Lord Travis

Have our players been told they're not allowed to engage Maynard? Been absolutely limp both games this year. He's grabbing and wrestling Kozzie and no one charges in to fly the flag. It makes me sick how weak we've become. We used to hunt and hurt our opponents and were unbeatable at the contest.

At least we'll get a decent draft pick this year. This year has been an utter waste outside of that.

He has a young baby at home. Sleep deprivation and life overhaul can have that effect. Dead rubber game too. He's not going great but don't think it's a sign of anything troublesome.

That's very disappointing if true. If Houston is a 10/10, Cumming is an 8/10 and as a free agent would cost us nothing to trade for. He's a far better option than Houston from a list management perspective. Neither player is going to be the difference between us winning a flag or not, so why trade off a pick 6 when you can have a freebie AND draft a pick 6 young elite talent to get over a decade service.

He's a good half back flanker. He's help our team immediately with his elite foot skills. However, he's 28 next year, so realistically has only a few seasons of top shelf footy left. He's likely already played his best footy. As good as he is, I don't think he's a club changer or will catapult us into premiership contention short term, which he'd need to do for pick 6/7. Pick 6/7 could give you an elite midfielder for a decade. They're club changers. You don't trade a pick that high unless it's for a gun key forward or defender. Half back flankers can be found cheaper. Cumming from GWS is a free agent and therefore no draft pick required for similar output. Premiership teams have an elite midfielder, usually multiple. They're usually drafted with first round picks. When Taylor has recruited mids for us with top 10 picks he's brought in Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Windsor. We have the chance to bring in our next Trac or Clarry or Gus to pair with Windsor and build our next flag around. Focus on the midfield. Houston is not what we need for the draft price we pay.

We did. He stayed at Carlton regardless on a million a year anyway. We've tried unsuccessfully luring several key forwards the past two off seasons. Give me an elite midfielder instead please!

Seems Yze was the coaching mastermind behind our success. Came in as midfield coach and won a flag with top four years running. Since Mcqualter took over this year we've been rat****. Our stoppage work and lack of clearances recently have been the worst in memory, worse than the Neeld years somehow.

Not on form no. Neither is Bowey.

Need elite midfield talent coming in via the draft. Time to start preparing for life beyond Gawn, Viney, Trac and Clarry, because it's coming in a hurry.

Anyone still thinking a key forward is the biggest list need over the midfield is delusional. Our midfield is now bottom four.

One of my fav non-Melbourne players and a good footy brain. Would love him at the club in a footy director type role. He doesn't have coaching experience, but if he has aspirations there then strategy would be a nice fit.

It's good clubs will be less able to use a stack of low picks to match/take elite talent. GC and other clubs have rorted that for years. It will discourage pick trading though, which is one of our strengths.

Dogs by 4-5 goals is the safe bet. They're the form team of the competition at present and should get the job done at Marvel. Hoping to see our kids show a bit again. Would love strong games from Kolt, Rivers, Disco, JVR.

He hasn't been AFL standard for over a year. I'm not sure why he's getting games at this point when we've got so many rebounding defender options on the list. Defensively he's a liability. He doesn't provide dash and his supposed elite kicking has been nowhere to been seen for years, just like Salem. He should be tried at half forward or given a spell in the VFL to find form and confidence.

And that's the game and season. Hogan tearing us a new one. They're just far cleaner with their ball use and have a strong target in Hogan.

Midfield getting cut up since quarter time. Not looking like we'll be playing finals this year sadly.

Very happy with this. Always good to lock the interstate guns away! Kolt has already shown mongrel and skill and a real team first attitude getting around his mates. With added fitness and strength he could become a real weapon as a mid-fwd type. He's starting games well and then fading out in second halves, so will be crucial to build his tank over the next few preseasons so he can maintain the intensity all game.

Brilliant news! Windsor is one of the best talents we've had come through in many years. He's filled a gap for us immediately with his speed and outside running both ways. His kicking can be inconsistent when he rushes at times, but with more experience his composure will keep growing and he'll become even more damaging. Long term he's got scope to be a gun midfielder. He's already shown great defensive effort and ability to win his own ball. With Gus retiring, Trac and Clarry entering the later years of their careers, Viney within years of retirement, we need our next wave of mids as depth and then to take over. Windsor will be the next star mid to take up the reigns. JT has nailed another one here.

Good news. Now for 2025 onwards, send him back to defence where he excels.

We're not a contender this year so may as well just play kids and try for be best draft pick possible. Give the kids time around the ball. It's not like the senior players can handle it. No more list cloggers like Billings, Hunter, Laurie etc

We're Fremantles [censored] unfortunately. They've had it over us for years for some inexplicable reason despite being a bog average side.

100%. Shocking to just ignore the ball being flung away carelessly not back to the opponent as per the rules. Could've helped us lock it further up field in the dying moment too etc. The umpiring in the last quarter was disgracefully biased towards Essendon. Was akin to match fixing.

What a dismal final few minutes. Gotta keep going until the siren boys!

He's in his fifth season as a 23 year old focal point of a bottom teams forward line. In his third season at 21 years of age he kicked 52 goals. He's averaged 1.96 contested marks across his career, which is better than anyone on our list bar Max Gawn at 2.06. It's double JVR FYI. Not saying JVR won't overtake him, but King was better at the same age and is better now. In fact, he's top 20 for contested marks this season despite being in poor form. He might not terrify defenders in the traditional sense of being a big brute, but he's a competitive marking specialist and hits the scoreboard. A fresh start at a new club could see him go from top 5 in the Coleman to a Coleman medalist if we keep him healthy. Unless a gun mid becomes available, King should be our main target in the trade period. His currency is lower than it could be at this point in time for a long term gun KPF.

Haven't read back more than a few pages but shocked there's not more discussion around Max King. Now out injured for the year. Was not playing well and seemed out of favor. He's still young for a tal and has produced in the past. He's a 50+ goal a year tall forward who's 200cm+ and can clunk a mark. He's the perfect tall forward target for us. I'd be throwing serious coin at him with offer of a fresh start at a better club etc. Go get the king!