mo64

It's only because our media are too immature to grasp the fact that players make decisions on their future long before the season ends. I'm sure Cerra was a case in point. It would become a distraction to the club due to the constant AFL media barrage. In the NRL it's not an issue. Their media will speculate whether a player will re-sign or not, but once the player has decided, it's no longer a major story.

100%. Which is why the club would not be wasting their time with a Jackson for Andy Brayshaw proposition. They'd be putting their efforts into a gettable target.

CCTV footage from Entrecote?

Dunstan must be regretting his decision to join us, and Chandler must be regretting staying with us. Form counts for nothing. The one saving grace is that Weid isn't in the side. Will Melk and May run through the banner together as a sign of solidarity?

Of course clubs talk before trade period. But it's idiotic to think that Andy Brayshaw would leave Fremantle when Gus has already said that he's entrenched in WA. It's also idiotic to think that we would waste our time asking for Andy Brayshaw. My 2nd point of us finalising deals quickly is totally relevant if we are pursuing a big fish ourselves with whatever draft capital we get from Freo. I don't know what you think Luke Jackson is worth, but I can guarantee that we won't be getting anything near 2 top 10 picks from Freo.

Here we go again with the Andy Brayshaw nonsense. Gus isn't going to hold out until the Jackson trade is finalised before making his decision. The nomination of free agents occurs prior to trade week. As a club, we've always been about getting deals finalised early, and then moving on to the next deal. Those thinking we'll get 2 top 5 picks are also delusional. Cerra had more runs on the board than Jackson, and was only worth 1 top 5 pick. Our starting point will more likely be 1 top 10 pick, a 1st round pick (this year or future) and a fringe player like Meek. IMO, that would be a good result for us,

The comparison to Jack Watts is nonsense. The club is in premiership mode not development mode, and there is no expectation of JVR to change the club's direction. Hawks made an awful mistake in blooding a raw Dermott Brereton in a final. Oh that's right, he kicked 5 goals. If we lose 2-3 of our remaining games, and still have an issue with the T Mac role, you would not give JVR a game regardless of VFL form? Bowey looked like a Year 9er when given a game last year. And if you watched our VFL games, JVR is more physical in the contest than Weid.

LDVC, your argument for Weid ahead of JVR doesn't cut it. JVR has been 2nd ruck for Casey behind Bell, with Weid and Mitch Brown in the team. If Weid is seen as our backup ruck, why isn't he playing that role at Casey? Also JVR was a KPD for WA's Under 18's team last year, so has more credentials to replace Lever or May than Weid.

There's been a lot of 2nd/3rd string ruckman, who sort more opportunity elsewhere and became very good established ruckman at their new club. Our very own Darren Jolly and Steph Martin are just 2. I look at Darcy Cameron at the Pies and think that he's more impactful than Grundy. As Dazzle pointed out, a ruckman's ability around the ground is equally important as their hit-out numbers. Meek's numbers at WAFL level stack up well. He could be excused for his low possessions in his last game against West Perth, because the ground was covered in water. I watched the game because a mate is involved in West Perth's coaching. If Meek's is steak knives as part of a potential Jackson trade, I'd be rapt.

His play at VFL level suggests he doesn't have the same mobility as pre ACL. Joel Smith and Turner have been preferred to him at different stages this year. He has to play this week because we have no other options, but his form doesn't warrant selection.

You couldn't be more wrong. It's because their form at VFL level warrants selection, and the likes of Melksham, Weideman and Tomlinson have been tried and failed. I have no issue with Goody and his game plan. But this group doesn't include 2 key pieces in Oliver and Petty. This is a must win game if we want to make the Top 4.

Picket Fence reported that Petty and Laurie were absent from training. One has to assume that both have Covid.

Who's AMD?

The "Last Chance Hotel" must be part of a chain like the Holiday Inn. I'm with you, I prefer Mitch Brown, but JVR should have been selected.

