Lord Nev

Matsuo Basho: "Lever will be a welcome return to the side (let’s hope his knee stands up after a SECOND reco)" Source Matsuo Basho: "Lever a star but has now had two knee recos." Source Matsuo Basho: "Job security the major sticking point in that scenario. Go down with a buckled knee, huge disaster for him." Source Matsuo Basho: "At the end of the day you’re a professional footballer at the elite level for ten years, with the ever present possibility of going down with a buckled knee every time you run out onto the park." Source Matsuo Basho: "Gawn is also a worry with his knee issues." Source You don't seem super consistent on knees old mate.

"Meanwhile, Melbourne is certain to revamp its footy department after an underwhelming season. This could lead to an approach for Richardson, who remains highly regarded in footy circles after almost six seasons at the Saints." Source Thoughts?

Edit - Actually changed my mind about this post, not getting sucked in to this rubbish anymore.

Haha, I'm out. Enjoy fellas.

Yes, and you do understand that given his age we should go off this year's stats, rather than ones from when he was 23 right? I'm not "potting" Ben Brown at all, very good player, but he's not worth pick 2/3 (whatever it ends up being) given his age. You can't complain about our lack of young talent and then simultaneously trade away one of the best 3 young players in the country. It's absolutely hypocritical. By the way, you do realize your stats are wrong yes? You're using total goals and behinds, not set shots. Not surprising from you tho tbh.

Yesterday you were bemoaning our lack of under 23 talent, now you're wanting to recruit a 27 year old. Ok then. Also... "North Melbourne's Ben Brown is regularly noted as a sharp shooter but his 54.4% accuracy is not in the top bracket in the competition." Source

No. And they wouldn't give it up for Brown either.

Yeah who'd want a supremely talented 23 year old who is rated as one of the best forwards in the comp this year, and helps our weaknesses of goals, kicks inside 50 and ground balls, when we can have an inaccurate 27 year old to jump at the same Viney bombs as Weid and TMac...? Cunning plan.

Where's our mate @kev martin today? Wondering if he got down to the captain's run for a look.

Technically, he did say both those things. He's admitted we're very poor, hence the "when you've won 5 games", and he's stated what action they're taking "tinkering with aspects". I just find that a bit unconvincing.

Putting a few of his comments together can be interesting... (Paraphrasing of course) 'When you've won 5 games for the year you don't overhaul your game, you tinker with it....' ?

"He's obviously come back after a long knee rehab and he's still getting some continual swelling in that knee, so we'll go in and get that tidied up," coach Simon Goodwin said. Jetta ruled out for 2019 with knee injury

He didn't come back too quickly though hey @Nasher....

Nope.

I think this is correct... PRIMARY LIST: Baker Garlett Frost Jones Kennedy Harris Lewis Maynard Neal-Bullen J.Smith Stretch J.Wagner ROOKIE LIST: Chandler Keilty T.Smith C.Wagner Bradtke Walker

In a subjective list compiled by AFL writers. Not really a reliable assessment of our list, and if you look at our players aged 23-25 it's a very different scenario. I agree pick 2 for Hill is not a fair deal, but there's no way we get him for a 2nd round pick either. I don't see us getting him anyways tbh.

Yep, my mistake. I searched for a thread about Petracca along these lines but because his name wasn't in the title I didn't see it. Have asked the mods to merge the two if they wish.

Yep, absolutely the same here. No reason we couldn't get all 3 though? Would transform our midfield. I'm not super keen, but should Burgess get a look at him and think he can be fit too contribute then he would improve our depth.

Seems worth having a thread about him. He's an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and we're apparently interested. Would turn 30 during next season and his injury history is well known. Speaking of which, what are the chances Burgess would get an opportunity to assess these kind of things? Pending the Burgess approval, I would be keen as he costs us nothing, can potentially help us lure his brother and IMO would just replace Lewis' spot on the list as a mature player who may play some VFL. More info below: STEPHEN HILL Status: Contracted until the end of 2019 State of play: Stephen Hill was one of the premier wingmen in the AFL only a few years ago, but injuries have limited him to just 16 games across the past two seasons — including just three in 2019. Some believe that he will move to where his brother Bradley plays next season. It might seem unusual that a club would take two wingmen at the same time, but some clubs — like Melbourne — need two genuine wingmen right now. Gold Coast has been linked to Hill before and could try to lure him across the country again. Likely scenario: A fresh start appears to be the best thing for Hill moving forward, especially if a club like Gold Coast dangles some long term security in front of the 29-year-old. AFL 2019: State of Play — where 24 major AFL trade storylines sit

Ahhhh that'd be why I couldn't find a good thread to put this in when I searched for threads with "Petracca" in the title. Mods feel free to merge as I didn't see that existing thread. You put it really well rjay.

You mean the years where we played well as a team and had much higher statistics overall as a club? Ok then. You do understand how rotations work in modern footy yes? Being named on the bench is pretty different in 2019 than it was in 1984. Harmes was named on the interchange the last two rounds, he's close to being dropped is he? I had hoped people would grasp the concept of improving in a year where we're struggling as a team, but apparently not.

Continually hear people talking about Petracca's upcoming 'breakout game' which never seems to eventuate, and I feel like that impacts their opinions of him. He's quietly putting together a very good season and has steadily, albeit not linearly, improved over his career. Consider this for 2019: Averaging 18.2 disposals, 2.6 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 4 marks and 1.2 goals. (Importantly for us, handballs more than he kicks also) Ranked 11th in the league for total tackles inside 50, despite playing some midfield time. Currently rated 5th in the league for forwards, ahead of players like Stringer, Charlie Cameron and McDonald-Tipungwuti. And last time I heard the stat reported this year, he was the lading player in the league for winning ground balls inside 50. For a team with such a disconnect going forward, he has shown enough effort and talent on a consistent basis to be given a bit of credit from Dees fans. We can all be a bit hesitant to give any praise during a horror year like this, but I feel he deserves at least a modicum of encouragement for improving against the odds.

No, I didn't. Histrionics again, but now you've added flat out lies into the mix.

And last year 4th, with basically the same list. And yes, I didn't go through and list every single player recruited past pick 40, you can do that yourself if you wish, I was pointing out that a fair few of our best 22 have come after pick 40, so to say Taylor has been "horrendous" is just histrionics. Sadly, that seems to be par for the course for your posts though.