Dee*ceiving

RIP Colin Sylvia. Taken too soon.

Joel Smith with train with the forwards over summer to add to our depth. I'd also expect us to look at a state league or DFA option for a back up key forward. It will be desperate times if we need to rely on either of the Smith boys for long periods of the season however.

WCE had plenty of opportunity to draft Kelly. He was playing under their noses for years. He may have had a break out year prior to being drafted but even then the Cats took him with a pick in the 20s. I am with the Cats on this one. Do you're 2 years son, then we'll get you home. Irrespective, Scott is still a [censored]....

Agree with Yung Blood. We look light on for depth in the forward line., both key and crumbing. J Smith as a forward worth a shot. Could we rookie list Pedersen for 'break in case of emergency'?

only if the blokes we get to replace them don't have the same inadequacies

I agree re: Jesse to CHB. He definitely has the physical credentials to be a fine CHB, but, suspect he would take some serious convincing to try it and then he'd have to throw himself into it for it to work. If he has any reservations or doubts it will most likely crash and burn. Probably a long shot to work out.

Our weaknesses and greatest areas of risk are pretty obvious, it was laid bare this year on more than 1 occasion. Minding the big forwards. Brown, Hawkins, Cox, Kennedy and Riewoldt all got hold of us this year, in fact most of them get hold of us every year (++ Franklin and Daniher has threatened too). May helps here Resting Max. We ran him into the ground this year. We need to find 3 - 4 games where we can rest the big fella and a few more where we play 2 legitimate ruckman. Teams with 2 ruckman really work the big man over. Preuss helps here. Outside run, carry and precision. Lots of bulls in the middle but not enough spread or precision navigating our way through defensive setups. Evidenced by lots of ineffective inside 50s and to a lesser extent back half turnovers. I'm certain the club have a plan to resolve but it's not been obvious to me so far. I am not advocating strongly to trade Jesse, I am happy for him to stay, but, to my mind the only way Jesse can help us improve on those deficiencies is by being traded out.

Agree. It's rare in our game that anyone get's to run in a straight line, unimpeded for 100 metres. That's why Hogan topped the charts for highest speed clocked. I'd suggest that was on a long straight lead out of the goal square up to a wing. The really fast players get to top speed (or close to it) quickly, then often make slight adjustments left or right along the way o get through traffic, create an angle, lose an opponent, etc. This slows them down compared to how fast they could go in a straight line but would be much faster than what a player like Hogan could do if he had to do some fancy footwork.

I really like this out of the box thinking. Tackles really well to Frosty. His kicking won't be as precise as we like but he roosts it a mile which can be very dangerous. Defenders hate balls launched into the F50 that travel 5 metres more than they expect / further that 90% of players can kick.

I do agree with the Dyson comparison.

1.1 is a whole bunch in 2018 and probably 2019 but by year 5 of the deal in 2023 it won't be near as big a deal. Salary growth in the AFL follows the trajectory of the media rights deals which have grown astronomically in the last 15 - 20 years.

I believe that's Kelly of the Josh variety

X 2

Did anyone else notice that when Nathan Jones was questioned during the Grand Final coverage about Jesse's intentions that at no stage did he categorically say: 'I really want Jesse to stay at Melbourne'. Probably nothing in it as they seemed to drop the question on him cold, at least that's what he claimed, but he kind of danced around the question with statements like doing what's right for Jesse and supporting him in the right way, etc.

Agree, we've already shifted 8 with Kent next to go plus maybe Hogan. No rush to free up the list spot but like Vince this year it's perform or play VFL.

You got it. Those saying it's 1 game are correct. But it will be every game where this happens.

The this year / next year thing can be nothing more than speculation. Jesse plays 22 games, kicks 60+ goals and makes AA, he gathers greater interest at the trade table and hence garners us a better return Jesse struggles with injury / form, kicks few goals and wears mounting pressure regarding his contract status and we'll have our backs against the wall trying to retain / move a player without being suitably compensated. Move him now if doing so makes us better in 2019. If not, Jesse stays in red and blue and let the cards fall where they do next year.

