Slartibartfast

I thought that after the Mills incident but his piece in the Player's Voice and what I've heard from people who know him he's not. I think he's just a bloke who make a bad mistake and I think he's truly remorseful. Good luck Tom, hope the business goes gangbusters. Thanks for your efforts at MFC and helping us when we were rubbish.

I understand the scepticism re Spargo. He has weaknesses. He's easily knocked off the ball and one on ones are a real challenge for him given his size. His kicking lacks penetration and is wayward at times. Despite early comments, he's not shown an ability to hold marks overhead (yes, I realize it isn't his job) and he isn't lightning quick. But he has some real attributes. He's a genuine footballer who understands the game and gets involved in the play whether he has the ball or not. When he has the ball he's got terrific awareness as the highlights above show. He's really competitive and a genuine role or "team" player. We are used to smalls having real X factor but what this kid lacks in X factor he makes up for in other footy attributes. The first time I saw him was at Casey in a practice match last year. He started forward and struggled to get into the game but in the second half he was moved to the midfield and was very good. His ability to find the ball and more importantly look to do something with it was noticeable. Spargo will learn his trade forward but will ultimately move into the midfield where he will be very good. The kid was 18 all last year and is a baby in terms of his footy potential at AFL level. I'm predicting a very good future for Charlie.

To track watchers, any comments on Joel Smith? Is he training with the forwards or backs? Or elsewhere.... Any indications of his role. I rate this kid. Strikes me that he just needs the confidence that he can play at the top level. He's an athletic beast, a great size with pace and agility and a fantastic spring. Great swingman possibly. He's had a terrible run with injury in the past and given a good run at it this preseason could be a smokey for most improved and make a real impact.

I was one. I was wrong.

I just don't get what the issue is with Trac. I reckon he had a really good season last year playing a difficult position and contributing consistently. I watched a few games since season end and this week watched the game against Freo in Darwin specifically to watch Billy Stretch. Petracca was very good that game and close to best on. If you watch the two finals games he was influential and his touches are quality and his vision elite. He uses the ball exceptionally well and just needs to overcome the yips in goal kicking to be even better. I doubt the footy department have any of the concerns that are often expressed here about Petracca. He's just finished his third year of playing at this level and doing very well. People's negative comments are based more on their heightened expectations than any failing in Petracca's performance. The kid is a gun.

Any news on Billy Stretch Saty (or anyone)?

Perhaps he doesn't want his personal medical history made public. It amazes me that people just assume we should be informed of the players' situations all the time. Having said that I'd love to know. Viney, Hannan, Brayshaw etc etc. Pity there wasn't a Dave Misson injury update before Christmas.

Firstly, think as I might I can't identify "some very good ideas on tactics and strategies" but I'd be grateful if you could expand on this point. My memory is he tried to introduce the Malthouse kick long down the line, create a stoppage and do it all again. Secondly, I don't think the players resented his appointment. He, by his own admission on Open Mike, said he was given a directive by Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly to be really hard on the playing group and acted on that instruction. He later said he wished he had followed his own feeling and made his own judgements. Neeld's behaviours ostracised the senior playing group which was his own doing (at the instruction of others if you are to believe him), the players didn't resent him because he replaced Bailey. I agree with the rest of what you said - clearly the fault wasn't all Neeld's, the fact is he was just a very poor coach. Thank heavens for Jackson and all he put into place.

Nicely articulated @binman but we all knew what was happening. STMJ was playing semantics with Saty as Saty was with STMJ. I used to get involved in this oneupmanship for which I now apologize. It really is just plain boring. On a topic related comment, Viney's situation is concerning given his history. Reported as an ankle operation postseason and in the latest from Ben Guthrie it's now turned into a foot issue. I'm hoping for the best but I'm not confident. Waiting for Misso's injury report and looking forward to seeing how many in rehab return to full training post-Christmas.

I have been a harsh critic and still am of Lewis but he was much better last year than I expected. But calling him an "ultimate professional" is the sort of statement that turns my stomach. He is grossly undisciplined on field probably costing us a finals position in his first year because for some unknown reason he decked Cripps 30 meters off the ball causing him to miss 3 weeks including a 4 point loss to Freo. Last year he followed up by giving away a 50m penalty against Geelong in the first game costing a goal and the game. Why? Arguing with the umpire. This is not "ultimate professional" behaviour. This is undisciplined arrogance. He is an enigma because he does a lot right but also has glaring weaknesses. It will be interesting to see when the footy department think the benefits no longer outweigh the weaknesses.

