Gawndy the Great

Still remains as to whether GCS want pick 2 to secure a player that they miss out by #5. Do we risk loosing Cadman by waiting for Pick 5->6? I think GWS would target Cadman as their KPF stocks are shot.

GWS will only do that to snare Cadman from right under our nose. Does sound like an MFC thing to do.

Does anyone have two picks in the top 20 they would trade us for pick 2 that is fair and equitable?

I’d go pick 2, 26 and Darling For our 2nd rounder and LJ. We then trade pick 26 for Grundy and end up with Cadman, Darling and Grundy. I don’t think Darling would want to come to Melbourne though but who knows.

Anything where you are not improving is not a good year. We took backwards steps in a lot of areas. We didn’t really discover any new talent, didn’t showcase any new tactics. We regressed in method and game plan execution. Pressure and fitness well down. We were lucky (yes you heard me) to get 2nd spot. We should have lost to Carlton which would have found us in 5th spot, right where we ended up finishing after finals. To accept anything less than a premiership is accepting mediocrity which I’m sick of after 57 years. I want continued success which means winning finals - not straight sets. Was it a disaster? No, but don’t for a minute think it was a good year because it wasn’t.

At least we are finally hearing 2 first rounders coming back and how Freo are going to struggle to satisfy it.

He came into the year hampered and after 10 weeks out was off it significantly. My worry is that his condition may be degenerative as opposed to regenerative. Similar to BBB, but he was a liability in almost every game he played. In a game style that is now looking to launch off HB, we are in desperate need of a versatile playmaker who can defend one on one and launch the counter punch. I think this year we had nobody to pull those kicks and hence were left to use the wings. Bowey will develop but I’m not sure whether he’ll make it to the elite category. Salem right now is nowhere near what we need him to be. Not sure he has a spot in the 22 atm. I don’t think he’d be looking to move either tbh - maybe next year if he is not able to improve. Unfortunately I think this role has now become a priority to rectify in the off-season , which means we would need to use our trade/draft capital to lure a readymade playmaker to the club over the needs of a KPF. The reason is, our forward line looks remarkably different and more effective when we get it in more quickly. Think about how clinical we are from centre bounce clearances … Look at how good the Pies forward line functions … they look a-grade with a bunch of c graders. Our fwd line [censored] over there’s on paper.

I think as long as both clubs involved in the transaction benefit and no club exceeds the salary cap in their payment then there is no harm done. Acknowledge that clubs in the window can trade draft picks for effectively an increased cap in return but it’s a slippery slope that when mismanaged can really hurt the club doing it. Just look at Collingwood now.

The best thing for us is that he will request a trade to us. We have all the bargaining power.

It is something to definitely hold onto so as much as we all throw the baby out, there is not anything to suggest that a few adjustments to game plan won’t alter. I think our fade outs were due to overall fitness and game plan. It was evident even in the first half of the year with all the ‘2nd gear nonsense’ - turns out the tranny was stuck and we couldn’t even shift out of 2nd. Now those that know my posts - I’m not overly optimistic - but in the wash up of this year I do have a lot to look forward to in 2023. A failed finals series will be a massive reality check for most in the team that probably became complacent mid year after going 10 zip. In hindsight, the May incident was a huge snapshot into the culture at the time. Those thinking it was isolated to one person can keep living under a rock. But it clearly marked the start of our downfall. Some time off to heal physically and mentally will do everyone some good. I genuinely hope that the FD come back with some fresh ideas in how to negate the top 4-6 teams that have an overly aggressive and attacking game style. We are no longer the fittest, fastest and smartest team in it and I hope that fact alone burns in the guts of the whole club over the next 2.5 months.

That is what everyone is wondering as well. The Dogs and Freos 1st won’t cut it as many have highlighted.

I’d put games into Turner as well not Weed.

Yep and hopefully the coaches are already hard at work trying to put a system together that will hold up against the attacking styles because it was definitely our weakness.

He would be an upgrade to Melksham definitely.

I don’t see what the issue is with that. LJ has given us nothing this year. I am starting to think there’s a chance that he may never live up to his potential - so better to cash out now whilst the offers are high. I may eat my words in a few years but we all saw first hand how the Weid fizzled out. If we can get Grundy and a good KPF from the draft then that’s a massive win IMO. i trust if there is anything wrong with Grundy medically then we’d back out. Don’t need a mother BBB on our hands.

I hope LJ does go. We need to plug some holes desperately.

De Goey may be poor human being but he is a great footballer. Love his explosive pace from stoppage. He’s a great kick as well.

I predict Goodwins stubbornness to bring this club further down next year before. He will not change the game plan enough and continue with the ‘2021 worked, we just have to execute better’ mindset. For the all the learnings to be had, we did not lean anything out of the 2nd half. He lied saying that spots in the 22 will need to be won and yet we never gave any of our 2s a second shot despite them being almost undefeated. It is wasted because May & Gawn are our only elite KP players and they have probably another 1-2 seasons of a+ grade output before they start winding down.

What a [censored] result to cap off the year. No Omac, no Daniher and you have Hipwood who has struggled since he came back kick 4. No one expects them to change the game plan mid year but how does a team that we have consistently put away for 2 years get it done? How does Fagan change the plan and Goodwin cannot manufacture something to give us a different look? It was there for everyone to see since mid year. Geelong and Sydney… what a bore fest.

So just about to board my flight back to Melbourne from Perth. I booked flights weeks ago thinking we won’t be playing this weekend. But things don’t always go as planned. Incredibly nervous but won’t know result well after the game has finished. Go get ‘em Dees.

Good for him & good for us. For a moment when it said family reasons my mind raced straight to Neale…

Yep and we let it happen by moving slow and playing the wings 100% of the time.

McStay is a good contested mark and kick. I don’t think he has the forward craft though (leading patterns etc) but it may actually work with our game plan which is predictable. He probably lacks defensive accountability though which isn’t ideal. He is also a clear upgrade on Weid and can definitely relieve Gawn in the ruck. I think he be a better choice than Grundy but 650 is definitely overs. Probably a 500-550 player. I wonder if we play hardball with Collingwood and try to squeeze a great deal for us by either trying to get Grundy on the cheap. If we can walk away from that deal Collingwood won’t have cap and we. Oils potentially lure McStay below ilhis asking price win-win

Interesting that league avg turnovers are from corridor, 40m from attacking goal. I’d like to see a derivative of this graph where goals from turnover is also shown. And whether turnovers from forward half corridor do result in more goals than pockets. I assume they do, but would like to see how much of difference it really is given we rarely kick it fat side from the wing.

Obviously we need to get rid of LJ and probably a few more players to offer a 5 yr $4.5m+ Deal.