DeeSpencer

I think in this draft kicking 7 in the TAC grand final and having good athletic ability won't get passed pick 30. Maybe even top 20. Not sure about the name but the guy can play.

Every team takes chances on other teams cast offs. We really had no midfield when Michie, Newton and Riley came on board, all worth a go. Ben Kennedy we swapped in for Toumpas. Hardly a costly move and if our list hadn't progressed we could've easily played him more and kept him for another year. As for Balic being a state league player, in his second year this year: 2 state league games, 4 AFL games before a lay off with personal leave, then first game back in 8 weeks in the WAFL he had 27 touches. He's a promising youngster and the concern is more his injury and personal stuff than him being a state league talent.

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On the Lever money issue I think if he plays like a 750k player there won't be any issues. That's every chance of happening. Prestia was bought to Richmond on big money and people weren't happy mid way through the year but after a solid end to the year and obviously the team success no one is questioning it now.

I think he's right that players should try to maximise their wage whilst also understanding quality of life is important, as is family, as is injury management, as is development etc. The most money up front isn't always the smartest money. Same with his take on loyalty. AFL clubs can be very loyal in terms of caring for players post career, looking after families, taking the high road defending players. Loyalty is a key part of business - when you treat people right as a business they keep coming back. Players who do their best for clubs will be rewarded with longer deals, clubs who do their best for players will often see those players happy to stay. He's spot on about when players have no value they'll be moved on, I think it's overplayed as a modern concept, that's been happening in footy for decades.

He's soft as butter and mentally weak. A few good hits and a tag and his March form disappears every year. We need outside run but not at the cost of adding a player who will go to water in September (if we make ever make it). Get our young mids fitter and faster and then look for some running players in the draft rather than take on speculative types.

The end of year Misson injury update stated that they finally got a correct diagnosis and surgery for his heel condition this year after he carried it all through 2016 and that he was back running. There's no way of knowing if he's 100% until he's back training and playing but it's clearly on the right path.

They might because they are keen to avoid having to use a good pick on father-son Patrick Naish. If they upgrade one pick to 10 before any team bids on him then they get to pick a guy they want before giving up later picks for Naish anyway. I think they'll ideally want to hold one over for next years stronger draft but if that's not achievable they might want pick 10 now to get someone in like a good midfielder who can given them a bit of extra depth for another September run.

I'm convinced 10 and 27 is a fair deal. So our job is to offer something lower publicly and then we can go up to 10 and 27 and save face with the Crows who have lost a heap of young players and need to look tough. Of course we can't make an offer public until Lever declares his interest to us and the trade period starts.

I like Tommy Mc as a back up ruck. I don't mind the idea of Weid in that role especially if mobility becomes more important but I'm not sure it will to that extent. Still think you'll need 200cm guys in the ruck. So if we don't add a Spencer replacement we may as well keep both of these guys to see which one (if either) makes it. If we do add another then I might cut one of them. Also I wouldn't rush. Both of them need to build their bodies to be good VFL players yet alone AFL players. Give them September and October and give them a strength and fitness test to see which one has made progress. If they are getting fitter and stronger in a 6 week training block then keep both because the ruck is still mainly a test of determination and character more than skills!

It's a shallow draft, I think if he proves in testing that he can run like an AFL player that he goes in the 2nd round. Might be why we are trying to get an extra 2nd round pick.

??? Giants ????? Titans ????????????? Rams This isn't an easy week, then again, I don't find any of them easy

Walls might've got Kelly and Lever confused. I rarely saw Lever fumbled. Got the ball knocked out of his hands and dropped a mark or two he could've taken but didn't fumble. Of course it was a clear free kick. Martin and Rance have become protected species who can do whatever they want. It's the star player rule and it's a good incentive for the Dees to get a couple of true superstars.

Watched him closely at the ground and he played reasonably well considering the cards he was dealt. Tagged all day by Townsend who belted in to him with elbows off the ball non stop. Lever often positioned himself in front of Riewoldt's space and took away Riewoldt's influence on the game. Talia couldn't go with Jack on a hard lead so it was important. Townsend would hold Lever non stop to prevent him jumping at the contest. The only time Lever returned the favour with a little tug of his shorts he was penalised a soft free for a goal. Mopped up well under pressure and didn't fumble and had some aggressive kicks, went at 80% DE. Still not sure how you can project him as a key defender with any confidence but I've got doubt he's a super smart football who can play the interceptor role.

I feel like either Melbourne or Adelaide could just turn 10 & 27 in to 15 and 16 themselves without all the other stuff. 10 - 1395 27 - 703 = 2098 15 - 1112 16 - 1067 = 2178 Very little difference between that as it stands. And the Tigers want to shift those picks to avoid matching a good pick on father son player Naish. Pick 10 might be high enough to get them ahead of any bid for him which they'd then only have to match with pick 27.

