Ted Lasso

Grimes is a free agent so we have no real power to trade him to the Lions unless he wants to go there anyway.

That's exactly why that decision was made last year, clearly it was felt that We needed a young foil for Hogan and Weideman was more talented than any of the key talls in this years draft, personally very happy with the outcome there.

Added to this is the seemingly high likelyhood Richmond will part with pick 6 in order to get Prestia, they gave up a high pick for Yarren so really they're nailing their own coffins. I just think they are desperate to sign a big name of any sort just so they don't become totally irrelevant and they have something to sell going into next year

One last look at Michie, playing for his AFL career

I definitely think over the pre season the club should get someone to come in and just work on his goal kicking, get that right and Hogan becomes a much better player, he missed 2-3 very easy shots again on the weekend and that's been the difference between 40 goals and maybe 55-60 and being right up the top of the coleman medal tally, and probably us in the 8

I think it definitely comes into the conversation, i mean Viney has probably had a better year (arguably ) than Dom Tyson but on the weekend Viney was tagged hard and Dom wasn't and Dom was clearly better, so different battles within battles, but i agree, on the last 4-5 weeks Watts has been miles ahead, and probably in the best 5 forwards in the comp so credit where credits due.

I think the thing to consider is that Hogan has played on the best defender and often been double/triple teamed as well, i think getting the same numbers is a credit to him in that sense, Watts has had a fantastic year, but i think Hogan has been the better of the two just because of what he's delivered vs what he's had to deal with. I think his knee is still quite sore and that's impacted his form a little. bit of healthy debate is a good thing, i think it really would be a flip of the coin between the two though. Dean Kent is another who has provided great pressure, good run and also kicked 25 goals this year.

I think he has some ability but it really depends what we'd have to give up, if it were a swap for a third round pick i'd probably look at it.

It's absolutely disgusting! this should have bought them to the brink of extinction and right now it's difficult to argue it hasn't been a huge advantage! they've been able to get a heap of top end picks over the last two years and get some games into them. they're going to rise back up the ladder very quickly and i find that truly frustrating. the AFL had a chance to make a stand and all they've done is shaken the confidence of every supporter in the game that the game isn't riddled with corruption.

If you're talking about the last month, (on form is such a vague thing ) definitely, based on a body of work over the year, i think Hogan, Watts has had a great year But Hogan has copped the best defender every week and still kicked his 40 goals.

The AFL have done everything they can to make sure these penalties have as little impact on their revenue as possible, i wonder if it were a side like North Melbourne with less than half Essendons members if they'd have made the same effort? Essendon supporters still can't believe the CAS verdict was so different to the AFL tribunal but to me that exposes and confirms the AFL playing games and trying to sweep things under the rug, and does it in a very public way, the contrasting results are a bad reflection on the AFL, not on CAS or ASADA

He's kicked 40 goals, still 12th in the league or something, has been in the top 10 for a good chunk of the year, not bad for a second year player. While he's not impacting the score board the way i'm sure everyone would like he's still working hard, creating space and he's a bloody smart footballer, he's clearly ahead of anyone else you're likely to replace him with on our list. I have absolute faith Jesse will be our best forward for a long time, and that's not a knock on anyone, Watts has become a very good player and i rate Weiderman as one of the better talents on our list but if you compare Jesse's first two years i reckon he matches if not beats any other forward in the last 15 years in terms of what they've done in their first two seasons.

I think it's pretty unfair on the Brisbane Lions that Essendon get pick 1 this year, they're going to welcome back several very good AFL players from suspension, the Lions get a couple back from injury, but they've been genuinely awful this year, where as the Bombers have hamstrung themselves by attempting to cheat, if the AFL were set on giving Essendon a pick this year, they should have set it before the season started at say pick 5,6 or 7 and not allowed it to compromise the pointy end of the draft, I haven't been a huge fan of the Brisbane Lions playing the victim like they have and sooking it up when we applied for a priority pick, but geez it's a big oversight on the AFL's part to allow Essendon pick 1, i reckon they nearly have to grant the Lions a PP on this basis because the difference between pick 1 and 2 can be huge, and they are genuinely the worst team/list in the AFL. People will celebrate if the Bombers come back and play finals next year but i personally will mark it as one of the most transparent and disappointing acts of a league putting $$ ahead of the integrity of the sport, clean sport and the integrity of the contest that i can remember in Australian sporting history. I am sure they've had their part to play in retaining Hurley and Hooker, both looked certain to leave

I think we're in a better position to learn to handle that than other sides are to improve at the G, it's a very different ground to try and defend on.

Similar thoughts about the Saints game plan to be honest, ours has taken a little longer but we know it stands up against good teams on the MCG, which is more than a lot of teams can say

Absolutely they do! it's one of their biggest marketing and membership boosters in some ways.

I find this amazing, James Frawley is a far better defender than Michael Hurley, and is on significantly less per season, that money is crazy for a second defender

Paul Roos has selected all three in the leadership group in the last two seasons, Brisbane are totally void of leadership and experience at both ends, they'd both be clearly in the best 22, and give them someone to help teach the young talls you speak of. I think it's very unlikely but if any team is going to look at those players, i'd say it's Brisbane, and if we could work out a package i think it could work out alright for both sides. they get a couple of key position players, we get a pick.

I reckon a package of Dawes/Dunn or Garland would have to be tempting, two experienced starting best 22 ( for them and probably noone else ) key position players, and allow us to keep one of Dunn or Garland as insurance

I hate to be a negative nancy, but i think we will lose to Geelong so it won't matter, but regardless of finals or not, i think we'll win 11 this year, have Max in the All Australian team and probably the top 10 in the brownlow and have successful re-signed every regular best 22 player this year ( been a while since we've done that ) so all in all a great year.

If he's not allowed to train with the club, i certainly can't see how he'd be allowed in the rooms lol surprised Essendon would want Barrett anywhere near them after the string of articles he put out over the last 2 years potting them at every opportunity.

His trade value would be a really interesting debate, i suspect he's probably worth 1 first round pick given his talent and the investment the Suns have put into him, but given the financial side of a deal it would take to get him, that would reflect an Adam Treloar type deal so two picks, i'd only really want him to come to the Dees if it was a trade for our second round pick and we didn't pay more than 500k a year for him, which obviously is no chance of happening

Not easy to convince a quality established AFL ruckman to come to the club to mostly play VFL footy behind Gawn, unless they're a dangerous third forward they're not really much more than backup for us, Spencer is handy, but i'd look at someone like Minson, not the most highly rated option out there but if Gawn goes down you know he can come in and win hit outs and has some experience and so on.

another pre season under him with no injuries and i am predicting Dom to put his name right up there with the absolute elite mids of the game. he is an absolute star and worth pick 2 on his own.

2M peter is a good player/talent, but i am not sure i have him rated in the same group as Hogan/Fyfe I'd want something else to go with him.