Adam The God

Agreed. We'll also (hopefully) be in an even stronger position to lure a good young player with the promise of finals and something more.

Thought he was pretty wasteful and show-ponyish earlier in the year too, but maybe I'm a harsh marker. I expect more from my senior players though.

Particularly if they can win that Grand Final, ala the Geelong VFL team.

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how they use him. He'll want to perform a lot better than this year though, otherwise he might be in trouble in 2-3 years time.

I think this is the key to sustained success. We can't just put all our chips on this one generation coming through now in Tyson, Viney, Hogan, Weideman, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Hunt and Salem (wow, I love writing that). We need to continue nailing these 3rd and 4th rounders and our first rounders when we have them. This will keep us up the top even after these guys have retired. What might break all this is your last sentence. If we continue to trade away our first rounders for experienced players there's the danger of becoming North, so we have to find a balance somewhere in there.

No, the bare minimum, mate. But I agree. We need to fill the void of experience on our list over the next 2-3 off seasons, whilst also keep developing 3-4 young kids down at Casey. I'd also say we're looking for players in that 23-27 age bracket as well as the 25-28 age bracket.

You mean like Grant Birchall, Matt Suckling and even Isaac Smith?

The problem with going to Hawthorn from a manager's point of view is that their client won't be on as much coin as would be on offer elsewhere. If I was a manager, I'd also be advising my client that Hawthorn look to be on the way down. They'll still play finals next year, but then that might be it for them. So if you go off to Hawthorn now, you might be stuck in two years time without much midfield help and in rebuild mode. I'm just not sure the lure to Hawthorn is as great as it was. Even 12 months ago. This year they've showed their aging list has caught up with them a bit.

And on Salem, he's not soft in the contest, he's a beautiful kick. But I have two questions on him at this stage. Can he stay on the park? And can he rack up possessions? Yes, injury has plagued him, but if you look at guys like Tyson, Oliver and Petracca, they've come in and managed to get 20 possessions pretty easily. For a guy playing off half back, he doesn't get it enough. Even someone like Butcher Harmes, he certainly knows how to get the ball - just needs to tidy his decision-making and disposals up. Some guys just have that knack of finding the footy. Salem hasn't exhibited this yet, but his combination of outside skill and toughness excite me as much as anyone. I'm prepared to give him another 2-3 seasons to let him develop and test his mettle. Still think he'll probably get there if injuries don't cruel him.

His clearances aren't damaging enough though. Even more so than Jones, Bernie has the propensity to rush his clearances, sky them and take away much of the advantage he has gained us. I want Tyson, Viney and Oliver in the guts. Vince can go through there occasionally, but he just has to get better off half back, because that's where he'll be playing the majority of his football from now on. And I'd go as far as saying his year has been ordinary. He turns it over far too much for a player of his class, playing in the easiest position on the ground.

It shouldn't be. If we're seriously comparing an A grade premiership captain with a player who had two exciting first seasons and hasn't played for two years, then I think we're being stoooopid.

I think Goodwin will make a few changes and look to fill the last few holes with guys who will add genuine depth, rather than what is being referred to as our depth now.

Oh and if ever there was a young mid (outside of Neale) to look like breaking the 700 disposal barrier again, it'd be Oliver. He is an incredible young player. 24 touches with 70% TOG. Please get that tank right and you'll be getting 30 regularly next year. Can you tell I'm excited about him?

I think we've managed Oliver brilliantly this year. He'll be ready to put in a huge pre-season ahead of 2017. When he develops a tank he'll be our best midfielder. I like the changes and I think we'll win. I'm looking forward to going into a game with no pressure on, much like the players, I'm sure. I reckon we'll win and win by a couple of goals.

Haha, if that got the deal done, yes please.

ANB's not gonna make it, mate. Not at Melbourne anyway. I would prefer Prestia, but Mitchell comes uninjured and is just as good in the clutches. Sydney putting all their eggs in one basket with similar inside contested types don't seem to be struggling. In fact, it's pretty obvious that's the type of midfield Roos has been trying to build over the last 2-3 years. I'd also argue that many of the games we've lost this year have been the ones where our mids haven't turned up. It's that lack of 23-27 year old age demographic in our midfield that has cost us. Mitchell would address this immediately. Like yourself, Steve, I have no doubt Brayshaw, Petracca and Oliver will become clearance mids, but they're not there yet.

This is a good point. Harvey almost got the Roos over the line against the Swans on the weekend. As much as I hate him, the more I read here, the more I think he wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Despite this line of thought, we still need more elite ball winners that make good decisions. As I've been saying all year. So it does make sense, IMO.

Leigh Matthews is already part of the problem at Brisbane...

In the words of a small little Hawthorn [censored]: "that's what I'm talkin' about!"

Not sure Judd was of great character either...

I'm a little torn on this one. Would recruiting Schulz and playing him, rob one of our young key talls of a year's development? Probably. Would his spot be better used on another player? Dunno. Great contribution, huh?

Yep. Let's hope they overpay big time.

Hibberd is a much better kick and decision maker than Grimes. And that's what it comes down to with Jack. He's too unreliable with ball in hand.

Perennially and criminally underrated around these parts.