DeeSpencer

Took us from 1944 points to 2035 points despite Hogan out for most of the year, Watts turning up in bad condition, no Vanders and Kent falling off the wagon. Developed ANB and Melksham in to pretty solid half forwards. Got a fair bit out of Hannan. And for a lot of the year our forward pressure took a big leap forward. There's issues for sure - talls getting in each others way, not enough leading up at the kickers and inconsistent tackle pressure. But Chaplin's coaching didn't make things worse than last year.

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.

Lever in and Watts out is a big change. Not sure I'd say it's a great result or a bad result but it's something. It's a big name coming and going. After that I think we are talking fringe players out and fringe players in. I'm nervous someone else may leave but that's most trade periods I guess.

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!

I thought all year Adelaide were susceptible to a team that could beat them around the ball and then out work them. Playing at the MCG in a swirly wind was a huge factor as well, that's an easy way to beat Adelaide's precision ball movement. They also lost to North in Tassie in the standard hurricane. Crows play with too many deep forwards who don't get involved in play (Jenkins, Ottens - usually McGovern, and Betts) and too many deep defenders who don't rebound. When it works it's great. But you can't play up and down the MCG, it's too wide, the ball travels in circles and you need all 18 contributing. It's funny because our best footy this year looked liked Richmond but the way we wanted to play with a high possession game with lots of kicking on angles looks like the Crows. Maybe the ideal football we want to play combines both sides. When we beat the Crows we had Pedersen and Watts as extra midfielders in the ruck who combined with Oliver, Viney and Petracca we smashed them around the ball with too much inside burst. Frost and Oscar played great down back on Tex and Jenkins. Tommy Mc forced a contest in a dirty forward role and Weeds did the same with not much ball but some tackling. Salem and Hibberd feasted on the turnovers the forwards and mids created.

Too slow and cumbersome to play forward these days. I'd take him on the list as a back up ruck but I wouldn't trade a good pick or pay the cash for him. If we can have him for a 3rd round pick on 300k a year for 2 years then he'd be a handy player at Casey and come in to the side if Max was injured.

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.

