Adam The God

Has he actually been doing that much tagging, aside from the Dangerfield game? I just think he's failing to get involved enough and perhaps it's unfair, but I suspect he's become a little lazy since arriving at Melbourne. Do you remember his first few games last year? 30+ possessions every time. He hasn't hit that since last year. You're right though, mate. We need a lot more from him. His clearances are usually at least half penetrating. On this, I'd like to see some of our mids win clearances where they actually kick the football forward properly and cleanly, rather than little scrubbers or kicks that go straight up in the air. Jones has made this his signature clearance, for example. A bit more blocking for each other in the midfield wouldn't go astray.

Every time we play Gawn inside 50 though, we get killed off half back. The opposition run off him like nobody's business. GWS have done it a couple of times. Most obviously in the thrashing at the end of last year. Well, I hope it won't be bloody Howe, because Murphy'll carve us up. I wonder if they'll try Vanders. Crash and bash Murphy every time and goes near it. That's what I'd do anyway.

If we can break even in midfield, we can win. We should have them for fire power and defence. The issue is it requires both Jones and Tyson to have massive games in the midfield. They'll run all over us otherwise.

Not the ones I know. They all thought that the Blues were on the cusp of the top 4 only two years ago. I kept telling them that they had a shallow list, masked by Judd's brilliance. Turns out I was right.

Great first post, Luke. Could well be some truth in it. I trust our administration are asking these questions though. Particularly, the likes of PJ.

You mean another chance to lead our stoppage count? Spencer is still raw, but he's not getting enough credit around here at the moment.

Yeah, I think he may have thought it wasn't going to be as bad as it has been. But, I maintain we're on the right track.

I think the inference is that we'll have larger attendances and ratings when we start winning more. Our supporters will come out of the wood work. I remember a game in (I think it was) 2004, where Ashley Sampi took that hanger. So against West Coast at the MCG, if my memory serves me correctly, we had an attendance of 36,000. That's up there with Hawthorn and almost Collingwood. We have the 'supporters' out there and they will start coming in droves again when we start playing finals. Particularly, as we've been down for so long. It's not proper equalisation, in fact it's [censored], but the broadcasters are running a business and so the fixture will be scheduled around the biggest audiences. We start to win more, we'll get a better fixture.

I know naming and shaming shouldn't go on too much, but hey, this is an internet footy forum. I'd be interested to hear who people think are "the usual suspects". Because I've heard this line trotted out a bit recently, but no one has been specific.

That's a tall side we're playing then. Fitzy and Gawny?

Completely agree, mate.

I love Roosy and we're very lucky to have him. I think we are making progress, albeit slowly. However, what does [censored] me is the way he shitcans the club and its past as his defence mechanism to step back from it all. The supporters don't need to keep hearing this. We're bloody well aware of the past and don't need it rammed down our throats every second week. Make it sound like you bleed for the club Roosy, even if it's not true. And I agree with Pman. It must have a negative flow on to the players at times.

So... that thread about Christian re-signing.

And we will win between 6-8 games.

Agree, mate. Except I won't be sympathising with Geelong there. The AFL give them a bloody good go too. Those gate receipts down at Geelong would bring extraordinary revenue.

We won't get these players either way. We're not getting another priority pick.

If we got all these players, we'd be playing finals next year. No doubt.

I think Roos would know he's a very limited player, but best not to say anything, otherwise tarnish the potential of a lucrative trade at year's end. To be honest though, I can't see anyone offering up something in the vicinity of pick 7. Still an incredible proposition.

I think the five you've named will be delisted next year. Over the next two to three years, we need to add two or three A graders to our crop of mids (think Prestia this year and someone of his calibre the following year). FA and trades will be make this viable anyway. We just need to show prospective players that we're not still a basketcase and that there is hope for the future. The following will help this cause: Hogan being continually lauded in the press as the next great KPF. Tommy Mac finally getting the credit he deserves and continuing to improve his game substantially. Tyson and Jones lifting their games. We get all this clicking and all of a sudden, we're marketable destination. With regards to Trenners, I wouldn't expect much from him. I think of him as if he'll never play another game again. There's no point calculating him in our future A grade midfield, because the likelihood that he'll even play again is slim, not to mention, he's not actually the player we thought he was. He seems like a top bloke. A loyal kid and I love him for that, but he doesn't have the tools of a Salem and he was already so slow, this injury will only exacerbate the issue.

Might bring his GWS trade value down. But I actually prefer this idea to the move him forward one.

I would agree with this. His kicking certainly improved for a period there (it may even have been 2013), but ultimately he's a footballer with one trick. The high-flyer. (read very limited footballer) If he's not taking hangers, he's doing bugger all else.

If Howe can't jump at the footy, he is next to useless in one-on-one contests. I don't think you could say the same for Cloke.

The thought of Dangerfield in red and blue is so appealing, because it's been so long since we've had such a dynamic midfielder. He's not the most consistent of players though. Shiel is younger and still has improvement in him. We know what Dangerfield can do. Of course, I wouldn't say no to Patrick. He's a gun, but he's an inconsistent gun that struggles with a tag. Shiel is almost unstoppable, because he gut runs and is a fierce competitor.

With Roos and McCartney to nurture and develop.

Our list is ordinary at the moment, because the majority of our best players have yet to play 50 games. It means they struggle to impact games consistently now. I know we've heard this sort of talk before, but there is tangible evidence that Salem, Hogan, Brayshaw, Tyson, Viney and Tommy Mac have the goods. It's just a matter of continually improving and gaining in match experience. Let's see Petracca next year, add whoever else we pick up next year and we could have a very solid core group to move forward with. We are realistically another year or two away from being able to challenge for 7th or 8th position on the ladder. That's frustrating. Tell me about it, but to quote the OP, 'this gloom and doom is ridiculous'.