DeeSpencer

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.

Steelers Dolphins Cowboys

Rance, but he can play on an opponent and he's a one man wrecking machine at full back preventing teams from scoring. Lever might become that but right now he hasn't shown any ability to play on a key forward opponent and gets to float around half back where there's more room and less at stake. In terms of comparing positions I'd say an intercepting half back isn't as rare and as valuable as a key forward, but I'd also say Lever is about as good as a prospect as you'd find in that position.

Arizona (But yuck they aren't that good, but the Colts might be terrible) New England Dallas

Think we might have to give up more than pick 10 but I don't want it to be much more. I'd try to keep next years first off the table, but at the same time I wouldn't want to give up 2nd round picks either so it's a tricky one. We have to give Jason Taylor some ammunition in the draft. I'd probably be willing to add 2018's first round pick for Adelaide's pick this year or next year but that would be a gamble. A couple of second round pick shuffles might be the safer bet. Or maybe we give the Saints something small to move pick 10 to 7 or 8 and then that satisfies the Crows. The big question might be what other business do we have in trade week and if the answer is nothing major then we can bit very patient. The last few years Mahoney has always stressed the importance of locking in deals early to allow some more movement with other players but I'm hoping we don't trade anyone out and I don't think we'll be trading anyone major in if we get Lever.

Maybe, but not really. Adelaide could've matched the contract so really they had just as much leverage then as they do now.

Yeah I'd like to see only the players be able to call for a time out in any situation. That way it has to happen before the snap. Either way it was a horrendous attempt at a block by the Chargers player and it cost me my tips. That whole game featured a couple of teams who look pretty decent in some areas but also really sloppy and poorly coached by rookie head coaches. I think Kansas City and Oakland would be looking at that game last night and knowing they have to do take care of some things - Denver's pass D, Chargers edge rushers, keep Rivers in check, pressure Siemian - but overall knowing if they play smart they'll have a big advantage.

Ahh the Bears go for a big comeback against the team that should've won the superbowl last year and then somehow drop 2 passes and can't get in with 4 goes from the 6. Lost Kevin White as well so now undeniably the worst WR group in the league. Hard to work out what is real and what is just a small sample size in week 1. So far I'm willing to believe in: - Cleveland being a really plucky team and far tougher to beat - Jacksonville's defense and running game - The Rams defense - The Colts are screwed with Luck Wait and see time with a lot of other teams deserving or needing a 2nd viewing to see what's real.

I'd add 2 extra wins and give them the division if Zeke doesn't get suspended. The OL is fantastic and any RB would put up yards for them but Zeke adds the passing game component as a back and is so versatile defenses can't get a read on him.

Falcons Steelers Chargers

Cowboys most likely lose Elliott for 6 weeks which sends their offense back to earth and their defense is ordinary. They aren't better than a 10 win team. Giants defense is legit but their offense can't run the ball or protect Eli, again, they shouldn't win more than 10 games. Eagles have a chance to be very good on both sides of the ball if the additions at corner and WR work out.

Ok I'm back in for tipping and thought I'd pick the division champs: AFC: North: Steelers East: Pats South: Texans West: ???? Chiefs WC: Raiders, Bengals NFC: North: Packers East: Eagles South: Falcons West: SeaHawks WC: Giants, Panthers Aside from the usual standouts - Pats in the AFC East, Packers and SeaHawks in the NFC, there's some really competitive divisions. With a bumper crop of QB's coming in to the league the teams without one - in particular the Jets, the Bills might fall by the wayside quickly. Otherwise a lot of teams will have something to offer. I expect the 49ers offense with Hoyer playing for Shanahan before will surprise a lot of people. They won't be Atlanta but they'll score. As a Bears fan I'm hoping the team restores some proper Bears defense and they can if they stay healthy. After that most of the season is just living in hope Trubisky develops in to a franchise QB.

Carlton's the only team of those rumoured (Ess, St Kilda, North) that I'd be interested in if I was Kelly. And surveying the other options in Victoria you've got Geelong (no cash), Richmond (minimal cash if they pay Dusty), the Hawks (no draft picks and still in flux), the Dogs (likely no cash), Coll (well...) and us - still trying to make finals and probably focusing on Lever and developing our young players. So I'd take GWS' offer if it's 2 years at 750-800 and then become a free agent after that, with a better than even money chance of a Premiership and maybe a Brownlow as well. I'd come back to Victoria after 2019 and be surveying the options. I've got no doubt the Dees would be selling that to him - reach free agency whilst our side builds in other areas then come in as the cherry on top.

The Clarko saying 'If you can't kick you can't play' is pretty true (even if Melbourne ignore it) but more than anything if you can't run you can't play AFL football. Trenners doesn't have the pace to play AFL these days. McCartin looks quick and agile enough for his role but he doesn't have the tank to play AFL. If he develops it and stays injury free he'll be a very good player. If he keeps breaking down and can't ever get fit then he'll be a bust. I'm hoping the kid makes it for his own sake and then we can just enjoy Petracca without silly comparisons. Petracca's tank is also a mile off where it will end up so I'm keen to see him with a few preseasons when he's fit enough to play midfield, half forward and then rest close to goal.

He's missed more games than he's played so far... Quality footballer when fit. Wasn't fit when he rocked up to the club in November. I hope he gets a clear run at it now for a long time, but my expectations are more that he'll have to be managed at times as well so he's in peak fitness for important times.

May went to high school at Melbourne Grammar. That makes him pretty much a dees fan right? He'd be number 1 on the list of who I'd chase but I also think he'll stay at the GC unless they have another disastrous year.

Nope. We overrate all young players, every team does, but when comparing with each other I don't think Salem's been placed wrong. Billy Stretch is a beauty, he could and probably should play most of the next 100-150 games running a wing, I think he could slot in to most teams in the comp and do a job. Kent has talent and potential to do some really good things but is still an inconsistent prospect for the future given he has to fix up his weaknesses (yet alone his body) and consistently use his great attributes. Salem's prospects are above both and I wouldn't have many ahead of him. He's a really clever ball user and reader of the play. Sure it was dud game for the team but he racked up 27 touches after being out for 15 weeks in round 23. His tackling is really good. He's far tougher and more courageous than he looks. And he has enough pace to chase down or evade players. If he gets fit I'm convinced he'll easily adjust to being a solid contributor to the team and in time if the team improves and as he gets experience he'll be a big moment guy. We're building a very combative physical side to play a finals footy brand but class players stand up in big moments.

I find Dom the hardest player on our list to rate right now. I'd believe someone if they told me in 5 years he was a multiple AA and in the games best dozen midfielders with seriously good clearance work, excellent accumulating around the ground and a habit of kicking a goal. I'd also believe someone if they said in 5 years he's had a decent career, battled a few injuries but is more of a role player who does ok at the clearances but butchers the ball by foot and can be exploited for pace. My eyes were telling me that pre christmas he was looking like taking his best form of 2014 and the 2nd half of 2016 and going to a new level. Unfortunately then he was injured. I wouldn't be against taking a bit longer to bring him back by giving him an extra few weeks of preseason just to see him at his best instead of rushing him and having him enter another season underdone.