Little Goffy

On the balance of probabilities, at the end of the day, when considering all future contingencies and likelihoods, and upon scrutinising the range of potential results vis-a-vis whole-team performance, seasonal fluctuations and eventualities of numerous match-ups in diverse circumstances, one is led to the conclusion that, barring unforseeable and extraordinary eventualities our relative position is improved, both now and into the future, by the continuing presence of Jesse Hogan in or around our forward line.

Possibly another big notch for Pederson is that he has never dropped his head after being overlooked many times. Humble character who turns up and works hard and seems to always be a good contributor even when he doesn't get his hands on it much, even if it is just by forcing an opponent to work hard on him.

We've done a service to all humanity by making things a little bit harder for the Hawks. Max Gawn must now be a lock for all-Australian, which is nice. So happy for Cameron Pederson, too. Ahh, this is how a club regains respect - Hawthorn fans will resent us and be sooking all week, while every other club's supporters will love reminding them. This time it won't be 'ha ha, you lost to the rubbish team' like it was whenever we beat a strong club int he last 9 years, this time it will be 'you're on your way down and others are on their way up'. Side note - O.Mac is still eligible for Rising Star nomination, maybe this 'breakout game' could earn him a nod?

Signs a 3-year contract, becomes a routine match-winner. Makes me go all warm and fuzzy.

"Vickery has won games off his own boot for the Tigers" Now I've seen everything. In 118 games, there's been maybe five where he was among the top-3 on the day. Anyway, Spencer is a full-time ruck, and Vickery is a full-time forward. Spencer has value to us only as a back-up to Gawn, not as a partner on the field. Vickery has no value to us as we aren't in need of any more of that position.

Unless it is on Svalbard, in which case it will tell the time twice a day in summer and twice a night in winter.

Daw, ok, but not really interested. Vickery, nope nope nope. Holmes... well, not the best actress but maybe she can ruck.

You've prompted me to double check and 'show my workings'; Age 19 - Oliver, Weideman, Stretch Age 20 - O.Mac, Petracca, Harmes, Brayshaw Age 21 - Hunt, Hogan Age 22 - Viney, Kent, Frost Age 23 - Tyson, Bugg, T.Mac Age 24 - VandenBerg, Gawn Age 25 or more - Watts (25), Jetta (26), Garlett (27), Jones (28), Vince (30) Total = 498 ... /22 = 22.6 Yes, there was an error. Actual average is 22.6. Median is still 22. But, to cheer us all up, while I was looking at stats I came across the funny little stats details Jack Viney holds the Melbourne record for both most tackles in a game and most contested possessions in a game. He is also on target for the highest tally of contested possessions in a season by a Melbourne player, needing just 50 more in the remaining four games, and possibly the highest season tally of tackles, needing 25 more to pass James McDonald's 143. Max Gawn already has the top four Melbourne records for hitouts in a game, and more than half the top-20. He is also already well clear in first for most hitouts in a season by a Demon. Dean Kent is on target to break the Demon's record for goal assists in a season, on 16, needing to pass 19. Of course, that will fall anyway as soon as Brayshaw gets a full season. Tom McDonald's last three seasons are also all three of the top seasons for 1%ers by a Demon player. Bernie Vince is now just one short of the Demon's club record for clangers in a season. Set by the great man himself, Tom Scully. Lynden Dunn needs just 5 more games to reach the top-20 for games played without playing in a final, from any club. Maybe that's why he hasn't been getting selected? This is what happens to me every year once we are out of finals contention.

Oliver, Bugg and Weideman coming in makes us ridiculously young, especially with Dawes and M Jones coming out. Average age on the field - 21yrs 6 months. Median age is 22. From Watts up, there are only 5 players 25 years or older, which is even fewer than the Lions are fielding this week. I don't see it as in inherent sign of our 'future guaranteed' or anything, we've all been burnt by that faith already. What I do find interesting is that mature players are being genuinely passed over by kids who are ahead of them on performance. Again, the Brisbane contrast - basically every uninjured mature player they've got is on the field, and the injured ones would be straight out there if they were available.

