Ouch!

Would love to have him on the list, .... if he deserves a spot. That said, I think the odds are stacked against him based on the players at the club currently that would compete for the same spot.... our first two draft picks were small creative players. But hope he can prove me and others wrong and claim a spot based on merit.

I don't have the stats.... but was Melbourne the most active player in this trade period? We traded picks with Brisbane (twice), once with Sydney and once with Adelaide I think, along with trades in for Brown and trade outs for Hannan & Pruess. I know the Dogs and Saints did well from their trades & Free agency, and GWS essentially didn't even need to take a pick in the 40s from Adelaide for Jackson Hately... but I'm very impressed with how we progressed our position over the course of the trade period ..... no massive moves, just subtle improvements to the point where we got 2 picks in the first round.

Fairly certain Sydney has 2 top end academy players, Dogs have Ugle, then Port, Kangas and even the Pies have players that are looking likely first round players... That said, given the lack of under 18 comps, it feels like it could be a bit of a chook raffle.

In this draft he well might be worth it. Pick 7 is probably more likely going to be 12 or 13. I don't rate Saad as one of the football elite, but elite players are also going for multiple first round picks too. I don't think pick 7 is paying overs... Losing a player that has essentially featured in the top 3 of your B&F every year he has played isn't insignificant. .... the issue won't be what Carlton offer, it's that Dodoro will not accept pick 7 IMO.

Agree Binman, Irrelevant and lack of care is where I put the Bombers too... There is no point hating on them. Also, for those people thinking that first round is too high for Daniher, it's the AFL compensation system that judges it, and Daniher is going to net them a first round pick, nothing more certain than that!! Brisbane will rightly offer Daniher a 4+ year contract of at least 600k a season I imagine. Tell me how they don't get a first round pick out that contract. Similarly for those arguing that Saad isn't worth the first round pick of 7 or whatever the Blues have.... The Bombers offered 5 year contract at 600k didn't they? the Blues barely matched it, if Saad were a free agent then you would get a first round compensation for that, and Saad is still contracted so Carlton will need to pay 'overs' to the bombers to get him out of there. He's also finished in their B&F top 3 for two years and 4th in the other year, he's one of their best players.... I'm certain that they will be after more than just pick 7 from the Blues. .... and this is the most highly compromised draft in memory... pick 7 or 8 is going to be 12-15.... so value of the picks is totally out of whack with the academy players up this year.

In regards to a key forward, Hogan left because he was homesick and wanted to head back to WA, whispers about him being 'open' to his career being elsewhere. If his body is sound, and we now have Darren Burgess on board, Sure I'd be open to Ben Brown, but I would prefer Hogan returning, even with the baggage that is known.

Before this thread goes back to being about Oliver, curious why the rumour about a player wanting to explore trades made everyone jump to think about our mids, Surely it makes more sense and the media has already indicated this that it is probably more likely to be a rumour regarding Pruess or TMac? Both have a couple of years to run don't they?

Why are people comparing Fritsch to Brown? Ben Brown is a key forward, Fritsch is medium forward *SHOULD* be a third tall at best in our team and intentionally leads and drags defences wide. His kicking skills need to improve to where they were in his first year again, and that can happen. Anyone remember how poor Petracca's kicking was last year? Fritsch and Brown aren't an either or scenario. Compare Brown to TMac, Weid or Mitch Brown surely it makes a lot more sense?

Other than the fact that they have been away from their lives and families in a hub for the last 11 weeks under strict quarantine conditions?

Would love him to remain with the club, looking at Jack last night, his speech showed how much of a toll this season has taken on him personally. He let slip that he and his wife almost left the hub to return home cos the stress of being new parents away from any family assistance was incredibly difficult. So any form of elation or lack thereof is acceptable to me. The club has talked about being ruthless recently, but equally important, our club needs to recognise a culture and embedding it in. Happy with Gawn as captain, we want Viney staying, May showed how much he wanted to repay the faith to the club from last year, it's clicked with Petracca this year, and I think Jones getting one more year even as a significant milestone to defining the culture for this club. I am not saying gift him 300 games, but another year to work his [censored] off and to the milestone on merit!!! ... lets be ruthless, but lets recognise the fabric of club and learn from what is important to the club. The Viney name means a lot to me as a supporter of this club.

Pretty certain clubs can't assign the penalty onto the players involved, the Richmond players won't pay that fine, the AFLPA has it written into the terms of their agreement. I suspect the reason the penalty is so severe is that we are also at the pointy end of the season, and the AFL has had enough of any form of excuse from player or club. They came out last week with warnings to all clubs and players around end of season issues... My take: Disappointed with the actions of Harley, but if he's body is good for next year then we offer a contract, I reckon any player currently would be seriously challenged in a hub at this end of the season we've had... especially if they aren't getting games (I mean look at all you Victorian posters!! ?) He made a mistake and owned up to it, but prior to this indiscretion seems to have lived up to his end of the deal to date, and I hope he gets a chance to build a solid preseason and play in 2021 in a normal season (whatever normal means!) and maybe he won't get a contract, but there is more value with Bennell on our list than 8-10 other players I can think of...

Agree, I think if he was coming back on a base salary, Watts is probably pushing for a spot as a medium tall rebounding defender, his foot skills alone would make it tempting,.. but I think it's unlikely.

Burgoyne deserved it on the first tackle and got off on a loophole, and they closed that down. The second tackle wasn’t as bad as the first one IMO. Still should have tried making an example then given it’s his second offence. agree that ANB deserved suspension, and it’s a bad look and the outcome was never going to assist him at the tribunal.

