Ted Lasso

I think the biggest thing that has stalled our development is the injuries to young players. we're still basically on par with the Saints but we've had Hogan miss a full season Petracca miss a full season Brayshaw miss a good chunk of a season Salem miss a good chunk of two seasons coming from a list as void of talent as ours was only three years ago we couldn't afford this to happen. it's not just the in game development they've missed it's the games together that they haven't had, that's where it all builds from Brayshaw and Petracca only just played their first game together. we're seeing so many really good signs of the talent these guys have got but we're so inconsistent because we can't get them all on the park together, and when we do it's not for 5-6 games in a row so they can build into some form.

I imagine there would be plenty of people at AFL house deeply concerned about the prospect of Hawthorn winning a fourth flag, makes the idea they're working on equalization seem like a joke

In: Prestia, Hurley, Hibberd, Hoskin-Elliot Out: Viv Michie. seems like all parties would be pretty happy.

Must admit i thought the Hawks were just the better side, you always get some dodgey free's in game but i thought overall the hawks played very well. So happy for Chip that he's back to his best form, can't see him being far away from AA this year.

I suspect Wagner will definitely be getting upgraded, i reckon Trengove will be delisted and rookied.

The thread title is " How do we get Prestia AND hibberd to the club" the suggestion is we don't get both without giving up a player, Kent being an option. Prestia has spent most of the last two years with niggling injuries but was one of the best clearance players in the comp last year anyways, he has a handy turn of speed and very good skills, he in my opinion has the capacity to be a genuine A grade mid and a potential captain down the track, already V/C at the suns. just needs an injury free run. landing a player of his quality would be significant for the club, and he would improve the side quite a bit. the argument rightly is that because prestia plays mainly as an inside mid, would we have to many of that type, i don't think you can ever have to many quality players, if he wants to join the club, i think we'll get a deal done.

Roos three years at the club i think will prove to be the most significant in the clubs recent history. He's taken a list void of talent and a club on it's knees to a club loaded with top end talent with one of the brightest futures and in finals contention with long term on and off field stability looking very likely within three season. there have been some fantastic coaches at this club, But what Roosy has done could be the most significant 3 year period any coach has spent at any club in AFL history in terms of what he's achieved.

Stupid comment Saty, the comment was made because Kent is a good player he would have some currency, teams wouldn't want a bloke who'd played all year at Casey would they?

I think Kent and 2017 first rounder would be half a chance to get a deal done for Prestia, if he were to declare his intention to join the MFC.

Would be a pretty good result to beat the Saints this weekend and announce the re-signings of Jack Watts and the McDonald brothers fingers crossed

I think you're dismissing Grimes game on the weekend, if he plays like that consistently he will make it difficult to drop him, regardless of who is in the seconds. Petracca,Kent, Kennedy, Harmes are all talented but inconsistent and i wouldn't say any are a lock in the 22 becuase of this, if Grimes is consistent i think he can put pressure on all but maybe Petracca. same thing with the Wing position, if he holds that form consistently i'd have him on the wing before Matt Jones, Melksham, ANB and Stretch, Brayshaw if he shows last years form is probably on par and Hunt and Vince i see as now locks in the 22 again my point is if Grimes can show the weekends form consistently there is enough there that he shouldn't be written off just yet, it's not certain and it'll be bloody tough but it's all in his hands.

The other thing is i find it highly unlikely that what they'd be able to offer is any more than what we'd be willing to pay, and we're clearly on the rise so it's not like he's leaving Brisbane to play in some wins, he'll get the finals action either way, just with us it's near his family and in the same team as his brother.

Sounds as though Tom Mitchell is going to Hawthorn so if T'mac went to the Swans i'd want their first round pick & a fringe player so 15ish and maybe Brandon Jack or someone like that looking for a bit more AFL opportunity. Pick 15 and 2017 second round pick might get the job done for Prestia and our 2016 second rounder and maybe an exchange of later picks should get the deal done for Hibberd. If we miss out on Hurley we may have to look at someone like Nathan Brown ( Pies ) to fill the void until Oscar and Frost develop a little in their positions.

