Webber

All the nonsense going on here about his kicking foot is comical. The supporting foot takes all stress when kicking. The adverse forces to an injury such as JT's on the kicking foot are effectively negligible. If he wants to kick on his left, he can and will. To say it's the least of his worries is to overstate it. Jumping, landing (particularly landing), push off at high speed. These are the critical forces, not kicking.

'Lisfranc' is an injury named after Napoleon's chief medical officer who saw a spate of midfoot dislocations from soldiers falling off their horses whilst the foot stayed in the stirrup...ouch. It isn't a bone. The navicular is a bone, effectively the keystone of the foot as a weightbearing structure. It is prone to avascular necrosis (death from lack of blood supply) following fracture (stress or otherwise), and is historically problematic as we have seen with Jack Trengove. If he's running at full speed, the signs are very good. The next biggest issue becomes accumulated load, that being 2 hours of game time. Added issues are landing onto the foot and jumping off it. Kicking with it will not be a problem, and weightbearing on it whilst kicking with the other is just an extension of running forces.

Or.........oodles of talent, a beautifully natural footballer who needs to find his role and his consistency. I know which version the coaches think he has.

Hogan actually really enjoys playing with Dawes, and feels much happier when he's bustling around, according to his Dad. Pedersen played 2 games this year from my counting that absolutely got him picked for the next week, otherwise he was average to somewhat useful. That he is so beloved on here has me baffled, as his form line is very thin and very short. I'd be very surprised if he got more than a handful of games, depending on injuries. Good and well if he proves to be better than that, but he's fringe at best.

Wouldn't have known Ben Kennedy, but watching his highlights pack the one thing that stands out is competitive aggression. If those of you naysayers can't see what this club are trying to create, or should I say re-create, then you aren't paying attention. So far we have Kennedy and Melksham, and seemingly Bugg. What is the MAIN thing these guys have that Toumpas and Howe don't? Hunger for the hard ball and the contest. It's THAT obvious, and it makes me very happy.

This sort of reductionist, juvenile and ignorant nonsense really does degrade demonland. Always dross amongst the diamonds I guess.

They're not facts, they're opinions. I assume any comments on here are opinions unless prefaced by the indefensible 'The facts are...'. In my opinion Garland is of greater value than Howe, particularly his physicality.

Everything you say is correct Bossdog, but the thing that Howe lacks and which is vital to our upward progress, is competitive aggression. He is very talented, and very hardy, but he simply goes missing or misuses the ball when the physical pressure mounts on him and in the game. It is the reason the powers that be at MFC are resolute about not overvaluing him. An appropriate trade will be to our advantage.

Salem could be the biggest midfield story of next year if he makes the transition there. He is a gun.

The kind of patella tendon injuries O'Meara has are a huge concern. Much the same with chronic Achilles issues. He would be a big risk for the future, and I'd be surprised if any club would give up anything of real value for him. Prestia must have had some chondral (joint surface) damage going along with his lateral meniscal tear, on account of his continued absence. This is also concerning. How the joint stands up to repeated weightbearing can be unpredictable. Some develop intractable irritability (Clint Bartram, career over), some settle and develop medium term longevity (Luke Hodge). If MFC are really a chance for either of these two, there would have to be some very deep consideration of their likely longevity in the game, or for JOM a return to the game.

Really? Trengove does NOT lack aggression. It's competitive and therefore appropriate, just the kind you want and he has in spades.

This. Very underrated true Melbourne player. Good on ya Col.

I'm as bullish about Nibbler as any of the new boys. Loves the contest, reads the play very well, neat disposal and has excellent goal sense. After an interrupted preseason, he showed AFL quality and desire pretty much every time he got a show. An integral part of the new era is ANB.

I agree that he's a bog ordinary and inconsistent player who flames in occasionally, but his re-contracting says absolutely nothing about how we're progressing on trades.

Really excellent words, WJ, and with true perspective. As I posted on the AG retires thread, I have no doubt history will treat him as the truly emblematic figure in our game for our time. A representative of indigenous football, and the catalyst of a racially respectful future for Australian sport. When I look through your detailing of his career achievements, I'm still struck by how perfectly he represents our game from a cultural perspective. I see him as the true evolution of the indigenous kids that Tom Wills played Marngrook with in Western Victoria, or the 'All Aboriginal' Australian cricket team that the alcoholic TW managed before they toured England without him. In that future, the more negative reception he has latterly received will be a thankfully distant embarrassment. However, old habits die hard, and the men and women who expose those redundant habits at their own risk also create legacies that stand.

I think the Demonland consensus is that we're happy for Harley to be in red and blue. So that should get it done, then. Ok, Paul?

Adam Goodes is now to some, but will truly come to historically represent the most iconic figure in Australian Rules Football since Tom Wills as the nominated creator of the game. As a man of both Indigenous and Colonial heritage, in a game which by many is considered to have some roots in the Indigenous game of Marngrook filtered through a British sporting awareness, he perfectly harmonised those two influences. As the figurehead of all that is remarkable about the percentage over-representation (~ 8 times) of indigenous players in our only indigenous national sport, he was twice awarded the best and fairest player in the land. As some have stated here, he was arguably the perfect fit for our game, and the perfect example of an indigenous talent. Skill, size, strength, speed, endurance, and durability, with a mercurial awareness and an inspirational influence on his teammates, he played for and captained the first club of the modern era, The Sydney Swans. A club from the birthplace of the game, the first to take the premier competition to the whole nation, he won two premierships with that pioneering club, and after decades without the ultimate prize. He remained a one club player, which is still and will remain a measure of loyalty despite growing commercialisation. He was awarded Australian Of The Year for everything that he unconsciously represents (sorry stuie, but footy is at the heart of his award, and rightfully so) and has chosen to represent. Make no mistake, Adam Goodes is monumental to and exemplary of everything that this game is, and strives to be. It's our privilege that we saw him play and create history.

Agree binman. You only have to look at this to realise there are contradictory standards. No fault of Hodge's, but him being white gives him a 'real bloke' free pass in respect to this behaviour. Sadly, Australia is full of people who can't see the wood for the trees.

Absolute gold rpfc! Just proves that nobody really knows anything.

Above pick 25 apparently, which is being talked of as a quality marker. The panel all thought it was a good deal and fair, and very Roos-like with its efficiency.

Big trade chat on ABC grandstand an hour ago with industry insiders. Melksham straight swap to Dees for second round pick on 4 year deal is done they reckon. Of all the trade talk they discussed they were surer of this than any others.

He's not that lightly built, and doesn't need to build himself up other than will naturally occur with work and maturity. He's not a heavy player, he's never going to be, nor does he need to be. It's an ignorant and redundant criticism. He has football brains in abundance, and all the necessary traits to be a great long term player. Very competitive, very good decision maker, and excellent user. Very excited about Billy's future.

Ditto.

My thoughts too. Maybe a co-captaincy dream team?

Agreed. He's rubbish, who'd want him?