binman

If we askee nicely would they put him on ice?

What makes you deduce bandicoot can't see real talent from the comment of his you quoted?

Sorry, i'm a bit confused. Did i miss something? Who on 'here' is saying 'his stats aren't good enough???'

You're funny Steve. Surely to goodness you realised i was having a joke and this quote is an attempt at irony. My bias? Surely you are jesting? Your Lever bias is more than a little concerning. But if you didn't get my joke i'll spell it out Lever is a terrific player. No question. I have never said any different. I hope we get him. But it doesn't a take a football talent savant to have worked out Lever is a really good player. Few if any people overrate him. With perhaps one exception. You. The way you rave about him $850 would be a steal.

Shhh. Lever is going to be the greatest defender of his generation. Better than Rance (so much more advanced at the same age i can hear the acolytes whisper). And so young. So much potential. Will be the best recruit the dees have ever had.

I think a more accurate comment would be lever is (more than) a tad over rated by some on this site. Well one on this site.

Which really doesnt make sense. As a dees supporter he would be all too aware of how crap we are

I like rather than love statistics. But i get really frustrated with how hard it is to get access to decent stats. The AFL love to compare footy here to sports in the US but our media and our access to decent stats are a complete joke in comparison. It is overwhelming how much publicly available stats there is about the NBA baseball and NFL. And no doubt NHL. ATM, as i understand it only the clubs and some media outlets get all Champion data stats - because they pay for it. The AFL should buy the stats off Champion data and make it publicly available. I would love a thread on DL with up to date decent stats, particularly those about the MFC. For example individual player stats that are more detailed than that on AFL.com or free sites like footywire (which is a terrific site). Do any DL posters have aaccess to champion data stats? if so can they be shared - perhaps not all but at least some more detailed stuff? A thread a analyzing that sort of data would be really interesting.

Absolutely. Might be the best player in the afl full stop within 2 years. Not far away now. Truly a once in a generation plsyer. Not a single club would take lever over kelly if they were given the choice and money was not a factor. But money is a factor for us. Not so much in terms of salary cap but more in terms of the potential damage to the 'brotherhood', team first culture roos and goody have built. That said - and against the predictions of many - it hasnt seemed to have hurt the swans buddy coming in and being paid a fortune

Steve your credibility tank ia almost empty. By the way im still looking forward to your promised analysis of every one of tmacs younger brother's involvements from a game few weeks back.

Yep. But one thing they def want/need is reaaly goos kicks. Lever, no 28, salem, hibberd and jetts all have twrrific de which is important in a defensive unit

What hobby horse? Stating facts?

There are fewer and fewer gorilla keepers and direct man on man defensive match ups as such. Someone like Dunn is becoming increasingly rare. Sure sometimes a Tmac might match up directly against a big but generally you try and stop the talls with your system. To a large extent it is about the oppositions total score not how many the key forward kicks (though obviously they have a relationship). Teams would factor in the players you mention are likely to kick 2 or 3 goals a game and if you limit them to that that's pretty good. And sometimes even 4 or 5 is ok depending on how well you shut down other players. If the lions had kept Jessie to 4 goals they would have almost won. Brown's 4 goals against us (three of which coming from marks from mismatches) in our last roos game wasn't the issue. We kept them to a beatable score. The dees only kicking two goals in the second half was the issue. Here is the top 5 in this years coleman. All are averaging 2-3 golas a game, with the exception of Kennedy who is averaging four. Joshua Kennedy 64 (from only 16 games!) Joe Daniher Essendon 60 Lance Franklin Sydney 59 Ben Brown North Melbourne 56 Taylor Walker Adelaide 49

I'm pretty sure the pies planned to take him. We got him first

I have to say it is looking very likely Lever is coming to the dees. The noise has been consistent, it seems a given he is leaving and the dees seem to be the favorite among journos etc

We also got hunt in that deal. Good deal i reckon

Are you sure about the final 22? This is from an article posted today on the MFC site: Now in its fifth year, 22Under22 is the industry’s only recognised fan-voted award and provides the footy public with the power to select the final 22. Fans can now visit 22under22.com.au to cast their vote, before the final team is revealed at the AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Tuesday September 12. Fans who submit a team that matches the final 22Under22 team will automatically go into the draw to win an AFL Players' prize pack. Voting closes on Wednesday September 6, 2017. Maybe i should do bot spam for TMac's younger brother

Talking about them both. Deifing one. Vilifying the other.

Could he not agree in principle to terms for season 2020? Win a flag at GWS come home to Melbourne and help us win our second in a row? Such a good player and he has what we need. Outside speed and an ability to hit a target. Well to be honest he has what every team needs. Pure class. but i can't see us even trying to get him for next year. too much money and would create issue with the brotherhood.

All reasonable points. I agree it is likely lever will continue to improve but it none the less as i say it is not inconceivable he might plateau

Very good point.

Sure. If you need to. Not sure why you would need or want to though. Lever wont replace no 28. But if we want to compare them - and avoid a silly who will better argument - lets factor in that all players, but particulaly talls develop at different rates. Lever is a gun. But blind freddy can see that. But it is not inconceivable he might level out given he is alreafy playing at a high level. Though it should be noted in this context he is playing in a better side. And it is not inconceivable no 28 has scope for considerable improvement. And pwrhaps more upside than lever. And it should also be noted that whilst there are similarities - age, height, weight, both defenders - lever is much more a rance style intercepr player. No 28 will likely end up 10kgs heavier and play different role, ine more akin to tbat played by tmac. If lever comes to the dees - which i reallt hopes he does - he will be a perfect combination with no 28.

Call me old fashion but i always though supporters defend their own players and bag opposition players not vice versa.

I am. Steve is obsessed with trying to prove himself right about Tmac's younger brother. To be frank it is getting ridiculous.

Of course you do. But you don't overspend. He's a value add.