binman

In some regards perhaps. For exampke I thought watts would play all seaon last year. You didnt And more recently you were on the omac is not up to it bandwagon, arguing pedo would be the prefered option once all the tall came back (a view i see you have softened on i see). I disagreed. On both counts. I think ive got some some credits in the bank on the argument front with you PD.

Blimey PD. Because you gave my argument 'short shrift' does not make my argument unreasonable. It only means you disagree with the argument. You have been known to be wrong PD. Jack Watts says hello. And i have been known to be right. As i have said i don't think the back six would be too tall because of how athletic Frost and Lever are. But you don't agree. That's ok

Leaving aside my romantism pd i think i put forward a pretty reasonable argument about how you could fit lever in without losing frost. As i said it is eary days for smith in his career so plenty of time to develop the skills to go into the midfield. If i was in charge and the club wanted lever and jones in i would consider trading frost for sure. As you say he will have some trade value, but i suspect only second round. We will need a higher draft pick to make jones and lever happen. For that reason i would look at brayshaw, though that would be robbing peter to pay paul a bit. Id definetly look at kent, though he woud need to be part of a package deal to have any value - perhaps with jkh or wirh our first draft pick. We also can trade our first draft pick and one from next year as a package. Wagner might come into the conversation as part of a package also.

Well PD i am obviously more a romantic than you. good thing it is not my call. A couple of things though. I am not as keen as some on Jones. Also as i said i think Smith will end up a midfielder. Probably sooner rather than later. Perfect for that role i reckon. Yes he has played down back thus far but it is early days for his career. I can see him and Maynard being a pretty formidable combination in the middle with their strength, size and basketball honed quick and hands and vision. Lets say i'm right. A back six of Hibberd, Jetta, Frost, the McDonalds, and Lever looks pretty damn good. That allows Hunt to go to the wing, which i reckon is an ideal postion for him as he can still use his run and dash, we will still get great meters gained from him, he ca add a linking up element to his game and he becomes more of an offensive threat. Simples

As i said you make a good point about Frost, particularly about his potential trade value. But my solution would be to keep Frost. Partly because i am not totally convinced you can't have all of Tom McDonald, Oscar McDonald, Frost, Lever, and Joel Smith at the club and perhaps even in the same side, particularly if Smith goes to the midfield which i suspect he might. Keep in mind Lewis and Vince have both been playing off the HB and both will finish soon so that frees up some spots down back. Yes i know Lever, Frost and Smith are tall but they are so athletic that i reckon they can play as running half back flankers rather than just as key position players.And i wonder if TMac might end up as an old fashioned swing man given how natural he has started looking as a forward? But i guess the main reason my solution would be to keep Frost is i hate it when any player is forced out of the club. Unless they are a peanut.

Some good points, particularly Smith's capacity to offer the speed and versatility of Frost. But i would hate to see Frost go. I think he has huge upside (which of course gives him some trade value) and i really like his athleticism. Am i right in thinking he was basketballer that came to footy quite late? Lever is very athletic, as is smith and frost and all have the ability to cover smaller players as well as tall ones, (Omac and TMac less so) - a very handy skill in with the strong zone we favour down back. Handy also to have 190 plus athletic types running of the half back line at centre square restarts. It would be interesting to see if they could all play together. With Smith i can see him going into the midfield at some stage.

Ok my wit was more witless than witty. My point was that you cannot seriously suggest that if the $800k offer on the table is correct 'it's clear the FD don't share the same views as many on here in regards to Frost and Oscar'. Surely you are joking? Its clear? That assertion is completely without logic. Clear to you becasue its suits your confirmation bias. If not joking then you are completely clutching at straws about OMac, perhaps because your assessment of him as not at AFL standard has been proven categorically wrong. I can't be bothered going back and find quotes but you have made it abundantly clear you don't rate OMac. Fine. You're welcome to your opinion. But to suggest going after Lever is an indication of how the club rates Omac is just silly. The club has made it crystal clear how highly they rate OMac. He was in the best 22 at the start of the year when we had all of our players fit - after being in the side all last year. He was dropped for 1 (2?) game and since has not look like being dropped. Was it you that said he was only in the side because of injuries to Gawn and Hogan and he would be dropped as soon they were back? If not no doubt you agreed. Well that has been proven to be completely wrong.We are pushing for top 4 and Omac is best 18 lock. Do you at least acknowledge that now? The club rate OMac incredibly highly. Of that there is no question. You don't, but you simply cannot mount a credible argument the club don't. The evidence is compelling that the club rate him. Going after Lever is no reflection on how they rate OMac, or Frost for that matter. Lever is a total gun. Of course they want him. I do too. And have said as much. I see no issue in him coming into the side and Omac, TMac and Frost all playing in the same side. I doubt the club do either. The funny thing is if we did get him you'll be spending the pre season writing OMac off and saying there is no way both him, Frost and Lever can can be in the side. Until they all line up together round one when you will find some other reason to criticise Omac. Unlike you i rate Omac very highly and always have done. In the last few games we are starting to see why i rate him so highly. In terms of my assessment i like that fact that the evidence suggests the highly paid MFC coaching staff who have been in footy all their lives share my assessment.

This is comedy gold. I can only assume you were deliberately trying to be funny and having a subtle dig at yourself. If so then well played sir, If not, then........

