Dappa Dan

If he had Salem's kick he'd have been a top 20 pick. To get production like that from a late pick, we're all pinching ourselves. I liken him a bit, actually, to Oliver. Different players obviously... But both were better value than where they were taken at the draft. Oliver right now is pick #1 over Weitering, Mills and Hipwood. In Hunt's draft year you have Bont, Kelly, Cripps who are the big three... then you can throw a blanket over Hunt and about 10 other names. But more importantly, I wonder with both of these guys how they'll respond to the inevitable tag. When teams sus out that those two are among our most damaging players, how will they combat that, and how effective will they be? There's players you can tag but only rarely can beat. Judd, Ablett, Dangerfield have had taggers and played through them. I reckon both these guys have the game that is really difficult to stop. Oliver loves the indide stuff. I reckon you stop him, it frees up Jack, Jones, Tyson and others... He could probably be curtailed, but when your hands are that quick inside, how much effect will you have in the end? You can tag Sloane cos he needs his kick, and time to execute it, which opens a window for you to put body on him. Not so much Oliver. Jayden's quick, sure, but it's his breakaway... what the Americans call "quickness" as opposed to "speed." I dunno how anyone can stop you when you've got a mark or free, are back lining up the kick, and you run off. If they get close to him laterally or on the mark, they risk giving away a fifty. With the current rules, he'll be running around guys and kicking long for the rest of his career. What makes him awesome is that he knows his limitations. Short kicks are a 50-50 chance to be turned over. So when you have a system, and players like Hogan and Garlett to kick to... he basically has an instant 70 metre add on. The effect across the ground is absolutely remarkable too. What Jayden does is puts doubt in the opposition minds. They have to get back so much quicker, and run so much harder because they know in a moment, we could go from a fifty-fifty contest, to having the ball inside fifty with 1 on 1s. Subsequently, when the rebound comes, they don't have numbers since they haven't had time to drift forward. Jayden might bomb it long, and ineffectively, but even if the defenders spoil (and that's a big if), the rebound options aren't there as normal. I'll add as well, he's being coached sensationally. Great setup for what we have... coaching to players strengths, rather than making a game plan that players have to play in regardless of their abilities (Neeld).

I love Tyson. Really love him. And for the record I think his kicking hasn't been this bad at any other time in his career, so I like to think it's improvable... That said. He's appalling by foot right now. And he's been bad all year, whether he's had a good game or bad. Interesting you raise Trengove. I think later in the year he gets one game at least. And it'll be Tyson that moves aside. Might have been your point.

Apologies if it's been mentioned before... My hero of the day, and it's taken me til today to find him. Think back to the game, we're 4 up with about 4 minutes left... Hunt misses the shot on goal, manages to get the ball soon after and runs around Treloar, delivers inside fifty. Miskick to Grundy and the pies clear. On the footage I have, Sidebottom ends up with it, running on the boundary of the wing. Salem is tracking him but can't catch up. Sidey handballs to Treloar on the sponsors logo and he's off with a paddock in front of him. I thought we were a certainty to see Treloar give them the lead then and there. At the time I remember thinking this is it. If we win by stopping them here, it's as important as a goal. Camera pulls out to a long shot. Those of you with a copy take a look. The whole midfield is empty. Treloar can run all the way to fifty and unload. Only Salem is trailing him, and while he tries his hardest, he hasn't got the pace. In the long shot we see Hunt as the only red and blue jumper, and he's behind the centre circle and is jogging having given up. And rightly so. He's fifty metres off the contest. At this point, a smaller player for us identifies that there's noone left who can help Salem and pressure the kicker, and the guy sprints from off camera all the way up to Treloar to get a hand on him as he launches into his delivery. The slightest effect on the kick meant that it didn't have penetration, and was more lofted than Treloar would have liked. We get numbers to the drop, and we clear. The next half a dozen plays are all fifty fifty contests. He wouldn't have gotten a stat as it wasn't a tackle. Noone around me even noticed the distance he ran to get to the contest. I felt like I was the only one who saw, from where I was sitting. And since it wasn't a score or important free kick it probably got lost in the multitude of hard efforts all day from both sides. But for me, that player was as much a hero as Jack. 50 metre sprint to catch one of the zippier players in the AFL, when he was on completely the wrong side of the ground, and it definitely wasn't his job. The name? T. Bugg.

