mo64

The problem is that Roos keeps playing him without considering that we might be a better team with a more attacking backline.

Any idea as to which club is his preference?

Unfortunately for Michie, there are contracted players who should be getting the bullet before him. He's a legitimate depth player unlike Bail, Terlich, McKenzie and M. Jones.

I would have thought that his output over the past two weeks was no different to the level of much of his career, which is why most were surprised when he was dropped this week. I'm also surprised that such info would come out of the mouth of a club official.

Nah, I see Stevie J. running a pub in retirement. Can't see anything about him that screams of coaching material, in fact he'd be the last person I'd imagine as a senior coach.

Unless your Tomlinson's manager, I wouldn't waste my time hitting the refresh button on your email inbox.

Send him to the Richmond doctor first before agreeing to a trade. If GC consider trading him, his knee must be totally f##ked.

You're right, but isn't the Friday Night game considered a blockbuster ratings wise?

If I were the broadcasters, I'd be livid with the AFL's decision to allow clubs to rest players en masse. In the NBA a few years ago, the San Antonio Spurs rested 3 key players in what was a back-to-back game, and the commission fined them $250,000. You would think that a club resting players for 1 game over an 82 game season would be ok, but the commission assessed that it's damaging to the product, and not in the spirit of the league. The AFL have set a pretty dangerous precedent IMO.

Why would Garland be lacking fitness? And if you want to give him a conditional 2 year deal, then surely you must have question marks about his ability? And I hope that O Mac develops into a KPB, which Garland is not. Sam Frost can replace Howe if he leaves.

Cross definitely hasn't been holding back any of the young players. On form, Cross will finish in the top 10 of the B&F this year. If we had 2 or 3 younger players waiting in the wings who could play a similar role, I could understand the decision. The facts are, we don't.

All are different situations to the likes of Boyd, Dangerfield, Treloar, Caddy, and Adams, where required players want out, and they then disclose their destination of choice. Clark, Dawes and Vince were basic trades where the other clubs liked what we had to offer, and were happy to trade the players.

And how many good players have nominated Melbourne as their destination of choice in recent years? If other clubs were banging our door down to acquire Toumpas, of course I'd do a trade. But that's not likely, so let's try and develop him, rather than using a late pick in a shallow draft.

I don't buy that. How much better did Morton, Gysberts and Blease become at a new club? If Toumpas is good enough, he can make it with us. If we play a more expansive game under Roos/Goodwin, I'm sure Toumpas would benefit. The thing in his favour is that he's prepared to work hard and he's not soft. I'm sure these things were taken into account with our decision to re-sign him.

Based on what?

That's worked well in the past.

Horlin-Smith re-signed in May when he wasn't getting a game. And Geelong clearly rate him as they gave him a 3 year deal. And you've mentioned 4 players out of a midfield rotation of 10/12. They lose Bartel, Kelly, Stevie J this year or next. Horlin-Smith won't be traded.

Agree with everything you say other than stockpiling draft picks. And why you we see the draft pool any different to other clubs? With the new Academy bidding system, clubs like GWS and Sydney will need additional picks in the 15-30 range to get sufficient points to pick up the likes of Mills and Kennedy. We may be able to wrangle a player with proven AFL credentials (not necessarily an A grader), for a middling pick in a shallow draft.

Not sure if serious. For starters, Horlin-Smith re-signed this year till the end of 2018, and you think we could get him with a 3rd round pick? And how on earth do you think that Jamar will bring us anything, even as a UFA? He'd be on base payments, and our compo would be zilch.

I wouldn't be using pick 5 on a half back flanker, who's draft stocks soared based on a couple of carnival games. He was pretty average in the 3rd game against Vic Metro. We could pick up a similar type in Tomlinson with a 2nd/3rd rounder, but I'd be looking for a more dynamic line-breaker at half back, as STMJ stated.

Not sure that Viney was at fault either. If he was jogging as you say, then Michie was literally walking. For a player who came on as sub and should have been fresh, his effort was pathetic. Viney actually runs past Michie in order to get to Steven. Blaming Toumpas was wrong on this occasion.

I know the standard of football journalism is pathetic, but do you really think that anyone would make up a rumour like this? On Toumpas, his re-signing is as much about list management as anything. He is worth more to us than delisting or on the trade market. His value is either a low pick in a shallow draft, or a trade for a fringe player at another club. I doubt that Toumpas' management would be asking for a significant pay increase, whereas to lure a player from another club involves just that.

I thought it was one of his better games.

Without meaning to offend KC, do Casey have a problem attracting talented aspiring young players from the Melbourne suburbs, due to the travel and the Casey Fields itself. Call me soft, but I'd hardly want to train and play there. And just putting it out there, does Casey Fields impact on the development of the players?

I hate the term versatile. Francis could be another Goddard, who took years to establish himself as an impact player, and has again lost that ability at the Dons. Or Francis could be another Andrew Mackie, a highly dependable back flanker. We are craving for mids and key forwards. And I want the best that are available in those positions.