Matsuo Basho

Get real. That article accounted for a paltry sample size of 16 games this season only. Over four seasons since 2016 I repeat Ben Brown has kicked 213 goals 98 behinds from 311 set shots, going at a very tidy 68.5% accuracy. His reputation for goal kicking accuracy is well earned. The lack of U23 talent and the issue of our atrocious forward set up are two problems that can co-exist at the same time. You understand the concept of that ya? You simply cannot pot the North Melbourne spearhead. He’s a jet.

Interesting trade suggestion BA. I floated same some months ago but the ‘Trade Petracca’ thread I started was shut down by the mods. Deemed too radical at the time. Funny how a Trade Brayshaw thread was allowed soon thereafter but there you go. But that’s another story. Now the facts are we sit 17th on the ladder with a patently dysfunctional (politest word I can come up with) forward line with a dearth of genuine targets to kick to and straighten us up. Something’s got to give. If Petracca could be floated out there in aid of us landing say a Ben Brown I would look at it. I would look at it very closely. Especially if it meant we could use next year’s first round pick in trade and hold on to this year’s pick 2. We’ve got to get creative and bold this off season. Forget finals if we try and play a safe hand. Can’t roll with Weideman and TMac again. No way Josè.

Ben Brown 2016 - 41 goals 18 behinds from 22 games 2017 - 63 goals 30 behinds from 22 games 2018 - 61 goals 24 behinds from 22 games 2019 - 48 goals 26 behinds from 18 games (so far) 27yo my God he's ancient. Pension him off now lol. 213 goals 98 behinds from 311 shots at goal over past four seasons, running at 68.5% set shot accuracy. 200cm tall gorilla, never gets injured, in his absolute prime. You are kidding yourself.

Lord Travis brought it up. Lucas Cook was pick 12. Should we get on the blower to him, too? “Come back Lucas, we need 60+ goals from you in 2020.”

A SANFL struggler, Weid and TMac. Sign me up for a family membership pronto! Ben Brown is a bonafide gun. Proven quality. Worth pick 3 and then some.

Why are we talking about a guy who struggles to kick goals in the SANFL? That’s the real question here.

Great post. Pert can start with firing the recruiting staff and poaching recruiters from a club who get it right. Start with Geelong, West Coast and the Dogs. Goodwin will be a memory by round 11 next year if it looks like finals are a pipe dream again. Frankly I don’t like his chances even with some radical changes in on and off field personnel. Just looks out of his depth.

Weideman is a first round pick key forward so scratch that off your sales pitch. And goals tally is very far from pointless when we’re needing to address that very specific concern in the F50. 193cm and a bit overweight too. No thanks.

FYI The reason Fogarty can’t crack it for a game at Adelaide is he struggles in the SANFL. Has kicked 8 goals in 15 games. Usually you get what you pay for.

Morning Drysdale. It’s good to be back.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Oscar and Frosty. Prepare the lube and assume the position.

It’s a furphy that we’ve got too many inside midfielders. We’ve got exactly the right amount and should hold dearly onto Gus. It is more accurate to say we don’t have enough outside midfielders. Robbing Peter to pay Paul would be totally counterproductive in this instance.

Put Roos’ blame casting in the context of him angling for a cushy high paying mentoring role at Carlton and you can see why he said those things. Slippery character Paul. I never felt he 100% bought into Melbourne. Always one eye on his exit strategy.

“Look Trac, we know you had the talent to be considered the second best kid in the nation at draft time but we’re not concerned about that investment in your ability now. Just roll along at half rat power and bob up with goal every now and then and we’re good.”

Consistency in footy is about bringing the same level of effort, commitment and performance week after week, month after month, for the entire season. Look through Petracca’s games overvthe course of the entire year, from rounds 1 to 19. He has been one of the least consistent players in the 22. Even within games where he does play okay he still goes missing for extraordinarily long periods. Does not deserve the plaudits some are fawningly giving him in this thread. Nowhere near it.

Statistically Petracca has made no improvement on his 2017 and 2018 numbers. None whatsoever. https://finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=2626 His first ten games of 2019 were poor to the extent he was on the fringe of the 22 being named on the four man interchange at Thursday night team selection. His past 8 or 9 games I would describe as being passable. He’s a number 2 draft pick in his fifth year at the level. The club needs more from him. A lot more.

Then get on the Ben Brown train. Club head honchos read this forum. Let’s let them know we demand action. 5000 new members will sign on off the back of a bold move like this. May - Lever - Oliver - TMac - Brown. Thats a spine to build a premiership assault around. He’s worth the risk.

What's notable from the likes of LordNev and others in this thread is a lot of criticism but not a whole lot of creativity as to how you think we're going to get out of the biggest forward set up debacle since the mid 80's. Easy to pot, not so easy to plot. Let's hear some real thinkers step forward with support and/or alternatives. Because this problem isn't gong to solve itself. And I'll give you the tip - the immediate answer does not include the name Weideman. Must sign key forward. Priority numero uno.

"Hore, Lockhart, Hannan, J.Smith, ANB, vB, Hunt & Harmes all say hi from post-pick 40 and our best 22."

Look, you listed ANB as one of your fave U/23's. We're done.

*Note - LordNev neglected to mention the Wagner bros, Spargo, McKenna, Filipovic, Hulett, Johnstone, White, Omac, Stretch, King and a host of other illustrious post R1 recruits long since discarded. Taylor's sensational recruiting of Oliver and a few others masks what has been overall a grand failure of recruiting over a five year period. It is definitely a reason - no not the the only reason - but a reason why we sit where we currently sit at present. 17th.

*Cartwheels* ?

Priorities. Without a proper avenue to goal we will be a basket case in 2020. Recruiting of youth is therefore going to have to be very sharp over the next three seasons. Not just from early picks but right throughout rounds 3 and 4 of drafts and into the rookie and preseason drafts as well. Taylor’s track record over five seasons is horrendous in this area. He will be gone by October. Pert is no dummy.

Recruiting just one of several issues.

That’s true. Pick 3 and a player then. Or pick 3 & 21. Where there’s a will there’s a way.