Skuit

The third-party insurance premiums for our rotating mid-field will be through the roof. Brutal.

I Can't Believe it's Not Gaff?

This Fitzy-watch thread is way more fun that that Ollie Whines one.

Congrats to Nev and a nod to the other nominees in Jimmy Bartel, Jarrod Harbrow and Jack Hombsch as well.

What I do agree with - despite my concerns for what I believe Jesse's natural limitations, I think he'll get the absolute best out of he does have. Most likely as a CHF, starting deep and leading out on occasion and drifting back into space at other times. There is also a possibility that his kicking length is still being hampered by his back and may improve. He strikes me at times as moving like a hobbled veteran, but he's also strangely still athletic.

I agree he doesn't deserve the criticism. And I don't want to press the issue too much, but I'm not sure if he can achieve what's suggested/hoped for by simply comparing him to other players at the same age and what he's achieved so far. My concerns are he doesn't have the leg (and likely never will) to match with any of Buddy, Carey, Rocca etc etc., doesn't have the pack-marking ability of (many other young bright forward hopes let alone out and out past champions) and doesn't have the physical agility of an early Schwartz or Reiwoldt etc. 60 goals a year would be fantastic in the modern era but I'm not sure that he has the tools to be a 'once in a generation player' many are expecting as a result of natural improvement with age/experience.

Cheers. I rate Harmes but I guess I see it it as anyone who would slot in above a player on the current list - even at the bottom end - as a steady overall upgrade/improvement on the list- like Michie and Newton instead of (god - my memory has purged most of them them) Clisby and Mckenzie for example. This obviously requires currency though so it's an in-out equation on balance. In that regard, I wouldn't reject Lyons outright, but I agree that we otherwise have far more pressing needs we should be focusing on.

So Abe. Did you intend to address the issues that stevethemanjordan was responding to? Jesse is still performing better than just about any second-year key forward in the modern era (as an age comparison). Won the Rising Star. Two top-ten club b&fs. That's all recognised. But is that any genuine indication of his actual ceiling or have these achievements and accolades disguised his limitations (and this isn't a knock on the kid - we're talking the rare air of an absolute AFL superstar which many are expecting)?

Is there a breakdown of how Choo-Choo polled in the games that he did play? Strange in my opinion that they don't have a mechanism to counter for absenteeism, like shaving off the bottom handful - five or so - of individual polling games - not a big dif for Clarry, but Jack probably deserved last year's Bluey as well. Agree on the Bazooka though. Our best prospective chance alongside Jack for a Chas in a long time.

I'm going to attempt some rare middle-ground here. I think Hogan is fantastic and would be a very valuable asset for us going forward. Most of the criticism of the kid is massively unwarranted, but Some of the hype probably has to be put in check also. He has been exceptional as a developing key forward in terms of comparison to previous out-and-out AFL forward champions. My concern is his ceiling. Is he getting close to it already? He was big-bodied at a young age in a shite team so, even while taking multiple defenders early in his career, his comparative stats may not be valid. He will have to keep taking multiples unless we can add to Watts/Weid etc. The issues I see are: he's not as physically fluid as some of the greats, and he doesn't have the kicking range. Both big issues for me and have to be acknowledged. He is decent one-on-one but that concept is practically outdated and he struggles for pack-marks when out of position. He's proven however he can be pretty handy and creative on the ground. But sadly, I don't think he'll ever be a Buddy or Carey or even an Ox. Maybe closer to Neitz? So the question comes down to his contract v trade value. I hope he stays. But I think we might do okay with the compensation and without him. Yes, I'm priming myself for his heartbreaking departure.

Congrats Jack. Next stop: Brownlow. I mentioned before - reading the Roos tea-leaves - that Max has some work to do (as signposted in his pressers). So not surprised by Hunt's regard from the coach's box. But Matrix Oliver? I still thought he'd be contender in the Rising till the very end. What's the deal there?

That troubling equation on Demonland when you agree with Stuie or Saty's comments but are still antagonised by their general tone of response . . .

Steve Ther-Manj or Dan - can you cut just one letter off your username? The aesthetics of the over-hang are killing my inner-pedant. Also, why mehhhhhhhhhh as to Lyons (in the context of what's available and our obvious moneyball approach as to incremental improvements to our list)? Genuine question - I'm happy to admit I haven't seen a great deal of Lyons this year but his stats shape up and what I have seen has been decent/promising.

And what ever happened with that Lovett kid? Anyways - why is this thread so short? There's five pages on Cloke.

Viney to Stretch to Lyons will do.

It's all part of a marketing campaign playing to stereotypes. The blondies are up in Brissie, the tatooed one off to Collingwood, and the soccer player signed up at Lygon st. Meanwhile, we have the oldest players in the league to match our club heritage.

This won't even start well.

IDid anyone catch the alleged Jones off the ball shirtfront? I'm stuck with the radio. Sounds pretty serious.

So with Trenners inking a new deal, that's three Jacks, (and two Macs), a Jake, a James and a Jayden, and a Jeffy and a Jetta re-signed for the year. Seriously, it's time to step up Jesse. And maybe we can snag a post-season Jaeger to add to that mix?

It's foolhardy to think that a change of scenery and time in our system might provide any given player a spark to recapture form/consistency, but we need a Motlop. And maybe he'd dig our game-plan? His name came up last year if I recall but the $$$ touted were obscene. And while I thought he might be worth something in the ball-park of pick 12-15 then, maybe it could get done for half-a-dozen or so less in this period. Not unmanageable. Second-round pick swap with a castaway. A Grimes to Richmond for (illegitimate) example. This may prove a far more palatable risk than any O'Meara play.

With Prestia nominating Richmond there's suddenly a big question mark over his footy smarts and decision making. .

1987: 12-10 108.05%

Gawn: 'The boys tried their hearts off' . . .

I was looking forward to seeing Weiderman in the team with Hogan too. But his absence probably doesn't impact our chances of winning, and with one of Weid or Pederson coming up injured the selectors have been saved from Picket's exclamation points. I think the selectors are capable of making tough calls, but would also find it difficult for example to oust players who might not fit the long-term plan but were otherwise playing their role, while also maintaining an ethos of players earning their spot. See the lack of changes for the last Port game, despite it being flagged in the lead-up.

There have been a lot of 'convenient' injuries this year for the selectors - with players slipping in form or needing to be unfairly squeezed out. Indeed, I can't think of many that were considered a big loss on here at the time. Garlett. Viney. ?