Demonland is a weird place. Lewis' kicking has been sensational all year, certainly in our top 5 or 6 kicks, but apparently he can't kick anymore. He's roundly been seen as a leader even by the current captains. But according to demonlanders, he's not a leader. Apparently he's slower now, and yet he gets high disposals every game. Maybe he was never that quick to begin with? 'Landers have even been sooking about how he doesn't lead or fly the flag of MFC, despite the fact he chose, out of 17 clubs, to come to us. Oh and he's arrogant, to boot. Even though A: He's earned it... and B: Arrogance and confidence are great agents in Aussie Rules football. One's we haven't had since Lyon retired. We knew what we were getting. A former star on the decline, who at 50% is still better than most players at 100%. Get a grip.

lol Gotta give a man credit when he admits fault though. Just putting my hand up. The only player I ever said will never ever make it. Jamar. 12 months after that, All Australian.

Biggest winner on the day, besides maybe Watts. I gave us exactly no chance. Like having a 23rd player.

Class act fence... my boy o-hizzle made me proud today.

Agree, except that I'd love to see Watts just play where he's needed. Delivering into the forward line, coming off the backline, on a wing... Put him where he's needed. I love that Gawn comes back and we get basically 4 players playing where they should be. Watts, Pedo, TMac, Frost... not to mention the knock on effect for guys like Garlett and others who now have talls to nip around the heels of.

Yup.

It's a bit like that, isn't it. Not a popular potential premier, the G-men.

I don't usually get complimentary about opposition clubs... But wow, I wonder if the Blues realise they've got one in Bolton. Am super impressed by how he gets what he gets out of some out-and-out spuds. Very Bevo like.

I like that he didn't things in the fourth quarter. Workrate is non negotiable. The rest can be developed.

Yeah I don't believe this dejected stuff for a second. Could be dejected for any reason. I reckon they'll both end up best 22 in a year or two. We do have a handful of guys who will move on soon.

Yeah, was a rhetorical question. I don't think Wagner was that good in his last game that he demanded being kept in. His first half actually was frustrating. Right now, it's Salem > Wags for anyone who can read the game.

Yeah. If you look at our midfield, Jones, Vince, Lewis are getting on. Oliver, Viney, Tracca are A grade. We definitely needed Brayshaw as much as Lever. In fact, in a couple of years, we'll need to have found 4-5 really good midfielders. Harmes, Melksham, ANB could carry some of that weight.

How is bringing Salem in after a week's suspension "rushing." He wasn't hurt?

Oh man. Joel's been going to Riley's hairdresser.

Very different from Hibberd, and won't kick as well. But is better at some stuff than Hibberd too. I think he's in a tough spot. He's not in the 22 for a reason. Hunt, Salem, Jordie, Hibberd, Jetta, Melksham, Vince all miles ahead. I expect in 2 years when Jordie hangs them up and Vince is gone, he'll take their place. But no-one should be too worried about him yet. Plenty of time.

I'm all for that. I like spencer in the list. It didn't work cos of shocking luck for us, but if we went into next year even with a fully fit gawn, we need a good backup, and spence is low cost. Every club needs someone like him. He'll be on afl lists and oddly... have a full career, even if he doesn't play much footy. A bit like backup qbs in the NFL.

If it can happen to Witts...

I reckon they'll try to keep Spencer, even though the one year contract makes it look like that's not the case. His early season and pre season form he looked like a new player. And by golly is he ever needed.

That's great for recognition as a shut down guy. He's the new Wrecker.

Was thinking more as a ruck. They just can't get anyone on the park either as a KP forward OR ruck.

Yeah. His career's been a massive disappointment. He's been on the cusp of breaking out so long, and now he's 30. If there's any truth to this so-called rumour we're reading here, I wouldn't find it hard to believe. I have a suspicion that the club feels it has its future ruck/forward guy at the club already in Fili, Keilty, King etc... and just needs someone to hold down the spot for a couple of years while they stack on another 20 kgs. Oh, and to give Weed more time and less pressure. I don't mind it, as it's speculative... and if you want to pay bargain basement, you have to look into that crystal ball and try and predict what a solid pre season will do for him. Yes NOW he's average. But in 12 months at whatever club he ends up at, what will he be? I have a feeling this is all moot anyway, as he'll end up somewhere like Bulldogs.

Someone needs to do a meme of Freddy Kreuger with Wines' face superimposed.