Skuit

We had a sniff of finals this year - and Clarry only managed 15 possessions against the Bulldogs and was a part of the midfield which let the opposition trample all over us. We are on the cusp of success - which will come quicker if he gets better.

Just an inebriated rant dazzle. Don't mind me.

All advocation for Brown is naturally dependent on due diligence as to his body. Otherwise pick 23 seems about right considering the circumstances. Would throw a minor fraction back, to the equivalent of about 18 - but I don't think clubs care all that much about that nowadays. It all evens up in the wash.

Gus just needs to grow up.

Put a five-year deal in front of him now that's at least a third greater than his current vice-captain. I hope that's what all this fuss is about. I hate player managers, as they commonly don't have their players' best interests in mind. Take the $450,000-10% cut and [censored] the right off. Seriously? Oliver was a fat little country [censored] when he joined us, and then got done drink-driving. We made him. He can get a new contract with the onus on him of delivering us a flag. He is my first love, but I'm feeling feisty with all this contract bull-[censored]. He can be an all-time club-champion if he wants to. I believe.

I would take both Phillips and Smith thanks. One for free and the other for cheap. I think we can fit both into our team, and if not then competition for spots - perfect. Baker also has an incentive to come on. Need more run is the generally accepted idea.

Has shown all of the skill-attributes, on occasion, but never consistently (injuries considered). My concern is the serious drop-off of Melksham - love Goodwin but can't comprehend his faith in Jake - and Hannan is the most natural heir to Melksham should that finally go sour. We feel loaded for HFFs, but not in reality when you think about it. Any pick above 30 and I would keep.

Mature, educated and well-spoken with interests outside of footy.

Yep - all this is fair, except that I get the impression Tom wants to leave. Also while the lost $$$ are huge, not so much as a %. He also seems one of the most likely on our list to be able to forge a post-footy career outside of the industry. I accept that while my values aren't necessarily the same as those of others, I'd like to think I wouldn't care less if I was earning $650,000 or $500,000 if it was a matter of job satisfaction. Anyway, I know there are serious disadvantages to us if we play too hard.

The potential of Oliver breaking out in the same manner as Petracca and consistently delivering what he showed us he was capable of doing at times this year. Two absolute superstars in the one, ably-supported midfield would be insane. A second season of Jackson and Pickett - the former clunking marks at will and the latter nailing his opportunities and continuing to up the pressure - with the full confidence of knowing they belong in the AFL. Add in Rivers and three very exciting prospects. The prospect of further imports in key positions, together with Yze and the retention of Burgess. A repeat of Langdon on the opposing wing would be a delight, while a genuine KPF such as Ben Brown would be transformative to our forward line.

Remember when Tomald and Viney had a dust-up one pre-season? Awesome.

Question. I'm confused by this notion that clubs would be scared off by his salary. A club brings him in and they would negotiate a new contract, right? Maybe we pay a portion to satisfy all parties as best as possible - but failing that he stays at Melbourne as an outsider and doesn't get a game. I know this isn't ideal for us - but if he's grumpy and wants out he can take a pay-cut. Like employment decisions normal people have to make.

Working overtime in the silly season . . . Fact-check: the Demons are facing a salary-cap squeeze. We all seem to be working under the assumption that our cap is tight, but where did this notion come from? I recall maybe something mentioned in a recent tweet? Also, are we tight now, or are we banking cash for expected big future in-house re-signings e.g. Oliver and Jackson - and to lock Petracca in on a longer-term deal? Or are we just being conservative in our cap management, looking toward longer-term success, or perhaps waiting for a raid when we feel we're close to the peak of our window? So many things we don't know about our cap management approach. Have we been paying 100% of our cap - is this factually verifiable by delving into our annual reports?

The players can suck it. Get us over the line kids. If anyone can point me towards where Simon did wrong with Clarry then I'll go and rearrange my garden gnomes.

To be honest, I would just love to ruffle my hands through his fuzzy hair if given half a chance. Indeed, with further restrictions likely into next year I think clubs need to get creative in what they can offer their membership-base. Given the chance to play with Ben's hair and I'd probably buy a membership for both me and my Jack Russell. His name is Jack. It was meant to be a pun but it's not very creative. Still, you should see him with a scarf on. Squee.

