John Demonic

I've never said A graders are all intelligent. i said our need is both an elite A Grader AND an elite leader on and off the field, if we want to challenge for a premiership. So we should be looking to acquire a player with the intelligent attributes that make him virtually an on-field coach. If Hodge was available 5 years ago, he would have been the kind of player who was worth throwing ridiculous amounts of money at. So too Judd, Ablett, Fyfe. They're unique players in that they combine both ability and an in-depth understanding of how the game is to be played by themselves and their teammates, and so they can direct. If they're too hard to find, fine. But we certainly need more mature and intelligent leaders on the field who contribute meaningfully on game-day.

My initial point was suggesting that if we want to make that extra push up the ladder and compete for a premiership, then we need another mature and intelligent head in the team who can help lead the squad when it needs a strong voice on the field when momentum is against us. You're looking for a player that knows exactly what needs to be done, that has the same eyes as the coaches. If we're the youngest club then it goes without saying that we've got a lot of young and immature kids. I said the general trait with the elite players and leaders is that they're pretty well spoken and their thought process is clear. Fyfe, Dangerfield, Ablett - They're all intelligent and mature people. All I'm saying is if we're trying to bring in an elite player then make sure he's an intelligent person off the field as well as on the field. Sam Mitchell is not dumb, he's a fast thinking player that assesses multiple options instantaneously and generally chooses the right move. And when you hear him speak off the field, he explains quite clearly how the game played out. I also stressed that that there are exceptions, but i personally think that the absolute elite players are also very intelligent people who assess and make the right decisions at the crucial moments and move to the right place with or without the ball. Chris Judd is another example. It's common knowledge that Viney is going to be captain very soon and I just made the case perhaps too bluntly, that he's too young and has not developed a great understanding of the game yet. He's one of those players who while answering questions on point, still repeats a lot of cliche's in interviews and seems far away from being the kind of elite player who will consistently perform at an elite level. If Roosy said we're missing an A Grader, then I think what he meant was our very own Judd in the making, or Dangerfield in the making. The kind of player the entire club and the outside media gravitates towards. A marquee player who is the voice and soul of the club on and off the field. Maybe Max Gawn can develop into that player or Petracca down the line. TL;DR Recruit an elite player who you can see being a coach or the kind of thinker that wouldn't look out of place in the commentary box doing special comments, if you want a player/leader that will help challenge for a premiership. Hodge and Riewoldt both provide insightful analysis into the game while commentating, so recruit a player with as in depth an understanding as they have or a player you see with that potential in them because that's the kind of leader you want at the clutch. Hogan for Fyfe anyone?

I knew the minute he was drafted by the Hawks that he'd be their next Spangher and he'd be playing in September. It's an awful kind of vindication when Clarkson selects one of your discards. Oh what? Clarko wants him? Can we take him back? Donkeyness aside, he had a bit of 'cult figure' to him. He could clunk some good pack marks. Was actually one of my favourite players when he played, purely for his uniqueness. But such is the price you pay when you play Tunnel Ball with Paul Roosy's heart

Hodge like Judd, is an insightful commentator on sunday footy and Mitchell is well spoken and reads the play better than everyone, just because they're thugs doesn't make them unintelligent. Hawthorn have won 3 premierships on the back of their intelligent performances that came from reading the play in a sweeping role and midfield clearance role. Vineys performance this week and last reiterates my point, he needs more years to develop his understanding of the game so he has the class to match someone like Dangerfield or even Cripps. Until then we should look at drafting an elite player with a good understanding of the game that has mature leadership attributes that can help us quell the damage from opposition momentum. Bernie Vince is another example of a player who has been playing dumb lately and not providing adequate on field leadership.

Hawthorn the only team in the top 4 to be playing at their home ground this weekend It's their reward for scraping in with 2 minutes to go in round 23 and having a percentage that's 30 points lower than everyone else. The only good thing to come of it is the first week of the finals look far more competitive without adel at the scg or gws at the mcg

No Fitzy No Hawthorn Collingwood really didn't deserve to be in it when the Collingwood player disabled Fitzy in the goal square and they took a mark and kicked a goal.

