Watts the matter

5 hours ago, skills32 said:

There's a fair bit of Clayton about this guy.

In what way? He hardly won a contested ball the whole video. I saw Spargo myself.

11 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I know they've been tracking them for years but how could they confidently say next year's crop will be better when the last exposed form they have on these kids is as 16yos?

It's not based on form, more that they think not as many draft picks will be used this year and some players that didn't get the chance to show their improvement as a top ager this year will be in next years crop along with the normal talent pool. 

22 hours ago, Pollyanna said:

I suspect we wanted to trade 18 and 19 for one of Essendon's 3 top 10 picks.

So they could offer a top 10 and 18 for Dunkley.

Thanks would have been the ideal outcome IMO.

Now it's messy.

Not a chance. Given the bulldogs picks would just get eaten up by a bid at pick 1 this would never work. I highly doubt we were expecting that.

8 hours ago, Beetle said:

Staggered that anyone could question the acquisition of a former Coleman medalist for the potential exchange of a second round pick. 

The comments about his hair are really cool too. 

No one has done that (as Brown has never won the Coleman). People have questioned the recruitment of Brown who kicked 8 goals in 9 games this season and takes considerable salary cap space.

As long as we are offloading McDonald I am happy enough with a deal for a second rounder.

9 minutes ago, BScotti said:

Skinner was apparently going to be a superstar when picked up #12 in draft. Very highly thought of.  2 knee reco's thereafter.  still hghly regarded at both ends of the ground.  Might be a reasonable SPP pick up for KK.

Think you've got the wrong guy. He was pick #12 in the rookie draft when he was redrafted. He was a speculative tall when drafted at pick 47.

19 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Won't be at Freo next year.

Sydney a potential destination for him.

 

Is that based on his lawyer or something else?

1 hour ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Unsure if this will surprise others as much as it did myself but Browns contested mark % stacks up against most of the key power forwards. I have always thought of him primarily as a leading mark (which would straighten us up). He also averages the highest “frees for” of key forwards. 

I watched his 2019 highlights on YouTube and was very unimpressed with the amount of soft free kicks he got. When you consider the umpires put the whistle away in the finals it's not the way you want to be getting them.

Darcy Moore thinks he's Sam Frost tonight

4 minutes ago, Soidee said:

Having watched Petracca develop into an elite player under Burgess, I now think Burgo should do the same with Brayshaw.  Get him super fit and to the level he should be.  IMHO.

You realise he can't run? Won't be happening this pre season.

13 minutes ago, bing181 said:

"Bennell’s partner Amy Crellin, who is pregnant, and his young daughter Carter, had already returned to Perth."

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/former-coach-ross-lyon-pledges-for-harley-bennell-support-amid-return-to-wa-ng-b881682358z

That does not confirm it was before the incident like  @redleg was implying. @McQueen

27 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

Cotchin tackle... would be 2 weeks for ANB

That was shocking, incredibly dangerous and Cotchin always seems to get away with it.

12 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

Cripps to Freo

Fyfe & Freo 1st rnd pick Melb

Oliver to Carl

Ross Lyon MFC head Coach

Imagine that absolute madness.

I think every team involved would be upset with that trade.

22 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Witherden - stats for small half back defender. 

Kicking - elite 

Kicking efficiency- elite

Metres gained - elite 

Marking - elite 

 

Well if he is not getting a game, clearly the stats are wrong or you have left out some of the more valuable ones. Not sure what metric you have used to consider him elite in marking? The number of marks from chip kicks in the backline? He laid 7 tackles all year playing as a backman and didn't take a contested mark.

2 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Lines up with what I posted about him weeks ago being unhappy with the way his body was handled by the club the past two years and adding weight to his body shape which made his foot problems harder to manage. Heard he was seeking a trade too, so if that bit of info is accurate then looks like he and the club have had mediation and come to an agreement that suits both sides.

I think the more likely thing is he realised there is no interest in him. Glad to hear they have acknowledged this was an issue and fingers crossed he can resemble something close to the 2018 version of himself.