Nup. they're gone. Just woeful in the second half. Very similar to our game against them actually. Reasonably competitive to half time time then folded like a pack of cards. Something is crook in Tillabruk.

Terrific report. Fantastic stuff. How did hoges train?

Sorry disagree. What neither Daniher or Lynch have - and never will have - is Jessie's incredible aerobic capacity. All modern players need a huge tank and forwards who have one have a massive advantage - not least because the defender who plays on them has to go with them. Look at what Hogan did to Carlisle against the Saints. Blew him up. Daniher and Lynch are both guns, don't get me wrong. But Jesse is already better than both as evidenced by his numbers. And it is easy to forget that he is younger than both of them. And after their respective careers end i have little doubt he will be regarded as the best forward of his generation. People have very short memories these days, particularly the media.

I hope. I rate him, especially his penetrating, accurate kicks but he made a couple of really crucial errors last week when he fumbled the ball as we entering our forward line. Very costly both

Gawn and Hogan both in. Pedo in. Only one big forward in the opposition team. OMac in the starting 18. End of conversation about Omac's place in the side and the last of the myths debunked. The coaching staff making it crystal clear how highly they rate a player more than one Demonland poster said was not up to AFL standard. I wouldn't mind some of the more trenchant Omac knockers admitting they got it wrong. Wont hold my breath.

I said earlier smirh was a chance to be pucked sooner rather than later (before rbe article about him being the nominated rookie ill hasten to add) but surely he doesnt come in after only one vfl game, partic after plapp said he wad rusty

Good assessment from you i reckon. Hullett in the magoos for the magoos. Ouch. Doesn't sound like he played that well either. Not a good sign for his future at AFL level to be in the development league at this stage of the year. Heres a link btw http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-06/vfl-player-review-round-11

I wouldn't be surprised either. I reckon they might like to bring someone in they think will go bull at a gate and throw himself into the contest, which is i suspect might be maynards go. I reckon Joel smith will get a crack sooner rather than later if he can put a couple of good games together at Casey

I'd agree. he said himself that that the club had told him he needs to be more consistent in his performance but as you say he has been variable in his output in the last couple of weeks. I don't think they will drop him though - at least not this week. He takes Watts's spot up forward. But when Watts comes back? As 55 and PD have pointed out though it is a bit of conundrum as it it makes a pretty tall side. But as i have said before coaches are generally loath to disrupt back lines so Pedo might be in the gun.

So if Hogan comes back in this week we get the chance to assess how the club rate OMac. Several posters said a few weeks back that he is only in the side because of the injuries to Gawn, Spencer and Hogan that has meant Tmac forward and alternating in the ruck with Pedo. Well, if Hogan comes back he joins Gawn in the side. The blues only really have the one big forward so no need for all of Tmac, Pedo and Omac. If they pick him in these circumstances the club is endorsing Omac as a best 22 lock. It would be impossible to argue otherwise. I have little doubt OMac will be picked. Does anyone seriously think he won't be? And if he is picked that should end the conversation about OMac's position in the side and smash the the ridiculous #OMacmyth he is only in the side because of injury.

Our defence was good, no doubt. Omac and jetts in particular. Agree they could have easily won by more but that was a function of how many inside 50s they had and their midfield dominance not our backline. Also didnt help we couldnt get a clearance or lock it in our forward line. If not for a defence we would have loat by muxh more, wven if they were so innacurate.

Agree. Also we really misses hunts metres gained. Losing that cohesion and nor having hunts impact is a direct result of not have those 3 k peanuts available. They should not have needed any reminding. I would have thought all 3 would wanted to give themselves every possoble chance of beinf sekected

Sorry, sometimes i find it a bit hard to work out if posters are being sarcastic, post rock ironic or are actually being serious. Is this a serious post or sarcasm? The other day i opened a thread on the Demonland dark web (i think it was was about climate change, or maybe it was about Trump - either way i fled as soon as i could). I had the same thought.

Second time today that i'm in complete agreement with you 39. What i would add is the television 'media' as it pertains to AFL football is 94% ex afl footballers and almost all of them are, truth be told, actually really, really stupid. And i don't say that lightly. Exceptions to the rule, like Tim Watson and Ling, are often just plain annoying. The AFL love to look to the states for comparison in professional sport. They should look at their media. Yes, both the NFL and NBA TV media have ex players in the mix they are in the minority and are often really good media people. An example is Shaq. Funny, smart as a whip and insightful. I make the TV media distinction because tragically the print media is dead as far as sports is concerned.

Yes, you'r probably right. But none the less it is possible.

Yep meant Steven Smith. Smith was giving him a bath when he was hit way behind play when he wasn't expecting it. Just like Bugg.

Agree entirely. And doc Larkins was spot on reminding people of the death of the surgeon at Box Hill hospital. The wonder is that an AFL/VFL footballer has not been killed from a punch to the head given the frequency that it used to occur. Tragically, probability suggests one day it will occur. And please give me a break about provocation. What a joke. He's let himself down and his team mates. Exactly the sort of behind the play act of thuggery that Leigh Matthews traded in. Lost all respect for Mathews when he knocked out Peter Giles and Shaun Smith. Have lost it for Bugg.