Watts the matter

I also had this belief. But I find it hard to think a Melbourne supporter who does our weekly podcast would be unaware of this. Perhaps he knows more than us given the contacts he would have within the club. I'm sure he will read this, so I look forward to hearing him addressing the criticism like he did on the previous podcast.

Saty, I know you think you know it all. But this was reported by a Melbourne supporter who does the offical podcast weekly. It was also said with Paul Roos ,who would have knowledge of each persons role within the football department, sitting next to him. If he says he was in the box the last 4 weeks, I know who I am believing.

Firstly, it's news to me that he is a line coach? Is that correct? It was reported on OTC that he has been told he is not required in the coaches box this week (against his wishes). Is it all falling apart?

I don't think anyone is debating that. I have not seen one poster say that he be dropped. DeeSpencer is just making some extremely valid observations on what he has delivered so far and what appear to be some serious limitations that will stop him from being a good AFL player.

I thought he was average at best. He started the game really well then faded out badly and was slow and poor with his disposal as he often is. If he doesn't show some drastic improvement this season, I would be more than happy to hear what other clubs would be willing to part with. It is quite damning that with Tyson and Viney out that he still couldn't find his way into our midfield rotation. If he is not an inside midfielder, what is he?

This is when you know you're in trouble. O'Brien is an ordinary player who can take a nice grab from time to time but lacks the all round game and will never make it as a result.

Such a poor point and simplistic analysis that focuses on just one stat in the least attacking team seen since Melbourne under Neeld. Curnow is light years ahead in every statistical evaluation from last season. I think you've hit the nail on the head with the description about their builds. We drafted yesterdays footballer while Carlton picked up the future of football. I wish Weideman well, but unless he magically improves his agility there will be no role for him with Hogan and McDonald up forward.

I can see what you are getting at but if someone says 15% over 2 years then that would mean 15% of each year. I have not seen the actual quote but going on the use of those specific words, it could not mean 7.5% each year.

They are the same thing.

Reminds me of Aaron Francis. Glad we don't have our pick 10 to potentially waste on him.

I've said it multiple times, he should not have been in AA squad based on output. A 1st and 2nd is a very generous offer and should be taken off the table if Adelaide don't accept it on the opening day.

All of those players were better than him this season.

With the free kick against Lever, that had to be. Riewoldt also got his 1st goal after giving a big jumper tug to Talia at half forward.

No, Rance has always played on the key forwards, since day dot. He still nearly always plays on the 1st or 2nd tall now. Lever never does and that is a big difference, means you have to carry an extra tall player in the team. The bolded part is true, but seeing his lack of pace today is a worry if he is not gonna matchup on the talls.

I'm getting sick of reading this comparison. Rance plays key position on a key forward every week. Lever never plays on a key forward. There is a big difference and it's extremely wishful thinking if you think he will be a similar player.

Was very average, was OK in the first quarter and racked up some junk time stats late in the game. Gave away a shocking free kick that costed a goal when Adelaide were doing well early. Showed his lack of speed today and again didn't match up on a quality opponent.You would want a player of his size who is not going to play KP, to take the likes of Martin or Dangerfield. Still don't see him being worth the kind of money that is being talked about, whether that is 750 or 900.

We clearly know multiple teams have more money than us to throw around yet aren't pursuing Lever, so that tells me a fair bit. Close to the team would imply he was almost in it. Find me one expert or even Bigfooty poster who had Lever in their AA team. He was not close to being in it. He was lucky to be in a squad of 40. Not sure what Oscar has to do with any of this, he is a KPP. You have mentioned Lever as a key position player in your post yet as other posters have pointed our repeatedly, He is not a KPP. If he was, then he would have many more clubs going harder at him. The amount of money tells me that we aren't a destination club which the club wants to be and we hardly have a great record with high profile recruits.

Firstly, he is not an AA and quite frankly no one would have had him close to the team. He was listed in the squad but was never going to make it. The fact that no other club is willing to spend that kind of money on him is just as telling, despite you having more of an idea than all of us that don't want to pay overs for him and the 17 other AFL clubs. Where would you rank him with our younger players? Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Petracca and Lever. Can you please order them 1-5 so I can get an understanding.

Will he be in our best 3 players? I don't think so, therefore we shouldn't be paying that kind of money to him.

Yes and no, his agility is poor and he doesn't fully commit to defensive acts often when he is the only player within the vicinity and the team needs him to, but he has shown some strong signs with his tackling in congestion.

I would love you to explain how you know Stanley played a defensive role on Lever. Stanley is just simply not good at finding the footy so it may have appeared that was the case, but I don't know how you could know it was the case.

Sounds like the old two is better than one. So glad we ended up with Tyson and Salem.....

I wouldn't. Salem and Weideman are our pick 9's. The jury is still well and truly out with Jason Taylor. Despite the reputation of top 10 picks, picks between 6 - 10 in the last 4 or 5 drafts off the top of my head have netted very little and would be a disaster. Unless you are getting a top 3 pick it is a terrible idea.

You were questioning my use of scapegoat, anyway lets get back to football. I have not forgotten that he had a poor period in 2016, he was poor in the back half of the season as he was for much of this season. What I do remember is him standing up in the last quarter of the grand final and being a major reason the bulldogs broke away from Sydney. I can understand why people don't want him and despite my stance on Lever, I do want him, just at the right price.

It's barely worthy of a reply. There's an 80% difference in goals per game.