Wiseblood

I agree rjay. Looked awful, but you could see his eyes darting everywhere for a target and there clearly wasn't one. I would have preferred him to just get it forward, but maybe the instruction in that situation is not to do that... ? I don't we'll know, but Tyson isn't solely to blame for that piece of play. Could have been anyone.

Geary will be a handy in, but Webster is a huge out for them. His run and carry off the flanks has been terrific this season. It's actually a bigger out than I think most people would give credit for (not saying you think that way LH, just in general).

The Saints don't worry me at all. Their midfield is weak, their skills are terrible and they struggle to kick more than 10 goals each week. They might have rolled the Suns a few weeks back, but the Suns are far worse than them and it took them until the last term to actually do anything. Based on what I've seen from us this year, we should have no trouble putting the Saints away. I'm sure they'll put up a fight for a while, but we're bigger, classier and better than them and that will be telling in the end.

Butler and Caddy. You don't always need 'pace' to keep up with an opponent. Footy smarts and positioning, which he has in spades, play a role as well.

Yes, it would be a huge kick in the guts if we can't roll the Saints on our home deck. I can handle the previous two losses to an extent, but losing this one wouldn't go down well. However, I doubt that will happen and with a strong side in we should account for them without too many issues.

It's pretty simple - play like we did against Port and we win this game of footy. Even if our forward entries still aren't that flash (let's hope they continue to improve, though) their backline isn't great and there's a big chance Jimmy Webster doesn't play either. We will have more than enough entries to kick a winning score.

Pies are in a tough spot. They have admitted they have minimal cap space, so if they want to sign him and match that deal (or get close to it), they will either have no space to use over the next couple of seasons or have to trade out some contracts which others may not be keen to accept unless they throw in a sweetener (eg a first rounder). If they let him go then I could see De Goey flourishing at North. Tough times ahead for the Pies, and I don't feel bad about that at all.

I have plenty of clue on Harden, and you totally missed my point. Gaff may not be great defensively, but he's super offensively. Where did we struggle on the weekend? Gaff would have made a difference going forward. He's worth it. The fact you don't rate him makes me even more comfortable with us potentially chasing him.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-06-27/salem-praises-lewis-and-vince

Harden just won the MVP. The bloke can't be that bad. And you're assuming Gaff is poor defensively. Got any hard evidence to back it up, or just running with it to suit your opinion?

We've been able to win and compete some big games over the last 18 months. The Crows in Adelaide, Eagles in Perth, Queen's Birthday, smashed Port at the G, had the Cats on toast until Gawn did his hammy.... No doubt we've also fallen short in some big games as well, but every side has form in that regard. ProDee has pointed that out better than I could. To me, we have the ability to compete with any side in the competition. It's just about better consistency and continuing to get more experience in to what is still a young list. We're tracking fine.

True, but there was no dissecting of the issue going on! Of course. I pocketed a few of those myself...

Who are the top sides, though? You didn't answer the question.

In one breath he calls him a 'slow outside receiver', and in the next says he doesn't care how many brownlow votes he might get, which is a fair indication of his ability. Laughable stuff.

And you'll be harping on and on and on about the same stuff in every thread 10 years from now as well. You and I regularly sit on opposite sides of the fence (at least we don't sit in the middle like some) and when we discuss/argue it, we just go round in circles. I won't change your mind, you won't change mine. So why waste each others time? I don't want to get in a slanging match with you again to be honest.

No. And you know what? I don't even think I've got the willingness to dissect it. I'm burned out. You're worried, I'm not. We'll leave it at that.

How far are we going to go with these meaningless stats? Melbourne is 8-0 when more than 10,000 hot dogs are consumed, but 1-4 when under 10,000 are consumed.

So why do you keep justifying it then? You seemingly hate this place and everyone in it, yet here you are.

Spot on, Moonie. It's nothing more than this.

Yes, we can. We've got the gameplan to do it, we just need to find a better avenue to goal with the players we have and be more consistent which comes with more experience.

That's great. They won't be dropped. Absolutely no chance, and it's ridiculous to suggest it.

Well said, mate. The example you used in the first paragraph is a prime example of how badly it can hurt you to trade up in the draft. It's why I was happy with what we did with Lever - he was a known quantity who already had 50 games in the system, so we knew exactly who we were getting and what they could do. I can recall the Bulls trading away two first rounders to move up in the draft a few years back which backfired on them. And that's just one more example. As you say, now that we have the right coaches and a great recruitment team in place, we can back them to make the right selections and we can trade away picks or nab free agents with confidence. Moving up in the draft, or trying to trade back into the first round, doesn't excite me at all.

I laugh at it too Dappa, but then I'm always intrigued as to who they bring in instead. Most players at Casey have had enough exposure at AFL level to know what we are getting - do people seriously believe we're a better side with Pedersen or Frost forward and Hogan in the twos? Or bringing in a Billy Stretch or a Tommy Bugg for Petracca? We aren't, and it's why it won't happen. It just won't happen. I know people fly off the handle after a loss, but that's why they're fans and not coaches.

It's funny you mention this. I know it's not a great analogy, but I was reading an article just prior to the NBA draft this year where they talked about teams trading up in the draft and how, 9 times out of 10, it doesn't actually work out for that team. I know it's a different sport and such, but I think the principle still applies. Unless it's a great deal (and yes, I do know that's what you meant with the 'if feasible' part) then I don't see a need for us to trade up. We've got a great track record of nailing later picks, and a deeper draft gives us more chance to do so this season. I will also point out that the OP talks absolute trash in the first post as well.

Not sure I follow you, OD. Can you elaborate further?