dee-tox

The most graceful, complete player we've had. One of the only players opposition supporters had unequivocal admiration for. Worth going to the footy just to see him live. Thanks Ash for the video. Every football fan should see this video just to see how the game can be played.

Why does he exclusively have to be a ruck? He's the same height as Ben Brown, Harris Andrews, and Peter Wright. He's been behind other rucks in his rep. games and often started forward.

And if he goes to Geelong, he's 'Over The'...

I've found this thread a little bizarre even Demonland's standards. I've heard one poster compare Andrew to Usain Bolt's soccer career at the Mariners implying that he has just taken up the game. Arrived from a refugee camp somewhere in Africa knowing nothing about the game. He hasn't of course and has been featuring in suburban league b&f's since he was 12. Throughout 2021 as the media started interviewing recruiters and realised that he may go much higher than pick 20 we have posters say: Ah, not to worry. At 70 kgs he's too skinny anyway to play ruck in the AFL. He'll take five years to come good. We don't need him, etc. My nephew bumped into Mac only a few weeks ago and assured me that he much closer to 80 kilos than 70 and is filling out nicely. To me with his jump, pace, agility, ball control, etc he will start forward. The ruck will come much later. Very few draftees make an impact in their first season. In year two Mac will close to physically ready and he'll be a sight to see. A top 10 pick might be an absolute bargain.

I'd be interested.. Have been for three years or so. Reckon the kid is going to be a star. And not just a small forward. Has potential to play wing or maybe even half back.

Might be still growing? 😀

Three goals in particular that had me off the couch: 1 Spargo's goal in the first where Jacko intercepted after Kozzie made them nervous. Great fwd pressure. 2. Fritta's second in the third quarter where he attempted a speccy landed on his feet, gathered with one hand and goaled. Incredible This is where the belief returned. 3. Sparrow's off one step goal from 50. Just magnificent football with a good shepherd on the line from TMac. The bang, bang, bang, bang goal from Oliver was pretty special as well!

Van Rooyen is the interesting one and not just because he has a Zimbabwean background! I think we need to go tall with our first pick and he seems to be versatile, great leap and covers the ground well. There's plenty of scope to improve by the looks. In a draft that seems not to have an abundance of tall prospects Van Rooyen seems to be one of the best.

With TMac, Max, BBB and May in the twilight of their careers will we try and go tall with pick 17? Or do we think Weed, Petty, Tomlinson, Jacko, etc are sufficient?

We now have Jason Taylor who doesn't miss! Then we had Barry Prendergast who is now working his magic at Carlolton.

Loved the pre-season game against the Tigers this year where he kicked three but did not like his only AFL game. Think it was against Carlton. Seems a great kid but if he gets more security from Adelaide then he'd be mad not to take it.

Gold Coast only want to rookie list him. They have trouble with the salary cap and list spots. Seems Melb. and Essendon have some sort of role for him. I reckon the club has identified help in the extractor role with Viney having constant battles with his foot. This season averaged 25 touches, five tackles and picked up 11 Brownlow votes in half a season.

Jordon can play a role in the midfield as can Melk but both have limitations. For JJ, it is strength. For Melk it is defensive skills and repeat efforts. You wouldn't start either of these guys too often in the centre square. What you could do is possibly start Dunstan there if one of Viney or Oliver go down. He can extract the pill, can tackle and is a big body. We really don't have much backup in this area and is obviously an area we have identified.

Some fascinating insights. Thanks for sharing. Shows even with a star-studded midfield, the Dogs struggled with Martin constantly going to ground and English useless after winning the taps. Respect for Libba, McCrae and the Bont though.

Like it that we have shown some interest. I don't understand the Saints wanting him gone. Sure he is not as quick or explosive as some but he knows how to extract the pill, tackle and would be excellent backup if Oliver or Viney were injured. As others have mentioned, we will never have such an injury free year as 2021. If we can get Dunstan cheap then this is good business. Bring it on!

You make enough good decisions in anything you'll eventually come out on top. Melbourne have made excellent decisions in three areas that has set them apart from the competition. 1. Fitness and conditioning. Superior fitness under Burgess is there for everyone to see. 2. Drafting and recruitment. Jason Taylor is batting at close to 100 percent which is unheard of. 3. Development. Our kids have developed better and quicker than any other club. Choco and the David Neitz Academy seems to be a great match.

1. Jakovich's scissor kick out of mid air. 2 Garry Lyon's torp. in the wet at VFL Park preliminary final. 3. Jeff Farmer's goal from the backline finishing with a torp. from 55. 4. Woewodin's still Woewodin goal. 5. Petracca's dribble in the granny. 6. Kozzie's goal of the year nomination this season. 7. Leoncelli's goal at Adelaide in the wet. 8. Cameron Bruce's last goal in the final against Carlton. 9. Brett Bailey's goal in the Night Grand Final against Essendon. 10. Jayden Hunt's torp. in Darwin. 11. Max's preliminary final goal from 55. 12. Sean Wights soccer kick out of mid air from a tight angle. 13. Tom Sparrow's off one step 50 metre goal in the granny. 14. Jurrah's first goal at Colonial Stadium. 15. Todd Viney's first goal of the Elimination Final against Norf.

Not sure but I'm a believer that lefties do it better. Fritta is more David Gower than David Boon!

If Talia wasn't cooked Adelaide would use him as back-up! Tarrant on the other hand is a good get for one or two seasons.

Who? Jordon! :)

TMac on a new deal saves plenty as well.

I'm not so sure about this. I always had very high hopes. At Casey he stood out like you know what. The skills were natural. He made marking look easy, a graceful left foot , good football nous and was quick enough. Knowing his father pretty well I knew he had a bit of mongrel too. Sometimes clubs try and make players something their not to plug holes. When Goodwin let Fritta be Fritta in the forward line he started improving every game.

I remember in the Ben Brown thread pre-season we said tongue-in-cheek that his recruitment would me we would start getting more free kicks. Well, more than one-fifth of the frees awarded to Melbourne in the granny went to BBB!

So many. ANB: Became the captain of the forward line. Directing teammates, leading by example, doing the hard things. Petty: Took a month to feel comfortable but hit his straps and took on some huge jobs. Came from nowhere. Fritta: 60 goals for the year says it all. Spargo. Became a consistent, hard working team member and perhaps the best kick in the team. Kozzie: 40 goals and manic pressure. Massive improver. Salem: Became the best quarterback in the comp. in the first half of year. Bad groins only thing stopping him from being AA. Jordon and Sparrow. Mentioned in other threads. BBB: Was terrible in last year for Roos. Got fit and bought into Demon system. Langdon: Took his game to a new level. TMac: Became TMac of old in first half of season. Hit a wall after injury. Oliver: Learnt to sprint first 15 metres out of stoppage and kicking improved exponentially. Less hot potato handballs. Made possessions count. Jacko: Started taking contested marks and became much more reliable kick.

The risk you run if you recruit 28 to 30 year olds is unbalancing your list. Plus you run the risk of starving your kids like Geelong have with their talent. If a 28 year old is any good you won't get them cheaply. We made courageous decisions to play Jordon before Jones. Bowey before Nev, Sparrow before Vanders, etc. Eight players under 21. Keep doing that and keep getting Mad Mark to develop them and we could we'll be set up for a prolonged period of success.