PaulR

Welcome aboard Nelo!

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...

The “replacing Hogan’s 47 goals” debate, needs to be broadened out to appreciate the genius of it, and how we’ll do much better than break even on the 47 goal “loss”. Losing Hogan allowed the perfect replacement in Weid to step up at the ideal time (with a great return), and allowed us to recruit May. So how to measure... Weid late last year averaged almost 2 goals a game versus serious opposition. So we can assume 2 goal average in 2019 Or approx 40 goals over 22+ games. PLUS May is an experienced key defender who should be able to be counted on to reduce by a further 1 goal per game, the goals against, than the MFC player he’s replacing in the 22. So there’s another 22+ goals my guess is for Hogan’s 47 we’re looking at a return of 60+ so a profit (gain on the competition) of 20 so goals..! Tres good

Does the arrival of Pruess enable us to rest Maxy in 3-4 games against struggling teams during the year, to have him cherry ripe for big games..? And should we?

I don’t think being an a$$hole when you lose implies you are less accepting of the loss than someone who has the class to be gracious in defeat. So we’re probably talking at cross purposes on this.

Hawk supporters need to reacquire the ability to lose gracefully. Until they do (and it’s a skill that will require decades of practice), they will get little sympathy from me, when the footy Gods do them ill.

If he makes it can we call him “Luke”? :)

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

On the NT games and our presence in NT, am I right In thinking that the MFC have an “academy”in the NT, and if so, what potential benefit does that give us? And are there any kids coming through our NT academy that are good? Would love to discover another Liam..!

After years in the wilderness and crap fixtures we’re back, playing (arguably) the best brand of attacking footy and have a team with characters who genuinely entertain. So it’s time for the AFL to give us the fixture we deserve and have earned. ????

Our last two Friday night games were at 90k+ each, so the AFL should be open to giving us more...

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.