DeeSpencer

Stupid contract. We’ll be paying him to podcast or play for someone else way before it’s done. One paced, can’t kick, can’t man up. What are we thinking? A panic move by the club because they’re sad LJ is leaving.

No he hasn’t. Started the year down back. Then moved back to the wing for at least the last month. Played on the wing for the first half v the dogs, with Howes down back. Then they swapped it for the second half when Rosman was injured - I assume because they wanted pace and match fitness down back being 1 rotation down.

Baker did some very good Baker stuff. Tuck the ball under his arm and get it moving. Otherwise he was ordinary in contests and didn’t share it by handballs. He didn’t go with Baker when Langdon was out, doubt he does if JJ is missing

Finally got around to watching Casey and honestly I thought JVR played a great ‘AFL style’ of game second only to Bowey. Clunked a few marks, chased his back side off, attacked the ball hard and spoiled smartly when he was out of position. Chandler’s 4 goals were classy but he flashed in and out of the game and wasn’t clinical at other moments. Lever for Tomlinson. Gus to the wing. JJ rested. Bowey in. JVR for Melksham or Weid, don’t know the answer there Chandler sub

Is there any evidence anyone has? All our extensions have been long deals, often taking guys well in to their 30’s. It’s not really a sacrifice when you’re giving up some short term money for incredible long term security that may well see a player overpaid at the back end of their deal. I think it’s a myth league wide too. Geelong lost Ablett, Richmond Rance and Hawthorn Buddy, that’s the 3 most expensive guys gone from those sides. Those sides also moved out players at times too, the Tigers moved on Ellis and multiple small forwards. Hawks moved on Mark Williams who was incredibly popular with fans. I’m willing to believe players will take 10-20% less, possibly a bit more if there’s bonus years, I doubt anyones leaving bulk cash on the table out of good will.

Gun on ballers get 700k+. They are the driving force behind teams winning. Only talls get paid the same and that’s often due to scarcity and potential as much as talent. Zac Williams left GWS to get a midfielders pay packet at Carlton. Turns out he hasn’t been fit enough to play on ball but that’s really a different story. Half back flankers or wingers only approach the same pay packet if they are two way weapons. Salem at his best qualifies for that. Someone like Saad fits the bill. Or Brad Hill (in theory). Gus does not. If Gus wants a bigger pay packet and bigger role that’s entirely reasonable. I wouldn’t begrudge him one bit. That’s entirely in line with my thoughts that he’s our 5th most important defender and can only be paid as such.

If we offered Gus 9 years 900k per year he’d probably sign it tomorrow The question is are we even offering him what we’ve done for Salem and Viney. I’d imagine that’s about the most we can do and it might not even be that much.

Roughly equal. Gus would be of more value to a team without intercepting defenders (and at least theoretically more valuable as a midfielder if given free reign of a midfield with no defensive duties). McStay doesn’t get much of the ball or do much with it but his ability to halve contests and pressure for a tall are both incredibly valuable to modern footy. Even more so to a side that plays like us. Even more so when the player who did that role for us (T Mc) is nearing the end and battling numerous injuries (although that’s a risk for McStay too).

Champion Data is the myth, not Gus' kicking. His left hasn't been much use since his first two seasons. You aren't really dual sided if you don't hit targets with it. His efficiency is mostly because CD grade any long kick that goes to a 50/50 as efficient and because Gus will kick it long or short and wide. He rarely uses the corridor or makes aggressive switches and he flat out can't kick on the run, his technique falls apart. He also doesn't provide line breaking or corridor run. Watch him receive the ball by dropping back or sweeping wide, that's useful at times, but doesn't result in quick counter attacking. Our game plan is to go wide and safe out of the back half, but there's still a way that Salem when at his best will demand or win the ball and move it on quickly enabling counter attack.

Franklin, Rance, Brandon Ellis, Gary Ablett Jnr. All of those left great sides that won premierships after they left.

If we do it all in one year or as a direct trade, then yes, I should've said that. If we use the pick this year and the cap space next year it can be a 2 for 1. I'd be very happy with McStay for Brayshaw straight up.

He’s been very good this year but a lot of that’s because Lever and Salem have been missing. When Lever’s intercepting and Salem is rebounding what role does Gus fill that isn’t somewhat redundant? And - just as JJ has filled Gus’ wing role I can see Rivers with another preseason slotting back in to his best and growing his game. Bowey obviously won’t be as good in the air but otherwise does everything else Gus does and more. The compensation is a pick and 600k? 700k? 750k? It’s means to bring in 2 good players (one pick, one free agent) or one very good one in more of a need. Or we could get creative, trade the pick backwards, split the salary and bring in 4 useful players and drastically improve our depth. We’ve apparently sniffed around key forwards this year. Until McStay is signed, sealed and delivered to Collingwood we’d be silly not to be involved. I’d also be willing to miss out for a year next year and land someone for 2024 Edit: I have no interest in off the field either. The players all know the realities of the business and that there’s a number at which it isn’t worth matching. If we’re relying on Gus to sell memberships then we’re in trouble.

