PaulRB

Brissie may have "nullified" him, but still losing by 10 goals doesn't imply to me that it's "working". All of our young players will have up and down periods and games, we're maturing as a team because we can keep performing as a group, despite this.

It's interesting as to how best trade in a top grade player. What type of players do we have a surplus of, that the target clubs require? or should we focus on free agents for nothing in trade terms? So two paths to get an A-grader: Trade out pick and quality players (who are surplus but good) and pay solid cash for player (not free agent), or Buy a free agent and use picks, hold players, but spend up big Does it depend on how close we see ourselves to being a contender? or how confident we are to trade out the right player to keep list moving forward?

Yes he's certainly handy. I see it as about relative gains vs other clubs. The strategies we've been using have made us stronger relative to most other clubs, hence we're on the rise. So when exploring a Dion Prestia acquisition the question is, will spending our draft picks and cash on him generate a better relative gains vs other clubs than continuing those strategies that have worked for us so well recently? What are we losing to get him? and is the positional gain we get in gaining him worth the position loss (or missed opportunity) elsewhere in the team?

Our smart recruiting and new found ability to actually develop the top shelf talent we have into top shelf players means we need Dion less than in previous years. Let me state this clearly: I'd be happy to get him and don't doubt his talents. However, one of the main reasons we're rising is because our football department has done several things very well Identified MFC players whose currency outside the club is high, but whose role or value or commitment to the club may be limited (in terms of building a premiership team), and have traded them out for maximum gain. For example, Frawley, Howe, Clark. Identified and traded for players at other clubs who've yet to hit their ceiling as a player, or had issues, and provide something the club needs. These players have often come cheap as their current clubs didn't value what they offered. For example, Tyson, Bug, Kennedy, Garlett,... Identified and recruited mature sub-AFL level players who would flourish under a professional and well managed development program. For example, Vanders, Wagner Traded draft picks and players to gain access to high draft picks. For example, Oliver, Petracca, etc... Dion represents a recruitment path that hasn't been great for us, that is, recruiting top shelf players who are at their ceiling and come at at high price financially and in terms of trade cost. For example, Dawes, Lamumba, Clark. Perhaps we'd be better to stick to the strategies that have us on the rise and let other clubs engage in a bidding war to acquire Dion?

The one downside of the rest on the AFL realising we are on the rise is that our future picks have less value. Clubs would now be shifting their rating of an MFC first round pick in 2017 from a pick 4-8 (ladder position 14th to 10th) to a pick 10-14... So on one had we're more attractive (to Prestia and other players), while on the other hand we have less currency. New territory for us, we'll have to get creative.

I like the team, it's quick and learning how to wear teams down with relentless contested ball, tackling and runners who go both ways. Our "midfield" now runs from Jeffy to Nev with all expected to attack courageously and defend relentlessly and contest everything. Oliver's a big out but Petracca's step up of recent weeks has added another outrageous talented young bull to our mid/forward mix. If we can win the lions share of control out of the middle and implement our forward press we hold the ball where we have our best talent, the forward line, which will go a long way toward getting the job done...

I'd agree with Warren's idea about our improvement, and arrival as a contender, if we can knock over the Hawks next week. And little would make me happier.

Of the older brigade (TMac, Garland, Dunn, Jetta) Jetta seems to have adapted best to the defend-into-attack switch thats underway in our backline, with TMac second and Col starting to nail it on the weekend as well. Bodes well how well Jetta's done with it and that if the others can similarly adapt we'll be a much more potent team for it.

He needs a bigger set of head phones!

Boys look chilled and focused on their pre-game goal shooting??? looking forward to a brutal joyous beating.

With Kent and Gartlett plus mids streaming forward Betty only needs to bring ball to ground if he can't mark it, when resting forward. He and Max in full aggro mode in ruck with our emerging mid is a serious advantage.

His miss from straight in front in the 3rd, which then was rebounded for a Dogs goal, cost us any momentum we had and signaled we were cooked. Hogan is still so young and raw, mentally more than physically. He will mature, but he has a way to go before he actually has what all champions have - the ability to single-handedly impose themselves on and win games of footy for their team.

Stemmed the flow and had some moments of ascendency... Need a second half like last week.

I don't understand what's happening.

Given the uneven nature of the draw, opposition team form fluctuations etc... its hard to find a "statistical" measure to gauge a teams improvement relative to the other teams. My intuitive sense is we've improved significantly, and, contrary to some other teams, still have a higher ceiling this year as players settle into the team, the regular 22 becomes clearer and our depth allows us to avoid injury and form based down periods... My measure for this is gut feel, which as we all know can be distorted by wishful thinking. Anecdotally there are some good indicators of this shift, i.e. - Gawn and Viney featuring high in player ranks, Brownlow and team of week ranks. - In form backup layers working in the Casey team, covering most positions and putting real pressure on for spots - several "top 22" players pushing to regain a spot (Brayshaw, Vandenberg, Dawes, Trenners) in coming weeks - Statistical data on improved performance and ranking (which is skewed by who we've played unfortunately, but generally very positive) - etc... Prompts me to suggest that the team has (or is) recalibrating it's focus onto making the 8, if indeed it was ever not on this. I like also that the way we're now able to have players return via their performances in the reserves, staying there until they are cherry ripe to play AFL. This to me is one of the hallmarks of a top 8 team, and having Brayshaw, Vandenberg, Dawes, and Trenners hitting form and entering the team during the second half of the year will alleviate any downturn our young team might be experiencing by then...

Theres something retrospective about those stats, that messes with my head. As in if we'd lost to Tiger and Pies and GWS, then they'd be ranked higher and our draw would have been deemed "harder"... Is that weird, or just me?

I really liked the way he and Maxy stepped up in the Geelong game last year, when Hogan was out. So him getting into form in the reserves may be insurance for more than one position.

Great News. Reckon Betty is massively under rated and essential insurance if we're to push higher into finals this year or years to come.

Apologies. People started calling peoples "muppets" and I lost my cool. I love the Muppets! they rock. muppets.

Can we split out the Hogan thread into two threads For updates and discussion of his footy, form, fitness, etc... For trade news and general hand wringing, etc... Please?

I'd suggest the opposite of what the moaning Myrtle's believe. I think Hogan has seen the direction of the MFC these past few months and the need to be fully committed (See J. Viney). As a result he's about to commit for 4-5 years, and is letting his folks know.

I think he's gone home to discuss a very big decision with his family... It may all be coming to a head.