Red and Blue realist

Only issue is I can't spot many of the defenders - May, Lever, Hibbo, Salem, Nev, Rivers etc. are not in that photo, so maybe it was just the mids & forwards, so might give an clue but nothing definite either. Add those guys in and Harmes and it's a squad of around 24 which would be about right.

Still have to pay him, and with Danger, Hawkins, Duncan etc. they can't have a huge amount of cap - at least not to the level to pay the comps highest earner this year. I know Ablett will be gone and Selwood is on less, but I'd say (guess work) they'd be fairly close to their cap, and still have Tuohy, Stanley, Parfitt and Rohan, who are best 22 plus guys like Taylor, Narkle and Cockatoo among those out of contract.

I don't think Geelong has either the currency (picks/players) or coin to go after Cameron, who I think will stay, they'll be linked as they are the closet location to his home town (still a fair way away though), and the fact he likes fishing etc. We only need to say we are going to match the offer, much like Adelaide did with Danger, and then work on getting the best deal. Again I think Jack will stay, but just throwing up a hypothetical if he did say he wants out.

I like Viney and don't want him to go, but hypothetically if he came to the conclusion he wanted out then this is what I'd be trying to do. He's a RFA, so I'd be telling him we're going to match and then look to trade with Geelong, in a similar way they did for Danger. They are pretty good at that sort of stuff. Currently Geelong have draft picks 11 (from GC), 14 (from WC) and their own at 15. So I'd propose we trade Viney along with the Hawks 2nd this year and our 1st next year for picks 14 & 15 plus their 2nd and either Narkle or Cockatoo. Essentially it'd be Viney, pick 22 and next years 1st for 14, 15 & 34 plus either Narkle or Cockatoo. We get more than what we would from the compo formula for Viney (I'd say he'd be end of 1st, which is 20 depending on other deals), but have to make a bet on next year, then get in a player who would suit our needs but seems surplus to Geelong, while giving up them a significant upgrade in the 2nd round this year. We then wouldn't be impacted if we go after Williams.

Your point was very badly made then, if you want Harmes back we'll then I think he'd need to come into the mid mix where of course he'd get more possessions than off HB. I don't think Harmes could play as a forward pressure player, while he's good at tagging the best mids, this is because his attacking mindset kicks in and he goes ball hunting. Whereas ANB knows his role is to tackle and pressure the ball exiting defense, not high stat stuff, but I'm sure coaches love players who sacrifice stats to play the team role.

I'd be bringing in LJ (if fit), Hibberd (if fit), and Lockhart while my outs would be Nev, Brown and Hunt. Smith goes to Stringer, Tominlison to Daniher, allowing May/Lever to provide the support. I'd try and put Fritsch on Saad and make him go deep forward as much as possible, then have Melksham on Ridley, really kill off the attack from their defensive 50.

Using actual statistical evidence you are completely wrong, given ANBs role is to play as a pressure forward, he has more tackles, score involvements, one percenters, goal assists and of course has kicked 5 goals straight (to 2.2). Throwing up stats to compare players who play in a different spot on the ground is just used to have a pot shot at a player and very lazy, I'm sure you'll use ANBs lack of hit outs compared to Gawn to call for his axing next.

Based on this years performance we'd be padding Smith's retirement fund, even before his injury he'd dropped off a fair bit this year, and with speed as his main weapon slowing I feel he'd end up moving back to the 2s way before Lewis did. Gunston a big yes, I do believe he could play in the same side as Melksham, but Melk would have to get super fit again to be able to play as a high half forward, he's been playing deeper this year and it hasn't been his best year. I'd happily hand over a future 2nd (don't think we can trade this years). Weid, Gunston, Fritter, Melk and Kossie is the pretty good base for a modern forward line.

He's no superstar, but is more than handy. Just doesn't get a great run with injury. He'd be a great second key back and would allow May and Lever to do what they do best all the time, but I wouldn't pay a huge amount for him. I'm sure North will open the check book, but as a freebie and if he wanted a fair contract I'd happily take him.

Don't forget Morris also came out before GWS played Brisbane telling everyone that Cogs was dropped, he then was best on ground for them with 27 odd touches, maybe GWS feed Morris false info to fire him and their team up. I believe he's out when it's on the team sheet and he's not an emergency.

He'd be a significant upgrade on OMac (I'm not a hater either), and allow May and Lever to do what they do best. At only 26, those 3 would form the best tall defensive unit in the league, plus we'd have Rivers, Salem and Hibberd for run/use and Lockhart and maybe Jetta as smalls. I don't think it's our most pressing need (speed and forward connection) but wouldn't say no as we don't have to give up any assets for him.

