Gator

Your maths don't quite work for me. I suspect he's on $500K per year, so we're paying 15% over two years, which would be $150,000, or $75,000 per year. Well, that's how I read it.

Tom McDonald kick 5 goals in a game last year having trained as a defender for years. Sam Blease kicked 5 in a game. I couldn't care if he kicks 10 and wins their B&F. The MFC outgrew Watts.

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.

You won't have to worry. Gawn highlighted in his commentary on AFLX how good and competitive he was in "one on one contests". It was the first thing he highlighted about him and needless to he wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. And you would have already noticed his courage in the air at Casey and JLT games.

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 wish him no luck at all. I don't wish any opposition player "luck". When his career is over I'll have some fond memories and respect him as a former MFC player. But for now he wears colours I can't stand.

Get Fritsched.

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.

Fritsch has courage in the air.l

There's one massive difference between Fritsch and Watts. What is it ?

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/

It's like you're trying to explain away voting for the Greens once. There's no excuse.

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

How anyone can be apathetic about what jumper and colours your team wears is beyond me. Players come and go, but the glue that knits generations of fans together is the jumper and colours. One can try and place themselves above such menial matters in an attempt to seem more enlightened, but you've just taken a position that is at odds with footy, reason, and passion. Naturally, fans put up with it, as there's little choice, but how anyone couldn't care or could even embrace a clash jumper beggars belief. I assume such supporters wouldn't give a yelp if the club decided to push for a permanent change to green and aqua. I find the position disingenuous.

Steven Smith was OK. But little more than that.