ignition.

I found it perplexing that he was a part of the internal review, yet all roads seemed to lead to him (at least there needed to be some form of accountability from a culture perspective).

Beat me to it :D

Clint Bartram, Cale Morton, .... heck Mark Neeld?

I'm thrilled with this one. I genuinely believe he is a Best 22 player that's capable of holding his own in a premiership side. I just hope he can have a great preseason, some luck with with injury or specifically lack there of, and secure his opportunity for a spot in the side where he can string multiple games together.

To be honest, I wouldn't complain if the club picked him back up to provide us more depth in the talls. He'd be cheap as chips and upgrade to Schache.

I agree and remember this. Allegedly Schache and Francis went head to head that year (as a FWD and BACK) to which Schache came out on top. If I recall correctly he also kicked some record number of goals? or something to that effect. Charlie Curnow was also highly touted but had some form of police misdemeanor prior to the draft. On draft night then commentator Sando expected us to select a tall either Weideman (first named) or Curnow (second named)... then it went over to Roosy.

I can't quite recall the reason for Sam's move to Essendon? Please correct me accordingly, but did he choose to go in the hope to seek more opportunity, while the MFC had preference to retain him? Or was it mutual?

The intricacies of his contract and any trade currency requested is just speculation for us outside of the trading circles. It's no different to us letting go Grundy while still having to pay some his contract. I doubt the difference that can be negotiated is not far off what ANB is about to free up. From a midfielder perspective, three above are stated. Oliver had a terrible year and we're hoping he gets back to his former self in 2025. Rivers showed promise and can certainly take another step forward in that position but is not guaranteed. He is also sensational off the half-back. Trac is still very much of an "if" and if he does get back one can argue his brilliance up forward if someone like Macrae is working his brilliance on ball. So what else do we have for 'elite midfield depth'? Nothing really. Sparrow also spends time at the centre and can pinch hit in there as does Pickett. Brayshaw was forced into early retirement. I also have to disagree that Macrae is a defensive liability. Likewise, former quotes from others that he's merely a first-touch midfiedler. It's always amusing at this time of year when people disagree with a player they're often labelled as 'slow, one-touch, one-dimensional'. For me, Macrae is a gun and if a good deal can be struck he'll slot right in where he can fill the void left by either Brayshaw or ANB whilst keeping us competitive trying to push for another premiership while we have the likes of May, Gawn and Viney in the team.

You're welcome. I've always rated him and watched him many times. For many years people questioned us taking Toumpas ahead of Wines, well we also took Toumpas ahead of Macrae who is arguably more to the playing style then-coach Mark Neeld wanted in the team, a "Swan (Viney) and Pendlebury (Toumpas/Macrae), instead of two Dane Swans (Viney & Wines)" (quoted something to that effect). The stats alone show Macrae is certainly not just a "first-possession" midfielder but rather a magnet.

Time to scrap any form of investment we have in the NGA. Spend the time and energy elsewhere. At best, get an aspiring volunteer clubman down there assisting with perhaps a couple check-ins with senior staff per year to show some form of investment from the club and brand awareness if it's ever appreciated.

This one stings. The trade/draft period where the AFL decided to change the rules. Andrew should have been ours under the NGA academy. Taylor and the team had put in a tremendous amount of work. The worst part was that it wasn't the first time they changed the rules on the eve of the draft. They did the same the year Jack Viney was due to be drafted forcing our hand to select him in the Top 10 while prior years the like of Gary Ablett Jr was selected at pick 40. If we didn't win the premiership that year (and I'm glad we did) would the AFL had changed that rule to prevent us from getting him and seeing him go at Pick 5? The AFL have become a manipulated socialist system as the push for 'equal outcome' instead of 'equal opportunity'.

Wasn't he caught binging at the local TAB/Pub day after day while he was suppose to be in rehab as well?

Yeah, it does appear that way. Will be interesting to see how the cats go* if they secure him and Smith. They are the masters of recycling their list and staying competitive*. Edit *

I wouldn't call ANB quick either, he has an excellent tank and running patterns. Macrae also has excellent tank, running patterns, as well as superb awareness and evasive skills. My point is we've lost senior depth and certainly lack it with Billings (Macrae is a far superior upgrade to him). Likewise, he's a better player than Sparrow who also gets time at the centre bounce. Macrae had 1 bad year after 10 excellent years (stats below). For a player like him to come in at a cheaper price, allowing more salary cap allocation elsewhere, the club would be silly not to look at him. And if they're incapable thinking about how a player of his caliber can be utilised elsewhere on the field we certainly do have a problem with the football program. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pc-western-bulldogs--jackson-macrae

He'd be a better player on the field than Billings. Could also fill the void left by ANB. A yes for me.