Webber

He's a midfielder. No doubts.

Brett Kirk is an assistant coach at Freo under Ross Lyon, so maintaining the Roos connection.

Mitchell is top 5 sharpest with hands and feet in televised football history I reckon, so if we're looking for that kind of talent, we'll be looking a loooooong time.

Interesting thought Darren Milburn, who with Ling are obviously graduates of the right 'culture', and success. I would still be putting my money on Brett Kirk however. Are there any other ex-players from Roos Swans era that are coaching 'staffers' at other clubs? Kirk was captain at the Swans, has years of the Roos ethos in his makeup already, and is clearly very close with Roos. I would naturally assume he's the first one to think of. Also, is age, or lack of, a factor with a successor?

Is there a reason Brett Kirk is not being discussed. After Freo's season ends of course....

I'd consider keeping James Sellar. He's got lots of talent and reads the play well, but gets the absolute yips when his confidence drops, and it seldom doesn't. As a tall utility, he's got huge upside if his head can be fixed, and that's where I think our new coach (who is he again ... ?) seems to be a transformer of men.

I thought that too. Spring in the step he had.

Your last sentence made me realise I'm probably one of those, Fifty-5. I've been all for getting rid of JW since the middle of this year, and still think his lack of competitive physicality is shamefully obvious and hugely limiting. The one hope I now have, is that if THAT can be improved, then Roos is probably the man to facilitate it. JW's talent is just as obvious, so he's worth a bit more investment based on Roos feeling that he can work with him, and he's on record as thinking he should be retained, but personally I'd give him a 2 year contract at MOST. I'd say 1 year, but there's a bit too much of a threat in that, which could be crippling for any player.

Sam Kekovich and Matt Preston.

Probably, but at least they'd be 50% better! On Aish, it amazes me when people assume first round draftees will be in the top choice 22 in their first year. You'd think we would learn! And statistically across the AFL, I'd be surprised if it were actually the case.

And yet you're giving him no scope for improvement, but are allowing that for Toumpas, Evans, McKenzie (IMO), and Aish (no AFL experience). He's gutsy, a great worker, reads the play, gets a lot of it, and was getting bugger all help in a disorganised mess of a midfield. What makes you think you've seen the best of Matt Jones?

Pretty happy too B-H, but while we talk about keeping the lid on next year's expectations, I'm not so sure it'll stay that way. Expectations tend to build as distance from reality (this season) increases. A percentage over 75% and a smattering of wins would do it for me. Just not sure what a 'smattering' is.

Considering he would've been the 3rd picked midfielder every game this year (behind Jones and Sylvia) that's gonna be a mighty good draft of midfielders to displace him. When you consider that Matt Jones hadn't even played senior VFL footy until the middle of last year, his ability to adapt to the pace, training demands, and mental application at AFL level is nothing short of a great effort. Despite being 25, he's still got enormous upside I reckon. With a new coach, 2nd preseason, and better structure and help around the stoppages, he'll go up another couple of notches. A great story is Matt Jones.

So much love on here for the Roos coaching likelihood, that I fear the expectations for next year might already be exceeding what he can realistically achieve. Port Adelaide's fast rise is the standard probably, but if he achieves less than that, will we all be disappointed?

Interesting, given that I think Roos was coaching the Swans when Terlich got cut from their rookie list!

From the best footballer writer there is.

Crazy waste of money from CD and MC......cheaper just to dose up on mystery injectables.

Sheesh! And I was worried MY defence was pedantic. Yes, of course all opinions are subjective, but the issue is obviously how they are supported from objectivity, i.e. facts/statistics. Who would've thought Lynden Dunn would provoke a philosophical debate on the validity of Statistics in interpreting life from the half back flank? Not him I suspect! :-)

Nasher, I DON'T love it how someone redefines the English language to make their point. Objectivity is by definition is 'observable phenomena presented as fact'. The only thing we have to use as 'fact' are statistics, whether you like them or not. I would NEVER accuse someone of lacking objectivity, UNLESS they are ignoring or refuting the objective facts, which are statistics. By definition. To do so would be ignorant to the meaning of the word, and belittle the discussion. I have plenty of subjective opinions on all manner of matters, and some of them have no objective support, thus they lack objectivity. Any opinion that suggests Lynden Dunn is a rubbish footballer lacks objectivity. Fact.

How about "Hoganbogan 1" ?

Really?

Actually he DIDN'T compare Dunn favourably to Birchall. He said Birchall was a different tier. You read what you want to t-u, and belittle the conversation by not paying attention. Frustrating.

Autocol, everything you have said on this thread makes absolute sense, but you're never going to get satisfaction by arguing objectivity, fact, and impartiality in analysis with a lot on here. They just dont want to know. The very nature of people's frustration means they will attribute blame. It's effectively the 'he just gives me the sh**s' mode of argument. In relative terms Lynden Dunn has been good this year, and the absolutely relevant stats you provide reinforce why he has been. A more than effective role player in a horrible team. Keep trying though, I enjoy your efforts!

Melbourne Football Club........if you like underdogs, you'll go sick for us!

Nathan Jones' 17 year old brother is tearing it up at the Dandenong Stingrays' He's just been on the TAC future stars show. Assuming he's of the same attitude and application as his bro, grab him now recruitment team. I want more Jonesies. Brothers of most of our other players need not apply.