Adam The God

Yep, I was at that game too and it was obvious early in the 4th after Hawkins kicked his second for the term that Frost should have been moved on to him. Instead, we waited for a third before making the switch and after that Hawkins didn't really get a look in, but the damage was done. That says a bit about Omac though. I completely agree with the view RE the lack of midfield pressure leading to easy goals against us. Of course. That's modern footy. My issue with our defence is that Jetta and Hibberd are strong one on one defenders. Lever is a terrific interceptor and Salem is a beautiful kick. The obvious weak area is lock down KPD role. At this stage in our development as a group, May is a better bet than Frost or Oscar.

Pretty similar mate. The key to their play is Rance though and continuity together. Lever not playing this year hurt Omac. No doubt about it. Oscar was looking impressive early in the year, but my reading on our ideal set up (perhaps born out of necessity with Lever's injury and the evolving nature of the game with the return of the power forwards at WC) is that we want to play two KPBs (May and one of Frost or Omac), one main interceptor (Lever), a small lock down defender (Jetta) and two rebounding kicking defenders (out of Hibberd, Salem, Lewis and at this point Smith).

I agree, but our window has opened a year or two earlier than I expected and Omac isn't there yet. A decision needs to be made on who we bring in to play full back.

Omac and Frost should be battling it out for the second KPB in the 22. We don't have time to wait for Oscar to develop into a powerful player. I've been a supporter of his in the past, but his pace and ability on the lead is a concern. If he gets the second best forward, he's a much better chance of neutralizing them.

Well, hang on. When Hawkins got ahold of Omac, was it our midfield or Hawkins that day? Or are you picking and choosing? And what happened on QBD? Did we try to out position or out body Cox or did we simply let him jump at everything?

Sort of. For the first five minutes or so.

But hang on mate. Dangerfield is coming isn't he?

Did you watch our prelim?

I'd rather Frost defending than Tom and that's saying something.

Maxy, Preussy and Belly?

Paradoxically, he's really good in contested situations in the forward half.

Terrible idea. He's a turn over merchant in the back half and ordinary one on one.

I don't rate AVB but he signed a three year deal. Jesse won't sign beyond 2019.

I'm not sure what you mean here, mate. We helped him during these issues and as far as I can determine, we would have continued to, but he wanted to go to WA. How is me saying Jesse staying will make a mockery of our culture, related to the hardship Jesse has experienced?

Absolutely, O'Keefe is a good example of someone who's gone the other way, but I reckon it makes a mockery of esprit de corps and if I were Goodwin I'd be deeply uncomfortable about this.

No one potted Chook from memory.

I'd vouch for Patches, mate. His information is good. Might not be enough for you though, Drags.

And Peter Bell wasn't at the club yet to start the slow build of planting those seeds.

I'm convinced you can't seriously sustain a proper culture that is built on mateship and trust (esprit de corps etc) and have a guy on your list who refuses to recommit beyond his current contract. He's done at Melbourne and a trade should be found at all costs IMO. We've stuck by him through everything and have put our arm around him in his time of need, but now we both need to go our separate ways. Thank you for your service, Jesse, but we need to do what's best for us now.

[censored] post. Well done.

Yep. I want him gone now. He didn't want to commit and he lost me then. He wants out. Clear the deck and bring in May.

It's a bit like the real estate industry though. Whatever someone is willing to pay becomes the price everyone else has to pay. Adelaide may well have overpaid, but it sets precedence and sets the value of other players high. Particularly, a player who is a KPF at 23 years of age, consistently kicking 40+ goals in a rising side. Hogan is worth two first rounders every day of the week. 5/6 and 10-15.

I don't think it's this simple though. They seem to want May out now. They won't want to wait. Freo's potential bluff could well back fire on multiple fronts.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting we had handled it poorly. I simply meant that sometimes a clean break is needed and unfairly (from what we know) the MFC may end up collateral damage in this process in Hogan's mind. I could be completely wrong, but it is a possibility.

If he wants to go home and the pull of home is strong enough, he'll get to the Eagles IMO. Otherwise, I wonder if this process has tarnished his feelings of Melbourne too and a fresh start somewhere else could be another possibility. That puts 16 other clubs in the picture, but more likely clubs in the fight for the flag.