Ron Burgundy

That 2008 draft was a disaster for us. Sloane was a lock at pick 35, and then at the last minute we picked Bennell instead. Shuey was apparently (almost) a lock at pick 17, and then at the last minute we picked Blease instead. Pick 19 on James Strauss - well, this was just bizarre given that 10 or so of the next dozen or so picks were seen to be well ahead of him and virtually all of them turned out to be very good players. That draft really hindered our progress at a critical time for the club. Lucky we have Jason Taylor and Todd Viney these days.

Another Max King? Max, Mitch and Max King - this is starting to do my head in.

It’s a nothing article, really. That said, I always enjoy reading an article where a Melbourne player is quoted as saying they love the club. This guy is going to be an absolute gun. But everyone knows that. His signature was our success in 2017.

Nothing article. I say good luck to the guy - he was a decent player and, I think, a decent person. GetSwift’s corporate governance perhaps needs to improve, but there doesn’t seem to be any suggestion of impropriety here.

Blight can pull his head in - Lever was not quoted as saying anything remotely offensive or egotistical in the article. I love the bloke already. Hope he’s in the Leadership Group this year. And for the next 12 years after that.

For all the critics of Oscar McDonald, I have one observation which I think is a reasonable/uncontroversial one in the circumstances. If we can maintain a relatively healthy list this year, competition for a regular spot in the 22 will be fierce. Only our very best players will be guaranteed a spot each week, and they are all the obvious names. Beyond these players, you will have to be playing very well (i.e. be in form) and, relevantly, actually be a properly decent AFL player to be regularly selected in this side in 2018. If Oscar plays most games this year, I think the current vocal critics here should be obliged to concede that: 1. Oscar is actually a decent AFL player; and 2. their assessment of him as a player is not shared by the professionals within the club, and their views might be based more on some personal bias/prejudice rather than a proper assessment of his performance each week. Just sayin’.

Finals is a non negotiable this year. I would also like to see our percentage consistently above about 110%. With an okay run with injuries, I just can’t see how we won’t play finals this year. The last decade has obviously inflicted some deep wounds on you Picket. Your Oija board findings are not supported by real world data.

Perhaps also for Lever to restrict Walker to 0 goals. In Adelaide. And then for him to fist pump the air on the final siren, followed by belting out the Grand Old Flag with gusto in the sheds following the win on national tv.

Top 6 finish, then making an impact in the finals. No less.

Much like Daniel Cross before him, Lewis is our on-field coach. We would not have lost that Freo game last year had he not been suspended. He remains a super important player for us.

Interesting question VP. I think it’s just risk/return territory i.e. with a top pick, recruiters probably feel safer in selecting a kid who has proven form over the past year. As everyone knows though, we closely followed Lever in his draft year and he was apparently in the mix for picks 2&3 but the club simply couldn’t go past Petracca and Brayshaw. Hence the Trengove to Richmond for pick 12 trade, which was to be used on him. Jaidyn Stephenson, who Collingwood picked up last year, probably fits the category of an elite junior with injury concerns who was still selected with a high draft pick. If Collingwood didn’t pick him, he may very well have slid to pick 20 or so. Spargo will be a player - you kind of just know he will. He’s the sort of player the Swans would typically land with a second round pick. Pleasantly surprised that we landed him though.

Thanks for the reports - they provide oxygen to those of us who don’t live in MLB. Stretch is a super neat and tidy footballer. I’m surprised he didn’t have more of an impact last year, but I think he might this year - he’s the type of footballer that I expect Goodwin likes. I reckon Bernie will have a big year this year. He’s not past it. Not remotely. The toe injury he suffered last year affected him more than I think many here realise. I also think Lewis will have a big year (once again). These two still have plenty to offer IMO. I’m super excited about Spargo. I reckon he’ll prove to be an absolute gem for pick 29. I’m just hoping we have a decent run with injuries. And Viney back - he’s critical. Then it’s simply up to us, as I reckon we’re now good enough to win more games than we lose.

Seeing what Richmond did last year, and the Bulldogs the year before that, I actually want more than merely to play finals in 2018. That was last season’s expectation.