I think you unfortunately missed my point entirely. It would be a disaster if the club was going to play Salem/Brayshaw/Oliver and Wagner ahead of Grimes just because of who they are, to have a healthy list every player has to earn their spot in the side, regardless of draft positions and whatever, look at James Harmes as an example. My point is that if Jack Grimes can play consistently to the level he did on the weekend he becomes a very different proposition to the player we've seen over the previous 3-4 years, he ran hard, tackled well and provided link up options and played his role extremely well. IF he can do that consistently i'd have him in the side on a wing/half forward, but that depends on his form, Jack would be well aware he doesn't have any more chances, one slip up and he's probably stamped his own papers in terms of a future at the Dees. I don't see how Melksham is going to walk in and take a half back spot from Salem, Hunt, Wagner and potentially Hibbered, i think they'll have to revise their plans for him going forward, if Hibberd comes in that's one spot locked away, and Hunt probably has the other locked up, Lumumba, Wagner and Salem can all play Wing/Forward if needed

Salem, Brayshaw, Oliver and Wagner are all certainly talented and will keep the heat on, but i think Salem will play half back, Brayshaw and Oliver inside mid, and Wagner is fighting Salem and potentially Hibberd for a spot. Still question marks over Melksham, i don't believe he's a walk up start by any stretch, every bombers supporter i know considers him about the most frustrating player they've seen in recent times, if Grimes is consistent i think that gives him an edge over Melksham, but time will tell.

I disagree, i think if he consistently plays to the level he did on the weekend he will find himself in the best 22, though probably still in the bottom 5-6 players picked. but i think his aim for now will be to get another contract at the Dees, if he's informed that isn't going to happen i reckon another club will pick him up.

Oh not disputing his improvement in this area has been nothing short of amazing, but he's still no Jack Viney, which is clearly pickets usual type

I think belief is a really funny thing like that, there is a difference between seeing no reason you can't win, or liking the idea of winning or genuinely believing you can win. I think Hawthorn are the only side in the AFL that would go into every single game feeling as though a loss would be a failure, so if you aren't in that frame of mind, do you genuinely believe you're going to win every week?

I think it's as simple as Jacks destiny is in his own hands, he's in the team right now and so long as he continues to play the way he did on the weekend i am 99.9% sure he'll get another contract at the Dees, if not he'll finish his time at the Dees having captained and played 100 games for the team he grew up supporting, which is what most people dream of.

Tom is a quality player and there is no doubt he's attracting outside interest, but all the talk coming out of the club such as Roosy saying " i'd be staggered if he leaves" tells me that the talks are either well on the way or he's already locked away and they haven't announced it yet.

It's interesting that you of all people rates Jack so highly Picket, given he's never been a contested ball animal, which is the type you seem to love.

Must admit i am a little surprised Jayden Hunt isn't in there, not that it has anything to do with a Jack Watts thread.

I think it'd be a bit silly, Watts is in great form up forward and is one of our biggest attacking weapons against an undermanned back line, I'd personally be trying to stretch them down back as much as possible. I think playing someone on him like Vince who will do as much damage the other way is the go, make Roo accountable and back our backline to cover him if he drifts forward.

the trouble is he's been playing on the wing, not sure we can afford to not have TMAC down back.

Couldn't care less about your career unless you're running out for the Dees on the weekend picket. game has evolved. Our points against this year are plus 2 points and our scoring is plus four goals ( not exact figures but very close ) that to me says the new plan is working, our defense hasn't fallen off a cliff and our scoring has improved out of sight. any time you implement a new plan in anything until it is executed the right way consistently it can look ugly, i am extremely confident we've nailed it down enough that we'll be able to limit the Saints scoring and win the game. Tommy Mac has had a very good year in my opinion, his disposals can be an issue but fine on the weekend, he's taking intercept marks and attacking, and playing his role.