Garbo

Agree with all of that, just wanted to add that we are still one of the youngest teams going round and were always going to tire in the 2nd half of the year just as we did last season. The disappointing thing is we should have been a few wins better off which would have allowed for this drop off and to still play finals. Also I'm concerned for Viney it has become clear that he wasn't ready for the captaincy, although he has had some great games this year they have been out numbered by the poor games, he should have been concentrating on getting his game to an elite level before worrying about captaining the team. Sometimes a player needs to be held back for there own good.

Nothing in the short term, him or frost would be dropped against some teams, if tmac goes back again then both could be out at stages. Long term you would keep one as back up and trade the other, At this stage I rate them both fairly equally but I think omac has more upside so u keep him

In the afl era, Melbourne has never had a midfield star but we have had some damm good players, Cam Bruce, Yze, Viney and Tingay, Jones would be at the top of my list. Oliver could go past them but hasn't done so by a long way yet, as a pure mid I haven't see a better start to a career so much so it is easy overlook how exceptional he has been for a 19 yo 30 something game player, his average games are better than his peers best games so far.

The difference is Lever wants out and is out of contract, if he nominates dees the crows either take what we offer or they get nothing. Its a balancing act as you want to keep a good relationship with other team in case the shoe is ever on the other foot and if he nominated for the draft we would need to use a first round pick anyway, so that becomes the starting point. Ideally you find a player on our list who is looking for more opportunity and we can afford to lose, a number of our inside mids fill this criteria (ANB the obvious choice, Tyson doesn't as clearly unless you think he is on the way out.) Then add a pick on top and deal done, depending on the quality of the player going with it this would vary but any best 22 player shouldn't need to be paired with a with a round 1

Beggars can't be choosers, if he nominates us then we would be Crazy to give up a 1st 2nd and a best 22 up and coming player. I wouldn't be at all surprised if ANB took a similar trajectory to what matt crouch has this year next year. This trade doesn't have to be a win-win, the time of dees fighting for scraps from other teams needs to end and part of been a destination club is bending the other teams over the proverbial barrel at trade time. It's also important in the long run we keep our first round picks so as we can continue draft high quality players, we are still a long way from the top and more than 1 player from been a flag contender, selling the farm is not the smart way forward at this point

Don't think the price will be that steep, something like ANB (from SA out of contract) and our 2nd rounder would get the deal done.

I think Weideman and Pedersen should come in for Hogan and Watts, Vince and Jones come in for Hannan and Trengove. Tmac also may need to help out down back on the weekend so even if Watts stays in an extra tall might be required.

Its not what he said its what he didn't say. The normal response would be that they love it at club x and want to play on there next year but just need to work out the details. What he said was "I'm pretty happy here and I'm working through that each week, its good to be working through that, I think I've to to focus more on my football and executing each week" not a huge difference but we can hope.

On years where it's there home game and we only play them once we get an extra game at the g compaired to now, not a bad trade off and presumably a reason why they gave up the home game in the first place

I honestly don't get all the hoopla around Lever, Sure he's a good player but the way most here are talking and what you are willing to give up you must be expecting him to be one of the best players in the entire league which is simply not and will not be the case. Outside of Silvagni when has this ever been the case with a backman. KP backs are the one position where you can get away with NQR players as they offer most of the benifits at a fraction of the cost, you want to put your picks/money into mids and fwds. For comparison, not saying Oscar is better but not that far off either

Would Jasper Pittard be worth picking up, he is a free agent and wouldn't cost much salary wise, and he would certainly add more depth to the list, I wouldn't expect him to play many unless we have injures but would be handy as a just in case type

I don't mean they take 4 to 5 years to show anything but I think most here would agree that JKH has at times shown something at AFL level it just not consistently enough, if he can find that consistently and build from there he will have a place in the team. Which is hugely different to say what Toumpas showed in his time which was basically nothing

That may well be the case but so long as he shows something I can see him getting another contract after this. He is only a year older than Stretch who everyone (including myself) want to given as many chances as possible, It seems certain players always fall afoul quicker than others, ANB was another one people kept wanting to write off at 21 and look at him now. Most players unless they are an out and out gun take until there 4th or 5th year to really start showing something.

I think people are way too quick to write off JKH, hes 22 and just started playing some regular football again this year, he still has improvement to come as his body matures, if he's still at this level in another 2 years then we can start talking.

If Jetta is out Wagner comes straight back in and Pedo for Gawn if he doesn't get up. No other changes unless Jones is ready. Did any one see Oliver at training if so how was he looking?

Was ok, but only 1 contested possession is a worry, him and jkh are out when vince and jones are back, probably sits behind bugg to. But good on him a lesser person would have given up and retired already

I was more referring to the hawks team that won the flags. At any rate my point was more around not selling the farm to get players in either via trades or big $. Getting someone like Lever in will require both these. What does that mean for say Petracca when he comes out of contract, how can the team sell the line that he should stay for less when we bring in mercenaries on big $ Omeara was a horrible trade and one that I hope demons don't replicate

The hit was graded as intentional conduct with low impact to the head. I don't like that he won't be playing but I don't see how anyone could argue with a straight face that any of these are not the case. No one should be raising the elbow as the run past so that's the intentional and he plainly got him to the head, the grading of low impact certainly isn't out of line with others this year

Although the result was disappointing, a big positive was that JKH had his best game that I can recall, I don't think he would have got that chance if Jones Tyson and Viney were playing. I didn't agree before last week but I truly think now that Hogan should have come back through via the VFL, but what's done is done probably holds his spot from here on out.

I wouldn't be surprised if Trengove has already told the club he's retired and just wants to play out the year and help the younger players coming through in the vfl, similar to Cross a few years back

How does Smith survive over Stretch, I know Stretch hasn't been great but what has smith done, looked completely out of his depth last week and has only had one game in the vfl coming into that, the kid must have pictures of someone or something.

Didn't like our chances last week against blues with the outs we had but we just got over the line, no chance against crows unfortunately unless the mids lift significantly, looking at Vince, Kent, Hunt and Stretch as musts to lift on last weeks effort if we are to be any chance

Couldn't have said it better, someone else said he looks scared to make a mistake, which is also true as this could be his last chance, he's 23 and should be about to hit the prime of his career and he's still in and out of the team, and being passed by more players every year

He's a restricted free agent, if the price is right why not, at minimum he is an upgrade on our bottom few in the 22, at his best he would be in our first dozen players. All we lose by picking up a player like him is 600k or so for a few years less than we have given up for Melksham and Hibberd considering we also had to trade for them.

I hope we arent trying to get him or Kelly, I can only think of 2 big trades Hawks: Burgoyne and Dogs: Boyd (arguably would have won anyway and forced by Griffen walking) to teams who then went on to win a flag, it's the smart trades for a player on the outer at there current side or the free agent since you give nothing up in return you want to go after. The hawks are the best example of this, they trageted free agents and players needing a 2nd chance. That or you draft a premiership team like the cats. You don't have to look far for the converse. Swans recently with Tippett and Buddy, Cats with Danger, Blues with Daisy and Judd, Pies with Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams, Tigers with Prestia, Lions with Fevola, us with Mitch Clarke, Hawks this year for O'meara. I'm sure there are many more but you get the point