Gator

I concur with Nasher. I must be one of the few Demonlanders that think we can salute in 2021. And I genuinely do. I see shades of Geelong 2006 and Richmond 2016 in this Melbourne side. Not many clubs boast our top-end talent and plenty of the support cast are also quality. What we lack is depth/role players. And like Richmond did after 2016 we need to improve our ball movement/game-plan. When I think of Isaac Smith ALL I'm concentrating on is the 2021 season. Not 2022 or 2023, just 2021. Which is why I'm not hung up on the terms of his contract. He has at least two good years left so I couldn't care less if we offer him a third. That's what you do to get a player to move club. It's called an incentive. If we win a flag in 2021 do you think anyone will care that he came on a 3 year deal ? Of course not. So can I draw the conclusion that most reading my post think I'm delusional that we can win in 2021 ? And I stress ''can'', not will or that we're even likely, but can. Or is it the principle you're hanging on to re a three year deal ? I want the team to get better, so if a better option than Smith is available then great, I'm all for it. But if there's not a better option, and there's certainly not a better option presently residing on our list, then bring in Smith. True wingers are better if they're supplied by a good contested ball-winning midfield and that's what we have. Smith has been hampered by relying on one of the worst midfields in the AFL these last couple of years. He'll be far better served seeing out his career in the red and blue than Hawthorn. And we'd be better for it as well.

I'd delist Baker. I cannot see what anyone sees in him. A very soft and ordinary player. Sorting out the opposite wing this trade period is an absolute must. That's if you want to improve in 2021. If you don't then keep stuffing around with vandenBerg, Baker, Brayshaw (inside mid), or some other spud that won't work.

So a few posters here heard Oliver was unhappy a week or two back. And he may well have been. What 23 year old wouldn't occasionally express annoyance in their workplace ? Or even be momentarily unhappy if significant events happened in a short period of time that didn't please them in what's a cutthroat and emotive industry. For all we know he was annoyed for a short period but has now settled down. It will still be reported that he's unhappy, even though no-one posting here knows his frame of mind today. I'm not concerned, but agree 2021 is huge on a number of levels. I remain bullish about next year, but it's an important trade period and summer.

Fritsch is a forward for me and a natural one at that. If only he could kick straight. He had within 8-10 shots at goal for the year of Dixon, Kennedy and Lynch. And he played one less game than all of them. It's no stretch to say he should be kicking between 40-50 goals per year. That ability is too valuable to be wasted behind the ball where it's far easier to play.

Phillips can play, as evidenced by B&F placings a year or two ago, but he does torch it by foot too often. That said, it's not the worst option.

Anyone who doesn't want Smith on a wing for the next couple of years (or three) really is clueless about football.

One of the very few players to leave that I'll remember fondly. And I mean very few.

Richmond are very well coached and play well as a team, but they have some ordinary personnel. Far more ordinary than the great teams of the past. Btw, I'd get the ''sounds'' in your head checked.

The ''good'' teams today are ordinary when compared to those of the dominant past, but that's to be expected with equalisation measures that have impacted the competition more and more as times gone on. Melbourne have arguably 4 of the best 20-25 players in the competition. It's a tremendous building block. But we need better role players. The top 12 in our B&F were head and shoulders better than those who placed after. Too much was left to too few. And Goodwin needs tactical support. That said, the core ingredients for a top 4 team are well and truly in place. And that's where flags are won from. You're not convinced ? I'm shattered.

This is where you're going wrong. At the end of 2018 Port finished 10th. At the end of 2019 Port finished 10th again. This year they finished 1st at the end of H&A. I dare say you wouldn't have envisaged them winning the flag this year. AND they may not, but clearly they're right in the thick of it. Or Brisbane who were out of the 8 a couple of years ago and bottom 4 very recently. Things can change very quickly, especially when there are very few great teams. Who'd have thought the ageing Cats when they trudged off the MCG in 2018 after a loss to Melbourne would be in another prelim. I thought they were old and cooked two years ago, but here they are. To suggest a team with AA quality players in Gawn (2nd best ruck in the comp), Oliver (best young inside mid), Petracca (AA), and May (top 3 key defender), plus some quality support cast, can't win a flag in the next two years in a competition with barely a standout team is folly and the view of a myopic thinker. It won't take much to turn this team into a top 4 contender.

I let list managers concern themselves with the terms. As a supporter I've never worried about how long someone gets, but obviously others do. I just want a better team. Smith on an opposite wing to Langdon makes us better. That's all I care about. He's got the Kade Simpson type of frame and he played till he was 36. We could win a flag next year (some might think it's impossible but I don't) and a guy like Smith would be of benefit in that quest. And unlike others, I don't rate Baker at all. Yes, he kicked a couple of good goals, but in general his skills are nothing more than ordinary and he's on the soft side. He won't be a regular in any best 22 moving forward.

Look mate, I don't really care if we get him or not, but I'm not particularly swayed by the analysis of the football Einsteins on here. We need another key forward and this guy averaged over 60 goals per year prior to 2020 and he's available pretty cheaply. If the club thinks they can benefit from him in his prime then it makes sense to me. Of course, I could try and overthink it and rationalise why it won't work, but I've got better things to do... I just want to get better. I can't imagine he makes us worse.

Sorry, you wanted 2019 too...

Hate him on a cellular level.

This is simply not true. I'm somewhat ambivalent about Brown, but if Clarkson suddenly wanted him I bet the attitude would change around here. If it was at the end of 2019 and he was wanting out of North there'd be a different sentiment. Weideman covers a lot of ground and with good coaching the two can play in the same half. Here's some brief highlights of just 2018 and he gets many goals where he's not hit lace out on a long lead, including a lot in general play.

I remember lauding CAC on draft day for this pick. Joking... Not sure if old-timers will remember my ignominy ? A good ordinary footballer who won't be remembered with terribly much emotion by either clubs supporters I suspect.

I see there's a new resident i-diot. (Shocked i-diot is censored - or am I)

Just what I said.

A truly horrible team.

I'm sure it won't happen, but Merrett is worth far more than a straight swap for Brayshaw.

Salem reached the top speed for a Melbourne player on the field in 2020. But I agree he doesn't look anything above pedestrian. Salem has played on a wing before, but plays his best footy behind the ball, which is easier and he does it effectively.

It was a joke, kid.

This makes sense, we nearly always end up with the dud brother.

Unlike Jack to run from a contest.

Petty is a better player. We know he can also play forward, but I see him long-term in defence. He could be a terrific key defender.