35 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Don’t over complicate it then, if he makes us a better side you 1-2 years you get him.   We still have such a young list that having Smith can only help, particularly in the position he plays.  

I will use a simple example of why it isn't that simple. Last year we took Tomlinson (because Mahoney couldn't tell after his first 140 games at AFL level he is not a wingman) and this year we take Smith. Those two players then hypothetically cost us the chance to get Zach Merrett as a free agent for the same price tag.

It's not as simple as will it improve you and never is, it is a question of what will give you the most improvement. I don't have any faith in our list management team.

26 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

What a ridiculous statement.

Would Smith make us a better team next year? 

Simplistic. Would he makes us a premiership threat next year? If not, is he taking away the chance for our team to develop with a player that would going forward?

On 9/29/2020 at 10:32 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

Alex Witherden must be a prime target. I don’t think he will get a look in for the Lions finals team. For some reason , Fagan has left him out and seemingly he is available for offers.  
 

Dees could look at the Preuss trade pick being passed to the Lions for Witherden.  Perhaps GWS pick 37 to Dees and then MFC trades it to Lions for Witherden.  

A pretty clear reason he has been left out. Not the kind of player you want at half back. Players that think they have elite skills when they don't are the most dangerous players to have in your team. Hope we don't go near him.

6 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

Saints (in particular) & Dogs are going hard for Caldwell. 

He has been underwhelming this far at AFL level. Do like his movement and seems to have decent speed but his kicking appears to be quite loopy. Preuss and 22 would be big overs and I would be surprised if we are interested given we could have forced their hand last year prior to the draft with the Tom Green situation.

8 minutes ago, olisik said:

Technically Rivers shouldn’t be part of the equation as we gave up a 2nd rounder as part of the pick swap (2019 2nd and 2020 first for pick 8).

We would have been able to draft him either way if we hadn’t done the swaps. It’s really down to just picket/serong

That doesn't make any sense.

We would not have had the option of taking Rivers without trading the pick for Serong.

You are getting confused. You are talking about keeping our 2020 first rounder which means we still would not have Serong.

23 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Freo will be hoping their latest Rising star winner ends up being a Paul Haselby and not a Rhys Palmer

Edit - misread and agree with you.

I would like to see him tried at half back.

6 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Melksham Fritch AVB have had their performances rightly panned this season but Tomlinson has slipped under the radar. He’s been a major disappointment. 5 years at $500k is a big investment. I want to see a lot more from him next year.

I suggest he’s paired with Steven May this pre-season so he can learn how to turn a bad first season into a successful second.

I think Tomlinson delivered what most of us expected. Was not excited about his recruitment in the slightest. Played alright when moved down back but just like Lever, was a poor list management move.

Was a junk piece of reporting which he will not be held accountable for. 

17 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

His 6 goal game against Carlton took well over 3/4 of the season....he was an absolute liability up until that stage.  No doubting his best was good enough prior to these last few seasons.  Brown was dropped after his 1st game....i don't believe he has nearly had the same run of underperforming the Macca was given.  Brown is 10x the player Tom is atm. We persisted with Tom for far too long.  We have struggled to connect forward of centre for a long time, Tom is the main reason for that.  Goody picked him though, i blame him more.

I understand what you are saying but at the end of the day if Mitch Brown is playing for us, we aren't threatening anyone in the finals. It is hard to see on camera but I noticed multiple times that he was clogging up leading lanes in the forward 50. It is interesting how poorly Weideman played when Brown was in the team.

McDonald's drop in form has hurt us more than any other factor.

6 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

What exactly is a pressure act?

T Mac has elite endurance so could chase all day but has no speed or agility. The opposition dance around him like a witches hat.

Won't get a point if he doesn't get closer. I was using Tmac as an example because he is also poor at it. Mitch Brown had 0 on the weekend.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/85207/how-a-new-don-became-the-leagues-pressure-king