JTR

I see both sides of the argument, but this thread is getting ridiculous now. Where is the actual evidence that Jack is a culture killer? Or a terrible trainer? Or went on a trip to Bondi? The poor training and the Bondi trip 'analysis' both derived from GNF's post a while back - someone who I might add, a good few of you wont have a bar of at around this time of year. GNF says he went to Byron, one person later repeats that as Bondi and now everyone says Bondi. GNF says his rehab was hampered/delayed/not ideal and that morphs into him being a terrible trainer, thats why he's no good.... yadda yadda yadda What next?

Happy with the trade for a known quantity. To those upset with what we handed over, would suggest waiting till the end of the trade period before giving your final assessment. You only need to go back as far as 2015 to see why. Remember that trade period when we handed over 25 very early in the trade period for Melksham? Remember how ropable everyone was at the time? Subsequent schrewd moves after that turned our first round pick into two first round picks which we used to get Oliver & Weideman In Mahoney I trust!

Cant see us playing Adelaide here. It'll be much more dramatic if played over there in front of their rabid faithfull. AFL loves fixture drama

EXACTLY my point, but in a few chapters less.... :/

My judgement has been a little clouded given the way Jacks second half of season played out, but I'm now firmly back in the "I desperately want him to stay" camp. He plays forward, he plays back, he can play on the wing and he can even do a better than average job in the ruck. He is one of the best kicks in the team, one of the best decision makers, one of the few you dont worry about when he has the ball and probably the one you'd bet your house on to kick the goal after the siren for a win. How many other players do we have like that? If he goes, who in our team is genuinely capable of stepping up to replace him and cover all those gaps? Other players are going to get injured, lose form or get suspended. What if that all happens at the same time again like we saw this season? Who here genuinely believes we would have been in the positiion we got to this season without him being there? We want to be a club with a lot of multi dimensional, multi skilled players and Jack would be one of - if not THE - best we have. Why get rid of him now when at the very worst he is an exceptional, multi faceted depth player? Because he has "currency"? Is what we are probably getting in return really worth more than what he brings to the team? Players like Jack dont grow on trees and I struggling to see him leaving as anything other than a big step backwards. I really, really hope the club knows and understands what it is doing here. I sure dont.

According to big screen he was 6th on 166 votes (for memory - may have been 164) after 14 rounds

Yep, typo with the games and I corrected that. The rest... meh. We'll never know, but he was heading towards another 2016 type season before he went down.

He was 6th after 14 rounds, then got injured for a month, then was ordinary. His first 2/3 of the year was good

I grew up in NZ so dont know if anyone else here is familiar with All Blacks history. but I think this is going to be exactly like when Wayne ''Buck'' Shelford was dropped in 1990 from the side and never re-selected. It was highly controversial amongst the public and for years and years afterwards, in any sport that NZ was involved with in both at home and abroad, someone somewhere would be holding up a "Bring Back Buck" sign! You can still see such signs to this day.

If I saw the screen right on the livestream, is now 6th after 14 rounds...

No doubt jumbo... but given his generally laconic demeanor and playing style (perceived or otherwise), it is not inconceivable to think he may put a bit less effort into rehabbing than other more dedicated players, is it?

" Watts did not do rehab properly while away and lost so much fitness he was useless on his return " I read that from GNF as Watts not rehabbing properly the entire time he was away from playing, so when at home, when he had a day off, wherever and whenever he wasn't at the club... etc. Not just the Byron trip. Certainly would explain why he appeared to do a reverse Viney and take double the time to return from a two week injury.

I am completely torn on this. I've always been a supporter, but got right off Jack late this season, particularly after the injury. Now I'm back to wondering what if.... Maybe this is the rocket that'll finally see the penny drop? He's had plenty of rockets before, granted, but the worst he got from that was a spell in the twos... this is much different. I think I'd be much more comfortable with this, if this were happening this time next year, after this wake up call, cause if he doesn't get it now, I know 100% he never will. Why do I care about this so much vs any other half decent player we move on? No idea... probably because he has been so maligned over his career. He'd probably be the most talked about, scrutinized, meme'd, option #4 on every big footy poll, average player in the history of the game, and I've been riding the wave, hoping one day he'd prove everyone wrong. Just hoped that'd be for us rather than someone else

Zing?

Yeah, happy with that. I'll be tuning in for sure. For those who can't.... TIMINGS (APPROXIMATE) 7.40pm - Event begins with MC's welcome, and Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy 7.50pm - Presentation of 2017 team 7.57pm - Address from Chairman Glen Bartlett 8.05pm – Troy Broadbridge Memorial Trophy (Best VFL Player) 8.10pm – Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy (Club Ambassador Award) 8.15pm – Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Best young Player) 8.20pm - Round 1 – 8 video 8.23pm - Main meal break. 9.00pm - Round 9 – 14 video 9.04pm - AFLW B&F 9.10pm - James McDonald Trophy (Heart & Spirit Award) 9.15pm - Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy (Leadership Award) 9.20pm - Norm Smith Memorial Trophy (Coaches' Award) 9.30pm - Milestones 9.40pm – Dessert Break 10.10pm - Rounds 15-23 video 10.12pm - Simon Goodwin Address 10.20pm – Top 5 Awards Approx 11pm Event Close

http://demonland.com/forums/topic/42698-trade-rumours/?do=findComment&comment=1479077

Not to nit pick, but that's not exactly what he said. What he said is that our offer to Adelaide involves a 1st & 2nd round pick. When asked, he added that one of those could be a future pick. So I took that meaning this year 1st + next year 2nd or next years 1st + this years 2nd or both 1st and 2nd for this year. The "involves" wording also suggests something extra is in the deal like a player or swap of picks.

As a side note, something else Mahoney said (which we probably already know but I haven't heard it from myself from the club) is that Lever would help form part of a strong backline with Jetta, Hibberd, Hunt, Frost & OMac. Didn't mention TMac, which I think signals quite clearly their intentions for him next season.

Also said that Jakes exit interview with the club was far from pleasant.

Mahoney on SEN now. Said our offer to Adelaide involves our 1st & 2nd round picks Edit - and one of those would potentially be a future pick. Adelaide want 2 x 1st rounders

Levers manager was on SEN this morning. On the question of "what if another club can offer Adelaide something better than what Melbourne can put up for trade" he said "Jake will only be dealing with Melbourne. He wont sign off on anything from any other club" Welcome to the MFC Jake Lever!

Especially if they are AA players...

I posted it a while back, but a lot of Eagles fans dont rate him, saying he is least damaging 30 posession player they have ever seen. Above stats confirms

Another throw

No.... he is not that detailed in his thought process. Sydney you could argue were red hot favourites coming into finals. They are currently getting flogged by Geelong Richmond flogged Geelong last week Therefore....