Tony Tea

We tanked to get better draft picks, then got penalised for not tanking. Tanking comes from tennis, where players intentionally dropped a set to conserve energy. Now we have belatedly discovered how to properly tank, at least by its tennis definition, as we drop quarters to conserve energy. Sorted.

Collingwood has had to give Moore a charity position (sweeping defender) to get him a touch.

I wish a pundit, when making his or her 2018 predictions, would acknowledge that EVERYTHING went right for the Tigers in 2017.

Footy is Lies.

Pass on Sloane, save up for Josh Kelly.

Footy is lies.

Cycling. One day, in the very distant future, I may almost consider cycling legit.

Say the first thing that comes into your mind. Wines. Toumpas.

I must be the odd man out. I like Gary & Tim, Gerard, Maher, and KB and Doc. I also like Hutchy, Pickers and Doc on Saturday morning.

I like Hutchy's 6am to 7pm.

Sadly, I think you could be right. Losing games to crap sides has slaughtered Melbourne for years. The two worst examples being Carlton in 2006 and North in 2017. Obviously last year is fresh in our memories after losing both games to North, who only won 6 games, and missing the finals by rock all. 2006 was even worse, when we lost both games to Carlton, who only won 4 games, and missed the top 4. Unless we smarten up and learn how to combat zone footy, I can see us losing to Carlton, who play a super defensive zone, and North again.

Let's hold our fire until Josh Kelly is ready to come home in 2 years.

I quite like Garry on radio. Tim too. I listen to the morning show every, errr, morning.

Killer fact. The woman who was with Sir Billy on the night he died, had also been having a fling with Sir Billy's son.

Reminds me of a souped up Shane Valenti.

Looks a pretty good prospect. Gutsy, competitive, good kick, he even hit a couple of teammates on the chest, which is very unDemonesque. But to make sure he fits in at Melbourne he handballed straight to a teammate's feet. Mons.

Of course he will. We're Melbourne.

Petrocelli?!? Sign him now. "I will now create the night of the crime." *fade to blue*

People think “first round pick” means “top ten pick”. Pick 10 and Pick Teen is what Melbourne gave up if the Dees improve in 2018. Bottom half of 1st round is not much better than the top half of 2nd round. Even if 2018 is a superdraft. ("Next year's draft" is always a superdraft.) Chuck in the pick flips and we have done well picking up a highly rated 21 year old with exposed form.

And in the same season Scotty Thompson retired.

http://m.afc.com.au/sites/AdelaideCrows/news/2017-10-03/statement-jake-lever

Adelaide are reported in the Herald Sun to be reluctant to take 10 and 27 for Lever. No doubt it is only a coincidence that Adelaide refused Carlton's demand for two first rounders for Gibbs last year. IS Jake Lever’s expected move to Melbourne on the rocks?

Collingwood is chasing hard for Lever.

That was to Lewis. Hannan absolutely drilled the ball over Lewis's head. I don't mind Hannan going the millionaire kick, but a little less oomph would have got the ball to Lewis, who was well clear, just as effectively. How often did the Hawks, when they were in premiership mode, find easy targets in the forward line? It wasn't just their kicking ability, it was their forwards' ability to find clear space. Part of that is quickly turning zone defence into a potent attack. It is all very well to get players behind the ball, but it is just as important not to rob yourself of attacking options. Clarko was a master at getting players free forward of the ball. That's why I'm wary of us starting 8 players in defence. Going forward short of options makes us bomb the ball too often. The more often you get extra players ahead of the ball, the less often you have to bomb it to a contest.

It's easier for backmen running out of defence to hit a target than it is for an onballer running into attack. There is more space around the defender, more space for the defender to kick into, and more space free for players up the ground. (The defender can also kick backwards and switch, which are both reasonably safe kicks.) Unless you more the ball really fast, the player running across the centre is operating in heavier traffic as the opposition concentrate back into defence, and less space available to pinpoint the ball into a zone defence. That's why we need a little more pace. When you have speedsters you can open up space ahead of the footy into the forward line.