Gator

Toumpas played a "vanilla" game and had 13 disposals. In the same game a "no gamer" in Callum Mills (22 possessions/5 marks) showed what a top 5 pick really looks like(if you get lucky). And what a contrast there was between the two.

He lives in Canberra... Btw, did he ever answer your post re his assertion that Hogan is a mercenary ?

How good and clean was Callum Mills ? No surprise we offered pick 3 for him.

Can you believe the reporter said (Hogan and McDonald) "both are off contract this season" ? What has happened to journalism when basic facts are not checked ? And then he acknowledges that Hogan is signed to the end of 2017.

Nah. I'd had a couple of lovely reds that night if I remember correctly (maybe one too many) and the sight of a Jordie McKenzie look alike was too much to bear, especially as I was then keen on Parish. In the cool light day I thought I'd better take a closer look. It took nano seconds to realise my previous offering was moron worthy. Aghast, I quickly retracted and have been a "Clarriefier" ever since.

Isn't it really only that @#%_ Dwayne Russell that is desperate for him to leave ? I stand to be corrected.

We are not "implicated" in anything. What an ill-considered assertion.

Are you sure ? I'm virtually certain Hulett didn't play.

I have a bit of a thing about height when it comes to our new inside mids. I'm rapt to have Viney and Jones, but we all recognise how we've often looked small these last few years when coming up against the competitions best - not just in height, but larger framed bodies. When he was standing next to Hunt it was noticeable that he was taller. Not a lot, but definitely taller. So I looked up Hunt's height and was pleasantly surprised to see him listed at 187cms. Prior to this I'd never thought of Hunt's height. Oliver also came to us at 187cm, but it was mentioned recently that he was "still growing". What I noticed confirmed this report. Take it with a grain of salt (as you clearly have).

The Ablett comparison is absurd. There'll be no other expansion club in Viney's career.

When Jesse was interviewed on MMM late last year he even made a point of saying how much Jack "loves the club". Viney is the last one I'm worried about.

You just want to drive off being clearer on a few things after an intra like this. I won't go into detail of the match, although I reckon they still need to move the ball quicker, but will mention individual players. For me Salem was a easily best on ground. Pure class off half back. Beautiful distributor Hogan is a tad rusty with his timing in marking contests, but still finished with 9 marks and 4 goals in 80 minutes of footy (20 minutes each quarter with no time on) The more I see Harmes the more I like him. He's not out of place in the midfield and is a very smart lead when he takes a stint in the forward 50. He's best 22 for me It's a make or break year for Watts, but I liked his game today and really like him as the third tall forward. Missed a couple he'd normally kick Oscar made the odd mistake, but he's coming on really well. Will play plenty of senior footy and has better skills than his Brother (who was horrible today) Gawn is going to have a great year, but like a lot of talls at this time of year, dropped a few marks he'll be taking in 6 weeks Gus does everything well, although wasn't prolific Viney will go to another level in 2016. Looking better than last year I like Josh Wagner. He's a good size, is composed and a lovely left foot kick. He also competes well Billy got a fair bit of it, but made a few uncharacteristic mistakes today I love Tyson. I know he occasionally hangs on to it a bit long, but he's also a very smart and clean footballer. Will keep getting better and looks bigger Jetta was very good Hunt is relishing the switch to a half-back flank and getting more touches. His speed stood out and he generally uses it ok, but can torch the odd one Weideman is a mile off. He's just not strong enough to even get in the right position to compete in marking contests. Needs plenty of time and I don't see many games at all in 2016 vandenberg was busy. I love Vanders, my only query is his kicking, but he generally uses it well I'll finish with number 13. Oliver is a fantastic competitor and has a tonne of footy smarts. He's great in congestion and makes really good decisions quickly with his hands. He's got a magnificent physique and is already looking bigger than 3 months ago (particularly his legs). I thought Oliver was a fair way off the best 22 with the way they've been managing him, and he may miss the first few games, but trust me he won't be out of the team for long. And like Brayshaw, when he gets in he won't be coming out. He is going to be a fantastic midfielder for the MFC. He was quieter when he went to the half-forward flank (manned by Hunt 187cm, who he was noticeably taller than – has grown – at least 188cm now) Three things we need to move up the ladder (including no major injuries): We really need the second tall forward to stand up and kick 20+ goals (whether that be Frost, Pedersen, or Dawes) We need the midfield to take the next step through the likes of Viney, vandenBerg, Tyson, and Brayshaw We need the game-plan to gel, i.e. quicker ball movement, more inside 50's, start attacks closer to our goal, press harder, etc

OK. They're penalised substance abusers, who were deemed to have acted inappropriately within a systemic injection regime. How about peptide cheats ?

