Lord Travis

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!

The Good: We finish 6th, making finals for the first time since 2006. We finally beat North. Our midfield becomes one of the best in the league, and teams struggle to combat our pressure around the ball. The rebound from our backline becomes a real weapon, with Hunt, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Salem and Jetta causing head-aches. Bugg surprises many as a pesky small forward and becomes best 22. Christian Petracca continues his rise to stardom and makes the AA squad. Kicks 30+ goals for the season and is the match-winner in a few games. Dom Tyson has yet another top 5 finish in our BnF to remind everyone why he is an important part of our future midfield. Clayton Oliver becomes recognised as a bonafide star of the competition, finishing 5th in the Brownlow and making the AA midfield. Gawn stays fit and plays the full season, reclaiming his thrown as AA ruckman. The Bad: Jones, Vince and Lewis all struggle with the pace of the game and lingering injury issues. 2 of the 3 retire at years end. Tom McDonald forward doesn't work out and he returns to the backline. This exposes our lack of quality tall forwards and increased pressure on Hogan. We continue to struggle against big forwards. Frost's form deteriorates, Oscar struggles to develop further, TMac heads down back but his form fluctuates and Lever is left to try and steady the ship in more of a shut down role. We endure another year of media speculation about Hogan returning to WA, after he has a mediocre year form-wise. We lose to Richmond after controlling the majority of the match again. The soft-underbelly lingers. While we finish 6th, we could have finished 1st-2nd if not for losing winnable matches against lesser opponents.

When rumours circulated we were into Baker I was worried we'd use our first pick on him and thought it was the wrong move. Turns out we landed him with our last pick at 47. He's definitely got great pace and agility, question will be how it holds up under AFL level pressure. Though his highlights look excited, there is bugger all defensive pressure in the NEAFL and it almost looked like they were playing touch footy at times He doesn't mind laying a tackle though and looks competitive so he'll give it a red hot crack. Of all our draftees this year I'm hoping Baker makes it. He's got exactly what our midfield needs: pace. Welcome Oskar!

Happy with this pickup. I was hoping either him or Bailey would slip to our first pick and we landed Spargo. He's a talent. Decent pace, great agility, great competitor, can rack up ball and chime in with goals. He'd be perfect to play up forward for the first few years of his careers to partner up with Jeffy. He could be added to the midfield rotation over time or own a small forward role. Though he's small, he's a competitor and take down his share of bigger players over his time. Welcome Charlie!

Haven't seen this kid play other than the usual highlights clips, but surely a 19 year old who couldn't even crack it onto the list of the worst team in the AFL isn't worth blowing our first pick on?! If someone like Bailey or Spargo is still available, I'd hope the club drafts them.

As for Liam Ryan, I'll quote myself from earlier in this thread. He'll go as a late/rookie pick to a WA club. I'd hope the club don't bother with a 21 year old who has serious attitude and application issues. He would not suit the modern AFL game where defensive pressure and hard running both ways are now a requirement. He'll never make it at AFL level IMO.

Correct. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-11-22/taylor-has-list-of-names-ready-to-go States no rookie picks and will use 4 picks in the draft.

Saw him play mid year, was match against Peel. He would've had maybe 7-8 touches, kicked a run of the mill set shot goal and doubt if he laid a tackle. Wouldn't have even known who he was if it weren't for the chatter surrounding him as he'd booted a ton of goals to that stage of the season. He was seriously unremarkable that day. Based on that match I saw of him, he'll be a rookie pick at best and likely never make it AFL level. He has seriously poor work ethic. He refused to work up the ground when it wasn't working up forward, he didn't chase or put on any pressure at all when his opponents won the ball, he stood around hands on hips and not bothering to lead if a defender went anywhere near him. He makes Jack Watts look like Nick Reiwoldt on steroids in terms of work rate, effort and hunger. Not surprised to read Pennant St Dee's post saying his club Subiaco had to send someone to pick him up or he wouldn't rock up to training etc. I'll be disappointed, shocked and disgusted if the club drafts him after weeding out players with poor attitude and work ethic over the past few years. He's already 21 too, so as a mature age player you'd hope he had developed that work ethic and desire to make it.

He has average speed, offers no defensive pressure and offers bugger all around the ground. He has a great leap on him and is a decent shot at goal, but he lacks far too much in other areas. He’s worse than other similar types currently on our list. There’s a reason he’s been overlooked in the draft before and a reason he’s being spoken about as a late pick or rookie pick. There will likely be a big go home factor with him too so I hope the club doesn’t bother with him to be honest. There are other better, well rounded options for us to target.

He doesn’t put on any defensive pressure or work hard for his team. Hats why he was overlooked. He ca kick a bag if given space, but likely won’t have much impact at AFL level IMO. Will be a late pick air most likely a rookie pick to a WA club.