Hannabal

I believe that he's also said that he has had a "soft spot" for Melb and Adelaide. Also, I believe he's been pretty comfortable with the fact that he's been going to become a Demon for some time, hence the readiness to be photgraphed in a Dees guernsey. I see that as quite a positive.

If Carlton get Mundy I'll be inconsolable.

It wouldn't even be "nice to have him". He's not good enough and wouldn't be best 22.

I can't quite fathom why some supporters wouldn't give up pick 12 for Mundy. He's worth pick 12 every day of the week. Pick 12 alone wouldn't get the deal done, but I'd be going all out for him. He's only played midfield in the last 2 years, which is why his numbers are down. If he is returning to Victoria hopefully he'd consider Melb as a viable option. The MFC has a tonne of upside and I'm sure that his former coach and CEO will be having plenty of words in his ear.

Yes, I knew that it was 10 games, or less. Did you not see the post I responded to ?

The second one.

I'm not sure if you're serious. Swan averages 10+ disposals more per game than Jones, kicks many more goals, is deceptively quick, which seems to escape most people and certainly quicker than Jones, is a very good mark for his size (better than Jones), he's 5cms taller, he reads the play better and is a better decision maker. In fact he does everything better as the following stats show. There are many intangibles about this great game of ours and the waddling Swan is but one of those mysteries. http://www.pro-stats.com.au/psw/web/compare_players?tid1=109&pid1=2006117&year1=2010&tid2=104&pid2=2002032&year2=2010 Yes you could go into every second line and delve deeper and I'd have the appropriate response each time. B) And no, toughness will never weaken in its importance. The game is faster and harder than its ever been.

I agree with 90% of the above. However, I wouldn't say that Jones has ever reached the stage of being an accumulator of the footy, or "possession winning mid", although I understand that you're talking more about 'type' than efficiency; and I also don't believe that anyone, other than the pretty dumb, would be complaining about not having Jones in the side next year if we make finals and Gysberts, Scully, Trengove, Tapscott, et al have had plenty of games put into them. I suspect that we'll all be rapt to have made significant progress while still developing our youth. I accept that many consider Jones to still be 'youth', but he's not part of the core that has been earmarked for a premiership tilt. Jones is a B- to C grade player. I've already seen Gysberts show more potential in 3 games than Jones in 90. Gysberts showed poise and a footy brain under pressure that escapes the likes of Jones, especially his delayed handball in the centre of the ground at the G. Most players would have given off at first opportunity, including Jones, but Gysberts delayed his handball until Bruce had bypassed the immediate opponent. It allowed Bruce to run into open space and set up a goal with a mark inside 50. It's hard to teach that. It's instinctive. Goals from turnovers has never been as high. Clubs are trying to build sides that eradicate turnovers. For this reason, Jones position in the team will always be borderline. He's the type of player that regularly turns the ball over. I have no problem keeping Jones as he's a handy player, but I'm ambivalent because he'll have to be depth if we're to ever be any good. For the reasons you mention, the timing probably isn't great for him to leave right now. I'd also prefer that he leave in 1-2 years, but I'll not be concerned if it happens this trade period. Imo, those that think Jones can greatly improve as a footballer from this point of his career are deluding themselves. I wouldn't say that about all footballers, but Jones doesn't have specific attributes that can improve by much, as he's getting just about all that's there out of each skill set. He's not going to run any faster, he's not going to kick any better, as it's already improved substantially, he's not going to mark any better, he's not going to get any taller, he doesn't need to get any stronger, and I doubt that there'll be any quantum leap in his decision making. What you see is what you get. It's enough to be a 150 game B-C grade player, but he'll be depth in the best teams, which is what we aspire to be.

Fevola makes my skin crawl. He's been my most hated AFL player for years. That said, there's something that just doesn't smell right about this drama. I'll reserve judgment on him until we know more facts.

One of the problems with a democratic society is that flogs are allowed to express an opinion no matter how little knowledge they have of the subject at hand. The other problem is that they're entitled to vote.

It's not about "admitting" anything, it's about understanding where a player is at in their recuperation from a serious injury. He won't have to improve "dramatically" on what he showed at junior level to make it. He just needs to get his body right and continue the progression that usually follows young talented and dedicated footballers. Adam Simpson played 300 games of footy and captained his club yet didn't play any games in his first two years on North's list. There can be many reasons why players have limited exposure in their first couple of years. There's no guarantee that Blease will make it. There's not many guarantees on anything in life. But at least try and have a modicum of understanding and feeling for the game before you start making ill-conceived declarations.

I saw Blease play for Casey Seconds against Frankston and he's lost none of his pace. He was never an accumulator at junior level, so he needs to learn how to find more of the ball, which is a skill in itself, but he has the right ingredients to become a quality AFL player. A decent run at a preseason won't do him any harm.

You must be baffled by his B&F rating.

Unfortunately it's not meaningless on footy forums. Many supporters get upset when C grade footballers get traded, or delisted. It happens year in year out. They don't seem to understand that list management is all about building towards a premiership quality list. If they did and if they accepted that the FD is in a far better position to evaluate individual players and more importantly the balance of the list, then they wouldn't get as emotional as they do over fringe players. If Jones was the only in and under, average skilled, mid that we had it would be less likely that he'd be a potential trade. Not surprisingly, he's not. As for club culture ? I'll let the club worry about club culture. I'm more interested in a winning culture.

Fringe players like Jones evoke little to no emotion in me. I couldn't give a toss if he's here next year, or not. I'll back the footy departments decision. It's all about winning a flag.

We get that. You can stop saying it now.

I don't.

You either have x-ray vision, or you're a unbelievably prudish.

I voted no because the guy clearly isn't a "star". And he especially wasn't a "star" at the start date of this thread. He may, or may not become a "star". If he does become a "star" he'll cearly have overcome his softness. He'll never become a "star" while he's soft. In reality, we won't know if he's overcome his incredibly soft tendencies until he plays in the heat of a final. We all hope he does, as his natural ability is extraordinary.

I reckon Scully's year is slightly underrated. He'd be my top pick. He pips Hannebery in every 'average' category for a midfielder. More disposals, tackles, clearances, contested possessions, uncontested possessions, 1%'s, inside 50's, rebound from 50's - everything. And it's his first year in the AFL system. His engine is already elite, which is extraordinary, and he has explosive pace that Hannebery and most lack. His best game is the equal of Hannebery's best game, but his next best probably trails Hannebery's next couple of best. Hannebery will win it and is certainly deserving, but Scully has legitimate claims.

If I was choosing, the only Melb player I'd select would be Frawley. Well done to all 3 making the squad.

Strauss makes Chris Johnson look hard. He definately has talent, so I won't write him off yet, even though I'm tempted, but something needs to click big time with this guy. He lacks any intensity, which is my bugbear. I'm not overly fussed that he's not ready, but I am fussed when I see a player lacking intensity. His kicking could be elite, but I've also seen him turn it over quite a bit under pressure. But the real reason I'm responding to your post is the premise that we may not have a position for him. We're crying out for a Lindsay Gilbee type running half back with elite footskills. Bartram, Rivers, Garland, Warnock and Bruce all regularly butcher the ball. I'm not a Joel MacDonald fan either. There's a great opportunity for Strauss to take a small back role if he can improve his defensive skills and other areas in which he's lacking. Bartram has had a good year, but the club would love to have a better kicking option coming out of defence.

Prefer Goddard's.

I posted a few weeks ago that he shouldn't go on. If he's had a "push" then my respect for this club just continues to grow. It's the right decision and it gives me confidence that the FD is prepared to make the hard ones. Well done on a fine career.

The King is dead. Long live the King.