deelusions from afar

Wow! Forgot what a lightning rod any mention of Watts and his being traded can be on this site! My comments earlier weren't meant to be a criticism to trade him and clearly weren't taking into account whether he had the desire / competitiveness / work rate to make it in our current team. More just a comment on a player with his (physical) attributes would suit current trends in the game (particularly ours). Got no argument with people that say he wouldn't have the competitiveness to make it in the team and certainly not wanting to get into the debate as to how much of that is on Jack and how much on the club / culture / development etc.

Does anyone think that the way the game is currently played, Watts would fit right in? I'm not talking about the development programs at the club when he was drafted (or lack thereof) as its too hard to know. But look at the forwards that are kicking goals - there's less of the big power forwards and more that can lead up and run back. Our team especially requires forwards to sprint back to goal and get marks / goals over the back on turnover. Elite kicking seems to get more important every year.... all of these aspects were Wattsy's strength.

Yeah I feel like Covid is again causing problems with people such as Cal getting to see enough of the players in contention. I'm confused about Mac as people have said there's great vision of him which is getting people excited. I watched the match where he was stuck forward in a losing side and was then swung into the ruck in the last quarter. He did some good things - but I hope the footage that people are talking about is something different as I wouldn't want to be picking someone in the top 10 off that. Does anyone have any other footage? Admittedly he went at 3 in a non covid year, but there was so much footage of Jackson in his draft year doing amazing things... I don't understand the hype around Mac (other than he was in our academy and has loads of POTENTIAL).

Agree - while I'd love Maynard I think we've got reasonable depth in this type of position. Surely there's other areas that are greater priority (pace / class in the middle, young key forward, developing ruck etc)

But even if he could get it done isn't the salary cap an issue - esp moving forward?

superior fitness?

I think its more that Oliver has a "good head for radio". If he didn't look like Brienne of Tarth the media would froth over him. Many "experts" gave tracc equal best on ground with Oliver. Yes he kicked important goals in the last quarter and had a great game - but no where near Oliver's level. I think Oliver is harder for the media / footy world to like than Tracc / Bont / Dusty / Danger etc

I thought the same - but seeing him in some VFL matches (I know) this year made me think if it came down to it, he could play a role in the FP / Forward Flank - we all know he will give his all and the team will rise around him with him on the ground. He is the only player on the list that links the playing group with the past

Anyone else finding it amusing that since winning the AFLCA and his performance on the weekend that many football "experts" are now saying he is clearly the best "pure mid" in the game as if its a big statement. They say best pure mid so they don't have to get into discussions about Bont, Martin, Tracc, Greene, Dangerfield etc as they play the mid / forward role. Sure Martin was injured and Bont has gone off the boil (maybe has an injury) but right now there is no one better. If he keeps this form up (can't see it changing unless through injury) it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the experts pack to catchup that he is the best player in the comp

I guess that's what I mean though - if Jones was 7th in line as most supporters would have him on output this season (Hunt, JJ, Hibbo, Melksham, Vanders, Weid) then surely, Goody would say: Jonesy we want you here but 7 players need to get injured and/or lose form for you to make the side - completely understand if you want to be there for the birth of your children. Maybe he has said that - but it doesn't sound like it. I think its too much of a sacrifice for Jonesy to be making for his family if he is not 1st or 2nd in line.

While I am in agreement with what we have seen so far... my MFCSS tells me this thread is going to come back to bite us if someone knocks us off. I imagine Adelaide in 2017 had similar types of threads

I think you're onto something - I suspect Jones will be med sub for the GF if we make it (and potentially the Prelim). You don't go over there while your wife is due with twins if you're the 26th man - I think he is right in the frame.

Such a tough matchup - if the opposition puts their best defender on him, it gives Brown / TMac and co the ability to get off the chain. Most of the time there isn't an obvious matchup to suit his triple threat ability! Out of interest, if our forward line played against our backline, which defender would we send to him? Maybe Smith / Hibbo? Interestingly, I feel that even though we have a solid backline (arguably the best in the league), I think our forwardline could cause us headaches - I think its better than most people give it credit for. I guess much of that comes down to inaccuracy. Here's my rough go at it: Brown > May TMac > Lever Jackson / Gawn > Petty Fritsch > Smith Pickett > Rivers ANB > Salem Spargo > Bowey

Don't think Hunt will come in for Smith. As @Fat Tony said, its more likely to be Bowey and Smith is fighting with Hibbo for that position. In my view, the match committee have decided that they would rather Smith over Hibbo- which is quite amazing given the credits Hibbo would have in the bank. Smith has done enough right (and not enough wrong) to keep Hibbo out.

