DeeSpencer

I really like Petty but the gap between his good games and ordinary games at VFL and good efforts and ordinary efforts at AFL down back is a little scary. When he's on it's good, when he's forced under the ball or misreads it he gets beaten badly and lacks the pace to fix it. If Frost goes I'd have him in line for the CHB role but if he's messing up (as above) I'd like to see more of him forward, the lack of speed and dynamic skills isn't ideal there but he jumped at the ball way better than I expected, held a few marks and kicked straight and that's half the battle these days. I'd genuinely consider an outside the box solution next year and swap Weideman and Petty between CHB and CHF as required. It might end in disaster (and I wouldn't be chopping and changing every game) but I just think the best possible development for both of those guys would be getting time at either end. I reckon the Weid would hold so many more marks after some time down back.

Talia and Hartigan took the dangerous marking forwards - usually talls, although sometimes Hartigan would move to a medium marking type player and Lever would take a dud tall and dictate position. Jake Kelly was also there to take a mid sized player - he's the most similar to Hibberd at this stage of his career (and Luke Brown played on the smalls). The reality is Lever is most like Nick Haynes, Tom Stewart and Jeremy Howe and not like a proper key defender who intercepts like McGovern. At this stage Lever's not even as good as Haynes and Howe one on one but hopefully he gets to that level with a preseason. It's a vital position if done well. We'll always need another taller player to go with May to free Lever up to play his best footy. Hore doesn't have the speed, strength or height, he might be good enough to still get a game but he's not ideal. If Frost goes I think we'll see a competition between Oscar and Petty which doesn't inspire a lot confidence not but might not be too bad (especially if Petty wins). I'd also be moving Joel Smith back (assuming he's still on the list), he's undersized but at least has the athleticism, even if he's not the answer to replace Frost he's a chance to replace Hibberd or Jetta.

He’s kicked more than 30 goals in 4 seasons, might be 5 after this year. But sure, he’ll add nothing more than Ben Ken. Be concerned about injuries and overpaying - but free agents are always overpaid - don’t be silly and say he doesn’t have talent. How do you want us to play moneyball? There’s not a lot of good players out there for free or at below market cost, particularly not goal kickers. Go through the list of goal kickers who have kicked more than 30 goals, not many of them would be cheap. Sam Lloyd is one who was a good pick up by the dogs but he stank in the final, his home and away season goals probably outweigh his talent

My mistake. Wins not ladder position, I forgot that going from 2 wins to 4 wins didn't come with a step up the ladder. 4 years of ladder improvement, 5 years of wins improvements. Even if making a prelim last year was overachieving we had 10 win and 12 win seasons before that, a long way from our goal but also miles from the dark days of 4 wins or the 2 win Neeld season. Premierships are the aim, Brownlow's, Rising stars, AA's - popularity contests as much as anything most of the time. This years step back was dramatic but we won the same amount of games this year as Brisbane did last year and they are still a chance of making the grand final. It's possible to be critical about a lot of the club whilst still having some belief that we can get back to at least where we were in 16/17 if not better. I don't really buy the idea that the players aren't allowed to be positive, if they don't have belief that they'll bounce back what hope is there that it will happen?

The Members forum is a failed Collingwood idea, where Eddie would try to calm the masses. It's not a Melbourne thing. We are a bespoke club that should be centred around our history, our legacy and being small, efficient and smart. Quality over quantity. Peter Jackson seemed to understand that, he linked the club in to the city and focused on the heartland. Pert's desire for 70k members and silly things like a members forum won't get us anywhere. 2018 is done. Finished. Mistakes have been made, they are being rectified. If the administration wants to rebuild trust with the fan base then get the players back in to training in November and preach community interaction at open training sessions. Shake some hands, talk to the people who turn up. Anyone else is just hot air.

Did we or did we not improve ladder position every year for 5 years? Nothing in your post refutes what is a clear fact.

The Pies might decide with his injury history that the free agent compensation might be more worth to them, our contract could go all the way up to an end of first round pick compensation. With Stephenson and De Goey they don't really need Elliott and they could use the money and draft pick to sign a key forward (still rumours of Pies in to Jeremy Cameron) or draft some midfield replacements. Not to mention Grundy is out of contract next year and De Goey as well. Wouldn't shock me at all if there's a price point with Elliott where they have to bow out.

