Lord Travis

Agreed. Jackson was better than expected. He looked way off the pace in pre-season, and though he still wasn't great at AFL level, he held up better than expected for an 18 year old tall. I still think he's much better in the ruck than up forward, as he struggles with contested marking situations and doesn't have good leading patterns. He is very mobile though and looked better in the ruck and around the ball. He'll likely develop as a tall forward/2nd ruck for the next 2 years or so, then start taking the number 1 ruck mantle from Gawn once he hits his early 30s IMO. Pickett was average. I wasn't a huge fan at underage level, and he showed more of the same at AFL level. He struggles to get involved in the game. He doesn't find enough ball. He doesn't lay enough tackles. He lacks composure and rushes shots on goal (7 goals, 13 behinds, 4 OOF is poor conversion). He needs to build fitness so he can get to more contests and crumb. He showed clean hands collecting groundballs and using speed and agility to get out of trouble and setup play. We just don't see it enough, and that was the problem at underage level too. I have doubts he'll ever be anything more than an inconsistent flashy player, when what we need is a consistent small forward. Rivers was great. I was ecstatic when we drafted him and through the back-end of the season he showed why he'll have a long career. He's the perfect running half back flank replacement for Hibberd as he winds up. Rivers definitely shanked a few kicks, but he also showed good hardness and composure. His drive off half back and willingness to work hard to cover teammates showed he's got the right attitude and mindset too. He'll have a long career and I just hope he stays at the club long term and doesn't return home to WA.

Seems I'm in the minority, but I see him as a depth option and then delist in 1-2 years. He has decent speed, which we are are crying out for, but I'm not convinced he's smart enough or fit enough to become a good long term AFL player. You need to be fit and smart to play on the wing, and while he can build fitness, I don't think he's shown the smarts. I'd like to be proven wrong, as we need another good wingman and he could be it, but I wouldn't persist much longer. The Baker/Wagner/Spargo types are the ones we always hold onto for too long IMO. Depth players are important, but you don't hold onto them for more than say 4 years unless they're a great role player and happy to have a career in and out of a team. Perhaps getting Isaac Smith across to teach him and drive him would be beneficial for his development.

Unless he becomes our CEO, then whatever role we could offer him would be a step down. He's highly regarded as a sports administrator and leader, but not sure we'll see him back at the club. Interesting timing though and he was considered heavily for a role at the club in the past few years.

Read back earlier in this thread. North and Brown had a falling out over off-field issues. They were not empathetic to his situation when he lost one of his babies. The club is fractured at all levels. They'll have a new coach next year, likely new board, likely 15+ list changes over off-season. They're a complete mess and shot themselves in the foot with Brown. Whoever gets Brown will be getting a bargain.

100% this. Brown and Weid as legit key forwards who provide a contest and hit the scoreboard. Jacko as a roaming mobile third tall whose time is split between forward line and ruck. Give him license to roam up the ground as a marking option along the wing and work back inside 50. Would be a great setup and 100% can work with the right players. Wouldn’t work with say a Pruess roaming instead of Jacko.

Get it done!

Hopefully tomorrow nights match is better. This one has been a fizzer. Saints have kicked themselves out of it.

Poor quality game tonight. Low tackle count and bar a few minutes of Shia Bolton magic it’s been a snooze fest.

True. English has struggled and seems years off having a proper AFL big man body. Pruess and future first rounder? I'd do it in a heartbeat. Hunter is elite.

Huge if true. He did have time off this year for a few reasons, so perhaps he wants out. He'd cost a fortune, but he's elite. Would be perfect for the opposite wing to Langdon. We'd have to offer a future first rounder and hope for the best.

North have real problems if the rumors are true. Place seems fractured at all levels. We enquired about Polec and started talks, but things haven't progressed for variety of reasons and a trade seems unlikely now.

In talks with I. Smith and a real chance to come across as an UFA. Haven't heard anything about the big fish Cameron or Merrett. Others in Saad and Williams both off to Blues. Didn't hear anything about Williams, but heard we enquired about Saad and lost out to Blues. Brown would be a great get IMO. Tall forward who kicks goals. As long as his body is ok, then he'd be a great get for our struggling and immature forward line.

There's interest and we're still trying to find a deal, but his salary is the sticking point.

We're interested in Brown, but several things need to happen for a trade to happen. Salary cap is our main enemy at the moment. We were hoping to get TMac off the books, as apparently we're tight and need to free up some cash in the coming years to hold onto our elite core of Oliver, Trac etc. If we can fit Brown in, we're keen and have enquired already.

From what I've heard there is still potential for TMac to be traded if a club comes to the party with a deal that takes majority or all of his salary. His salary being around the 750k mark is what's stopping deals flowing. Plenty of interest in the player. If no club is willing to take on that salary, then he'll be staying and hoping to get his body leaner and back on track after being mis-managed the past two years.

Would take either Marley Williams or Jasper Pittard on cheap contract as defensive depth.

It’s official. You ripper!

Apparently Saints and Bombers are into Caldwell from GWS. I hope we throw our hat in the ring if he wants to come home to Vic. I’m a fan, got potential to be a well rounded midfielder.

This is playing out similar to the Lewis situation but without the animosity. Sounds like we're prepared to offer him a year longer contract than the Hawks, which is what he is tossing up. While we need better onfield leadership, I'm hesitant to target a 32 year old who's game is built around running ability and kicking penetration. Thos are things footballers lose quickly when their body starts to slow. Look at Lewis, Jones, Vince etc. That said, as an UFA he costs us no draft pick, so not the worst option.

Schache will likely be delisted and then potentially rookied. We shouldn't bother with him. While he performed well underage as a tall kid, he's uncompetitive at AFL level and makes Weid look like Wayne Carey. Better to look for other options like Brown or Mihocek.

Pass.

This rumor is trash. Oliver is a gun inside midfielder and will only get better as he matures further and expands his skill set to become more damaging forward of centre.

Good call @Lord Nev. I heard 4 years, you heard 5. Your source was correct. Hats off to you and good result for the club as he is definitely a heart and soul player. Now we need to balance the midfield better and play Jack to his strengths.

He has something we need, so it's disappointing to miss out yet again. But also, how are the Blues able to pay all these players under the salary cap? Jack Martin was the 6th highest paid player in the league this year, on more than Bontempelli, Dangerfield, Gawn, Neale etc. How can they afford to pay Saad 700k+ and Williams 800k+. It doesn't add up...

Brown is more productive than any forward we've had for over a decade. 3 years running kicking 60+ goals. We haven't had a player deliver that since Neitz in 2006, and Browns did it 3 years running. He's got a better goal average (2.21 goals per game) than any demon this century outside flash in the pan Jurrah (2.25 goals per game). Those saying he's not good enough or saying no for reason X are absolutely kidding themselves. Ben Brown would be a coup for us, but I expect him to wind up at a more successful club like Pies or Hawks.