DeeSpencer

Freo's the one that's been mentioned. I think Essendon will look to get younger talls in. Collingwood probably have to keep both Mihocek and DeGoey (and Daicos, Moore etc). If Sydney lose Aliir then all of a sudden McCartin is looking far more likely down back, Blakey looks more like a mid/forward and they are going in to a season when they've done a lot of heavy lifting rebuilding with only Reid and the ghost of Buddy.

Did a few nice things against North in that scratch match at Arden St. That was up against Xerri who played a few games as a back up for North this year and is physical and not the worst. Who knows what he did after that. Not a name that got any publicity for scratch match performances.

He played as a forward for the first game and a half this season and looked completely lost and didn't provide much pressure, he then went to the wing after half time against the Tigers where his pressure and tackling at stoppages became an important part of our midfield. He's as good a tackler as there is when he's on a wing and can hunt in on a victim, the forward pressure has the ball pinging around and needs lots of quick changes of direction and he doesn't have that agility or reading of the play.

Vanders isn't a forward and certainly not a forward pressure player. He can't change direction after all his foot problems. Almost all his tackling in the midfield comes when he can line someone up and nail them. Depth midfielder who can play inside/outside is his best role. If we go with 3 talls and then I assume a couple of smalls it does leave us searching for that mid sized guy who can pressure and also make aerial contests when requires. Kosi does play taller than his height but he's starting on a big disadvantage. Bolton and Castagna for the Tigers can always fly and force a contest when needed. We need athletic and competitive small-mid sizers, we certainly can't play both Fritsch and Melk with their lack of pressure.

The best midfielder and the best player in the game who just won his 3rd Norm Smith spends a whole lot of time out of the midfield. Why - because Dusty doesn't have a great tank (same as Tracc) and his best value is creating or kicking goals as well as playing high game time. Tracc should play the same role. Start in the midfield for a high number of centre clearances then rotate forward calling his own changes with a half forward - Harmes, Sparrow, Viney whoever. If he gets a good match up he can go deeper and exploit the one on one, if he doesn't he can rest around half forward when the ball is down back then rotate back in. If he's just going to play as a pure mid he'll play 75% game time and spend a lot of it at backline stoppages. If he plays the Dusty role he can play 90% game time and hit the scoreboard far more often.

Buffalo, KC, Green Bay

Saad's better that Hibbo and not coming off a missed year. His value is around 14-20. Carlton should split the pick 7 and eventually Essendon will have to accept a later pick. But for now the silly stuff continues. Dodoro isn't actually as bad as people think. The only time he really dug his heels in was for Paddy Ryder and history will show Ryder was probably worth digging his heels in for. He turned down a deal on Daniher but it would've been brave to accept losing him before trying everything to keep him.

I didn't really like the to Hell part of it either, the club decided 2019 was pretty much a write off year, should've been left in the past. 2020 Vision (as cliche as it is) probably would've been better. Anything that was focusing on the present rather than what was in the past or to come. Anyway, the club might not go down the route of a similar documentary but I hope they keep providing us with some quality content, that was certainly the main take away.

Pickett had a broken finger that was likely to rule him out for most of last year, he's still likely to move back home to be with his family, he's probably the worst spoken player I've ever heard and the Tigers have had to make special applications to get him paid enough to support his family. Not to mention his criminal past. That might not be a nice thing to say but Richmond with their government funding to build an Indigenous centre (in Richmond for all the middle class white Richmond residents), huge supporter base with networks and in premiership contention could take a risk on bringing him over for what turned out to be a 1 game contract last year. He's stayed for year 2 but that might be the end of his time in Melbourne. If we drafted him he could easily have come and gone without playing a senior game. John Noble was a good find for the Pies. I like Will Snelling at the bombers. But the reality is the mid season draft was a roll of the dice and Dunkley was well regarded. He's an inside mid and only an inside mid but I saw enough at Casey to suggest he's a better player than James Jordon in my eyes and could easily stay on a list. He knows how to move in traffic, is a willing tackler and he hit the scoreboard from the midfield at Casey. I don't think Essendon are being foolish at all taking a look at him. We've had the Wanger's and McDonald's for years. Kyle's worth a shot on his own, but more than worth a shot if you can get Josh.

These are good questions so I’ll answer them. Brown isn’t lightly built but I don’t think he’s agile or powerful, he seems to have a high center of gravity. Long legs that are good for long striding but not for quick changes of direction. Lynch moves like a smaller player, he was a small until a growth spurt. Talls who can really move are the most valuable players in the game. Stewart had a great first half as the drop off defender. But the Tigers pressure, contested ball winning and speed of movement stopped him getting free after half time. That’s how you beat drop off defenders. If anyone knows that it’s watching Jake Lever when we do or don’t have good pressure up the ground. Plus we sent Fritsch to Haynes and Ridley in the last two rounds, we can use a medium player like him to man intercept markers and keep them honest. I just see it as Brown or Weid playing the Lynch role whilst Jackson does a bit of back up ruck and is great as a mobile second tall. He can chase, tackle and win the ball on the ground like a small and that’s more important

Yet only Hawkins averaged more than 2 goals a game. When you consider the top teams score a lot more than bottoms teams I think it’s the other 17 that contribute more than the 1 main goal kicker. And again my issue isn’t that Brown wouldn’t be good and a short term upgrade on Weideman. I just would rather stick with the guy we have than add Brown, cost Weid his spot in the side and not make a big improvement.

