Adam The God

Is this revisionism? How did you feel about JJ the last 2 years? Probably like many of us, that he wasn't much better than fringe 22. I like JJ too, but you're kidding yourself if you think JJ would have managed anymore than he'd previously managed in a top 4 team 3 years in a row.

It's not like he didn't manage to get on the park this year. He's played 14 games. We've also rejuvenated the best 22 the last two years. It's now JVR, Turner, McVee, Howes, AMW, Kolt, Windsor with Jefferson in the wings and Woey getting games. What we need is to address our midfield deficiencies. I know they're pace and ball use, but we should be trying to get two picks in the top 20 this year (ideally 2 in the top 10 as @middleagedemon suggests), and picking the two best ball winning mids from the top 10-20. I'd like us to add Cumming if we can to our back half despite his injury history as well, and that is plenty of rejuvenation given Yze will also likely to be picked as a rookie, and we have an elite sounding NGA ruck/forward and KPD F/S next year. I'd be putting guys into surgery now to make sure all our guns are ready to hit pre season running as hard as possible. I'm also not scared of Tasmania, as the whole league has to deal with that prospect and we have plenty of our talent. We just need to beef up our midfield, so that's this year and next as far as I'm concerned.

I really don't think it's worth trading Salo. He's a close member of the team, he won't net us anything anyway and he doesn't have much longer to go on his contract, nor would he be anywhere near the dollars of Trac or Clarry's contract. It simply doesn't make sense, and risks cultural blow backs as well. I get you're frustrated by the injuries, but it's not a great move. Support him. See if you can get 10-15 games out of him again (he's played 14 this year) and show Melbourne people (he's a premiership player afterall) that they are valued and not things to be given up on and thrown out when it all gets a little hard.

I'm sorry, you and I have agreed on Fritta's lack of forward pressure in the past, but there's no way we will or should get rid of Fritta. It's a ridiculous suggestion really. He will kick at least 40+ again. I don't see Turner as a depth player, but maybe the FD agree wirh you as he keeps being named sub. Also, you're down on Fritta's forward half pressure, but want Melksham to play? I'm not against Melksham playing next year, but ultimately, I think we need three talls or at least three that can play tall. IMO, it's JVR, Turner with Jefferson, Melksham and McAdam sharing that other spot. It'd be great getting a KPF like Waterman, but I'd much prefer to strengthen the midfield and back in the KPPs we have.

You do realise that Sydney not only have had the COLA salary cap bonuses, they've got academy accesses that has enabled them to grab pretty much all their elite players (captain Mills, Heeney, Gulden and Blakey are all academy). Like imagine if we'd just needed a bunch of junk picks to pick up those 4. Comparing the QLD and NSW list management builds to any other club is ridiculous and not comparing apples with apples. As for Geelong and Collingwood, they've had at least 2 champions each in the 21st century that were father sons. That's luck. Not real list management. Compare that with us. We've had one in Viney.

All fair points, but I think with the poor midfield performance (which is putting it lightly), our defenders are constantly under fire. What I would say about the defence is that despite it often being too aggressive and getting done at the back (see last night multiple times), I think it bodes well that we're still trusting the process. Our defence needs the midfield to defend with it, and the high half forwards to provide team defence. It's no coincidence that TMac has been exposed the last two weeks like he used to be as a defender, where earlier in the year he was rock solid. Our midfield has been destroyed two weeks in a row at stoppage. This is where we are losing games.

What? This has been covered continuously. Defensive diamond, inside sliders and defensive zone that won a flag. He's been a constant innovator. The thing about Goody is he plays the percentages after the innovation.

Who do you partner with JVR? Jefferson...and? I reckon one has to play forward. Then up the other end if you have TMac, you'll have May and Lever. Where do Petty and Turner fit in defensively? I admit, I'd love to be able to manage May a little more, even Lever, so that come the pointy end, they're fit and firing. But it may not be possible.

On Kalani's kicking, does he kick it like his old man? He was a beautiful kick, particularly for goal. I think nowadays, Jeff White would be a perfect key forward/second ruck. I'd love Kalani to fill a KPD post, but I wouldn't be expecting that for a few years.

All my favourite posters in the one thread. Amazing!

Is there a point in that? I don't really get the strategy.

As if anyone is going to trust Salo's body though. We'd be trading him because essentially we don't either.

It's hard to make an informed assessment from the outside, but let's do it anyway. But do we need a new head of fitness, allowing Selwyn to deal with his expertise?

Very true.

But we're missing Trac as well. He only played in that Carlton loss. Had he played against Brisbane and GWS, who knows. I agree defence wins premierships, but defence is based on system and personnel to an extent. So the system could cover for a defender in that system, but the team cannot cover the loss of contest from midfield. The midfield was deplorable for most of last night, and has been horrible for a while now. If we'd had an ability to throw Trac in there the last few weeks, we'd have been able to stem the flow.

I hope this means we won't get a new best 22 four hundred thirty times before 2025.

I agree to an extent, but midfielders win flags. Take Martin out and they don't win that flag. Likewise, take May or Lever out, but keep Trac, and I reckon we'd be better off. But anyway, we'll never know.

I was all for him going around again two weeks ago, even after last week I thought he could go around one more time, but he's in his head already. I think he'll hang them up.

Thought Bowser and Howes were pretty good too. And I love Judd.

I'm disappointed that he's such a confidence player after all these years. You could tell from very early on tonight he was thinking about last week. I think it might be time I'm afraid...

Oofa doofa. This is gonna be ugly. The crowd will be back to 2008-2013 levels and the performance could match it.

It's funny because I've just looked at the stats and seen Rivers had 25 touches and 6 clearances of 70%+ TOG, plus a goal. You look at those numbers and you go, he is definitely on the way. But whenever he's in traffic under heat, he makes poor decisions IMO. When he has the play in front of him, it's a different story. He's explosive and confident, and tries to play make. Anyway, I hope I'm wrong.

I thought we were pathetic. Fritta played his best game for ages, which was welcome. We seemed far more fatigued than them. A stack load of regulation tackles missed that led to scores against. Our midfield murdered for most of the night. I was very envious of how well their tall forwards marked the ball, in comparison to our forwards. But the thing that the Bulldogs do regularly and I think we managed once for an entire half, is kick the ball to the advantage of our forwards. Again, our ball movement has basically gone back into its shell. Did we waste half a year trying to work on our transition game? Our lack of dare was really disappointing. And I wanted to see Turner play forward, because he's a great mark. We have a lot of work to do over the summer and it'll be a fascinating watch on McQualter.

I'll go with this again after tonight. "It's the midfield, stupid". Rivers is not a midfielder, he doesn't have the awareness. He's hugely damaging as a half back, he should stay there. I'd be looking to get McVee into the midfield, but we need more. We need two gun kids that can plug and play in the midfield IMO.

I can see that too. Good call.