Adam The God

Max, Clarry, Lever and May are all A graders. Based on 2019, many on Demonland are saying Clarry doesn't qualify, so really it's just Max. However, if you've watched the grand output of these players, it's not unfair to classify each of them as A graders.

Simple answer? Without knowing the KPIs and the scope of the position, it's pretty hard to know.

See, this is all great in some dream world, but how many teams would give up an A grade talent at 21-22 or even in their prime at 24-26? Not many. Only GWS and GCS probably. I get the strategy and I think it can/does work, but it's the exact strategy we've clearly changed to in the last 2-3 years in order to land Lever and May. They've both had A grade seasons previously - Lever is young and May is nearing the end. We've built our midfield at the draft, we're trying to build our backline via FA and trading, and our forwardline should be a mixture of drafting/trading and FA. But to be fair to the MFC, you can't just throw first round picks around if the rest of your list is puss. You won't attract anyone this way. You need to build a reasonable core first and then you can attract with money and potential.

The thing about those aforementioned teams (and the problem I have with @Macca's post) is that they've built from the draft first and then they've kept topping up with A graders from other clubs. Something we are trying to do now. We've started by drafting our core, we've targeted Lever and May, and now we're targetting some FAs. I think as with everything, there's a balance. You need to nail your top end first rounders for a 2-3 year period, then you can rely on FA and the trading of top end picks to top up your list. I think it's an oversimplification and disingenuous to say/imply you can build a whole team with the trading of first round picks.

Totally different players. Stephenson brings blistering pace. Fritsch brings foot skills (but only if he's forward of centre, otherwise he's a turnover merchant). We do not have pace like Stephenson anywhere. The closest we come is maybe Hunt, Frost or May. None of them are natural forwards though.

So who's our Stephenson and De Goey? Maybe Petracca is our De Goey, but I don't see a Stephenson-like player on our list currently.

This doesn't necessarily mean we've got a tight cap. It just means there are others we would prefer to pay more. I could be wrong, but that's my take.

If they relocate to Tassie, they'd be called the Clouds wouldn't they? Shall I see myself out? Sorry @Nasher.

Jake Lever.

Yeah, thanks Schwabby. Throw it up on a whiteboard for us, will ya? Cameron also won nothing in his time with Clarkson...

So are we a go on Elliott? Or is he staying?

Whitfield is the sort of hard runner and good user that enables you to win lots of games throughout the season, but I'm not convinced he's built for the big stuff. Tomlinson on the other hand is a lot cheaper and will play a role all year round (finals included).

Good post, mate. I'm keen to read your thinking on how you see our game plan progressing from here. We've tried to build from the contest out before and we often get killed on the outside. Interestingly, finals are never played with that same outside space and contested ball winning usually wins finals. However, what are the improvements you would add to the game style to enable it to combat the quicker teams, but also what are the layers of improvement that will enable us to build on a game style that was good enough to get us to a PF?

Agreed, but I reckon some have forgotten how many scoring chains he got involved in over last year, particularly in those two finals we won. First year player, he had a pretty good start. A poor second year, but he wouldn't be the first. I agree his kicking is a limitation, but if he works on his tank, I think he'll be a good role player.

Does this mean he won't be Head of Development? Is this is a restructure and will Director of Coaching oversee development or are we looking at someone else for the Head of Development?

He'd wanna get on the park a bit more next year...

You don't trade out one of your only two stars in Oliver. A unique talent too. Gawn, Oliver, Lever and May are the untouchables.

I would much prefer an effective and impenetrable zone defence. Frost would be good depth, but don't pay overs to keep him, please. And thank you.

Yep, fair enough. It may sound like revisionism now, but I was slightly hopeful he'd continue to grow in 2019. I certainly didn't expect him to rip games apart this year.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think we should try trading him, but outside of the Geelong final and patches in the Hawthorn final, he's struggled. And that's okay, but I wouldn't say he's peaked. I'd say he's been slow to develop when compared to a Charlie Curnow, but could still be a good player in a year or two, in line with many other emerging KPFs.

Everyone does. Best jumper in the league. But I'm slightly biased.

I find the politics potentially involved here in the decision making interesting. Was this a legacy thing for PJ that prevented him from pulling the trigger earlier or could we simply not afford to do it?

Eh, Tom Boyd, Mitch Morton etc. Weids might have had one or two sniffing around last year, but no more. And after this year, the jury is still out.

Yep, this is a Melbourne supporter's wet dream this time of year. And for all the wrong reasons.

I miss the Riddler. That's all I'll say.