Ted Lasso

I think we were only ever going to re-sign one of Dawes and Pederson going forward and i think we made the right call. Dawes is a great bloke but a very limited footballer, Pederson can at least execute most of the basics to a higher level and stay on the park while doing so.

similar role to Matty Boyd or Corey Enright, backline general who uses the ball well, reads it well and sets up our attacks from the back half. he's a bloody good defender but capable of doing real damage the other way as well

I think it's only fair to aware Priority picks on the condition the club has to trade that pick, great way to inject immediate talent. I don't mind the Lions getting an end of first round pick, it doesn't compromise the draft too much and could land them another good player so i think it's a pretty fair concession. i felt we deserved one as well, but that's irrelevant now.

Surely he can't say that and then ask Melbourne for more in trade week, deal should be done 5 minutes into trade week

Hibberd will be a great get for two reasons, 1. he's exactly what we need off half back, elite skills, elite decision making, great one on one and experienced. 2. he'll enable Salem and Hunt to spend more time on the wing where they can really do some damage.

It doesn't have to be Watts, Hogan is quite good at that role as well, and if Gawns forward it does mean we need the contested beast a bit less, for me Frost is the best option for this role currently on our list, but he's a FAR better defender than he is a forward. i agree with your point about the resting forward being a bit of a myth these days

Perhaps the forward/ruck doesn't have to be a forward, i know this might sound a bit silly, but could Frost play as a third floating tall defender and rotate through the ruck, given we play a zone rather than one on one. if Frost goes into the ruck, Watts goes back behind the ball and Gawn slots into the forward line I'd be really keen to see Hogan, Weid and Watts have some consistent time up forward together.

He's either 12 or taking the pizz

really impressive by all involved, you really can't ask for much more! makes you believe Jesse when he says if there was a time for him to go back to Perth, it was now.

Oh i agree OD, but there is no doubt if Hogans manager wanted to spread the rumour Damo would just run with it and the bigger picture would just go totally over his head.

It's entirely possible that Jesse's manager did hint to the W.A clubs that he was gettable to create the media circus and get the Dees to bump their financial offer up a bit higher. It's possible Damo got the info from inside a Perth club and didn't understand that it was a ploy from his manager rather than a true reading of the situation.

Handy but has missed 2 years

I know it's not really our problem but Collingwoods list management is awful, they're going to lose two experienced key defenders in one offseason for peanuts and they have an only and injury prone Reid and Marsh to cover.

Contested beast, quite a big bodied mid, though i think he's got a habit of bombing and hoping and isn't super skilled under pressure. I think he'd only be a fringe player for us.

His only chance of staying on as a player would be moving interstate to maybe the Lions in my opinion, if he's unwilling to do that might be best he gets into his Law Career

Correct me if i am wrong but the current coaching group is now Simon Goodwin - Senior Coach Craig Jennings - Education coordinator Brendan McCartney- Player and coach performance coordinator Mathew Egan - Head of development Jade Rawlings - Defensive coordinator Dan Mcpherson - i thought he was offensive coordinator? Ben Mathews - Midfield & Stoppage coach Greg Stafford - Ruck coach Troy Chaplin - Offensive coordinator Looks a very strong group to me, four coaches who have coached their own team.

New offensive coach welcome to the club http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-10-05/new-appointment-troy-chaplin

I thought he made a bit of an impact in the back end of the year, another full pre season/injury free run and i reckon he'll jump to a new level in 2017

He needs to either improve his speed quite a bit, or find a role where he isn't found wanting in this area, i really hope a full pre season can help him recapture his early career form and he'll be a huge bonus for us going forward. either way he's proved the doubters wrong and made it back to AFL level for those few games which is a gigantic effort, if he can do that i am backing him in to find an extra yard and lock his spot down

Haha sorry mate, this was a joke that i made in response to another poster.

It's amazing that despite 539 attempts they've not been able to snag any of the players they've targeted yet. Hilarious that Lobb re-signed today as well!

Strong rumour that wce are making a godfather offer to cripps

Compulsory: every player takes 100 shots at goal before and after training, some sort of internal penalty if they miss too many of those, it's a skill that doesn't get nearly enough attention in my opinion.

Calling it early but i reckon Hogan will kick 65 goals next year with a new and improved goal kicking style and Salem, Watts and Hibberd hitting him lace out 4-5 times per game.

He said we were specifically looking to add experience in the backline, and hope that Hibberd and Melksham will help improve this area, this tells you that our two most experienced defenders in Dunn and Garland who have spent the majority of the year in the VFL are not in our plans going forward. Yes he mentioned they'd like a third tall/ backup ruckman or an outright second ruckman but feel they have some options in this area so it will depend if there is someone on offer who fits what we're after. i don't think we'll be doing much trading beyond the deals involving Dunn and Hibberd, potentially Garland and Dawes if there are any takers.