Ted Lasso

I think with improved forward craft the output of all of those forwards would improve quite a bit. To be honest i don't think we're going far as a side if any of those 3 are in our best 22 next year. i think it's time for Sparrow and co to step up and grab those spots. I think a better balance with Petracca forward and he could be worth another 25 goals as well.

Not suggesting Oliver and Petracca, but if i was offered Zach Merrett for our 2021 pick and say James Harmes or Angus Brayshaw i'd have a serious think about it. i think if you were going to deal with Essendon for Merrett and inside mid is probably all we have that would appeal really.

Nope. if you want to pry a player of that quality out of Essendon, you've got to be prepared to pay up. i 100% guarantee if Zach Merrett was a Melbourne player and Essendon were trying to poach him, Demonland would be universally saying a first round pick and a player, or two first round picks.

It's a really tricky one to solve but i think it starts with We don't get anywhere near enough value from Max Gawns dominance. we don't have great system around stoppages and this makes it really difficult for us to stop run ons, teams can get hold of us in the midfield even if we clearly have the more talented midfield. when we do get a clearance our disposal inside 50 combined with our poor system and forward craft inside the 50 means we don't get a lot of easy lead up goals I think everyone has harped on this a fair bit in various threads but a team lacking system to the extent we have has a very serious problem with their senior coach and FB dept not getting the best out of them. I'd argue we're winning games on pure talent, but our coaching is nowhere near the level. i think if we get that right, we will get the above right and we can become a genuine premiership threat and a much more consistent team quite quickly. This is why i personally would be considering replacing Simon Goodwin with Ross Lyon. Lyon coached teams are well known for great balanced stoppage systems which allow the teams to make the most of dominance and to also defend from that position as well when other teams are getting on top.

I'd be willing to trade a best 22 player and a first round pick to get Zach Merrett into the side. they need an inside midfielder so maybe there is a win-win to be had there with one of our guys. It feels unlikely this one but he'd significantly improve our side in 2021. i rate him up there with any of our mids in terms of quality an he brings attributes that our team desperately needs.

Weid is going okay, i'm not too upset with where he's at. but he definitely needs a second tall to support him. in a perfect world McDonald would find some form and we would be fine

1. Christian Petracca 2. Steven May 3. Max Gawn 4. Clayton Oliver 5. Ed Langdon

That's the thing about free agency. the price of players gets so inflated. i don't think it's worth chasing a big money free agent unless you feel it's the last piece of the puzzle, or it's someone you can build around. someone like Williams is not worth 900k for the role he plays. i'd argue Saad can be equally as damaging and we won't be paying him that much if he comes.

It's kinda funny really. good work Dewy! play on.

Absolutely fair enough, but the Bombers in particular love to aim very high. they'd probably be asking for Oliver, Petracca, Gawn and May

Imagine trying to negotiate with Essendope for Hurley, Saad and Merrett. god they would be next level delusional.

They would want 2 top 10 picks to even have a conversation about him, and that's probably the biggest hurdle i'd see if he did want to leave. we probably couldn't sign Merrett and keep Viney IMO

If the Blues are genuinely paying this bloke 900k per year, he and Jack Martin will combine for around 2 million dollars per season. incredible stuff considering they're not key position players good players but i feel like they're eating too big a slice of the salary cap for the output they bring.

The patches list of things that need to improve in 2021 for us to play finals. 1. Our work at the selection table. i think selections genuinely cost us several games this year, and ultimately that results in a finals spot gone. we need to be more willing to back guys in if they have an off game, and we need to settle the team and make less unforced changes. we chopped and changed so much the team was never really able to build any sort of chemistry. especially in the forward 50. this is just really bad coaching IMO 2. we need to get more reward for the dominance of Max Gawn. even when he's right on top in the hit outs we seem to be breaking even or losing clearance. if Gawn is dominating we really need to be making the most of that and really looking to push the hit outs to advantage - scores stat right up. a clean tap from max should really result in a quality entry and a shot at goal much more regularly than it currently is. 3. Our inside/outside balance. we really need to pick 1-2 guys, or recruit them to be wingers, and keep them there, too often we all get sucked into the honey pot and teams know when that happens if they get it to the outside we're toast. Ed Langdon helped that this year, but this ultimately comes down to players knowing and understanding their role at stoppage, this to me is a failing of Simon Goodwin and Ben Matthews. 4. Sam Weideman and Bailey Fritsch need to significantly build their fitness, we need Sam to take much more marks on the lead than he is currently. players creating and finding space will greatly improve our % moving inside 50, way too often we're anchored to the goal square and when we can't mark it we haven't been able to lock it in. 5. Foot skills. when a team isn't highly skilled it's SOOOO important the team has a structure and plan that makes them predictable to each other and reduces the room for mistakes. we seem to be a bit of a chaotic make it up as we go team, and that doesn't suit this list. this again is Simon Goodwin failing to recognise the list he has and trying to implement HIS game plan, not one that works for the players he has.

I don't think the improvement would be so small axis. not only would Gunston improve our best 22 and give us a better chance of winning games, his leadership and off field influence and development of Weidman and Jackson would be absolute gold. with the FB department cap being reduced, players who can provide a level of coaching are going to be like absolute gold to teams like the MFC in 2021. i think the investment is quite a lot more than just what he could provide on the field. that's really just a bonus

4 years at 600k for a team outside the 8 to lose a former captain would very likely net us band 1. not saying that's the correct band for what Jack Viney is worth but based on other players similar to that who have left, that's about right. though i think jack may also be a restricted free agent? so potentially we might even be able to force a trade?

If Zach Merrett is on the cards as a potential option for us and we're not throwing the kitchen sink at him i'd be staggered. He's EXACTLY what we need. not only does he add to our inside midfield depth, he can do what our current players can't and move to a wing or half back and be extremely damaging. Bombers would likely want a significant deal to get him, especially if we're also looking at Saad If Viney left Via Free agency and we got Band 1 compensation which would currently be pick 10, that might kick off a conversation

Positives. The breakout year of Petracca the return to form of Steven May the inclusion of Ed Langdon the 3 draftees all look the goods. Negatives. Still have a senior coach with no idea what he's doing. 22 individuals, not a team horrific selections and way too many changes week to week little to no sign of improvement in the same areas that have been killing us for years Simon Goodwin hasn't been sacked yet.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH as soon as i saw this thread i knew it would be a best 22!!! love your work!

Probably yes, but he's not on big $$ Moore and De Goey will want serious coin

Straight swap for Cockatoo. if we can get him fit he'd be a good player for us, Cats need a ruckman like Press desperately.

Wouldn't be so sure mate, they're under the pump cap wise bigtime and of the blokes they need to lock in, he's definitely the one they'd happily lose to keep the others i reckon if you invested in him you could get him

Actually thought Jesse showed some really good signs tonight, was moving well, getting to good spots and really jumping at the ball I would 100% welcome him back tot he club, particularly if the Dockers aren't asking for a lot trade wise. if we could add Saad, Hogan and potentially another winger to this side. and ideally [censored] Goodwin off and get someone who can coach, we'll be on for 2021

Already well and truly into a bottle of scotch! cheers Demonland! great community to be a part of, possibly the only respite being a dees supporter!

I think the plan with Fritsch is for him to build his endurance base and become more of a wing/high half forward, and it allows some space for Gunston to improve the side in the now, and allow Jackson to develop into his role a bit more.