Little Richard

Paul would really appreciate this post. Finally looking at the positives!

I think in this case WYL is probably referring to the will to compete, be better etc. I hope and believe we've truly passed the 'choir boy' phase.

Viney was in beast mode for a lot of the day, just didn't have much help. Depressing day for Jones, I really feel for him.

I'm absolutely certain that there is plenty of psychological thinking in the questions that the recruiters ask. Unfortunately, psychology is not an exact science.

Hopefully this gives Jimmy some confidence in him self and it translates to improved performances on the field.

Apparently it's 'Melbourne Day' too. Coincidence or Illuminati? Good signs.

Personally, I'll never be 'stoked with a loss'. I'm always disappointed, even when there was no expectation that we'd win. 30 points is a bit easier to handle than 100 though.

I think we'll see some effort today, but a 6 or 7 goal loss. Surely the players can pull something out for Jonesy, plus I wouldn't expect Fremantle to over exert themselves unnecessarily. They might even call it 'respectable'.

I wonder what the AFLPA's views on altering the draft age would be?

Absolutely agree with this, I think we'll see Viney and Tyson really lift a notch next season and take a lot of that grunt work off the shoulders of Jones and Vince. When we have at least 4 midfielders on the same level, we'll be a lot better. Having said that, Viney has been very good this year, for the most part.

I don't think he will go anywhere, at least before FA. If he does, it will be the very final straw for many and I'm sure the club knows this. Will be doing their due diligence to hold onto him, obviously.

Oh lol. You're being very preachy this week TGR. Unfortunately, I don't think you can change the attitude/thoughts of the supporters with your incessant posting on the topic.

That gives me a little more hope for him then, didn't realise he'd played so few games. He has showed some form over the last couple of matches so hopefully he'll bring that in to season 2016.

I agree with this to a point. But there was one of his first few games where he played outstandingly against Geelong on a wet day in Geelong. Just an outlier in terms of the rest of his development?

In this case, I don't think it's much of a lesson at all. Tounpas was playing and dominating senior footy as an 17/18 year old, and he never had any issues with toughness. This was much more than other draftees of his year were doing. It just seems to me a case of him not being able to step up to the highest level - how do you predict that?

Quite eye opening and in the case of Gawn, exciting that he's only played 37 games. Is Michie's tally games with the MFC only or total AFL games played?

I don't think that in the current AFL system, and especially at our club, a midfielder can take so long to (at least) garner a regular spot in the 22. I held high hopes for Jimmy but the fact is that up until this point, he's been a bust. Maybe he'll magically turn it around next season if he's still with us. But I have no reason to believe that he will, based on what he's shown so far.

I still think they're in a serious downward spiral. Their champions are old now, and slowing down. Their young crop aren't anywhere near as good as the ones they are replacing, and personally I don't believe Scott is anything special as a coach. Looking forward to seeing them somewhere near the bottom in the near future.

Exactly. Roos comes across as far more balanced than Neeld, in terms of building relationships with the players and nurturing their fragile minds when he first came to the club. Now he appears to be much tougher, and rightly so. Neeld was just all bluster from the beginning by all reports.

Yep, I'm looking forward to being pleasantly surprised again this trade period.

Wouldn't have minded Hopper if he was available. Sounds like a similar player to Wines.

Pick 53, just like his brother.

I find it an interesting stat that Hird was taken so late in the draft, but it also shows that the focus on the draft has probably changed a lot since that era. It's a fact that as soon as their name is called out and they join that club, the number they were taken means very little to nothing. But the media and often us supporters won't forget that.

He's a selfish player, a sniper and plays for free kicks. That's enough for me to know that I don't want him at the MFC. Goes without saying, but it's not up to me. That's my opinion though.

Not sure if there'd be much chance of that happening. Howe for Tomlinson sounds like a decent transaction to me, although if we pick up Lynch from the Crows we'd be looking for something else for Howe I'd say.