Every year I like to contrast our players with the Premiership team to see if we are compatible. I understand this is silly for multiple reasons - the game adapts, no teams are the same, Premiership teams always leave their own mark etc etc. And I'd like to say when analysing the Tigers it's clear that had a dream run with injuries during the year and of course if a few things go differently I'm doing this with the Crows (or Giants, Swans etc). List wise the Tigers have holes but their team is balanced between stars, solid players and role players. The Tigers were clearly a super fit team built around a strong backline, deep midfield and pressure forwards. What they lacked in skill they made up in work rate, grunt and belief. Whilst I don't think we should shake things up entirely to completely mimic them I do think it's worth noting how so many of their players are super fit and of above average speed and how they use that to pressure, out number at contests and spread when they win the ball. Backline: FB: Grimes Rance Vlaustin HB: Ellis Astbury Houli -- Broad FB: Jetta Frost Lever HB: Salem Oscar Hibberd – Hunt Start with the obvious here: - Frost isn't Rance. But if allowed to sit deeper then attack contests I think he can recreate some of what Rance does. He's one of the few defenders who has the closing speed to make ground in to contests like Rance does, and the way he turns intercepts in to rebounds is similar to Rance and with better team mates up field he can run and kick to space with more confidence. - Oscar isn't yet Astbury. Astbury is one of the most improved players in the comp and makes Rance's job easier. If he's fitter and has stronger repeat sprints then Oscar should move out to CHB and take the traditional CHF's. Oscar's kicking can be very good and his marking can be solid. - Despite different physical builds I think Jetta compares to Grimes in his ability to be a deep defender on smalls who can move on to 3rd talls. Both excellent defenders. If we acquire him then Lever reminds me of Vlaustin as an intercept marking mid/tall who can come up to mark and drop back and defend as well, both aren't technically great kicks but make good decisions and have length. - Hibberd is similar to Houli, hard running, powerful kick, competitor. Salem needs to get fitter but can easily bring what Ellis does to the Tigers as a kicker from half back - Finally in terms of a pacey 7th defender who can play small or tall I think we have the advantage with Hunt over Broad who is pretty limited but did a great job in the grand final on Lynch. - Note: There's no Vince. Each defender has speed and defensive ability. Floating around collecting disposals isn't enough. Mids: C: McIntosh Cotchin Edwards R: Nankervis Prestia Martin I: Graham Grigg C: Brayshaw Viney Stretch R: Gawn Oliver Petracca I: Tyson Jones - A fit Gawn with his mobility back is a weapon around the ground. Nankervis is a good player because he joins in as a midfielder after contesting the ruck. That's Max's challenge to get back to 2016 form - Viney and Oliver v Prestia and Cotchin. I'll take our boys. They need to clean up their kicking and get fitter and healthier but I'm confident we've got grunt in the midfield. - Petracca v Martin - the blueprint for Tracc is there. He has the rare power and burst in the midfield and can turn a game forward. - Jones and Tyson should be the moving parts like Grigg and Graham are for the Tigers. Grigg goes in to the ruck, for Jones it might be forward to pressure or back for some drive. Tyson's a solid mark and smart accumulator in space as well as a good clearance player, there's easily a role for him despite his kicking. - The wings are where we have question marks. Edwards is a classy player with speed and a nice step. Stretch isn't as good at this stage but he has some pace and will run all day. McIntosh is an important player even if he has limited kicking skills. He runs hard and provides a big body for contests on the ground and in the air. Brayshaw can do that if his tank develops, not quite as big but he's very good in the air. - Note there's no Lewis. The Tigers are swarming the ball and moving quickly. They don't carry a guy who doesn't run hard defensively just because he can pad the stats. Forwards: HF: Rioli Caddy Lambert - Castagna FF: Butler Riewoldt Townsend HF: Hannan Hogan ANB ---- Melksham FF: Garlett T Mc Vanders - The Tigers have pioneered a 1 tall set up out of need but I don't think we should copy it. Instead of using a midfielder in Grigg in the ruck I think we use 2 key forwards but give both of them second roles up the ground. For Hogan that means playing more like Caddy than a traditional CHF. Hoges should go in to the midfield and mix his time between CHF, midfield and deep. Starting in different positions allows him to find more of the ball and get different match ups instead of being predictable. I'm a genuine believer in Tom McDonald as a forward and him edging out Pedersen for the spot. I actually think Tom can recreate the way Riewoldt plays in terms of leading up for the footy and competing in big packs to bring it to ground, he also should bring a defenders work rate to chase and tackle, especially if ankle surgery gives him more lateral movement. His fitness makes him ideally suited as a 2nd ruck who brings a midfielders endurance and mobility in to the centre. - ANB is very similar to Lambert as a midfielder who plays half forward and brings ball winning skills and pressure. - Vanders is important in the Townsend role - the defensive forward who can provide and aerial contest, kick a goal every now and then and tackle with serious intent. Tagging intercept defenders is an important role - Garlett is very similar to Dan Butler. The challenge for Jeff is to make sure he's tackling and being physical because his speed is great - Melksham is a bit different to Castagna in that he's not as quick but finds more of it and can hit the scoreboard. Ability to either tag a rebounder or get them tired chasing him is where he provides value. - Hannan isn't a Rioli - then again, without the breakout Prelim game Dan Rioli is still a fair bit behind Cyril. Hannan doesn't have the strong tackling, but he is capable in the air, brings pace to get the ball and to chase/tackle and has the ability to grab a goal from no where. Tackling should and ground balls should be his focus for preseason. Note: There's no Jack Watts, ideally every forward brings tackle pressure but if there's an exception it's to Hogan who's young enough to improve it and has the work rate and strength in contests to overcome deficiencies. If there was a spot for a fitter and more committed Watts I'd actually like to see him recreate the way Shane Edwards plays on a wing/forward and on ball bringing some speed and class at stoppages then out in space.

