Gator

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.

I put even for two reasons. I prefer the contested ball-winning ability of the Melbourne line, and contested ball is king with the way the reigning premiers (and Melbourne) play; and there is also a query over Whitfield. My belief is that Whitfield is a very good chance to be suspended from the AFL due to an elaborate plan to avoid drug testing. When I weighed up the speed of GWS with the contested ball-winning of Melbourne, plus the query over Whitfield, I decided "even". But yes, others may have a different take.

I'm not doing an exact like for like, more a general comparison. Shaw Davis Williams/Jetta OMac Frost GWS get the nod Wilson Tomlinson Deledio/Hunt TMac Hibberd Dees for me just, as Tomlinson is the weak link Scully Shiel Whitfield/Vince Lewis Stretch Even Stevie J Cameron Smith/Petracca Hogan Kent Even Lobb Patton Greene/Watts Weideman Garlett GWS Mumford Ward Coniglio/Gawn Tyson Viney Even Kelly Griffen Haynes Corr/Jones Oliver Salem Brayshaw Dees E: Hopper Buntine Mohr/Melksham Harmes vandenBerg The team for the Dees incredibly has 10 top 10 draft picks or equivalent. It would be 11 if I had Melksham, which is my preference, in for Garlett, but not for this exercise. GWS probably have a similar number. GWS are ahead, but on talent/potential levels I very much believe we can shortly give them a run for their money.

Internally the club considers Oscar the FB and Tom CHB. Jetta O McDonald Frost Hunt T McDonald Hibberd Vince Lewis Stretch Petracca Hogan Jones Kent Weideman Watts Gawn Tyson Viney Oliver Salem Brayshaw Melksham E: Harmes vandenBerg Garlett

A couple of years ago we were heavily linked to Malceski. When he was interviewed post trade he said he spoke to about 4 clubs and Melbourne wasn't one of them. We didn't even inquire about him.

Nah, we had zero interest and I'm not sure why you and others are desperate, yes desperate, to think otherwise. Mahoney has been doing this for a number of years now and I can't recall one occasion during trade week when he hasn't been frank about where Melbourne stood with regard to interest in other players. I'm very happy to take him at his word, especially when there is nothing to be gained by fabrications. And in the post trade wind up, which we're nearly at and are certainlky at when it comes to Rockliff, there is zero reason for him to say we never had any interest. But by all means hold on to your view that there was more at play (for whatever reason you decide).

Mahoney stated this morning that we already had enough of his type and want to keep getting games into our developing youth, so Rockliff wasn't of interest.

Which is not what you said.

No. Melbourne never approached Brisbane. You've either been had or are mischievous.

No. And I'm still waiting for a poster to give me one example where a player has ended up at a club in trade week after that club has publicly said in trade week that they have no interest in said player. Just one will do.

Found one...

Where are all the indignant dopes that kept on giving this rumour air when it was clearly rubbish after Mahoney's comments ?