deanox

He fills a spot, if not on the bench on our best 22, but in the next ~4. So given injuries and form, I expect him to play 10-15 games next year. Normally, cycling players at that level is a good thing, with developing kids taking his place. So to trade him out for an average pick in a normal year world be ok, on balance. But unnless we are bringing in 2-3 more best 22 players than we lose (meaning he is pushed even further down the list), then I think he is worth more to us than a 3rd round pick in a comprimised draft with limited exposed form. I'd happy trade him if it was part of a deal that brought in a better player.

I wasn't saying we planned to use two rucks, I was saying I think we told him we had that plan. I remember reading a quote from Preuss about having a conversation with Goodwin about playing two rucks. I can't get past the paywall buy the blurb on google suggests there may be quotes here. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/max-gawn-likes-idea-of-north-melbournes-braydon-preuss-joining-him-at-the-demons/news-story/ce9af9644fec250e8dd97f32736be73f

He came because we discussed playing two rucks. We got him because we had a bumper 2018 and needed cover in 2019 in case Gawn went down. Unfortunately he has been injured, or coming back from injury most of the times we needed him. Now we have Jackson has proved capable of holding his own, and we've probably decided that we'd rather play him as first ruck (for development) than Preuss, then Preuss became expendable.

We have a massive list of unsigned players, and have had no action on then all year. I suspect that we have been waiting on 2021 list sizes and salary cap discussion before committing to anything. If I was Jack, regardless of where I wanted to play I would test the open market. I might not take a pay rise, I might not even use it to bargain, but why give up free information at the negotiating table, or the chamce of a freak once in a lifetime contract that just might tempt you? I'd suspect he either has a contract or a ballpark in front of him, but we are all on hold.

On points this is the equivalent of Preuss for pick 27. That isn't unreasonable even if it may be a bit overs. You could justify it like that.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/510958 In 2019, the avers she player wage was more than $401,000 for players who featured at AFL. Average, not median, but it gives an understanding of what types of salaries we are talking, when you consider that the bottom 6 are going to be on <$150k (rookies are on ~$80k, minimum wage for a 3rd year player (so bottom level journeyman is about $110k both plus match fees). I think it's fair to say about 10-12 players in each team well be above the $400k mark.

Great post. I know Oliver is an "inside mid" but he is super capable on the outside. He has good acceleration into space, his run and carry is good, he is a creative handball and he is an excellent kick (when he has time and when he is concentrating, I know he shanks some, but his best is top class). Playing on the outside doesn't necessarily mean soft, loose, receiver on the wing. Petracca does both. The best mids do (Dangerfield, Bont, Judd etc. are all capable winning ball and using ball). But it was only this year that Oliver started doing this. We saw his game morph this year from purely inside and handballing out, to trying to kick and shanking, to accelerating out of the contest and delivering it. If that development trend continues, he will probably learn to play with Viney a bit better, particularly with respect to first touch posessions around the contest.

Looking forward to it!

I'd happy give them 62 and 63 as well. Thag means they only lose about 200 draft points for a 1st grade (capable) ruckman while we lose picks we aren't going to use but gain an early 2nd rounder. Win win. We would have 22, 23, 83 etc Usually we need to take 3 picks at the draft, including rookie upgrades (with list sizes reducing that could be cut to 2). Either way, we have Lockhart, Brown and Bennell as potential upgrades. We can use pick 83+ on those. So if we upgrade one rookie, we use both 22 and 23 at the draft. If we upgrade two rookies, we can use 22 and trade 23 for a player.

Ah so you must rate ANB? These stats are from the essendon game but are pretty consistent: ANB is regularly listed in the top 5 on ground for fastest average speed, faster in attack and defence, most distance moved at high speed, number of sprints and repeat sprints. Fwiw I agree with you about these things being more important than top speed, and I'm taking the [censored] RE ANB a bit: this is his strength and why he gets picked, and I don't think he is as bad as others make out, but he doesnt do enough other stuff well enough which is why he is on the fringe.

I think smaller or larger list sizes would work, but right now we are in an awkward spot. Make it a senior squad of 32, and a development squad that fills the reserve league: allow interchanges between the 2 squads on long term injuries or at set windows (e.g. 3 times during the year). Alternatively make the lists 55 and field a senior and reserves team from the list. The current list size means you have a "best 26" and then a developing squad of kids not really ready and a handful of journey plugs to fill gaps where needed. This means that our main product (the AFL) is not always the best players possible. It also means that the reserves comps aren't as strong as they could be: many players who would genuinely be in the next best players in the country aren't on AFL lists (they aren't developing) and they don't play for the reserves comp. I think bringing them back in the fold would actual speed up development of juniors at reserves level, and also ensure that all players in the 22 have earnt their spot. If you aren't drafted at 18, and haven't developed by 21, you are virtually lost to the system. IMO the problem is the AFLPA. While they should be trying to get living wages for as many players as possible, they seem more focused on getting the most money for the elite players at the expense of the rest.

