mfcrox

If we're to take a positive from it, it is that our recruiting team have done a great job at identifying talent and drafting these players in. A number of those players are/were quality footballers who at their best would still be best 23 for us. Imagine our peak if Hogan stuck around (although it did help get May in as our FB). Unfortunately a number of them were lost because of go home factor or not being given a proper chance.

Yeah, he is an endurance beast... but has a good burst of pace. He is probably in the first 4 or 5 picked each week in King's game-plan.

He is perfectly suited to the style of footy King wants to play. I read a quote from Guerra (I think) somewhere that during the final interviews for the coaching job, King was asked how he sees this team playing and it's potential... King asked to see GPS data/testing data in response, and I'm sure his eyes would have lit up when he saw what Sharp's numbers were. He is built for this game-style, and it shows in his performance to date. Slightly off-topic too, but it also shows in hindsight why Oliver was told he needed to change the way he plays. Oliver would have been like a square peg in a round hole the way the team is playing right now. In the current team, he may have taken Sparrow's spot at centre bounce, but he wouldn't be taking anyone else's. Steele is playing the role Oliver would have potentially played (hence we traded him in), but I reckon he is doing it better than Oliver would have.

By seasons end, "Did you know Scott Pendlebury was a basketballer" will be overtaken by "Did you know Christian Petracca had a life threatening injury"

I'm a weird one... I am a left-handed writer, tooth brusher, and billiards player, but do most other things right-handed (or partially ambidextrous). Not an elite athlete, but played competitive sport for 20+ years, and I'm a Phys. Ed. teacher. Was massively competitive in my younger years, but have mellowed with age. Still probably more competitive than most though.

3x North Melbourne St. Kilda Western Bulldogs

Football is a very data rich sport... especially with Champion Data game-day statistics available. I also used to work in the high performance/ strength & conditioning space at TAC Cup level in the mid 2010s and even back then we would have a plethora of data to look at in regards to game-day and training loads, recovery, etc. I could see AI being used to analyse Champion Data statistics for trends that the successful teams are using in regards to defending, ball movement, attacking chains, etc. I could also see AI being used to track player loads/recovery data in much greater detail than any human could ever devote time to. I hope Melbourne are up to their eyeballs in AI to be honest... it is going to be an absolute game-changer in professional sport in the next decade.

Pretty sure I read that the massive power forward thought to be Matty Whelan's son was another Matty Whelan. Haha

Really getting tired of clubs (Gold Coast, Hawthorn, St. Kilda, etc.) wooing a player, getting them to nominate, and then not being able to deliver a FAIR deal for both parties. We have stated we wanted a player... if you woo a player, be prepared to give something in return. Don't say "By the way, player X who wants to go home is off the table". It is bullsh*t!

Nah, that was old school Photoshop. Only AI was to remove Max Heath from the original and preserve the background. The rest of it was just good old-fashioned Photoshop.

Maybe Bailey has been playing 4D chess with us all along. Based on the tattoo on his forearm, I'm expecting an announcement at 4pm.

Had to do something to set it apart from the authentic one. Hahaha. Here is an updated one and an action photo if someone wants to shoot him an Instagram message to show him what he could look like in the red and blue.

If the hold up is getting the artwork done for the announcement, I thought I would help them out:

100%... I am a bit over how much they want their cake and eat it too. 1 - THEY knew they had academy kids coming in. If they don't want to risk them, then don't offer Petracca the world and have him nominate you. 2 - THEY want to get a 4x All Australian Norm Smith Medallist, but will only offer us two picks in a heavily compromised draft and then expect us to part with a pick which has a bit of currency to it so they can get their academy kids. 3 - THEY have a player who wants out, but they are holding him to his contract. By trading him out, they'd get the 4x All Australian Norm Smith Medallist they've promised the world to, and they'd also preserve points for a academy kids... but no, he is off the table. They're a joke! If we only get picks AND give up Pick 24 as well, I will be absolutely ropeable!

The thing is the AFL need a few big trades to go through on the last day for their Fox Footy rush to the trade finish line. We are going to need to be patient I reckon... as difficult as that is.