Adam The God

Yeah, there's a difference between having an opinion and pedalling hysteria based on no facts whatsoever.

That's absolute twaddle. You've no idea of the inner workings of the medical team.

Unless Wines is willing to come back to Victoria for less money, there's no way he'll come here. Our list strategy has been pretty clear for the past 4 years. Draft and develop from within, trade for needs. As much as Wines would walk into our midfield, we can do without him and we have more pressing needs, such as securing a plethora of young guns to long term deals.

I was speaking to a mate whose cousin is an up and comer at one of the big Melbourne based clubs and apparently many of the year 1 to 4 players are on between $150-250k, even with the new CBA. So I reckon our figures are all out of whack here. It's not as high as we'v always thought.

And I've heard are in debt to the tune of $80mill. I can't see them going further into debt with a proposal like this, although living in the council, I like the idea (even if my rates go up a little ).

Love this thread. Am currently developing a doc series on youth mental health. Obviously, a massive issue. We need to talk about mental health and too much is left unsaid.

I also rate their list. Their midfield might not be as deep as ours, but it is chock full of elite talent. Reckon Daniher will win the Coleman in 2018 too.

Oldie but a goodie, mate. ?

My tip is Toyota will be shorts sponsor.

It's always struck me as strange that BMW or Mercedes have never been major kit sponsors. Fantastic to hear we've got a major sponsor lined up though. Thanks for the info. I hope it's Lexus. And I'm with @Dr. Gonzo - I reckon we play into the stereotypes. I've always found it peculiar that people actually bag us for having money. Shouldn't we be mocking them?

Not to be an alarmist, as we'r prone to be in these parts, but there seem to be some worrying signs. I didn't receive an email or any form of notification RE the AGM and we definitely seem to have lost AHG as a major sponsor. It'd be great as a stakeholder, to get clarification on this.

I quite like this team. That centreline has a lot of promise. Gus off half back is nice too. I'd like to see Spaego given a chance ahead of Fritsch, but we'll see. I'd always have Jesse at CHF as he's a true CHF, but there is a need for versatility with KPFs, so I'd expect him to roam further up the ground, but also go deep on occasions. What I love about this team and our list at the moment is I count 14 guys who can go through the midfield if required (and have in the past). That is incredible modern day versatility. They are: Brayshaw, Salem, Petracca, Oliver, Hannan, Melksham, Garlett, Hogan, Viney, Jones, ANB, Harmes, Tyson and Lewis. This makes us wonderfully unpredictable. Our MC could also throw Hunt in there as well, while TMac can play second ruck. ??? Winning!

No way we should ever be playing a forwardline of Hogan, TMac and Pedersen. Unless, as you say, we're ravaged by injures. Even then. We want to hold the ball in better in 2018. Those three will not help. We need Jesse and Tom to improve rapidly in this area as it is. Pedo will get games in 2018, but if he plays 10 or more we've been hit by a wave of injuries. I'd prefer we play a bulked up Weideman ahead of him.

Does anyone know how Spargo rated in the kicking test?

How the heck did I forget Jeffy? Anyway, add Jeffy to Hannan, Spargo and Petracca. And I'd agree about Weideman, but his leg speed is an issue in this sense IMO.

This is the key ingredient to the last two flag winners' success. Hogan and TMac are the talls, with Hannan, Petracca and a Spargo providing forward pressure. I'd consider moving Hunt forward at times again too. His pace and marking overhead are handy and as Richmond's smalls showed, if you work hard, tackle and tackle, and work to keep the ball in a dangerous area, you will eventually get just reward for your toils. One of the major deficiencies of Hogan's game I'd be looking to rectify over the off season is his inability to lay tackles or chase. He needs to build his tank and improve like that pill Riewoldt did. TMac has enough aerobic capacity to put enough pressure on too. Another pre season with Petracca will also hopefully see him improve in this pressure area. If our forwards can lock the ball in better and our backs can repel consistently (Lever helps in this regard enormously), we will finish top 4. Our midfield (with a fit Gawn) is dominant enough to beat any opposition. And if our forward pressure improves and Lever continues intercepting everything in sight, we really don't have many weaknesses.

Yeah, looking at his highlights, if there are any injuries back there, I'd say he'll get a look in if the FD are convinced he has the fitness base. The thing about Lever is he has been known to pick up a hammy or two. So there may well be a few games in 2018 that we can use to give Petty a look in.

It's a good point this, Daise, he may well be back up for Weideman as well.

Does anyone know much about him or seen him play? We seem to have a few scouting experts in these parts. Would be keen to hear their thoughts. Looking at his highlights package (I know, I know), he seems to read the ball beautifully and reminds me very much of our own Jake Lever. For a kid his age, his seeming ability to intercept mark is incredibly exciting. I only coach and I don't scout, but I don't recall too many young defenders with such an impressive intercept marking highlights package (outside of Weitering, who was always a top 3 rated kid).

Neither do I, but I really don't care. As long as we return to being a successful football club, the type of jumper we wear means little IMO. It doesn't bother the Manchester Uniteds or Liverpools of the sporting world and it shouldn't concern us. That is 21st century sport. Jog on.

My MFC/MCC membership rolled over earlier in the year, but the other membership numbers are certainly worrying. There should be no denying that.

Gee, Mahoney's hopeless.

My hope is that we turn 29 and 31 into a first rounder. Turn 66 into Balic. And take a first rounder, pick 36 and pick 47 to the draft.

It's crazy talk all this. Why are we even discussing the idea of player Lever anywhere else besides back? You don't bring in a gun forward and then try to work out ways to play him back or in the midfield. Play Lever in the bloody backline haha.