Or if you're spending your future free space. The worst possible result isn't being unable to afford Frost and him leaving or even trading out someone like Brayshaw. The worst possible result is locking in a bunch of cap space then being unable to match a big offer for Petracca after a breakout season next year.

A risk but a risk worth taking. If we think Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Petracca, Harmes, Gus, May, Lever, Salem, McDonald etc is the basis of a quality team just short in a few areas then we have to go all in on fixing those problems. What are the two biggest problems - lack of outside run and lack of goal kickers. Has the potential to go balls up but Elliott's a genuine forward talent on a list that is devoid of them.

It's hard to really judge these signings until after the trade period where you look and who came and went and how we are placed for depth but it is what it is I guess. I don't think he has the skills or decision making to be a regular but I guess his speed/endurance is decent and he did a couple of good things towards the end of the year.

Hawthorn would do with Frost exactly what they did with James Frawley. They'd try to have him play zone defending, probably end up moving him forward when he can't get the hang of it or keeps turning over the ball then eventually have him just sit on a man and bring the ball to ground. If he picks it up he handballs or kicks it simple and often sideways. In fact he'd probably just end up replacing Frawley at some stage in the next 24 months. I'm in the camp of keeping Frost because we don't have depth of back pockets or lock down key defenders but the idea that the Hawks are going to turn him in to star or capitalise on his pace to make him an attacking player don't seem right.

His decision making, tackling and poor aerial efforts would be found out even more on the wing. Half forward is his role, it's exactly the same role Clarkson got Scully for this year. We just weren't good enough to have that role provide value this year, but the coaches putting him straight back in multiple times this year tells me they still think it's vital. He protects the midfield by closing off the corridor and he tires out back flankers chasing him around all day. Simple development coaching on how to tackle and how to win the ball and get out of pressure with simple decision making could go a long way to fixing his greatest weaknesses.

He fumbles under pressure. He gathers and holds the ball in a kicking position and blind turns in to traffic. He slips away from tackles when he's in a vulnerable position. That's 3 things you absolutely do no want in a midfielder. What he does do well is run his backside off contest to contest, which makes him an up the ground player not an inside 50 player. What position is that most beneficial to - a half forward flanker. What position does he play - a half forward flanker. ANB doesn't need reinventing. All he needs to do is play the exact role he played in 2018 but to do it with more poise under pressure, better tackling technique and a slight but important work on forward craft when he finds himself forward. He went backwards big time this year mostly because the team went backwards and whilst I wouldn't bet on him being a long term quality player he doesn't need huge improvements to get back to a useful role player.

The turnover was one thing, but that's not what's stopping Frosty being an excellent player. Smart players with poor skills can just dial back the difficulty and be very handy. Dylan Grimes is a perfect example of the kind of ball user Frosty could be. The thing that this clip really highlights is Frost's lack of game sense. He lets Kennedy go up to the contest for a 2 on 1, not helping Hore at all, then isn't mentally quick enough to cut the angle down and tackle Petrucelle before he gets by him. Luckily he has great effort and speed to run him down but a smarter defender would've made a better play earlier.

He took a mark directly in front and kicked it further away from goal than towards it. He is what he is.

Goodwin started the year in the box before moving to the bench didn't he? And the McCarney problems. So there's coaching issues not just playing issues. Backline: No Lewis, no Jetta, no May, missing Lever for more than half the year. Midfield: We should've been better organised with Viney and Gawn here but the wings are the structural players and they were a disaster Forwards: No Melksham, Tom McDonald unable to get a kick for half the season. Coach subbed half way through the year The lack of continuity in players might have made it close to impossible for even Hodge, Hurn and Selwood to steer this years playing group around the park.

Depth is important but we have to operate from a position of belief that Steve May will get a good run at it next year and be an absolute lock at FB for at least 18 games. It's also not completely unreasonable to imagine Oscar McDonald with a preseason and consistent VFL form being a decent back up full back if needed short term. Lever should also get back to his best as an interceptor. Hore is depth for that role. But in terms of playing the 2nd key spot it's either backing in Petty, turning Tomlinson in to a key back, a miraculous Oscar recovery in to a reliable best 22 player or draft/trade. Similar with the decline of Hibberd and Jetta's injury troubles we don't have great options for back pockets. Maybe Joel Smith back to the backline or using Harmes, it's pretty skinny there. Usually I'd be in favour of trading a limited player whilst they have value and filling other holes but I just look at the way Frost can pair with May and fill 2 different spots as really valuable.

