G-max

They could end up with Geelong's first round pick this year and next.

Yep, Brayshaw led MFC in goal assists with 17. Next was Hogan 12, Watts 11, Garlett 10. Finished third at MFC in total tackles with 99, behind only Viney 105 and Bernie with 101. Jonesy had 95. Also third in Inside 50s with 62 behind only Jones and Bernie. Interesting stat, Gus had 24 frees for, but only 8 frees against. Anyway, this was one of the highlights for me, as a couple have already mentioned: This snap for goal on the run vs North has also been mentioned already. Another great moment:

Zero expectations for him but really hoping he can get healthy. 2013 - Two wins, Mark Neeld, Terlich 3rd in the B&F, M. Jones 4th. Also, still on the list were Jordie McKenzie, David Rodan, Sam Blease, James Strauss, Josh Tynan, Daniel Nicholson, Tom Gillies, James Sellar, Michael Evans, Dom Barry, Luke Tapscott, Troy Davis, Rory Taggert, Rohan Bail. And Dean Terlich and Matt Jones. Trenners will come back in to a very different team.

Not really a fair comparison, since as a general rule defenders have a much better disposal efficiency than midfielders. If you don't believe me check this out: http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2015&rt=LT&st=EP Top ranking mids that I could find: 80.4% - Ryan Griffen (and he's 78th overall on footywire, 108th on AFL.com.au). 78.1% - Gary Ablett Jnr 76.7% - David Zaharakis 76.6% - Brendan Goddard 76.4% - Pendlebury 76.0% - Lachie Neale 75.4% - Callan Ward Some notable low efficiency mids: 69.3% - Fyfe 69.2% - Selwood 68.1% - Luke Parker 66.3% - Marc Murphy 63.1% - Trent Cotchin 62.1% - Dion Prestia 58.6% - Jack Ziebell It makes sense that a defender who is usually calmly picking out a target with relatively low defensive pressure would be more effective than an inside midfielder who is digging the ball out at stoppage and throwing it on his boot roughly in the direction of goal. I haven't watched the Bummers enough to know where Melksham plays (inside mid? outside mid? forward?) but his disposal is average. Of his 16.4 disposals, 10.4 are uncontested and 5.9 are contested.

Time for Bernie to do some recruiting. Some words from Goodwin wouldn't go astray.

The info about Melksham's contract was probably leaked to the media by Melksham's agent. It doesn't even mean it's been verbally agreed upon, it could just have been the asking price at the start of the conversation. "We discussed a 4 year $400k contract." Probably doesn't mention the part where Melbourne responded with "f**k that!"

Technically speaking we're all members of a Demons "board". Myself personally, I'm also on the board of multiple clubs over at Big Footy. Is it a silent H? As in row-vat. Seems awkward to pronounce. Other than that I'm keen.

Landsberger inferred that Melksham is a "classy midfielder": http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-trades-2015-brisbane-says-stefan-martin-not-up-for-trade/story-fnp04d70-1227530666544?utm_content=SocialFlow

Couldn't believe how many times he "took off" out of a defensive stoppage only to be caught holding the ball. At 28 he is on the downward slope and his line breaking days are behind. Not a good sign of his footy smarts that he didn't recognise his limitations and adjust. Would not expect to see a redux of "Lumumba the midfielder" next season. Don't recall that ever working. - Needs to drop 5-10kg. Looked slow and heavy. - Needs to lay off the bongs. - Season highlight was his goal against GCFC. - On a more positive note, at least he didn't make any stupid speeches.

Character issues aside, Bennell is a sell-low option for GCFC at the moment so MFC are wise to back out. The Suns are probably asking too much and while there are teams sniffing around they will wait for a bite. We have trade chips if their asking price drops.

I liked what I saw of Dwyer so my ears pricked up when I read he had been delisted. Then I read that he's 29 and was recruited as a 26 year-old.

Looks like we're being used as leverage again. I hope we're building up credit with agents with all of these stories about us being linked to players. Anytime an agent needs one of their players re-signed they come to Melbourne, we publicly express interest and soon afterwards they re-sign with their club. I'm probably giving our list management more credit than they're due, but this is how things work in the NBA. Rather than being a [censored] bag to agents we build a positive relationship which comes in handy when we negotiate with any of their players who we actually want. A quick survey of Essendon supporters at work: "Go ahead, take him..."

Half the player though. Very patchy form, regularly disappears from entire games throughout the season.

The Dees have really Jetta-son'd their opportunities this season. We've Gawn and Dunn what only Melbourne could do. Like a Neal-Bullen a China shop. Howe this could happen time and again is Watts really disappointing. I'm con-Vince'd we'll never shut the Dawes on these dark years. We've Cross'd the line with the self-Harmes Sundays. It really Grimes my gears. We're all Terlich'ing our lips hoping we'll be Bail'd out in trade week but even that's a Stretch. So Brayshaw selves, the Hunt is on. Let's hope we can Petracca good midfielder down. If we Kent, I'll be drin-King a slab of Frost-ies to numb the pain and there will be some Michie trigger fingers on Demonland.

Yeah stuff this I was all prepared for us to get smashed in the first quarter and never be in the contest. Instead they give us a sniff. A couple of rough final quarters against Collingwood and St Kilda have conditioned me to expect the worst.

We love to hate Dawes but he's looked better today than earlier in the season. Loved how he busted through those tackles and handed off to Garlett. He clearly hasn't been healthy, whether from injury or lack of conditioning but he can be an important 2nd / 3rd big. Probably not worth the $500k or whatever we have to pay him each year.

Smart little kick across the goals there from ANB.

If only Spencer could hold a mark like Gawn. He must have dropped 4 or 5 so far.

Some Photoshop handy work.

To be honest I will be gutted if ANB doesn't get a run. Perfect game for him to wear the green vest. Then rest him against Geelong and give him some more run at Casey. He'll get a feel for the pace of AFL footy and can go back and work on his game. Would also like to see Stretch in the mix.

Just a reminder of our injuries: Salem, Kent, JKH, Frost, Dawes, vandenBerg, Garland. All of them besides Dawes and JKH have to be in our best 22. That's after significant time without Tyson, Viney and Jetta. Throw in long term injuries to Trengove and 'Trac. Brutal season so far.

Nice work team. Analysed the bejesus out of that Watts' mark attempt.

I'm done with Lumumba trying to break out of a pack only to get tackled. Does that give anyone else the shits?

Speaking of 'Trac... I found this on Trenners Instagram a couple of weeks ago: https://instagram.com/p/2iJz8_je9-/?taken-by=jtren9