This is the first time I'm genuinely baffled by selection. The only thing they got right was dropping Bowey due to poor form. I have to assume that Laurie couldn't be considered due to HS Protocols. From those named to potentially come in, Chandler is the only one with consistently good form at Casey. Weid ahead of JVR is mind boggling. Dunstan comes in for Clarry, but his form has only been ok. Tomlinson comes in for Petty because all our better options are injured. Hunt deserves to come in for Bowey, ahead of Rivers. If we go back to our usually structure then it's: In: Dunstan, Hunt, Weid, Tomlinson Out: Oliver, Petty, Bowey and either Bedford or Spargo If we maintain our 4 small forwards, then it's: In: Dunstan, Hunt, Tomlinson and potentially Chandler Out: Oliver, Petty, Bowey and potentially either Spargo or Bedford. I can't see any reason for Melksham to be included. The team without Oliver and Petty looks terrible on paper. I can't get excited by any of the potential ins. And for you punters out there, Port have come in from $2.90 on Monday to $2.52.

But, but, but. What about the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement? We keep getting told by some on here that the EBA is what's holding up his re-signing. I'm being facetious. I'm with you. I think he's goneski.

I think that was all a ruse. I'm sure his intentions were to go to Carlton all along. Remember the stunt that Judd and his manager pulled? Aside from Mitch Clark, it's very rare that a trade comes down to a bidding war.

From what I've seen of Wines this year (have him in my Fantasy Team), we won't need to tag him. Port's most dangerous mid at the moment is Rozee.

Jeez we had a lot of talent in 1975, and yet we finished 3rd last. Four members of our Team of the Century (Hardeman, Flower, Alves and Wells), in addition to Big Carl, Garry Baker, Ross Brewer and Ray Biffin. Unfortunately we didn't have any prolific goalkickers at that time, so I'd imagine that Ross Brewer was our best forward, along with a young Steven Smith. Also noticed Marty Lyons name appearing. It's a shame we didn't get his son Jarryd.

From what I've seen of Tomlinson at Casey, he's lost his mobility. He can run in a straight line, but has the turning circle of the Queen Mary. At Casey, I'd imagine that he's been told to play the Steven May role, and organise the defence. But from I've noticed, he gets caught out of position too often. I wasn't surprised when Turner was given the nod ahead of him. With Turner and Joel Smith as depth, I'd say that we'd put him on the trade market, and hopefully another club remembers his good form prior to his ACL.

The days of Pagan's Paddock are over. I can't name any decent key forward who solely relies on space to lead. That's not how the game is played. Regardless of that, I don't think that Weid reads the game well enough. His poor positioning is one of the reason why he's a poor contested mark. I think the match committee would be more forgiving of Weid if he stood under the ball in contested marking situations, like BBB and T Mac. I can't see any other club pursuing him.

You're dismissing Laurie as an AFL standard player without seeing him play at that level, and pigeon holing him as a wet weather specialist. Anyone who doubts Laurie's ability to cover the ground or fitness levels should re-watch the last quarter of Casey v Geelong. He goes from disposing of the ball to the next contest in a blink of an eye. And his clean hands in wet conditions, and overall disposal is sublime. We're coming to the pointy end of the season with a top 4 position at stake. We've tried Weid and M Brown in the T Mac role with no success. We've changed the structure, and played an extra small in Bedford, with limited success. We need a change of personnel in our forward half, and IMO Laurie and JVR have to play this week.

The idea of playing Petty at CHF is exciting, but based on what we've seen of Tommo at VFL and AFL level this year, he's not the player to fill Petty's spot. Barring another horrific run with injuries to our key backs, we shouldn't be seeing Tomlinson in the AFL again this year.

How can you say that a player who has yet to debut is less impactful? And how do you assess Laurie's fitness levels? Spargo averages 72% game time this year compared to Kossies 80%. Only once has Spargo played over 80% game this year. Unless Laurie is given a chance, all your statements are pure guesswork or opinions. And we know how often your opinions have been wrong.

Per disposal? That's a horrible matrix to judge a player. It benefits low possession players. We need some other avenues to goal. Bedford is the 1st out for JVR because we need to revert to our preferred structure. Spargo out for Laurie because Laurie seems to have potential as a mid/forward crumber, and should be rewarded.