ArtificialWisdom

I agree with most of this, he's a very good player but I think you're overstating his potential as a forward. If Josh came out and said he wanted to play for us absolutely I'd take him. But as a whole I have agree with @stevethemanjordan. He just offer a big enough point of difference to what we have. If someone like Brayshaw turned and said he was going to go play with his brother at Freo, then you'd have my attention. Josh would be a perfect replacement. But our midfield is pretty settled and has decent depth. We need genuine forwards, not midfielders who we put in the forward line

I think it's the hardest part of being a coach. But Goodwin's priority in the media is clear. He puts his players first. He always defends his players and that's why they love him. This is a trait he shares with all successful coaches of the last decade. He always uses united language. No I, me, them. It's always us, our and we. In a few weeks making finals with be a mathematical impossibility which will mean that stupid question that gets asked every week will go away and that will make his media appearances easier I understand that fans are bothered listening to him after a loss but I don't really know what they expect him to say. "We're [censored] and I'm a [censored] coach" how would that help anyone?

May is old and slowing in the same way that Gawn is old and slowing. Mays 'limited' future takes us through to 2023-2025 depending on his health. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then. Brian Lake only played 3 years for Hawthorn... May won't be our games record holder but he is more than capable of helping us get some silverware.

This sentence, in this post. Is that irony, hypocrisy or both?

Making up for the "we win, you win" promotions that have been few and far between this year

If intelligence is solely linked to our performance in front of a camera primarily interviews and press conferences then we must all be pretty [censored] stupid. Unless you've sat down and had an open one on one chat with each coach there's really no way to know how intelligent any of them are.

We play a contested brand of football all over the ground including our forwardline. But Trac is the only contested player we have in the forward 50. Melksham is the other but with him out I think Smith can play that role. Weid is still light on but it's competing well. TMac runs on train tracks. If it's not lace out he has no hope. And out small forwards are all soft/light Drop Garlett, Spargo and Hannan and bring in the likes of TSmith, ANB and move one of Viney or Jones forward to try to just muscle our way to the scoreboard. Obviously AVB and Melksham in the forwardline adds even more strength down there. I don't think it's a very sustainable solution but at the very least it might get us a few wins in the second half of the year

I love a good spreadsheet. I think people are jumping the gun on Jones, good back up if we lost a clearance midfielder like Oliver or Viney. He should step down as captain and play mostly for Casey next year. Spargo, CWag and ANB are all flawed players but I think we can have their uses. We can usually carry 1 of them in the side when we are playing well. Trade Brayshaw?? HA that's a good one. He, Harmes and Oliver are our best mids. Unless we are trading him for a star I wouldn't consider it. Stretch, Maynard, JKH, Garlett. Agree, all are done. So with Lewis that makes 5 list spots.. I think that's a good at starting point KK needs a run at it before we throw him away. Like Diamond said, give him a long run at Casey then a go in the 1s OMac and TSmith are good depth players I think. Frankly I think TSmith deserves to be on our 22 right now, better him then TMac who looks unbelievably far off. Also Lockhart: good call, shows promise

Agree, and I think you can add Baker to that list. He looks as composed ball in hand as anyone in our side (which admittedly isn't that hard)

Do we? For the most part our midfield and backline performed admirably yesterday. There was some skill errors coming out of the back 50 but that was attributable to collingwoods pressure and besides God knows Hunt isn't going to help with skill. If we are going to have a pure defencive forward like ANB was last year I think Hunt is a good choice. At least he has genuine pace.

suits their endless march towards becoming an American sport

If we could get someone like Patton for a bargain then I'd be happy for the club to take the risk. Unfortunately when there are other clubs interested that drives up the price, I don't want to have to out bid Hawthorn just to see him get injured. But I still think we need a reliable small/medium forward more than we need a key. Both Tom and Sam are capable at AFL level, if not Superstars. But if we had an X-factor at their feet we night be able to start taking advantage of the 100s of times they crash the pack and cause a ground ball. Players like TMac, Weid, Trac and Melk are ok for a core but we need a genuine star in that forwardline.

