old55

Braysure is making the most sense in this thread. Hibbert won't be coming to us for nothing, there'll be a trade. Two year ban of Essendon or all players forced to other clubs is the fantasyland.

EFA

100% There are always injuries, players returning from injury and players out of form. "Best 22" is a useless concept. There's a squad of about 30 players who all make useful contributions through the year. As an aside, that's why I think just giving the premiership medals to just the 22 on GF day is flawed.

Clearly you're not Einstein

If we're set on the Hibberd deal we could trade next years 1st (which should be in double figures) for Essendon's 2nd this year which will be 19. I believe they did Carlisle to the Saints for similar structure deal.

FWIW do you believe someone without much EQ can develop some? Jack Grimes is a true stalwart of MFC who has been through the hard-times. He's battled strongly and consistently this year and legitimately won his place in the team and played well in a good team win. And yet we have several "analysts" very keen to jump in this thread and immediately write his epitaph. I say just enjoy the ride. Vive le Grimes!

The actual quote VP responded to was " I was a critic. I gave the kid hell. "

or we declare him cooked.

Christine from Camberwell?

On that note, dredging up players limitations from 3-4 years ago is meaningless. Matt Jones, Grimes and Trengove have been through re-education, role changes and injury recovery and deserve to be assessed on their output capability today, not some deficiency from 2012 or 13. IMO, the only evidence that's relevant is their games in 2016 and, aside from his work at Casey which may or may not translate to AFL, it's one good game by Grimes so far.

Going from dreading playing them, I'm looking forward to it nowadays. It's only a matter of time.

Unlikely to leave WA unless he can bring his hairdresser and I don't think Priddis will allow that to happen.

Where's that defender now when we need him most?

MELBOURNE V FREMANTLE 9 Jack Watts (Melb)7 Max Gawn (Melb)7 Jesse Hogan (Melb)5 Jack Viney (Melb)2 Tom McDonald (Melb)

Yes and it was quite frankly a ridiculous diversion. I said that: " We've got Melksham, Salem, Wagner, White and Hunt all capable at HB. "Hibberd will free them to move to the midfield" yeah maybe but we've got N.Jones, Vince, .." and you raised weaknesses in N.Jones game. Salem and Hunt hopefully do have a future in our midfield but there's no way they'll be pushing N.Jones out of it to Casey. He's not a perfect footballer but he'd be in the starting 18 at every club and in the starting centre square 4 at many. And yes I'd prefer N.Jones to Prestia or O'Meara.

Sounds like we're very keen on Hibberd and good judges rate him. Good players will make us better but I still don't see his role as a recruiting priority. We've got Melksham, Salem, Wagner, White and Hunt all capable at HB. "Hibberd will free them to move to the midfield" yeah maybe but we've got N.Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson, Brayshaw, Petracca, Oliver and Stretch there already - who are they pushing out? Then there's VDB and Harmes. I haven't even bothered to include Lumumba, Trengove, Grimes, M.Jones and Bugg but some are very useful depth at a minimum. Hurley on the other hand ...

No, I don't really believe you are sorry. Mean-spirited post of the year, congratulations! (I don't really mean congratulations)

7.75?

Absolutely dominated

We'll win.

I agree there are tall forwards and tall backs but CHF and CHB don't exist any more. Riewoldt get up the ground and plays deep and so does Hogan. The problem that Cloke and Dunn have been having is that they think like you.

That's what isn't true. Few of those defences have champs in them. It's the exception. you said that Sydney's 2005 workman defence was the exception, but it's not.

I don't think that's true - take out the recent Hawthorn and Geelong flags and there's not to many "Silvagnis" in there: 2012: Sydney B: 2 Rhyce Shaw 25 Ted Richards 29 Martin Mattner HB: 34 Alex Johnson 39 Heath Grundy 40 Nick Smith 2010: Collingwood B: 5 Nick Maxwell (c) 16 Nathan Brown 34 Alan Toovey HB: 8 Harry O'Brien 20 Ben Reid 39 Heath Shaw 2008: Hawthorn[12] B: 27 Stephen Gilham 24 Trent Croad 18 Brent Guerra HB: 14 Grant Birchall 15 Luke Hodge 4 Rick Ladson 2006: West Coast Backs Beau Waters Darren Glass Daniel Chick Half-backs Adam Selwood Adam Hunter Brett Jones 2005: Sydney B:28 Jared Crouch21 Leo Barry30 Lewis Roberts-Thomson HB:4 Ben Mathews6 Craig Bolton17 Tadhg Kennelly 2004: Port Adelaide B: 21 Michael Wilson 2 Darryl Wakelin 19 Matthew Bishop HB: 11 Damien Hardwick 35 Chad Cornes 3 Brett Montgomery

If, according to the OP, Hogan is "our FF" how come he's taking marks up on the wing? The whole concept of CHF/CHB FF/FB is defunct. There may be 1, 2 or 3 tall marking players in the forward 50 at the centre bounce but the idea that one of then is "CHF" is an outdated concept, they all move around up and down the ground. Hogan takes marks in the defensive 50 on occasion. I agree we need another consistent tall contested marking option to Hogan who at times can play deep to free Hogan up the field, but also at times I love to see Hogan deep.

Tremendous that Jack is getting a game. He's been playing a similar midfield role at Casey to the Bugg role and while Bugg's form was good he was holding Grimes out - that makes perfect sense to me, no conspiracy no injustice. I think we may find that there's only a place for one of Bugg, Trengove and Grimes in the 22 in the future. I wasn't that enthused about Trengove and Bugg both in the team and I think Matt Jones (type) replacement for one of them gives us a more versatile midfield. Now it makes sense with Bugg's form decline, Grimes is replacing him. Personally in the long run I hope Trenners can own this role.