Adam The God

At the end of 2017, Cripps was ahead of Oliver. At the end of 2018, Oliver was ahead of Cripps. At the end of 2019, both had incredibly consistent seasons. I'm not saying Oliver can't get better, he definitely can, but in my book, he's every bit as good as many on the list I quoted.

I'd keep him, because you can't delist everyone and there are amazingly many others I'd let go of before him. He needs a very defined and simple role that utilises his skill set. I'd stick him on a wing and play run-with-roles, and link up play. But the message would be 'keep it simple and really use your running asset to your advantage'.

Cripps doesn't hit the scoreboard that much better. He kick 13.6. Oliver kicked 4. Those two are neck and neck for mine and every bit A graders. Bontempelli is a different player, doesn't get it as much although his touches are just as influential. For the record, Bontempelli kicked 15 and averaged 26 disposals. Neale kicked 12. Sidebottom 10. I think Oliver is absolutely as good a player as Neale and Cripps. He may not have the hurt factor of Bontempelli or Sidebottom, but I'd argue Sidebottom has better players around him.

I wouldn't mind noting in this thread who might make a good senior coach. We'll need a back up option in 2020 pretty quickly, I fear.

I go every week mate, but I also work a very busy job, so I don't think I'll be doing that. But perhaps you could, if you want to dispute it.

Lever is usually a very reliable kick. Maybe not so much this year, but as a rule... otherwise, I obviously concur mate.

Frost definitely improved this year and was certainly top 10, maybe even top 5, but we finished 17th. Anyone saying they'd be shattered or what have you, if he left, has completely lost touch with reality. He still gives up almost as many goals as he saves. If Sam wants a better offer and we can get a more solid best 22 player in, pull the trigger.

Yep, Ellis Yolman has pace and could be handy on the outside. Ah Chee, likewise.

I hope we snaffle up Ben King. Fingers crossed we've advanced talks further.

Ah. Haven't watched a single AFL program this year. I don't watch AFL media when we lose and since we barely won, I didn't watch a single ep all year. Interesting they confirmed it...

When you say officially, there's been nothing official on the website.

I know it's still early, but there's a distinct lack of riddles in the last 24 months. Do better, Demonland.

This thread is as sad as me reading 26 pages of the Grand Plan for the Yarra Park Training HQ on a Saturday afternoon. Can we close it?

Fair enough. I just don't think we know all the details, so couldn't really fully comment with authority.

It might be an unpopular opinion mate because you've got no idea of the details in his case. Not only, I presume, are you not a doctor, but you also, I presume, have no inside knowledge of Kade's case. You're really not qualified to make an assessment on the concussions. I read your post as 'you've got to be a bit tougher', but I don't want to put words in your mouth. It does seem like this is your insinuation though.

Agreed. Hore is a turn over merchant. Very good intercept marker though and has nice courage.

Well, I guess you could look at Chris Scott's Geelong, but I think game style is a big failure at our club in 2019 and that falls at the feet of the coach.

I agree that some of our crowding stems from panic and a loss of confidence, but I also wonder how much of that is game style-directed. To swarm each and every contest. I think it's a failure of the game style, unless you have cover out the back.

Another who could play wing too and add to outside pace. A little soft IMO, but wingers usually are. And the Basil clue would work for Toby Greene if he was an FA and not signed up for another 4 years.

I'm sure we do. We've been very good in this area and ahead of the pack in terms of the new AFL systems in place. Landing Oliver and Weideman in the same draft was a perfect example.

I think the landscape has so significantly changed with the advent of free agency and player movement, that premiership windows are a thing of the past. If we get everything right next year, we have a list that could challenge for the flag with a bit of luck. Just as easily, we could be anchored to the bottom of the table. I want a new senior coach though. If we pull the trigger on that front in the next 6 to 12 months, we'll have a greater chance, but I hope I'm wrong.

I reckon in time Petty playing next to Lever will be the intercept equivalent of McGovern and Barrass. By all means play him forward for the moment, but I'd have Petty back before Hore. Maybe Marty playing back next year allows another year of development in Petty before we send him back, but I loved Petty the year of his draft and saw a Lever clone in him. He'll get there if given time.

Absolutely agree. I've said this before about Collingwood being a good example of how a lot of their kickers seemed to go from turn over merchants in 2017 to a strong team of kickers, who can control games in a similar way to old Hawthorn under Clarkson. Collingwood clearly worked really hard on their fitness (arguably too hard, given all their injuries in 2018), but this meant their players regularly got to the outside and into space, so they could keep moving the ball with seeming accuracy. As has been said a couple of times now, you look a much better kick when you're not trying to thread the eye of the needle, and merely kicking into space or to a free player.

Bloody hell. I just read 26 pages on my Saturday to catch up on all of this as I'd stayed away since April, and the ending (non-closure on this) is as unsatisfying as the end of The Sopranos.

I remember watching that game as a 9 year old out at the Whitten Oval. Brilliant game. But those last two highlights in that top 5 are simply incredible. We've got no one that has that sort of forward genius in our side. Oliver is the midfield equivalent.