Gator

He was a teenager in the GF and plays the entire year as a 20 year old.

It's about context. Crying in certain scenarios is fine, but I'm not wanting to run out next to a guy who cries in the rooms after a loss. I know all the arguments that support such emotions, such as how much losing obviously means to that person, etc., but it's not what I want to see in a teammate of mine after a loss, especially in round 2. It's pathetic.

While Pert didn't say the person had left the club, he chose two key words in response to the question as to whether the person who leaked had left the club. He said the situation had been ''dealt with'' and that he'd never been at a more unified club. It's patently clear they're gone.

I disagree.

It all starts at the source and the midfield was spanked. We lack a little depth and class there, which we can cope with if all play really well, but if one or two drop off (like Viney) then we can get exposed.

Luke Breust and Jack Gunston have both been star footballers and All-Australians. I've watched from afar with envy, as they've both been so valuable in their ability to hit the scoreboard and complement Hawthorn's key forwards (and Cyril) in their dominant premiership years. Neither have ever kicked goals more than Fritsch did in 2021 (Gunston equalled once - Breust best is 57). And it's never been harder to hit the scoreboard than in 2021. Fritsch is only 25 and his best years lie ahead. He is a role player, but tell me anyone who plays his role better. The last two years running Fritsch has taken the 5th most marks inside 50. The last non key forward to do that (top 5) was Steve Johnson in 2010. It's easy to downplay Fritsch but his role is just about as valuable as it gets in my eyes.

I'm pretty certain he wants to stay, but I'm also certain that our salary cap will be getting tight. I'll quote a Dees poster from BF (billyboutsis): ''His current contract is approx 625k a season which was renewed when he was having a breakout season in 2018… Was great for us when it counted last season but its a lot of cap space for a player playing out of his natural position. Langdon is on a bit less than 500k for context. Happy for him to stay if they can resign him in the mid 500’s, otherwise emotions aside he is the one player who would be of value to another club, “replaceable” and frees up space to hold onto the younger regular first teamers who would be due a considerable bump up in their 1st or 2nd contract renewals.'' Billy's views perfectly sum up mine. I don't know how accurate his comments are, but they sound about right. I like Angus and understand the ''fabric of the club'' argument, but he's definitely a player I don't want to be paying too much to retain.

Higgins played in the prelim.

It's worth noting that players such as Narkle and Dahlhaus were both available for selection but overlooked for the prelim. Instead the ''ill'' Brad Close (one of the 6) was chosen to play ahead of them. Close isn't that far ahead of either that you'd take a risk with an unwell player if you didn't have to. It makes you wonder how sick Close really was, especially as he had more disposals in the prelim than his season average. It's fair to say I'm a little sceptical as to how much of an effect this illness had on the actual game.

Really pleased you started this thread, Pickett. Viney had a fantastic finals series and great back half of the year. Like others, I reckon he's improved his game and he's not trying to do too much. He's playing more within his limitations and the beneficiaries have most certainly been the dynamic duo. Gawn, Oliver, Petracca and Viney is as good as it gets in the centre square. 12 clearances in the GF is the second most ever in a grand final and his family mut be thrilled that he played so well in a drought breaking premiership.

Ah, the David Koch school of pronunciation.

It's the worst stat in football. The best players are always well represented, especially mids at the coalface.

Without wishing to be a pedant. For accuracy, we were behind by 44 points at approx. the 19 minute mark of the third quarter and were behind by 32 points at 3/4 time.

No. He was emergency for the firsts and didn't play in either game. He sat in the stand. He touches on this in his Captain's diary.

Gawn says in his Captain's Diary that he thinks May, Lever, Petty and Tomlinson can all play together, because it frees up May to play on a Martin or Greene type. May is super quick and strong, so it's not a silly suggestion. So you'd have Tomlinson and Petty taking the key talls with Lever his intercept role. One doubts it would be every week and it may be wishful thinking by the captain, but that's what he said for what it's worth. He also said Tomlinson will be right for round 1, but I understand the scepticism. He'll play when they think he's ready. I suspect if it's not round 1 it will be early in the season.

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but it struck me as being incredibly poetic and reflective of the entire 2021 season that the two players told to look elsewhere during the off-season were the same two players that had the final 2 disposals in the grand final. Oliver marks, handballs to Neale-Bullen who short kicks to McDonald. And it's fitting that they round out the top 10 in the B&F. What a year.

To answer this specific point and it only: (And I see that Deespencer has answered in the exact fashion I'm about to, but I'll add to it) Roos took over a 2 wins/54% basket case. One of the wins was against a fledgling GWS. It was arguably the worst or second worst team from an established club in the AFL era. The terrible percentage meant that our average score was almost doubled every game we played. As a comparison, this year's spooner finished with 70%. Under his tenure we went to 4 wins/68%, 7 wins/77%, and 10 wins/97%. To suggest any other coach would have been sacked with such a record is one of the most ill-considered posts I've seen.

Good God. What has his family origins got to do with anything ?

With regards to Knightmare, in his postmortem of our 2019 draft he rated Melbourne equal last with 5 other clubs and 12 clubs ahead. He gave Melbourne a C. "While Melbourne's trade looks on paper like value was acquired, their first two picks of ruckman Luke Jackson and small forward pressure specialist Kysaiah Pickett are arguably reaches. Jackson, a sub 200cm ruckman is athletic, plays with aggression and follows up well but was arguably not the best available player. Similarly, Pickett while the forward pressure he applies is of a best in draft standard and he has speed and is damaging with ball in hand, his low scoreboard impact and product makes him a difficult sell so early on." Thankfully, he liked the Rivers pick. Amazingly, we have 3 premiership players from that draft, who were all staples of the 22. He was more encouraged by the team he supports, giving Collingwood an A. ''Jay Rantall represents strong value as a basketball convert with elite endurance who does his best work inside winning the contested ball, distributing by hand and moving through traffic. Oakleigh premiership captain Trent Bianco is a second selection who represents strong value as one of the best kicks in the draft and the most advanced outside player in the pool. Trey Ruscoe at 192cm with his versatility to play defence, midfield or forward, is a third solid selection with his skills, mobility, ball winning capabilities and the way he reads the ball in flight and takes marks.''

You're not alone.

Who knows what's going to happen, but I do know one thing. Whomever improves enough to do it will be doing so from within, because none of them got better during the trade period.

Hugh McCluggage led the competition for goal assists in 2021 with an average of 1.29 per game. That average placed him in the top 10 ever for a season (since they've been keeping records). Only 11 players this year averaged at least 1.0 per game. Jackson had 4 in the GF, which is the most for the year. A teenage ruck did that in a GF. He's a remarkable talent who's as clean as you'd ever see below his knees.

Pert has given the sub away during his Fox interview. He said we had 8 players 21 and under in the GF team. Seven players aged 21 and under have been named in the 22 and Jordon being the sub makes 8.

From memory I changed my mind within a week, but don't include that. Another dope added to my ignore list. If we win the flag I may just take everyone off ignore. Probably not.

For the first time in VFL/AFL history two players from the same club tie - Oliver/Petracca.