Engorged Onion

Some people have great memories - which I for one, am thankful for as I don't remember the context of how teams track before premierships... I remember 5 years or so ago when Ken Hinkley got on board that Port were to be the next powerhouse... I fret the same will happen.

Sounds like you're still tired and emotional @TGR I agree with the sentiment on point one, and completely disagree on the latter two points. Point 1... If Stretch wasn't injured, I'd dare say he'd be the winger. Tyson I feel was insurance for the contested ball as well, and yes he's not a winger. Point 2 - Watch the Geelong and Hawthorn game... the team constantly goes on little 45 kick forays to open up space...this happens week in week out... If you mean switching RIGHT across the ground... we do it from time to time, but remember - our game style did get us to a prelim...so for what purpose does bringing in more switching mean? Part of our success has been able to get the pill to our players relatively straight in front...and the system seems to be about doing it more so from the centre of the ground, rather than within 60 metres and centering it. Point 3 - Watch how we iced games after the Geelong loss....particularly the Geelong and Hawthorn final... the last 10-12 minutes of each game was ALL about tempo football.

As devo’d as I am - and as amazingly awful/insipid as we are... I’m curious what will we learn? what about structures ? and heartbreak was going to happen... in this way it’s uber surprising - AND NOT representative of how we play... so it’s an aberration. we’re still a young young team - and tried to get on footywire for a breakdown - couldn’t find it. i get its emotional - and surprising - and aiming to be a voice of sense making.

Yeah, you're right @Clint Bizkit. I'm thinking in terms of this shift towards 'pre-agency' from clubs... He's one year off becoming a free agent (am I wrong on this?), andGWS may want to maximise their return...this year instead.

What would need to occur (or what is the chance) of prising J Kelly away from GWS this trade period?

I'd be backing the football department in, rather than raging about whether Fritsch or Tyson should have gone. They have a clear unemotional rationale, and after a while thinking about it, it makes sense to combat a forward line with a drifting Vardy as well with a combative, less then silky player of half back. It's a horses for courses decision, we have silk on two sides of half back with Salem and Hibberd, and Smith's athleticism in the air as well as his ability to halve contests will be vital. Mind you, Fritsch 'may be tired' and he may not... he did put his body on the line in a clutch situation and marked in front of Roughhead in the last, so it's not merely a combative style vs silk argument.

think Steve has crook knees at the moment...

so @Wolfturdo, in your view, what is a pass mark from an outcome perspective for smith?

truth be told...how nice it is to be in the position to have to make heartbreaking decisions...

Absolutely fire trucking powerful. I'm not a believer in motivational talks....but by jeez, this is compulsory ...and I hope the players have had a listen also.

hogan > may

you've been doing the last 8 years sober? masochist

who was it that mentioned Nicholls wouldn't get a game again? ?

@layzie...he doesn't need to be traded for Some people also like the issue of $ taken off the table... ie: "I want what I am worth on the market but prepared to take a little less + presumed success "(and that presumed success offsets the extra 100k,200k). He might be a 'thug' now but I don't think he is a mercenary... ? Anyway we will find out if @ProDee is accurate or @Grimes Times is, in around 10 days methinks...

what logic is that? from the outside there are pros and cons for him to stay, to shift elsewhere, or come to the dee's... all as logical as one another.

I've got a question around our 'process' of moving it into the forward line for a shot on goal. I'm not saying our current way is problematic (yes it can be tightened up) - but I recall very few long kicks for goal on the run from 50, or at least entering from 60/50. Are there any stats on, how many goals the team have kicked from beyond 50, or even 'streaming in' and kicking it between 50-40m. If we have variability in our style, does this add to the unpredictability (although it increases the risk of missing). Or with TMAC, HOGAN, WEID and Captain Sparrow... and that fact that we are the highest scoring side, and in a prelim - does it matter nought anyway..

Sigh... irrespective of what happens this week - we will still have to wait til after the the GF for Gaff to announce his coming to The Dees... In his press conference, he’ll talk about family reasons for returning, and if questioned, will rave about our list demographic and won’t take any questions re his relationship with Gus.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/09/18/melbourne-will-beat-west-coast-and-this-is-why/

Happy to merge this with the preview, when it comes up... WC have played one game in 27 days... That's a long time away from the fast and frenetic pace...just sayin'.

Nah, we're better on paper... just need fair umpiring.

Right, so Im headed to the Sporting Globe in Richmond and got a room booked for the night nearby... Can anyone recommend some good yumcha styled food nearby?

Fair enough " I can see how others may see it's a long bow...and by looking at how the FD have operated in managing past trades since the beginning of the Roo's era...one case would be J Lewis...." I am happy to be wrong (ill be happier if I am right)... I feel quite confident for those reasons outlined above.

I've just tried to find it online - it was back in april/may this year... alas I can't find anything. Happy for someone else to back me up on this one. Just stumbled across this @demon191919 - if youve got access to the sun.... I suspect this may confirm my memory.... AFL free agency: Melbourne to pursue another senior player | Herald ... https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/.../cd1231eb818ce14221037bc4d766ef6d Apr 16, 2018 - Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said the Demons would be ... Asked if they would target a big fish, Mahoney said on Triple M: “You ... My point overall, is that Josh and the club have always been circumspect in what they put out to the media. I don't think it's such a long bow to say, that by confirming that they're merely looking at bringing someone in - means they've actually got an agreement in place with said person(s).

Believing that his punch links into his decision making about his future, is as useful as looking at tealeaves. FWIW, I'd imagine OMAC is on a lower $ contract to accomodate someone who is locked in...for the next two years...with an understanding that he will bump up in significant value...in 2020. Again my hunch comes back to Mahoney and his overt statements that we will land 1-2 significant players. The relationships between clubs and players are formed over many many months, not just the last quarter of a year...it'll take more than $ to lure Gaff to North... My feel is he is ours... and he'll get a good look at our squad again this weekend

herald sun...in cohoots with bookies (i believe the neoliberal language, is "strong economic partnership")...this table is false information... Gawn will win by 4.