Rumours were the Dogs and Pies were both heavily in to him. I think the Dogs lost out on salary cap space but I think he chose us over the Pies. There was a lot of talk for both teams before the finals started after which the media have only mentioned Melbourne. The Pies are also salary cap strapped. Hawthorn around 2009-2013 are about the only club I've seen as a true destination club where players were lining up to join them at a cut price rate. Even the Swans had to pay huge money for Buddy. The salary cap has rocketed up and with free agency players know how much others are getting when they are out of contract. The only players who will be signing somewhere below market rate will be experienced veterans keen for success. No 22 year old will move club for a less price to go to a destination.

Talia and Hartigan were on those talls most of the game though. Lobb isn't a smart footballer. Not sure about that actual contest but I'd expect another player was on Patton and he came in 3rd up.

Lever plays half back flank for the Crows. The position is changing and he has great intercept skills - reads the play beautiful, strong in the air and then whilst not a great kick he gets the ball moving quickly. Has an excellent side step. What he hasn't done so far in his career is ever (from what I've seen) defend a tall opponent one on one. He might become that but he hasn't done it yet and so it's a pretty blind leap of faith if we are going to use him in that role. Making him accountable to a tall would limit a lot of his strengths - particularly his intercepting and attacking drive. I think he's worth a lot of money (not stupid 900k but a lot) in his current role and that's how I'd use him. Maybe once he fills out he can transition to a tall defending role but for now I'd keep him roaming on a flank. There's always the draft, trades and delisted free agents to find a decent lock down tall.

AFC N: Steelers dragged down a level, Ravens and Bengals yuck E: Pats rolling, Bills frisky S: Titans steam rolling, Jags and Texans have something W: KC firing, Denver and Oakland not as convincing, poor Chargers NFC: N: Looks a fun division. Packers need to stop the injuries. Vikings need reliable QB play because the rest is great. Lions somehow are now dependable in some odd way. Bears will live and die on getting easy run defenses. E: Big test for Cowboys tomorrow. Giants are such a waste of talent. Eagles need a run game, hope they found it. Washington aren't done yet S: Falcons scraping in again. Odd games elsewhere else. Think it could have a few twists and turns W: Could the Rams win it?

My thoughts on the 10 second run off rule are if it's 1st or 2nd down that's really unfair because I'd back a team to line up and spike the ball within the 8 or so seconds that were left if they had to. The Lions were on 3rd down so if it was called a no score correctly the first time they would've had to be seriously quick to get lined up and run any kind of coherent play and so the 10 second run off makes sense. In this situation I guess you have to always throw so it ends up in the end zone. The falcons defender comes off his man and makes one hell of a tackle to stop him short, so credit to Atlanta for a great play as well. The 10 second rule is logical and consistent if not always fair I guess.

Rams were great but lets not forget the 9ers were doing it with Hoyer who I really like as a back up but shouldn't be a starter and a younger less talented defense. I'm all in on Kyle Shanahan just as much as McVay. Both teams will have to up the defense and get better QB play to sustain good offense against good teams, but loving those offensive coaching gurus. I'm expecting coaches from their system to spread throughout the league like Hawthorn assistants. The way they design run-pass option players and simplify the decisions for QB's is just a mile ahead of a lot of other coaches right now.

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- 0:05 clean take and dish off at pace - 1:03 nice lead up and extension to the ball, double grabs the mark. Weights the kick in to the corridor - 1:30 keeps his feet whilst gathering - 1:58 nice finish for a goal - 2:12 nice gather and slips a tackle to dish the handball - 3:20 good run to receive and hit up - 4:12 excellent smother and left foot finish After that I'd seen enough. His tackling is bad, his kicking technique is a little funky. I'd want to see more to know if he's going to have the physicality required to be a regular player but promising WAFL stats are a decent sign he can mix it with men. But he's got really nice movement in tight, decent vision and seems solid over head. If he's a strong runner and got some physicality I'd be happy with him as a depth half forward/midfielder with some upside.

Melksham and ANB aren't fast and don't have a great amount of x factor and they thrived playing half forward this year. I'd see Balic as a similar player. Getting numbers to the contest, winning the ball and linking up with team mates in congestion then spreading out of it seems to be our playing style. So whilst I'd love to only trade for guys who fill needs I don't think that's always going to happen and doubling down on the players who can play how you want to play isn't a bad idea. Especially if they're available at a cheap price.

He had a nasty wrist injury that saw him slip a lot in the draft, otherwise would've been closer to 20. If his personal problems are all homesickness related I could see why Freo would want more than a mid 3rd rounder, but they aren't in a great position to negotiate. He has a busted shoulder, fumbles the ball, struggles to tackle and pressure without falling over either via poor instincts or poor lateral movement and seems more suited as a player who runs hard in to open space than in the way Goodwin operated the forward line this year. I'd expect they'd be happy to let him go for a pick in the 40's.