Adam The God

I've long-wondered what the insurance policy is like for the game-break entertainment. When that guy fell on his head and not much was said, the following week it was called something else, it was conspicuous to say the least. Even the hamstring puller (he has to be a Demonlander, right?), did he charge someone for his injury? Or did he sign a release prior to running? Maybe I'm too used to dealing with finances in my business.

Please tell him to stay until we've at least won three flags. He seems like a bloody good footy boss.

That is what I said. I don't think he'd be amongst the centre mids unless two or more were injured. So he plays if there are injuries... He has been durable, absolutely. But the cliff comes quickly and there were certainly signs this year that he struggled to adapt to a new position. You're absolutely right that the FD clearly still rates him, because he's a consistent performer. The problem is our kids have gone past him and he's now become a make-shift wingman, which, like Tyson, doesn't suit him. I'm not convinced he can play half forward either, otherwise we'd have probably tried him there already, which we've resisted. It'll be interesting to see where they look to play him in 2019. No doubt, we'll get some sense as pre season gets under way. But I hope we treat him carefully for cultural reasons, because as MFC supporters, we know what a slippery slope that can be. I will say though that if we're challenging for a flag in 2020, I can't see Jones being a major part of that challenge. It'd be a coup for loyalty though if he was there to lift the cup.

...

I'd certainly be sniffing around Neade. Has a good goal sense and if he gets it right, will fit into Goodwin's system.

I think so too. Jordy is just about done. And Jones will be the following year. Jones' problem is he won't get a game at half back with Hibberd and KK there, and IMO he's not good enough to play on a wing either. I'd have Fritsch and Harmes in front of him. And before some people tell me I've got my blinkers on again, tell me where Jones plays next year. He certainly plays when we have injuries in the midfield, but at full strength, he's not there.

No, for mine.

He's certainly not a player that outwardly lacks confidence, but I reckon at this stage it's superficial. He doesn't know what it takes to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. He has the attributes, but he hasn't felt that moment yet where no one is going to stop him. I predict it'll happen next season.

If that's right, I hope bloody Collingwood get a much tougher fixture, because their fixture was far more favourable than ours. Given they finished higher, I would hope theirs is tougher or comparable.

Haha, I'd just be sending Gawn and Viney up to lift that cup.

I'd give the all important 23 to May, the 12 to KK and 16 to Preuss.

Is that you, Karl?

And he was ahead of De Goey in many other stats, without having a break out game.

Might have been 'very hard to deal with... the speculation that came with his contract renewal every season or so'. Also, in regards to who replaces the goals kicked by Hogan, yes, Weideman, Melksham etc, but the guy who many are overlooking is one, Christian Petracca. He had a pretty consistent season and matched De Goey's stats without having a breakout game, yet journalists are frothing over De Goey. Petracca is the one for us. If he kicks into gear next season, which feels likely, we're going to be incredibly difficult to beat, providing our midfield can maintain its consistency.

Yeah, I don't like commenting on a player based on a solitary YouTube video, but he reminded me more of Harmes with a quick burst of speed. Looks rough, but could well translate those ball-winning attributes to the big time.

They're clearly thinking the midfield is where it's won. Adding Beams strengthens that. I agree with them. However, their soft draw played a big part in their top 4 finish and I have them outside of the top 4 next year, unless they improve significantly. FWIW, I'd rate our trade period as a B/B+. We addresses our back problem, added some slightly speculative outside run in KK and some important back up for Max. If we'd landed a Gaff or Kelly, that's what really brings your trade period up to an A/A+. That said, I wouldn't have thought anyone really aced it this trade period. Richmond got Lynch for nothing and Essendon got Shiel (whom I rate highly), but I'd argue we addressed more needs to round out our list than they did.

Well, yeah. It exemplifies why we can't play both Jones and Lewis. Fritsch is on the bench in place of one of those guys.

You are difficult to interpret sometimes, mate.

All that needs to happen is for us to strongly challenge for the flag again next year. We then approach Kelly and tell him where we see him fitting into our plans and improving as a better player, and hope that he comes across for $700k, spurning multiple opposition offers in the $1mill region. Dream on, Adam.

See, I disagree with this mentality. If Jones is the leader we believe he is, he'll do what's best for the club as a whole and not his ego. Even if he wasn't a member of the leadership group, we'd still expect him to provide leadership. In the same way, I expect Lewis to provide leadership, without (potentially) being in next year's leadership group.

Gawn (co-captain), Viney (co-captain), Jones (co-vice-captain), Jetta (co-vice-captain),Tom McDonald. Apologies to Lever and May. I'd look at them coming in to the leadership group from 2020 onwards, probably at the expense of Jones (if he retires) or simply as an extension of the leadership group.

Rather than looking at who becomes a FA in 2019, it might be better looking across the competition at who becomes one in 2020. Clubs who cannot get those FA's to sign by the end of next season will look to trade ala Hogan, May, Shiel etc. Does anyone have a list of those who become FAs in 2020? I think we should continually look to add to our team. Oliver, Brayshaw and co will be well looked after, but we must instil a want to take unders in order to keep the list together. It will also enable us to continue to bring in players that fill a gap in our list. And although we've got quite a well balanced list now, in two years time we'll need further midfield depth (with the likes of Jones and Lewis gone) and our backline will also be on the older side. Now that we've drafted our elite midfield talent (everyone under 25), the next 5-8 years should see us follow the above strategy of topping up.

Well, if driving to a local cafe is considered 'travel', I'm pretty sure I found myself following @Demon Disciple in his car today. His avatar stuck on the back of his window and a 2018 membership sticker nearby. Surely? Very random.

I'd argue we got May as a result of FA. As @Fifty-5 says above, clubs are trading players before they get to FA status. May is certainly partly in this boat.

Hang on. Not shooting you down here, Moonman, but Jesse "never felt fully accepted" at Melbourne? Surely not. And if there is even a skerric of truth in it, I wonder if it might have been because he never committed long-term?