Watts Jurrah Dunn?

Lewis has been given 3 years at big money. He probably has 1 year of good footy left, 1 of ok footy, and then 1 at Casey. Obviously, we had to do it, but missing him now in 3 close, winnable losses has almost made this acquisition a failure before it has even started. We recruited him for matches like these past 3 and now our season is slipping down the drain. I hope Goodwin isn't always as friendly as he is in his post match pressers and has told Jordan how much he owes this club. The honeymoon is over.

Bringing a 19 year old beanpole ruckman returning from an ACL straight in after 1 game at Casey is not adventurous. It's just plain stupid. Did we not learn from feeding Watts to the wolves? Make do with Frost/Pedersen/Watts/Keilty for a month and let King get some continuity and confidence. Just get Harmes, Tyson and Kennedy-Harris out of the side and make them play 6 weeks of dominant footy at Casey before they are given their last chance. We are carrying far too many VFL footballers in the senior side at the moment. Can't play Lewis and Tyson at Etihad so there's one change. Bugg the other obvious one to come in. The others are just deck chairs on the titanic.

Arguably the most over-hyped "$1m a year" player ever. Always wants the one over the back where he can just lean into his opponent and protect the drop. Very few strings to his bow. Q4 Garlett streaming toward the pocket and he wants it over the back? Get on your bike and lead at the kicker Jesse! Garlett is not kicking it 60m in the 4th when we've been 2-3 players short all night!

Couldn't agree more. Gawn, our most important player who was in doubt the week earlier with back spasms, was [censored] stupid to try and mow down Selwood. It's not his job. You're there to ruck, and the next best ruckman we have is absolutely useless, so leave the pressure acts to midfielders and you just worry about crashing into your opponent, digging the knees into the opposition in marking contests etc. Same with Spencer tonight. Absolutely pointless. There had to be an element of self preservation to his football for the next 3 months.

Jake Spencer - the only 105kg ruckman that could collide with an 80kg midfielder and come off second best. What a useless [censored]. 8 years clogging the list to do his shoulder week 2 when we need him.

Frost takes Dustin Martin I'd have thought? Only one with the size, strength and speed to match Dusty. I'm guessing Oscar probably comes in to play on Elton or Griffiths?

I think Goodwin will opt for fit NQR's like Harmes and Neal-Bullen over underdone regulars like Tyson and Kent. We've heard Roos say several times they rushed Brayshaw back from his knee in Round 2 last year against Essendon. We lost the match and he never regained the match fitness due to the concussions in the VFL. I think the FD have that decision fresh in their memories and we'll see Tyson, Kent, Hibberd and Frost in about round 3 or 4.

Our forward line and the half forwards that kick it in there were dysfunctional. So often the i50 entry was from a player like Harmes, Neal-Bullen or Bugg when you want it with a Watts, Salem or Lewis. Unless we are on the fast break, we seem to be under instruction just to put it on Gawn's head at the top of the square. We missed Garlett enormously. The past few drafts have had to be about about just building a base with solid inside midfielders. That's now built and we have them coming out of our ears, to the point that they have to try and play a creative half forward role that is just not suited to them (Harmes, Neal-Bullen). It's time to go out and find some front half magic in future drafts and try and find a Rioli, Wingard, Bruest etc type. A timely wake up call for Petracca. There'll be a big difference getting a kick on Dempster or Geary in Round 1 compared to some Carlton spud at Casey. Tyson was atrocious and can't be picked for Round 1 on that performance. Half a dozen shocking turnovers and yes he got 20+ possessions, but they were the possessions Brayshaw was getting in previous weeks and he uses it much better. Oscar McDonald looked like he'd ran from Melbourne to Perth to play the game. Looked absolutely knackered from the first bounce. Clearly they see a big future there but for me, when Frost is back, it's Frost every week with his closing speed and power. Oliver and Hunt - wow.

The media's obsession? I agree that Watts' early career was way over the top for media scrutiny, but he did himself no favours this off-season with that stupid white hair and posing for photos for the Confidential section at his Skwosh club parties. You wanna go on with that stuff, make sure you get a kick. There was talk among AFL players over the summer that Melbourne players were extremely happy with themselves and were partying like they'd won the flag. Clearly we know who the main culprit is.

The Saints really exposed us for a lack of pace and run at Etihad twice last year. I think Melskham, as a 100 game player, a runner, and a bloke that the Coach gave up a fair bit for 15 months ago, is a lock for the 22 in Round 1. I'm really interested by what we do with the tall defenders. I think it's horses for courses this year with Frost/O McDonald - they don't both need to play every single week. We just look so slow on the hard, fast deck at Etihad, so it wouldn't surprise me if Hibberd was asked to play a bit taller on someone like Membrey, who he only gives away an inch to. It allows you to go with a running side like this: Jetta, Frost, Hibberd Hunt, T McDonald, Salem Stretch, Lewis, Vince Petracca, Hogan, Watts JKH, Pedersen, Garlett Gawn, Jones, Viney Int: Oliver, Brayshaw, Melksham, vandenBerg

It's really encouraging to hear someone as tough as McCartney give such high praise. Brayshaw's photo of the 100 x 100m on 35 degree Christmas Day goes to show how serious he is. I was a bit concerned with some of the Skwosh club party photos and rumours that the Melbourne boys are very happy with themselves, that Brayshaw was one whose opinion of himself far outweighed his output from the past 2 years. Really needs to stamp himself on the comp next year as a pick 3 and currently he looks set to give himself every chance. Fingers crossed he can stay on the park.

Not really mate. They could have signed a free agent like Henderson if the head case had retired a few months back. Not too much wrong with bringing in another vandenBerg type either.

