Gator

That's great, but next time the club is broke don't come knocking on my door.

Perhaps there are different teams. This is the AFL Player Ratings team. Waite's player rating was 146 as opposed to Hogan's 133, so I guess there's no nuance.

Glad to see Jarrad Waite's 24 disposal one goal game landed him at full forward in the AFL's team of the week. Meanwhile, Hogan's 22 disposal 5 goal game didn't warrant a guernsey.

@Beetle is probably telling his version of the truth, but with Chinese whispers the messages can be incorrectly interpreted. And not necessarily from Beetle. Players don't know everything that's going on. And some information they get told may be incorrect, or have been misinterpreted. Anyone remotely familiar with second or third hand information knows how wrong it can be down the line. I don't believe Hogan was on the trade table, but I also don't believe Beetle is lying. Both stances can coexist.

When I was picking my best 22 just prior to the season starting I had Brayshaw on my bench and Vince out. If I had to put Vince in it would have been Brayshaw coming out. In other words he's close but around the 20-24 mark. I expect that to change over the next year or so and for him to become a staple in the team.

Watt ? I'd be worried that we still had Watts.

As others have alluded to I'm sure his bung ankle affected his lateral movement in 2017. He missed 5 months in his draft year due to a stress fracture in his ankle and it was the same ankle that was operated on over the summer. Internally the club rates him highly. At a supporter function it was said he's got healthy doses of nastiness in that if he needs to run through a backman he won't hesitate. Those that have been at training have noticed a stronger body and with that comes added confidence. I also appreciate why some have queries, especially in the light of Charlie Curnow. But I'm quietly confident we still have a potentially good key forward on our hands.

You're embarrassing yourself. For his size his speed and agility is exceptional. What do you watch ? Dangerfield is the fastest player in the AFL. He makes Hunt look slow. Hunt can't match Jordan Murdoch and Dangerfield makes Murdoch look pedestrian in half-time GF sprints. Judd's speed was also elite. Martin's speed was one of his elite traits in his draft year. He ran 2.89 seconds for the 20 metre sprint. Ablett's speed is good, but not in the class of the above. 3 seconds or less for the 20 metre sprint puts you in the top 20% at draft combine. Petracca ran 3 seconds flat, which for his build is exceptional and he'd be quicker now having been in the AFL system for years. Some comments on Petracca pre-draft (different links): "When he goes forward, he proves to be an extremely difficult match-up: he's strong on the lead and tricky at ground level. His quick thinking in tight spaces is elite, and he also has leg speed to get out of trouble or hunt down opponents." "Despite carrying much more weight than most midfielders his age he has elite agility and evasion with an excellent sprint." St Kilda FC ✔@stkildafc Christian Petracca has just completed the 20 metre sprint! The result: 3 seconds flat. #AFLCombine 6:00 PM - Oct 1, 2014

What an odd thing to say. His speed is very good. Especially for a Mack Truck.

Whisky review #21: 1495 Blended Scotch Whisky Here's one to avoid, Read on at your own peril! This whisky is called 1495 which refers to the first mention in historic text of the distillation of whisky in Scotland. I could go on but this whiskey doesn't deserve the attention. This is bad whisky! My lowest scoring whisky yet! http://kevlikeswhiskey.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/whisky-review-22-1495-blended-scotch.html

Prior to JLT1 Lewis hadn't missed a session all preseason. And with about 15 preseasons under his belt I suspect he'll be fine as long as he's getting in plenty of match simulation sessions at training.

Far from panicking. I'd prefer him to Pedersen, but it's hardly wrist slashing material if he doesn't play the first few rounds.

Interesting points. Viney apparently ran slightly differently after the plantar fascia (which led to the stress fracture in his third metatarsal), so one does wonder whether McDonald's ankle surgery has led to a slightly different running pattern also, which could perhaps have meant he favoured a part of the foot, which in turn led to a "hotspot". Is it coming back to soon, or the body (mind) over compensating for a recent injury in the biomechanics of running ? I'm not equipped to know.

Even if it's a stress fracture (and they're saying "hotspot") they're supposedly a 6-8 week injury. Which is why I think Viney must have suffered a setback (pain) at some stage.

It was reported on 3AW at 6.30pm. I have little doubt the reports are accurate. It is what it is. No biggie. Pedersen can cover McDonald for a couple of games if need be. It's not like he's Tony Lockett.

I reckon they want to play both.

Hardeman the closest. Icke no. Wight no. Hughes hell no.

I expect Lever to be the best recruit in my time following Melbourne. The difference he makes to our defensive structures is enormous. I'm of the view that teams don't win flags (there may be a rare exception) without at least one elite defender. We haven't had an elite defender at the club in my footy lifetime (circa 1970). The opportunity to secure a 22 year old soon to be elite defender (if not already) is profound. In part due to our present weaknesses in defence and in part because the opportunity itself is so rarely presented. How often does a talent of Lever's ilk (at 22) fall into club's laps ? Our list is the best I've seen at Melbourne. It's better balanced than any we've had previously. If it doesn't secure at least one flag in the next 5 years I'll be amazed and dismayed.

It's as much structural. They obviously want 2 talls and 4 small/mediums. And Hibberd plays pretty tall and intercept marks well also.

After over two years I thought it was time for an update. No. of deaths attributed to radiation from Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster ? Zero. This is good news, right ? Probably not for some.

He's building size nicely.

If highlight reels were worthless recruiters wouldn't pore over them for hours. And yes, they watch them countless times live, speak to coaches, family, conduct interviews, etc. Petty was drafted earlier than Oscar; Petty was named most valuable player for his state in the under 18 carnival; Petty was named in the under 18 AA team (Oscar didn't make it). I don't think it's a stretch to say that Petty has a higher ceiling than Oscar. I think Petty, Oscar and Lever will be able to team well together in 2-3 years.

There seems to be a common misconception that Oliver isn't overly quick. Oliver's pace for an inside bull is superb, we just don't see it enough. But if you watch him closely his burst speed is very good. For the record, Oliver tested 2.99 seconds for the 20 metre sprint prior to the draft. Anything sub 3 seconds is elite. If you read the bios for players in this year's draft such as Ed Richards, Charlie Ballard, Lochie O'Brien, Matthew Ling, Jaidyn Stephenson, you'll note that high up on their strengths is their speed. Only one broke 3 seconds (Stephenson 2.97). Thankfully, this misconception about Oliver's speed was dispelled in the media this year: 7/4/2017 Melbourne Demon Oliver leads army of stars Michael Gleeson He is like Cripps or Sydney's Josh Kennedy, a tall and strong midfielder who with longer arms have better reach to be able to get clear of a tackle and still get a handball out. The difference between Oliver and Cripps or Kennedy is that he is quick. I know, he doesn't look like he is, but he is. The assumption with an inside player is they are one-paced plodders often with good endurance, Oliver bucks that. He is quick and has decent foot skills. "He accelerates through the contest," Melbourne player/coach performance manager Brendan McCartney said. "He is electric. He just has great power.

He already has one. "Chugga". http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5073408/rising-star-charlie-spargo-excited-ahead-of-afl-draft/

If you're good enough you're tall enough. If you're not ...