Fitzpatrick was Fitzpatrick. We know he's quick and sometimes the marks stick and sometime they don't. His skills are horrible and if one sails through it's more by luck than design. And no, he didn't take "a few nice grabs", he took one and nearly made a mess of a straight forward mark. Frost is a better player than Fitzpatrick. Max King is a better talent than Fitzpatrick. Oscar McDonald has better skills for a defender. But yeah, there will always be those on here who decry ordinary footballers being given their marching orders. We spent years not turning the lsit over and when we do there will be unhappy supporters. Like Hightower, Addam Maric, Cheney, Gysberts, Morton, Blease, Chris Johnson, McLean, and others I've missed, I don't believe Fitzpatrick will come back to haunt us. BUT even if it did, it wouldn't worry me. I'd rather one mistake than a warehouse of list cloggers.

And you would know that I retracted that comment within 24 hours of making it. You can't retract being a simpleton.

Naturally, you're welcome to it, but your assessment is rubbish. Having taken him at pick 3, clearly the club agrees. Why you don't at hold fire on your views until you have at least some exposed form with the MFC is beyond me.

Why would you question it ? Clearly you don't know, so back the recruiters until you're in a position to make an informed assessment. His footy smarts in congestion look elite to me, albeit not yet exposed at AFL level.

I know it's a round 1 thread, but I'm not really hung up on "round 1". I'm notionally talking of a preferred early season team. I'd be delighted if any one of White, Wagner or Trengove lock down one of the half-back flank positions early in the season. I have little interest in Lumumba.

It's nothing to do with pedantry, we obviously disagree.

From Stevens, "Jess Hogan had strongly indicated he didn't want to talk contracts through 2016". I don't believe that's ever been the case. Hogan has never said I'm putting contract talks off until the end of 2016. In fact, I heard representatives from his management company say there'd be dialogue over summer. Then there was subsequent talk that they were in no hurry to enter a contract, which is different to Stevens' statement above. Hogan's manger Matt Bain was quoted in October last year saying, “The club’s had a lot of changes over the last three years but they’re starting to get a lot of consistency through the staff,” Bain told Trade Radio. “He’s obviously open to (a long-term deal). I guess for him it’s seeing the long-term future of the club.” “He’s still got two years left on his contract so it’s not something we have to do overnight,” Bain stressed. “He loves it in Melbourne, if he was to be delisted tomorrow he’d stay here.” So, there was never any "strong indication he didn't want to talk contracts through 2016", as Stevens asserts. Journalists need to report accurately, but I find they often don't.

Jetta I Dunn I Garland Salem I T. McDonald I Lumumba Vince I Viney I Brayshaw vandenBerg I Frost I Kent Garlett I Hogan I Watts R: Gawn I Tyson I N. Jones I: Stretch I Harmes I Petracca I Kennedy No necessarily my team, but my best guess (assuming fitness) We need speen injected into the team, so Hunt could be a smokey and it may get Kennedy over the line I don't see Frost and Pedersen in the same 22 EDIT: although no subs will mean it's more likely to occur - I may well be wrong on this I'm not a fan of Bugg, due to disposal, but he may well get a gig

As I stated in the training thread, I was really disappointed at the prospect of Frost as a forward, however, I was surprisingly impressed with his performance in the MS, which was enough to have me at least contemplate the idea. That said, MS is dancing with your Sister. We'll have a better idea after NAB.

Please yourself. I suspect it's time to put you on ignore, like Stu.

Where did I tell you what you could or couldn't discuss ? I just highlighted the banality.

To discuss whether he might stay or leave after the 5 years left on his contract ? I think you'd be in a room by yourself.