Jaded No More

Very good news! I'm super thrilled about this. McDonald of the Tom variety is a major part of our future as a serious contender and I think Oscar could be too.

On the one hand I agree. On the other hand we can't be asking players to take less because we are trying build a premiership list and then bring in an outsider on mega dollars. It just doesn't work like that.

He would be on way more than that. I think $90k is starting salary isn't it? Either way, I feel for Brisbane. They are a mess.

Please! Firstly Pedo actually takes contested marks. Dawes got 2 cheapies. Secondly without Hogan, Pedo had the massive task of shutting down that [censored] Gibson, one of the premier defenders in the comp, and he did that very very successfully. Oh and lets not forget that Pedo can ruck too, pretty useful. Don't compare the two, Dawes might be smart, he might be a leader off field, but on field he is finished. His mobility is shot, his hands are rubbish, and he can't even give a contest in the ruck anymore. Neither of these guys are the future, but right now I can't see a single reason you'd pick Dawes over Pedo.

Also because Hawthorn fans were expecting a loss

If we can get Hurley, and it is a big if, then I think we are just one decent backup ruckman (not that anyone will even come close to cleaning Gawn's shoelaces), and another zippy wingman, from a pretty complete list. If we look at the list that we are assembling, and taking into account that I think we will be ready to seriously challenge around 2019, the only key player in the side who is unlikely to be there is Vince. Jones is probably going to be past his prime (but will still be important to the side). Those two will be more than covered with the likes of Oliver, Brayshaw, Salem etc.. I do however think that to seriously challenge we need another really good defender. Maybe that's Oscar or maybe that's Frost, but neither are a lock. McDonald will need help, and it is clearly not coming from either Dunn or Garland. Hurley, with his potential to backup ruck as well, is actually a perfect get for us. With Wieds looking good, and Hogan probably sticking around, and Gawn being the greatest thing since sliced bread, our talls are strong. Just need another really quality tall defender to complete the look.

And he isn't even fit enough to play 80% TOG! If someone can do a gif of his handball to Viney in the last when the ball was going over the line, that would be awesome.

Lotto numbers?

Of course I would love to make finals, and wouldn't be the least bit upset if we made it and got done, but I am just as happy going into pre-season knowing that next year we can not just make the finals, but also win one, maybe even a couple. Realistically we are just not top 8 material, if we make it this year, it will be barely, and on the back of some teams dropping off badly due to injuries. Long term, making it this year or not, is going to mean very little. The damage will be done by us, in finals, for many years to come.

How Mitchell that dirty snipping dog keeps getting off is beyond me. Hits a player who is lying on the ground, in the head, while the ball is elsewhere. No sanction. WTF?! The only good thing here is that we need North to keep losing, so a full strength Hawthorn this week will only help that situation.

It's because Watts is now a gun, he takes the contest on, he isn't afraid to go in hard, and his skills and footy brain are elite. Isn't it so bloody wonderful to see this guy blossom into a star?!

To be honest, I think just missing out on finals will be better motivation for us going into next season, than coming 8th and getting smashed in week one of the finals, which is the most likely result. I want to make finals and win, not make up numbers. I know finals experience is very important, but it can be really damaging getting there only to get smacked. Just ask Richmond.

The two are different players, just like Dawes and Hogan play together, so can Pedersen and Hogan.

Actually helps that Hogan isn't there, because we aren't bombing it. We bomb it to Gawn, which is fine because he is 100 meters taller than his opponent (and is the god of everything), but bombing it inside 50 when Hogan is always triple teamed, is a bad move. Yesterday players needed to keep calm and actually try to find a target, and it worked really well. Need to remember this when Hogan is playing.

It makes me cry thinking about where we were 3 years ago, and genuinely not seeing this club surviving. The thought of not having Melbourne to support is unimaginable. When we finally experience real success, nobody, and I mean nobody, will enjoy it more than us long suffering supporters. It will be the sweetest taste and I will always think back to Roos and PJ (who will hopefully still be there), and thank our lucky stars that they came to our rescue. I can't wait to stop being Jaded on here, and changing my name to "[censored] yes we just won a flag". I think it's quite catchy!

Anyone who thinks Pedo will get dropped is high. He is so much more versatile than Dawes, helps in the ruck, gives Watts more of a chance to play up forward/down back when needed, can take a mark and kick a goal. Structurally we are a lot better with him in the side. We can't make changes to the team. I know Hogan might be fit, but honestly giving him an extra week off and saving him the flight to Adelaide can't hurt. We just beat Hawthorn, everyone deserves to go again next week. No changes.

I'm pretty much going to keep reading this thread from now until Round 1 next year.

And we didn't overuse the handball for probably the first time this year, which was so important since Hawthorn murder you on turnovers!

He is like a baby giraffe, awkward, a bit slow, lacks intensity, but gees I think back to Frawley and Tom, and both were absolutely putrid when they started out. True we allowed 200 more entries into the opposition forwardline every week, but they looked so lost and out of their depth. Oscar doesn't look scared, and generally he is composed enough with the footy. Defensively he is sound, but obviously needs 10kgs on his frame to be able to physically compete one on one (his brother shows that physically he can easily develop). In the air he is good, his awareness is ok and his ball use better than his brother's. There is a lot of potential there, and the best way to rapidly develop Oscar is to play him at AFL level, and take the good with the bad. It will serve us well in the long term that we are persevering with him now. Also, how can you not love seeing this on the field

I watched the replay last night, I watched it again this morning. Went to have a coffee so I can read all the papers. Stupid barista coffee arted a swan on my coffee, damn hipsters ruining my flat white with their footy biases. Never mind, replay again later tonight to get me through a crazy work week ahead.

Try to remember the last time we won 3 games in a row....

Resulted in the goal that basically ended Hawthorn. I call for this move to be known as the Oscar special from now on!

That is a joke, I can't even!!! Someone should make a gif of Trac's one handed mark too.

I thought he played on Burgoyne, or as I like to call him, one of the many players who usually rips us a new one. Whoever played on Burgoyne killed it, and I thanked them. I reckon he is one of their best most important players.

I truly believe that we have a football club to support because of Roos. Three more years of on field rubbish and we would be gone. We owe Roos everything. Because of him we didn't just survive but we are now on the verge of thriving.