He has been rubbish since he went on the IPA podcast.

Not having a seconds comp had made it very hard for him to find firm, confidence and learn what the coaches want.

Similar: discount on academy or f/s could decrease with ladder percentage. Although I think 20% is too much.

You can do a couple of easy things to fix this though. Top 4 sides could lose their next pick after the compensation when recruiting a FA (ie say PA win the GF, if PA recruit someone from Essendon and Essendon get an end of first round compensation pick, then PA lose their second round pick. If PA have traded that pick out in advance then they lose the equivalent points worth from their prior pick. So Essendon gain 19 (end of first round), PA lose 37 (their second round pick), or if they have already traded their second round pick in a previous year, then pick 18 (their previous pick) is reduced by 483 points (the value of pick 37), and becomes pick 36. Then top 4 sides still pay significantly under market value, but they can't double dip. In addition, then could allow the bottom 6 to have a marginal increase in salary cap for a year (say 2% or $200k). That will help them retain or attract FA's as well. It would definitely help even out the comp, which should be the aim of the AFLPA: so that all players have a chance of winning a flag in their career no matter where they are dragged.

Nah Polec got him on the arm/elbow and started to wrap, but Shoey shrugged his arm up.

The salary balances out if we trade TMac for him. Both need a scenery change, both on big money in the reserves. If we think Polac offers us more than TMac then its an easy decision. If we think TMac can get back to his best, then it's not a good deal.

Gee watching that in slow motion, the decision is outrageous.

I'd love them to push it to 24-26 games by playing mid week games and having 5-6 days breaks the norm, and an occassional 10 day "bye". At 26 you play 9 teams twice, much better than 5 and more likely to even the field rather than have a couple of teams get lucky with fixtures. At 26 there is more requirement for all Vic teams to do a share of interstate travel. More games with a functioning reserves comp should result in a bit more squad rotation to manage fatigue, which forces clubs to try and hold on better players who aren't in their best 22, instead of cutting for kids repeatedly. We'd also see more fringe players and kids get a few games. I like mid week footy when it's consistently on.

And (according to the officially announced info) 20 of the 44 players still don't have contracts for next year.

Mellsham had a terrible year. I have no idea why he kept getting games. He shouldn't have ever been captain. But I don't know how you can take from this that the other coaches don't rate Melksham, but Goody played favourites so he stayed in. What evidence is there that this decision was his alone? Do you think the captaincy was soley Goodwin's call and not supported by the other coaches?

You go and spend 12 weeks locked up with your work mates and your boss. And your bosses boss. And all the support staff whose jobs it is to micromamage every aspect of your life. No escape, no break. And then at the final hurdle, the group of you screw it up and ruin all 12 weeks of work. They lost a game. For you it might be blow the tender or the sale or the project fails. Then, less then 24 hours after it is officially blown, on the day before you can finally leave the hub, you are forced together into a camp kitchen for a partipation award ceremony. You've failed, your opponents are playing next week, these awards are kinda nice but they don't matter. It's possibly held during the day, in polo shirts, like some weird school assembly. You're each given a glass of yellowglen (no one was drinking beer) and you toast the winner like it's his wddding. Normally the bnf is a few weeks after the season. Players have processed. They've had time apart, they get together to celebrate the year. This wasn't that. It's not a party, it's not a celebration, it's the end of the hub. Don't read into it.

Yep exactly. Even when we go with small/mid forwards they are ineffective in this area. You might get away with it if you are the inside 50 goal assist master Melksham was in 2018, but otherwise you need to pressure. I actually think that's why ANB gets so much of a run. He is better than almost any others in that area.

1. Petracca 2. Oliver 3. Langdon 4. May 5. Viney 6. Salem 7. Gawn 8. Lever 9. Fritsch 10. Hibberd 11. Brayshaw Jmac (esprit de corps): VDB Ball (best young player): Pickett RBJ (leadership): May

Melkshams shocking year really didn't help either. If you think about it, we started with Pickett, ANB, Spargo, Bedford, Melksham and Fritsch in that forward line, trying to create the pressure. It clearly didn't work: perhaps they aren't manic enough? Perhaps they were too inexperienced playing together and couldn't set up right? Perhaps it was because we bombed it long to smalls?