Dee*ceiving

Nathan Jones' disposal efficiency in 71.4% in 2019. Far from terrible. He is definitely prone to the under pressure up and under bomb, always has, but worsened by loss of pace and dexteriety in the last year or 2 definitely. However, I think he's one of the few players that have hit quite a few 40-50 metre hit up passes to the forwards.

I agree with the first bit, the playing group couldn't care less about 186 and are definitely over the 2018 prelim. However, Hannan, Spargo and Preuss will struggle to get to 80 games let alone 150 and I've got doubts on Weid as well (unfortunately and I very much hope to be proven wrong!)

Yep

Agree. Fair chance we'd have made the GF if we'd beat the saints. Would have finished 3rd and played WCE away in week 1. Win that and it's a week off and a home prelim probably against Collingwood (assuming form held true) or Geelong (if it didn't). Had we lost to the Eagles in week 1 we'd have been home in week 2 against GWS. Win that and we have another game in Melbourne. Anyway, fantasy booking...probably only relevant in sports entertainment ? (questionable even then)

My (perhaps optimistic assessment) Midfield and ruck we probably shaded the Pies slightly (It would have been messy had we not had big Max, not for the first time this year). Good to see improved output from Angus and Oliver and Harmes maintained their standing. Jones did a decent job on Steele after quarter time when he was well off the chain. Backline, about even. Great effort from a close to all new back 6. Defended well as a unit and only De Goey was clearly too good for his opponent when 1 on 1 irrespective of who was on him. Forward line, debacle. Not 1 of our forwards won their position (perhaps could mount an argument for Petracca). No cohesion, talls getting in one anothers way, constantly over crowded, just mess! For mine we need to find 4 things and we'll be right... 1. a new forward / offensive strategy and / or coach 2. the 2018 version of Tom McDonald 3. the 2017 version of Jeff Garlett 4. a faster, bigger, stronger Charlie Spargo I'll go check under that rock, be right back!

Agree entirely Redleg. it's not quite rolling our way, in fact it hasn't for nearly 60 years! Unfortunately on Saturday night there were: 4 players in the side that either aren't yet capable or are no longer capable of AFL level football (Wagner, Spargo, Oscar McDonald and Stretch) 1 players who is highly capable but woefully out of form / injured (Tom McDonald) 1 player who is highly capable but has been played out of position and struggled for form (Brayshaw) 2 players on their last legs (Garlett and Jones, who has necessitated Brayshaw being played out of position) 3 players who battle manfully out of their weight and / or class (Frost, JKH and Tim Smith) 2 players who have been in the top 5 performed for the year withdrawn late (Salem and Hore) All of that leaves a lot for a core group to do. You could assess that as a leadership flunk or a leadership success considering a 2 point loss where you've outplayed the opposition for 4 quarters and let yourself down with your final touch in front of goals. I agree with Goodwin, we will improve as players return. They are all practice matches for 2020 now. He must not waste them.

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?