praha

It's doing the round. Apparently he was at some function and someone asked if he'd like to stay at Melbourne and his supposed response was something along the lines of, "Bit hard when they're kicking you out the door". He's gonski.

Basketball is a good bet now, arguably better than Gaelic football for a number of reasons. Generally, anyone playing at least representative state basketball needs a relatively good basketball IQ, which is often not taught. The complexities of the sport and its plays often demand a bright player. So if you're digging into the basketball talent pool you're almost guaranteed a smart kid that is adaptable and knows how to apply complex tactics on game day. On top of that, the modern basketball game shares a demand for core strength, so the physical transition isn't as tough. Basketball is all about using your core strength to get front position and protect the ball, which is half the battle in AFL. Completely different sports yet strangely share a lot in common. Gaelic football on the other hard is an AFL-soccer hybrid that discourages physical contact and isn't anywhere near as tactical.

It's finally happening. The Toump is returning.

The problem is that our "hard" players are never of the Selwood or Dangerfield or Hodge variety. We seem to draft a whole bunch of Mitch Robinson's who seem to embrace the fact they're AFL players and that's it. Go through the motions, do what you need and get the pay check. A "hard" player is either one driven by success or driven by the symbolism attached to what it is to be recognised as a "hard" player. Moloney and Sylvia were both equally good players as they were dumb and lazy. As soon as the going actually got tough, they were ineffective. I think Melbourne supporters just hate losers. We've had a lot of those players over the years. Perennial losers who could easy notch flags at VFL level but don't have the mental capacity or drive at AFL level.

All true but doesn't really argue the point that he's worth any more than an early second round pick. I just think he's a dime a dozen midfielder and I can't imagine in a million years a team giving up their first round pick for him. As it currently stands.

His game was good at the absolute worst time, though. Proving a point in Round 2 means nothing if you can't play like a leader in the club's most important game for a decade. He and those around him let a second-string midfield control the game. He escapes criticism far too much.

If we got pick 20 for Tyson I'd throw in steak knives for the other team just out of pity.

When you need to bring in guys like Lewis, Cross, Vince to "lead", it's a massive indictment on the leadership crop and the club's own recruitment policy before then. We've basically had to recruit from outside the club to get people in to play the role Melbourne-drafted player should already be filling. We're still a long way off, and as Viney said, it's difficult to buy in when you don't feel "part" of something. That's a learning process, and it takes years.

I honestly think that trading Watts can be our "Vickery" moment. I don't think he's the kind of downhill skier you want around when you're trying to play finals. He sometimes plays like a loser and this has carried on for far too long. This is what I wanted to happen before Cox resigned with the Pies: Pick 10 and Watts to Collingwood for Pick 6 and Cox. Pick 6 to Adelaide for Lever. IMO that makes us a better team, and a raw albeit fit and strong ruckman who isn't injured every week of the year like Spencer was. He's good for a goal game, can mark the ball and is a big body. These rumours of Pick 10 and Watts for Collingwood's pick 6 just have to be overdone. We'd need a player in return for that.

I think that Goodwin had a very good year from a simple win:loss perspective, but there are a few questions there. The players we lost, the injuries and suspensions, and fixturing given. The losses were "typical Melbourne" and I think it's a lockerroom thing which is why guys like Watts, Jones need to be eventually moved on. I think this was a transitioning and learning year for him and don't be surprised if we make shock moves this offseason. Also don't be surprised if we miss the finals next year and he's under pressure. I'm not convinced. End of the day this is futile. We've been building towards "sustained success" and the club is out of excuses. Literally. No more discussion of "We've improved" or "It's a journey". It's a journey for everyone and every team. It's not unique to you. Goodwin can either pretend the past 10 years haven't happened (which he does), or he can grab it, own it, and take responsibility for turning it around. I hated him saying the drought against North didn't matter. If the club doesn't make finals next year, we're looking at another clean house and rebuild. It would he so tough to sell that. You'd be looking at another members exodus. I don't think Goodwin survives if we miss next year. I'm just worried that the wheels fall off ala 2011 and we break down. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we're on the edge: either we climb high, or we fall hard.

Not only that but of all the close games we played in, all of them except the Hawthorn loss we didn't poll any votes. How can one team get all the votes when the match is determined by less than a goal?

Why is Jack Fitzpatrick there lol

Gonna be a great game imo. Adelaide is imo the strongest Grand Final side for a long time and Richmond is at full strength and with a lot of momentum. Could go either way imo. Would not be surprised if Richmond hold on and win

Not sure if serious

I think our 2017 was Hawthorn's 2004. They won a bunch of games they shouldn't have but seemed to lose to team's at or below them on the ladder. An immaure team that was still transitioning with a "changing of the guard". I'm not convinced we'll be a finals side in 2018 especially with the likes of Watts and Jones at the forefront of what helps define the club. They're basically the Lord and Ritchie Vandenberg of this current Melbourne team. Sure they're good to have around now but you probably don't want them to be best 22 when you're on the verge of playing finals. I've said it a million times before, but we still need to make hard decisions if we truly want Viney, Oliver, Petracca and Co. to lead the new crop.

What was with so many finals being played at Waverley in the 80s? Was the ground being primed to replace the MCG?

Lol so another sponsor that is "moving on" from pro sports after sponsoring Melbourne. That's three in a row now since Hancook. We're like George Costanza, turning straight women gay.

Has anyone considered that maybe Melbourne is opting for another sponsor? Higher viewersip members and attendance. More sponsor money.

Been thinking about this for a while. It is a stupid little thing that puts the club at risk. Having people jump onto a padded back is something you'd see at under 10s training. I don't know why they do it. The sprint is kinda fun. But most of that stuff is pretty [censored]. Imo they should have goal kicking tournaments.

Why wouldn't he? I know he has to agree with it, but Watts ain't no Dangerfield or Buddy. His weight in this instance is limited exclusively to that very clause: he has to agree with it, and it would be a professional courtesy to agree to it considering the 10 years we've put into him. Players rarely say no to say trades. The ramifications are huge, and why would you want to stay at a team that is packaging you? Even Trengove agreed to go to Richmond. IMO we're likely going to have to part ways with Watts or Salem to get Lever. And I doubt either of them is going to hold off the negotiations just because they don't want to go to Carlton. Watts might have the right to say no, but at the same time, he doesn't.

We'll need to trade to secure a second pick. Adelaide want two first-round picks, which is fairly reasonable because they have good luck at the draft like the Eagles. If it goes in that direction, we'll trade one of Watts or Salem for a pick in the 12-15 range, and then package pick 10, new pick, and maybe a player of the Kent variety for Lever and their first round pick. This could all also be part of the Gibbs trade, which might see: Adelaide: Gain - Gibbs, Pick 10 Lose - Lever (to Melbourne), Pick 17 (Carlton) Melbourne: Gain - Lever, Adelaide player filler (who is a reasonable option in this scenario?) Lose - Pick 10 (Adelaide), Watts/Salem (Carlton) Carlton Gain - Watts/Salem, Pick 17 Lose - Gibbs End of the day we're either trading for another first-round pick, or we're giving up players in the Watts/Salem area. Such a trade would probably include packaged players as fillers for Melbourne seeing as both Carlton and Adelaide have high second round picks that probably won't satisfy us. IMO this direction seems most likely. Not sure Carlton would go for this, although Salem would be another fine piece to add to what is already a good backline, and they're crying out for some forward line coherence but Watts is more of a "cherry on top" and not someone you draft to improve your forward wares.

He was joking

He reminds me of Andrew Obst.....

Jayden Hunt is Obst 2.0 Anyone know what Obst is doing now?