TeamPlayedFine39

I rate him very highly as a player and was wrapped when he came to the club as he possess the polish and outside-skill that we've been missing. It's very concerning to see the effect that some fairly innocuous knocks have had on him.

We've had Leading Teams in on a few occasions I believe, even as far back as Neeld era. They were in over the 2016 pre-season, we then hired their facilitator (Jim Plunkett) as our General Manager, People Performance & Culture at the end of the year. So 'Leading Teams' philosophy has been there for the last three seasons. https://www.leadingteams.net.au/jim-plunkett-join-dees/ https://www.leadingteams.net.au/leading-teams-at-the-melbourne-football-club-pre-season-camp/

Moloney and Sylvia.

Would this be our first free agent signing since Shannon Byrnes?

Hore is a very good mature-age pick-up. Goodwin seemed reluctant to play him and Lever in the same backline, so hopefully there’s a role for him down there in the future. Lockhart did exceptionally well for someone with no AFL preseason or conditioning. To step straight in and play as well as he did, showed he’s got some talent and heart. No surprises that he ran out of puff though. All the kids... was good for three of them to get some games experience. We’ll know more in 2 years.

I’m really struggling watching on the TV. How could the two clubs not want to fix this??

Is this true? I’ve heard it mentioned but no idea where it comes from. Clubs are in contact with dozens of players during the year; is the suggestion that we never once spoke with him?

He's a bit of an enigma - definitely an untapped talent with all the makings of a very good player. To this stage, he has been comfortably 'good'. I've been keen for us to go after him as a free agent as he would add some much needed class and run to our side. The concern is that in 8 seasons, he's never really cemented a position on the ground. He's played forward, back and wing with some success, but has lacked the consistency and ball-winning ability to be considered a top player. Reminds me a little bit of Jack Watts in that regard.

Ha! That’s a stretch. "Personally, I weighed up a lot, and eventually found some perspective," Jones told the Melbourne website.

Jeebus, it’s not a race. And I suggest if we’re looking for role-models for how to run a club, Adelaide should be close to last on that list.

Very good player. If we spilt the pick, would very happily hand one of them over for him.

A full forward who averages 1 goal and 1 tackle per game? Sign me up!

Yes, they were excellent - no one can argue with that.

Hawthorn hasn’t won a final in four years. The players they’ve brought in are nowhere near the talent that has left. Those that are comparable, are injury prone. They were immense from 2007-15, but their rebuild is a myth and nothing to aspire to. Jones is playing one more year. This is exactly what the club did with Vince in 2018 and Lewis in 2019. There’s no shock or surprise here.

Source for No.5? Also, if Viney is as bad a player as you claim he is, we’d be lucky to get pick 60... May as well keep him then.

My post was saying that Hawthorn made a mistake in cutting Hodge. It was in response to a poster saying we should do what Hawthorn did. Hawthorn acted in haste.

No- it’s one error being viewed in isolation. Cyril Rioli had Hawthorn’s last possession in the 2011 prelim. Turnover. Hawthorn lose by 3 points. Rioli is a terrible player.

Nathan Jones is 31. Hodge is 35. Mitchell was 34 when he left Hawks. Roughead is 32. Lewis is 33. Hawks only wanted to move on one of Lewis and Mitchell as they went 1 and 2 in their BnF the year they left. It was to relieve the salary cap. Both could have easily played on and made the Hawks best 22. Roughead was cooked 12 months ago. Completely cooked. Hawthorn kept him on the list for leadership and because of what he means to the club and supporters. Hodge has clearly been a huge part of Brisbane’s success. Who would you rather have young players look up to- Luke Hodge or Ben ‘pinchy’ Stratton. Hawthorn erred in cutting all 3 at the same time; their list is running on fumes and their half-rebuild is being papered over by Clarkson’s nous. Jones is younger than all of them and is playing better football.

#closethread "Absolutely not," Scully said when asked whether the thought of getting rich from GWS's entry into the AFL had entered his head. "There's been no approach (from GWS), absolutely not. "I've got absolutely nothing to hide, and I thought I should come out and say something. "I love the club, I love my team-mates and I want to be part of the future going ahead at the Melbourne footy club. "I'd love to end my career a one-club player, and I anticipate that will be the case." Tom Scully on contractual status #keepthreadopen

Below are all the specialist small forwards selected in the All Australian Team for the last 10 years (excluding resting mid-fielders). It would seem that predicting a champion small forward would be the hardest of any specialist position on the ground. Charlie Cameron (Rookie Draft) Michael Walters (53) Luke Breust (Rookie Draft) Robbie Gray (55) Eddie Betts (Pre-Season) Toby Greene (11) Cyril Rioli (12) Hayden Ballantyne (21) Chad Wingard (6) Stephen Milne (Rookie) Mark LeCras (37) Paul Chapman (31) Steve Johnson (24)

Tomlinson is a walk-up start to our best 22. I am happy to go after any available player that makes our team better.

Agree that pace (and power) is essential at the top level, but I've never heard Young being described as 'slow'. I've only really heard this being focused on when he is compared with Lachie Ash, who has blistering pace.

Agree 100% with the last part of your post - always take best player available. Of course the flow-on benefit of this could be Salem making the move to the midfield, or simply a significant improvement in our ball movement when exiting the back half. Both of these would be a huge improvement for us.

Where are all the ‘legends’? Even... really good players???

Damien Barret: “I know that there are 3 MFC stars that are going to request a trade in the coming week, the club will post a massive financial loss, key sponsors are fleeing the club, everyone hates the Viney family and Simon Goodwin is going to be sacked before his new contract even starts... I won’t actually write any of this though, I’ll just post a little cryptic note on my weekly run-down.”