TeamPlayedFine39

Take these stories with a grain of salt, but that is absurd money being offered if true. I rate Polec as a player, but only Nth Melbourne values him that highly.

Oliver has already become a much greater player than I ever thought he could be. He’ll be the best player in the league sooner rather than later. Brownlows though are fickle things and I’d rather have 3-4 players capable of winning one like Brisbane (Voss, Akermanis, Black) West Coast (Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Cox) than one standout player like Judd at Carlton or Fyfe at Freo.

I thought for a first game back he was great and didn’t notice what some perceived as a lack of pace. He’s always struck me as a natural footballer above all else and I think he adds a unique element to our line-up. His strength and physicality will be needed against a battle hardened Swans. As some others have suggested, I think he stays, with JKH making way for Melksham.

Currently on the same team as Hamish Brayshaw. He’s got some uncomfortable conversations ahead of him whichever way he turns.

Disgusting. Should not play again this season, regardless of finals results. I can’t bear the ‘good bloke’ or ‘not a thug’ excuses. This act cancels out any of that instantly.

How exactly does a ‘side trade’ work? Is it inferring that we’d trade a ‘promising young mid’ to them on the cheap, in return for them allowing us to take Gaff as a free agent?

I love a good trade hypothetical thread, but I feel that people should add ‘How we’d get said player...’ to their suggestions. There are many suggestions here that are in no way realistic if we didn’t trade out Hogan, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw or Gawn.

He’d be cheap and a risk (and a ‘realistic target’.). FWIW, I believe there is a place for all shapes and sizes on a modern football field and a ‘gorilla’ would have been pretty handy at Kardinia Park last weekend.

Kieran Collins from the Bulldogs may be worth a look as a cheap pick-up at the end of the year. He got a one year extension last year, but may be cut or traded at the end of 2018. Three years in and form and injuries have kept him to just the one game, but was excellent as a KPD at Under 18 and is a big bodied defender. Still only 20 years old.

Great awareness and vision in close coupled with an excellent side-step and lateral movement- has the makings of a very good midfielder. May or may not play out the season in the 1st (fatigue, injury, etc.) but I’ve seen enough to be excited about 2020+.

Star? Yes. Legend..? Great of the game..? Greatest ever small forward..? (all terms being dealt out like candy today) Not by a long, long way. I've heard a few times from commentators over the years, and Fox Footy ran with it again this morning, that he does the most damage with the least possessions of any player in the history of the game. It's just a laughable way of excusing the fact that he was able to get very few possessions in a game. 189 matches - ZERO 30 possession games and only got over (got over 25 only 4 times). Who would do more damage with 10 kicks... Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett snr., Hudson, Coleman... or Cyril Rioli???

Very good player but the ridiculous hyperbole online today is insane. It’s turning him into some sort of mythical, superhuman player that many wanted him to be, but he simply never was.

Exactly. Whilst Oscar's game on the weekend wasn't great, he's had a fantastic season as our no 1 key defender. One match does not undo his great work through the course of the year. We saw him beaten by Cox v Collingwood, but Cox will do that to most defenders if there is no third man up or little midfield pressure being put on the person delivering the ball to advantage. The Footage Lyon shared on Fox illustrated there was little pressure being applied to the StKilda ball carrier when they got into space, KPD are going to struggle to cover this 100% of the time.

Hope he lights it up! Too much talent and commitment to not be able to play some sort of role at AFL level.

Form lines never work in football, but let’s bear in mind that we played a very close, finals-like match against a team that beat Richmond at home a couple of weeks back. We’re playing some good footy, just need to find consistency against in-form teams. FWIW- I did a ladder predictor Thursday afternoon and by Thursday night it was already wrong after Essendon beat WCE. Impossible to see how the 8 will pan out at this stage.

I think he’s a gun and Freo wouldn’t part with him easily. If he’s wanting to come home though, I’d be very happy to see us pursue him.

I can’t imagine a scenario in which he wouldn't be a band one... He’s young (turned 26 yesterday) he’s playing well (at least in AA squad at this stage) he’ll get a long contract, and he’ll be on good money. They’ll get band one, unfortunately for them, they look like finishing near the top of the ladder so they would only get a pick somewhere in the 15-18 range.

4 new pages to this thread today... anyone would have thought there was some Gaff news...

I did forget about him! At 204cm and a lot of power in the genes from his mum and dad, he'll hopefully come along in 4-5 years.

The ruck situation is a worry, with both of our developing or 'project' ruckmen being on the 'could go either way' list. Hopefully there's some unsighted potential there and we can keep at least one of them on and look to trade in a mature ruck to help out. It's looking very thin below Gawn and we need King or Filipovic to show something in the second half of the season.

There was 'crazy' talk a month or son ago about Murphy possibly being offered big money that could earn the Blues and band 1 or 2 compensation pick. That would be insanity for any club to pay overs for Murphy. With that said, Murphy could opt for two years at a successful or 'verge of success' club on a small contract - essentially trading the cash for success. If he was willing to come to us on such a contract, then I'd be happy to have him. (But I very much doubt he'd leave)

When it was announced by the AFL that PJ was coming into the club, I was disgusted that a former Essendon boss was putting his grubby paws on my beloved club... I’ve never been more wrong. I'm prepared to give former Fitzroy fullback Gary Pert a go.

The media at the time reported it was for Petracca.

It was Brayshaw. (tennis)

FWIW, I have been told they were trading up to get Brayshaw.