Lil_red_fire_engine

TDI, This is my 10th year of being on this site. I just noted I have ticked over a month without a post which, for those that remember back when, a day without a post would have been unheard of. I don't even check in daily anymore and one of the only reasons I continue is to read your training updates. They provide great insight for those that can't attend rather than the cookie cutter interviews and pieces offered over the summer on the official site. I take from them what I choose and move on from the bits I don't care for. I don't agree with all you post but I don't expect to and take it as your insight or opinion borne of the same enthusiasm or insanity that we mainly all share for the MFC. It's sad that others can't do the same as the site will be lesser without your input. All the best. Go Dee's. BRFE.

Swap Tyson for Dunn (I would have Tyson at 6) and you're on the money.

My post is not a criticism it is more so that whilst he is currently a valuable member of the team I expect he will reach much greater heights.

Anyone that thinks Viney does not need to improve has seriously low expectations. He performed as second year should last year but his overall season was not the levels I expected. I suspect as a lot of players do in their third year that he will show a significant increase in his ability to run out games. I also suspect this will improve his disposal which was iffy alot of last year more out of tiring rather than mechanics. I think he is about half the player he will become and think he will make a big leap forward this year.

With the age of our group, competition for spots and the wealth of development support I expect there will be many. I think Kent will have the biggest jump in his consistent performance levels. I hope for Toumpas to regain the confidence and spark that had me so excited about him when he was drafted.

B: Jetta, Dunn, Garland HB: Lamumba, McDonald, Howe C: Cross, Tyson, Vince HF: Watts, Dawes, Kent FF: Garlett, Hogan, Pederson Rucks: Jamar, Jones, Viney IC: Brayshaw, Salem, Grimes Sub: Petracca Em: Michie, Gawn, Toumpas

There is no such thing as too many mids. Welcome Alex.

I wish we could have picked 2 Victorian big bodied mids....Oh wait we just did that. #KOTD Now lets develop them right. Go Dee's.

great get. really adds something different to our side.

I have this strange feeling that we wont take Petracca. As much as that is what I would do if we dont I will not rant and rave as I suspect most will do here. I believe the people we have in charge who have watched immense hours of live footage, interviewed candidates countless times, poured over test results and know where our list, culture and style needs to head know better than me. I suspect though if we did pass on him the whole internet will break from the fury on demonland.

I think we will see a gradual improvement in the midfield at the very least on the basis of the following: No one in there aside from Cross and possibly Vince should go backwards. We have not lost anyone in there of value. Tyson and Viney coming into a further pre-season are definites to improve. Full preseasons for Riley, Michie and Newton and the inclusion of at least one high draft mid will add better quality depth at a minimum. How big a step Viney and Tyson take and the unknown potential of Toumpas and Salem in there will determine how far.

I am moving my thinking this way as well.

Thanks for those that have and do provide updates.The thing I find most interesting this time of year is any changes in the positional groups they train. For those that have attended is there any surprises (did I see a mention of Grimes with the mids?).

I don't really care for the order of the finish just how many ran PB's that is the sign of improvement.

This to me is not about loyalty but acting in the best interests of your players. A professional club would honour the contract of a player who could do nothing this year or next year to control the security of his future. I expect JT would sacrifice some $ for the security of another year of contract. This would put him in the best mental space to attack his rehabilitation. I don't see whether he is listed senior or rookie adding any burden of expectation. All I see is downside to create a spot for a speculative pick. This is before you get to the risk that someone actually picks him up on a renegotiated contract and back him to return the following year.

Anyone that thinks we will de-list a contracted Trengove to rookie him and that managers and players will not look at us with disdain are kidding themselves. He is injured, we have him under contract, the club need to suck it up just like he his. If anything I would be looking to give him the security of another year but renegotiate both years at a much lesser rate than current. The issue as others have raised is why we rushed to contract Terlich mid season when he wasn't getting a game. Barry I can understand as a young and developing player. Also the previous errors of having Evans and McKenzie still in contract.

Direct from someone who has worked with Petracca all year at Eastern he has been told that his kicking is the key weakness in his game he needed to improve.

We need mids, mids and more mids. We need Key forwards but they need to be close to a sure thing and nothing fill me with that. Laverde's attributes excite me and Brayshaw is the closest to a sure thing 200 gamer you would see. Petracca would be great to get but my limited viewing makes me wonder whether he has the endurance to be an AFL mid and how much of his current dominance is brute strength against boys. Any of the three would make me happy.

Toumpas

Would be worth trying to convince to go to the PSD.

Howe is lovely to watch take a mark but he doesn't currently work hard enough as a third tall and is not a good kick coming off half back. His defensive game improved last year but only because there' s not much choice when in defence. He is another not quite a key position not quite a midfielder that I would happily give up for a decent, not as showy true mid.

Are we seriously going to have a thread for every player delisted?

Lets look at the full picture shall we. Pick 23 and 2 picks back for a player who played two thirds of the year and we see as a future lynch pin of our defense. I dont see what him being a rookie has to do with his current value. I dont understand what part of "looking at the overall outcome of the trade period and not individual picks" people dont get. For the record I would have chanced him to the PSD but lets wait and see what we do in the PSD first.

Aside from the Frost deal which appears overs I dont understand the angst. You cant force deals to happen. Those we did do we won. No player that was traded elsewhere was a realistic target for us as they went interstate or the other club paid serious overs. Whilst I can understand the disappointment at not landing a big fish or immediately fixing our midfield I am keen to hear why people think we failed?

Happy with Frost. But for 23 and some return 3rd round picks doesn't work for me unless we land something better with the PSD.