Blakey plays more a s high half forward at the moment, while McCartin played in defense last week. Sinclair has only kicked 3 goals for the season, and without a real ruck partner is doing the bulk of their ruck work. They are really stretched at both ends due to injury at the moment, I think we'd be better off to manage OMac and bring him back fresher for Freo and GWS. I do think we need another tall to allow the May/Lever partnership to continue to develop around or structures, so I think Smith might be worthwhile, he'd also be a handy potential match up for Papely if he gets on a run or Parker when he drifts forward.

I like Tomlinsons game better when he went back to the wing, but could be used in this instance. I think Smith would work better against a smaller line up like Sydney's and now we're functioning better overall he could be worth a shot. I prefer OMac in the team, but with the short turn arounds, he's one that i'd manage for this game, as the match up aren't there, and have him fresh for both Freo and GWS who have the tall forwards.

Simply because May and Lever function much better with another taller defender and without Hibberd there as well, we need extra cover. I know Sydney aren't the tallest team, in particular if McCartin plays back again, but lets not waste what we've been building by completely wrecking the structure. OMac will be better against Freo, who do play with a taller forward line, so bringing in Smith against a smaller forward line makes sense to me.

I'm sure Richo said we were going to look at using a few more players this time over the shorter breaks, don't forget we got back into Qld around 3am on Sunday so it's more like two 4 day breaks in a row. This week, I'd rest Hibberd (possibly injured anyway), Jones, Hannan, Pickett, OMac and one of Viney or Brayshaw (both looked a little under the weather and I wonder if there was a bit of gastro or a stomach bug, given we saw Viney run of for the toilet after the game). I'd then bring in Lockart, Hunt, Fritsch, Smith, Harmes and ANB. Trac to play 90% forward for the game. Then against Freo, I'd be looking to bring back in Viney/Brayshaw, Hibberd, Pickett, OMac (height required) and Bennell. The outs need to see who's in need of a rest or if we get any injuries. I know 6 outs after a win is a hard sell, but we have to play this period a lot smarter that the first condensed fixture, cause we got belted by Port of the back of a 4 day break. We need some freshness for the Giants and Bombers in the last 2 rounds.

Right behind Morton who came in at a massive 155kg

Hunt's issue is knowing how to use his speed, when he's marked on a lead it's been because he's already on the move. He's not explosive off the mark, like a Hawkins or Lynch, but explosive in motion, so the he has to always be on the move and they take off, then he should get clear enough to take some chest marks.

Even if Preuss does play, maybe we still try a smaller forward line with Weid as the focus and Gawn mostly playing CHB when not rucking and have Preuss either on the bench or resting forward when he's not rucking. McEvoy was dominate early last night, but I think Max would make an even better backman than him, plus it would disrupt all the Saints planning. The other backs just have to be prepared to peel off their man if they try and drag him too deep.

I'm not convinced either! So only Gawn and Jones are confirmed ins, I think they'll bring in either Hunt or Baker for speed, so the other in will be interesting, Rivers maybe?

Ratten has said King will be playing, so they'll be going in with the 3 talls plus Marshall and Ryder (unless they rest either Membrey or Battle).

I think that the only time Smith has played against Membrey was in his first game where he did his shoulder in the 1st quarter. Frost has been the one who has taken him over the last few games, he's been too smart for him and got a few of those goals out the back or when Frost got the wanders and leaves his man free. I don't think we can just worry about Membrey, they've also got Marshall who goes alright resting down there and also the young kid Battle. I really think we need either one of OMac or Smith to come in to help May and Lever, I want Tomo back running the wings.

We play on Thursday next week, when should that team be announced, and for the game the Monday after that? You've just to get used to everything this season being done differently.

I think we need to get Tomlinson back to the wing, he's performed ok, but not good/great, as a key defender but I think that wastes his biggest asset which is his ability to run and his height. He should be stationed on the opposite wing to the ruck for any kick outs. It at least give the opposition something to think about and he would tower over Hill and Z.Jones. AVB can still play up as a higher forward, and nearly take Sparrow's spot. I'd then look at bringing in Hunt for Hannan, I don't see that we can play all 3 of Melk, Fritsch and Hannan in the same team. By changes: In: Gawn, OMac and Hunt Out: Preuss, Sparrow and Hannan

He used to get around Ballarat when I was in my early 20s, and you'd run into him at the various pubs normally earlier in the day (between 12pm and 4pm - I can't recall seeing him out and about much after that), but he'd always stop by and have a chat/share a joke. Seemed like a nice guy, completely different to that fearsome reputation. I think he used to take himself home, or at least away from the public, before they got too rowdy and started any sort of trouble.

Then he'd have to go into the draft/pre-season draft and he's up for grabs to anyone. This virtually never happens though, so not worth entertaining. I think there's going to be a lot of reports of players refusing to sign contracts through the media, but really at the moment it's hard for them to sign as they don't know about list sizes/salary caps. The week that is announced look for a huge amount of re-signings.