Adam The God

Oliver and Viney were both in the top 20 for clearances (and Petracca was a stand out in there too), so I think the problem rests with Max just as much as the mids. His tap work is too predictable.

No idea. I tend to steer clear of the MFC Facebook pages.

Fair enough. I think we have a lot of work to do to maximise our midfield dominance and Max is an integral part of that, because he's too easy to play against.

They've clearly been trying to find the balance with Jack for a long time. It took Clarry last year to change his game from predominantly handball to something resembling a balance between handball and kick. This year, at 23 years old, Oliver's continued to develop his game. Jack is 26 and has been making the same mistakes and playing the exact same way for 131 games. He's had more than enough time to change his game and hasn't IMV.

He surely won't get a jacket this year anyway.

Couldn't disagree more. Demonland groupthink.

Nik Nat is neither here nor there IMO. I'm talking about Gawn. There's no way he was in the top 2 ruckmen this year and if so, the position (as I have said many times) is a joke.

You say that, but Grundy had more hit outs to advantage than Gawn. Despite playing more games than Gawn, Grundy also had 97 more hit outs. So Grundy barely getting going was still statistically better than Gawn.

Jeepers. Max is becoming overrated for mine. Max broke even with two rookies this year, missed a few games and his influence had no influence on many results. I'm sure internally Max would be demanding much higher standards of himself and should be. Was an ordinary year.

Oliver is an out and out star. Criminally underrated around here. Continually improves his game. A grade without doubt. He is 23 years old. Two years younger than Cripps, yet Cripps is rated by most commentators as a star (and rightly so), but Oliver rarely gets mentioned in the same breath and has just as much influence, if not more, on games. Get around these league wide numbers... 1st for pressure acts. 1st for contested possessions (Petracca finished 2nd, 11 behind Clarry). 1st for stoppage clearances. 1st for total clearances (9 ahead of Cripps). 3rd for ground ball gets (Petracca finished 2nd, 1 ahead of Clarry). 3rd for tackles. 4th for centre clearances. 5th for disposals. 5th for handballs. 7th for effective disposals.

Your original post said GWS would make the 8 and I was calling Cooney the gronk, not you...

My sister* said she just read on one of the Facebook* pages that he's committed to Geelong. Anyone heard that? * not reliable sources...

Lots of competition for that FB spot. Glad that Oliver's season has been recognised. As for Max, shows you the bar is low for ruckmen and the field is smaller. No way was he in the top 2 rucks.

Not sure what you're trying to say here. You think that's vindicated something you said?

This one seems to have even less to it. [censored] people on the football field is bizarre. Pissing in the bushes is hardly earth shattering.

Wouldn't think so given he's a practicing Muslim...

Surprised it took you 15 posts, BBO.

If the market is willing to pay massive overs, you don't compete with the market like that for a speedy half back flanker. Would be very dumb list management.

You're a dazzling poster mate. Appreciate the goss.

That'd kick off a conversation for one of them, but not two of them, unless we can get the Saad deal done with the second rounder we have. Why not put the future first rounder on the table too? I know it's likely to be around pick 9-10, but I think most of us are in agreement that we need to be aggressive here and plug needs. Saad gives us the run off half back and Merrett gives us another winger and genuine midfield rotation. If we get a second or third rounder for Tom McDonald, maybe that gets a deal done for Hurley? Such a blue sky junkie at this time of year, AF.

Would be a dream, but can't see it. Hurley is 30, so they can't exactly ask the world for him.

Nah. I reckon he's re-signed.

As usual, I'm already enjoying the off season more than the season proper. Typical Melbourne. The trade season is the regular season for us poor mugs. Backline: May, Hurley, Lever, Rivers, Salem, Saad. Midfield: Oliver, Petracca, Harmes, Merrett, Viney Forwardline: lacking... West Coast 2006?

Hurley is mates with May, Harmes, Hibberd and Melksham too. Interesting...

Why would we give up one of our more outside, balanced mids to bring in Merrett? Imagine Oliver, Merrett, Petracca. ?