Adam The God

Yep, I remember reading that on here. That Roos wanted him as a big bodied mid.

So is Lever, unfortunately. Don't mess with it if it isn't broken. We've just paid an extremely high price to ensure we get our defensive lynchpin that sets up our backline. If we're looking for contingencies, I'd be looking at Schache or going to the draft. And we have Weideman developing.

Staggering that you'd want to move Lever anywhere else but back. Each to their own, but I'm extremely confident we'll be playing Lever permanently back.

Closest to the pin this one, I reckon. I'd probably have Hannan ahead of ANB in that forward pocket, but it doesn't matter too much. They may as well be. I've always been a fan of Tyson, but I worry about his spot next season. Unless he can cement a spot as a pure mid (which would have to be ahead of probably Jones), I don't see him being versatile enough for modern footy. He doesn't have pace and his kicking isn't a weapon. It'll be an interesting year for Dom. Can he elevate his game or will he become trade bait at the end of 2018?

Too early to say IMO. Give him another two years. Next year will be interesting.

Problem is most of those guys aren't up to it. And you've got Kent in the side.

How's that for a spine too? Elite talents in every area of the field, all in the same age bracket. It's a bit insane really. If Salem and Gus reach close to their potential, we are going to have a scary amount of elite talent. That's not even including the support crew of Hunt, Hibberd, Jetta and even Jones and Tyson. Very exciting. And all pretty much down to this current FD. The one some are [censored] on.

Is this your suggestion or what you've heard? I actually don't mind Nicholls as a back up, bit of a log though.

You really think the MFC didn't have a word in his ear about that? You're pretty naive if you missed that.

On the contrary, I'm sure he's getting a reputation for being someone who 'deals fair' and if ever karma was actually a thing, it'd be in AFL trading stakes. What goes around comes around. I can understand why some MFC supporters miss the obvious here though. Hope in the draft is about all we had for close to a decade.

I'm rapt too. Getting the deal done this early (comparatively for a standard trade fortnight) means we almost certainly have something else in the works. I reckon we're looking at packaging 2 or 3 second rounders to trade back into the first round this year. We'll then shop that first round pick around and if we fail to land anyone, take a top 20 pick to the draft. In terms of our list, our area of weakness is certainly our forwardline, but as Richmond have shown with their mosquito fleet, you can build a forward machine with speculative picks. For the moment, we need to keep building our engine room and adding that outside speed that you refer to. Hogan, McDonald, Garlett, Petracca are locks for the forward half and in 2018 Hannan will be around about too. We need some more speed and a goal sneak partner for Jeffy. Is that going to be DJ? Who knows. I'm not sure we'll be able to play Hogan, McDonald and Weideman in the same side. Not enough forward pressure, but we'll see.

Nope. And it was very noticeable, because he was a pivotal reason we struggled against them the second time. He's very Rance like. Sides have to keep it away from him otherwise his positioning and ability to spoil is so good that he kills the contest. Cannot wait to have him in the red and blue.

I say just get the deal done and worry about trading back into the first round next year. Lever will make our entire back half stronger and this will have a flow on effect to the midfield.

I'm sorry, this has been said multiple times, but they say 'next year is a super draft' every year. Build for now. Worry about next year, next year.

We might want to move this to the Trade Rumours thread?

We tried to get Damon but could only get Jones. Still, more MFC elements the better as Joe is bankrolling us. ? So this Lever bloke. Let's hope we can get him to the club early in the week, in order to land one or two others.

Secured all the finance for my new film and trade week starts tomorrow. Life is good! ???

You haven't got many wrong, mate. Winning. ??? Thanks for the info.

Can't really believe we're putting someone like Smith in the same sentence as Lever. Smith looked out of his depth for almost every minute this year, despite the huge wraps on him coming into the season. I'm not saying he won't make it, but he's got a long way to go to even show he's a reliable defender, let alone a potential star. Lever has shown that however...

Precisely.

Rance has played years on the 2nd and 3rd tall and really only in the last two or so years has he been able to compete with the big boys physically. Initially, he was all about third man upping and to a degree still is, as we saw with Hogan beating him up in 2015, he's best as a third up defender. But the way the game is played these days, there are no stringent positions and players rotate across multiple areas of the ground and opponents. Point is, the comparison is completely valid.

Thought Kelly was very, very fumbly. Was okay in a few contests, but doesn't have the poise of Lever. The Adelaide defence will really struggle without Lever. If Talia goes down they're in big trouble.

Disagree. You completely underestimate the importance of an intercept marker in the modern game. At 21 years of age, he will become like Rance, who himself didn't click until 25ish. When you take into account Melbourne's midfield of Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Jones (who in time) will be better than BCrouch, MCrouch, Sloane et al, he'll be an even better player. Rance didn't get a lot of it today, but I'd make a strong case for him being worthy of the Norm Smith (as much as I hate him). Any time they kicked it near him, Richmond were able to neutralise the contest at worst and any other time, wherever Rance positioned himself meant that Richmond's defence was dictating where Adelaide could kick the ball. Rance's ability to intercept meant that Adelaide had to keep it away from him (and therefore dangerous areas for them to attack) and they were unable to do so. In short, a player of Lever's calibre can win or lose you a game. Exhibit A today's Grand Final. Exhibit B our game against Adelaide in Adelaide (Adelaide were minus Lever and it played a big part).

I don't think the Crows defence will fall apart without Lever, but I think you're underestimating how important Lever is, mate.

Yep, I'd rotate him between deep forward, a wing and half back. I'd keep rotating him until he gets into the game. Put the pressure on him like Watts to the ruck and there's nowhere to hide. I reckon it'd elevate his game.