The modern game has fallen right into his wheelhouse - just look around. He's just got to adjust to it. He'll do well to replace Spargo. It's hard to see them both in the same team but predicting a best 22 at this time of year, whilst fun, is very problematic.

Californian mountain snake morelike. She was great as Ellie Driver.

Not really OD. PD has explained mainly why but it was your refusal to acknowledge any positive attribute or your willingness to look beyond your singular negatively. As PD said, we all get it wrong but few have ever bagged a player like you did Weed. I'll be happy if you learn something from this. We'll see.

Not for @old dee sadly.

I remember watching him in his second season and being very impressed and am therefore pleased we've got him. But the unbridled optimism being shown by Demonlanders should be tempered a little I think. If KK was really as good as is being made out why was he traded? Why were GCS happy to see him go and why wasn't there any competition for his services? I don't know the answers but the fact the questions remain makes me hesitant to go all in on him being a success. It seems to me there is more to the story than just the concussion issues but we may never know. Like the majority, I'm happy with the pickup and think it has lots of upsides but there is a fair chance it will fail otherwise the particular deal wouldn't have been done.

Pick 53

Maybe it's just me but I think Petracca's 2018 season was very underrated by DL posters. I'd rate his season as good as he averaged 20 possessions a game playing predominately half forward. He had over 40 shots at goal but was inaccurate compared to his previous year but all his major stats were up. He came with a lot of expectation and I understand some are disappointed he isn't yet a superstar but it's only his fourth season in the AFL with his first ruined by injury. What I find more disappointing is people questioning his attitude when the reality is I doubt many know and are just guessing. Questioning someone's attitude by guessing is poor form. As for Lyon's view - I couldn't care less.

I don't know anything about any of the potential draftees this year but I know that as evidenced by the trading of Watts and Hogan we want players who are committed to being the best they can be and are utterly competitive. I'd be interested to know from those underage watches who fits these categories around our picks.

I agree Nash, and it's why Tom Campbell is a possibility as he can play permanent forward I think.

Yes, it's an assumption and who knows who's right or wrong. Hogan will be just 24 when the season starts next year. He is a proven commodity tracking closely to the top tier of his position at a similar age, he has done the vast majority of his development and he is entering his best years. Reiwoldt played until he was 35 and Jesse has similar physical attributes. He may well have 8 to 10 years in him. And he plays a position that is the most difficult to have confidence around when drafting 18 year old. I think he is worth no one but it's just a view. Perhaps not, only (say) 5 years or so left is a short time span. But he went for pick 5 which is close to the top of the tree. I've been a blue sky junkie most of my life. For a long time I've rated picks over players; the hope of picking up that generational player. But we've had so many misses and few successes. And we are by no means the only ones to miss the rebuild. I've seen DL kick and scream when we've picked up Melksham and Hibberd and I'm not sure if Vince was welcomed when selected. I watched Roos pick players like Richards, Mumford and Jolly for "way overs" only to be proven to be correct. I think human nature is to want to open the parcel to see what's inside but my experience is it's usually a disappointment when measured against expectation and hence my view that draft picks are very overrated. Good list management (trading) involves valuing picks for players. If you overvalue picks you pass up on good players and good deals. Understanding value is critical. I might be right and I might be wrong. What I do know is Mahoney will know more than me and I'd love to hear the topic debated by knowledgeable people. Mahoney's interview on DL won't lead to that debate but it's an opportunity to ask someone with the knowledge his view.

I'd like you to ask Josh about the philosophy of trading on premise that "picks are grossly overrated". If Hogan was in the draft this year he would have gone number one. If May was in the draft this year he would have been number one. Neither went for anything like that. Why? Do clubs completely overvalue "blue sky" in recruits and do they give enough weight to a possible "bust" factor and do they give enough weight to the "certainty" factor of a known trade? In general I'd like to hear him talk around this subject with reference to where in a cycle are club is and how that effects their thinking.

Can an upgraded rookie be placed on a one year contract?

They'd be traded, not thrown on the scrap heap for others to pick over.

Both parties got what they wanted. What’s the problem.

We will probably decide on the night. As I understand it rookies are paid less and only get a one year contract. IF this is right we'll use 40 primary list spots if JT thinks the talent warrants it but won't if he doesn't.