grazman

I think if Jack gets traded a few supporters on here need to be careful about jumping to conclusions based on some fairly flimsy logic. Just because some of the FD aren't unanimous about trading him doesn't mean that the decision to trade him is wrong. Goodwin does not equal Neeld. There is no indication to me that he's a tyrant like Neeld; what I've heard since assuming control is how the players love him. Just because Roos wouldn't trade Jack similarly doesn't mean that Roos thinks Goodwin is wrong. Paul made mention of the fact he didn't know what was going on with the situation. Jack is an amazingly talented footballer who can do things many on the list can't and that is a very good reason not to trade him, however both the FD and players this year have vocalised their disappointment in his preparation and I assume that in terms of setting standards that a threshold has been reached with Jack. We really don't know what his relationship with Goodwin is, (it maybe better than most here assume) nor do we understand what the conversation between them has been. I assume it was open and transparent and others at the club were aware of what was being asked. IF Jack hasn't met that, or worse has failed to honour any commitments he's given - then how does any coach look the rest of the playing group in the eye.

His comments were in relation to a question he was asked about Jack. He was careful in his response. He said he was a massive Jack Watts fan and he thought it would be a mistake to trade him, but he wasn't criticising the club and said he didn't know what was going on there. He also made mention of outsiders commenting on the inner workings of a club when they weren't in full possession of the facts.

So a bidding war?

I don't think Roos anointed Goodwin as his successor because he thought he'd be his clone. Pretty sure he was after someone that had a clear vision and an idea how to achieve it. I didn't hear any criticism from Roos in that interview of either Goodwin or the club if they trade Jack. All his comments were prefaced with if it was him he wouldn't do it, but he's not in a position to know. He clearly loves Jack, but he also commented on outsiders second guessing clubs when they didn't have all the facts.

Didn't work for Trent Croad.

Because their disposal is even worse than ours!

Yeah, nah. There's a slim chance he might not get traded, but it will be more about what the club wants in return and about what potential suitors might offer. Goodwin is building a list on competitiveness and that is a non-negotiable. We all love Jack Watts for what he can do in terms of disposal and decision making, but he simply isn't a competitor in the mould of a Viney, Hogan, Oliver, Petracca etc. I don't blame him he was drafted without much football behind him at all and plays the game very much like a basketballer and not like a footballer. While I'll miss his elite kicking, I won't be screaming at him to keep his feet in a contest.

Which is what leaders do. Coaches rarely get the opportunity to pass the blame anyway. I'd be worried if there was a chorus of approval in deciding to trade him, but it sounds like Goodwin knows what he wants from his list. If everyone around the club thought Jack should be traded, then in all likelihood he probably has little trade currency anyway. Too many supporters baulk at trades based on what the player may do at his new club, but the decision to trade a player should be solely based on the metrics at hand and improving the list/culture and not on what 'might' happen. Colin Sylvia 'might' have fulfilled his potential at Fremantle after teasing Melbourne supporters for so long and on that basis should have been offered another contract - but then again maybe the club was happy for him to walk and get the compensation.

I think the idea that Stringer is a scapegoat is over-reaching a tad. I think there's enough smoke to suggest a very large fire when it comes to his off field behaviour and he'll be hoist on his own petard! There are others in the same boat, and maybe Bevo is of the opinion that 12 months on and deep into a premiership hangover,that one head on a spike might be enough of a warning to others to tow the company line. Then again the problems maybe so deep that it's more than just a warning to the playing group its about excising dangerous cultural practices that if left to linger will completely ruin their chance at another tilt. Players like Stringer, Libba, and Biggs all mentioned and it maybe that none at the kennel next season.

No change. He's already made his decision and its unlikely to change based on the weighting of winning or losing a premiership. He's made a professional decision, based on a number of factors one of which will be increased remuneration over what he's paid at Adelaide. You aren't a footballer forever and he will make hay whilst the sun is shining.

I don't think you really understand the theory.

May not have come from us though.

West Australian. Being courted by Freo apparently mates with Harley Bennell.

RFA. I think he suits a need and I like him more than most obviously. Not that surprising that putside players go missing when the're getting towellwd up on the inside. Better disposer of the ball than most of our onballers.

Hibberd, Hunt, Melksham, Jetta, and Garlett yes. I think Harmes and Frost have to show more development to be considered genuine core. I've been surprised by both Melksham and ANB this year. Neither I would have considered best 22 at the start of the year, but they are now. I think next year we will start to see age catch up with Lewis (slow and doesn't body the ball) Vince (brain fades) and Jones (disposal). My prefrerence would be to only have two in the side at any one time. Tyson and Salem are the two I'm torn on.

I see our list development being behind the Bulldogs by about 12-18 months. They went backwards this year, but maybe being the hunted rather than the hunter had something to do with that. I was hoping we'd make eighth and try to replicate what they did last year starting with Port, but to be honest it would have been difficult given how poorly we were playing. I can't remember who it was, but there was a theory that we'd hit the wall at the back end of the season the way we did last year due to the fatigue of our list and that's clearly the way its looked. There's also no doubt that we are still mentally not consistent enough, but I actually think that's been the product of the season as well. Certainly I think for the first half of the year we improved massively on previous years, in terms of intensity and pressure. The second half of the year was far more patchy and similar to the past couple of seasons. Injuries also helped rob us of a lot of momentum as well. I think Goodwin was certainly treating the year as a development year and clearly players like Weideman and O Mac have been gifted games to get senior experience into them. Unlike others I think both are tracking relatively well considering their age and positions. I see Petracca, Hogan and Oliver and I see elite talent. We also have a core of younger players to support them. It would have been nice for Jones to have another shot at finals this year, but overall in terms of the ultimate prize it doesn't hurt to reinforce the playing group the consequence for not being 'switched on' in those crucial matches. I think with a better run of injuries to our better players and a more favourable draw that if we continue the same rate of improvements that we have been, then next year will see a much more consistent year. That doesn't mean that we don't have deficiencies to address. Firstly in terms of outside run and secondly in defence. Hopefully DE% will improve with further experience and practice with the game plan. Goodwin is all about competitiveness so I would expect some trades for those that don't measure up. In terms of the fixture for next year I hope we get North and Hawthorn in the first couple of rounds.

Helps thst they have most of the Qld stste of origin team...just saying it helps to have talent.

Garland provides depth while Joel Smith, who is a good size and can jump, develops.

I reckon they are, I also think the others might be West Coast, Essendon, St Kilda, Hawthorn and Freo.

They draw crowds and we don't,

The way you play is often dictated by the way the opposition play. There was an audible click after 6 minutes when GWS found the right gear. They lifted their intensity, started running in waves and generally played the conditions much better than we did.

It would be indeed, but if I'm the Crows recruiting manager I'd ask us to go back and have another go. I think another first round pick is more valuable than ANB, and trading the likes of a Frost/Tyson/Watts would potentially get you that.

It was cold yesterday let me tells ya! Losing didn't help warm me up either.

Having not seen the incident, I'll accept that Melksham will be suspended, otherwise he would have stayed. We have too many that torch the ball and too many inside mids and not enough outside run. Hannan and Stretch both need to come in to address that and potentially Brayshaw as well. I can't see a place in the 22 for Pedo with the way he played yesterday. Watts and Tyson must be on thin ice. Harmes, ANB and Maynard on the fringe.

From my vantage point on the fifty metre arc. 6. Gawn 5. Jetta 4. T Mac 3. Lewis 2. Oliver 1. O Mac.