??? 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.

Apparently Rawlings' asked to coach Casey if he didn't get the GC job so he can demonstrate an ability to coach his own side. I think it's logical to give a senior assistant a fresh challenge and some space to do his own work. So I'd say it's a promotion for Plapp but not a demotion for Rawlings. Will be interesting to see if Plapp takes the defenders or if they shuffle things. Wouldn't be surprised to see Troy Chaplin take the backs. Or Plapp to work in development and Egan take the backs please!

Goodwin categorically stated the other day he's a committed MFC player. And for a start Freo have pick 5 and some decent young players. He wouldn't go for nothing.

Harlett's on huge money. I think a big part of moving Watts on will be storing up extra salary cap space so that we bring in Lever without putting too much pressure on the books. Petracca and Oliver will need pay rises soon and I've got no doubt we'll look for another trade target in 2018/2019. Got to give Jason Taylor some picks to work with and have to store some salary cap space so you can make another move in the future.

How many games did Bruce play for Hawthorn in year 1 and year 2 of the deal? Not sure he played any in the 2nd year. What's wrong with - don't like our terms, stay and fight. Green didn't chase, didn't tackle, didn't want contact, he was only getting a kick when it was easy. Maybe could've been kept but it wasn't a harsh decision. Robbo was completely done, body was finished.

They sacked Deledio and paid Prestia huge cash last year! Watch 1997 about the Crows. Blight sacked all their senior players and didn't even meet them in person to do it.

1 player in that group was unceremoniously dumped in James McDonald. Bruce didn't want a 1 year deal and quit. Green, Grimes and Trengove were all done. What do you want, a parade for them? Dunn was found a new home to allow him to continue his career whilst Melbourne got games in to young players, it was a win win Goodwin is part of a broader list management committee with Todd Viney, will you say he has not historical connection with the MFC? Goodwin was coach in all but name of Jack's break out year in 2016. He's made some strong comments but otherwise supported Watts. I don't think moving him on is the vendetta some make it out to be. I might just be the logical decision to improve the team and the best thing for Watts as well.

Ball butcher who has endurance but no pace. If we are playing slower hard running options on the wing we are better off with Lewis - who barely tries defensively but can rack them up and hit a target going forward and Tyson who is no worse than Gibson on a wing. To be honest I'd take a hard running ball butcher with pace - seems to work for Scully and Kamdyn McIntosh, but not a one pacer.

Really liked the look of him in 2016 but seemed he had an up and down year this year and only played 2 games. Nice mark and big kid but not sure he's all that athletic or skilled. They like Clurey and Jonas as 2nd/3rd tall options. Hombsch seems preferred as a taller player and Dougal Howard is exceptionally talented and can play both ends. So maybe Austin is an option. Not sure he'd be more than a 3rd to throw in with Frost and Oscar to compete for 2 spots whilst Tommy plays forward. Might be better off heading to the draft and trying to find a player with a higher ceiling.

He turns to water with any kind of pressure. Couldn't imagine we'd trade Watts only to get Hall.

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.

Love the hard nuts like Viney, Jetta, Oliver, Hibberd and a guy like Jayden Hunt who will throw his body in to contests. Players willing to put their bodies on the line will always be endearing to me. Not so sold on someone like Bugg who can be a pest but when it works it does give the team a bit of swagger. His punch was out of character and I didn't like that we left him by himself on that. Not convinced by Lewis and Vince getting suspensions as their careers age and they slow down and get frustrated. Especially when it's off the ball strikes or rather soft little elbows that are just silly. Think there's room in this side for a forward line aggressive player who might suspended for rough tackles or bumps but is a physical presence and serves it up to teams. Enter Aaron vandenBerg possibly.

Port's 2019 first round pick for Jack Watts and our 2nd round pick this year or next? They might bank on themselves being very good and us being bad.Probably too much but not out of the question. Otherwise 29 and something a little extra isn't too bad. Not sure 10 and 29 gets Lever but it should.

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.