whatwhat say what

Love his run, but his defensive positioning is a massive worry

2017 pick 10, 2018 first round for lever and a second rounder (either 17 or preferably 18) is fine imo

hodge is seemingly set for a year out in the media first and foremost - has he expressed any interest in coaching? you'd think brad green would be handy to have as a 'kicking coach'

Brad Green seems green has left north given the desire to always keep knowledge coming in, would we be interested? has worked under malthouse for a year, brendan bolton for a year and the whingy whiny scott of the north variety for two rawlings has been approached to interview for gc17; perhaps it's time he moved on anyway, after such a long time at the club? i personally rate him highly in terms of how our backline has been organised for the time when it has been under siege (it's the mids that put them under so much pressure), and would be loathe to lose is ip into the club are there any other mooted coaching moves within our box?

it is interesting that we're not even in the convo for him, it would seem

i've reached the point already with trac where i don't believe he'll ever a 'break out' game - i think the queen's birthday performance is what would qualify as it, as opposed to a 30 possession 5 goal game (not to say that won't come, but i think it'll be later rather than sooner) in some respects, i'm quite okay with - what we have here is a very consistent contributor who can swing between forward and midfield, can run off the back of the square like all our players, his drop-off in defensive intensity was noticeable as the season wore on and injuries meant he was plugging more gaps in other spots than simply rolling through the midfield on occasion, but he has all the hallmarks of becoming a player that will be the envy of other clubs love his energy and effervescent personality, and - like salem - i think if we are to be a very good side in coming years then trac will play a huge part in making that happen

His best was very, very good and his worst is still borderline pathetic He has incredible skill but he purely and simply doesn't contribute with anything like enough intensity in each and every moment - he doesn't stay involved and he has a tendency to coast I still like him most as a forward who goes into the ruck a bit - he was most useful in 2017 playing that role in the first part of the season before the hammy robbed him of his second half of the year The fact that coaches and players were questioning his attitude and commitment to the cause in the preseason is a massive concern, as is the fact that the rumours abound that he came back in less than optimal levels of fitness I rate his as easily one of our most skilful players but he remains a frustrating and enigmatic player We need consistency across all facets of the side's football going forward and I still am uncertain as to whether he can bring that some nine seasons into his career Good bloke from all reports, but needs to restore my faith in him as a a committed contributor across a full season - most of his 2016 was good and his first half of 2017 was good, but can he do it across a full season in a finals-bound team? Jury is out

The Whitfield to Hawks has legs but I have heard it was Poppy and others - including Duryea - they were looking to package up FWIW it sounds like fan-made pipe dreaming, trading two-three B-graders for one A-grader It doesn't happen in reality these days

hibberd was relatively 'big trade' - all australian defender quality for a second round pick! - and worked out exactly as foretold

if you equate it to lever being paid $670k or so across 5 years - which is what $850k under the new cba equates to, under the old cba - does that make those who are worried about his price feel any better? i'm of the opinion that if we can get it done, we get it done crows' supporting mates think it'll happen, just a matter for what - they think he's absolutely worth two first rounders, the only way i can see that happening is if something comes back the other way we were spitballing and came up with the following: lever plus rory atkins FOR melbourne pick 10, 2017 and melbourne's 2018 first rounder OR lever plus brisbane's 2nd round pick 2017 (pick 18-20, traded to the crows for charlie cameron) FOR melbourne pick 10, 2017 and melbourne's 2018 first rounder the one i would love to take off their hands is hugh greenwood, but crows fans are adamant he ain't leaving

i think he's only worth something in a trade as a makeweight to bring in the likes of a lever or gaff, otherwise we're not getting value for him he's certainly worth more to us than a speculative second round draft pick - which is what i think we'd be offered - in a reputedly poor draft

ultimately tho he did play 17 games across afl / vrl in 2017, missing 2 with suspension and 3 with hamstring it's getting better if he hadn't been suspended - and they were both borderline suspensions for mine, how he got suspended when some others got fined beggars belief - he would've played 18 / 1 you'd suspect he's worth far more to us as a player in the side as opposed to as trade bait UNLESS it's to help land a lever and gaff combo

one hammy, two suspensions in 2017 is better than thyroid in 2016 and three (?) hamstrings in 2015

i think you can teach good defensive habits and accountability - you can't teach natural skill and ability he has those key attributes

i loathe it when he has his 'cotchin' games and starts going sideways and backwards all the time, but you can't fault his endeavour and application i still like the idea of him playing more on the outside as he's damaging moving into space, but he's still one of our best inside mids as well he's never going to be a 'star' of the competition, but he's a classic workhorse i think this was his first soft tissue injury in quite some time? we definitely missed him for 6 weeks

had a shocking year BUT if we are to be a better side in 2018, salem playing consistent football will be a huge part of it he was okay - but only okay - up until the hamstring issue and his inability to get through a season unscathed (and then return from any injury in any sense of form) has him marked in my book as a 'maybe' player has a lot of skill and is clearly talented but his injury propensity, inability to stay on the park, form upon return, and occasional serious defensive accountability disappearing acts are disheartening we NEED him to be a good player

lonie might be marginally a better kick but it'd be marginal

i think i read earlier that townsend is the third riverina player to win the liston in recent times? it would seem no other casey players made the team of the year? it would be interesting to see what a vfl team of the year looked like it with all afl-listed players available to be a part of it

fwiw, both port and freo's sides have made the sanfl and wafl grand finals respectively toumpas was bog as a rebounding half back for the port magpies

Yes, but he wants out it would seem Stringer off to Peptides or puddy tatts apparently

He's a freak and he's only going to get better Once he starts adding defensive intensity to his remarkable offensive gifts, we'll have the best forward in the competition I can't think of a single other key forward who has gone what he's gone through in his first four years in the afl Will be a star

Schache has reportedly cleared all his belongings out of the pad he shares with a couple of Brisbane players - will not be there in 2018

he's like ben kennedy

shuey just signed a new four year deal so we're next to no shot if the rumours are true and gaff is available...then we gotta get him pick 10 - lever 2018 1st rounder + kent - gaff 4th round 2017 - harley balic and the latter is basically adding a homesick player who showed that at underage level he can get a fair bit of the football (although i don't trust his disposal skills) - wouldn't even think he'd be in our best 25 tbh B: Jetta - Frost - Lever HB: Hunt - O Mac - Hibberd C: Gaff - Jones - Lewis HF: Petracca - T Mac - Melksham F: Watts - Hogan - Garlett Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney I/C: Salem - Tyson - Hannan - Vince Emerg: Brayshaw - Pedersen - Maynard i am still uncertain as to whether we can play t mac, watts, hogan and pedo in the same forward line, but i definitely want t mac forward of the ball in 2018 - we looked better for mine for his presence forward watts best form was as a floating forward relieving ruck - he has to get his fitness right to play that role i have faith that frost can command a spot in the back 7 (where a rotation of lewis, salem, and vince / brayshaw can play that 'floating' defender to accompany the other six) sigh...gaff and lever really help our side fingers crossed.........

he needs to play; he's barely played in two years due to various injuries