Have people missed the part about Geelong getting Carlton's 2nd rounder back? Geelong are backing themselves to win it next year (pick 18) and for carlton to finish close to last with Tuohy and Gibbs going (pick 20/21). Smedts is a spud and Tuohy gives them something they don't have. To move back a few spots is hardly the terrible trade some are alluding to.

Meh. Did you see a kid for Footscray the other day called Bailey Dale? He can run AND kick. Pick 45 2014. Brad Lynch off half back? Rookie draft. They're out there, and you've got to turn over the Matt Jones' of the world and use late picks to find them.

Wow. That Doggies list is just full of classy, fast midfielders and half backs. Given footy is won and lost in the middle i find it staggering that, with such a one-paced midfield and only one zippy half back, we would load up on talls last year in Weed, Hulett and that beanpole ruckman King. Zippy, classy mids, mids, mids, half backs and more mids please.

Doesn't fill any holes? Which Melbourne midfield have you been watching? We've got two players in the side with pace (Hunt & Garlett) and neither of them play in the midfield where games are won and lost. Boomer as a high half forward / wingman definitely fills a hole.

I don't understand how anyone could oppose recruiting a player with Boomer's pace and skill. When you add in the 400+ games experience and obvious elite preparation, I am praying we can get him for a year or two. Would provide so much more with the footy than Barlow, Thompson or Dal Santo etc. The "he keeps a young player out" is bullsh!t. Goodwin will ensure the elite kids keep getting games. He knows it's about getting the young core to 80+ games together asap. Boomer will play ahead of a fringe player like Bugg, vandenBerg, Kennedy or Harmes. I'm all for making those ordinary players work harder at Casey while Boomer helps create a winning culture at senior level.

No one's giving that up for Lynden Dunn mate. He's 29 years old, not 25. Imagine if we were trading in a Dunn or Pederson or Cloke. You'd be livid if we gave anything more than pick 50 or 60.

Personally I'd still prefer Harvey. His disposal is as good as Dal Santo and he still has that exceptional pace. Obviously a professional trainer and would set a great example off the field. Probably doesn't have the coaching aspirations and might not be the on field leader Thompson/Dal Santo could be, but wow he'd fill a need. Fully agree with Goodwin chasing an older head. Jones and Vince aren't getting any better, and Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem and Oliver effectively all in just their 2nd season. It will still be 3-4 seasons before these young guys can produce the goods week in, week out, leaving an awful lot of work to Gawn and Viney. Hibberd and Melksham, and an extra pre-season does not guarantee finals. Goodwin knows this. If a Thompson or Dal Santo can come in at the expense of a fringe player like Bugg, vandenBerg or Matt Jones, and provide the on field leadership we needed in those Essendon and Carlton debacles, I'm all for it.

No mate. This article quotes that Port are trying to get in on the deal for Richmond's pick 6. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/port-adelaide-tells-hamish-hartlett-he-could-be-traded/news-story/f49ae3f2f4d40feb09662bd5e7566f99

He just typifies Port Adelaide, doesn't he? He's one of those names you see on paper that are supposed to make up this team full of stars, but as Hinkley says, they've missed the finals the last 2 years now with all these stars so ultimately they're just names. One thing in his favour is he can play mid and half back. I think part of the reason we fell off Prestia is that, like Viney, Jones & Tyson, they can't play anywhere except the midfield. Hartlett, and for that matter Rockliff, appeal as they can rest back/forward. 2017 first rounder (i.e. pick 10) for a bloke we'll get about 75 games out of? I dunno. How good will he be in 4 years when Gawn, Hogan, Viney, Oliver, Petracca etc are in their prime and we are a legitimate threat?

Plenty of duds have gone at pick 12, as you know Steve. I haven't seen a lot of him but there's a big difference being 188cm against kids in the TAC, and being 188cm in the AFL where everyone is that height. I'm not sure he has that Stevie J goal sense a medium forward needs, so he strikes me as another Jed Lamb, Taylor Garner, Ricky Petterd type. He's a nice kick and has had two years in the system so he might be a better pick up than a raw 18 year old with pick 27, but we're not going to have that with Hibberd. Richmond are going to want something early second round and I think we've got far more important needs than a nice, medium tall half forward flanker. What do you want to trade for Lennon?

Lennon is too much of a tweener for mine. In that Ricky Petterd half forward mould where he isn't quite quick enough, tall enough or skillful enough. Does everything well but he doesn't have that point of difference. Given Hogan refuses to tackle and Weideman is not going to have the agility or pace to tackle, if we're going to look at NQR's I'd prefer one with electrifying pace that will help lock the ball in there.

Averaging 21 a week, 7 score involvements a game and has kicked 34 goals for the season. Still has the pace and class we so desperately lack. The cake is built now with solid inside midfielders and good young talls. Unless we are into a shane edwards or pearce hanley harvey is a must get. Lumumba retires and Harvey assumes his spot. We'd get a heck of a lot more out of boomer than we have the prince, and we would start winning those essendon and carlton games. Even if boomer were managed through 18 games and missed the trips to darwin and perth, he'd be a great pick up.

We won't be any good consistently until Gawn, Viney, Hogan, Petracca, Oliver are in their prime and 25-28 years old. When Vince and Jones aren't having an impact there is no one there to pick up the slack in that 23-27 bracket. Tyson, Bugg, Watts just can't be relied upon. Jetta and McDonald try hard but have their limitations. I have absolutely no doubt that this side will find a way not to play finals again next year. Hopefully today will be a wake up call for more brutal list changes this offseason.