Lord Travis

Why hasn't the thread title been changed to 'Clearance Oliver' yet??

Ben Brown will be FF, Hogan CHF. Hogan performing better IMO. Hogan's kicked 2 less goals in total, but averaging 10 disposals more, more marks, more inside 50s, more score assists etc than Brown. He's got him covered comfortably in pretty much every area and might pass him on goals too. They play different roles, but honestly Hogan's output is a step above any other forward in the competition this season. He's becoming Buddy like and incomparable to others, such is his output and brilliance!

Hogan has kicked more goals, had more disposals, more inside 50s, more score involvements, more goal assists, higher disposal efficiency, same amount of marks. Hogan has been the best forward in the game so far this season. He's been unreal, and I feel there hasn't been anywhere near enough recognition or hype for the season he's having. He's on track for 60+ goals while averaging midfielder numbers in terms of disposal etc. To top it off, Darling is now injured and was on crutches at the end of the Eagles game, so will likely miss a few matches at least. Hogan a lock for CHF and deservedly so. TMac would also be in contention if he didn't miss the start of the season. If he keeps up his current form he'll make the squad but not the 22.

Gawn would be a lock for first ruck. Hogan a lock for CHF. Jetta a strong chance for back pocket. Oliver and Melksham would both be in the squad of 40, but not in the 22 at this stage.

After the horrible year he went through last year, it's great to see him out there enjoying his footy. He clearly has lots of mates at the club and shares the love around. Handballed 2-3 goals off today too, so could've kicked a few more. He's in All Australian form at the moment. Absolute freak talent. So glad he's in red and blue!

His intensity is just b*llshit. Opposition players are legitimately scared of him! Not only was his intensity back today, so we his agility and burst pace. His sidestepping is top shelf, and if it doesn't work he just bulldozes through them anyway! So great to have him back out there. Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Jones/Brayshaw is currently the best centre square midfield in the league.

Pick 5 behind Petracca and Brayshaw in 2014, has just hit 50 games. We have no first round pick this year and cannot trade next years, so unless we're wiling to trade one of our own young guns (Trac, Oliver, Hogan, Brayshaw) then we cannot get him or Wines or anyone. On the basis, can't see it happening and prefer our youngsters to him.

He was one of our best last week but he had a shocker yesterday against the Suns. He’ll probably get the chop for Viney after ANB and Harmes fired up.

Doubt he will leave the Dees, but both his younger brothers play for the WA clubs, so if he leaves there's a fair chance it'd be to WA? Brayshaw is a more rounded midfielder than Petracca, but Petracca has the x-factor that not many do. Great to have them both!

Why is that funny? Posters here to have it in for him. The numbers show he was one of our best today. Top 5 for disposals, most marks, top 3 for metres gained, top 5 for inside 50s, top 5 for pressure acts, top 3 for intercepts. Those are good numbers that cannot be argued. He was listed in our best. It was by no means a great game, he misfired a few times, but disposal efficiency of 78% was one of the best amongst our mids. Anyone saying he was poor today shows no ability to understand the game. He's no superstar, but a great midfielder to have in our rotation and is unarguably best 22. Perfect second string midfielder.

Wasn't clean with the ball in the first quarter, but was still cracking in get amongst it when some other Dees hadn't switched on yet. He got better as the game wore on and his kicking on both sides was on show. Oliver had more ball, but I reckon Brayshaw was BOG. He kicked well, made good decisions and got back to help out when needed. On top of winning a decent amount inside ball, he was a really good link player coming out of defensive 50 today. He just needs consistent games now to build consistency after a good few weeks. He was drafted as a well balanced gun midfielder, and he's starting to show why. Potential gun at AFL level. Keep it up Gus!

He was one of our best today and one of our best kicks today also. He wins a lot of ball and is often involved in our scoring chains. Our midfield is better with him out there as both a ball winner and a link man. Loves the odd long goal too! He's not played his best footy yet this year (his best is top 5 in our BnF multiple times by the way), but he's been decent-good and is easily in our best 22. He's apparently become a whipping boy on here recently, but we've got far greater problems and worse players out there than Dom. People need to take their blinkers off when assessing him.

Gaff is exactly what we need. At 25, he's the perfect age bracket for us. All Australian, lead the league for total kicks and inside 50s for a number of years, experienced, played in lots of finals including a grand final, but still has plenty of footy ahead of him. He's an elite runner, very durable and consistent, good outside midfielder, exactly what we need. Doesn't mean anything, but he was a Dees supporter growing up and comes from a mad demon family who were still members and involved at the club after he started playing for West Coast. While Sloane is a good player, he's 29, struggles with injury and a tag, and is very similar to what we already have. I wouldn't bother chasing him.