The last three Coleman medallists vs. Ben Brown at the MCG. The lack of sample size for Brown at the venue is crazy. This is via https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Ben_Brown.html Jack Riewoldt: MCG average: 2.22 goals. 158 games/ 235 goals – 66 behinds (insane accuracy). Ben Brown: MCG average: 2.1 goals. 10 games/ 21 goals – 13 behinds. Tom Hawkins: MCG average 1.72 goals. 76 games/ 133 goals – 91 behinds. Josh Kennedy: MCG average 1.58 goals. 36 games /57 goals – 37 behinds. The question is invalid and also doesn't stack up.

What is Taylor saying about this year's draft?

B. Brown and I. Smith are great early targets for two of our priority areas. I don't expect that Smith will leave in the end and I reckon there will likely be a late higher bidder or two for Brown. Good that we're apparently putting in the legwork now. Would also like to somehow hold onto pick 23 as the AFL have confirmed a two-day draft and early second-rounders now come with an added gold-lining. In a muddled draft we could parlay that into a slightly later pick for JT and a bonus second-rounder next year. We are still likely to get in some extra trade cookies and there are a lot of opportunities for packaging picks this year. We can always package up and then sell off as well. I'm thinking we'll end up with a second second-rounder. From there another mature running small defender (missing Saad was disappointing, but eased a bit by the reported cost and what the Dons would ask in return) and a another dynamic small forward and outside mid. Tippa and Merrett would be the dream, on top of Brown and Smith. Don't know how that gets done but we'd have to sell out of next year entirely and probably lose one of our core inside mids. I want to keep them together but for Merrett see you later to Gus or Harmes. Unfortunately some of our trade points will seemingly come from losing Preuss - and to a lesser extent one or both of the Mac's - which means another back-up ruck and some tall stock becomes another priority. I'll leave it to Werribee to post up my dream 22 with said inclusions but I think the trickle-down effect of these few would be huge and instantly premiership-pushing. Along with seriously aiding the development of some of our youngsters. Imagine Tippa and Kossie running amok together. What Brown would do in terms of releasing Fritsch and Jackson into space. A starting midfield of Merrett, Trac and Oliver, being fed by Gawn. Rivers alongside another defending runner and Salem let loose. I'll keep dreaming.

I like your conservative approach to starting new threads.

Just to be clear - I love Ben Brown. I've loved him since day one. I love his hair, and I love his fifty-metre run-up. I love how he kicks goals and I love how he catches balls with his long outstretched arms. I've often compared him to a labrador puppy, infinitely trainable and a no-fuss footballer and evidently stand-up guy. I love how the umpires love him and take pity on him as well and give him free kicks when the backmen do mean stuff to him. It pained me for a long time that we overlooked him in favour of JKH. I can't believe we nearly have him in our team - a dream I never thought possible. The narrative on here that he can't play football outside of being a lead-up forward and other grumbles are ridiculous and I have no idea where that psychology stems from. We may be gifted the most solid goal-kicker in recent times and people say no. Okay. Go TMac yay!

Game has changed dramatically since those days though. You don't get a free shot on goal when you catch the ball on the full anymore and football grounds have shrunk by at least 30 percent.

Gets way too many cheap free kicks and has this habit of leading up to the ball. No thanks. Also, this technique of taking a long run-up and kicking through the ball on a set-shot - wtf?

This. I would be grumpy by default if forced to live full-time in the laps of my workmates for the past five months, no matter how much I like them. Plenty of tensions and some flare-ups, I bet. Young, immature team, partial boredom, and a more challenging season for us than most. Everyone probably just needs a good defrag and some time apart.

Most pressing external needs imo (shared with many others) are a key forward and another solid winger (while we continue to develop the latter in-house or plug for a year or two - and the trickle-down effect a genuine KPF will deliver to our forward-line). Have to work out how to juggle that in the immediate-term as to trade cookies and salary cap. Paying up on Brown (for pick ~23 and a sizeable but depressed salary) and bringing in Smith as the two priority players we're most closely connected to in the media suggests the club has identified what we need in line with the fans and have found the best compromise as targets.

Love how everything that actually comes out in the media messes with the anti-Goodwin narrative. Yeah, sure, people are graceful in a small industry. Read the article. Jack's words are above and beyond in terms of simple courtesy.