Pates

He's yet to have a game that he takes by the scruff and destroys a team. It'll happen, hopefully against Fremantle. But he does enough for me to suggest he will be an absolute gun for us. Brayshaw I feel could have a bit of Salem's luck about him. We were patient with him and it's starting to pay off, Brayshaw has it in him and I see him being a valuable mid for us in the future.

Really I thought the highest we ever got under Roos was 9th, always just missing out on the 8.

As an aside when was the last time we were in the 8 at the end of a round? Did it happen in 2010, it didn't happen at any time during Roosy's years as far as I know and it definitely didn't happen during Mark Neeld's tenure.

Well apart from beating North Melbourne (god I want that one gone this year) we're into the business end of the records. With finals and things that have us at the northern part of the ladder. I say we keep ticking them off until we get to the all important one.....

This is a really good pick up in my opinion, something we have lacked is some polish out the half back line (Salem was meant to be that this year but had his Thyroid issues). Now we've got Hibberd, Melksham, (Vince as well), and Salem as options back there plus Hunt with his run and carry. Welcome to the Dees Michael!

His whole speech is like a stand up roasting routine! Love the guy!

Haha by creeping I mean I know it's not going to happen this year, and probably not next year!

Think we'll have to do that again this week, we're the away team so I'd expect us to wear that thing. 4 in a row, 2006 the last time that happened (we actually won 5 in a row twice that year). We're starting to creep towards the most important record of them all....a premiership.

Well on the other hand it's probably a lot easier to continue a downward trend in W/L!

Don't forget there were periods in our history the WE were the dominant team! Pretty hard to improve when your the best team in the comp. And it is also actually very difficult to continue having an upward trend for improvement in W/L ratio. At some point you either get to the top, get your teams ceiling of improvement, or you just get some bad luck. Would be interested to know the all time AFL record for improved consecutive seasons.

I'll quibble over cost if it costs us Hogan. I believe we are already building a very very good midfield, obviously Fyfe would make it better but I don't want to lose the big forward we've already invested so much into for Fyfe. Inquire but also think of the bigger picture.

True, that one we were so close to breaking this year too (probably should have). If we can knock those two off they would be the two most frustrating records broken on the list.

You have too much time on you hands....

Big chance to knock another couple off this week. 3 in a row + Port + Port in Adelaide. I'm just so stoked that we've got over the Hawthorn hurdle, surely next year the St Kilda one has to be smashed into the ground.

I gotta say, this one coming up this week is one of the big ones I want irradiated! Beating saints at Etihad can't even remember the last time, and it's been 10 years since we've beaten them anywhere. 10 years FCS! I've got a fair few saints fans as well so they don't let me forget it! Also when was/have we ever won a match the week after a game in Darwin?

Something I have noticed the umps have forgotten is the rule change from last year where if a player ducks his head and gets tackled that is considered prior opportunity. Someone is going to really hurt themselves until the AFL start punishing players when they do that.

Yeah an in play decision review seemed pretty strange, particularly as the umpires rarely call touched off the boot unless they're sure. The point of defenders potentially acting differently is another issue as well. The AFL review system would probably be one of the most flawed in world sport.

The major difference between the Mick/Buckley handover compared to our is that it is of Paul's own making. He is willingly handing over the reigns this year and doing so with more emphasis on Goodwin taking more of the lead. Whereas the Mick/Buckley was of Eddie's creation and Mick was the full senior coach right up to the end and he didn't want to hand it over at the end. If Roos does hand around I think it will be in player development and transitioning the younger players from U18's to AFL players. I will say this though he won't have much to do with coaching I would think because it does have the potential to undermine Goodwin's leadership.

Be great if he saw something really special building at Melbourne with the likes of Hogan, Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, Oliver etc and he just couldn't walk away from the club altogether. I reckon he'd want to be there when it all came to head. That said I think he is genuinely looking forward to not being "the messiah" and "the man", and just letting Goodwin take over the club.

I said this at the start of the year last year with Brayshaw, we've got ourselves a gem here. Looking forward to seeing him out there round 1!

Roos has asked for a team of competitors, Oliver screams this. That said, first year player, he should be cherry on top instead of expected to tear through opponents. That's what Roos has built the last couple of years, so let's just sit back and let him develop.

Certainly not the ones bolded, I think their different players but probably similar level to Vanders for me.

You don't give depth 4 years. I'm not overly inspired by him and the assertion by Roos at the B&F that we want a team of competitors doesn't seem to fit with him, BUT if we do get him we have to stop this negativity. If he becomes a Demon then support him and back him in. Goodwin obviously would know enough about him so he may see something we don't. Really hoping there's a bigger target in sight.

Can't say I'm moved to get Melksham. With the WADA appeal still ongoing and we have no idea what the repercussions are if they are found guilty it's irresponsible to offer such a long deal unless there is a trigger that gets us out of it, however I would've thought his manager would make damn sure there wasn't anything like that in the deal.

I know......don't you love it?!