There was plenty of well-deserved love for Jack Watts after the Gold Coast game, but in the last five minutes Nev Jetta was left 1 on 2 inside defending 50. He spoiled the ball against a much taller opponent and then ran down the other guy who had collected the spill. Best part was that even as he did this great thing, it had an air of 'yes, he'll handle this'. Big chunks of respect for him, a hugely valuable player.

Progressing nicely, could become my favourite type of AFL player - a reliable best-22 quality who gets the job done and doesn't often stuff the whole thing up. May we see 200+ underrated games from the kid.

I'm not convinced he'd be worth the cost at this time. We need to give him a bit more time to become fully disenchanted at Richmond, watch him start phoning it in and just being good for a while, let the mumbling build, then take him at literally half the price in two years time, by which time we will be a much more desirable club to join. Not the time to buy - the price will move in our favour from both ends! Plus, we will see how our little mob of awkward 'teenage' defenders develop and what exactly we need.

8 disposals yesterday. The tenth time this season he has failed to reach double-figures. It is also his average. As for those thinking he could ruck-support for us, he had 5 hitouts too. Which is double his average. He's had 10+ hitouts 4 times in three years. Since the round 9 move to support Gawn, Jack Watts has had more hitouts than Vickery. (As well as more goals, double the disposals and almost double the marks) Vickery is not effective ruck relief. Vickery is limited as a forward. Vickery offers little else. Please, stop this, it is upsetting me.

Booooooooo. I call MFCSS

Thread dead almost 2 years, bumped for one snarky comment about someone not rating a player. Is it possible for someone to be reported for petulance?

'Everyone knows' that defenders get better with maturity and experience. So hopefully by game 200 he'll be a routine all-Australian, yeah? 23 is exceptionally young for a key position player to reach 100 games. Despite what some (many?) on here say in reaction to his highly visible clangers, he is a consistently AFL-level player and we are lucky to have him. A draft steal at 53, too!

"It didn't happen and it happened like this" Good work Mr Thompson. Such a dodgy comment that it brings into question his integrity in a general sense.

Fair enough. Spencer is no forward. It was a throwaway line, indeed. I think I was riley to excess by just how much Iy dislike the idea of Vickery on the field for us. It is possible that I'd take a 'no forward' over Vickery. Given that we are looking fine for key forwards long term, with some promising kids coming along and Hogan & Watts working together happily, why would be buy in a guy who can't manage 10 disposals a game, is spectacularly bad at working up the ground, spends all day waiting for someone to kick it to him, is not especially accurate at goal, and who most definitely cannot ruck?

Except often there is a part about how 'it wasn't me, it wasn't me'.

The speculative name that just wont go away. Oh, how I wish it would go away. We already have Spencer, who is better in the ruck by a mile and not far off Vickery as a forward. Seriously, Vickery only gets mentioned because of the Tiger's hype machine being stuck in a "sunk-costs fallacy".

While Bernie getting his own thread is a bit ridiculous, his 'less great' season this year does remind me of the days of Yze, Johnstone, Woewodin, Robertson, White, Bruce, Davey, Green and Moloney. 8 of our last 16 B&F winners only managed a few really elite seasons scattered here and there, mixed in with a lot of very good or just good (or even plain ordinary) seasons. That pattern really messed up our salary cap, and the lack of 10-year consistent high performers I think is part of why we have been a bit fragile under pressure and vulnerable to boil-overs from teams much weaker on paper. Looking for the 'any game, any time, always ready' attitude.

Is it possible we've already signed Sharrod Wellingham? Been good for us today. How is it possible that Collingwood are so ordinary when they've managed to get so much value offloading players who contribute so little? (e.g. Wellingham, Dawes, Thomas) If only we could match their strategy - first round pick for Dunn?

Haaaa ha ha ha ha haaaaa! This is fun!

Next week, the 'Dollars' trilogy of westerns. But might start getting desperate before the season ends. At the point where all you've got left is the rancid trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit, it is time to watch the Demons again.

Whatever "beans" might mean.