Skuit

All players have them but Jesse's particular flaws are unfortunate in terms of our game plan and personnel. Can't kick from distance. Lack of forward defensive pressure. Slow to move it on by foot. Limited pack-marking ability. That said, he is a highly talented forward with fantastic aerobic capacity who can also run the wings/pinch in the middle. Good-to-middling accuracy and decent on the lead. Still also developing. Will be a great get for Freo in the long-run if they build around him. But with our high pressure forward press and fast and contested 'move-it-forward' game-plan (including long bombs from the centre - tsk tsk) he is already the awkward fit. We don't need him in the middle, and on the spread of the above-mentioned good and bad traits, Tommy has him covered on several of the pro elements and Weid looks set to be better in one or two. In conjunction, our forwards (and mid-field) have all the required combined traits that Jesse brings - as evidenced by our ability to keep winning without him in the line-up. From a supporters perspective, I think this awareness is already apparent in the relative calm which followed his injury in the lead-up to our finals push and campaign. We can manage without him. From a footy department perspective, I think this mind-set will be evidenced by us not actually chasing a key forward replacement. The otherwise confusing inclusion of Preuss suggests we're looking to re-balance our spread of key forward traits - with Preuss as an intended upgrade on Pedo - who was also stuck in the middle of personal attributes and team requirements. Add the fact that this is our big chance to capitalise in trade cookies at the same time as putting the 'will-he-won't-he' disruption to rest, and we're about to come way out on top - plugging some required holes such as with the inclusion of May and not giving up too much as to needs. I personally believe that this will be the lucky forced hand which delivers us a premiership.

There was a clear move in last year's off-season for all of Gawn, Hogan and Pedo to alter their body-shapes in an effort to enhance endurance and mobility. Is this even possible for someone with the bulk of Preuss? Are we basically looking for someone who can be adapted as a Pedo upgrade and can work in tandem with Max roaming up the wings out of full-forward?

Looking forward to seeing Hunt in the team alongside Lever, Frost, Salem, Hibberd and Jetta.

History would lean in favour the the defeated qualification finalists over the winning elimination ones - but we're going to start as red-hot favourites next week vs. the Hawks.

Danger may be one of the best and most influential players in the league - but not up forward in Jetta territory. Take note AA selectors, next time you try to squeeze in extra players on the team-sheet out of position.

Exact same thing happened to me 20 years ago when my beloved Redlegs destroyed arch-nemesis Port Adelaide in the SANFL GF. Had to play a 21st gig in Port Adelaide redneck territory out in the sticks. They found out I was a Legs' supporter and refused to pay. Also threatened physical violence.

And hey @old dee, I've been a silent doubter as well, but how do you feel about Weideman now? Gave it everything.

I think James Harmes can now be spoken of in the same terms as Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw. Ironically, if he was selected with the Petracca pick rather than as a rookie he already would be. Instrumental.

Your notion that 'the elite player group ie top six, will fire in big games' - 'otherwise they would not be classed as elite' and 'basically cancel each other out' has so many logical flaws I'm not sure which one to highlight. P1: The top six players are elite (false premise) P2: a. Elite players perform in big games b. otherwise they wouldn't be elite and thus top six (a. assumption b. circular logic) P3: Any given club's elite are equal (false premise) C1: The top six players cancel each other out in big games Can you name three occasions where our top six have all fired in the same big game? Or, three recent matches when the top six players of each club have cancelled each other out in their performances? Who do you find it more important performs next Friday - Angus Brawshaw or Charlie Spargo?

Talk of the bottom six winning flags is simply a short-cut to refer to depth. If two teams somehow had an even spread of talent, it's not the performance of the bottom six that will decide games/flags - it's the performance of the top players. We may target our lesser lights in the event of a loss, but besides Petty getting horribly exposed vs. the Saints, it's not the JKHs losing us games - it's our top tier failing to fire in unison.

Every player should be assessed relative to price. But I'm not sure why people pipe up that we should save our money for elsewhere. I'm pretty confident in our list management team getting it right nowadays. Some upside favourites may get squeezed out the bottom, but multiple flags are the goal, and if we lose someone with potential we get it back in longer term cookies. First-world list management.

