Pates

To be honest it's essentially the first we've heard of the "club line" through this entire saga. Gut feel is he's gone but really hoping he's staying.

I agree, while fringe players aren't going to get all the headlines having decent quality depth goes a long way to success.

I never wrote off Brayshaw and quietly had a chuckle when people on here were suggesting he retire, but I never thought he would come back so well this year. Hunt's a different kettle of fish, Brayshaw has always had the right attitude no matter what has happened, Hunt I'm not so sure has that same self belief and desire. That said I too think that with a clean pre-season, we could be looking at next year's B&F with him being the most improved player. Look at Harmes, lot's of people on here were calling him limited and couldn't see him in our futures (I'll admit I couldn't see where he'd fit in) but look at him now.

The biggest concern I have about our bullish attitude to the trade is a lot of people are already expecting Weideman to just step in a be a gun forward for us next year. I was really pleased by what he showed in the Cats game and parts of the Hawks game but he's still got a long way to go before we can hedge our bets on him.

I'd personally want to keep him as depth/fringe, when he's playing as an extractor he's pretty decent but as a winger (where he seemed to be when Viney returned) he doesn't have the disposal or decision making to be damaging enough. In fact is anything he fluffs kicks that end up hurting us. Still if we can facilitate a trade that'll help us improve then lets do it.

1st Gawn 2nd Oliver 3rd Tmac 4th Harmes 5th Gus Jetta 6th, Jones 7th, Hogan 8th Best first year Fritta Most improved Harmes (honestly didn't know where he was going to sit at the club this year)

I’ve got all the sympathy in the world for Hoges, his past 24 months haven’t been easy but I want the club to make Freo pay up big time, should it go ahead. I would also not be against us potentially holding Jesse to his final year. Bear in mind there hasn’t been a single bit of chatter that Jesse isn’t happy with us, and if the club assessed what was being offered and decided it having Jesse for a tilt at the premiership next year then I’d say tell them to call back in a years time.

Can’t be serious, why would anyone think that’s a fair reaction. They do it for the love of the club, so much for “side by side”.

Isn’t it funny that last year everyone was praising Richmond’s small forward brigade and declaring it a successful formula (and to be fair they finished on top). But the way West Coast used their tall timbre was perfect, they have so many awesome contested markers it makes it difficult to defend. Collingwood will definitely go harder for May though, there’s no one currently in their team that can competently take on that sort of forward line.

Wow really? ?

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.