Gator

Against Footscray in slippery conditions he couldn't hold his marks. At the other end Sam Darcy was one-grabbing contested marks in the same greasy conditions. I like JVR and anybody is better than Weideman, but I don't consider him to be presently a strong mark, nor do I think he'll compete well one-on-one against AFL bodies. He is however a very smart player at ground level and very athletic. He's the only 194+cm key forward on our list with a leap. Our key position forward stocks are presently so woeful I'm not against van Rooyen debuting soon.

van Rooyen is a two-grabber. He also dropped an easy chest mark from a perfect pass. Dropping chest marks is my pet hate. Infuriating. He's a smart player with plenty of ability, but he's also a fair way off AFL level for mine. That said, they named him as an emergency, so he may not be far off getting a taste.

Notionally, I'm not overly fussed if Brayshaw leaves, although I don't think he will. He's never finished top 5 in our B&F and in terms of importance I wouldn't have him in our top ten players. I rank him about twelth. For me, he's behind Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, May, Lever, Fritsch, Salem, Viney, Langdon, Pickett, Jackson, and Petty (not in order). He's a solid B grader, maybe B+. He has no dash and doesn't create, but he's terribly brave, smart, and reliable. Unlike DSpencer, I think his kicking off both feet has been very good this year. I'd rather he stay because we won't get commensurate value if he leaves. I attended a Q&A night with Brendan McCartney a few years back and he was no fan of Angus and was very unsure if the ''penny would ever drop''. He was questioning his maturity. Clearly it has and Gus has become a much-loved member of the footy club and also a leader. The fact that he's a Melbourne premiership player is also important to me. From a playing perspective I won't be too perturbed if he departs, but from a cultural aspect I hope and suspect he stays.

I suspect both considered her the best talent available. The AFL have introduced quotas with regards to female coaches and obviously management at 7 thought she'd broaden their audience. She's articulate, personable and if you wanted a female in the commentary box I doubt you'd look further.

Daisy is OK. Doesn't do a lot for me, but there are plenty worse. She does have some good insight. She wasn't selected on merit, more-so her sex, but it is what it is and she's shown enough in the role to suggest she's not misplaced. Garry Lyon annoys me the most, because he never shuts up. He must be paid by the word. He also repeats the same point so many times. I have to mute it. I'm also not mad on Nathan Jones. But he'll get better. It would be daunting in your first year. With experience I'm sure he won't sound so subservient. Kelli Underwood is easily the worst caller I've ever heard. The voice and hackneyed cliches are the pits. Thankfully, she gets the graveyard timeslot. Once again, she's not calling based on merit. Oh for meritocracy. But it's not the world we live in. Clearly ^^^ dubdee will have a conniption at my comments. C'est la vie.

Should have been a 10 goal loss. Fumble fumble fumble. Our fringe players were hopeless. Connection inside 50 deplorable. That said, they can turn things around.

He has one major issue he won't be able to overcome. He's too slow. van Rooyen is athletic. Sam is the opposite. He's a gap filler at best.

So they were a dynasty team during the season of 2017 even before they'd won their first flag since 1980 ? We have different views of what defines the term ''dynasty''.

Good teams with aspirations to be great, or even a dynasty team, don't lose 4 games in a row. Especially at their home ground. They need to find a way to get it done tonight. Much will be revealed.

I know they want Brayshaw to stay back and he's played very well in defence, but it's worth considering moving him back to the wing. Structurally it worked well last year. It also allows us to bring Rivers back, who we need to continue to develop. Hibberd in for Hunt is another consideration. A key forward with presence would also help.

Patent nonsense. Petracca received coaches votes in rounds 7, 8, 9, and 10, including the most votes in round 9 and the second most in round 10. I'm all for pointing out deficiencies in a players game, but I prefer stuff isn't made up.

If Jackson is OK to play and Petty is also right to go, I'd be keeping Weideman over McDonald. A simple decision I would have thought.

He was a teenager in the GF and plays the entire year as a 20 year old.

It's about context. Crying in certain scenarios is fine, but I'm not wanting to run out next to a guy who cries in the rooms after a loss. I know all the arguments that support such emotions, such as how much losing obviously means to that person, etc., but it's not what I want to see in a teammate of mine after a loss, especially in round 2. It's pathetic.

While Pert didn't say the person had left the club, he chose two key words in response to the question as to whether the person who leaked had left the club. He said the situation had been ''dealt with'' and that he'd never been at a more unified club. It's patently clear they're gone.

I disagree.

It all starts at the source and the midfield was spanked. We lack a little depth and class there, which we can cope with if all play really well, but if one or two drop off (like Viney) then we can get exposed.

Luke Breust and Jack Gunston have both been star footballers and All-Australians. I've watched from afar with envy, as they've both been so valuable in their ability to hit the scoreboard and complement Hawthorn's key forwards (and Cyril) in their dominant premiership years. Neither have ever kicked goals more than Fritsch did in 2021 (Gunston equalled once - Breust best is 57). And it's never been harder to hit the scoreboard than in 2021. Fritsch is only 25 and his best years lie ahead. He is a role player, but tell me anyone who plays his role better. The last two years running Fritsch has taken the 5th most marks inside 50. The last non key forward to do that (top 5) was Steve Johnson in 2010. It's easy to downplay Fritsch but his role is just about as valuable as it gets in my eyes.

I'm pretty certain he wants to stay, but I'm also certain that our salary cap will be getting tight. I'll quote a Dees poster from BF (billyboutsis): ''His current contract is approx 625k a season which was renewed when he was having a breakout season in 2018… Was great for us when it counted last season but its a lot of cap space for a player playing out of his natural position. Langdon is on a bit less than 500k for context. Happy for him to stay if they can resign him in the mid 500’s, otherwise emotions aside he is the one player who would be of value to another club, “replaceable” and frees up space to hold onto the younger regular first teamers who would be due a considerable bump up in their 1st or 2nd contract renewals.'' Billy's views perfectly sum up mine. I don't know how accurate his comments are, but they sound about right. I like Angus and understand the ''fabric of the club'' argument, but he's definitely a player I don't want to be paying too much to retain.

Higgins played in the prelim.

It's worth noting that players such as Narkle and Dahlhaus were both available for selection but overlooked for the prelim. Instead the ''ill'' Brad Close (one of the 6) was chosen to play ahead of them. Close isn't that far ahead of either that you'd take a risk with an unwell player if you didn't have to. It makes you wonder how sick Close really was, especially as he had more disposals in the prelim than his season average. It's fair to say I'm a little sceptical as to how much of an effect this illness had on the actual game.

Really pleased you started this thread, Pickett. Viney had a fantastic finals series and great back half of the year. Like others, I reckon he's improved his game and he's not trying to do too much. He's playing more within his limitations and the beneficiaries have most certainly been the dynamic duo. Gawn, Oliver, Petracca and Viney is as good as it gets in the centre square. 12 clearances in the GF is the second most ever in a grand final and his family mut be thrilled that he played so well in a drought breaking premiership.

Ah, the David Koch school of pronunciation.

It's the worst stat in football. The best players are always well represented, especially mids at the coalface.

Without wishing to be a pedant. For accuracy, we were behind by 44 points at approx. the 19 minute mark of the third quarter and were behind by 32 points at 3/4 time.