Young Blood

Glad he made a clear statement around the players and the pre season. This team wasn't anywhere near the level of fitness from the very start and thats as a group. We know a large majority of our core players had interupted pre seasons but I don't doubt that after a late finals run meant many of our younger players didn't come back at the level of fitness required. It's not a blanket excuse for everything but it does make implementing or changing game plan/style very difficult when the bulk of players aren't fit. It was an uphill battle from the very beginning. Looking forward indeed to a big summer. Don't know if there will be another team more under the microscope then ours.

This is so key. As a backman its so important to hit targets. Turning the ball over from the back half just hurts you so much in todays game. He has improved his kicking somewhat but it does little for you if your decision making and timing is still poor. I'm not saying this can't improve but I think its going to be difficult for him to find the balance of when to use his pace and when to slow up and hit up the right option accurately. His rebound 50 numbers were good but clangers were high. Frost regularly kicks or handballs directly back to the opposition. I just had a look at leaders in Clangers this season and he's sixth among defenders with 64 for the year. The previous year he was averaging about the same with 34 across 13 games for the season. It's definitely a concern with him. If he does stay its an area of his game that he will need to continue to tidy up. Don't get me wrong I think he's still important especially as he can play on smalls and talls it will definitely effect our backline depth if he departs.

OK maybe the number of people is fewer then I thought you're right but just read a few posts like ''needs to RETIRE' or 'time to retire'. If it was written more like 'I hope he is really considering his future and health as I am concerned for the young lad long term' maybe I'd understand more. Totally agree. My best mate had two knee reco's and had to finish his senior footy days early as he worked a trade and had a young family. Of course its important to consider your future especially with serious injuries such as this. It's an area we're still learning about and the long term effects are definitely of concern. All I am saying is that we respect KK's decision whatever it is and if it means him continuing his footy then back him in like we did with Brayshaw. If its too difficult for him to come back then absolutely consider finishing up. Retirement is an option but doesn't seem like he is there just yet.

thanks @Diamond_Jim and @whatwhatsaywhat

Wow surprised by the number of people writing him off. Had one season at the club. States in the video that he is starting to get back into running and looking forward to next year. I remember when Brayshaw was in a similar position and everyone on here was quick to make their own assessment that he should just retire. Now look where gus is at. Finished third in the brownlow last year... Give the kid a chance? I don't know him personally so I can't judge the situation. But as a dees fan I'll support him with whatever he chooses and currently it seems he wants to try and play football next year.

I'm a novice at this stuff but what do we get for someone who is out of contract?

Where have to read that Melbourne are just going to 'let Frosty go'? All I've read so far is that Hawthorn have shown interest but his manager has been quoted saying Melbourne are communicating that Frost is a "required player" and that contract talks have been positive. I really doubt this is about Frosts playing but more about salary and contract talks. We've got guys playing alongside him on big money and I imagine fitting him in with a decent contract isn't straight forward at the moment.

Slight jump of the gun. Frosts management today being quoted saying MFC stating he is a 'required player' at Melbourne and contract talks have been positive. I imagine its more about fitting him in financially more than anything. To answer your question IF Frost were to leave then no Tomlinson would not be his replacement. Plays his best football through the middle of the ground on a wing. He has helped out in other positions down back, forward and ruck but plays best in space with his elite running.

Langdon and now Tomlinson are two quality players who will be nice inclusions to our list next year. Langdon's disposal is still a little shaky but its on the improve. Tomlinson isn't going to take over games by any means but he will be solid and consistant playing a role we are in need of as a marking target through the middle of the ground who can run and spread.

Yeah I would say the asking price is too high with the amount of interest/money being thrown his way from other clubs. I also think the development of Fritsch might have a little bit to do with it. Yes they're different players and at this stage Martin is far superior but I think in a couple of years Bailey will be something special. His marking, kicking, decision making and reading of the ball are pretty elite already. We have an emerging player that could become a Martin type.

I don't think anyones going to be raiding the Cattery. Once they lose Kelly they're going to tighten up big time. With him leaving they're going to go super hard at Stevens and Higgins to fill that midfield role. Narkle won't be going anywhere with his potential especially with Ablett retirement on the horizon.

Yes its not a flashy signing. It might be a bit Vanilla but its of lower risk. - Has been durable, playing the last 80 games for GWS (bar the one on the weekend) - Will be able to run out games with his elite endurance (something a lot of our players have not done well) - His size gives us a marking option further up the ground so our forwards aren't stuck on the wings as often - Loves to run and spread, a catalyst for something GWS do so well and something we desperately need - Has played finals four years in a row. Was close to best on ground in the prelim against Richmond in 2017 - He can pinch hit in the ruck so our forwards don't have to and has played both back and fwd if needed. True utility If the rumors are true I for one am very keen to see this guy cementing a spot in our side on the wing and playing consistent footy for us. He's a solid mark and has decent inside/rebound 50 numbers across his career. He played in a very deep side for his position at GWS and he could really add what this side is in need of.

I can understand where @Laughing Goat is coming from. We recruited ANB as an inside mid which is where he started his time as Melbourne. He racked up a lot of the football in his first few years at Casey. He was super competitive winning a ton of contested football. I remember him getting 30+ possession in games regularly. Came runner up in best and fairest 2016. Because of our midfield depth he developed more as a small HF. Since then he has been rotated through the middle of the ground at times It is probably silly to compare him to Clayton as they just aren't the same style of player. If we can develop or recruit better small F/HF's and not have to use guys like ANB (and to a lesser extent Hunt) then I don't see why ANB couldn't go back to being a mid and add to our midfield rotation more consistently. I would prefer this to trying to play Salem there again. He's just too important with his ball use off half back.

