Lil_red_fire_engine

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.

No disrespect to others but Clarry's impact with ball in hand already makes him our best midfielder. Its now all about game and quarter consistency and when a tag shifts to him (which it will very quickly) how he goes. The addition of his outside work we are starting to see shows how quickly he is developing. Lock to be in the pivot round 1 first bounce against saints I reckon.

Nothing to do with the tag. All to do with his inability to hit a target by foot.

I saw enough of ANB on the weekend to validate his decision making and execution by foot are not up to it. In contract but trade if opportunity to improve position is there.

I have watched a lot of Essendon as the wife supports them. Melksham is fast and hard and most of the time is a good kick but will make two clangers a game that burn into your memory that will make you forget the good things he did. I suspect he will be a better player for us under Goodwin's tutelage and away from the distractions of the passed 4 years. At a minimum he will be an upgrade on the roles and performance of M Jones (19 games) and Harmes (10 games) and Wagner (14 games) played this season. I suspect though he will give us a lot more.

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.

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.

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.

Disagree. Two in a row. He has some bad habits creeping into his game. Will right himself but he is not above criticism.

Hunt is clearly a delist and rookie option. Was speculative when we got him, has great attributes we don't have but a run of injuries that really haven't allow us to gauge whether he can apply them at AFL level.

I think we would have to pay well overs for him. Before looking at Suckling I would look at how well Malceski is doing at the Suns. These types of players always look alot better in good sides.

I dont think we've been intimidated by loose man in defence exactly. We have been intimidated by stoppages in our defensive 50 and have sent 2-3 more players there rather than held position. We have then got the ball and been greeted with one forward v 4 defenders and not know what to do. I expect this mentality will disappear this week or next.

I think everyone accepts that we made the wrong choice. I would say the error for what we needed wasn't Wines but missing McRae who was the same type of player we needed and playing school footy with Viney. It doesn't mean Toumpas wont become a good player but time/contract is running out. As Jones mentioned in a recent interview and as shown over the last two game his best is good but the gap between his poor games is woeful.