mo64

For a season and a half, ANB has been able to fulfil his defensive role, but also be an important linkman and kick important goals. In his first 12 games this season, he got 20 or more possessions 5 times. Since the bye, he's yet to get 20 possessions in 6 games, and is averaging 13 possessions per game. He's averaging 0.3 of a goal per game this year compared to 0.6 last year. ANB is important to the side, but he's not in good form.

Hopefully Clarko takes the Giants job. Can't see Roos taking another rookie coach.

That was my take also, but it's allowed the opposition to get a sniff, and we haven't been able to change the momentum shift.

A couple of takes from Goody's presser. He mentioned that we've given up 4 goal leads in 7 games. And that we had to be more ruthless. That's a change from his post game presser against the Suns, when he said that we didn't need to score. Also mentioned that BBB is a goalkicker. Whilst our game is built around defense, I hope that the coaching dept have changed their thinking to a small degree, and realised that we need more avenues to goal. Melksham has added something to our forward line, and I hope he doesn't get dropped.

That's all well and good, but if you are fumbling, not winning the ball, and not a forward threat, then the coaching dept will make a call as to whether his defensive work outweighs his lack of offense. I like ANB, but wouldn't mind if he spent a couple of weeks at Casey to get his mojo back.

No way Sparrow gets dropped ahead of ANB. Harmes may well be the sub. Lions got caught out last week by having a tall as a sub.

That was my take. He was definitive about BBB playing, but said that Harmes is ready to go. I took that to mean that Harmes was available, rather than being in the team. But there's no VFL game for Casey. If Harmes comes in, I think it will be for ANB.

Every game in our run home has or will be a big game. And then we have finals. There's no pressure on JVR to star, he just needs to compete.

We are carrying Weid at the moment, and at least Zurhaar is a damaging forward. I'd pursue him big time. He's put contract talks on hold, which means he's thinking about his future. He's gettable.

Ha, ha. I was the same. When I messaged Demonstone, I said that I didn't think Marcus Whelan won a Brownlow.

Is that still a thing?

As unlikely to be part of a trade as Andy Bray, Serong or Young.

Different type of bread in the olden days. Modern day players are more your sourdough and multigrain, compared to your Tip Top white sliced of yesteryear.

What makes Max a great leader is how he can relate to players of different age and personality. Jack is more of an on-field "do as I do" type leader. Our leadership group seems to be made up of different types. Max stands alone, but I think Lever is the closest we have to Max. Jack and May are of the same ilk. They expect perfection to the point of being abrasive. Trac and Gus still need time before they're elevated to Capt or VC. And ANB is good in the leadership group, but long term I'm not sure if his position in the team is assured.

With the exception of Buddy and his long term deal, players of Mundy's age would probably be on year-to-year deals, with a mid tier base salary plus heavy incentives. Given how consistently great Mundy has been, he would still be earning good coin. No doubt that it frees up coin for Jackson.

Freo have 2 1st round picks (this year and next). We're not going to reject them because it's not optimum trade value. Jackson will nominate a club, and a deal will get done. Clubs and player managers are loathe to pull the PSD card.

It's says we had only 3 country zone players play 100 games. Would they be Lyon, Grinter and Tingay? Didn't Schwarz come from Sunbury which was part of the Riddell League?

How? He had 1 kick for a goal. His throw (handball) would be classified as a goal assist, but that's where it ends.

You haven't been watching the Suns play. Noah Anderson is a hell of a player. And if Touk is to win any awards, he deserves it on merit. Fantastic player.

We had a report from a poster saying that Goody and Max had met Grundy. If it's true, does Max really think that Jackson will stay? Max's intention is to take as much outside pressure off Jackson for the remainder of the year.

Correct, but that's not what Queanbeyan is saying. He thinks that it's a trade or nothing. There are other scenarios.

Not really. Max is just going with his heart. Max also said that it hadn't affected Jackson's football. Jackson hasn't been playing well since the conjecture has been at it's highest. Gus who has been playing well, admitted that the decision played on his mind. If Jackson has decided to stay, he'd sign asap and play with a clear mind.

What section are you looking at? All player contracts expire on the 31st October of their final year. Jackson is no longer a Melbourne player if he hasn't re-signed by that date.

Que? He's uncontracted. He can nominate for the draft or walk into the preseason draft.

The facepalm was for 2 reasons. Firstly, Jackson isn't worth Hayden Young and a first rounder, and Freo aren't trading away their guns who are locked in long term. Do you think we'll play some stupid game of putting in ambit claims? Our recent list management has always been about getting deals done, and moving on so that other deals can be brokered. Secondly, as I replied, there is no evidence that Jackson will re-sign for 2 years if we don't get what we want. Our best case scenario is that Jackson's management have told Freo that the Dees have been respectful to Jackson, and fair compensation is warranted. Two 1st rounders (both in the teens + steak knives) or a 1st round pick in the top 10 and a 2nd rd pick + steak knives. I've never known a club that's lost an uncontracted player that's "held the upper hand" in trade negotiations.