Adam The God

Agreed. Adding Bowey to the defensive set up and giving him licence to go hard and fast will improve us immensely. And a fit Salem.

We're more direct when we're turning the ball over closer to goal, which is directly related to pressure from half forwards and mids. This is what so many don't seem to understand. Route 1 is not long and slow to the pockets. Route 1 is turn the ball over close enough to goal that we get an easy shot on goal. And I haven't said we don't need to tweak the system. I'm saying its outdatedness is overstated and pretty much just wrong, unless you failed to comprehend what Geelong did today.

Yes, I know. And their former captain sounds like he might get Gil's role too, so I doubt much will change. It'd be nice having a Melbourne person batting inside HQ.

We did it literally a year ago. Why not next year? I didn't say it would be easy, I said if we fix some simple things we'll be up for it big time. I'd love to have a draw like Geelong's 2022. What a dream draw for a 2021 preliminary finalist.

This is the part that makes some posts on Demonland as of late laughable. The idea that our game plan no longer works is absolute nonsense. We need to return to the half forward pressure and post clearance pressure we delivered in 2021, and it strangles teams. If you have 2 of the best midfielders in the competition and two elite ruckman, you become almost unbeatable if you bring the above pressure. Geelong's half forward pressure brought their interceptors into play all day. Just like us all 2021. And make no mistake, we have a far superior midfield to Geelong. So with a few tweaks, we're up to our eyeballs in it in 2023.

As in Naughton to Melbourne, Andy? 😂

I'm not sure I agree with either point of view. Freo wanted Hogan, that's why they paid up for him. We want Grundy, so we'll pay up for him - his contract is irrelevant. We don't look to do other clubs favours. We look for win-win deals. There's a big difference there.

Which btw allowing a contracted player in Tomlinson to participate in a medical at the Bulldogs, provides us some leverage in any talks with the Bulldogs. Then there's the Lobb to Bulldogs machinations.

And what happens if in giving up a first rounder for Grundy, we can quickly move on to improving our list? Let's say we managed to get Grundy, Henry and an elite key forward, giving up a first rounder for Grundy won't even be remembered.

My feeling on this is we're more interested in players that can impact immediately in 2023 than moving up the draft.

Bingo. We need to look at the net result before we judge.

And likewise, I'm allowed to suggest that you don't have all the facts to make an adequate call.

Yep, Kozzy, Henry, Fritsch, Naughton, JVR and Max, plus Spargo and/or ANB is dangerous on the ground and devastating in the air. 😉

Nah, the Demonland brains trust has all the relevant information at hand, so they'll know best.

We could always go for Naughton. 😉

Henry JVR Spargo Fritsch Max Kozzy That forward half with the addition of ANB, Chandler and/or Ben Brown is getting more dangerous.

IMO Max's ruck work is very predictable and hit and miss. Where he's elite is around the ground. I agree with @Lil_red_fire_engine vis a vis Grundy being the better tap ruckman. So with Grundy we get elite tap work and with Max we get elite around the ground marking. As I've said, it's a dangerous combination.

I doubt it'll be a 50-50 split. He'll ruck more than Max.

Degoey may well sign for St Kilda...

Maybe not, but he's fast with elite foot skills.

If he does, I wish him nothing but failure. I don't ever want Essendon getting up off the canvas. Maybe in another 30 years I'd be fine with it.

Yep, good thinking, ET. Always on the ball. Keep your ear to the ground.

Again, who plays on the small forwards next year? It's all well and good to look at this from a numbers perspective, but IMV Hibberd is very much a required played unless all of a sudden Maynard was available or someone of that ilk and ability.

I disagree. I reckon we'll have cap space for an FA or a big fish, but GNF literally takes what he's heard on Demonland and repackages it as his own inside intel. He's been doing it for years.

Who is playing on Papley and Cameron next year if it's not Hibberd?