Nascent

Collingwood losing...

It's not even round 1 and we have some articles highlighting rival club interest in players and potential FA moves. While not everyone's cup of tea, particularly when the seasons barely begun, I'll always be interested in the player movement space and the possibilities out there to improve our list. This article can kick us off, with alleged strong interest in swans RFA Will Hayward from "multiple clubs" and the Hawks supposedly entering the race for JUH. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-2024-interest-in-will-hayward-hawks-chasing-jamarra-uglehagan-sydney-swans-western-bulldogs-hawthorn-hawks-out-of-contract-free-agent-news-rumours-whispers/news-story/920412d4cee9dd33d20c6df0ce55862b

Indeed. But they didn't have that in 2021 when they finished 17th. They also traded away the rights to Finn Callaghan after moving on their first round pick the year before. That would have caused an absolute meltdown here. Things can change quickly if you have a good system and star players to work around. Can we sort our system out? Time will tell.

At least we won't finish on the bottom of the ladder this week.

Bowser out for approx 8 weeks as per mfc site.

Agreed. Can't see us acquiring an established key forward star as much as we'd like one. At the end of the year we are likely to have significant cash with Brayshaw, B Brown, T-Mac, Melksham with ? Over J Smith, Hunter, Tomlinson (likely to stay on given our key position depth issues?) and Laurie. Add in expanded cap space and we should have well over $1mil. That's not including a potential trade request from Petty or any other surprise contracted player along the way. However, given the evident holes on the list we should really go about acquiring multiple established mid tier players to compliment our stars. McRae shipped out Grundy to facilitate the influx of Bobby Hill, McStay, Tom Mitchell and Frampton. That won them the flag the following year. We, hopefully without losing a core 22 player, need to utilise our cap to attack the trade and FA period in a similar fashion. In no particular order we need a Ruck, Mid, Medium defender, Key Forward as well as potentially insurance for life after May.

Yes but would be surprised if he got opportunities this year. Drafted in the same year as Jeffo so still has lot of development to go in both his game and his body.

Anyone know if the VFL practice match has been played already and possibly details about best players etc..

In: Pickett, Woewodin, Fullarton Out: Bowey, Laurie, Schache Few half forwards lucky we don't have a lot of depth ready to come in.

6. May 5. Viney 4. Tomlinson 3. McVee 2. Fritsch 1. Howes

Was good to see Windsor and Howes. Not sure I can compliment much else except for May's performance for 3 and 1/2 quarters. Hope Boweys injury isn't serious. Still baffles me that such a strong contest/defence team can be so poor in "wet weather" conditions.

Laurie should be in the 22 over Chandler based on their pre-season performance. Would also prefer to have a strong aerobic athlete playing from the start and have an impact player come on later in the game.

Haven't really seen a prediction thread so I thought I would throw a few darts at the wall without too much thought. 1. Brisbane 2. Melbourne 3. Collingwood 4. GWS 5. Carlton 6. Port 7. Bulldogs 8. Adelaide 9. Freo 10. Sydney 11. St Kilda 12. Gold Coast 13. Geelong 14. Kangaroos 15. Essendon 16. Richmond 17. Hawks 18. West Coast Premiers: Melbourne (biased of course) Runners up: GWS Wooden Spoon: Eagles Brownlow: Daicos Rising Star: Sanders Melbourne BnF: Petracca Freo and Sydney are two I'm unsure about. Can see a world where they're both in the 8 but equally I wouldn't be surprised to see them fall further than I have them here.

Also @adonski might contest you on the OG status.

I get where you're coming from. The thought of being within reach of Reid, Duursma, Watson etc.. was tantalising and added an extra element of excitement. For me, this year at least, death riding is less about the potential names thrown up during the year, but the probable improved hand that will enable JT and Lamb to work their magic.

While nowhere near as interesting as the great Freo ride of '23, we have two chances to have an improved draft hand by finishing above both Sydney and the Bulldogs. We hold Sydney's 2nd round pick which can land anywhere between pick 21 - 38 and the bulldogs 3rd rounder which will fall between pick 39 - 56 (pre-FA and other compensation). Get your mobility scooters ready people. It's time to ride, at a medium pace.

I can't believe that Gold Coast haven't updated their ugly as away jumper. Not that their home one is much better.

Geez I know it was only a glimpse but Tholstrup has the makings of a dominant midfield beast in future years.

Tholstrup and Brown look to be getting some game time in the 4th

I like this however wouldn't have minded seeing Rivers get a run through there. Can't see that happening as our back flankers are looking thin if Salem plays more midfield.

Early days but any word or feeling that we will be active in the FA/trade space?

We tried very hard but those clubs weren't budging. Hawks wanted 3 first round picks (6, 13 and f1) just for us to move up two spots. Would have been horrible mismanagement to give so much away. We couldn't beat the bulldogs offer.

2019: Melbourne recruit Luke Jackson - Media "what are they doing, they have Max Gawn" 2022: Melbourne recruit Brodie Grundy - Media "what are they doing, they have Max Gawn: 2023: Melbourne recruit Fullarton as fwd/ruck but gets injured - Media "what are they doing, they only have Max Gawn" I realise it's not this simple and it's far more nuanced, but can't help but feel we can't win with the media. They seem to take any opportunity to have a dig at us even if it contradicts their previous stance.