deanox

Engagement!

I can't say I've watched lots of game minutes, but from what I've seen, the following has stood out: He marks the ball at a high point in his leap (a bit like Weid, so probably the source of comparisons) and looks like with a bit more size/strength he'll be a great mark. He has a knack for finding goals. Some are out the back. Some are from loose positions away from his man. But I actually think it's really important that he knows how to create that space and positioning, that he knows how to be a threat through uncontested work. Because when you add the size and strength and contested work to that, he'll do both. A bit like Tom Lynch does.

Amazing kick on this bloke, but fitness is probably the thing holding him back. I think he came from a long way back in that regards, so unsure if it is just that he needs longer to build his tank, or if he has a lower ceiling than typical of elite footballers? If he can make strides in his fitness over this preseason, he might earn another year or two on the list so we can see what he's got.

Yeah for me this trade broke even. In fact with Gawn out for a while, having Grundy probably was key to making the top 4. And the trade had so much potential upside that it was absolutely worth the gamble. Pity we didn't quite find a way to make it work later in the year.

My guess is Brisbane had Wotherspoon lined up at 15 (or 21 or 22) and we knew she wouldn't be there at 23. Most critical part of the draft now, hoping that Rigoni slips past our next pick.

She looks so good in those highlights, long kick, accurate snaps, good agility. I really think Pisano fills a need in our forward line.

We also farewelled Ivy, Johnson and Fowler. So I'm seeing that as 8 players out, 1 in for 7 list spots (assuming everyone else re-signs). We've got 4 top 40 draft picks and pick 74. Are we looking at adding a couple of delisted free agents?

Well looks like Gay is out and Lily Johnson from PA is in, just need to hear what picks we got.

If you are looking for more questions, I'd like to know: 1. Where he sees himself playing his footy long term i.e. as a permanent forward, as a HFF with occasional bursts in the midfield, or eventually transfering to being a primary midfielder who pushes forward (ala Track)? 2. How he has found the fitness demands of the first few pre seasons sessions? For example, he ran top 10 2km TT at the draft combine (6.17), how does that place him at the MFC?

We paid pick 8, 48 and Ashleigh Guest for Birch.

When we pick up Darcy as a free agent at the end of this year, after he chooses to leave because they brought Jackson in, the scales will be firmly tilted in our favour.

Is that Cameron Schwab's new desk?

Please direct any enquiries through @Binmans PA.

We are already a bit of a pantomime with the villains and heros etc.

Fantastic analysis. One thing that isn't considered here is other types of moves: - players moving away from their home state - players moving from an "interstate club" to another "interstate club" and not going home It would be interesting to see if the "go home" factor is any more statistically significant than these other types of moves. I imagine the clubs have done this analysis, understand the likelihood and also have an understanding of factors that may affect a players decision to stay in one place longer term. I wish AFL journalists would present this kind of analysis in an article, rather than published opinion pieces around go home factor.

They are already a partner.

Plus an uncle-son in Pickett.

I feel something like this is a good step for f/d, f/s and academy picks but also the wording here makes me worried. If you hold pick 13 and you use it, and the player is drafted with pick 14-18 (end of first round) do you: a) miss out, because you don't have a live pick in that round? Or b) Have the ability to match because you had a pick in the round? If b) it seems to defeat the purpose and if a) the system seems very hard to navigate. I'd suggest something like: "Payment must include a pick within 1 round (18 picks) of the selection" or "Must hold a pick in the round where the selection is made. If that pick has already been used, must hold a pick in the subsequent round."

Also considering we technically drafted him injured, it would be a pretty good loophole!

I think the purpose is for the logo to be an contrast to the club colours. It needs to stand out. That's why Hertz choose to sponsor us and not the tigers, where the logo would blend in.

I think on reflection we tend to remember the end of Cales time with us instead of the start. He played 40 games in his first 2 years (2008 and 2009), averaging 18 and 23 disposals on the wing. We were wooden spooners both years, not much going on for development. In March 2010 (preseason) he did a PCL keeping him out for nearly 3 months. He only played 10 games that year. Late in the 2011 preseason he tore a finger tendon and missed 2 months. He only played 14 games that year, struggling for form. But who didn't? The year featured 186 (Morton didn't play) and the coach was sacked mid year. I recall in 2011 that we had shifted him to the HBF instead of the wing, presumably to learn more accountability, but it didn't gel. He was always at his best as an attacking winger. Anyway, enter Mark Neeld, who does not have a track record of developing young players at Melbourne. In 2012 Morton continued to struggle, before a season ending shoulder injury. We traded him to WCE but I think his confidence was shot. In a different environment, Cale Morton played a lot more games.

I'd suggest we identified wing and half forward as an area we really need to improve. Maybe it's about *gasp* forward connection. We don't know what will be available at the draft so we traded for Shane McAdam who can play as a medium forward, take marks and kick goals. He's 28 and hopefully will have an immediate impact. But he has a ceiling that we know. We also pick up Billings cheap. It's a dice roles. If his body holds up we know what he offers at his best. At the draft we pick up two kids who we hope can have impact in the short term, but realistically have 3-5 years before they hit their straps, like all kids. Tholstrop is a high half forward, with great endurance and agility, like ANB, but also super strong in the contest, a better kick. His ceiling is a player that is a bit of an ANB/Petracca hybrid. And we add Windsor, a winger with burst pace and great skills. Plus the ability to kick at pace. He'll start in the rotations, HFF, HBF, wing. I expect they see him as an upgrade on Jordan with potential to take Hunters spot on the wing.

We lost the same amount of finals in 2023 that we played in the period of 2003 to 2017 inclusive. Yes I'm disappointed we didn't win and I think we should have done better. But I'd rather have a team I can enjoy watching, who competes pretty well, that what we've had in the past.

I agree it's not a good idea. But I believe our coaches have shown repeatedly they value dominant rucks and don't value fill in rucks. We don't have a second ruck, the list management team didn't see it as a high priority (or at least not one they could fill). Schache, Fullarton, Verall are the only options as a ruck if Gawn goes down. I can't see them putting the trust in one of those as a permanent ruck, can you?

If I was WCE, in the mock draft I'd do a live pick swap to trade out pick 1. Testing the software of course.