The Albino Warrior

Fair call. I just think he's been dropped after decent performances and wonder whether a new coach might be exactly what he needs. Of course, if he wants out, he wants out and there's definitely a question over whether his size is too much of a limitation.

He was absolutely brilliant, wasn't he.

Delisted? Unless his work ethic just isn't up to it, or there are non-footy problems involved, why would we delist this bloke? If Wonna doesn't return to his best, who plays the role of nimble crumber?

Agree.

I agree. Saw him in the hybrid game and thought "He is a certainty to play AFL if he wants to." Hope we get him.

Don't forget Lisle only just turned 21, is 196cm and had his face caved in in July. It's not as if he's had numerous uninterrupted seasons to prove himself and failed.

Wow. Some extremely harsh assessments of Rivers there. I couldn’t give a stuff about best and fairests – personally, I thought there were far better players than Moloney this year when things weren’t going our way – but I do think Rivers had a good year and is an important part of our team. I think he improved his one-on-one play significantly, often made himself an option out of defence when the more creative Garland and Rivers were being “well-held” and played the old third man up role as well as he ever has. People have been declaring the death of the “kick it long” philosophy for many years, and have said that without indiscriminate kicking into the forward line, Rivers no longer has a place in the game. I disagree, but there’s no doubt it suits him to a tee. If the last few weeks of the year are anything to go by, “just kick it” footy is well and truly back in vogue. I think his kicking is average, but nowhere near as bad as Warnock’s or Macdonald’s. He has a tendency to panic under pressure, but is neat with a bit of space. Interesting to see what Neeld does with him. I’d be very surprised if he consigned him to Casey duties.

Exactly. You don't need to be a dud to be missing out on a regular game in the Melbourne backline. I wish him well, too, because he played very honest footy during a very difficult period for a key defender.

Good summary. The fact that he can't get a game at Melbourne is irrelevant to clubs in need of big, tall defenders.

I'm happy to take a chance on a "speculative" forward if what we're giving up for them is Bate or Warnock. Give me a 196cm speculative over a shorter known quantity who has clearly run his race at the Demons any day.

I'd prefer to give Maric another year. Ben Warren is the sort of player we have too many of already.

The truth? He's had a big, strong body for years now and has never shown he can use it. Therefore you'd have to call him a medium forward. We have Green, Petterd, Howe, Jurrah, Dunn and Sylvia who I think are all ahead of him. Most would say that at the very least 4 out of those 6 are better footballers. What does Bate do better than any of these players that means he's worth persisting with? If I were him, I'd be requesting a trade as well.

I don't want to see Setanta at Melbourne and if he does come here, I'd be disappointed if we gave anything better than a pick very late in the draft. Warnock and Maric would be far far too much.

Sorry oucher. I got distracted as I wrote that and didn't realise you'd beaten me to the punch.

They probably do have the worst list, but aren't short of tall defenders. Would Warnock get a game ahead of Carlile, Chaplin and Trengove?

We took a punt on an older bloke from well outside the recruiting "mainstream" - it paid off and I think we saw that he's a player who can improve further. To move him on after one or two years would be odd to say the least. "If the right deal came up..." gets mentioned thousands of time during this period and yet that "right deal" - the one where a sensible club takes a "we'll do anything" approach - actually takes place very rarely.

I don't think it was 200cm Petrie keeping 185cm McKinley out of the Roos team. More like Aaron Edwards. I don't think that's a great formline. He's a beautiful kick for goal, but not much else I think. As others have said, we have several other players who play a similar role to McKinley far better than him.

Love the idea of a range. I think, if you want to use scores, you can definitely rate mature players on the same scale, although once they've peaked it probably becomes a bit more problematic. Fascinated to hear what you and others see Morton's scale looking like at the moment.

What a great thread. Frawley Watts Jurrah Scully Grimes Garland Trengove Gysberts Morton Petterd Bennell McKenzie Wonaeamirri Bail Blease Tapscott Gawn Fitzpatrick Jetta Strauss Maric McNamara Spencer

For those who go with Morton in this exercise, I'd love to know why. I'm not potting him - I just haven't seen enough to make me think he'll be a star. Also, while gazing into your crystal ball, tell me where you think he'll play his best and most valuable footy.

Only Frawley is in the top 30 for me. Green extremely close; Davey not far away. I think the only thing stopping Grimes might be injury. Jurrah and Sylvia certainly could be. Far too early to tell on Watts and Scully, but both have shown really good signs. (Also far too early to tell whether a flag is within the realms of possibility.) The other one I'd throw in is Garland. Jamar: no.

Would have been a gem for the Demons. Disappointing, but did seem unlikely when tweeted.

Not sure about that. We need to make spots on our list.

No, he couldn't pinch hit in the ruck. He wouldn't cost much and it would still be too much. He is 192cm; Hale is 201cm. Anthony had a big year where he showed he could kick multiple goals; Hale had a biggish year where he showed he was handy as a forward who could relieve in the ruck. Both have huge question marks over their ability at AFL level, despite these good single seasons. What Melbourne is looking for, I think, is someone who can stand in a pack and wrestle with a good tall defender while Jurrah, Green, Petterd, Sylvia and others jump. If he can bring the ball to the ground in a one on one, all the better. I don't think Anthony is this player.

I did once. I felt nauseous so I stopped.