Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Looking forward to what we can do with both of 5 and 9. Last time we had a similar hand, we ended up with Clarry and Weid. Not paying out for picking up Weid as not every player recruited can be an absolute hit, but if we end up with at least one player of Clarry's quality, I think we'll be doing all right, but if we could nail both picks, I think it sets us up for the future well.

Got to admit that I was a little thrown off this season, with more of the hype seeming to be that Tholstrup was the more AFL ready, yet it was Winsor that really shone (which I'm not complaining about, because Caleb was nothing short of sensational this season and definitely looks the goods for the future). I haven't really seen enough of Tholstrup to make as much of assessment of my own, but take the points you are making Macca and will be watching with interest over future seasons.

You know I think the benifit of having someone like Tom as that backup ruck option, is that he seems genuinely just happy to be still at an AFL club and a part of that environment and happy enough just to keep doing his thing in the twos for as long as is required while Max is fit and firing. I'm not knocking Grundy, but I think someone like him who was capable of playing regular AFL would have been super frustrated not playing at the top level and even as professional and free of ego that he seemed to project. I know he probably can't play the key forward role, but if Tom can make a similar contribution to our list as say Peddo or perhaps Mitch Brown, then I think we've done all right.

Sounds like a cracking bloke as a footballer. I think we've done well to recruit Tom.

Which wouldn't have been the case in this instance by the sounds of it. Honestly, I think we've actually over corrected in this respect and there are a number of worthy debutants that have been burnt by the club via the sub rule in recent years. Main culprits in my mind are Toby Bedford, Taj Woewodin and Kynan Brown. Kynan Brown in particular out of this group got like 2mins of a game against North three quarters of the way through the season, when I actually think he looked quite ready from watching him in the preseson game against Richmond. Getting back to the Collingwood game - we looked putrid, lathargic and flat for that game and an injection of youth could have been something great to booster some energy and enthusiasm, but I guess hindsight is a beautiful thing isn't it.

What odds were we and did you do this at the end of 2020?

Nah, the sky is falling down isn't it?

What about against the sides that have x2 genuine rucks like Freo (possibly others?)? I wouldn't write it off all together, but agree that it's not our intention to have them both regularly in the same side. I really do hope it means we're not playing Max if he's carrying injuries that he would benefit from resting a week, where this year he would have played because we had no quality backup option.

Yeah, fair enough. I forgot all the specifics. Even though he was out of contract, that still meant GWS had to trade for him yeah? Otherwise we could have told them we'd let him put himself up for the pre-season draft? I really wish a few clubs would follow through on this threat some more as I feel players are really too free to walk out on clubs willy nilly at the moment.

Fritta's against Geelong is my pick, as it was also at such a consequential time of the game. When he kicked that it pretty much sealed the game for us. Love alot of the other goals too. Overall, watching these clips reminded me we were really not that far off flag contention this season bar a run of rubbish season ending injuries to several of our guns. Only just lost to Brisbane (after they'd turned the corner) and Port away and even the GWS loss doesn't look that bad given how they faired this season.

I know it doesn't work like this, but GWS owe us for Toby Bedford. Quite a similar situation in a way, only Bedford was getting games and showing promise at AFL level. Still spewing we let that kid go so easily.

Just looking over the life members stuff - 45 games and 73 goals was a decent enough return from BBB I think. And for all the talk about cultural issues at the club, guys like Ben should be celebrated even more for what I understand he bought in that regard as well. His contribution to our 21 premership should never be underrated IMHO.

Skills of Robbie quite possibly, but does he have the same red and blue heart? I guess we will see.

If his post concussion brain is up to it, I think Angus Brayshaw could do a great job on one of these shows. His Gus and Gawn was good and I think I recall him being decent on the Sunday footy show a few times. Would be a huge gig first up, but he certainly has the intellect and footy smarts to pull it off.

Only that his sister Shae was on our AFLW list at one point, so clearly the grudge can't be that deep.

Ireland should be part of our NGA through the Stynes connection and give us priority access.

Totally agree. Strong as an ox and has a great penitrating kick on him. Showed so much potential in 2021, but has flat lined and probably even gone backwards since (being demoted to Casey at a time we are down in the mid is evidence of that). I don't know what the dynamic is between the two at the moment, but I think if Trac so desperately wants us back up there, he should take Tommy on as his pet project and pull him up to the next level. Maybe then, we can have some more bang bang bang on the last day of September.

One thing I don't want to see again in 2025 is Turner played as the starting sub. Too impactful as a forward to have sitting on the pine for 3/4 and seems mobile and adaptable enough that he could play a bunch of roles even if we looked excessively tall in our forward 50.

If this is the assessment, then I think KPP backman remains one of the key recruiting / development needs, that and/or the club needs to work out and stick to their guns on who of Petty/Turner are forwards and let the other solidify a role down back. Personally, despite some glimpses I think the Petty forward experiment has failed and I'd rather see him down back again. We've got a huge Steve May sized hole to fill when he retires.

Hawthorn, then daylight to every other team.

If it's true, the whole brand thing really reeks. I'm not actually that convinced it was something that Christian nessacerilly put such a big emphasis on himself as opposed to the media types blowing it out of proportion. But if true, there are two sides to the coin (pardon the pun). He signed up for massive money to a long term contract and that ought to have counted for alot more than it seemed to in the situation. He's paid to be a footballer first and his own ' brand' is totally secondary. Such a shocking look in a team sport. This situation where free agency has diminished the value of contracts is total BS IMHO. I think there are plenty of others like Viney and Gawn who's professionalism is the equal of Trac, but whom didn't shop themselves around and didn't seem to air the club's dirty laundry so publicly when the chips have been down for us this season.

Speaking of which, I wonder if Melky will go around again next year? I could make cases both for and against it in terms of his best still being bloody good and the sort of smart dynamic player we need around our forward line, but just questions on if his body will allow him to play at the level next year - feel he was being managed as the super sub towards the end of the year. Would love to see him stay on, I'm just not sure it's a wise move though.

Really happy for Jesse. Still have a soft spot for him, just wish we could have lured him back to the MFC after he left Freo. Probably would have won the flag the past two years with him leading the forward line and Roo playing the second key forward role.

Spotify on DubDee this is a point that those that suggest footy as being just a business really need to wrap their head around it alot better. Sure there are some business principles that need to be applied to make sure the books ballance, but it's a 'business model' built on people's passion and loyalty - stuff around with that too much and they might find their revenue streams evaporating. I do have to say that the way that the best seats at the MCG are sold for our home games to the exclusion or regular MFC members is something that's seen my enthusiasm wane, particularly thus past half season when we have started loosing again as well, as have the cold late night game timeslot that's great for the TV business, but not for me. Back on the ANB aspect, I do think that if players are going to request trades like this and/or be militant about it, then the club's should have better mechanisms to claw back player payments etc retrospectively. There needs to be a better disincentive for the players to demand breaking contracts. But as I've stated elsewhere, in the case of ANB, I think he owes us nothing and helped deliver a flag for us. And he's going home, not demanding a move to the Magpies, Hawks or Lions for more money or other opportunities. I think the club gets better rep and ability to attract and retain good players, by treating the ones we have well, reasonably and fairly.

Yeah, so maybe he needs a challenge? You get double points kicking on your non preferred don't you?