old55

We need to get in as much top line class as we can, here's a reasonably equitable 3-way that's win-win-win and benefits each club: MFC: Give 3, 38 Get 12, Langdon, Caldwell (was GWS 1st 2018 pick at 11) First 3 picks: 12, 20, 56 Freo: Give: Langdon, 24 Get: 14, 38 First 3 picks: 7, 14, 38 (14 gives them a nice pick for Tim Kelly without having to use 7) GWS: Give: 12, 14, Caldwell Get: 3, 24 First 3 picks: 3, 24, 49 (3 for use before Green is bid on, 24 for points for Green)

2nd week of the finals is usually the most boring week of the season - except for last year when we were in it. This year it sparks some more interest than usual though: Geelong vs West Coast - I'll take some delight in whoever loses, probably more delight if it's Geelong going out in straight sets. Brisbane vs GWS - I'll take some delight in whoever wins, probably more delight if it's GWS just to hear their ripping theme song again.

Very happy to back Petty vs Hore. I think Hore could be best 22 but it's a matter of team balance. Petty is a superior prospect IMHO.

Here's my list assessment: Backline: A couple of years ago I was lamenting that we had too many half-backs on the list - now we don't have enough. IMO Hibberd is finished, Josh Wagner is conclusively not AFL standard, Lewis is gone, Hunt and J.Smith have been moved away from there, Jones is no good there and Fritsch has moved forward where he does his best work. We need 7 backs in the 22. I have faith that Nev will get back to at least near his best which was THE best in the AFL. May and Lever are no-brainers. Salem has to stay back here, Petty is too good to stay out of the team and will benefit from another pre-season. In this line-up Frost has to take a small which I think is fine. Hore is the next best back-line player on the list but I don't like the mix that he offers to that existing 6, we need more run, not more intercept marking. We need to trade in a running half-back, the only other ready-to-go player on the list that I think could succeed there is Hannan who would be worth a try if he can get over his injury issues. Otherwise it's Hore or Hibberd as 7th back. Jetta May Lever Salem Petty Frost Bench: ??? Depth: Hore, OMac, Hibberd Developing: Nietschke Mids: We need 8 mids in the 22 including the ruckman - and we're short on quality here. Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes are my go-to starting centre square set. We've got nothing on the wings - we need to close the Langdon deal and for one of KK or VDB to get fit to play. Petracca and Viney can rotate through and I've got them in the forwards. Despite the protestations on Demonland, Jones is still an AFL standard mid, just not in the starting set. I think it's pretty clear Billy Stretch is not up to AFL standard. JKH is just OK and is probably our only mature midfield depth standard. We need one or more of the development players or a new draftee to make big strides over the summer and cement a spot - it's not an unreasonable hope, you'll find all the finalists this year have 1st or 2nd year players in or near their starting 22s. Gawn Oliver Brayshaw Harmes Langdon KK/VDB Bench: Jones, ??? Depth: Preuss, JKH Developing: Jordon, Sparrow, Baker, Lockhart, C. Wagner, Dunkley Forwards: Surpringly, given our poor conversion this year, this is the area I think we're best served. I acknowledge our over-supply of inside mids and our under-supply of small forwards - moving Viney forward solves both these problems in one swoop - he's genuinely quick, a true contested crumber and will deliver ferocious defensive pressure. I have faith in TMac and Weid as marking targets, particularly with the progress of Fritsch. We need 7 forwards in the 22 and a couple of them in Petracca and Viney who can rotate through the middle as required. I think it's clear ANB is not up to AFL standard. We need one of the Smiths to get fit as depth. Petracca TMac Fritsch Viney Weideman Melksham Bench: Hannan Depth: Hunt, T.Smith, J.Smith Developing: Spargo, Bedford, Chandler, Bradtke So in the wrap up: Delist: Lewis Garlett Stretch ANB J.Wagner / Keilty Maynard Walker? Trade out: Hunt? - probably the only depth with any trade value, pick 3 in a pick swap with GWS Trade in: Langdon, running half-back or quality mid (maybe in a GWS pick swap deal) Draft: best available, but it would be nice to have a 1st rounder and get some more young mid or half-back quality onto the list

Maybe the full scope of Alan Richardson's role and his associated title is not settled just yet with the other staff changes still happening e.g. Jade Rawlings and now as mooted Todd Viney exits? But no - it's been more than 10 days now and you're overdue for a tantrum.