Bump Partly because things come together in the way I said they would (who doesn't like to point that out) ... but really to help us appreciate where we've come from. A bit over a month ago, many thought we were shot. The club - on field, off field, fitness staff, etc have done an incredible job in a difficult year. Job not done yet but we are certainly on tracc!

Smith is in for a reason. His versatility mean that not only can be go with the quickest small forwards like Cameron, but if one of May / Lever / Petty go down, he can be put onto one of the key forwards. Love Hibbo but as others have noted, he's out of the team for a reason (clean below his knees?). I think the coaches love Smith (and to be honest he hasn't been too bad). I wonder whether the versatility of Smith opens the door for Jones to be the medical sub on GF day should we make it.

Unless SW wants out, I wouldn't look to trade him. He's not a world beater but certainly fills a hole - and may yet find things click for him. With BBB and TMac around 30, surely its good both for MFC and SW to stay on the list. Otherwise we use pick 24 to draft another prospective key forward who takes years to develop. Who plays the role if TMac / BBB go down? Potentially Petty when Tomlinson come back - but that's a bit of an unknown at this stage

Fair point and agree with what ppl have said re the atrocious treatment of Teague and lack of support. Having said that, I didn't have a lot of confidence in Teague in the ways he handled press conferences (which is obviously not a great indication of coaching ability but one of the few things we can go on). Obviously no one looks good when you lose more than you win but even Goodwin in 2019-2020 was at least consistent in his message (as much as we all hated the learnings comments). I never got the sense that Teague had a realistic sense of where the team was at - potentially this is also coloured by the way they went after the likes of Williams / Saad last year on big coin. The relationship with Cripps (arguably in the top 3 players in the game a few years back) was odd as well. Having said that, it wouldn't surprise me if Lyon is able to turn things around. They have enough star power on field in the key positions to trouble any team - they just need to fix the culture, team defence etc. I don't like Ross Lyon's style of play but you know his teams will be defensively sound and the senior players seem to love him as a coach. Whether he can turn around their culture is another question - but I think he's a better chance to do it than anyone else (except Clarko who's off the market).

I always held on to hope that he could be the medical sub should we make the GF - but I thought his form would have dropped off so that it couldn't be justified. But his form has been ok - certainly good enough to be in contention. Sadly the fact that his wife is expecting twins in Sep while the finals after week 1 look to be played in WA, seems like he's going to miss out. I'm hoping the stars can somehow align though.

I would have thought a young key forward to develop would be our highest priority - particularly if Weid and Mitch Brown end up not on our list in 2022

Worst result for a team in the 8.

Isn't it about you kick to his side when moving the ball slowly as if there's a turnover there's more congestion so it's harder for the opposition to transition the ball forward. On the other side (the fat side) it's more open which allows Langdon to use his speed to create an option for the switch?

Found it interesting how Lloyd highlighted yesterday how Henry was playing on Spargo in the last quarter and dropped off him (as Lever does) when the ball came in - leaving Spargo on his own to crumb (and kick 2 goals). I guess this is why we like playing with an extra back - so we don't allow this to happen. Agree with your point re Melksham - give him space and he will hurt you by foot.

Selection will be very interesting this week. On the one hand how could you drop anyone from that effort on the weekend? At the same time, there's a bunch of players that have played a key role to getting us into this position this year that seem out of favour / coming back from injury (eg Jordon, Hunt) and others who have risen to the occasion previously (Hibberd, Melksham, Jones). Maybe Smith, Bowey, Sparrow etc are simply in the right place at the right time. Not saying they don't deserve to be in it - but the likes of Jordon and Hibberd seem pretty stiff. I've always rated Smith and thought he just needed an extended crack at it - still too early to know but there's plenty of up side. For those that have seen him at VFL level, does he sometimes get the smaller quick forwards? I.e. could he be played on Cameron this week? Alternatively could they give this role to May (he's played on Toby Greene etc) given that Petty is our tallest defender and could pick up Danither?

Don't mind our current clash strip (compared to the white / grey ones we had) so not too fazed. But 2 questions: 1. As we've finished top, doesn't it mean we don't have to wear our clash strip if there is a clash? 2. Could we use our indigenous jumper?