Dee-licious

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ITx-GCsaLg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Izak Rankine is exactly what we've been saying we want all year. Footskills, outside, speed, x-factor.

My issue is I don't see a scenario that we'd be happy with as a club that Freo would be willing to pay. 1. It has to be a godfather off because it would have to cross his mind he is giving up a premiership and a coleman to go to Freo. Hogan would know it would cost Freo big in terms of picks - picks of which they wont be able to use on midfielders to deliver him the ball. 2. Freo know that you need more than 1 player down forward. They are aware of their holes and would not want to loose Neale, plus potential top end talent to get one player, even if it is a generational talent. 3. Where do we open the negotiations? They come to us with this year's first, next year's first (which they will hope will not be in the top 10), and we say well you have to pay overs because he is in contract. We need 2 x 1st (2019 & 2020) + a player (Langdon/Apness/Tucker). I'm sure we will ask about Brayshaw and Cera but assume we will be told where to go. 4. Peter Bell has just been installed as GM. This could go either way - he might want to make a splash and instruct the FD to go after Hogan no matter the cost, or he might not want his first move he make to tie the future of the football club to one player. A lot to play out in this space, but cannot see it being done this year.

Agree - I look at north and go - yep that’s what we are missing. Jack Martin should be top of that list if he wants to move to Vic. We won’t match Polec money, Hall isn’t good enough, Gaff would be a dream.

Dominant. He and Petty looked fantastic together and in the second half probably a little less so. I’d want him signed up by the end of the week. Dont know why the hatred for Hunt here. He broke lines, he put his head over the ball and created contests. He also hit tagets which has been one of his big problems. Also Box Hill tightened up on JKH after a rampant first quarter. Didn’t give him any space so not surprising he wasn’t as influential. Garlett was poor, Bugg tried but he’s not the same anymore. McKenna seems some.

Brown: umpires done a good job today....come on.

Your shout!

Amazing tackle. Also Hunt is brilliant. Such a level above. I’d be signing JKH and Kielty straight away. Holding back my contract extension so the others at the moment.

So we got Adelaide twice last year because of Lever. They like to try and make money out of the big trades and free agents (ie crows v Geelong after Danger). So while the rules around fixturing don’t say “we will do this”. The AFL have enough breathing room to maximise eyeballs.

Not quite but almost. You are drawn against more teams in your ‘6’ but this will generally include 3 from there and 1 from the others. Also depends on trade week I.e if we traded in Patrick Cripps - we’d have 2 games v Blues. Basically, expect 2 games v Rich and Coll (also putting early money on Coll v Melb to have the opening Friday night) and then ??? For the other 3 double ups.

I have been thinking about this a heap in the past 24 hours. Especially on the wing which is clearly an area we lack. I have been trying to find someone from another club we could get to get the ball on the outside and deliver inside 50. Then it dawned on me, we have him, he played there at the start of the year and was brilliant until Lever went down. Christian Salem. Beautiful kick, good break away speed, tackles like a champ. I feel if we can find a half back flank player to replace him (maybe Fritch, maybe Hunt) and can move him to play in the forward half of the ground we are instantly a better team. I think this trade period isnt going to be that exciting for us as we are going to rely on natural improvement, rather than quick fixes.

@david_neitz_is_my_dad great photos - could really see how many people were there!

@Satyriconhome you made it on tv as well.

He is playing well in the back pocket and starting to be more attacking. Could see a rookie list position (maybe), but he is behind Lever, Hunt, Smith and Wagner to come into the backline - so possibly he might also look elsewhere for opporuntities as well? What I do love is every time someone got selected for their first game this year he was always in the video hugging them. Seems like a great team man.

It’s actually quite good for training for future years. What I also love is that it is something they are doing together (everyone is important etc). Also means no extra pressure on one or 2 players. I really like the idea.

Geelong struggled with 2 mobile key talls. Hawthorn are scrambling now to come up with a second key defender. Imagine if they had to find a third. Game styles evolve based on your best 18 players. We happen to have 7 talls in ours who are all mobile and endurance beasts. Might be tough in the wet but on a dry day in September, talls get taller in the 4th.

Could win the most Melbourne post of the year. I'm very jealous! But I'm sure that a win tonight will overcome that

Jack Viney leads the league in centre clearance average (yes he’s missed most the season and I’m cherry picking). You don’t leave number 2 (dusty) 3 (Cripps) 4 (Mitchell) or 5 (Fyfe) out of the centre square - Viney won’t be left out either.

Hi All - there have been a few questions around finals eligibility for the VFL so thought I would answer them. For those interested, here is the VFL finals rules, the games played in VFL, and the games played in AFL. Easiest way for eligibility is if the Dees are still in the finals, anyone can play VFL. Under the horrible situation where we might not make it that far, this is the 18 eligible players we have on offer: B: Petty Frost* Johnson HB: J. Wagner Keilty J. Smith C : Baker Hunt McKenna HF: Pederson T. Smith Hannan** F: Garlett Weideman Filipovic R: King JKH Bugg * Frost will become ineligible if (when) we get to the semis. ** If Hannan plays VFL this week rather than AFL, he is eligible It is actually a very strong side when you think that VFL players Wagner, Lockhart, Munro, Hutchins, Scott, Machaya, Stockdale, White, Gent, Lok and Freeman have all done really well this year. Hopefully Weid and Frost wont see a game in the VFL for the rest of the year as they will be too busy winning in September with Melbourne.

Good point and lets say half of this year or post-Lever year. Last year he was selected before Jetta in round 1 (shock to us all) and was talked up as an important player for us that season. As you said, lasted a quarter, out for 12 weeks, 1 game in the VFL, in the AFL for 2 games, dropped to the VFL and got injured and out for the season. I've got him down as 7 games this year in the VFL leading into round 12 / Lever going down. You are right another year spoilt with injury, but based on selection preferences over the last 2 years, the coaches seem to prefer him rather than not. (b) A Player who has played in an AFL Home and Away Match after 1 July in the relevant season will be ineligible to play in VFL Senior Grade Finals Series Matches unless that Player has played in a combined total of at least six (6) VFL Senior Grade Home and Away Matches in the same season.

Been thinking about this binman. 3 changes is a lot, but if it was Lever, Hogan and Viney we wouldn’t be batting an eye lid over it and I think we need to see the same with Smith. He was best 22 for most of this year and even last year they saw him as best 22 (until injury struck in round 1). So I feel if he is fit they want him in the side. In my mind, JKH and Kent are out. Viney is in, and then it’s a question of Hannan or Smith. Does Fritch offer more than Hannan in the forward line? Does Smith offer more in the backline than Fritch? Great conversations we are having now rather than who do we bring in to replace yeh rabble we have playing.

Hey @Neitz the Great - same here if need be. Glad it will go to good use (I'm MCC, but like getting the MFC one as well).

6. Harmes - set the tone early and beat Shuey head to head. Really proving me wrong about his abilities. 5. Gawn - The radio are now talking about how Lycett was taught a lesson today.... yeah he was. 4. Melksham - amazing job on McLovin' and also 4 goals. How good is this guy. 3. Brayshaw - 10 tackles - and just dominated in and around the contest. 2. Salem - so composed throughout the entire game. Has Pendles sort of time out there. 1. Oliver - I think the only player who has gotten over 20 touches with the Hutchins tag.

Some odd shots on goal for him, but gee he was good. For such a young forward, he was clunking them!

Box Hill respond after some terrible work from Casey. Started with Bugg chipping a kick on our forward 50 for no apparent reason and then Wagner making a bad cross. Just terrible work.