dee-tox

Congrats on looking on AFL.com and seeing all of Ben's 2018 goals. That's your research? Well, as a well researched bloke that doesn't parrot what others say you'd know that Ben averages 1.6 contested marks a game and 2.2 marks inside 50 a game? Not big numbers for a stay at home full forward? And you'd know that from his nine games last year he didn't take a contested mark in six of them? So which is the true Ben Brown? The one you saw in video highlights of in 2018 or last season? A similar argument could be used with Tom McDonald who had a great 2018, but we all agree had a shocking year this season. Statistically he was on par with Brown and most Demonlanders wanted him gone. No where did I say Ben needs the ball on his chest. What I did say was he wasn't particularly strong overhead which is common knowledge among North supporters that watch him every week. What he is good at though is crafting goals through other means.

Hope so 58er!

Friends of the family only AF!

Whenever Brown played against us I'd be so frustrated that he kicked his four or more goals. Always looked after by the umpires. Jag a couple of assy goals from the pocket, etc. Not sure what to make of him coming to Melbourne. Having a 200cm proven goalkicker is good in theory. I have my concerns though. Never been a natural footballer. He isn't the strongest guy overhead. Doesn't seem to kick goals on the run. Not known for his defensive efforts. Was last year's form only fitness related or symptomatic of where the game is at the moment? I guess we'll wait and see!

On paper it appears solid trading but as many have there is probably more to come. Would be good if we could start solving our outside run/ball use issues this year and not next. Obviously, the footy department have some sort of plan. I don't think, despite many on here claiming inside knowledge, any of us know what it is!

Don't think, do! Pretty underwhelming to date. I'm a big believer that we lack depth. We need to get rid of the NQR's and those that are cooked and replace them with either ready made players or those with potential to make the grade. I'm sorry but if guys like Oskar Baker , Joel Smith, et al play more than five games next year we are stuffed!

Stop posting when you are drunk 58 or take the time to proofread what you post. This is an abortion.

Elite speed and agility should always be welcome. Worth asking some questions.

Was a great cricket coach. Helped me enormously with my leggies. Lovely fella.

Was a brilliant player for the Saints. Not sure we need him if we want Sparrow and others to come on. At only 30 perhaps too young for the Cats?

Or Papley!

Please explain! Does this mean he goes missing or implies he is timid? If so, i disagree. The courage he displayed in the first six games constantly standing under hospital balls with two bigger defenders menacingly approaching was ridiculous. Hardest thing in football to do. It wasn't his fault he was played out of position… again!

Good. Build through the draft.

I can understand this. Spargo in the final third of the season looked like a player. At 21 he should be given time to develop. I don't however get the love for Hore. Seems to be NQR. An OK interceptor that is an ordinary kick. What AFL attributes does he have? Like others have said at some stage we need to turn over the bottom half of the list. Depth is our problem. Well over half of our list appear not to be up to it. You don't find gems by keeping your spuds in the ground!

Liked him as a junior but he hasn't really proven he's an AFL player. At 25 he'd wanna get his a** into gear.

I'd have him but I worry that it will be expensive. We don't have heaps to offer. Pretty sure he'll have a great career.

I'd always welcome a former All Australian to your club. But with him turning 29 in January you probably don't want to give up too much.

So much for being ruthless! Have no objections to Jonesy having an off field role. Assistant coach, runner, etc. But his pace, reflexes and general worth have declined so much in the past two years that he is just taking up a list spot... Surely this means the writing is on the wall for Nev.

I don't get it. He's finished.

GWS may be a good match. Those boys (Mummy, Lachie, etc) do like to party!

Yep, understand this. But you could argue he is a better extractor and far more damaging than Viney. Could Viney play elsewhere? Or with his pace and creativity could Treloar play wing?

Hard to recruit someone like Treloar to fit in Melb's midfield when we have Oliver and Viney but I wouldn't dismiss him outright. Has averaged 30 + disposals a game in years gone by. Hunts the ball like a madman and we need AFL quality players. Could he play wing or forward? Could we reshuffle our midfield? He is capable of playing outside. He has decision making/disposal issues and bad hammies but still is a gun player.

Dusty has three Normy's. Barassi would have had five if they existed in his day.

I sometimes think we get obsessed with the playing achievements of assistant coaches. At Hawthorn and the Swans, VFA legend and Coodabeens member George Stone was involved in six flags. He was very well regarded and respected and was one of the first Roos called on when coming to Melbourne. The fundamentals of football don't change. Execute the fundamentals well and you are well on the way to having a good side. For that reason I think there is still a place for experienced assistant coaches like Williams and Ayres.

Interesting discussion folks. FWIW I have the feeling Richmond will be far too quick for the Cats tomorrow. However, there are things the Cats do that Melbourne need to get better at. Their development is excellent. Turning later picks like Guthrie, Stewart, Parfitt, Menegola, JK, Myers, Henry, etc, into decent or even good players is remarkable. I think we've all said over the years that the likes of Bews, Rohan, O'Connor and Stanley were not good players but they'll do what no Melbourne player has done since 2000 and play in a grand final! That's where Melbourne fails. Our bottom eight players are virtually non-contributors. And most of these guys (except Fritsch, Langdon, Hibberd and Gawn) are draft selections outside of the first round. Is it our development? Our recruiting? Our coaching? Influence of senior players? Why can we easily beat these guys in a semi-final and then go missing for two years? Fix this and I think we'll be playing in a grand final soon. I think our top end talent is every bit as good or better than Geelongs.