Gator

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.

Great post @Axis of Bob I think we all can be guilty of concentrating too much on a player's limitations and not their strengths. Out of interest, in doing this research did you ascertain why (or form any conclusion) we were often so poor at clearances despite having the dominant tap ruckman ? It didn't always matter, as we often won games, but lost the clearances, including centre clearances. And it was despite having the number clearance player for the year - Oliver. Either Max wasn't using it correctly, or one or two of those stoppage mids were getting beaten. Anyway, don't want to create more work for you, it's just whether you'd formed a view.

Interesting point. Knowing his history one wonders whether clubs could be reticent from a libel perspective.

But I think there were a couple of picks in the 40s involved (Neal-Bullen & Billy Stretch).

Merrett is a gun. I'd love to get him, but it's obviously unlikely. His disposal was always exceptional, but it has dropped off recently. I've seen enough to know it's far from an issue. A happy mind would fix things pretty quickly. Brayshaw is an interesting trade proposition. To get Merrett you'd do it in a heartbeat. I've not pined over a single player that's left us recently (including Howe), because I've known what you're going to get. Brayshaw is the one player that would have me nervous. Why ? Because I'm not sure what he could become. He has the natural talent to be elite. For me it's above the shoulder with Angus. If the penny ever truly drops he could come back to make you regret trading him. But for a player of Merrett's quality you'd definitely take the gamble. With Merrett you're certain what you're getting and he'd add exactly the polish we lack.

I'm keen. If we disregard this year and look at his three previous years then we can see that he's averaged around 23-24 disposals per game, had elite ''metres gained'[ and kicked 36 goals from a wing. He also 'regularly gets on the park playing 66 games, which I've learnt to value. In his last year at Port - 2018 - he finished top 5 in their B&F and I compared his stats that year with Ed Langdon's from 2019 (Freo) and they were almost identical with Polec probably just edging him. If his heads right I think he's a good fit.

He wasn't as professional with his standards as he should have been at St Kilda and list sizes will be reducing. I can't see anyone throwing him a lifeline, but I could be wrong.

The top 20 highlights the problem with the season. 13-20 in particular. Too much was left to too few.

This doesn't make sense to me. He's finally unlocked much of his potential with a breakout AA season and he considers Goody a ''Father figure''. He's also very grateful to Burgess, who got him fitter than he's ever been. He loves his teammates, especially Salem and Oliver. I don't dismiss out of hand everything I read on here, but I'm going to dismiss this one. It doesn't add up.

Reading this thread I understand why Dan Andrews has a 62% approval rating for the way he's handled the pandemic.

OK, so clearly Bennell made a poor decision and disregarded maniacal lockdown rules. I suspect he did it as he knew his season was over, but it flew in the face of the club, leagues and state protocols. It's disappointing when one considers the chance he's been given by the MFC. If Goodwin thinks he can get close to his best after a decent preseason then I'm sure he'll be retained. I'm interested in putting the best team out there to win games of footy and if he makes us better I want him there. If they think his legs are cooked then the decision is easy. The states are run by incompetent fools, of which the likes we've rarely been seen, however, their laws need to be respected, as do the requirements of the AFL and the MFC. It's a poor decision, but certainly one I can forgive. I suspect I'm in the minority and that the virtuous souls that post here would never err in such a way.

So many tut-tutters eager to condemn without knowing all of the facts.

Clearly, it's no big deal, but it gives ammunition to the professionally aggrieved. They'll love it and use their soapbox.

Non sequitur.

Lots of Lockhart supporters. Just a battler.

Sydney are a young developing team. I trust them. They've lost plenty of games, but they're honest. You know what you're going to get (virtually) every week. I respect them and their coach.

So many spuds. Put a fork in them.

I hope the Dogs win. We're crap, but if we're good enough we can still make up the numbers in finals. There are rubbish teams that play finals every year. And no, you could not possibly overturn that goal to Bontempelli.

Balme never saw a premiership at Collingwood in either of his stints. It's one of the great furphys in football.

Horrible game. Bruce commentating. It's the pits. Btw, since when was Newnes name pronounced Noones ? Or is he like Jaeger O'Meara, who doesn't know how to correctly pronounce either of his names ?