Adam The God

Lol, what?

I wouldn't be surprised to see us 0-2 to start the year off. It'll be interesting to see how May goes first up down at the Cattery.

RE the concern around Oscar. I've been in his camp for many years, but for a guy who is almost 23, he still gets pushed off the ball too easily. 2019 is do or die I reckon. Does Petty step up at the second level and does Oscar lose his place to Frost/May/Lever when they're all fit? I can see it happening in the second half of 2019. It's going to be an interesting season.

I think you're spot on, mate. I reckon we'll struggle early on. I just hope it doesn't cost us a top 6 spot and/or a top 4 spot.

Time will tell, but I just wonder whether we've got a bit ahead of ourselves and completely stuffed up any sort of continuity with our back 6 last week. We managed to play two quarters last week and managed one quarter this week. There are a bunch of guys who clearly haven't improved their deficiencies. Vandenberg still can't handball (he only brings tackling - nothing else). Petracca is still lazy with ball in hand. Stretch is still a poor decision maker and an ordinary kick. JKH was ordinary last week. It's those fringe players that we need to take that next step. Hunt has shown no sign that his kicking or decision making has improved either.

Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes being fed by Max is enough to salivate over. All of the first 4 are under 25 (Viney turns 25 in April). At the top of their game, they have the perfect blend of ball-winning ability, pace and hardness that goes past any other midfield in the comp. Collingwood's is comparable, but it's a lot older. Take Pendles and Sidebottom out in 2-3 years time and they become decidedly suspect. Oh, and Clarry is only behind Martin and Dangerfield for mine. I think he'll go past Dangerfield this year and if he can add more goals, he'll become more effective than Martin, because unlike Martin, he's a great disposer of the ball by hand and foot.

How JKH is still on our list is incredible. Still just as soft and poor in the contest as he's ever been. Obviously, there's no syngery with the makeshift backline, but more pressing, Preuss has answered the question about whether he'll play this year. I wouldn't have him near my 22 as his tank is nowhere near AFL level. We will get exposed big time on grounds like the G with him playing. Oliver and Brayshaw outstanding early and then can't get their hands on the ball. A disappointing 2nd and 3rd quarter from them. Petracca failing to maintain a semblance of consistency too. It's only pre season but it's a good reminder of our weaknesses. Most of our missing top players outside of Viney are backs and the way we've played since quarter time would mean that even at full strength, our defence would be under extreme pressure. We're still in massive trouble if Gawn goes down. Preuss is about a 3 if Max is a 10.

It won't if they up their prices. I pay $15 a month for Optus Sports (EPL, UCL and cricket). I understand there's more sport on Kayo, but it's not a competitive good enough price at $25 a month. I pay basically $10 each for Stan, Netflix and Prime. They're competitive. FOXTEL is not competitive as we know. I pay $80+ a month and barely even watch it.

Lol, talk about hype. Be interesting to see how we handle it. Tough draw. We should finish top 4, but we'll see.

There are many people in my industry who are never wrong either. Fortunately, I surround myself with good people these days. If a football club fails to acknowledge its failures it's doomed to repeat them, unless those running the football club are replaced. We have good people in all areas of the club now, who are good people managers and that's so vital. So maybe I should be saying well done MFC, as well as Jake. He said as much in his interview too.

I'm on record as being very negative when we recruited him. He was a turnover merchant at Essendon, but he's matured and is now arguably our most important player for connecting midfield to forwardline. Well done, Jake. I was wrong.

Of course. But nevertheless, it was a bad look. I'm glad we've sorted it prior to Round 1.

Lol. Is this the first time you and PD have ever agreed on something? You guys should stick to car talk.

Because there is presumably a long lead time on these deals and it's disappointing that we are often the only club not to have a BOJ sponsor sorted by Round 1. Not this year, which is great.

Does anyone know the commercial terms? Great news to have the BOJ sponsor secured prior to Round 1. It shouldn't be difficult, but it has been.

Enjoying your new Bond name, Colin. Excellent choice. The best Bond film out there.

He hasn't played a good game yet and hasn't shown enough assets that will ever make him a sustainable AFL footballer IMO. I could never understand the love for him on these boards (particularly from you mate) prior to him even playing. He's a ferocious tackler, with reasonable agility and that's about it.

I want him to play more midfield minutes in 2019. His mix of x-factor, power and decision making is what we often lack in the midfield (with the exception of Clarry). I'd still have him forward 40-50% of the time, but we need him to take the next step this year and that means more midfield time.

"Melbourne in the first half were like one of those nervous African dictators. They always took a different route home. Now they're kicking goals." What a gem from DC.

Haha, every generation says this. You could just as easily level this at the 'super entitled' baby boomer generation, who have completely locked other generations out from the housing market and kept gen X and y out of top jobs.

I love the use of the full stop in the title. Very clever.

I'd agree with this. We have flawed / aging / injury-riddled players in depth spots, which is granted, what usually happens, but when you do a list of consistent role players or stars, it thins out at 26 or so. May, Jones, Salem, Harmes, Petracca, Lewis, Viney, Lever, Spargo, Brayshaw, Gawn, Preuss, Oliver, KK, Hibberd, Frost, Melksham, Hannan, Vandenberg, TMac, Weideman, OMac, Hunt, ANB, Fritsch, Jetta. Of course, our new recruits could change the face of this in the short term, although I doubt many of them will be able to have an impact in 2019. Hore and Sparrow potentially, but outside run is still a concern if KK, Hunt, Baker and Hore don't come on as expected. The article also rightly points out that we're placing a lot of faith in Weideman next year too. He's still a young player and I think we'll find consistency in 2019 is still an issue. I'll be interested to see if Bedford gets a chance at some stage in 2019 or whether he has to wait until 2020 and beyond for an opportunity, because we desperately lack pace at ground level in our forwardline. On the whole, our list is beautifully balanced, but there is quite a bit of assumption in that statement that is fairly questioned in this article.

The logical direction FA is going for Hawthorn and Melbourne is that we start to become even more of a destination club and players second guess wanting to go to Hawthorn - particularly if Hawthorn fail to make the 8 next year.

Yep, exactly. Despite what Collingwood say too, their best 22 is very old. It's why our list is so exciting. Our best 20+ are majority 24 and under.

It was a good interview, but I'd say as much as reengaging with lapsed members, we need to be focusing on targeting new members. I presume we have a plan for this too, but he just decided to keep it simple for this interview.