old55

I can't wait for full training to start and see which groups specific players are training with. It gives a good indication although I recognise that things can change quickly in season e,g, Salem mid to back; and Fritsch fwd to mid to back last year and Melksham back to fwd in 2017. Anyway hers's a stab at it starting with whom I consider to be the locks (you're free to disagree): Backs: May, Lever, Jetta, Hibberd, Salem, OMac, Lewis, Frost, Petty, Wagner Mids: Gawn, Preuss, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Jones, Stretch, JKH, Maynard, Baker Forwards: TMac, Weed, Melksham, Petracca, ANB, Spargo, Hannan, T.Smith, Garlett Of particular interest: KK: back or mid - I'm tipping wing role as a mid. VDB: probably mid? Hunt: has been a back but I think there could be a role change - possibly forward Fritsch: the most versatile - forward, mid or back? He played back at the end of this year for coverage and I have FD intel that this is the preferred role for him J.Smith: was a back but I've posted elsewhere that I like the idea of him forward, has the height to spoil intercept markers and the pace and tackling to lock the ball in. The FD tried him there at the end of this year twice. Keilty: plays back at Casey but they use him as a swingman and goes fwd to create an effective target, With our plethora of tall backs and shortage of tall fwd depth I'd like to see Dec training with the forwards.

Wow that's a very ordinary list. Clubs are getting ahead of the curve and trading players before they becomd FA.

I had a bit of a soft spot for Freo, fellow travellers in adversity and all that. I don't wish Jesse any ill will personally but Freo have lost me. I don’t like North and Freo are up there with them now, unlikeable but unremarkable.

Dion Johnstone was delisted.

Almost "Obviously I do want to play in finals and flags, but at this stage it was more important to get back around my family and friends, and have a fresh start.”

Agree interesting times - there's still a big emphasis on a "settled line up" that can work in co-ordination - particularly in the backline.

Dododo strikes again .... https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2018-photo-posted-by-essendon-list-manager-adrian-dodoro-appears-to-show-teams-draft-board/news-story/7b476327c681e4ddb3d249d708ebb40b

Wow that is good to hear!

May vs Hogan at Optus Stadium next season, bookmark it.

Quite frankly that looks completely normal to me and seems like it was forever to be so.

Max had average game time of 85% in 2018: https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-melbourne-demons--max-gawn?advv=Y If Preuss and Max both play then Max could drop that to say 75% gametime to help his longevity. Preuss would need to play at least 65% gametime so we don't lose out on rotations. That means they'd be on the field together (minimum) 40% of the time - assuming they are never both off together.

It's worth re-iterating that Steven May chose MFC over offers from Collingwood and Hawthorn who also made finals this year - really who would've thought that even 2 years ago? And he cited the key reason was "the guy" Simon Goodwin, that means he preferred Goodwin over Clarkson and the reborn new age Buckley! Wake me up, I must be dreaming!

I think they've taken a big risk with a potentially unhappy player with an unhappy wife. But then again they do think they are still in the window with Ablett in his last year and other stars around 30 now so they really have no choice but to go for it next year - they are still topping up in this trade period. I think they are deluded. I hope they are too.

This is an excellent point. Kelly is a unique position - at Geelong in his 2nd year after being drafted he's locked into the mandatory AFL draftee pay scale and he's not going to sign an extension at Geelong because he wants to leave. At WC next year he'd still be locked into the same 2nd year amount but in the future years of the extended contract they are going to give him they could pay overs each year to make up for his mandated low wage next year. I can see why he wanted to move now and would be [censored] off stuck at Geelong on low wages vs his output..

I'm not disputing that Hogan is a great player. His last game for us this year was the loss vs Sydney, after that with TMac and Weed as key forwards we went on a four game winning streak against top 8 sides - WC in Perth scoring 108, GWS 102, Geelong 75 in a low scoring match and Hawthorn 104. I don't think Hogan would have made any difference in the PF. I think there's a fair body of evidence there that the forward line is not a glaring weakness.

Thanks for that WJ. It would be good to see a version with the "outs" against each club too so the true result can be understood. Might do it if I get the opportunity.

We tried Joel Smith forward a couple of times this year including in the 2nd half of the PF. He has that incredible genetic leap and is fast and a good tackler so his defensive capabilities are sound. It will be interesting to see if he's training with the forwards next year.

There's a difference between being sad to see Hogan go and canning Mahoney.

Let the melts begin Paging @EnterTheDragon

They don't have 30

Neale + 30 for 6 + 19 + 55 values Neale at 6 + 35

Neale + 30 for 6 + 19 + 55 values Neale at 6 + 35

Port keeping ahead of Adelaide in the race to draft SA prospects. Now only Carlton, GC x2, Saints ahead of them. Port now 5 and 10, Adelaide stuck on 8 and 13. I wonder if Port will try to do 5 and 10 to get one of GC's 2 or 3 to make sure they get one of Lukosius or Rankine. 5 still seems late for them. I see Adelaide's 8 + 13 is enough points for 2.

True but I'm not confident Bell will be able to get his head around that. It's quite possible it will complicate his negotiations with Brisbane for Neale because "now you're offering me 6 instead of 5 - I want more steak-knives"

Port has Brisbane's 5 now and Brisbane have 6 - Bell will not be pleased