Adam The God

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.

I think we'll see our guys tweak this over the summer. We want to move the ball quickly and yet we were one of the slowest teams for ball movement in 2017. We'll be devastating if we can move the ball quicker. This is the natural evolution of our game style and young team. A backline of Lever's composure, along with Hibberd and Jetta, is a backline that creates less turn overs. OMac is a surprisingly good kick and ball in hand is decent. Hunt needs to improve his kicking, but without Tommy Mac or Frost back there, we are significantly more composed. The question is can they attack quickly enough? That's where Laird and Smith are so important pinging off the likes of Talia and Lever at Adelaide. Agreed. Unless we can find a zippy outside user that can play half back and ping off our defensive zone, we'll have to utilise one of these guys in this role next year. My feeling is that it should be Lewis, but his kicking this year was a bit of a worry too. Just slightly less so than Bernard the butcher from Adelaide though. The backline is actually the area of the ground that I'm most interested to see how they tweak it. I think our press was too aggressive this year, but it worked in the first half of the year. Particularly, against Richmond earlier in the year. Maybe it's a case of another pre season under the belts of our younger guys enabling us to implement it for longer, but my feeling is that we need to re-think it, back to the drawingboard type stuff. We desperately need more speed in our line up. Hunt, Hibberd, Frost and Garlett are quick. Not sure I'd call anyone else quick though. Hunt in particular is perfect to play the anchor to our press, but the coaches have realised we need to play him between higher, between half back and the wings. The anchor is too deep for him - we lose what he brings. I suspect they'll try Frost in that role again or even Lever, but I hope we try something new.

I reckon teenage Bruce would have been the most intolerable little [censored] ever. Probably tried to hang around with the jocks and spent most of his time flagellating himself to their every move. Josh Gibson won a few flags playing the same role. Worth every cent IMO, mate. It'll be interesting to see how their defence goes next year without his incepting and direction back there.

Equally, if GWS run all over them, he might want to be at a Victorian club with almost as much young talent as GWS.

I enjoy the contributions of both posters, but it's possibly the most inane conversation I've ever read on Demonland. Please make it stop.

Yeah, my old man who reads that page told me Lever's old man has been on that page for at least a fortnight now, so it's been a done deal for a while now IMO.

I'd say it's already a done deal, hence players talking about it. Particularly, as Viney was at the alleged meeting between Lever and MFC people.

Because that worked out so well for Adelaide. Pay what is fair and get the trade done (2017 first rounder and 2017 or 2018 second rounder), so we can move on to other trades that will continue to improve our list.

If the $300k offer is true, that really was playing with fire. That's an insanely low offer in the post 2017-CBA world. I wonder if they knew he was going? I dunno. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Surely, they'd look to pay him at least $400k, even $450k.

This is a very poor post, but each to their own. Tyson is a ball magnet, who needs to improve his kicking/decision making and if he does he'll be A grade. Salem doesn't lack intensity. He goes when he needs to, is a beautiful kick and doesn't lack leg speed either (ie. he's not what I'd call "slow"). You have these guys and add the Hunt's, Hibberd's and another pacey outside mid (Whitfield or Kelly types) and you have just about the complete midfield. If you want to sit there and slash your wrists, fine, but to say only diehard Dees supporters are defending the trade is a load of rubbish.

If the above is true, we must be targeting someone else this year with our 2018 pick.

And he would have got away with it too, if it weren't for you, mate.

That was with the drug suspensions hanging over those trades. Let's hear how he is again this off season. I suspect he'll return to being a jackass.

Agreed. Gaff or Rockliff should be the other targets. Or at least players of their ilk.

Sounds like the only competition is Adelaide. I have no inside info, but my gut is telling me we'll eventually pay two first rounders, we're just playing hardball at the moment.

Haha, yep. I'm getting Riddler (without the riddles) vibes!

Exactly. So why wouldn't you sign long term with GWS? That tells me he's going to stick it out another two years and then head back to Victoria.

To me it reads as I want to win a flag in the next two years and then return to Melbourne. There's no CBA to wait for now. His currency is at its highest and is unlikely to get any higher than what North are offering.

Lol. We need more mids, we don't need to be giving the mids we already have away. Particularly, the ball magnets. Tyson's disposal (by foot) was horrible in 2017, but he continues to get the ball. It's about correcting the decision making and getting that knee sorted, not trading him. An idiotic suggestion really, but each to their own. Our midfield is Oliver, Viney, Petracca and Salem, then the old guys like Jones, Lewis and Vince (the butcher) might go through there too. Add our half backs/forwards like Melksham and Hunt into the mix as well. But don't mention the likes of AVB, Trenners or JKH. Now that is not a very deep midfield and it was exposed in the back end of 2017 with even the simple omission of Viney. We desperately need guys that get the ball a lot from the stoppages, because it means the opposition aren't getting it from the stoppages. Tyson is one of these guys. Say what you like about his disposal, but he's near the elite category in terms of getting the ball. Lever will get done if he wants to come here. It'll be pick 10 and an exchange of picks or a trade that potentially involves another club. I'll trust the club to make the right decision.