Skuit

So yeah - I'm out. Disappointed that @Demonland didn't curtail the constant negative influences on this site during this season. Otherwise big respect to the moderators of this site. I just don't want it in my life anymore with all the pervasive [censored] and no facts rhetoric. Also big-ups to the many posters that fought for the truth to the end, and even those I battled with on a respectable basis over the years. No need to name names. When we win a flag, I would just be pissy and in vengeance mode on here anyway. Be well fellow travellers.

God I feel the need for speed. Tom Cruise is the MFC and Kelly McGillas gets to replace our current Macs as Ben Brown with a fantastic perm.

From what I can recall his issues started in 2017. Missed the first five rounds of 2018, with a foot and/or toe problem which carried over to the next pre-season. Remember the rumours and footage of him with his boots or shoes off, both at training and in social settings? I can't recall exactly if it was both his foot and toe? Nevertheless, then throw in a knee injury as well. His lower body is shot, which means even less agility than the limited amount he had to begin with. Then add a lack of confidence. Done.

To highlight his versatility as a forward, I just did a quick cheat-sheet for his early purple patch in 2018, where he kicked consecutive bags of 6, 4, 5, 4 and 4 (with just the single behind in each match). How often do we have players kick six goals in a game, let alone just four? Nth v StKilda Out the back on a long run. Roved and snapped inside-out off a marking pack. Free in the goal-square for a receive. Free-kick for a one-on-one holding 15m out. Contested mark on the goal-line Lead-up mark with pressure and goal from outside 50. Nth v MFC Holding against Omac and goal from 50ish out. Soft ruck push-out vs. Max and goal from 45m out. Easily shoves Omac out of the contest and marks 15m out. Down-the-ground free. Slots it on the 45 degree angle. Nth v Blues Breaks out the back. Outside of the boot on tight angle. Handball in tight and quick inside-out under heavy pressure. Easy one-on-one mark with extended arms 20m out. Gets in behind the pack in pocket. Banana from tight angle. Holding call in run towards a pack. Nth v Hawks Well-positioned one-on-one, 20m out. Behind the contest in the tight pocket again. Perfect banana. Miles of space on the lead and goal from 45m. Even more space on the lead and another from 45m. Nth v Port Holding the man and yet another arrow from around 45m. Soft high/push-out in a pack and straight in front. Extended arms in crowded forward line, straight in front. Juggling one-on-one mark. 45M out straight in front.

Now that it has been suggested it's a done deal, I urge the reluctants to go back and watch some highlights and get excited. It will be far more enjoyable than hoping for failure so that you can be proven right. I think the 2019 and 2018 highlights have been posted before, so here's 2016:

Hoping Brown can pass on some tips to Melksham and Fritter on their run-ups.

I don't get this just a 'lead-up' forward business either. For starters, so what, if he's kicking 60 a year? It would imply he's the best lead-up forward in the game. I'll take that for pick 23, in a team constantly criticised for not kicking to leading targets (which is a two-way street, and requires the ability to offer a lead in space). But more importantly, he does have a well-rounded game by most measures: a great mark and set-shot, and can bend and snap the ball. Can also ruck. Then there's his aerobic capacity. I left a reminder in another thread - but it's worth repeating for the record here - that he also averaged the most kms of any AFL player last year, at 15.6km per match. That's how you fit Brown, Weid and Jackson into the same team. Another mobile roaming tall who can mark a ball would be a godsend after the exit of Hogan and decline of TMac. I think people just see him as a bit soft-footed as compared to a big traditional one-on-one KPF, and so come up with any reason to say no.

Ben Brown covered the highest average distance of ANY player in the AFL last year, at 15.6km per match. Also recorded the third greatest distance covered in a single match (17.3kms). Admittedly his ridiculous run-up accounts for some of that

Since 2018 Brown averages 7.1 forward-half pressure acts and Hawkins 7.4. But TMac averages 8.8 so we should probably just keep him instead.