Lynch had 16 pressure acts and 3 tackles, Hawkins 13 and 3, Riewoldt 11 and 3. All are actively engaged with chasing and tackling and great movers (or were, Jack's slowing down a bit).

Kennedy and especially Darling set the bench mark for defensive pressure by key forwards. Brown is one of the worst. I"m not anti tall forwards. I'd have 4 of them in a side if they could pressure like smalls, but if they can't pressure well enough to contribute I don't want them.

There absolute is, my point is Brown isn't one of them. Until our pressure is consistently good I don't think we should bring in guys who aren't improving us in that area. Any gains we make with goal kicking won't be substantial unless we've got the rest of the side right.

Riewoldt was easily replaceable by a half decent taller player. Caddy maybe or Balta playing ruck/forward. Lynch and Hawkins absolutely not, but they are supreme all round players who crash packs, follow up at ground level and stay in the game. But Dusty was the one breaking open the game. When the goals dry up for Brown in big games - and they do for all key forwards - I don't think he does enough else to contribute.

There's no style that beats pressure though, we've seen in various forms since probably Sydney in 2005 that you got to take away time and space. Or at least since the Hawks in 2008 when they cut down a Geelong super team. Every flag since 2013 has been won by Clarko or a disciple. Getting pressure on is everything. The Dogs won it in 2016 without a recognised true key forward. The Tigers only had Riewoldt in 2017. The Pies nearly won it in 2018.

There's no way if 3 clubs were bidding for him that he's not getting a fairly solid contract in terms of dollars as well as years. He's certainly costing us something, including the possibility of a some years where he cost money and provides almost nothing due to age. But yeah, compare a few hundred grand of salary with a rookie, very late pick or delisted free agent who's a gamble to fill the role and the salary alone isn't a huge cost.

He's really not. High ball drop and elaborate action. It's all a bit inside out and so he struggles to kick across his body. Doesn't back himself to hit leads. No real left foot either. He's not bad but he's miles from good.

I know the game was wet but surely people watching tonight or any of the big finals noticed that key forwards kicking multiple goals aren't really a factor in finals. It's contested work, speed, pressure, gut running to create options, tackling, smarts and calm under pressure that matters. Ben Brown - not the kind of player that makes an impact in high pressure footy.

Lack of size and top end speed might be the concern but on a couple of highlight packages I want this kid so much. The baulks, sidesteps, vision, skills on both sides are all on display.

The half back experiment failed spectacularly which I do find odd given Harmes had gone there in games before and done very well. Trying to play to the game plan seemed to make him worse than when he was moved there and played on instinct. Harmes’ skills will never be great but his athleticism and competitiveness is excellent. He should tag the competitions best players and rotate between midfield, forward and wing in other games. Get the whole team playing selfless aggressive footy with rotations and roles and Harmes will be fine. The half back move was well worth trying but it’s clear he’s not worth trying to make in to something he’s not

Yep it’s a blatant rort. The Crows can threaten to match if the compo isn’t pick 2 so it’s in the Saints best interest really. The Saints keep their first round pick. The Crows get pick 2. 16 other clubs get screwed. North must be apoplectic.

I think experienced state league coaches are undervalued. It's one step down from the top stuff and things float down pretty quickly. They routinely beat the hot shot assistants that clubs have take on VFL duties. It's just a matter of knowing and finding a role for them. I still think Choc Williams is one of the best skill coaches in the game but he's not easy to work with so GWS and Richmond moved on, but whether it was 1950 or 2050 I'd have him as a skill development coach. Ayres' time at Port Melbourne indicates to me he's a strong man manager and good culture guy. In the right role that's worth far more than keeping up with game trends that are often changing. I doubt he wants to come back in to the system or if we have the right role but I wouldn't overlook strong state league coaches.

Casey makes a decent training ground but no one wants to head there to watch games. Frankston as the Geelong of the South East really should be more of a city. Especially if it ever got the transport links it needs - electrified rail to Cranbourne/Berwick/Pakenham, Rosebud and Hastings.

If you get to the unbelievable stage I’m not sure you can be a myth! Especially when you back it up with Selwood, Taylor, Duncan etc to keep that list going. Then in recent years add Tim Kelly, Stewart, Menegola, Parfitt, Guthrie (who then brings Blicavs), Miers to get this side to stay up.