My biggest concern is the Tigers are more than likely going to win the flag putting pace in to games. Serious speed all over the park. What do we do with a 194cm wingman if the Tigers are chopping us up? The counter to that is the Tigers are using Josh Caddy on the wing now in a similar role to Mayne at Collingwood and Mitch Robinson at Brisbane. Those guys might be more nimble than Tomlinson but it's not exactly an unfair fight. A bigger body who can be a marking option on the wing seems to make sense. Those guys all bring really good tackling as well for when they are sealing the edges of stoppages or going back and being the first man back in the backline, can Tomlinson do that?

Tomlinson is an outside runner so I've got no idea what Roos is on about.

Jeepers Chip LeGrand could pull his big head in a little couldn't he. Doesn't take a genius to work out what might've happened, which is important but a job for the authorities. Not sure Spud's family needed their marriage and financial status aired in public, they've had the worst day possible already. Wasn't my cup of tea in the media but the praise from his colleagues has been overwhelming. That's a life to be proud of. RIP.

Favourites to land him according to the Age. Not sure how I feel about it. He's certainly a better wing option than just having no one. But he doesn't bring pace or great skills and more than anything he's just very nice. Chaired off Deledio so that might put to rest any rumours of ill will. Probably one of the smarter and more professional guys around. Might end up in our leadership group. Might end up at Casey.

Nothing about toughness like it's some kind of macho just go out and play through it, more about ways to make him resilient and I don't mean that with any negative connotations. It might be alternative therapies and mindfulness, it might be getting him to push his body to the limit in some other physical way that doesn't risk his head like climbing a mountain, giving him that feeling that he is strong. It might be taking a whole bunch of drugs to clear the mind, nothing like a good LSD trip! And it certainly involves a great deal of training so his confident to attack the ball in smart ways. Maybe he's just been unlucky and/or is part of a certain group of the population who concussions result in greater symptoms, but I'm off the belief that most of us are pretty similar physically. I'd be looking in to what causes these symptoms and what can be done to get ahead of them. You can't play footy without the risk of head knocks. Brayshaw's had a bunch of hits this year and last that I'm convinced would've seen him sat out for a long time when he was going through his struggles, what changed so that those no longer impact him the same way?

Not one, but he's hardly copped a bunch of significant blows that I've seen. I can't remember any kind of knock in the AFL game he played in and then there wasn't a significant blow in the VFL game. But even guys like Brayshaw and McCartin where all the knocks have been documented there's increasingly innocuous hits causing damage, the kind of head knocks that other players bounce straight up from. The easy answer is to put it down to bad luck or a physical predisposition. I'm not convinced of that. I'm not having a go at him, I'm just saying I think there's even more to consider than the physical damage. I just feel like there has to be to result in the symptoms.

Unlikely to be a popular opinion but I'm very skeptical on these concussions. Innocuous head knocks suddenly leading to symptoms months later in otherwise healthy individuals? Obviously multiple concussions as well as sub-concussive hits to the head like boxers and NFL players take I can understand, but one head knock and all of a sudden you're done for months, the body has to be more resilient than that. I think it's a poorly understood mental health issue as much as an neurological one. You start to lose confidence and belief and all of a sudden your brain is creating symptoms to avoid having to go back out there. I'm not saying it's all made up, I just think the treatment has to be holistic. One thing I'd say for sure with Kade is we better not pick him for the senior side until he's fit, strong, relishing the contests and showing he's absolutely ready and safe to play AFL footy again. Even if he flies through preseason he might do well to spend a month at Casey.

In what world is Menegola slow? He has an excellent burst of speed and power. His issues are ball use under pressure - he's very much a straight lines get it on the boot type - and durability. Had 2 excellent seasons at Geelong but he bounced off 2 AFL lists due to injuries and had an interrupted year this year. He'd be a risk. Not the sort of player you'd chase in contract.