Gator

There's not a team we won't be able to beat in 2017. Inconsistency will be our enemy, but the gap between our best and worst will continue to close.

Give Lewis 6. It can be the number of flags he aspires to reach.

Are you SA ? I can't read that.

I rate Goodwin's and McCartney's opinion over yours and your "mates". But you would know that...

Yes, old mate Nash. And if they follow the line of many supporters when a player leaves the critique will be even less flattering. Essendon last 3 B&F's 2013: Hibberd 4th behind Goddard, Watson and Heppell (Played finals) 2014: Hibberd 4th behind Heppell, Hooker and Goddard (Played finals) 2015: Hibberd 8th So in two of his last 3 years he finished top 4 in the B&F and they were both years Essendon played finals. He dropped away in 2015, but still finished top 10. And who knows the toll this drugs saga was finally having on the players. And even in that year (2015) he still averaged 22.2 disposals per game running off half-back and averaged 5.4 marks. His average disposals in a downish year would still have ranked 5th at Melbourne this year. In comparison, in Jetta's best year (this year) he averaged 16 disposals and 3.7 marks. Now, I know Jetta is more of a lockdown defender, but the point remains Hibberd plays tight and still wins plenty of the footy. Jetta doesn't provide enough rebound for my liking, which is why I see him as vulnerable over the next year or two. Hunt, who I have a slight crush on, was fantastic in his first year and averaged 15.6 disposals and took 3.1 marks. His numbers will continue to rise if not go through the roof. Not only does Hibberd rack up possessions off half-back, he's as tough and brave as they come. He thrives on the contest and has a very good left foot. Hibberd is a very very good player. notwithstanding mo's "mates'.

Basing your views on "Essendon supporting mates" ? Hahaha

He's had multiple top 5 B&F finishes, including when they were a finals team. Have you seen him play ? Do you think the club would give up pick 29 in the absence of a first round draft pick if they didn't consider him a top shelf defender and exactly what we need ? 12 months out of the game when you're 26 and uninjured is hardly an issue. This bloke is a competitive animal. Jetta and Garlett ? "Better exposed form" ? Hahaha. Bi I have tremendous admiration for Jetta, but he's a rung below Hibberd as a footballer. Garlett is as soft as butter and the antithesis of Hibberd as a footballer. I don't see Garlett as a regular senior player in 2017 unless he has a very strong mental correction.

Yep. How often does a club trade in the calibre of two top 10 players and not lose one required player or a first round draft pick ? When and who was the last to do this ?

I'll try and not let bias reign supreme, but imo we had as good a trade period as any club. We went into the trade period with no first rounder. The only way to get a first rounder would have been to trade a required player, so penalising us in any arbitrary rating system for not improving our draft position is questionable. Is there a player currently on our list worth trading for a second round pick ? Remembering they have to be worth a second round pick in the first place. We retained every player we required, plus we traded for two players who are immediately top 10 players at the club (one top 5). What other club traded in at least two top 10 players without losing at least one ? Richmond arguably got two in, but they lost a top 5 player. Hawthorn got two in, but lost two (and where does Hill fit). Some think the Saints did well, but they traded for 3 players who weren't even in their side's best 22 by year's end. Freo did well, but Kersten and Hamling were fringe in their respective teams and McCarthy has issues. Hill is a great get. I don't think any club did better than Melbourne when one considers we went into the draft with pick 29 as first cab off the rank.

Salem is arguably the classiest player on the list. His thyroid issue will always have to be managed, but with another preseason he'll most certainly be ready for round 1 and a staple in the team.

You might stick with it, but you're also wrong. Oscar replaced Dunn, who was FB, and there was even a video late in the season where Tom was mic'd up and can be heard yelling at Oscar "you're the fullback". Tom after many preseasons has the aerobic ability to play CHB, while Oscar, without the preseasons is better suited to last line in defence, which isn't quite as taxing.

Switch - Tom is CHB and Oscar FB. This is a predictions thread, Champ. Who would have thought Jayden Hunt would have played 19 games and become so valuable ? Jetta has become one of the better lockdown small defenders and I've lauded him here and elsewhere. I've also included him in my round 1, 2017 best 22. But... My prediction is that he'll become vulnerable over the next year or two. He's a little one dimensional and doesn't provide the type of drive from the back-line that the topline small/medium size defenders do. He's improved the attacking side of his game, but it's still not a strength and certainly not a weapon. Joel Smith has electric pace, courage, marking ability and good skills. A position will open up in 2017 and if he gets a chance I reckon he'll grab it. If he can defend as well as Jetta then I predict he'll pass him, due to his incredible athletic attributes. Now I can understand why you and others may think I'm denigrating a current player, as that's the typical lowbrow mentality often associated with Demonland, but it's more a considered view that may or may not turn out to have merit. Like all things, if I'm wrong I'll be reminded. But there are limitations in Jetta's game, so I'll watch with interest. PS: I don't need reminding of his record on Betts, Wingard, or any other great game he's played. I'm well aware...

True. Where are the Hawks ?

Ok, so he didn't come directly from Hawthorn to Melbourne. But he did play a senior game for Hawthorn before Melbourne and I couldn't think of anybody that had. And no @Bitter but optimistic, genuine question. I was thinking about it after we got Lewis and couldn't think of any. I can only think of Michael Kol from Geelong, but Hawthorn had me stumped.

Williams never played a senior game for Hawthorn and Campbell never played a senior game for Melbourne. Right now we're left with David Flintoff's solitary game with Hawthorn as a Hawks Dee..

You have verbal diarrhea under this incarnation. Anyway... I've posted my 2017 best team and you'll note Smith isn't in it. I said "I wouldn't be surprised if he's there round one". Internally he's rated exceptionally highly. And for good reason. Courage, speed, skill, and can play tall or small. I see Jetta's position as becoming vulnerable. Let's hope we have competition for spots. It's how we get better.

Terrific. We disagree.

Smith won't be a surprise. I wouldn't be surprised if he's there round one.

Ok. We have a winner. He played one game for Hawthorn.

Senior games, not reserves or under 19 players.

I started following the Dees as a small kid around the very early 70's. Over that time I can remember players from every club coming to the MFC, except Hawthorn. Obviously I can remember plenty of Melbourne players going to the Hawks, including Michael Byrne, who kicked about 8 on debut, but not players from Hawthorn coming to Melbourne. Until Lewis. Who have I missed ? And I know the reasons, as Hawthorn were winning Grand Finals in the 70's, 80's and onwards, so why come to Melbourne (unless you couldn't get a game with them). I'm sure there would be players way back in the day, but from the 1960's or so onwards I can't think of another player from Hawthorn coming to the Dees. Who have I missed ? There's probably someone obvious, but presently they escape me.

Wow.

Hibberd is better than Tuohy, who can be a shocking turnover merchant.

Michael Gleeson from The Age has been questioning the move by Melbourne this morning on SEN, but as you say, the whole speed issue is overblown if you're a contested ball-winning team, who moves the ball quickly and knows where to spread. The Dogs just won a flag, but how quick is their midfield ? Libba, Hunter, Bontempelli are not speedsters. They've got JJ off half-back, while we've got Hunt. Besides, there's nothing wrong with the pace of Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, Kent, Harmes. Some of those players aren't express, but foot speed isn't a liability.

Lewis has always relied on brilliant smarts, reading the play, contested ball-winning and silky disposal. Even if he won't be as good on the spread as younger players, Melbourne's contested ball-winning is far superior to Hawthorn's and Lewis' role can alter accordingly. His lack of a pace will be less of an issue in a team that's game-plan is to outnumber at the contest and then spread in multiple directions.