BW511

The speed with which the ball is moving is definitely making me nervous.

I think a reserves/U19’s/development squad that plays prior to senior home games would get people invested again. Also gives up and coming players a chance to get into senior systems earlier

A defensive back pocket with his skill set is much harder to find than a long-kicking HBF

Sorry, if the choice was between trading McVee or Rivers, I’d keep McVee. This was in response to someone suggesting a trade of McVee

I’d send Rivers off and keep knuckles, Judd is much more valuable in my eyes.

Change of personal circumstances is curious?

What’s interesting is Melbourne were at the forefront of training hard and often (Burgo) Every other club is playing catch up. At the moment they are going down the ‘start earlier, start harder’ route across the board. This mantra will mature and things will settle but for now, being match fit in February is not winning anyone a flag

My pies employed mate has been telling me that Membrey has been on fire all preseason. Quite a dynamic forward group over there

Or the best player in his current or our future team

I would have said one of Oliver’s great strengths at his best is his ability to get to the next contest. It isn’t pretty ala a Caleb Windsor but he’ll huff and puff and vomit his way there, every time

Clarry in absolutely everything 😱

Aside from the romance of the family connection, is Andy Brayshaw going to make us better? I’d say no. Langford and Lindsay offer something different and that’s going to serve us better.

I wouldn’t sleep on XL either, he’s going to play this year imo. My guess is 5-8 games

Absolutely, although I’d happily argue Oliver’s output was above that lot - even though significantly below his absolute best.

Lynch, McKay, Martin, Bolton all took the [censored] in ‘24

@Roost it far & @Sydee 2.5 games and there was 5 teams between us and eight. Realistically, it was 3 games as our percentage was junk. Only teams below us were Adelaide, West Coast, North and Richmond. Love the optimism but to me, that’s a long way back.

It might not be enough. We will be better than last year but we are coming from a long way back.

My uneducated thoughts make me wonder if Reid already thinks he’s above/beyond the Eagles. Turning up unfit in year 2 is exactly the opposite of what you want to see and a few injuries in a row could effectively kill the entire year (see Petty/Clarry etc) I hope he finds a level of professionalism of a Trac (football only) or Pendlebury so we can all watch him reach dizzying heights - wherever that may be

There’s probably only a handful of players who broke even on their 2023 form or bettered it. So in my opinion, heaps of them.

I am hopeful that Nibblers role becomes almost redundant with a couple more balanced mid/HF options coming into the squad - Sharp, Lindsay, Langford can all squeeze into that area of the ground and go both ways to counter Trac going forward of centre bounce/stoppage.

Fingers crossed we manage him well between now and Round 1, he’s a walk up start

I’m here for a JT curveball, who’s with me?

I agree, his highlights don’t suggest he can do great work in close unless he’s got room to move. When he has space, his kicking is beautiful. That won’t happen as often at AFL level

Isn’t this role suited to Turner?

I agree, a May replacement is important but we need a lot to go right for Oliver and Trac to both be at 100% and in Melbourne colours beyond 2025.