Fitz Fitzpatrick

we havent finished the last rebuild yet

I dont know when it exactly started but there is some massive group think tidal wave regarding how talented the list is. No one has proven anything yet and all this hype stinks of 2010 for mine. the list is no where near as talented as the group think line says. its fascinating to watch an opinion of a few gradually build to assumed fact, yet no one really stops to analyse. at best this list is tooled to replicate Nths last few years. mid-lower top 8 at best. There is far too much talk and assumption of 'we just got to hang on until these kids get games in to them and we will be a great side'. Its only 7 years since the last time i saw this play out in the media and on this site but it is eerily familiar. Our list is nowhere near as talented as some seem to be assuming. And yes the predictable response to my pot will be "this list is more talented than 2010" - and yes i agree, it is. But thats not my point> The point is it is NOT as talented or as well positioned as many are assuming. Its a tough comp and most sides are as well or better placed for the future. - Collingwood and Stkilda included.

hes a bust.move on

Club

club made a big error in drafting for needs instead of best available when going for Wiedeman. forced the issue and i think we have Lucas cook Mk2. i get the whole 'talls take time ' argument and totally agree. However , GOOD talls that take time, show some glimpses along the journey. Weed shows no hunger for the contest nor ability to find the ball. of course hes got a limited tank but the talented fwds show a bit. Weed is a bust i fear. Goldne rule - draft best available and trade for needs using the players drafted as currency. Club forced it out of desperation for a F50 partner for Hogan. we will regret it

Cant understand why anyone would be suprised by this. Group think on pedersen here has been remarkable. hes playing as he usually does

Weed is looking more lucas cook than anything else at this stage. compare him to hipwood who is even skinnier than weed. Hipwood competes and contests the ball. Weed is a bit of a wallflower. Reckon he might be a bust. im happyto let him fill out but even the skinny ones display attributes of competitiveness even though they lose any contest they are in. weed just doesnt compete.

hows defining his strengths a criticism? thats a bit precious. i was calling him a potentially great chf, not sure how that is sensitive mate

Noi he wont. He could become a great CHF roaming up the ground but he will never be a prolific goal kicker. Its not what he is. Could be an incredible Riewoldt type CHF though

Selection night isnt helping us. Kent would have been perfectly suited to tonights game. Run, hardness and speed. Pedo brings physicality to the contest and wouldve freed up hogan from all those 1 v 3 marking contests. yet again melkshams decison making and skill is letting us down big time. Yes he has the tank to get to contests but thats no good if he then grubbers it to an opposition player. I want in a casey jumper ASAP Goodwins judgement is concerning me slightly at this early stage

DId anyone watch the Nth Geelong game? An absolute class above us.

love the avatar, Pro!

Of course I realise that but thats my point. The very reason teams should fall after sustained success is exqctly that - the talented players retire. Clubs should then fall down the ladder and relad on fresh talent from the draft. Free agency has killed the system because it allows the clubs who already had talent when it came in to effect, to stay at the top. They use their older stars as currency and continuously 'top up' to stay at the pointy end of the comp. Your example of mitchell, hodge, lewis leaving should result in hawthorns era ending as they drop down the ladder. not for them to keep swapping out for new guns and remain at the top, like a Man U do in EPL. Its not good for the comp

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks but this comp is getting ridiculous. Hawthorn have just exited one of the greatest dynasties in VFL/AFL history and now they are able to simply load up on talent over two off seasons and go again! Tom Mitchell, Omeara and increasingly likely , a Dustin Martin. This comp is so lop sided now. How the hell can they fit that in their cap? The issue of destination clubs is wrecking the game. Even if MFC became a destination club I would not be happy. It's not good for the competition.

Melksham is a very ordinary footballer. Too many are getting sucked in by his story and the fact he's a new recruit. He is depth only. Hibberd is a much better recruit. Melksham was an ordinary trade.Poor decision making and average skills under pressure. Jetta is an integral part of the back line . He breaks up play and his scramble defense is nearly second to none. Plays taller than he is. Jetta remains best 22

I would have thought more sport specific stuff would be better for these boys.

Commie in the ranks!

Bollocks

Lost me at Garland

good player and would improve us 'on field' but a bit concerned we might regret it in the long run. From all reports, a very divisive character. at this point we seem to have an extremely tight locker room. If we took him he would be a good replacement for Vince as he retires in the next 12-24mths

I think our list is insanely over rated...again. We have a few future stars, of course, but its a very weak list. Wiedman is miles off, , Hogan is severely over rated, our midfield has soe talent but the midfield game does not stack up against the current game. the future of the current list is that of a solid mid table team. We must bring in some pure talent.

i just dont see this great list that we are supposed to have. i definitely cant see the list as being better than the dogs. we have some potential for sure but it tails off pretty quickly and the few that are getting talked up really havent done much yet

Absolutely. those who make excuses for Hogan are just deluding themselves. Premierships are won off the back of 100% buy in from all. Hogan is just leading everyone on and wasting valuable time and resources. he knows hes gone, we know hes gone, just make the decision and f%#k off. seeing out the contract and bailing next year is the most selfish of all the options he has in front of him.

Boyd today showed why you need a good KPF. It doesnt have to be Hogan , and its not going to be, but we arent going to get the job done if we dont find one. We need to shake the GWS tree and try and see what shakes loose. An embarrassement of KP riches

could have made a similar point re: Hawkins 2 hours after the 2011 granny as well. Boyd was a gun today. Whether that continues, we will see, but Hogan at this stage is all about 'potential' - today Boyd began to walk the walk