Lucifers Hero

What a great asset Gus is to our team and our club: Mid, wingman, defender! You name it he excels in the role: backline-beast-to-midfield-maestro Gus is a true team man. He gained a total of 11 coaches votes in 3 of the last four games since returning to the midfield. He has worked in the shadow of Petracca and Oliver but it is good to see he is getting the recognition he deserves.

I can see the contract being done in a way that doesn't 'break the bank' in terms of TPP $ or trade. Contract $ Lets say it averages at $700k per year which is about what we would pay Jackson if he signed for the another 2/3 years. But then Jackson's $ would probably be closer to the $1.m mark. We save that with Grundy. He has six years ie end of 2027 left when he will be 34. Grundy's Vic options seem to be Hawthorn, Geelong and Melbourne. Hawks can fit him in to their TPP structure. Geelong are said to back end his contract when Danger, Selwood, Hawkins etc are gone. We can do a bit of both: Pay him the $700k for the next few years that we would save on Jackson. If necessary back end the rest: In three years ie end of 2025 some more expensive players will be gone: May, Gawn, McDonald, Brown. In the next 2-4 years if Lever, Viney, Salem, Fritsch sign on again it will be for less $. We don't have a lot of 'stars' coming through to compete with Grundy for $ after 2025. As it is a new contract so we can have KPI's eg play X games in the latter years. My concern is more around his age and seeing out his contract and having two #1 ruckman of similar age/capability in the side. Trade: If Coll want a first round pick we can give them the equivalent of 17/18 with our picks 35 and 41. Anyway, I read a report recently that Grundy isn't our top priority.

I'm not fussed about the $ contract per se. Lets say it averages at $700k per year which is about what we would pay Jackson if he signed for the another 2/3 years. But then Jackson's $ would probably be closer to the $1.m mark There is more to add to this but I'll put it in the Grundy thread to avoid diverting this thread.

You've put in a bit of work there, 'Col. You might find this recent thread of interest.

I was disappointed they played random music over the loud speakers, drowning out our team singing the song on the field. Disrespectful, for mine.

Sam's developing ruck craft may help him find a team that needs that support and be a hybrid fwd. Then he is more likely to be a starting 22.. Sadly, he will only be considered depth at the Dees.

Welcome back, Saty! Anything noteworthy to share?

Didin't want to start a new thread so posting this here for interest, on player salaries. blake-acres Blake Acres has been offered a 2 year contract of $200k-$300k. Now Freo may be trying to save money for Jackson but the low figure took me by surprise. Not surprising that other clubs have come calling with 3 year deals of $350k. With all the big $ that get talked about sometimes we forget that many many players, play for not much in relative AFL terms.

Maybe they have match sims/training/rest days etc on different schedules if we play in a semi or go straight thru to a prelim. Just guessing.

I do trust her but by your earlier comment: "...if Kate can't get a govt announcement with funding by mid 2023 she needs to walk..." I'm not sure you do.

Essendon reportedly are also interested. Ess lost Tippa during the year and GWS looks set to lose Bobby Hill. At either club he will quickly be in the starting 22 as neither are blessed with small fwds. We can't give him a starting 22 spot as our list and selections currently stand. While one report said 'the demons won't let him go lightly', I doubt we will stand in his way.

If Kate and her connections and past achievements in this space can't get a government announcement then I doubt if anyone can.

The auto censor would have fixed it for you...

Amazing how these trade 'gurus' make up trades. No-one has come up with a realistic trade for Jackson. They talk of this or that player and late first round pick(s) which is nothing like his worth, not that we will get his true worth. So unrealistic! Their Jackson values are just not comparable to the other trades they happily propose, like: Rankine to the Crows for their first pick #5 plus a 2nd round/third round pick. They base that on the Cera trade. a good 1st round pick plus a player for Grundy and his salary. They are blind to the imbalance of those trades vs Jackson...because they don't have a clue how the Jackson deal will get done. Lots of salt grains needed when hearing trades options for Jackson.

TMc trained on the wing for nearly all of the 2021 preseason but was played forward when neither B Brown nor Weideman were available to play. Brayshaw filled in the wing role at short notice which turned out to be a stroke of genius. So Tmc would be geared up to play on the wing if selected there.

Oh, you were right to update the link. It reads better in your post. 🙂

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LOL! They changed the article title after I copied it! My link and yours go to the same article. I guess the 'luck of a black cat' is more click bait worthy! As minor premiers we had no problem finishing winning the flag last year but we were the exception to recent history.

Discussion of the 5 contenders for Grundy: a-trade-shootout-is-set-to-erupt-over-7m-star It talks about how deals might get done in draft picks and raises the idea of a player being part of the deal and the players the contending clubs might attract Collingwood. Regarding mfc interest: "Although Melbourne reportedly doesn’t necessarily view Grundy as a priority and could target a younger, cheaper option..." Perhaps we are cooling on Grundy... ps, it mentions Weideman as a possible player to include in a trade but please don't turn this into a Weideman thread; there are others for that....

The tv camera's might capture it but I suspect it won't show much on tv or at the ground as everyone's chest thumping will be hidden by the person standing in front of or next to them. And you may all be so busy waving the flags after a win how does anyone do the chest thumping... Not trying to detract from the idea just being my usual pragmatic self.

Updated for the much deserved contracting of Joel Smith for two more years. Not many left un-contracted now. Anxiously awaiting news on Hunt 🤔😟😐 Note: the latest table is always shown at the top of this thread for quick reference.

As it is a chant, a hum without words, won't it get drowned out by the noise after a goal and the club song after a win? And the chest thumping will hardly be visible to tv camera's or fans at the ground. I think it works for the players in the rooms but not so sure at a stadium...

I'm really happy for him. He has overcome so many obstacles and has worked his butt off to make comeback after comeback. The 'swingman' we don't have, perhaps. Another string to our bow to tweak our ball movement, maybe.

A lengthy but very good article about how historically the teams that have won the premiership from respective ladder positions at the end of the H&A season. review-analysis-minor-premier-not-winning-flag-favourite-grand-final-tips-predictions If you get to the end of the article you will like this: "All of this bodes quite well for 2nd-placed Melbourne, doesn’t it?" Being too scared of jinxing the team to say it out loud, I'll write b-2-b in lower case and very small small print...

Not sure why they would want it on an 8 day break when it is unlikely to happen in the finals. I would have thought getting into a training rhythm would be the way to go. Anyway, I'm sure the sports science folk had a good reason.