Agreed. Absolute dog act and I'll always dislike Rance due to these sorts of acts. He's raked the eyes of a few players and given cheap shots to the back of the head multiple times throughout his career. He's a dirty player. As a defender he's also seriously suspect one-on-one. This year alone he got destroyed by Jenkins, then got beaten by Melksham. Teams need to play through his man and make him accountable, because one-on-one he's average and when isolated he repeatedly loses. Because the media love him, he never gets pulled up for all the negative aspects of his game and personality though. After we played them and Melksham kicked 4 on him and repeatedly beat him in one-on-one contests, Mooney interviewed him and kept saying he was "excellent", and even Rance was confused and replying "don't think I was great..." each time. As for Oscar, he really has been good this year. He's yet to be beaten badly, and has improved dramatically in one-on-ones with opposition number 1 key forwards. Don't think he'll be All-Australian this year, but he's developing well and is now a reliable rock down at full back. Anyone denying that is judging him off 12-18 months ago when he was weaker in body and mind.

Great debut today! Was in everything early, loves the contest, clean hands, reads the drop of the ball well, 100% disposal efficiency. Loved him getting into a scrap with Goddard too! As soon as we drafted him I knew we were onto a winner, injury is the only reason he wasn't a top 10 pick. All he needs to do to solidify his place in the team and thrive is bring that intensity consistently and play to his strengths. Well done Spargs!

He’d be a great get obviously, but we have no way of getting him. He’s not a free agent, so we have to trade for him. We don’t have a first rounder this year, and we’re not allowed to trade next years. Unless we trade one of Hogan, Oliver, Petracca or Gawn, then we can’t get Wines. We won’t be trading any of them, so may as well close this thread unless you enjoy torturing yourselves (which you may, being Melbourne supporters and all haha).

Agreed. I thought he was best on ground for us in the first half. He repeatedly beat Roughead in one on ones in quite convincing fashion. Very impressive. He’s improved his body work and spoiling immensely this year IMO. One of the few shining lights for us thus far this season.

How are people proposing we get Wines? We’ve got no first round pick to trade this year, and have to use next years first rounder in the draft, as we haven’t used one since 2015 draft. Unless we’re trading a gun of our own like Petracca or Oliver, then we have no way of getting him across.

Currently playing in the Casey practice match and dominating. Very strange he isn't in the team again this week. Hopefully he is straight in next week. He gets nothing out of playing at Casey, he's been a level above VFL from before he was drafted. It's a waste of his time, and a waste of the clubs time. He needs a consistent run at AFL level to develop and become the player we think he can. He's an obvious talent (pick 3), and is also quite flexible. Can play inside or outside mid, wing, half forward, half back. His skills are decent, he reads the play well, and he lays a good hard tackle. If we don't give him games this year, he'll walk and become a star at another club.

Jeez there’s some very bitter fools here. Jack had a good game today. He had plenty of good games for us, and will have plenty of good games for the Power. He’s a good footballer, no superstar, but a good footballer. Everyone need to build and bridge and get over it. We shipped him off when he was trying to be loyal, and he’s not part of our club anymore. Why bother whining about him. Move on.

I agree. If Hogan struggles or gets double teamed, Petracca is the other strong body who can clunk a mark up forward. We have enough midfield depth to cover his temporary loss there.

We should have made finals in 2017. We have to make finals in 2018. Finals is the minimum pass mark. If we don't make finals I expect the club to refund all members.There are no excuses. The off-field is finally in good shape. The playing list is top 5 in quality league-wide now. It now comes down to how well Goodwin and co can motivate the players consistently. It's as simple as that.

I wish Jack all the best at Port. He was always a good player for us, and a loyal clubman too. The club treated him appalling at times and mismanaged him his whole career. From the get go he was thrown to the wolves, and never in AFL history has a player had so much unwarranted external pressure placed on them throughout their career. He was loyal to the end and we cast him out. Anyone who holds a grudge against him or wishes him ill is a f*cking fool. I don't think it was a bad trade to move him out, as it definitely shows where the club is heading and has now symbolically moved on all players born from that dark period in the clubs history. However, there should be no ill will against a guy who was loyal and was instead pushed out the door. Best of luck with the rest of your career Jack. Do us a favour though and fluff a few of your usually perfect kicks when you play against us though please!

Location would play a part in this. But also it might be related to our poor performances and standing as a club for the past decade. We've no doubt lost a chunk of potential supporters from that generation.

Huge signing. Unlike the past 10 years, our young talent is all extended and sticking fat for the journey. Great to see! Keep working hard Trac and you’ll enjoy success in red and blue with your mates!