I would really like to see Bugg have a huge season this year. There'd be some great narrative in this if he does, for him personally and for the club. Salem is probably the safest bet to take the next step though - his 'break out' season is long overdue. He has class in spades and he is sufficiently hard at it. He finally looks fit and strong enough. Salem realising his potential will also go someway to easing the lingering anxiety over the Tyson/Salem trade for pick 2 (Josh Kelly). I know the club has said it wouldn't have used pick 2 on Kelly etc, but until Salem 'breaks out' the media will continue to think we stuffed up royally on this particular trade.

I like Bomber Thompson - I always look forward to his segment on 360. That said, I can't stand James Hird. Or Essendon. I continue to loathe Carlton more. They're extremely loathe-able as a club.

That hectic tatt on Balic’s shin is the surprise of 2018 for me. He looked to be such an innocent young man.

Any or all of Salem, Harmes, Brayshaw, Hannan and Joel Smith. I also think Spargo and Frisch may excite a few here.

Injuries are critical each year. For every team. Even though I loathed our appalling finish to last season, I'm actually surprised we managed to win so many games (and it should've been more) given the injuries and suspensions we had to endure for big chunks of the season: Gawn, Viney, Lewis, Jones, Hogan, Smith (x2), Salem, Bugg, Brayshaw, Garland, Vince, Spencer, Watts etc. It was ridiculous. Hats off to Goodwin for not making excuses for our performances. We did however have a lot of important players out throughout the season - even our injury toll within games was bad. With a bit better luck on the injury front, we just have to be pushing for the top 6 or so. After all, we were very competitive last year with a younger, injury depleted list - it's more experienced and Jake Lever is now wearing the red and the blue.

I used to think this guy could win a Brownlow. ?

This is not a good news story.

Nothing article - the journo seems to have taken some snippets off Goodwin’s player reviews on the club’s website. That said, I rate Bugg. He brought much needed mongrel, defensive pressure and hardness to the team. He seemed always to do the inglorious stuff. We really missed him after his suspension. The punch was bad. But it was clearly a brain fade - he displayed genuine contrition and remorse after it, and I think he has been unfairly castigated for the incident ever since. I want to see him have a really big 2018. I like what he brings to the team.

The look on Moloney’s face is priceless.

I listen to ABC Radio National. But it has descended into reporting far too much on Australian political squabbles, all of which are extremely tedious and which make Oz, Marko, Dwayne and KB appear like intellectual dynamos. So it’s back to Spotify full time, with most of my information in relation to matters AFL sourced right here.

Yes, it is speculation. But my speculation here is actually based on some evidence (i.e. 14 players approaching the AFLPA without first informing the coach or, alternatively, approaching the AFLPA with the coach's blessing). Certainly it seems to be accepted as fact that these players did approach the AFLPA. Beyond this, there is further evidence that we do not know, but to say there is no evidence is incorrect. That they approached the AFLPA at all in the circumstances is poor. In short, I think you would be better off asserting that the conclusion I have derived cannot be supported by the evidence that is available, rather than saying there is no evidence of such matters. I have heard various things to suggest there is evidence that is at odds with your claim of 'garbage' on these matters. Notwithstanding this, I will refrain from responding to your post in the tone you have adopted towards mine because, quite frankly, I try to not descend into pettiness with other posters. I come here for information and some discussion, not for friendships or juvenile arguments. Anyway - following a very disappointing end to last season, I was looking for a super professional and disciplined response from the club/player group, and this is not the sort of news that I had hoped to be reading at this point in the pre-season.

I don’t know really what to think about this other than to say that it is not a positive development. It’s just not, on any construction. What concerns me is that Goodwin seems not to be absolutely in tune with some of the players on the list. The 19th century master-servant stuff that some here doggedly adhere to is not the way the best coaches manage their players anymore. While it can still work, it generally doesn’t. The communications (and the general vibe) around the Watts trade was poorly handled. The club has since all but acknowledged this (even if utlimately it was the right decision/result). Here too, after presumably so much planning and thought around the camp, the communications and the execution of it have clearly been poor. I hope Goodwin discretely seeks out Roos over the break, has a coffee with him, and invites a bit of feedback and mentoring about how to deal with this issue. I reckon Roos would know exactly what Goodwin should do in the circumstances.