deelusions from afar

I think this is the strange thing with Weid. He's not in our best 22 so unlikely to attract a pick that good. At the same time if he goes, we have no backup forward unless one of Smith / Petty / Tomlinson can do it but none are proven. So we trade Weid and draft a kid to develop with whatever picks we have.... but Weid was a top 10 pick (we won't have something that high) and has already built his body and knows the gameplan. Everyone knows most key forwards take a bit of time.... what if he's about to click? I want him to stay for insurance / our future... but if I as advising him I'd prob tell him to look for other options as he only gets a game now if Brown / TMac or Jackson are injured and even then it's not guaranteed (eg Melksham playing when TMac was injured)

I thought he is a package deal with McCrae (ie Collingwood bound?)

Agree - but also if he (and I suppose anyone else) is medisub and doesn't get onto the field the medal will feel hollow.

I wonder whether their long time frames may be there to enable finals coaches / assistant coaches to be candidates - Yze, Williams, Scott etc?

Obviously not the main priority at the moment but if Weid were to leave at the end of the year (could only see this happening if he said he wanted to - I think the club would want to keep him otherwise) would GWS's Riccardi be a target? He's been pushed out of the side due to Hogan and co and he has links to Melbourne with Williams his former coach. Admittedly he wouldn't be an automatic selection, but there's a reasonable chance he would get a game if any of TMac, BBB, Jacko or Gawn were injured. Haven't seen enough of him to know how good he is.

Would depend on how we lose - but with the week of, fit list, confidence etc I think it would feel like a wasted opportunity - moreso than 1998 which many see as the closest we've come to winning it in the last 30+ years.

I reckon he'll go to the tiges

Not sure if I've heard all the interviews you're referring to but I took his approach in the press conference as Brayshaws attempt to get some buy in from the Perth / WA public which is smart given we're to play our biggest match(es) in front of them. I think I've heard Gus on Gus and Gawny talk about how much he loves Perth but also loves Melbourne and has no intention of going back over there. I think its more his style - he's a positive person and so talks everything up. He's got fond memories of WA / he loves the ground - doesn't mean he wants to move there.

I got that impression too but also that he was also trying to talk him down eg saying he's come from a fair way back, really raw, hasn't been part of academy programs (outside of MFC) etc to try and pour some cold water on the hype - in his typical cagey way - perhaps in the hope that he will slide back out beyond 20. I know it doesn't look like it

Normally I'd agree but I just have a feeling - why isn't Goody sending him home to be with his wife? That would be the right thing to do if he was not in contention. Goody's comments and Brayshaw's comments also feed into this. It's obviously a risk but at the same time as a medical sub he's likely to only be needed for a quarter or two. Yes I know there could be an injury in the first 5 minutes - but even if there is, he wouldn't be needed to be on the ground all game. To give people an idea, this is the Time on Ground % of the players who have been on the fringes of our team this year: Trent Rivers - 69.9% Nathan Jones - 60.2% James Jordon - 59.3% Jake Melksham - 57.7% Tom Sparrow - 43% Aaron VandenBerg 32.8% Potentially, these averages are thrown out due to them counting games as subs / injuries (I'm not sure exactly how its calculated but I think this would be pretty spot on). Not sure how to find the individual game TOG% stats other than looking at the players' last game on footywire. So for example: Tom Sparrow v Bris - 57% James Jordon v Adel - 65% Jake Melksham v Adel 68% Nathan Jones v North 69% So its not like we haven't been playing with players only playing 2/3rd of the time. I think its a risk worth taking - there wouldn't be a player that wants a premiership more than Jonesy and he will know he has to play within his limits - put pressure on and fight tooth and nail. I think he can do it for 2/3rds of 1-4 quarters of football. To have him on the field will lift the whole team.

The comments of Brayshaw were very interesting esp following what Goody has said in the last week. I think it's on the cards if we win the prelim and Jones continues with his training and all the other things he's doing.

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.