Dappa Dan

Another positive.... I do sort of wonder sometimes if these young kids (and they ARE young) will tire at about round 12-15 compared to other mature teams, like Richmond, that accelerate then. Watts might be going strong. Up until this pre season his engine was considered an asset. And you don't get shorter as games get longer.

touche

Interesting. In his first preseason, his pace was pretty amazing. I dunno what happened between then and now, but I remember seeing him as a pretty zippy little unit. Do people really hate JKH now? That's a shame. I'll stick with him for now. ANB, there's another guy I like. On him though, I'm with you. Love the cut of his jib, but I wonder where he'd fit. And if he did fit, what he'd do. I'm not saying Jack didn't improve to be important. I'm just not sure if it's as a leader and future forward gun. Or if it's as tradebait. Time will tell.

I do? Haven't looked at that in a long time. I do rate the kid though. His first season was enough to make me think he'll take over from Jeffie one day. Good kid. Prefer him to Kent, though I realise not many will agree.

So non-news aside, does anyone else look at Jack when he plays, and see a big number floating above his head? I know I do. It corresponds to the round of the draft pick we'd get in a trade. This news, coupled with anything but perfect form early in the season, will make his price drift. That won't be a popular post, as I'm outing myself as a non-fan of Jacks. In my defence though, I think of every player on the list this way.

lol

So you pick and choose when you make hysterical reactions to non-news?

Hey Nasher. Long time. Yeah. I forget who it was but someone on here took it as a positive, and was the first. A lot of people are seeing it that way. I reckon even Watts might.

There's no clear evidence anywhere here. Not even ProDee is claiming there's clear evidence. There's implications. That's all. Clarry came back chubby now look at him. Watts had a well earned break in the off season after finally arriving as a player. If I'm him, I'd have done a lot worse, media or not. Man. Demonland has gotten worse again in my absence.

I was thinking about that. I'm kind of happy with it, after a fashion. The club could easily, EASILY have spun it. Just said, "we played Spence and the two talls, no room for him. Jack's a known entity, the others aren't. Preseason is all about trying new combinations to see what we unearth...." And the media can simmer down. Instead they told the truth. There was little advantage to putting it out there, but they did anyway. Not saying this whole situation is ideal. It's mostly a storm in a teacup. But it seems to me like it's just honest answers, instead of lying, which is the second language of the AFL. I'm one of the few that's pleased with these events. I'm not a massive fan of Jacks though, much more interested in about 12-18 other guys on the list... The same 12-18 who are now being focussed on by Goody. Jack has learned he can't go hard just in contract years (Howie, Ooze). As Robbo said in the last few days, the club has oput it out there they're going to be BRUTAL with selections this year. That's great.

Here's what drives me nuts. The whole thing is probably just Goody making an example of a senior player to show he's top dog, and to let the hard push filter through some of the lesser lights. Who else can he push? Jones? Viney? Push them any harder and they might self combust. But now, if Jack misses a kick, or looks tired at all (everyone cramps early int he year) the media will jump on him, so it's already "true." To prove the point... let's say Hogan gets dropped for next week. Which could happen with his calf/ankle/shin whatever it was. It's unlikely to be reported, as he played the game out on the field. The media won't jump on his back, it'll simply be a regular pre-season rotation. In effect it's all the same with him as with Watts, only Watts is now news. The journos (and I use that term quite wrongly) are beating up a story they KNOW will be clickbait. Jack is screwed if he does and screwed if he doesn't. I got texts straight after the game Saturday from West Coast mates asking where he was with wink emojis. These same guys who were saying Gawn is sliding down fantasy mock drafts since Spencer is now apparently taking on a bigger role. What a load of crap. His omission didn't seem odd to me on the day (we were STACKED with talent, and all kids)... and now because of the media, and a bit of demonland hysteria, it's become a thing.

Always thought that's where he did his best work, with ball in hand. I don't understand where everyone thinks he's going to help Jones. Jones has more than enough hard nuts around him. It's that kick I'm interested in.

