Adam The God

I think we're a top 6 side fully fit. Add Gaff to that side and we're nearing top 4. Our biggest problem for mine is that despite what some say, our depth is really ordinary and our bottom 4 to 6 are a) too inconsistent at best or b) Not good enough to be playing in a top 8 side.

I thought there'd be a Vince thread first, but I guess that's where my head is at. ?

I reckon he's a much, much better longer kick. I remember in his first year, his kicking from half back to the advantage of a forward was his standout move.

Got a lot of it today, but was going at well below 50% DE at a point. Tidied it up slightly, but would be a lot more damaging if he hit more targets. He's working up some great form though. For a guy who struggled to accumulate, he's found himself with leather poisoning the last fortnight.

It's not actually. Unlike the contractions "they're" or "we're", "who're" should be written "who are".

I have no inside info, simply a feeling that he's already verbally committed to us, ala Lever. I expect a Demonland "insider" will take a similar guess sooner or later too.

I love this kid. Rarely wastes it. Great peripheral vision and game sense. Tough as nails and a great side step. Incredible to think he's only played a handful of games.

Hogan, McDonald and Weideman. Where does Lynch play? The only thing I can think of is us leaking our interest in Lynch to provide us some leverage in the McDonald contract talks.

I have question marks over Gus' disposal (particularly by foot over short distances). I don't remember him hitting a target by foot in the first half. In the second he kept it simple and less fancy and was a lot more effective. He was brilliant in fact.

A real game of two halves. Was terrible in the first half, was excellent in the second half. He's another that likes playing St Kilda. Let's hope he can play most games like his second half. Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw could be deadly. Add Salem back into the team as well and we look very good.

To be clear, no way I'm paying $300 for it. I'll wait until it is reduced. I'd prefer to spend my money buying a place to live in. Already pay my $700 and whatever it is for MCC/MFC membership.

I think I'll get this one. Classy as.

Love it. Thanks for sharing, Z.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.