poita

I buy an 11 game reserved seat membership each year. The money I have saved over the past 17 years of no forking out for a higher membership level far outweighs the cost of buying a GF ticket on the black market. Why anybody would pay for a guaranteed GF ticket for a club that hasn't played finals for 11 years is beyond me, but each to their own. I really dislike the idea of the club bleeding loyal supporters dry when it keeps on wasting money on boneheaded decisions such as paying players to pay for other clubs (Watts), or to not even play at all (Garland, Lumumba).

Trade for pick 66 is fair. A one year contract is also fair. Well done to the club for at least getting one deal right this year.

This will make three years in a row that we've traded out of the first round. Those are the actions of a team that is premiership contention, not one that can't even finish top 8. We have a below average midfield, with terrible depth across the board. Pick 35 in a weak draft is basically worthless, I'm not sure why we bothered asking for it. So why the hell have we given up two first round picks, both of which could be in the top 10, for a defender? I'm sure he'll be a good player for the club, but we need to stop the ball getting down there, not worry about what happens when it gets there. Every year it seems as though we talk tough and end up capitulating as time ticks away. Other teams must [censored] themselves laughing when they see us coming. I'm bitterly disappointed that we've given up any chance of landing a top quality midfielder either this year or next.

Its astonishing that you can get 9 years on a senior list and never once be your club's number one ruckman. I thought Jake was okay depth for a while there, but he really fell away over the last year or two. His inability to put pressure on a flailing Gawn late this season really hurt us. I would be gobsmacked if he was at another club next season, and he really only has himself to blame if old dee's post above is accurate.

Viv Michie, Ben Newton, Ben Kennedy, Aiden Riley, and countless others. Not sure why this club keeps thinking it can make AFL players from other teams' state league players. We've proven time and again that we're not up to the task. Good luck to Balic if he comes on board, but the odds are well and truly against him.

Kennedy gone, excellent. Average player with below average workrate. I'm just thankful we only gave him a two year contract. Hopefully there are still more delistings to come - there are plenty of suitable candidates.

I sure hope he was back to running and kicking footballs before we gave him a new deal, because spots on the list are too valuable to waste on (soon to be) 26 years old VFL-standard players with poor injury histories.

I hope Adelaide dig their feet in and demand two first round picks. Surely Melbourne aren't stupid enough to give in (although we have been known to agree to some horrific trades), and turn their attention elsewhere. Our midfield is a much bigger problem than our backline, and Lever showed on Saturday that he is not up to the task of leading the defence. I'm sure he'll be a great player if he can play as a loose man forever, but he's not the big bodied "gorilla minder" that we need.

We did waste a few years looking in New Zealand. Are the odds of plucking a player from Ireland any better than looking at other sports (eg basketball or athletics)?

Totally agree with this. There is a big difference between making list changes that actually improve your list, and making changes so it looks like you are actually doing something. I'm not sold on Lever as being the type of player we desperately need, and certainly not if we get sucked into a ridiculous bidding war / pissing contest with Adelaide and / or other clubs. I'm more than happy to hit the draft hard over the next few years and ensure that we keep our list together in the meantime.

No issues with taking him with a rookie pick or very late draft pick if he is still available, but there is no way we should be using high draft picks on mid-sized forwards. You take genuine midfielders and key position players in the first two rounds of the draft, especially as a developing team.

Just a tip for everyone trying to trade out our VFL players for draft picks - it's not going to happen. Players like Vandenberg, Kent, Kennedy, Spencer & Bugg have zero value. We might let them walk for pick 100 just to get them a new home, but that would be it. If you want quality, you have to give up quality. Frost may have some value. Salem may have some value. I can't see too many others being considered expendable unless the deal of the century comes along.

16 wins would have had us first on this ladder this season, so it is absolutely ludicrous to have that as the benchmark for next year. 14 wins gets you in the conversation for top 4, and that is what we should be aspiring to. We won 12 this year and let slip opportunities in half a dozen others, so 14 is doable.

I wouldn't lose any sleep if any of the following are not at the club next year: Lumumba, Kent, Garland, Vandenberg, Vince, JKH, Hulett, Bugg, Spencer, King, Kennedy, T.Smith, McKenna, White, Wagner. Trengove is another, but at least he tries. Sadly we can't get rid of them all, but hopefully at least half are moved on. We need to seriously prioritise midfielders this year, and stop drafting flankers and utilities.