Good post. Though I would argue that if there was ever an event to just be happy to see, it would be getting a 4 time premiership star (and maybe Hogan signing). The posts I'm taking aim at aren't the reasonably thought out ones that balance positivity with realism. I'm taking aim at the ones who do nothing but moan. And there's a handful. I was thinking this the other day. I remember when Roos signed he said he wanted there to be no more expecting a great white hope. Then Hogan signed, and players are wanting to come to the club. I mean... like it or lump it...

lol @ the Lewis haters. I said when Bernie was brought to the club that as much as I thought he was a star, he won't be there when we're winning flags. How wrong I was about his worth. You don't necessarily bring guys in just to be the cream that wins you the flag after getting close the year before. Bernie has been massive for the development of our kids. The best of them are just through their second season. What applies to Bernie applies to Lewis too. Only Lewis is better. More successful. Higher credentialed and more decorated. Personally, I think the way footy is going he'll easily play well into his 3rd year. And his first two we will see such a lift in output skill wise people won't even recognize the team, and a lot of that will be due to the 20 kicks a game Viney, Tyson, Jones, Olly and Vince feed out to him. Our biggest weaknesses right now are skill and pace, and Lewis is one of the best kicks going around. You really can count on demonland oldies to get woe is me about something with literally no downside. Or is it 'ology oldies?

According to Barret today Dodoro has reacted poorly to his assertion that Essendon is hard to deal with. Evidently Dodoro not thrilled with the reputation he's built for himself. Is it true Pies are the same?

Add my name here to the surprisingly large list of Dunn respecters. Hated his first 5-7 years at the club, couldn't take an overhead mark to save his life and was a disappointment. Then in the last 3-5 he proved me wrong. Thought he was super on gorilla forwards, as well as wily in defense. Really a much better player than the demons allowed him to be in the end. Sad to see him go, and I think in small ways we'll pay for it. But understand the move at the same time. Well done Dunny.

That's what all of us are still wrapping our heads around... What makes me more stunned is this. Ask yourself how many of the other clubs would trade Lewis in for a grand total of 11 lost spots in third and fourth round picks? The answer is 17 clubs would take that deal in a heartbeat, be they in a window now like Cats, or growing and needing the leadership, like Gold Coast. So faced with a genuine gun of the comp walking from his club (or being pushed), he chose one club OUT OF 17 to go to. Not 3 or 4 and let them fight it out so I can get paid more. 1 club. Even if you argue that he couldn't leave Victorian clubs because of family and TV commitments, that's still 9 other clubs all of whom would have taken him with open arms. The whole thing boggles my mind.

Yeah I was gonna say Barret-the-[censored] as that seems to be usually what follows... but this time I don't want it turning into a Barret thread. Too big of a day for MFC.

Looks like his hair's already growing back?

Wow. Lewis on Trade radio being interviewed by Barret. Someone find the link, in the meantime I'll paraphrase. "I see Hawthorn of the early 2000s in Melbourne" "Knowing that Hogan signed, that made it clear what Melbourne's direction was." Ipso facto... Hogan signs, people want to come to the club. That is massive.

Sounds like a pacey game and we're the better side. Pleasing so far.

Yes we need a Tippet style Forward who does well in the ruck. Yes Vickery plays there. That's not enough though. You've actually got to be a good footballer. Vickery's handful of ok games have been on the end of dominance from his team mates, help in the forward line from a gun in Riewoldt, and a forgiving nature from his coach. Anything is better. second or third round pick on development track is better. The only reason he'll still be in the league will be the lack of talls. He is a terrible footballer.

Jeez the demonland sook army still in fine voice. It was a loss. Still have awesome up and coming kids, still the youngest and most inexperienced. When Roo finishes and Montagna retires, we'll cream them. This game won't even be remembered in a couple of years. This site got unbearable in my absence. Don't turn it into the facebook groups. None of us want to have to go back to demonology.

Very strange goings-on on these shocking facebook groups and threads. Some buffoon saying he had a bad game? I know he made a couple of blues late, but before that he had a few plays where I remarked he looked like last year's Gus. Even found a fair bit of the pill in patches and seemed to be moving really well. I'm on the Trengove is done bandwagon, and this seemed completely different to me. A player on the up who's had most of a season away.

Now THAT'S a post.