West Coast v Essendon - why can't they both lose? I'll probably end up on Essendon just because of the "booooo!!!!" Geelong v Collingwood - I'm heavily on the Pies, that shows how much I hate Geelong. I hope they lose in some controversial circumstance just to hear Scott's bleating and then are forced to play the semi at the MCG and lose that too. GWS v Western - I hope GWS beats the Dogs, I'm sick of Beveridge already Brisbane v Richmond - I hope Brisbane wins and goes all the way, but I'd prefer the Tigers or GWS won the flag ahead of any of the rest.

Unless they keep winning.

Ed read Demonland

Go Cora-Lynn :-)

Yes, we weren't named in the clubs chasing Dustin Martin, Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio.

I'll assume GC get pick 2 and we are serious about splitting pick 3 (2234). The talk is that GWS will trade 12 (1268) and 14 (1161) = (2429) which looks like equitable value. This is so they can take pick 3 before they have to match a bid on Tom Green who may be bid on as early as pick 4 (2034 with a 20% discount = 1627). The problem with this theory is that GWS doesn't have 2nd or 4th rounders and its next picks are 49 (287), 75 (0) and 85 (0). That leaves them a long way short of 1627 and would put them in a big deficit of 1340 in 2020 - equivalent to pick 11 (1329) - likely to be around their 1st pick next year. GWS will be desperate to trade in some mid range picks this year to make up the shortfall on Green. We could be in a strong position to bundle in some later picks for a good GWS player that we fancy.

Good post. I agree with trying Viney as a small forward - he could solve all our problems down there. He has legitimate speed off the mark, would provide genuine contested crumbing and ferocious defensive pressure. The knock on the idea is that his kicking is inaccurate and we've had a problem with goal conversion. But I could live with that - we've been living with ANB!!!

I think we will make the hard calls on the list and Goodwin has a good history here - Watts and Hogan trades.

Lynch whinging to umps again - biggest sook in football

What am I missing here? PM if necessary please.

He has successfully changed the way he played in the contest to alleviate the frequency of concussion events.

Bitterly disappointing to lose like that. But we looked like a team playing for the coach. North seldom lose down there and pumped Port last week. A 100pt loss was a possibility if we didn't turn up, but we clearly did. It has been a horrible year but that team is still playing united.

Strangely predictable that a call to use Max more effectively turned into "trade him" - Demonland strikes.

Max Gawn has had another great personal season and his performance is a highlight in an otherwise very disappointing year. He deserves great credit for his preparation, the work on his game and his consistent effort from week to week. He is the premier tap ruckman. No doubt Max has a great personality and is a great leader around the club - he will probably be co-captain next year. Who killed Bambi? The problem is I think having Max Gawn play this way is a big part of our problems this year because he makes us too predictable. Last year this had the bonus of surprise when Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes all made significant improvement, this year it's a liability. I've never rated tap outs and have mixed views about taps to advantage - both the lynch pins of Max's game. A contest in the ruck is vital because one-off matches with tap outs to advantage are very damaging, but consistent tap outs to advantage are very predictable and the opposition simply sweats on our first possession and tackles our inside midfield. No surprise that we are 17th for tackle differential - that's the key tactic applied against our contest based game. I rate around the ground marking and providing a marking target much more highly and I think this is where Max provides us with the most value currently. But his kicking remains a liability and this is an issue when he drifts forward. Quite frankly Grundy is a far more valuable player because he is an extra mid-fielder, can kick and can ruck and mark nearly as well as Max. There's no way we would even consider trading Max but we need to give some thought to about how to use him effectively next year.

I'd swim down there if I was guaranteed to see Lewis hit Cunnington.

Preuss is an adequate 1st ruck at AFL level, he was good against Carlton and Kreuzer in his one opportunity at it this year. He's hopeless as a forward/ruck option and is unlikely to improve.

No wait, I forgot the talisman Lewis Jetta.

Well by your own definition the last 3 flag teams have had ZERO previous flag coaches and ZERO previous flag players so we'll be in good company. Accurate user name though.

I'm not in favour of Ellis, he has attractive attributes but he won't put his body on the line.