I’m sure if we drafted one with some speed off the mark and accountability to complement Tracc and Oliver, like say a Sparrow or Harmes we probably would

If we can get an assurance from the AFL that the compo would be end of the first round then I’m more than happy to let Gus go. In fact I’d say it would be the prudent move. We’ve got 3 defenders on A grade coin, plus Petty. We’ve got a ruck and mids on top line money, plus Viney and Langdon. We have to use money and picks to lure key forwards/high impact forward half players. Jackson (staying or) going is part of that, but more can’t hurt. He’s doing a lot of good things this year but he’s still at best our 5th most important defender and there’s no point breaking the pay scale for that position. Not when Bowey and Rivers are premiership players, Hunt is capable and defensive depth can be found in the draft. He’s not going to get any faster or become a good kick. Those flaws aren’t going away. We should offer him a deal in line with his role in the side and be ok if other teams are willing to go way beyond that.

I agree. Sometimes the sub must rotate for match fitness but I’d much prefer Hunt or go with Chandler and actually brave some on ball minutes for him

Yep, we refused to cheat. Although I do wonder if it’s because there’s not really a clear option with the current side? We need Jackson to cover Gawn. We need Weid at least in part for a forward target. Taking Melk off removes a guy who used to have the ability to snag a goal late. Taking Tomlinson off would’ve left us short down back as our flankers aren’t really adept on covering talls as well as some are. JJ was hampered by his knee splitting in half last night. I would’ve pulled the pin on him at 3/4 time. But that would’ve meant some Spargo or Bedford wing minutes. Easier to justify the cheating if you’ve got more versatile players.

His pace and penetration are both down but I thought it was easily Salo’s best game since he came back. Won contests and was calm by hand. Kicking wasn’t bad just lacks punch. Possibly an argument for resting him from a Perth trip, getting some fitness in to him but that seems unlikely when he’s building week to week with match fitness.

Spargo would get more possessions - and hear my out on this, I know it’s an unusual ideal - his team mates actually kicked to him. The Harmes howler. Fritsch of half time. So many examples of Spargs making great position and being unsighted or skill errors not finding him.

He had a great first half but resorted to grabbing it from the ruck or whacking it forward to no one in the last quarter. It was hero ball kind of stuff when we needed composure and to stick to the basics. That said, he could probably read that Oliver was unable to handball on his right and most of the midfield were running on empty after last week.

Gawn 92% Weid 72% Jackson 69% Melk 80 Fritsch 87 That adds up to always having at least 1 tall forward and 2 mediums. Or 2 talls for 30%. Given the dogs don’t have dominant marking talls we could easily compete with mediums who provide better movement and defensive pressure. Big Harry chases, tackles and hits up on the lead as well as halving long contests. Keeping Weid’s game time low should’ve allowed him to give maximum effort per minute, and be fresh to be powerful in his attack on the ball. Sadly that wasn’t the case

Pretty sure Fritsch was better. Weid started well. But then for 3/4’s all he managed was one lead and goal. No competitiveness under a string of high balls. In fact barely got near most of them. Whether it’s athleticism, strength, courage or reading of the flight he just doesn’t have it and likely never will.

They need to get Brayshaw the heck out of the backline. He’s undone the balance of it. Completely unaccountable. Doesn’t provide genuine line breaking and can’t hit the side of a barn. Just zones off a mile and racks up chip kicks or long bombs. If JJ needs a rest he can go to the wing. Otherwise just drop him and bring in Bowey or Hunt and get back to the structure of last year. Otherwise it’s Brown for Weid and Lever for Tomlinson and that’s about it. Melksham for JVR, Chandler or Bedford? I doubt it.

In fairness, Selwood for most of his career has shrugged his shoulders to avoid tacklers and been happy to get free kicks along the way. He’s stayed upright and played through contact knowing that the free kick or broken tackle are both good results. The arm raise and leg drop technique was really bought in over the last few years. Toby McLean was the best at it. Dylan Grimes probably second. I understand why you could have some sympathy for Ginnivan but he and his coach have both been absolutely blatant. He’s thrown himself to the ground more than any player I’ve ever seen. And he even went as far as getting filmed at training practising his manoeuvre. His free kicks per game average is on par with Max Gawn who I think is the most infringed player in the league. I’m not surprised he’s forced the league to act.

Isn’t that exactly what Melksham did v Port? Apart from iffy contests and marking the main reason Weid doesn’t get an extended run is his lack of defensive pressure. Tomlinson can’t turn. I can’t see how he helps. It’s not Melksham’s strong suit either but he was very good defensively against Port. I see the competition for Tommy Macs spot coming down to Melksham, JVR, Hunt and Joel Smith. They’re the 4 guys who have the combination of height and mobility.

Sure. If given 6 months, not in 6 days.