Dees hold the cards here. We will only move on Hogan if doing so improves our team. The dream scenario would see us land: Gaff, May and a top 10 pick. Fanciful perhaps, but an improvement to the team definitely. Hogan exiting would open up a war chest for Gaff. If anything we could slightly back end to line up with Lewis and Jones exits at the end of 2019 (at the latest). if we can't identify a move that improves the team he stays, for 1 more season at least.

Is Jesse really a FA next year? Not certain the below is correct (source: Footy Wire) but he seems to be too young to be a RFA at the end of next year?

I think Jesse's future at the club really comes down to Jesse and the coaches. Prior to this years trade period, Jesse needs to convince himself that the coaches plans for 2019 and beyond suit his best interests, particularly considering the growth of Weid, return of Lever and maybe to a lesser extent the value of Frost experienced in the second half of 2018. The addition of Preuss is another interesting layer. Our current game plan and structure will need to change to fit them all in, I'd be of the view Weid wouldn't be pleased if he spent large chunks of next year in the VFL. Can the coaches conjure a plan that sees McDonald, Weid and Hogan function in the same side? My instinct would be to try lean Jesse off 5 kgs, not unlike Max did over last summer, and run him more through the midfield./ wing. Similar to Mathew Richardson late in his career. This would allow TMac to stay close to goal and Weid to change between ruck and forward. For this to work Jesse would need to run both ways, faster than he does today and work on his lateral movement and reactions, especially defensively

Plenty of positives for the Demons. The coach and players learnt several lessons throughout the year, the biggest one yesterday. I agree that not playing Frost against the Saints in all likelihood cost us top 4 but at the same time that disappointment showed us what this group can do with their backs against the wall. Next year top 4 is a must and we have proven we can win finals against hardened teams. Unfortunately we spent all out pennies doing so and came up against a powerful and rested side on their home deck. A side that sensed our trepidation, pounced early and enjoyed raucous support to a level you would be unlikely to experience in any other stadium in the country. I'd suspect more Demons would have made the trek to Adelaide than Perth and the northern states simply aren't as fanatical. Despite a terrible first half they did not turn their toes up, which would have been easy to do. Embarrassing none the less but a display of grit and pride we shouldn't underestimate. As for the team, we have a good coach with a steady hand and steely determination. He knows he made some blues this year, but they provide the opportunity to learn. We have 3 genuine A graders, Oliver, Gawn and T McDonald. They're class will remain. In Viney we have a powerful young leader, a bull that needs some luck with his body. He spent every ounce of fuel he had in those first 2 finals coming off no match practise. He will improve. Lever and Hogan back in will inject further talent, Lever a potential A grader if he gets a good run at it. Harmes, Brayshaw, Jetta, Hibberd, Melksham and Salem clearly belong. They are good enough to steer us forward.Likewise I am confident in Fritsch and Joel Smith Petracca teases, he was much better in the second half yesterday and I'd expect him to improve again next year. Weideman too has shown he can add value. it is time for Lewis and Tyson to depart (Garlett, Bugg & Kent too). For Jones a swan song year in 2019. Has been a loyal Warrior chunk but his time approaches rapidly. Frost, O McDonald, Neal-Bullen & Vandenberg provide the motivation for the young bucks to improve for it is their spots that will be threatened by those not yet drafted plus Hunt, Baker, Petty, Keilty; Johnstone & Stretch. Bring on 2019!

Agree Sydee, starting on the wing with his blistering pace and booming kick makes sense, particularly considering outside run is a weakness of ours. If he improves his (1) conditioning, (2) willingness to run both ways and (3) decision making he'd be a weapon. Even improvement in 2 out of 3 of those present him as a potential upgrade on the current setup

I was at a lunch where Goody spoke just last week. Our interest in Gaff one of the first questions he fielded. Response was a resounding yes, accompanied with a wry grin (my interpretation at least). ?

Clean hands, patient in traffic and a deft kick. Reminded me of a young Travis Johnstone...

Very good RPFC, I agree wholeheartedly. ...it's quite refreshing to hear NC speak in that manner and likewise to hear that Jack is keen to remain but no doubt the responsibility lies with the club to present a compelling reason to stay. Problem for us is that I they've been good at presenting a positve plan in the past, just not very good at implementing it.