Pates

100% this year we have to nail using this pick 3 whether it's utilising for bargaining ability or picking up an absolute gun in the draft. I wasn't against splitting our pick with the Tyson/Salem combo as it served a purpose at the time, Tyson came into the team and made an immediate impact, Salem's form has been patchy but there are enough positive attributes he has to contribute to the team. We needed something at that time that a raw rookie wasn't going to give us. This time is different though, and we can't waste the opportunity that this awful year has provided us.

I agree, it's a game of poker and Mahoney appears to have the worst poker face of all. Should be talking him up, saying things like he still has a future at Melbourne. I feel like we're going to end up with pick 50 or maybe an exchange of picks. 30 is for me too high for him, 50 (should be) unders for him. If they get access to a pick in the mid/late 30s or early 40s I think that would be about right.

I'm in the same camp, he showed a bit in his first year but for me seems to be limited in his bag of tricks. For a small player he's not quick or has a great ability to jump high, disposal is ok but nothing special. I wouldn't be able to tell you his best position.

It's an interesting issue, devastating of course to hear Shaun be so raw about how concussion has affected his life. The interesting part to it is that a lot of these players would've been the first to tell a coach or doctor that they were fine to continue. I heard that players used to cheat the concussion tests by performing them poorly at the start of the year so they could pass during matches they'd sustained head knocks. I think it's right for them to seek damages from the AFL to help aid in their treatment and issues they face, lord knows that the AFL has enough $$$.

For a cheap price I'd be on board with us getting Jenkins. We didn't have any prolific goal kickers this year and while his form has been off the last 18 months who knows what a change of location could do for him.

I'm not going to troll through the thread here, I'll only make a simple small comment. He's an upgrade on the players we've already got and we didn't have to give up a pick from him only $alary $pace.

Fitness is his biggest enemy right now, he has shown what he can do when he gets out on the park.

I'm finding the idea of people entertaining us trading out Gus just laughable. Last year was his first year of getting a clean run at it and look what he produced. This year the club had an awful year, and from some reports Gus was playing with back issues, so with those two factors why would we consider moving him on when he's one of few on our list that has actually shown to possess quality in him?

What I find the most puzzling of this whole thing is that we apparently haven't offered him a contract. If he was leaving because the Hawks offered more money/longer contract than I wouldn't be as concerned but the fact that we are letting him walk out the door without putting anything on the table (especially after signing up OMac) just seems to be mystifying to me. The one positive out of this is that there will be no chance of a Frost/OMac combination with honestly gave me nightmares.

I still believe in Weids becoming our key forward forward target to kick the required goals, while Tom hopefully next year TMac is able to recapture the form that made him so dangerous in 2018. For me it's the small/pressure forward that is more critical to us next year, as well as having a forward structure and game plan that is more intelligent that kicking it directly to the opposition's floating defender.

He could well be added to the pile of players that had massive talent and massive upside but we failed to turn into a superstar. Development of our young brigade remains to be a serious issue for the club. Looking at our younger players that have “shown something”, so far not many have taken the next step to becoming out and out stars. Oliver would be the one name I would say is a star, but even he probably lowered his colours a little this year, But Weids is an example I would point to of someone who genuinely has shown some great ability but seems to disappoint. I’m not saying he won’t make it but after his breakout finals series I think a lot of us had hope he would show more this year.

Hard to take anything this guy says seriously, very reactionary in his opinions rather than looking at trends and analysing teams.

Can we please take Sam Flanders just so we can have a variation of this in the Demon Army....

He’s shown it in parts, never an entire game. He has that burst and upper body power that makes me think he has it in him to be someone that takes a game apart in a way a star player can. His two biggest drawbacks appear to be his kicking for goal and the fact that he can drift in and out, he has asked for more midfield time next year, it will be interesting to see how he’s used.

I’d like to see us do some later pick shuffles that see us get say an earlier 3rd rounder for our 4th rounder

I won’t shed any tears at his departure, has failed to become anything more than an average player. Can’t imagine we’ll get much for him, good luck to him at GC.

I’d love us to have the guts to go after someone like Bennell, the risk is on his injury status and whether he has really changed in attitude.

Well it’s obviously a bad trade if we don’t need to trade for him! Also he’s a young tall forward prospect, would be of great value to many teams.

I’ve come around to this, he can develop nicely while taking pressure off TMac and Weids. My only concern would be that Weids would get stuck behind him and not continue to develop, I still believe in Sam but jeez we need him to get a wriggle on.

If that’s what they’re offered I’d just say he goes into the draft and we pick him up again. For once using a bit of bargaining power melbourne! For me our defence works with him being in there with May and Lever fit. May takes big body #1, Frost takes big body #2, Lever floats as the interceptor, Nev small defender, Hibberd flanker #1, Salem flanker #2. Sell it to him Melbourne, make him feel wanted!

Trac had a good season, but for his talent and ability, I’m sorry if this sounds harsh but we need better than good. We need him to be outstanding if 2020 is to get us back in the premiership conversation. We need him, Oliver, and Brayshaw to be a triple threat of stars that have opposition coaches thinking “how do we stop them”. They each have that in them.

I had to laugh a few weeks ago when there were people calling for Jonesy to step down immediately after Walker did it. Nate has been a great servant of the club and deserved that break at the end of the season to make his own assessments (he likely knew before then anyway). Stepping down as Tex did looked bad for me, it reflected poorly on himself, the club, and the coach. Jonesy on the other hand let the season breathe and did it in a way that just made it a mention in the news reports but not a big deal. Right call, right time. Thank you Nate for your captaincy, I hope you’re able to make 2020 a good year to (likely) bow out in.

Viney’s year wasn’t good imo but I’m sure there are certain things that we don’t see that the coaches do. That said I would hope that Viney himself reflects on this season as a poor one by his standards and that the place we finished is a reflection on his leadership group’s inability to drive higher standards for 2019. I’ve said this a couple of times, 2019 might be a failure that can lead to greater success if assessed and used properly. It doesn’t have to be a wasted year. Congrats to Oliver and Gawn on tying for the B&F, I would’ve had Max in front but Oliver was still good this year (without being incredible). Now bring on 2020 (hopefully with no injury list!).

I'll be wanting Richmond to win this one, there's something about GWS being premiers before we break our drought that really sickens me. Also was kinda hoping for a Pies v Tigers GF more the atmosphere but seeing their fans devastated is also enjoyable.

I think he's got potential, Gawn was a fairly late bloomer as well and who better to teach him ruck craft? As for whether he fits into the team as a second ruck on a regular basis, obviously his forward work (marking in particular) needs to improve.