PaulR

Given the Dockers are playing North, if we win we’re into top two spot and finals... unless they win big.

May needs to save it up for the GF, and then go off (Dons 2000 style)...

Noticed in The Age article on Carlisle that Lever and May are both elite (Top 2 Lever, top 10-15 May) for intercept marks and intercept possessions. Given Mays new and Lever has been injured for the second half of last year, it’s a major injection of additional talent into our back 6 when both fit, in form and coordinating.

Freo “opening it up” so to speak should be interesting. They don’t bat deep in the midfield and will get exposed on the rebound. Losing ??? (Forget his name) To get Hogan only exacerbates their midfield issues.

Is there a stat that measures a forwards ability to defend, chase and hold the game in the forward 50..? Be curious to see that stat.

I think you’ve nailed the critical piece of data, with our midfielders now mature and at best practice levels of fitness, our need to rotate them through the bench decreases, allowing us to employ the bench more strategically. The days when young mids were managed at 75% game time are done, with Tracca the last to be needing this support. This means the Preuss addition will be for many games and to good effect.

As the number 1 clearance team in the Comp with arguably the best ruck and midfield, these rules should deliver a very dominant season for us. Any team with ruck or midfield issues will be hurt, more than in the past.

Neil Craig..?

Goodwin has been blessed with a apprenticeship under Roos, a great list and a very solid high performance team in his FD. Now let’s hope he’s been touched by the Gods and he’ll pull it all together. Another 3 years plus Bartlett’s firstborn if he wins a flag. ?

The Preuss and Maxy tandem with one in our goal square at centre bounces, is a nightmare for most oppositions. We’re clearing at 60% kick long and deep... if leadup blocked. We will destroy many teams this season, Goodwin and the FD have read the rule changes well and recruited to our significant advantage, i.e. Kolo for wing, Hunt becomes a weapon from kick ins where the player can now just play on... etc interesting times.

I disagree PD, I think both Tommy and Weid benefit and do well from time up the ground. I reckon Goodwin has a plan to evolve this part of our setup and further improve our midfield/clearance dominance by addressing the only area of weakness, those times when Maxy is resting or being double teamed. It may be at the expense of OMac if Maxy continues to roll or play back, or require tall forwards play stints on the wing providing hit up targets, etc... BTW I know your view, and am actually more interest in exploring how it might or could work than playing “I’m right ... you’re wrong” (yawn) chest thumping game...

This is what happens when you pay people too much money to do a simple job. Bizarre

I think Hogan’s output is covered with the addition of May (22 more goals stopped), and another forward (or collection of) kicking 25 in Hogan’s spot in the forward 50... there’s Hogan’s tally covered. Its the year on year improvement to Trac, Vanders, Spargo, Hannan and Weidemann (plus Oliver resting forward) that will cover the “Hogan deficit”... A new season and an improving team.

There was a moment at the end of the GF when Westcoast almost scored the slam dunk goal to seal the game, and Jeremy arrived late, knowing they where done and his look of anguish was so heartfelt I almost forgave him for leaving... almost. Then the Eagles won and I laughed at how sweetly cruel the footy gods can be...

That article has KK as “195 cm” ...?!

Glad the circus that was “will Hogan stay or go” has moved on, was over it and we need all players at the MFC 100% on board in 2019 if we,re going to have a serious tilt at glory. Go Demons.

If it increases our chances of a flag (which I believe it does), then it was a good trade...

If this year is done and Jessie doesn’t sign an extension (ie likely to leave next year), we play him back to fill the role we’d have got May to play. Would only add to his value, more defensive skills and application, plus enables us to play our long term forward structure...

Yeah maybe, but meh!! Really Jessie, you’re in this business for cash not flags..? That’s sad.

Bell and Freo are in the classic bind, lose Neald to get Hogan, means a weaker midfield to gain a stronger forward line... and as we know without a quality midfield the best forwards in the league won’t win you games of footy. We should have anticipated this (as should have Hogan and his manager). Core question for me is WHY? Why does Hogan want to leave us as we set up to play finals and have a realistic crack at immortality to go to a crappy Freo? Why?

Wouldn’t surprise me it Sydney has a tilt at Hogan...

Was ok with Jesse staying or leaving, but the longer this drags out I find myself getting a bit irritable that he’s putting his fans through it (again)... that said don’t know the full story, so prepare to park it till I hear more.

When will it end

The cold reality is Freo’s list is average, one of their best mids wants out, and to get guaranteed talent in (Hogan) they’ll need to trade out of the first round of this years draft, further exacerbating their list issues. Theyre between a rock and a hard place, and I scratch my head wondering why Jesse might want to join them there.

Reality is that Freo need Hogan now, delay, and the Eagles loom as viable alternative. And Freo need this deal more than MFC, we’re now top 4 irrespective and perhaps capable of acquiring May even with Hogan on the books. Freo’s Picks 5&6 gets it done, any less and we wait. Commentariat proposing less are afraid of how strong we’ve become, and how we only become stronger with two top ten picks to “rebalance” our list.