I think Lewis's form has generally been trending upwards over the past month (from a fairly low base), but his biggest shortcoming in his refusal to take the hit occasionally. Instead he'll fire out a hospital handball or short pass and let one of his teammates get clobbered (Hogan being just one of many examples). I shudder to think what he and Vince could concoct together over the next month.

The biggest problem with our defence is Sam Frost. We all admire the way he takes the game on, but he turns the ball over far too often and consequently is 50 metres out of position when the ball is kicked back over his head. It happened on numerous occasions on Saturday and either Brown was left on his own or Jetta was forced to cover. If you are playing on the opposition's best forward, you have to sacrifice your game and stay close. Oscar, on the other hand, is the sort of player you can build a defence around because he is (almost) always where he is supposed to be. Yes, he needs to get stronger and tougher in the contest so he can take the number 1 forward each week, but that will happen over time. Jetta is similarly dependable, but unfortunately he isn't another four inches taller. That said, we certainly didn't lose because of the back line. We lost because our midfield collectively gave it up in the last quarter.

Lewis has had a very poor month in a side that had been playing good footy until Friday. If he steps up and leads the team to a win on Sunday, all will be forgiven. If not, it is increasingly difficult to see how he can be considered to be a best 22 player. My first request is that he puts his head down and picks up the footy at first attempt occasionally, rather than constantly fumbling because he is worried about what is happening around him. Second request is to follow an opponent rather than just standing in space pointing.

If you don't want to be subjected to dynamic pricing, buy a membership.

I've been saying it all year, 90% of what Oscar does is excellent, 10% is atrocious. There is so much positive stuff in his game, he just needs to eliminate the bad stuff, and that will come with experience and confidence. Yesterday he didn't go hard enough at marking contests a couple of times early. Thereafter he was excellent. I fully expect him to play each week, irrespective of match ups. If anything, Frost or Tom can play on the smaller forwards, eg Dickson this week.

I don't expect Lewis to star every week, and am happy for him to just do his bit. However, his bit has to include being accountable for an opponent occasionally, and doing his share of the defensive work. He is sorely lacking in those areas at present.

I'd be happy to give Hulett another year, it's not like we are blessed with key position depth, and he has shown at least as much as Weideman (less talent, but much more heart). Presumably King stays as well, although he should be developing on the rookie list. Not sure about Keilty, but he is not causing much grief on the rookie list. The fact that none of White, Trengove and Kennedy have played this season suggests that all are in big trouble. Trengove is the only one I have any time for, but the coach clearly doesn't rate him. JKH won't make it. VDB is average and constantly injured. Tim Smith is average and his age counts against him. Who knows if McKenna can play, but we can't afford to carry injury prone small forwards (regardless of contract). And finally we get to see the back of that toxic weed, Lumumba. That makes 6 senior players and 2 rookies, before potential trades and retirements. Pedersen clearly stays. Spencer has the next two weeks to save his career. Big question mark over Vince. Happy to trade Kent for a bag of chips. Neal-Bullen can stay.

I'd be more than happy to have Zak on board, but the trade price is key. Hawthorn got Tom Mitchell for pick 14 and a swap of late picks. Jones is not worth that, but I'd certainly grab him for our 2nd round pick, which is currently sitting at 28. That's about what we gave up for Melksham, and I rate Zak higher than Jake. Sydney might be forced to deal at that level, unless North or another team jumps in with an earlier 2nd round pick. PS Supercoach points are not a reason to trade or not trade for players.

I just don't see key position defenders as being our weakness at this point in time. We have one (Tom) who is borderline A grade and two (Frost & Oscar) who are on their way to becoming very good players. Keep in mind that Frost & Oscar have played only 47 & 25 games respectively, they are very inexperienced. Throw in some flexibility from the likes of Hibberd and Joel Smith, and we are okay down there. Sure, May would make us better, but it will be a marginal, short term improvement, for a big cost. I think our midfield still needs more depth, particularly on the outside, and this would be my focus. Plus another marking forward if we can find one.

The complacency of being at home against weaker opposition. The idea of just rocking up and banking 4 points, rather than actually making it happen. In other games we have gone in knowing we are going to have to bust our guts and play well to win. And have performed accordingly. 99% of our problems are in our own heads. If Goodwin can fix these he is a genius.

What a stupid comment. If we had won on Monday night and Dom was best on ground nobody would be questioning his contribution. But we didn't and he wasn't, so it reasonable that the performances of senior players are scrutinised. For me, Dom is one of several key midfielders who is below his best. We can afford to carry one of them, but not three or four as was the case on Monday.