RedFox

I agree with that. Also would be nice to see our selectors punish poor form. To your point, we need contributing players on the park every single round. And, I know, how can you tell who is in form with no seconds comp? To have a vastly healthy list and Melksham not be dropped once is insanity in my book. Its one thing when you're bottom 10 isn't performing and it's another to keep picking them.

Using Richmond as an example, it's the likes of Martin, Cotchin, Edwards, Lynch and Short that make their bottom 10 look better than they actually are. Their prime movers set the tone and carry the team on their back. If you look at our supposed prime movers in Oliver and Brayshaw for example, how often do we see them stuck in 1st or 2nd gear on transition? I'm sure it's not as simplistic as any of that, and probably a combination of various factors, my point is that whilst 5 new guys in the best 22 may elevate us it won't change the attitude problem of our top echelon players. Looking forward to seeing this coaching re-shuffle.

It is an interesting theory, however it doesn't explain our top 10 players picking and choosing when to exert consistent effort, again, from quarter to quarter.

That's all good and well but what about our inherent mental fragility from quarter to quarter.

He would compliment our midfield nicely in my opinion but the cons of his contract terms and trade value lead me to want to pursue lesser targets.

I wonder how influential Alan Richardson could be in luring Billings to the MFC.

Would take him if we got him cheap and Freo paid some of his salary. Otherwise the baggage is too heavy.

Agree. Just passing on information

Take with a grain of salt but there's a rumour doing the rounds that Petracca has been asked to stay on the Gold Coast by Gil and the execs, who counted the votes early to ensure broadcast access to the victor. All but confirming that Petracca has, at the very least, tied the thing.

Just baseless rumours at this point. As far as I'm concerned he'll be at the club in 2021. Unfinished business

6 months under burgess should do the trick

Collingwood would rather [censored] in their hands and clap then allow De Goey to walk to the old enemy

Agree. If we can shed some TPP by moving on some players that in my opinion are surplus to our needs in Tmac and Brayshaw, we should go hard for Cameron.

If he wants out cause he finished 5th in the best and fairest that is exactly the type of attitude that makes this club bottle it every season. I want team first players not these stat and individual accolade chasers. Pathetic if true

Can we bundle Clarko into the deal?

JV alone is not the answer but if you let him go there is a huge void to fill. The way he attacks opposition can really motor our pressure, often you'll see if he's up and about tackling and harassing like a mad man the whole team follows suit. I didn't see that once from Melksham this season, it's an indictment that he never got dropped. I've seen Petracca steadily increase his instruction giving and overall leadership in the last 12 months. Here's hoping he continues on this trajectory because he's a player that would inspire through on field actions, which Max lacks in my opinion.

Melksham was pathetic this season, Vandenberg was in and out of the team, and the jury is still out on Gawn as captain in my opinion. We're pretty thin in the leadership department if you ask me, Viney has it in spades... agree with the OP

Yep. Would be very surprised if he landed anywhere other than Carlton. Need Tomlinson to get in his ear

Understood, it's a different set of circumstances. I'm making a point of people are so quick to say sack him without knowing all of the details, and it is a huge double standard to have that attitude towards Harley and not Spargo, Kozzie, and to a lesser extent May last year. I for one hope we support Harley and don't abandon him, he's had troubled life and I'd like to hope we get around him and give him an opportunity to repay the faith we've put in him. Would be a shame for it to end like this

May went drinking last season when he was injured. Did people call for him to be sacked? No. Yes it's a mistake, a covid breach and a costly on at that. He's been isolated in the hub without being selected for a number of weeks, not saying what he did was ok but he shouldn't be crucified either.

Why are we getting our legs taken time and time again? Have they forgotten this rule???

Any danger of getting a high [censored] tackle???

That's a fair contention and one that seems to be widely shared. I think I'm in the minority that believes Crouch doesn't offer an identical skillset to those players you've mentioned. He's pretty quick and a good ball user, can't have enough quality mids to rotate through in my opinion

Got it. Out of curiosity do you have any names you would target as assistants for next season?

Agree to disagree. The list isn't all that different from two seasons ago and without looking I would say the stats you've referenced would have looked way better that season. Don't think our current plight is an individual talent issue, more the system.