KLV

Isn’t his mum in the cheer squad?

So it’s ok with the WA boys returning mid contract for family reasons?

Nothing, it’s just not that far away

Not much action on this thread tonight, I suspect

I agree with this. It’s hard to imagine he’s asking to return if everything is ok. I mean Adelaide is kinda close. But if bubbly isn’t well, definitely need to be close to family

Astonished at this. Only 2 years left and the excuse is family reasons? I take that back if family reasons mean someone is gravely ill, but for a new baby? Give me a break, it’s Adelaide for God’s sake

Just got home, bloody freezing

This is reminding me of the Biden debate, “should he stay or should he go”?

4n20 pie, hopefully it’s a hot one and beer at halftime and after the game. Our Tradition

Good in hindsight, but it would have been seen as madness to get rid of Goodwin after a flag and 2 subsequent top 4 finishes for an untried Yze

Image washing. Channel 7 and Collingwood media unit colluding to rehabilitate Maynard’s reputation

Of concern each trading period, is our inability to attract any serious free agent, we are not even in the conversation. Similarly, why aren't we trying to attract a big name still in contract? Interstate Victorians? We are never in these conversations. We have been in a premiership window, which should be attractive to free agents and homesick Victorians. Instead we are trying to get lucky with other teams' discards.

You better have a nap

Wasn’t that the most wonderful day?

Another western Australian

Hot chips

Watching the replay, tackling pressure 1000% better than last week

Why was petty subbed? Injured?

Tackling intent much better than last week. I suspect they are burning from the Reid fend offs

Me too thirty one. We could have been friends!

Let’s [censored]ing hope not

Fwiw, BT agrees

Who was subbed off?

Insufficient intent decisions are pure pantomime. The crowd decides.

This is a copy and paste Everyone knows a tradie who thinks they know everything about footy. There just aren’t many like Jason Taylor, the former air conditioner technician turned master recruiter who is one of the main reasons for Melbourne’s success under Simon Goodwin, particularly the drought-busting 2021 flag. Taylor joined the Demons from Collingwood after the 2012 draft and helped transform a once-underperforming club with a mix of brilliant first-round selections – including Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver – and shrewd later choices such as Alex Neal-Bullen, Bayley Fritsch, Harry Petty, Trent Rivers and Kade Chandler. He and list boss Tim Lamb have become arguably the league’s leading list management duo, with the aid of a series of underlings. Lamb’s aggressive trading style has delivered repeated wins for Melbourne, from Steven May to Jake Lever, plus the deal with North Melbourne that allowed them to choose Kysaiah Pickett. Taylor’s imprint was on the Demons’ statement victory over Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night, with top-10 pick Caleb Windsor and rookie-drafted defender Judd McVee among the standouts. Another senior newcomer, Blake Howes (No.39 pick in 2021), also continues to make an impression down back. Top 10 pick Caleb Windsor celebrates a goal.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Melbourne selected Windsor with the second of their first-round picks across two years – untried tall forward Matt Jefferson was the other in 2022 – from the Luke Jackson trade with Fremantle. Jackson was another outstanding Taylor selection at No.3 in the 2019 draft, the same one in which he brought in Pickett (12) and Rivers (32). Windsor lined up on Jeremy Cameron on a wing to start the match and read an ensuing stoppage quicker than the Cats superstar before setting up Fritsch for the game-opening goal. It was one of his nine score involvements for the night, to go with a career-most 18 disposals, eight intercept possessions and six tackles. The sweet-kicking, fleet-footed Windsor and ex-Saints recruit Jack Billings have so far kept Lachie Hunter out of the senior side, and the evidence is resounding that it won’t be the No.7 pick making way. McVee, an ultra-composed defender, might be the best young player no one knows. Thirteen of his 21 disposals were kicks against Geelong, and he went at 92 per cent efficiency. There’s a reason they trust him with kick-ins. Judd McVee is efficient by foot.CREDIT: AFL PHOTOS Taylor’s consistently excellent hit-rate is what separates him from his peers, but there is one big miss that blots his copybook. He called out Sam Weideman’s name at No.9 in 2015, one pick before Harry McKay and three ahead of Charlie Curnow. Weideman is now at Essendon but stuck in the VFL, whereas Carlton’s McKay and Curnow have three Coleman Medals between them and will occupy much of Goodwin’s planning ahead of Thursday night’s blockbuster. Meanwhile, the Dees are still trialling their ideal key forward set-up, with Petty, Jacob van Rooyen and mid-season rookie Daniel Turner performing well as the aerial targets on Saturday night. Taylor is backing van Rooyen – who has drawn David Schwarz comparisons– and Jefferson to be Melbourne’s long-term future in attack, hoping they avoid fellow first-rounder Weideman’s fate.