I think you're being wildly unrealistic. If you can get 2 good players per draft you're doing incredibly well. Our list has some holes sure but it's in pretty good shape. Harmes, Fritch, Hannan, Hunt Vandenberg, Hore are all later picks that are in our best side and the signs for Baker a good early. What more do you want??

Our forward line is the hardest to pick at the moment with individual and team form making it especially challenging. Garlett is the type of player we need, quick, skilled and can crumb at pace but he is wildly inconsistent.

Out: Stretch, Spargo, OMac, Garlett (should probably be TMac (inj) but i doubt it. Could be Hannan, Wagner or Smith) B Hibb Frost Hore HB Lever May Wagner C JKH Viney Salem HF Baker Weid Trac F Hann Tmac Hunt Fol Gawn Bray Oliver I Jones Harmes Fritch Smith --------------------------- E Pruess Stretch Lewis ANB Walk up missing from my 22: Melk, Jetta and Vanders (Smith, Wagner and JKH respectively) Probably the stongest team of the year.... on paper.

The best defences in the league all share the same thing in common: They've played together alot. We have the chance to play all of our first choice defence except 1 for the first time. We should be doing it. Sure we can't get Jetta back for a month or 2 but getting everyone else playing together is still important for building a solid foundation for next year and beyond. There could be some teething problems getting this defence functioning smoothly and I'd rather we deal with that in this season rather than next.

Thank God they are some level heads around here. I've been stunned by the negative feedback on Weidermans game... He presented well, was our best key forward option all night, kicked a goal, made a contest whenever it when his way and took 4 contested marks along with that. Sure he missed the last shot but aside from that it was good, what the hell do people expect from a 20 odd game key forward? I would have said weiderman playing the way he did was one of the positives to take out of is the game.

In: Salem, May, Lever, Hore Out: OMac, Stretch, Spargo, TMac (inj, form whatever it is)

I specifically said I haven't given up on him. He's still a kid. Of course he might get there eventually, but right now I think he doesn't look ready.

Most people agree Rance and McGovern are the 2 best key defenders in the game.. but both of them have a strong supporting cast. Rance has Grimes and Asbury. McGovern has Barass and Hurn. I think we hope Lever will grow into the number 1 man for us. Having Frost and May be that supporting cast is exactly what he needs. Hore, Jetta and Hibbard as medium/smalls around them is the making of a really strong back 6. At least on paper. Then with Salem and Fritch able to play up the ground and float back as needed. Omac and Wagner as depth players. Petty given more development time. The backline personnel isn't a big concern right now

We are 8-3 in our past 11 interstate trips. Think positive, it might not be that crazy.

Few interesting ones. Kemp sounds like the new prototype 193cm midfielder. So he'll be right up there in all discussions. I'd also be interested to see some of Flanders, Taheny, Serong and Williams. I'd love to see us use our first pick on a talented forward rather than just another midfielder. With some pace would be a bonus.

I am not super confident either but I'd like to see him get a run at it as a forward. Joel's athleticism in an otherwise pretty straightforward group could be a good thing. I'm more worried about his body.. Misson bashing aside, this guy struggles to string 5 games of footy together...at any level.

This has been one of the more challenging weeks to pick the changes with all the almost, kind-of, not quite ready players returning/not returning from injury. I suppose with Lever and ANB both officially ruled out I guess that shortens the list a little Petty (form or knee inj take your pick) seems likely to go and one of Spargo/CWag. Then I suppose the next few on the list would be Garlett, Stretch and Lockhart (who also had his knee heavily strapped on Sunday). Hore hopefully gets up. I suspect he'll be picked but might be on late out watch. As for the ins, Salem and Hibbard are most likely ins. Not sure if JKH and Hannan both need another run at Casey. But if they're ready then they'll both be real chances too.

Except for last year when we had one of the shortest injury lists all season.