No10

I can imagine a lot of bluffing. Expecting Adelaide to trade above Carl for Draper. Nth might prefer moving to 6 but we’re pressing on Tauru at 5… I guess it hinges on who we actually want… I think Langford fits us best. Think he’s the most exciting player in the draft. FOS looks brilliant to me also, but some on here who’d know better don’t rate him so highly. Smith is probably an extremely effective player, he’s just the type of player that I’m personally less excited to watch.

Feel like this is massively likely. And it’s FOS instead. Minor possibility for Smith. Carl can’t go past Lalor if he’s there. If Rich go for Smith. We might be FOS. Personally, I like FOS and then Langford as the two best players in the draft.

I know this isn’t a phantom, but how is the widely expected No 1 draft player ranked 6? FOS is No 1 for me.

That handball and block is a nice section of play. The 2:40 mark has Lalor marking that I see every time he’s mentioned. Interesting that the kick came from Langford, nice entry, well placed into the space. At 4:20 Langford takes a better mark. I really don’t think Labor goes at #1. And I don’t think Langford lasts until #5

It seems likely P5 will be more equivalent to P1 than P10. I also think Rich will take Smith at P1. Then Nth won’t trade down, but take Tauru at P2, he’s exactly what they need. Carl might love FOS but I’d bet they go Cripps#2 Lalor P3. Adel go Draper P4. At P5 we take Langford or FOS ? Either player is worth holding onto P5 for, and neither will be there at P10

I actually think the Tigers have gone too far. Too many kids at once. Not enough senior talent to steer them to best results. We’ve been there.

It’s all gossip on the MFC. But the reality is that we kept our two guns. And another 12 months is a long time in football. In terms of results: ANB leaving was handled with respect and an adequate result. And Harry Sharp is a nice potential replacement. The real brilliance is the draft hand. Posters here were suggesting we could get multiple first round picks, I don’t think anyone thought 2 x top 10 was possible. For our list profile, 2 of the highest rated talents is the perfect outcome. I hope we don’t split p9 and I doubt we will. In this draft p5 is first tier and not a lot less valuable than p1. And p9 is somewhat a wildcard with so many talented kids in that range. I have very little love for Houston, overrated, glad we moved on. I have no idea what the MFC could’ve done better. A+

Amazing that getting thumped by Collingwood in the final round dropped us from this p9 to our current p5. I don't want to trade down the order as we're in the prime spot at p5 imv. However, an Essendon death ride would be epic fun for 2025

Houston situation is setting up to be embarrassing. Two first rounders is absurd. I actually think we’ll land him with our F1 and some swaps to look complicated. Saves face for Port pretending that it could be top 5 pick next year and sends Houston to Vic.

Gawn unable to watch hits hard. Beautifully said Gus

I will dissent. Although that premiership was a magical moment and hard earned in its own way. It wasn’t under the pressure of the MCG and all that comes with a traditional finals series. For which I’d argue we’ve shown deficiencies. We need to win it at the G. And we will.

Agree about captain hindsight going on here. Perhaps worth considering that the Trac family are emotional (or not the most emotionally mature?) and in that instance it might’ve been smart to send someone from the club to help mediate. The club should know its players and partner/family well enough to make that assessment. In this case, maybe it was not the best management by the club?

I usually like Caro honestly, I know that’s not a popular opinion here. This all reads to me as fairly standard. Epworth is the closest and a highly rated hospital. He was then transferred to the Alfred for specialist care. The biggest issue appears to be the emotional impact a phone call from the hospital to his girlfriend that alarmed her. That seems to have escalated the emotional response tremendously. However, these calls are common and steer toward worst case. Ultimately, most people who have had this kind of experience understand that’s part of life and move on, for whatever reason that doesn’t seem to have been the case and the trauma increased. I would also say, without any medical insight, that the fact he was given a full vaccination has to be considered as a known factor for the appendicitis that followed. Not sure that’s avoidable in the situation, but a shame those events happened so close together.

I can agree Kate did the honourable thing stepping down quietly. The rest… I give her the benefit of the doubt at this moment. Brad Green as interim president, I like it. He’s had great challenges off field and while captain he had good energy. His views on lockdowns have been validated, to say anything against those decisions at that time took courage. He has good attributes.

President of the MFC is a highly desirable role. Communicating effectively with the “garbage media, pundits and supporters” are all key elements to being successful at the role. Perhaps Kate is stepping aside for personal reasons, perhaps her abilities didn’t meet the challenges of the role. But the role is distinguished and anyone given this prestigious title, to then step away early, is going to raise questions.