Pick 27 Feels so dirty

FITZY

What was it that Lake or Lewis said? They put the 3 umpires names and pictures up on the board every game and some of the players say 'hello Ray, how's it going?' etc. I think he said they do everything they can to get an edge.

Are Essendon barracking for Collingwood so they get pick 26 for Hibberd instead of 27? Nah mate, we're all united in our hatred for Hawthorn

The Dogs really have no reason to exert much energy if the AFL aren't scheduling their home final at Etihad

No need to feed Essendon the attention. Gold Coast will get a trade done with someone other than Essendon. Some of their fans are disgusting though " we can get Jaeger for free" when no other clubs went the grievance tribunal route.

Fitzy lining up for his second shot on goal in 5 minutes. First one a shanked behind. 2nd one a shanked goal :D

Is Hogan beginning his career in the right era? I'm starting to question this more and more as I see the lanky athletic types, big bodied 200cm ruckmen style forwards and the small forwards impose themselves on the contest while the stay at home forwards are being EASILY outnumbered? Or held onto in a grappling 1on1. Would Cloke even make a mark again if he was starting his career in 2014 ? Tony Lockett would be easily nullified within the context of the modern day zone. He'd contribute his 30-50, but never more. As others have said, We need him up the ground, leading hard, taking marks and turning quickly to bring it to an open forward line when the game is in the clinch and we need the TEX style gamebreaker OR we need him on the end of the fast centre clearance as the traditional FF when its going our way. I think the pack marking forward or one on one wrestling full forward era is over. I'd rather have a Majak daw leaping over the packs than a player within a pack being outnumbered. I hope i'm wrong and Hogan throws an egg on my face next year. He deserves one more year to prove himself before any attempt is made to trade

The 2013 Melbourne would have lost by 200 points yesterday. We've seen over the last few years that middle of the table sides can get flogged if they don't show up. Geelong last year lost by 111 points to Sydney. Ess with their '12' in the squad got done by 100 points a few times. I know 100 point defeats are terrible and shouldn't be accepted, but they're not as disasterous or rare as they're made out to be. Hawthorn were a 10 minute patch from losing by 100 to GWS. There aren't that many teams that can keep their worst under 100 points, So I do think the gap has narrowed.

1Syd 2Geel 3Haw 4GWS 5-18 Deluded Brought to you by the AFL

Why aren't the Bombers being given the same draft pick they got last year, ie where they would have finished with their 12 players. It's a disgrace that Jaeger could walk to the Bombers without the club having to give GCS anything ,when Bris are the real bottom table club

From Reddit: If Brisbane score 50, StKilda need 82. If Brisbane score 55, StKilda need 90. If Brisbane score 60, StKilda need 98. If Brisbane score 65, StKilda need 106. If Brisbane score 70, StKilda need 114. If Brisbane score 75, StKilda need 122.

This would put more pressure on O'Meara now that his only 'walk' option is to go to Brisbane? Karma?

Got to 66-19 on the Delay, and decided it would be better to just check the live scores and do something else.

Its quarter time on the delayed telecast and we could use a player like Tom Mitchell sticking some of these tackles that our soft as butter (in the last 1.25 games) midfield are not sticking. He might want to hoard some of their studded boots from the Swans before coming. We slip over so often

I hope the Kangas beat GWS so I can at least think that it was beyond our power, even if we did beat Geelong today and Carlton.

That was one of the best performances by any team of the year. Clinical and almost perfect in execution, aside from some shots they missed in the 2nd half they should have won by 50+. Adelaide will have a bye to gather again which may be fortunate for them. Eagles are in it and can definitely win it if they continue playing like that. Of Note: We can prevent Geelong from making top 2. We also may decide whether Hawthorn play Geel or GWS at the MCG If Kangas & Coll can't beat them. I'd like to see GWS destroy the Hawks at the G personally. Geelong are boring. Oh nice, if Hawthorn, GWS lose and Dogs win, Hawthorn v GWS could be 6v7

It's the racists, xenophobes and homophobes that are bringing their politics into the ground, not the other way around. So Yes, The AFL should lead aka respond to the social issues that people continue bringing into the stadium.

We have a first round pick, it's just your opinion that we shouldn't use it is what I mean. No club will ever be without a first round pick to trade.