rjay

As a thinker...I think 'martin' is pretty close to the mark on this. 'TGR', I don't think you have thought this through at all. You've only looked at things on a surface level...player you see as past his prime, 3 year contract. It's in the media's interest to ramp up a story, write off a champion, think they have all the answers. Their stories run on daily and weekly cycles. Thank goodness our FD don't run this way, they knew what they were getting. Yes, we signed Lewis to a 3 year deal but as Martin says it was good business. You've got to get past the 3 years, it's not the point here. My thoughts are that we were looking to get one good season to really help develop a young list and anything past that is a bonus. I would love to see Lewis have those games he did with the Hawks, usually when Hodge and Mitchell were out or struggling, where he picked up the slack, took the team on his back and led them to victory. Maybe those games are past him now or maybe he steps up this week.

Nup, made 2 disposal errors centring the ball early but apart from that held up well when our midfield were being smashed and the defence were under siege. It was a good 4 Q game from Oscar.

Not saying you are right or wrong 'ignition' but I wouldn't be using WAFL stats to back the argument 'ignition'...Viv Michie killed it at this level but couldn't step up.

If he doesn't pull his finger out I think we might opt to head him home 'Redleg'... ...looking like a poor mans Colin Silvia at the moment.

@ChaserJ or @Pennant St Dee are good observers of junior footy and 'Pennant' may know something about the WA side of things. My memory is he looked a pretty smart footballer and was another one from a basketball background...he seemed to have a bit of upside. ...but there must be a reason he slipped back.

About 4 years younger and a few good games AFL level though 'Dappa'... At 24 he's right in the zone, like him or not they have some development time left with him. I think with Jake he will be hoping for another year with us and that might see him out. Not a lot of games but a pretty well paid job that will set him up nicely.

I can't see Spencer being offered a 3 year contract anywhere else but I guess stranger things have happened. He's a depth ruckman at best...

Trade for Lever....win/win Only kidding 'hemingway', but this is how a lot of fans see trade and value.

Champion Data annoy the hell out of me when they try to predict using their data. Their expertise is in telling us what has happened by their numbers....

Pretty sure they said similar things about Tommy Mac last year. I take what these 2 say with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that we need another good ball user in the back half. Hibberd is the only elite user in that line up, Jetta not to bad, Frost & Tommy Mac poor the others a bit hit and miss. I'm also not convinced with the idea of Frost & Tommy holding up the key posts...

Trouble is opposition coaches don't rely on the media for their intel... With a $9.5 mill Football Department spend, opposition scouting and video analysis... They're well aware of what Oliver can do & have been since day one. No one slips under the radar.

Apart from the fact the David King is a goose of the highest order, I think people forget Oliver is a 2nd year player with only a handful of games under his belt. His performances are measured against the best talent in the comp not the best young talent and he's standing up pretty well.

Also on his opposite hand...for someone seen to be one sided with his handball he's a quick learner. Just another string to the bow.

I'm biased, one of my favourite players to watch in the AFL... Would be a great get...being under-utilised as a mid because they lack goal kickers. X-factor plus, right up with the best in my opinion.

I think we still need to be at the high end of the draft this year...we missed last years early crop and will have a few ageing mids (lewis, Vince & Jones) to replace over the coming years.

I also thought and still do think we need a kpd... Those 2 weren't the answer though 'steve', Brown in particular is a very poor kick. McKenzie is shot. We need someone who can use the ball as well as hold down the key post.

They already have...can't remember who but someone did it in the China game.

I'm not sure Kelly will ever be a game changer in the mould of an Ablett, Danger, Buddy or Selwood. He appears to me to be what he looked like in his junior years, a really neat footballer who goes about his business in a very professional manner. I don't see any of the so called 'x' factor...

I often think Champion data should stick to what they are good at. Counting kicks, handballs and tackles etc at games....their analysis is often wide of the mark and they really are not qualified to give it. A couple of examples come to mind but according to their analysis the Dogs had no chance of winning the premiership last year and we have the worst midfield in the AFL. Stats have their place of course and are a good tool to have but many have been fooled into placing too much emphasis on them. My eyes tell me that Petracca is heading in the right direction to becoming a very good player at a minimum and with all things going well could be an A grader, even a champion. Still a bit of water to go under that bridge but I'm happy to have him.

Great post 'ignition'....

Mason Cox has size but no football IQ 'MadAsHell'....Keilty would get smashed by any half reasonable AFL ruckman and that's not running him down it's just he would be outsized and outclassed by a player also more experienced in the position... For his own career sake I hope they give him a couple of seasons to develop, recruit the right players and allow Dec to go back and see if he can make it as a defender.

Sorry but he will never be an option as a ruck at AFL level...his best chance really is in defence. I know they've been using him forward and in the ruck at Casey but I think they are playing him out of position...

I would think their earlier flags are a bit dubious... The early 90's was an interesting time in football and a player had to be counted very unlucky to be caught out with PE drugs in the system.

Parish gets his own ball, he's very good on the inside and outside plus he uses it well. I don't know where you get this idea of him needing others to get it for him...the kid is a very good footballer. Don't get me wrong. I think we pulled the right reign in Oliver, the kid is a gun. ...but because Oliver is a gun it doesn't make Parish an also ran. We're not talking Toumpas/Wines here.