Pates

I really don’t get this constant conversation on the topic. Today proved they were deserved top 4 and worthy grand finalists, we failed in certain games so we didn’t deserve to finish in the top 4. They played a good finals series and had a very good year, well done to them. (But still glad they didn’t win the premiership!)

So here’s a question, what did West Coast change/improve to make them go from average final 8 team to winning a premiership? What can we learn from them (given they too suffered a humiliating defeat in the finals last year)?

I must be the only person who thought the umps were actually ok. They kept the whistle in the picket but it seemed mostly consistent, the block the resulted in Sheeds goal was probably the most influential non decision and I’d say it was incorrect.

Wow savage memes! Maybe as a counter to the #putoutyourcheeseboards for last year, maybe #putoutyourcentrelinkenvelops ?

Although Ryan squibbed a mark both he and Rioli were important with their pressure and little bits of magic through the day today. Ryan in particular took that massive mark to be able to deliver it to Sheed.

We got the trade up to get Oliver right but Howe for Kennedy wrong. That’s what he’s saying. The Pies seem to have this history of getting great deals from us, can we please turn one back around on the them! Anyway for now the tears of the Collingwood players will do nicely!

Actually genuinely feel sorry for them with that, no bigger day that it could’ve gone wrong for them.

Any question on who I wanted to win has been answered by the looks of utter devastation on the Pies players faces! Deserved premiers, they were dominant in the second half and couldn’t seem to take their chances. But that goal at the end was clutch.

Jeez the Eagles have stuffed this up, absolutely dominated the second half but been poor with their shots on goal. Should be in front.

That trade still annoys me, Howe (an established best 22) for Ben Kennedy (fringe player and mostly useless).

Gotta love this pearler of a call from Bruce with 15min left in the 3rd quarter Collingwood in front by a goal, “jeez Collingwood have to keep scoring now”. No sh— Sherlock.

It’s a good point you make, if you look at how WC managed Cox into his later years he spent more time forward while NicNat started to take the reigns. Could be a situation they envisage and have pitched to Preuss. Early days Max is the main man with Bayden playing a forward/ruck role before they start to switch over the other way.

Haha I nearly vomited when he said that.

I wasn’t sold on him as part of our best 22 but his return changed my mind. There’s no one else in the team that has the upper body strength to push off opponents like Vanders and he seems to add an extra dimension in the midfield/forward role. He isn’t fast but I really enjoyed the games he played this year and touch wood he appears to be past his foot problems. However the personal side of things might just weigh things over for him, I actually didn’t realise he had dealt with the sudden passing of his father. Mid he goes hopefully we’ve been able to get some value from his end of year.

Because it’s on the table and Jesse and his management are considering it as well. That’s where this story has traction, if there was nothing in it then both player/management and club would’ve quashed the rumours by now. The silence indicates at the very least it’s a real chance, Mr Ralph seems to think it’s a forgone conclusion that he’s played his last game in Red and Blue. No news in this case (for me at least) is not good news.

Lol very strange percentage for him to quote but there ya go.

Doesn’t sound like there’s much opposition from the suns end, his lack of matches mean his value is pretty low, looks like a good opportunity to me. Given our experience with concussion riddled players in recent years that might also help manage him (although it sounds like he’s past the worst of it). Early 3rd rounder? Or perhaps a direct swap for a current fringe player?

I get where you’re coming from, but his raw data is tracking him becoming an elite forward of the competition. They don’t grow on trees so we are well placed and well within our rights to ask for anything and everything, as another poster said if this trade does take place (I’m still optimistic on the other side of the coin) our first requests for picks should be so high that it shocks Fremantle. Two high first round picks plus perhaps an exchange of other picks/players. Stay strong with them and make them work to satisfy US.

Jeffy is still on our list, whether or not the magic has gone from him remains to be seen. But I do agree that I would like to see us look at recruiting a skilful fast indigenous player, there’s no doubt they seem to have some kind of magic that’s impossible to describe. I’d love an Aaron Davey v2!

Not Melbourne related but with McGovern nominating Carlton as the preferred destination how on earth are they even entertaining the idea of getting Sheil? Surely they will be tapped out of picks with McGovern to satisfy anything that GWS want. Also why are players even thinking of going to that rabble???

The positive thing about where the club is at is that we are not a one player club and the lads within seem to have a great bond building. So if he leaves I now have confidence that the club will make it beneficial to us and we won’t unravel. Next couple of days will be telling though, I feel like if he doesn’t feel comfortable about committing to us beyond 2019 then now might we be the best time to part ways. What we don’t want is him to be uncontracted with us next year and us having to deal with the constant speculation, it has been damaging to multiple clubs (including ours) in the past.

I like the sentiments praha, and I'm willing to get on board with that line of thought. Fact is he has been through more in the last 24 months than many go through over decades, as you've pointed out the injury and watching his teammates go through the finals (relatively successfully) must've stung as happy as he would've been for them. The club's pitch or talks with Jesse may well centre around helping him to regain confidence in himself and that he is a big part of our future hopes and dreams.

The fact that neither camp has said anything says it’s at least a serious chance but the wording of him being open to trade indicates it’s not like he’ll be unhappy at Melbourne, more than he’s feeling a pull back home and that if it can be done then the time might be right. FWIW regarding Weid as our back up plan, very dangerous game to play. Don’t get me wrong him having a breakout game vs Geelong was very pleasing and at least showed he has the attributes to make it. But there’s still a lot of development to go in him before he’s a consistent AFL forward. The idea of him being a third folly to TMac and Jesse (yes I think we can work with all three of them in the team) is salivating.

Couldn’t see it happening.

At best I’d say late second round pick but I imagine we’ll do it for a 3rd rounder. I like Kent and will be sad to see him go as I would have him in our best squad but he’s not a critical cog in the line up.