stevethemanjordan

@Satyriconhome As someone who has grown up playing and watching this game from a young age, it is a plain ol' fact that if you miss any component of a pre-season training, it is deemed an interrupted one. The word 'fitness' is a broad one and you're referring strictly to a single component known as cardiovascular endurance. Off-seasons (aka pre-pre-seasons) and pre-seasons are the only times of the year in which a player can improve and make gains in every component of fitness required to play the game. These components consist not only of aerobic and anaerobic fitness but also components such as muscular strength and power, coordination, flexibility, agility and more. We have players who have had surgery on shoulders, knees, feet and more. All of which means they'll be restricted in what they can do. Harmes and Oliver as an example will be well behind in upper body strength and power and will not be able to make the same gains and improvements had they not had surgery. Thus, an interruption in their programs. Viney and Petracca with foot and and knee surgery have similarly not had the same head start in their running as those who have not had surgery. Thus, an interruption. It remains to be seen whether or not the number of players we have in rehab/missing parts of the program will have an impact come the start of the season. Whilst I agree that the majority are at least able to do most of the running part of pre-season, you've cast a blind eye over pretty much every other component of fitness which at this level, are all extremely important given how competitive the game is.

The only positive out of our lengthy rehab group is that 90% are able to run unhindered, which is clearly the most important part of pre-season. I think that's what the bearded man means when he says their pre-seasons are 'not interrupted'. Even if by definition of the word, they are.

Amazing. You've just defined the term 'interrupted pre-season'.

*facepalms*

The AFL have to please 17 other clubs. When's the last time we travelled in round 1? Seriously, lol at demonland and some of the complaining posters.

Our backline has gone from a shambles three to four years ago to now being a strength. We've added Hibberd, Lewis, Lever and now May. It's unbelievable. Not in my time once as a supporter have felt confident in our back six as an entire unit. And now I will be. To my ears, it sounds as if many posters who have questioned the May trade haven't actually watched him play, or nearly enough of him. Let me elaborate. In May, we're getting pretty much exactly what Frost offered us in terms of speed and offensive play from our back-half. However, unlike Frost, May is an exceptional one-on-one defender and intercept player, he has elite foot-skills for a key defender, he is super smart and composed with ball in hand and he plays with a similar intensity to Viney both at the ball and man. He is similar to Rance in that he has the closing speed and awareness to leave his opponent and halve contests that otherwise would be pencilled in as a win for opposition sides. That trait is extremely special. He is a leader and former captain. His aggression and presence are going to change the entire look and feel of our defence. During the year, I am certain that opposition key forwards would have been strolling into our backline, seeing Oscar and Frost as our key defenders and thinking they'd have a day-out. Franklin, Riewoldt, Kennedy, Hawkins. All of them would have licked their lips. May's addition in that sense is enormous. Opposition sides know that May is aggressive and plays to hurt, and that advantage is significant. Opposition forwards second guessing at contests is exactly what you want as a defender. I can't remember ever having that in our backline save maybe for Jetta on smaller forwards, but never key forwards. They've always had something laugh at. Posters really do underestimate what he's going to provide and the onflow effect he'll have. His arrival is as big as any imo.

Let's wait it out, ey? I doubt anyone could foresee Brayshaw get to the level of performance he has after serious concussions. Yet here we are. Who's to say KK won't? The only part of your post that rings true is that May and Hogan are not in anyway alike. Well done for pointing that out. One is a full forward, the other is a full back.

Posters who are unhappy about this trade period need to relax and revisit this in 5 years time. The same posters complained about Melksham. A player who had the best year of his career to date this season. Do these naysayers know that since Roos took over, we're the only club to have a moved in a consistently upward linear fashion year upon year? Where has this view that 'Mahoney always gets pantsed' come from? There is absolutely zero evidence to show for it if looking at our results year after year since the Roos rebuild. Wake the fuckark up you ninnies. We just made a prelim without Hogan and have addressed a pressing backline need by nabbing a former number 5 draft pick, who is still seriously untapped as well as a player who footy experts say would be an AA key back in a better side. Both of them for a pick 6.

The 'mighty' dees eh eh eh?!

Don't ever post here again. Kind regards, Steve.

There's no doubt May would have taken notice of the way we play footy and part of the attraction in coming to us would be to play alongside some the other tough and uncompromising types we have on our list. Anyone watching us against Geelong and the way our youngsters made Selwood, Ablett and Dangerfield earn every touch would have been impressed. None of our young guys back away from heat. May and Pruess will not only make us walk even taller, but they'll walk taller themselves. We now have the toughest side in the comp. Of that I'm sure and oppo sides won't like it.

I love Simon Goodwin.

Well I beg your pardon Binman, you're in the minority. Part of me feels sad about losing Jess. But I'm super excited about landing May, KK and grabbing a pick in the 20's. May will be absolutely enormous for us. His value goes beyond game-day ability. Opposition sides would never have once felt 'scared' about walking into a back six that contained Oscar and Frost. That will change now.

No, they're disappointed about 'pick value' that we're getting back. Nothing else.

Why awful? Posters are complaining and trade period is not even over. They have no idea what we'll end up with and they refuse to look at the picture at large. If we don't win a flag in the next 5 years and Hogan takes Freo to one, that's when I'll admit that the trade was a fail or that we got 'unders' for Hogan.

Pin this. Take note, nuffies.

Lol at posters like you.

I feel like we have the same local.

I find you highly amusing. How them tea leaves going?

Jeez, what a wild bet.

Look, anyone that has a clue about footy knows May is quality and should be back to his best in a good side like ours. It's really simple. Those that don't rate him clearly don't watch enough of him or are just clueless. One can only laugh when posters start talking about which opposition player kicked what amount of goals on him. It's just massive lols. If one's understanding of football only goes that far, there's no point in engaging further with them.

If we win a flag, the idea that we lost out on 'picks' will hold no weight. This is about the value of May and KK for us over the next 2-5 years vs Hogan. That's all that we should be worrying about. Yet for some reason, supporters have become brainwashed regarding draft picks and value. Because once upon a time it's all we had to look forward to. The other thing I'd like to point out is the fact that draft picks are also a risk. So really, y'all are kicking up a fuss about nothing.

If we win a flag in the next 2-5 years on the back of a ballsy decision to effectively do a straight swap of Hogan for May and KK, picks won't matter one iota. Will they? Player movement has never been more active, the landscape is always changing and supporters need to get with the times. Whilst some of you worry about draft picks, clubs like Essendon, Collingwood, St Kilda, Hawthorn etc are becoming increasingly aggressive in this domain. Think for a minute how competitive the top 8 will be next year? The are 12 + teams who can make it. Goodwin and co have clearly identified that our window is here and it's now and our most pressing need is shoring up our defence as it was clearly our biggest weakness last year and was the sole reason teams were able to stay with us during games last year. My feeling is we're going to do a deal and there will be some unhappy posters on demonland. But I also have the feeling that Goody, being the ruthless, uncompromising competitor he is, wants a flag next year and can see we're within reach. Here's our chance.

You genuinely have no idea. Well done.

Trade week can get [censored].