ChaserJ

Yep, same for my family. Miss 12 is ropable & I’m not far behind. This is rolling fixture gone mad. Impossible for travelling fans to plan and surely a contributing factor in crowds being down.

Defensive masterclass tonight. Looks like we really didn’t like losing and aimed to address that this week. Focused, fierce and just fantastic tonight.

And some analysis on our load management, which has us storming over sides in the last qtr (Burgo effect?): https://www.statsinsider.com.au/blog/afl/unmasking-melbournes-superhero-power

A nice analysis on what we’ve changed up in our structure and how it’s helped us get to 6 and 0: https://theshinboner.com/2021/04/29/melbourne-rising-whats-behind-the-demons-unbeaten-start-to-2021-analysis-shinboner-langdon-ben-brown-pickett/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Salem turned his back on FA when the 5 yr deal was put in front of him, Petracca may well do the same. Might have been clever sequencing from the Dees to sign up CP's two best mates at the club before putting the contract in front of him. It's been really good work by the club to lock Salem and Oliver away so early (and hopefully Trac soon), it takes the oxygen out of any speculation and allows the club to have singular focus on performing on the field. Brilliant.

You’re right. He was in Sandringham squad with those guys, but it was Kelly that was school mates with Salem & Hunt at Brighton.

I wouldn’t mind us giving a chance to Ryan Sparkes. Has looked pretty capable for Casey this year and think he was very unlucky to go undrafted in ‘19. Josh Green looked good for GWS in the VFL the other week too. Not in his brother’s class, but handy size and can play inside mid or up fwd.

Hopefully his old school mates Salem and Hunt can get in his ear, as well as Goody, Melksham and Hibberd, who would have been at the Bombers when Merrett was drafted. Would complement our midfield mix very nicely, and fill out our midfield. If the Dogs are one of our main contenders, I reckon their midfield bats 1 or 2 quality mids deeper than ours, and Merrett could help bridge that gap. I'm hoping we've spread our TPP's with our re-signings this year to give us some play to offer a competitive contract to Merrett, although it's clear that we won't be offering the biggest dollars. If Merrett's not chasing the money (nothing suggests that he is primarily motivated by this), we'd be offering as good an environment as any right now.

Possibly Lachie Ash as well.

Bumping this, Andy Moniz-Wakefield still attached to Dees NGA Academy. Not projecting as a top 20 selection at this stage, but early doors. https://www.afl.com.au/news/561218/nga-crop-revealed-freo-gets-first-call-on-son-of-power-roos-gun

I’m 3 mins down the road, so might pop in for a look.

Echo that. Take care McQueen.

Was in zone 1! Phew...

If he’s any good, then we get rolled. NGA rule changes effective from 2021 draft mean any NGAs picked inside top 20 can no longer can be matched by affiliated academy club. Bulldogs we’re spooked that changes might come into effect from ‘20, but lucked out.

It's interesting how many other clubs like Laurie at our range and how the dominoes fell after Macrae was taken a pick before Richmond selected. Without that happening, Richmond were happy to trade the pick (would have picked Laurie if they held the selection), Adelaide, GWS & West Coast liked him there too, and if Geelong don't trade for Max Holmes we probably would have missed him. GWS apparently don't do the trade for Collingwoods '21 first rounder if one of Laurie and Bowey slip through, which tells you how highly clubs rated them. Saints had an interest in Bowey with their first rounder as well. I think where we got trumped was with Angwin. GWS pounced ahead of our early picks, some connected to Angwin felt even he thought he was going to be a Dee.

Trav Johnstone for me.

Horne looks like an absolute jet. AFL’s 10 to watch: https://www.afl.com.au/news/527650/eye-on-the-future-10-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-2021

For anyone keen to watch our first rounders face off in last years NAB League prelim, full game is on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlz-qvQ7ph0 Both play reasonably well and end with 17 touches apiece, although Bowey caught my eye more frequently (you might even catch my 5 yo and I watching on from the hill). Also, one year on and the draft has underscored how stacked this Chargers lineup was. Consecutive no 1 selections and 4 top 5 selections in across two drafts.

@goodoil was spot on, Mitchell to Hawks with the last pick in the 20s.

Can only think (given Essendon's hand) that it's a tactic as they may entertain a trade which involves the Collingwood pick(s) that could be swallowed up by matching. In that event, Bombers would be keen to trade 9 rather than 7. Leak that you'll bid at nine and see if Pies will do a deal (at 9, they may just let Essendon have him). I think the Crows have legitimate interest.

This sort of thing happens every year, prospects usually aren't open enough to admit this outside of the club interviews. Rumour floating around that Perkins isn't necessarily all in on footy and his movement through the talent pathway is more driven by family rather than inherent attachment to the game. Not necessarily unique, but possibly provides some context.

I know we've been linked with Angwin previously, and he has ability, but 1st round seems high and every likelihood that he's on the board at pick 28 (which we reportedly want to trade out). The buzz around Holmes seems very strong now, reminiscent of the momentum that built behind Oliver.

AFL Draft Central's phantom draft (1st round only): https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/2020/12/08/2020-draft-central-phantom-draft-first-round-prediction/ Remember when Burgo used to give us a phantom draft with a prediction for every selection through to the last?

I’d be pretty stoked with that outcome. Plenty of pace, good skills by foot. More reference to our interest in (& work on) Max Holmes. Intriguing.

Holmes in the 1st round would be a flier, but happy with the names linked. Clearly trying to address outside run and add some athleticism.