Rodney (Balls) Grinter

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.

Yeah, but I know where you're coming from Re coaches with premiership experience being beneficial.

Backup for us (which in the ruck position is different to being fringe), because we have a Gawn, just like he was at North with their Goldy. But GWS would be recruiting him to be best 22, as would a number of the other potential trade destinations he would be looking at, so that's his value, not as a fringe player at all.

If anyone else posts this I'll spew. Surely it would work out something along the lines of us trading Preuss for a pick(s) that someone like North wants to get us a ready made player who forfills a hole in our current list structure. If all those peices don't fall into place, then I'd be inclined to hold onto him.

So where did Alistair Clarkson's premiership experience come from? ... Paul Roos and Luke Beverage for that matter. I guess there are exceptions to every rule.

I did watch the thing and I didn't get exactly the same impression as that. It did seem to me that Max and Watts were pretty good mates and that Maxy doesn't mind having a good time on the turps from time to time during the off season. But I think Max's professionalism in his personal fitness and football over the past 3 or 4 years has been exceptional to a level that I don't get the impression Jack ever came near. I think Max's team mates would respect the example that he sets of professionalism during the season, but also being able to be a fun and relatable guy within sensible limits when it's time to switch off. I've got zero concerns about Gus. He gives me the impression that he's a pretty smart guy and solid citizen with his head screwed on well. I've always thought Jack offered us something on the field worthy of his place in the side. Probably never lived up to the superstar expectations that were put on him, but a decient player none the less. After he was delisted by Port and subsequently retired, I did wounder if he'd could be worth us taking another punt on, particularly on the basis of his elite delivery into the forward line and goal kicking. But I must say watching his performance on the captain's run podcast, that certainly left me with the impression that he is more focused on life outside football his motivation levels to play are not there.

Will be really good to see what wounders the Ooooz can do with Fristch. If he can turn around Fritta's pretty ordanary set shot goal kicking from this year, we would be a 1 or 2 goal per game better side from that alone. I'm interested to see what the core intended role for Yze is at the club, but surely whatever it is his kicking coaching will form a pretty important side role.

Rapt to have Yze on board. But I don't completely buy into the Clarkson/Hawthorn success comparison. Equally premierships as a player: Yze: 0 Goodwin: 2 Sometimes I think it comes down to the luck of being in right place at the right time and just because you are associated with past sucess or not doesn't necessarily equip you any better. That said all reports are that both Yze and Goodwin have quality skill sets in particular areas and hopefully that ultimately brings us sucess with them and our current team.

F@#% yeah!