Gator

In January 2014 I noted a half dozen posters who followed me around like a puppy dog to complain at every conceivable opportunity. I only looked at it recently (didn't know what it was until I opened it) and saw your name on it. It surprised me, because I'm not that familiar with you as a poster. But there you go, you're a heel nipper. I don't mind the stutter as long as his last few strides are fluid, but the ball hold and swaying it from his left leg to right leg in a staccato fashion doesn't help him build momentum and in my view won't help his confidence. But if you don't care, or disagree, bully for you.

I completely agree. Hogan is tremendously competitive. He won't want this sort of speculation dragging on and he'll do what's necessary to put it to bed. If he doesn't, I've misread him.

The point is it might be why we're winning.

There's no character assassination going on. You obviously value his output more than me and some others. I doubt Grimes will be best 22 in 2016 given a reasonable run with injuries. Grimes poor decisions, turnovers and skill level hurts his cause. Put simply for you, he doesn't damage the opposition with ball in hand. You're going to be scratching your head when he's running around for Casey.

Lovely mission statement, but how are you in control of Grimes and his fortunes at the MFC ?

I suspect Roos takes the (old) "chairman of selectors" role, but Goodwin gets the team he wants. I think Goodwin is effectively the senior coach and Roos more a director of football, but both will be careful to avoid using labels. I reckon it's a very collaborative approach and Jackson and Roos have been the architects. All just "gut feel" of course.

Goodwin took the preseason training sessions. Goodwin is in charge of game-plan and ball movement. Roos oversees all aspects of football in a managerial role. My take is that Goodwin will continue to take training throughout the season. He will continue to educate the players on the game-plan and will be vocal during all match day breaks. And Roos will continue to oversee football in a managerial role. In essence it's the plan and it's happening now.

Gerard Healy had a superb debut year for Melbourne as an 18 year old.

Spare us the psychobabble. My views have evolved over years of watching the guy. He's a solid servant, but if you want your club to improve, if you want your club to win a flag, you need better players than Grimes. He's good depth, but in my view no longer "best 22". His skill execution under pressure is poor, which is why you see the "bloopers" Bob refers to and most importantly he's not a great decision maker. Oliver has played 3 practice matches and already you can see the skill in heavy traffic and the elite footy nous. It's called "talent". Not all players will have Oliver's talent, but in the "degrees" stakes, Grimes falls too far short. Naturally, if I'm wrong, you'll see him in the best 22. You don't have long to wait. Btw, I'm not offended that you disagree with me. You taking offence is strange, but your choice.

So you think an opinion of Grimes is based on one isolated incident ? Clever guy.

He didn't "squib" it, but he had to mark it. Unfortunately, Grimes lacks talent. If you want your team to get better you need better players than Grimes, which is a shame, as he's a great guy and loves the club. It's just the way it is.

Further evidence it's technique, as opposed to power. Pretty annoying and embarrassing hearing KB say that Boyd, Moore and Daniher may go past Hogan because of his kicking. He's an excellent field kick and we all know he's accurate, but the broader footy community think he can't kick.

Interesting. Harmes did the job very well last year.

I think Goodwin/Roos like what Frost brings, i.e. speed, pressure, structure. He was OK yesterday. He kicked the ball inside 50 to Pedersen (goal), kicked the ball inside 50 to Bugg (hanger/goal) and did the knock on to Watts, who side handballed to Garlett (goal). But yes, it's close. What a great problem to have. I reckon Kennedy and Bugg play, And I'm the first to admit I didn't see that happening a month ago. I see Harmes missing if Lumumba plays. Frost or Oliver won't play if Matt Jones does. And what happens when Petracca is ready, as he's a certainty, and Trengove rediscovers the talent we all saw those years ago ? Oliver is a must for me. Forget this "hold him back" BS. He makes us better.

Update: Jetta I Dunn I GarlandSalem I T. McDonald I VinceBugg I Viney I BrayshawvandenBerg I Hogan I KentGarlett I Pedersen I WattsR: Gawn I Tyson I N. JonesIC: Frost I Harmes I Oliver I Kennedy E: Grimes I M. Jones I Stretch

I've been on record saying his action is ridiculous. Well before yesterday. If you think he has length in his kicking you're dreaming. And yes, we all know he's "deadly accurate" within 35.

I go to training occasionally too, chap, and he doesn't even attempt goal-kicking from 60. During the 2015 season he regularly could not make the distance from 50. This has nothing to do with an "off day". We all know he's deadly accurate close to goal. As I said, if he has this runup in 3 years time I'm wrong. He won't.

Where are these "pitchforks" you're referring to ? Why do posters constantly exaggerate the angst ? The guy has a silly runup that ensures he can hardly kick over a jam tin. He's very accurate within 35 and can barely make the distance from 45. It should, and I have no doubt will, be addressed. If he has this silly runup in 3 years time I'll be amazed. And if he doesn't have it in 3 years time then people like me, who think it inhibits him, will have been proven to be correct.

Dunstall made an interesting observation when asked what he saw in store for the Dees in 2016. He wasn't sure if we had a couple of "stars" that would take us up the ladder. To become a top 4 team and threaten for a flag there's no doubt we need stars. The best chances of players becoming stars at the Dees are Hogan, Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw. Hope like hell that a couple (all) can make that progression. Some may say Gawn, Tyson, Viney or Salem, but I don't see any of those players becoming stars. Not the sort of stars I'm talking about. I'm talking about Judd, Voss, Carey level stars. Although Gawn is our most important player along with Hogan. Most important is different from star.

It's everything. The size, pace, agility, aggression, skill, and best of all he makes really good decisions in a split second. It's great to see a player with such footy nous.

If Fitzpatrick gets games at Hawthorn then frost is a "genuine" AFL footballer.

You don't know how good he is, but don't think he's a genuine AFL footballer ?

Demonlad5 posted a team that didn't include Oliver, but it's hard to argue with the logic. Oliver is in my team, but I can't remember it being more difficult to post a 22.

Every Dees supporter knows he is very accurate from 35 metres, but he struggles from beyond 40 and can barely make the distance at 50. It's a technique issue. He's a lovely field kick and his ridiculous runup should have been addressed over the preseason.

So many reactionary flogs live here. They make concrete conclusions on the back of one moment of play. Watts is becoming really important and I couldn't be happier. And no, the bet isn't with Jumbo and I hope I lose.