poita

There are others I'd cut first, but it doesn't bode well that he hasn't come close to a senior game over his two years on the list. Doesn't seem to have that stand out trait that will set him above the pack. Maybe a one year contract, if our draft position doesn't improve.

There is probably not much to add that hasn't been said in the trade thread. No doubt a disappointing year, but I rate him and I will back his ability to return to his best form as a mobile centre half forward.

An underwhelming presence inside forward 50 for much of the season. Ability is not an issue, desire and confidence certainly are. Doesn't get to enough contests, doesn't impact those that he does get to often enough, and misses too many easy goals. We have been patient, but he is no longer a young, developing player. The impending arrival of Ben Brown is a real concern for me, as I see he and Weideman as very similar players who will want to be operating in the same parts of the ground. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Weideman head to defence at some stage in his career, perhaps as soon as this year.

A very impressive young player, arguably the most impressive of our three draftees from last year.

At least five of whom should be delisted immediately because they simply aren't up to it. We have a major shortage of promising young midfielders and key position players, as a result of not taking enough first and round draft picks in the past five years..

I have no idea why we bother with this crap each year. If we hadn't traded out a bunch of future picks last year (the Frost trade is exhibit 1), we wouldn't be madly trying to get more picks in this year. It all feels like Mahoney trying to justify his existence over and over again.

According to the club website, O'Dea, Newman and co are still at the club. It's only been three months since the trade period - you'd think someone could find a few minutes to update the website in that time. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/aflw

A speculative late selection who can't get on the park. I can't believe we are seriously contemplating giving him a year on the rookie list, particularly after taking Rivers to fill the same position last year. It's unfortunate for him, but some things just aren't meant to be.

He is a tease. His best games are very good, but they are surrounded by far too many poor ones. Six games for the year, averaging less than six disposals, is a poor return for a bloke in his seventh season. Very lucky to get a two year contract.

It is absolutely laughable to think that once Goodwin and Mahoney push Oscar out, May (29 shortly, and never played more than 19 games in a season) will be the only genuine key defender on the list. Smith and Hore are undersized, Tomlinson is an oversized wingman and Lever plays well below his weight. None of these is capable of matching up on Hawkins / Cameron or Kennedy / Darling. Yes, Oscar has his flaws, but to me these mostly relate to lack of confidence. Surely the coaches can get around him and build him up, rather than dropping him every second game. As an aside, we made it to a preliminary final with Frost & Oscar in the key defensive roles. Two years later, Frost is gone, Oscar seemingly likewise, and we haven't played finals since even after splashing out $1.4M/yr on Lever & May.

Neither Jackson or Weideman is a genuine ruckman, and both should be allowed to develop elsewhere. Bradtke has done nothing. Gawn will be 29 shortly and suffers a serious injury every three years or so. We desperately need a genuine backup at low cost and McKernan would have fit the bill nicely. As an aside, what is it in for us to be trading Preuss? A third round pick has little value. I'd rather hold him to his contract.

Of course that should be the case, but who are the players who have improved over the past two years? Petracca obviously this year, but precious few others. Most have regressed. Fritsch is our only draft pick from 2016 - 2018 playing regularly. Aside from Petty, you could delist all of the others and I wouldn't argue. Our development coaches are failing miserably in their number one area of focus, so we have to make significant improvements via the trade period.

Neal-Bullen is just depth, but good depth in that you know what he is going to deliver most weeks. The retention of Hunt probably doesn't help his cause for a new deal next year, although you'd think he would be looking for more regular opportunities elsewhere.

Looks like being handy depth, but it is hard to see where he fits in to a full strength line up. Seems to do most things well, but I'm not sure that he has any elite attributes, which may stop him becoming a top player.

Good player, who was our leading goalkicker this year, but still managed to under perform in many respects. You still sense he has another couple of levels to lift, particularly in terms of contributing without ball in hand.

I don't mind Jayden as a player, but a two year deal for a twenty five year old coming off a season in which he played six games, averaging less than six touches? Unless he can add significant defensive pressure to his game, I can see him spending most of that time at Casey again. I'm actually more surprised than Jayden hasn't explored his options elsewhere. Perhaps he did, and no one else was interested. This actually feels like one of those dysfunctional relationships where both parties would be better off alone, but both are too scared to make the first move.

We'd be doing Collingwood a massive favour by getting Phillips' salary off their books. Surely they can't ask for more than a third round pick.

I'm convinced Goodwin and Mahoney won't stop until we have 42 small forwards on the list, each one of them sh1tter than the last.

So, I'm a non-AFL player signed up at Casey, earning a few grand a year in match payments. I work 40 hours or more a week to provide for my family, then manage to train a couple of nights a week after work. Now I have to give up half of my weekend to fly to Queensland to play a game against Southport for a few bucks. Thanks, but no thanks - I'll just play in the EFL with my mates instead.

As I posted elsewhere, he's pretty lucky to get another contract given the competition for those mid-sized defensive roles. Hopefully he has spent the last months working on locking down on an opponent.

I thought Baker made some good progress late in the season, and he looked lit fitter than he did in 2019. That said, he needs a big pre season to ensure that he is contention for games early next year. If he is not playing regularly by mid season, it is hard to see him getting another contract.

I know many disagree, but I remain underwhelmed by Pickett. Yes, he is young and inexperienced, but he is also too small and light. The nicest thing that can be said about his 2020 averages of 7.8 disposals, 0.5 goals and 2.5 tackles is that the only way from here is up. His focus over the pre season needs to be on putting himself in the right positions more often, and getting his body behind the ball rather than reaching for it.

We desperately need Petty to get himself right over the off season and be ready to go for round 1. I really rate him, and our key position stocks are critically low at both ends of the ground.

I really don't see where Hore adds value as a third or fourth defender behind Lever, Hibberd, Smith, Rivers and others, but at least it is only for one year. Spargo doesn't have the physical attributes to be a decent AFL player, but clearly the coach is a fan. File him alongside Melksham and Vandenberg for plenty of undeserved games in 2021. The cleanout of the bottom third of our list that I was hoping for doesn't seem likely to happen this year. We'll never be a good side until we develop the sort of depth that Richmond has, and that is not going to happen while we persist with players who aren't up to it.

There's at least 15 players on our 2020 list that would offer way less in 2021 than Jones will on field, to say nothing of his experience, professionalism and leadership off field. I really don't see the downside if he is on minimal wages and accepts that he will be playing at Casey if his form warrants it. I'm looking forward to a big 300 game celebration early in the season.