Good Times Grimes

Agreed. Only Swan and Ablett averaged more than 30 disposals last year. If Trengove and Michie could get 28 and 30 it would make them two of the best mids in the competition...that's a pretty big step to take from a guy that hasn't fired a shot in two years and a guy who's played one AFL game. For the record, I don't think it's a debate of bottom 8 players vs top 8 players making the difference, I think it's more that their improvement should complement each other. As our senior players improve, their leadership, attitudes, work ethic should rub off onto the "bottom tier" of players. Similarly, as the bottom tier improve, it makes it easier for the top tier to improve. For example, if Trengove wins the ball more often then Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes will be beneficiaries of that. It's a bit of a chicken and egg argument, really.

1. Fremantle --> Will improve on last year...they will be the team to beat. 2. Hawthorn--> Will be able to compensate for Buddy. Very strong midfield and forward line, even without him. 3. Sydney--> Could finish lower...we'll see how well Franklin gels with their lineup. 4. Carlton--> I think year #2 of Malthouse will see the Blues start to become the dangerous team they said they'd be five years ago. 5. Richmond--> Similar year to last year for the Tiges, I think. I personally don't see a whole lot of room for improvement in their list. 6. Geelong--> Will start to fall a bit with the loss of many of their experienced players. Will still be a strong team though and could contend for the flag. 7. North Melbourne--> I think they really under performed in 2013...they are a much better team than that. 8. Collingwood--> I see them on the cusp of the 8...can't see them being much higher than this. I don't think Buckley is a good coach. 9. Gold Coast--> Could make finals, but still think they're a year or so away from it. 10. Port Adelaide--> Played out of their skin last year; I don't think they will be able to do it again. 11. West Coast--> Will improve on last season's disappointment, but many of their best players are getting on. 12. Adelaide--> Depends on what Tex can do on his comeback from injury. I don't rate their back line. 13. Western Bulldogs--> Strong midfield, weak everywhere else. 14. Melbourne--> We will see an improvement, but unfortunately I can't see us getting much higher than this. 15. Essendon--> The investigation will take its toll. Their forward line is now very weak. 16. Brisbane--> Could well finish lower...it seems no one wants to play for them. 17. Greater Western Sydney--> Will improve marginally, but I don't think they will ever be a dominant side. 18. St Kilda--> They will be the "2013 Melbourne" of 2014.

Never trust somebody whose first name could be their surname and vice versa. I don't even know what happens in the case of this guy...

He's going to be at GWS next year.

Yes. He confirmed on the radio (SEN, I believe) that he will be at Melbourne pending a medical. One year contract with a performance based trigger for a second year.

So Biff, I ask you the same question I asked BH...where do you see him playing next year? I don't see him as one of our top midfielders, so he'll need to find another position, at least for some of the time.

Why? This is the best time of year and usually the only time that Dees supporters enjoy! Don't be such a downer...embrace the fantasy!

I think that the one thing that we need to give Mark Neeld credit for, is building us a strong forward line (at least on paper).

If he can stay healthy, where do you see him spending most of his time: FP, HFF, Wing, On Ball, Casey?

Clark was unbelievable when he was the only target in the forward line and was getting double and triple teamed by the opposition. If we ever have Dawes, Hogan and Howe up there as well, he will be kicking bags on a regular basis.

I believe he means rookie draft pick two, not round two. I don't have an answer to that question though....

Vince is still contracted. He won't be in the PSD.

How is it pronounced? The way it's spelled? How's it spelled? So many issues...PASS

"Melbourne is sweating on a pick after its second-round selection for losing its best midfielder, Colin Sylvia, to Fremantle." You'd think that since Ryan has written so much about the Dees, he'd be well aware that Nathan Jones is far and away Melbourne's best midfielder. It's an insult to Jones to say that Sylvia is a better player than him.

With the addition of Michie, Tyson, pick 9 and possibly Vince, what do you think this means for Michael Evans? He's showed quite a bit in his limited AFL opportunities, but injuries have prevented him from really stringing together multiple games in a row. He's played 13 games in 3 years and has mostly been used through the midfield. I really rate Evans, and I'd say that when fit he's in our best 22. I'd like to see Roos play him as a small forward with short bursts in the middle. He's shown that he can kick goals (3 in a quarter against GWS earlier this year), and I think that he could be the small forward that we're looking for. Thoughts?

We wouldn't have used #74 anyway. We essentially gave up 2 & 20. The only downside I can see to this deal is that it makes it much harder for us to get Z. Jones.

I don't want Koladjashnij... his name is too difficult to spell. I approve of any of Freeman, Sheed, Crouch.

Massive fan of this trade. Hopefully we'll add in Vince for our compensation pick, and we suddenly have a midfield! What do you think this (and Michie) means for guys like Matt Jones and Michael Evans?

From memory, Adelaide and GC needed to free up list space to put O'Meara/Crouch on their lists at the end of last season. We will need to do the same for Hogan.

The goal is to win, TT.

Yes.

Yeah, Karlsson is unbelievably good. Bobby Ryan was a great pick up as well...I'd love to have him on the Leafs. I like the look of the Leafs this year, but I'm not thrilled with a couple of the moves they made in the offseason (massive contracts to Clarkson/Kessel/Kadri). Last night was a great game though!

Would LOVE Shiel at the Dees...he's a gun. It's so nice seeing players want out of GW$...I hate them so much.

I'd be surprised to see Hawthorn drop this one. I really hope I'm wrong though...

We have to keep Howe. I'm aware that he usually only makes cameo appearances in matches, but I believe he is a vital part of our future. Further to that, his highlights make people want to go to the footy. They make people buy memberships. They are one of the few reasons that ANY kid would go for Melbourne at the moment. I'd be gutted to see Gawn go, but I wouldn't be opposed to it if he could be part of a package to land us a star mid.