old55

Lewis played consistently decent football at the end of the season and was among our best 5 or 6 which is good. But let's not kid ourselves - the expectation was that his on-field leadership would influence a different outcome in exactly the situation we found ourselves in on Saturday. Maybe it surprised him - after all it was only the fifth time a similar thing happened this year. It is measurable because we lost when we should have won. His playing limitations are well documented in this thread and his capacity is declining. Will he even be in the best 22 this time next year to be able to provide that influence? I'm not calling his recruitment a fail, but I'm not calling it a success either.

The proof of the pudding ... Jones has led by example for years. I expect more of Lewis, that's what we recruited him for. We failed at the final hurdle and really that's exactly the situation I expected him to be able to change. I can't call it a success.

I think the core are: Hogan, Jones, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Gawn, Oliver, Hibberd, Melksham, TMac, Hunt, Garlett, Jetta. Delists: Lumumba, Trengove, Garland (contract pay out, staff job), Hulett, Spencer (UFA), Kennedy, White (R) Rookie elevation candidates: Keilty, J.Smith, Maynard (but only if we have to). Looks like we're going to retain T.Smith, Filipovic. There's other players I'd persist with who are still developing (e.g. Hannan, JKH, Weideman, OMac, ANB, King, Johnstone, Harmes, Wagner), have limitations but are depth (e.g. Pedersen, Bugg), have been injured (e.g. VDB, McKenna) or are experienced and have some limited footy left (e.g. Lewis, Vince) Needs: We need quality, not more role players - Inside/Outside mid (like Gaff, Zaharakis, I.Smith), Lever. I don't think another ruckman is vital - we can provide cover with King, TMac, Pedersen - maybe rookie a journeyman. Tradeable: we'll need to give something with potential value - pick 10, 2018 1st, Tyson, Stretch, Kent, Frost I'd like to retain Salem and Watts - despite their limitations they are just about the only players on our list (apart from Hibberd and possibly Weideman) who can kick the ball consistently well, but if it took trading them to close the deal on a real need then I'd do it.

Agree with that!

It's not really my argument, it's my observation of FD action and deduction about FD thinking.

I don't think we want all 3 in the back-line together - when Frost became available for selection earlier in the year Oscar went out. Then TMac went into the ruck/fwd and Oscar and Frost were together back. Now Pedo has hit form, TMac has gone back and Frost is out. I don't see a balanced set up with all 3 in. Axis of Bob posted a comparison of developing tall backs earlier in the year which showed that Oscar is well advanced - many posters can only see what's right in front of their nose and have little ability to project potential development. I agree that TMac, OMac, Frost is a reasonable set-up and that's why I don't see KPB as a priority, but clearly the FD do and if so then with limited list size and resources we don't want to be over-invested in this area and so Frost is tradeable. It will be fascinating to see how the back-line structures if we get Lever - with TMac, OMac, Lever and Hibberd all fit back there?

I don't think KPB is a our biggest need but evidence points to the FD think it is and are very keen on Lever. If that's true then there's many people in this thread struggling to stitch the logic together. If the FD think that we need a KPB that means they think the current set aren't quite good enough. Therefore some are tradeable. Oscar is in the team, Frost is out. Frost is tradeable. I like Frost - his size and speed is rare and they are great attributes for zone defence, but the logic is there.

I don't know if you're joking

It's a big leap to see how punching an opponent behind play and getting suspended for three weeks in which we lost winnable games is a positive - we'd be locked in the 8 and talking about top 4. The points that VP and TGR have made about Lewis' lack of pace, lack of commitment to the contest, turnovers and propensity to fall over are all valid. I'm not sure how this is hard to understand. But recently he has stood up strongly when the heat is really on and walked his talk. It's quite likely he has a limited number of shots in the chamber and has to use them wisely. How he delivers over the next few weeks will be key.

Last weekend and the next batch of games is why Lewis was recruited and how I'll judge him - the rest is garnish.

There's probably a Clayton Oliver thread on the Saints board too ...

A man's gotta know his limitations ... Lewis has had to pace himself early but recently he has stepped up and definitely walked his talk. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up over the next few weeks. If he does then he'll be vindicated. There's no way he'll see the 3rd year of his contract but I wont judge his recruitment on that.

If we land Lever then Frost becomes a very valuable trade option. I can't see Lever, OMac, Frost and Hibberd all in the same backline and we have TMac forward who could go back in case of injury. With Weid and Keilty coming through we developing tall options. 2017 1st + ANB would be a great result.

Near Kew or far Kew?

No MFC player thread on the first 3 pages of BF Trade & Draft: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/forums/drafts-trading-free-agency.61/

According to the Goodwin mantra this group is creating its own history. On that basis though we've lost to North once so we have history for the first time and need to rectify it by winning this week. I think that first encounter will sting the team, it's a pity Bernard is not playing, he has some skin in it with Cunnington.

Lewis was involved in many important handball chains (no way ring a rosy). On the other hand he fumbled, fell over, didn't put his head over it at least once and gave away a stupid 50. It's a fascinating mix of gòod and bad. He marked the last play inside defensive 50. Critics like TGR and BB will say "coincidence". Happy coincidence.

Lucky for May that Casboult can't kick.

Agree

Some vintage TGR

Lewis cost $s but no trade value. He's a bit like Roos - a stabilising influence that gives our club some veritas inside and outside. He's in decline, but it was a good trade. It will be interesting to see how we manage it. I expect him to play well against the Dogs btw.

So if we acquired May you'd trade one of them?

I'd prefer Zak Jones to May, price considered.

I've got Salem and Lewis named on the wings for that very reason. When I look at that line-up I see Vince, Lewis and Jones nearer to the end than the start and likewise for Pedersen. TMac and Frost are both yet to hit their prime. Mid and forward are where the issues are IMO.

Injuries allowing, we're going to be playing a 22 something like this at the end of this year: B: Jetta TMac Hibberd HB: Hunt Frost J.Smith C: Salem Oliver Lewis HF: Petracca Pedersen Hannan F: Garlett Hogan Watts R: Gawn Jones Viney I: Vince Tyson Melksham Stretch OMac and Weid aren't in that team. I just don't see the great need for May or Lever. If they push someone out of that back-line then we end up with one less mid and that's less balanced IMO. There's Brayshaw and VDB to hopefully get over their injuries too. I think more midfield class and tall forward is more important.