Not posting to disagree with comments above, but other than Petracca obviously, I feel Viney moreso than Oliver and Brayshaw in 2020 has actually adapted his game and is showing improvement in his craft. He is looking around and lowering his eyes, and is probably showing more of a team first vibe. He seems to push forward a little more than in previous years and seems more attacking. I haven't seen that same growth in Oliver, Brayshaw or Harmes this year, not that using 2020 is a good yardstick with everything going on. Lets remember Viney lost the captaincy, and I think that was a good move by the club, and it was obviously a painful experience for him. That said, I think he's showing some maturity in his game, he's getting continuity from having a fit body and has grown off field. The other thing to point out here is that you have more than 3 midfielders that rotate through the midfield in a game, I am not disagreeing that Oliver and Viney seem to be vying for the same role and therefore we are not as strong when they both are in at the feet of Gawn. Out of any of our midfielders, Brayshaw feels the most likely to go elsewhere for opportunities, with Freo an obvious connection with the family. Good topic!

Curious as to whether the AFL can overcome this by sending North to play in SA or WA prior to coming down here to Hobart. If I read things correctly, MFC technically would not be the issue for that game, as we'll be flying in via SA. It's North coming down via QLD that prevents this game from going ahead. Unless a similar quarantine period in WA and SA is required for these teams travelling out of the QLD Hub as well, in which case I'm dreaming...

Same, seeing the Dees down here in Hobart was potentially going to be a bright spot in what is turning out to be a bit of a a dismal year. Hella Mega Tour cancelled last week, and I had a cruise booked to NZ for the family that is all but dead in the water and not exactly looking forward to trying to get the money out of the agents involved ? Clint, only difference I think after listening to Gutwen, is that 14th of August is the earliest date for the borders re-opening fo QLD, NSW and ACT. There is no date as of yet for Victoria, and no incoming tourists coming in via the Spirit (as that obviously is via Victoria.)

MFC site has AVB missing 2 weeks now. Confirmed cheek fracture. question is making the tough call to go with like for like... or whether they will just try to include TMac.

Just to be clear... I'm not anti TMac, even though I am questioning a lot of people trying to include him this week. I think having a full list of players and many in good form has not helped him in terms of timing of the injury. Playing him ahead of Jackson or Weid would send the team the wrong message given how they both played on the weekend. If we can't play him as ahead of the other two forwards he shouldn't be included in the team, it's pretty simple. If AvB is injured like some have suggested, TMac shouldn't automatically come in to fill the vacant spot, we should select the player most suited to play that role in the team, that might be ANB (only one initial difference) but it could be Rivers, or Swallow, Jordon, Tomlinson or Jones...

...he certainly turns like one!! Seriously why put him on the wing ahead of Tomlinson who is basically the same size, has the same aerobic capacity, and is as good aerially? and is a much better two way runner and quicker than TMac.

Curious what makes you think that Andrews would go to TMac over Weid? If Andrews takes the number one forward, then he'll go to Weid regardless of TMac being in the team. If I were Brisbane, I wouldn't be fussed playing the second key defender (McStay is it?) on him.

Whilst I get that people see TMac playing on a wing and touting the benefits, I'm concerned that we are trying to squeeze him in just cos it's TMac. He's not in good form atm, and Jackson took the opportunity last week and deserves to play ahead of TMac this week. We have a very fit list to chose from, Jones isn't being gifted a spot in the 18, and nor should TMac. That sends the wrong message to the list. Further to that point, if we want a tall wing option, lets use the one we recruited for that purpose, who trained the whole preseason there, and has all of the attributes and is more mobile than TMac, in Tomlinson, who has the same elite endurance, strength and similar height... and I don't see many people saying Tomlinson should be in this week, so why shoehorn TMac in to the team under the same premise. Last thing to add here is that last week I noticed for the first time in a long time, our forwards appeared mindful of each other's space to lead and move around. I'm not saying this is Tom's fault, and could be a result of form, but he doesn't seem to be making space, he takes up space and looks like he wants the ball dropped on top of him rather than in front or behind to lead into... I might be a little harsh perhaps, I don't know.

I think I agree, but I will say that TMac hasn't been helped by our selectors, being left one out as the key forward for some time. But seeing how the forward line is functioning without him looks exciting and more unpredictable and therefore harder to match up against.

Maybe not at the moment, thats true, but Weid is playing the more conventional leading forward that crashes the pack and gets the ball to ground. TMac has been getting lost underneath the ball when leading forward, and IMO pushes too far up the ground too often (which frustrated me when we only had one true key forward playing!) Jackson roams the forward half of the ground and rucks more effectively than TMac, and Weid plays the typical key forward roll more effectively and rucks better than TMac. So,... for me unless we decide to play 3 talls, I'd stick with the two that are making the most of their opportunity to play.

I disagree that the easy selection is no change, and your points above actually support that. The harder decision would be no change I think and keeping Jackson and Weid as the forwards again I'm not convinced TMac is "currently" in our best side for 2020, sure he will attract a good defender, but so will the other talls. Luke Jackson showed more value to our side and excited me a lot more this week than what I have seen for the last 12 months with TMac, I have been waiting for him to re-capture that 2018 form, but it hasn't happened. Admittedly not playing 2 talls doesn't help him, but injury can be ruthless if the player who comes in plays well. Weid is playing the role that we expect TMac to play, and he's doing it better job of it, and on form Harris Andrews is likely to go to Weid on form, rather than TMac... Also of the opinion that Jones is unlikely to get many gigs playing off half back, His remaining future would be a role in the team is as a half forward with some brief stints in the midfield.

Based on that win, you would be hard pressed to drop any of our players based on performances in the last couple of games. I also think we match up fairly well v Brisbane I think, and any changes should be due to opposition match up, with an obvious rider that they would be closely keeping an eye (sorry TMac) on Bennell and AVB and managing their fitness.