TeamPlayedFine39

Sometime the bumping of these threads are unnecessarily vindictive. I always love reading through them (especially ones where I haven't made a goose of myself.). It's great that people are willing to offer their opinions and no one is right every time. These threads are always a good read to put yourself back in the time and place and see how views change (some very quickly).

Wasn’t overly excited by his addition to the list last year until he put in a very, very good final game against Essendon. Some of his efforts to make contests were inspirational.

Anyone with plans ready to go are going to have state and federal governments throw money at them over the next 18 months. Hopefully we have a well developed plan in the wings or we may miss the stimulus-train.

I assume his management took the one year, while the cap is low, then will look for a real payday when he’s proven himself this year and next. If the economy improves by end of 2021, his next contract could be huge.

Is it overly simplistic to say that it’s the sad, lonely and unsuccessful that hold grudges against athletes who they somehow feel superior to..?

It's always a bit of a mystery why some players of limited ability are embraced by fans, whilst others become the subject of total derision. There's a fine line between 'cult favourite' and 'scapegoat'. Oscar wore way too much abuse over the years and became a scapegoat for many of the teams overall failings. It was almost comical at times the things he was blamed for - even when it wasn't his opponent, he wasn't even in that part of the ground. Every goal Melbourne would concede would somehow be pinned on OMac. Wish him all the best. Always a Demon!

I'm hoping that he stays and there's not a last minute fire sale like in 2012. Hopefully he can get a new lease on life over the preseason, get his body right, drop some pounds and move down back again. This would completely free up Lever and offer May to play a more attacking role as well.

Must be awesome to be 200cm tall.

Due to where he sits in the pecking order at Melbourne, there will always be a perception that Brayshaw is gettable and it wouldn't surprise me if he's inquired about quite often.

The Gorringe comparison is pretty close to the mark. Someone on Demonland commented a while ago that if Wright didn't have a catchy nickname, no one would know who he has. A mature age, key position forward who can't get a game with a bottom of the table team. He's very, very overrated when you look at his onfield output.

I would be shocked if all four were fit at the same time tbh. Take this year for example, you could probably count on one hand the times Brown, Jackson, Weideman and McDonald were all fit and firing at the same time. Depth is always a good thing and I'd also be happy to see McDonald spend a preseason as a Key Defender.

Not sure how I feel about Sparrow. Hasn’t had a huge amount of opportunity due to his own injury issues and the general health of the list in 2020. Coaches seem to rate him and he seems to be building up to the pace of the game at senior level. Encouragingly, he does get to the right spots and has the ability to find and accumulate a bit of the footy. Hasn’t had a ‘wow’ moment yet, but is still young, light and seemingly playing outside of his preferred role.

You've only put from 6th to 15th. Look at the star-studded 1-5 for Pressure Acts this year! We already have number one, so if we can get Jonathan Marsh or Max Lynch into the team, the 2021 cup is as good as ours!

Jack Riewoldt laid 27 tackles from 21 games in 2020. Tom Lynch laid 23 tackles from 19 games in 2020. Definitely not elite pressure numbers. Big men have a role to play, but it's secondary to making aerial contests and kicking goals.

If memory serves correctly, Cameron gave Tom Boyd a parting swipe on Twitter for leaving the Giants. Not unhappy to see this turn a little bit bumpy for him.

He’s a great player when fit. He’s somewhat mentally fragile but is one of the few current forwards who can tear a game apart in minutes. Definitely worth a first round pick.

Not that we needed it after the events of 2008-12, but more proof of the benefits of having senior players to guide the young/inexperienced.

No hard feelings to Smith from me; I think we may have dodged a bullet on this one. The end comes quickly for outside pacey players and I don’t think he has close to three years left in him.

Will be very interested to see where he trains over summer. Last preseason was with the forwards but there is also a spot up for grabs at CHB.

Was glad to see him get a bit of a run toward the end of the year. There’s a player there if he can have some luck with injuries and a real crack at the preseason.

You judge a trade by what you pay vs what you get in return. Bugg, Wagner, McKenna, Mitchie and Balic were all steak knives, late picks and DFAs. They didn’t come off, but we also gave up next to nothing for them. Kennedy was a poor trade, but we were being held over a barrel on that one anyway.

Was it he and his father that told recruiters that he'd only play for Essendon?

Yep. You can add Hibberd and Melksham to the list too. We’ve done alright getting the players we’ve been after the last few years.

A fun read! I like this time of year when the rumours run thick and fast. Whilst I’m sure many/most won’t pan out, none of them seem outside of the realms of possibility. Sounfs like Sydney are very keen on getting a tall forward in.

It’s easy to say something is a mistake, without offering an alternative. It doesn’t make you ‘right’ it makes you a cynic.