a fan when he was drafted but AFL is completely different to juniors and I have seen enough. Take what you can get and move on.

On the limited amount I have seen him reminds me of Michael Hurley.

Make. It. Happen. Is all class and a good balance of inside and out.. At 25 is coming into his peak. I look forward to the numerous trade scenarios stating Hartlett for M Jones, Grimes and Terlich is fair.

I find Melksham very frustrating however we have two of his previous coaches at the club. If its 400k we will be paying him slightly over average AFL wage and I suspect will push him through the PSD. At worst he is a certain upgrade on our current midfield depth at best he is 24 and if he removed the errors in his game could be a steal for 3-5 years.

Based on the numbers touted, our need to trade in quality mids and the call that we will field a team of competitors I think him being gone is positive.

After watching the weekend neither of those sides today or Sydney have a hope of beating West Coast over there. In saying that the three most important traits I saw of the winning teams were they stuck more tackles, ran out quarters better and were cleaner when attacking forward of the defensive 50.

I watch alot of Essendon games with the wife. Melksham is extremely frustrating because he does some ridiculously good things immediately followed by ridiculously bad things. This inconsistency is within one play, quarter to quarter and game to game. We need true midfield depth and he is a mature bodied hard running 24 year old. I would not make this move and certainly not for a 4 year deal but I doubt he would cost the world and being the decision would be made by someone who has seen him up close I will back them in.

Unsure if this has been mentioned but from a Herald Sun article tonight. It is understood Bennell would be happy to go to Melbourne given he rates Melbourne coach Paul Roos. “He’s a super talented player,” Dees coach Paul Roos told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night. “We’re a young football club that needs talent, but you’d need to be certain bringing him into any club. It’s a difficult question to answer.”

Pretty much every game. No a long kick but a neat kick and decision maker.

When Riewoldt and Montagna retire they will seriously go backwards. Stevens is excallent and Armitage a good quality workhorse but I struggle to understand what else they really have including their kids who in general I rate well below ours and the Dogs.

3 more wins than last year. Kardinia and Etihad hoodoos done. Strong wins against two of the finalists. 8 debutants with all showing promise and some already the surest A graders I have seen in a long time. Yes there were frustrations but the end of season should be about the positives and there were plenty. First time in a long time that I have been certain we are on the right path. Another smart trade and draft period and who knows what 2016 might bring.

He is the perfect balance of silk and sledgehammer. Love him. Not having him and Kent for most of the year has had a big impact.

6. Salem 5. Viney 4. Vince 3. Jones 2. Hogan 1. Harmes

The footage of Francis reminds me of Hurley.

Curious to see where he finishes in the B&F. I think this will answer your question. Where do you think he will finish? How do you rate his season? Where would you rate him in importance on our list? He has played 3-4 high quality games this year. The rest have been mediocre at best with majority of it coming down to effort.

I agree. For all the criticism of Watts lack of intensity and effort at time during his career it has never been as bad as Howes has for majority of the season.

I have not seen much of the kids this year aside from the televised champs and it was truly underwhelming. I really hope in what appears a pretty vanilla draft we swing for the high risk/ high reward approach if we don't trade our first pick. One of the highly rated but with limited games this year ie: Curnow, Weideman, Burton or someone like Ah Chee who could be boom or bust at the next level.