Definitely a player we could use. @Patches O’houlihan from what I've seen he kicks well on both sides. He plays his best football on the wing. Although as others have stated he can play a variety of roles with his size and endurance. He has always been able to pinch hit in the ruck which would be really handy for us in not having to use a forward in this role. He doesn't rack up a lot of the football but because of his running he is able to run and spread into space (a major part of GWS's gameplan) to open up the ground. He is a decent contested mark as well. Something we've been desperate for further up the ground. We badly need more players who can take a solid mark (other then Max) to relieve pressure in the middle of the ground. To me its a no brainer. We badly missed a bigger body playing up the ground this year and although he doesn't have the same grunt and physical presence AVB has he can definitely play that wing/high HF role consistently. You know what you're going to get from him. His stat breakdown shows he was a bit down on inside 50's this year but as you can see from his stats he contributes in a number of key areas. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pg-greater-western-sydney-giants--adam-tomlinson?year=2019

I agree with others that we need some fresh new support staff and assistant coaches but its also good to have a few stick around who really know and have mutual trust with the players. Rawlings was certainly one of them. Highly rated coach. Did a great job with our backs and last season left his senior coaching role at Casey to take over as forward coach halfway through the season. As its been reported the difference in our structure and set up was substantial (even if it didn't look like it) with an undermanned forward line. Kept us in games. Will definitely be missed. One I would rather have stayed.

He didn't work as a head coach, sure. He had an average list with injury prone key players for most of his tenure. But he's a good pickup as an assistant coach. Puts a huge emphasis on fitness (a glaring issue at the club) and seemed to have our number fairly often, out strategizing us at times knowing we don't have the outside run that his team did. He exposed us and I for one am looking forward to him working out where we are beaten as a club and sealing those cracks.

Yes that is why is actually called Duck

Yes I don't expect a lot of marking tonight. I do expect a strong attempt to play on at all costs with a lot of handball overlap.

Apologies this is slightly unrelated. I've always thought Duck is a good nickname for a guy with anger management issues. He's calm on the surface especially in media appearances but below he is a violent maniac. Allegedly smashed a glass in his girlfriends face and has had multiple run ins with violence and the law, not to mention the drama around him at Nth Melbourne. Seems to be a forgotten piece of information. How this guy has been allowed to resurface and become a prominent figure on national TV and radio really baffles me. Have to chalk it up to Australian standards and the amount that so called 'Legends of the game' and men in general get away with. Maybe we'll see Cousins riding the boundary for channel 7 in the near future.

Since tidying up his disposal he's been our most consistent back man. Fairly obvious statement from Nick considering the other two key backs haven't had a solid run at it to build form. I think everyone would agree that an in form May is much more well rounded player then Frost. But I'm glad we have him with his pace and intensity. Next thing he needs to learn is when to switch gears. Now that his disposal is much better he can help his decision making with ball in hand by choosing when to go and when to stay calm and composed so his decisions aren't rushed. There was an obvious one on the weekend where he turned the ball over not because it was a poor kick but because his timing was off due unnecessary panic. Would like to see him develop a little bit of composure that Lever and May. It's such a great skill to have as a backman to pull up or fake a kick when you realize the option is poor. He has the pace to get himself out of trouble in one on one situations too.

Side note: Rare occurrence but overall this has been the most rational response from posters to a topic I've ever come across. Kudos DL people. No dummy spitting here just considered rational responses.

I really doubt we'll see May back this week. Surely the club will look at putting him on ice for the rest of the year. It's been an uphill battle getting him on the park fitness wise all season. Aim should be to stay competitive for the rest of the season. There's not going to be a sudden shift. Besides playing guys in different roles and trying out newer players we know Goodwin won't make dramatic changes to our game style. The one abnormality is still that West Coast game over there. For some reason we went really small and decided to take the game on at all costs with overlapping handball through the middle of the ground and run and carry. We looking like Collingwood in full flight. It worked for three quarters and would have won us the game if we didn't run out of players off the bench. Its an odd one. I'll be happy to be the one still throwing out the excuse that this team was never at reasonable fitness from the very start of the season. Again an uphill battle where we could usually concentrate more on game plan perhaps.

Jesus. Viney finally starting to find some form. Last game he looked fitter and able to do more and last night I thought he was one of our best.

I've always tried to stand up for Oscar. He's a 23 yr old playing one of the hardest positions, definitely the most exposing position for mistakes. Thats not an excuse for his performance, its just a fact. I agree with a lot of @binman's comments. Some of the sentiments towards Oscar are so unnecessary. I suppose its more entertaining for some to be dramatic about players they are frustrated with. He is well and truly the whipping boy no doubt. All that being said he was thoroughly beaten last night. His role is to at least half 50/50 contests as a one on one defender. Adelaide did a great job clearing our for Jenkins to go one on one and Oscar was beaten every time. It really did impact the scoreboard and game overall. Is that the last time we will see Oscar playing in the red and blue? I really doubt that. But he needs to build some confidence back in the two's. You would think it May would slot in at some point. I look forward to the DL uproar and horror if Oscar is selected next week ?

Nah he was definitely referring to his pace. We all know how lightning Clarry's hands are :).