Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Re "...or is a Melbourne midfielder on the Kangaroos' radar?" - I think we came out with the last time North swapped a tall for a mid, so deal away.

Doing the sums, I actually have Hunt as our 3rd highest goal kicker over the past two seasons on 31. Behind only Trac and Fristch, just ahead of Weid and Melksham.

So what you think there is value to be had in the players from other states that in any other normal year wouldn't have made the cut? Even if they did make it, knowing our luck, they'd want to puss off back home to WA or Adelaide anyway.

Despite his lack of selection, Hunt has been one of our best forwards over the past two seasons. Without being sure of the actual stats, I'd say he would actually be in our top 3 - 5 goal kickers for the past two seasons combined...and neither were really a good season to be a forward at the MFC. Really hope Hunt is one of the next signed for 2021/22.

He finished 9th in our B&F, so I hardly think he's 'cooked'. Don't think you were watching the same games as the rest of us. That said, Hibberd is getting on in years and I don't see a ready made replacement to step straight into his shoes. To me it makes total sense that the MFC would keep on all of Smith, Hore and Rivers in the hope that one of these guys will fill the big hole left by Hibberd in the next couple of years. While Rivers certainly looks the most likely, I still think we need to hedge our bets a bit and perhaps in time we might also want to use Rivers in other spots on the ground like wing or half forward.

The agressive, compeditive nature of Spargo was one of the things which attracted us to him in the first place and the main thing which kept getting him selected in his first season in 2018. I'd argue his good kicking (particularly for goal) has also been a past feature of his best attributes. My assessment is that this year he brought himself back to the standard he set for himself to start with after a bad case of second tear blues last year. Supporters these days are so impatient and unforgiving, it's like one bad season or if you aren't dominating by your second you are out of here. Look how long it took players like Trac and Max to deliver.

So in this Garry makes the point about list size changes due to COVID. Has this been announced/confirmed by the AFL? And if not when? Clubs are making decisions now on who to sign up, who to trade for over the next few weeks to a month. I would have thought that the time for this to have been confirmed would have been about Rd 12, not still be a topic of discussion now. Unless I'm missing something.

Your question is somewhat academic Chazz. I see the scenario's like this: 1. Jones snaps his leg off at the hip in pre-season and retires imeediatley; 2. Jones plays his 300th game on Queens Birthday at an MCG with as many MFC supporters as the pandemic will allow; 3. We win the flag with Jone on 299 and no one cares if we carry another veteran into 2022 or not. We got Jordan Lewis to 300 games and then some. No way Jones doesn't play 300 next year - take it to the bank.

The Jones haters can go get Fked. I'm stoked about Jonsey getting another year, the chance to play 300 and possibly finals/a flag. The way he started this year in the forward line during the practice matches suggests to me he could be more than just depth if he can remain uninjured. He may not have had huge possession numbers or goals during the season proper, but if you look at the goals we kicked in the games he played, he played an assisting role in many of them.

There is a difference between being ruthless and bloody minded. To discard a loyal servant of the club would be absolutely the latter.

Like many, I was somewhat baffled by Lockhart being dropped following the Bulldogs game and not getting back in, but I do wounder if that was partially down to two factors somewhat outside his influence: 1. I think following the Bulldogs we went heavy on rotating players through the team to mitigate several games in a row played in hot conditions off 4 or so day breaks; 2. I also wounder if an intentional decision was made to ballance the development and try out some different players in the last gasp few rounds following the absence of any real second tier comp this season. While some like Wagner didn't come off, a few of the guys given an oppertunity like Rivers, Hunt, Spargo, Brown and even ANB did play some good footy.

The Wagner boys may not have had the love and respect of a few here on Demonland, but I think they well and truly had that from their team mates - I know what I'd rather have. I recall the podcast from AVB around the middle of the year, when asked who was just outside the 22 that was knocking on the door and with hesitation, he named Josh Wagner, basically as someone who was having a red hot crack - a few weeks later he was picked. More reciently another senior player (perhaps Max, Gus or Viney) called out the great character and team first spirit of the Wagner boys after their attitude in attendance of the B&F a few days following being let go by the club. Always had a soft spot for Josh in particular, had hoped he could develop into a good player. While I acknowledge that in the end, he wasn't quite good enough, I certainly value and respect his contribution. Even as a rookie/frindge list player, I think he bought more to the team in his time than some of the more fancied prima donnas that I've seen on a footy field. My favorite memory of him was from a close win we had against Gold Coast at the G back around 2016/2017 when we were just starting to put winning form together. He played a cracker of a game, stood under a number of incoming balls when he knew it was coming, got crunched and went again. May never have made it to superstardom, but I don't think we should dismiss the positive impact that guys like him who try their guts out week after week can have on good team culture.

Very glad to see Hibbo given this contract extension. Certainly does the red and blue number 14 guernsey proud every time he takes the field.

We took one, it didn't come off. Get over it.

I'm not 'excited' by our prospects in 2021. It's not that I'm pessimistic about the talent and quality of our list, coaching etc, but as a support I think I'm over the whole excitement of anticipation of a potentially sucessful year. That all said, I'm cautiously optimistic that we do have the core of a side that could click and start regularly beating the best sides. Our home and away performances against the two sides that played in the grand final were fairly respectable and if we can just address a few deficiencies in our game, I think we would have beaten both sides. I also think it's partially in our heads that we are good enough and do the right things to beat these top teams with greater regularly and it could be as simple as something clicking and we are away. What I'm looking for next season is a side which takes a step up in maturity that sees us do all the things necessary to put ourselves in a position to genuinely challenge for a premiership, which in my mind is: * Regularly win against the best sides; * Start the season with 4, 2 win/loss or better; * Be well established inside the top 8 at the half way point of the season; * Finish the home and away season inside the top 4. If we can do all that, then the excitement will build for me throughout the season, but until then, I just want the team to be focused, hungry and to do all the right things to hit the ground running at the start of the season.

Agreed. I actually think in the last few games he played before injuries ended his season that he was given more time on ball and inside the forward 50, so I think the penny has dropped there. Agree re his atleticisim and competitiveness, but I actually don't think Harme's skills are bad at all. He is one of the few we have that can take a strong contested mark inside 50 and maybe his kicking isn't elite, but it's decient enough. I'd back him in having a set shot over Fritsch and most others.

It certainly didn't take a genius to work out this would be the result.

An infultrator in our midst?

Can they both please loose.

I think the stress and pressure would have been even more extreme this year for someone in Shaw's position. Week after week of getting belted on the park together with a life constantly on the road with virtually no private personal space in the hub bubbles. I'd be wanting to take some time out and clear my head if I was in his position too. And it's by no means a sign of weakness to step away from a situation that's causing great personal anguish and look after yourself. I'm sure Rhyce's family need him in a happy, well state far more than the North Melbourne football club need his coaching (no slight intended).

Simple solution - just get rid of the bottom 4 teams from this season. Serously, Jeff Kennett is vulture like. F@#% off Jeff.

For all the expense, they will probably end up installing it somewhere obscure and inconsequential, like over the boundary line in front of where Gil and his goons sit.

From memory he kicked a couple of pearlers that day. One hard up on the boundary early in the game when he bent it back through perfectly and that other one where he picked up the bouncing ball headding into oncoming traffic and then slotted it straight through.

I really liked some of Hunt's goals.

Trac let go with a number of big roosts from outside 50 this year and they pretty much always looked like going through right off the boot. I recall one against the Saints, another against Essendon and possibly one on the run against North. Such a weapon and an absolute pleasure to watch.