Not sure how serious . . .?

Yes indeed. But there's current needs (e.g. no one would really want us to trade for Wines anymore) and part of the response is also forming my opinion based on the available draft footage (which I will openly admit I get wrong just as much or more than I get right). Macrae seems a very balanced player but do you see anything in that footage that screams MFC must-have?

Really? I thought it a slight weakness. Good awareness but poor execution. We all see things differently at times though

But a draftee in a compromised draft? I'd trade out of next year for a ready-made player - and I'm just going on what is said to be a bumper crop - but would prefer to hold onto our chips. We already have a youngish midfield squeeze, with a number of untested players. In my opinion either we can wait a year for some more midfield talent from the draft, or have the cookies to strike if the likes of say Merrett were to come up on the table again. Love the idea that the club loves Finlay and want to bring him in, but I have to keep reminding myself that he's not Jackson; rather he's an unknown AFL quantity. Pick 12 would just about buy Jackson Macrae.

Naysayers need to watch the highlight vids. Accused of being a one-trick pony but finds space, arms outstretched, and can kick them from all points. Moreover, plenty of roved goals and sweet snaps, and has greater agility than all of TMac, Weideman and Hogan. Also happy to see a couple of holding-the-ball decisions in his favour in that highlights package from last year.

Can we pay his contract through a cashless debit card like the Centrelink one?

Likely to be a few rebuilding teams with multiple top end picks at the draft - which I guess means they can take a portfolio approach to spreading picks and draft strategy. Hard to keep up with all the permutations of the NGA's etc. - and I do think it's important to keep regularly bringing in talent - but I just feel other teams need a Macrae more than us right now. Would prefer we sat out rather than give up next year's first, or on-traded any early picks for a ready-made, unless it was another Pickett-type to plug a specific hole. We still haven't got any real return from our swag of mid-likes in 2018. Also seems the year to back ourselves in for a second-round bargain, or cash out on draft (over-)night if we hold an early second-rounder. The counter to that is if we do rate Macrae around 3rd and think we can get him at 12ish after pick-sliding. Or if we need to spread our cap - which I still have no idea if is tight or not but has become accepted wisdom on here. Moneyball is the wrong term, but I do see us as viewing our draft and trading in a holistic way, just looking to get an edge in points or development overall. Random question. Finlay is aged 18 - listed as 184cm (assuming that is still accurate). Jackson is 191cm. I can't anecdotally think of any of my acquaintances where the younger brother is a few inches shorter than the elder. But I also haven't witnessed any serious post-18 growth spurts. Chances of Finlay still growing taller? Will turn that one over to the Demonland hive-mind.

Interesting that Knightmare had him ranked 3rd in the pre-season - now sliding to 9th due to a lack of growth spurt. If our reported interest is on the money are we thinking we can pick up a bargain? Will pick 9 be enough still - and then we'd want to have a solid secondary target if we were to get trumped on draft night. He looks a neat and composed player with a good leg on both sides but doesn't strike as having any special weapons. Don't know where he fits in terms of our immediate needs - and trading out next year's first for a shot this year seems like a risky tactic considering the circumstances.

Dang.

Yeah, but gets pushed off the ball quite easily . . .

Good for you Biff.

Simples. No one on here has any idea about our salary cap. In June we were reported to have the second-most space, now apparently we're facing a squeeze. I guess it was all those big signings in the past three months.

What's our late-pick record? I recall Morton maybe going to WC for pick 88. Can't remember any bigger slaps in the face than that. Would you rather be delisted or traded for an eighth-rounder?

I like that our lesser-lights are bailing from the goodship MFC. Means to me that we have a pretty solid 22 and they can't see themselves getting much game-time in the future. Best of luck Mitch, Tomald and Braydon. Nice to have known ya.

Would just spend all that money on swimming and [censored] anyway.

On a reported $2.5 million contract offer over five years. Wow. I should have concentrated on football instead of girls and booze.