Update: So immediately prior to the Gaff-bash (copyright pending) I posted a cross-reference to a wild rumour on another shall remain nameless website re.Gaff crossing to the MFC - primarily to dig out our own inside connections and stir up some action, but which was immediately called out by Ethan the Newsbreaker among others as baseless. The original poster has now openly revealed himself as an outright troll - quoth: "I posted a scandal not a rumour. There is no differentiation. It was a complete fabrication loosely linking a few wild comments by others. A simple moment taken to type up a possibility to see how it travels. 13 pages or sometimes emotional ranting is enough for me." I would ordinarily call for a lynching if such passed muster on this beloved site of ours, but I don't want to propagate any notion that Lynch may be coming to Melbourne. Otherwise, I remain convinced that Gaff will be in the red & blue as of next year, despite the trolls and own special Picket.

Think it was the very start of the second half. Oliver simply willed himself to shake his opponent and get the ball in consecutive contests and it resulted in a goal in the first minute or so. Once he becomes fully aware and confident of his ability to influence proceedings he will be in in Dangerfield and Dusty territory - and at an age where he can eclipse them to become the league's best player soon after. As supporters we're both biased and blinded. But he's the greatest young phenomenon in the middle I've seen.

As a former Arts/Philosophy student of a left-wing university, I find this 'coward' terminology in reference to Gaff's act as problematic. If Gaff had signalled his intention to hit Brayshaw, and Brayshaw squared up, would the hit then be heroic? Morton was once considered a coward for running away from an aggressor. If he had stopped and decked the Port player, would that then be brave? Also, many people wouldn't have the cajones to take a swing at an unsuspecting person. It arguably takes a lot of courage to do something like that. Please discuss (300 word limit and submissions are final).

What if turns out that they had in fact played golf last week and Nisbett was right? Do we get a retrial? Or the plot twist that no one predicted: Gaff squeezes Gus out of team for his Demon debut.

Andrew to meet Gaff during the week . . . over a round of golf. Plot curdles.

If there's nothing the public loves more than crucifying a villain it's a redemptive story. It's rooted in our Catholic past of confession and resurrection. This story will end with an all round feel-good factor when Gus and Andrew and Gaff pose for photos together at the annual Brayshaw Christmas repeat sprint before round one next year.

So quietly I intended to imply he may a pest or be acting too big for his boots for a footie freshie.* The golf-buddies connection is a weird aspect. My footy career ended when I punched one of my best mates (after a match) and split my knuckle beyond Medicare repair. It's the first and last time I've ever hit anyone - so I'm not sure if that means it's out of character or not. We got over it though. *See earlier secondary disclaimer. No, nothing condones Gaff's act. Yes, I'm prejudiced by wanting him in my team.

Predisclaimer: this comment does not intend to imply anything and nothing should be inferred from it. I got the sense that Gus was pretty close to taking a swing at his own brother during our Freo match-up. Does anyone recall any near-miss jumper punches that were thrown? If anyone thinks I condone Gaff's act, see the first-line caveat.

You mean like Lyon saying the incident was 100m off the ball?

I'm expecting eight down to seven. So the hope is we knock off West Coast in the first week and they rebound to meet us in the GF. That's seven games - and so then Gaff can make his redemptive debut in the red and blue round 1.

Stop. Q uo ting ,,,,

There's a pretty good chance we'll be meeting West Coast twice over the next six weeks or so. Would have been a bit awkward with Gaff there. Shame he wont be available until our Anzac clash though.

So I wandered over to BigFooty and some bloke posted this in the rumours thread: 'The deal is effectively signed off on. Gaff to Melbourne on $1.2M for 5 years with a side trade to WC of a very promising young mid. This trade facilitates a smooth transition. Gaff's manager is in Perth this week to finalise the details with WC. We met Melbourne end of last week. Evidently it is all remarkably amicable.' Passes the first filter of my bs detector as to language/content (though the reported cost is quite something) and fits with my vibe on the subject. But the side-trade of a promising young mid? And I assume we get something decent trade-wise in return for it all to be above board. Any idea/speculation who these parties might be if the post is accurate? Note: the suggested offer from our side and the trade facilitation for a matchable restricted agent doesn't exactly match up, but maybe the figure is off the mark or that is indeed Gaff's worth on the newly inflated market.

Nice scooter Nathan. I like your parka Clayton, it really suits you. Jack, are they a new pair of Chelseas? Wonderful.