spirit of norm smith

As at 12 July, my end of year prognosis is: Delist- Terlich, Dawes, Newton, Michie (r) Max King (r). Dawes delisting frees up plenty of cash in the cap. Draft picks pre trade dealing: 28, 46, 64 (use 64 to upgrade Mitch White). Wagner to stay a rookie for 2017. Contractual arrangements mean JKH, Dunn and Garland stay on. Question mark over Lamumba. National draft Pick # 28 & # 46, rookie draft #9 & # 27. With Melksham in for 2017, the signs are very good.

Commercial decision to get $750k to $1million in revenue ... at the expense of home ground advantage at the MCG

How we can win. 1. Stop Jack Steven. Stop Leigh Montagna. They got 30+ possessions against us. 2. Man up on Saints tall fwds. T.mcd on Riewoldt, Dunn on Membrey and Frost on Bruce. 3. Stop the switch. 4. Win the contested midfield clearances.

Dawes out at the end of 2016 saves us $500,000-550,000 a year. We can swap that for offer for Hurley (or sure up Hogan's long term contract).

Look through this thread and many many many posters had Grimes delisted and moved on (with no future AFL opportunity). Jack is a very talented footballer and has worked to improve his playing style. His tackling and marking are of a very high standard. His character is unquestionable. His skills have improved and are better than many others in the team. I think there is a spot in our best 22 for Jack Grimes for this year and beyond.

Jack is repaying the faith that MFC has had in him. A loyal young man. 100% character.

If we beat the Saints, there is still a faint sniff of September. I have had enough of development teams (2008-2014). Winning breeds the right culture. Set the standard... you get a game on performance NOT potential.

outs... o.mcd, Kennedy, Petracca ins... dunn, michie, Oliver

Proven AFL player. He will be an asset as we rise up the ladder

Proven AFL player. He will be an asset as we rise up the ladder

Agreed. Its not his role !!

Agreed. Too many handballs. We should be 10 goals up. We now have the talent. We gifted the Crows 5 goals last week with silly turnovers.

in the quicksand: Terlich, Max King (r) on shaky ground: Dawes, Grimes, Matt Jones, Newton, Pedersen, Michie (r) Medical question mark: Lamumba Dunn and Garland stay on under contract. JKH (contracted to end 2017) also needs to show his ability or he is gone.

Must WIN games against Dockers and Saints. If we don't, I think max.8 wins this year which is an underachievement. Min 9 wins required this year. Dockers have about 7 missing of their best 22. Demons need to win in Darwin. Saints have consistently beaten the Demons and MFC needs to break through for a win against them.

3 tall forwards ... Hogan Watts Weideman. Hogan to play more as a CHF but all 3 can interchange through the tall forward options.

I hope Jack gets 3 or 4 games at least to show he is capable. This is his last chance. He should play on a wing to start.

Agree Brad Crouch would be very very handy addition to our midfield.

Vardy as a rookie as a punt ... if he gets delisted and passes a medical. Talented YES but his body is very FRAGILE.

Hogan waved his arms around at every opportunity to get free kicks. He dropped at least 4 marks on the lead within 40 metres of goal (criminal). He was beaten by Hartigan on the day. His lazy clanger kick across goal to Gawn leading to an Adelaide goal was a shocker. Hogan is the future of MFC but Sunday was not performance of the player we are hoping for.

Ins... Spencer Grimes Garland Garland to replace an overwhelmed o.mcd (5 poor weeks in the last 6 games). Grimes deserved the extra mid role at VDHberg expense. VDHberg offerred tackling but no run and handballs put others constantly under pressure. Spencer needs to be in to relieve Gawn and allow Watts to stay as a forward. Brayshaw not quite ready yet (one more week at Casey). Outs... VDHberg Dawes O.mcd the squad... jetta t.mcd garland vince frost hunt stretch viney grimes kent watts petracca garlett hogan kennedy gawn tyson n.jones harmes m.jones bugg spencer emerg. michie oliver trengove

Surely Dawes, o.mcd and Vandenburg must be dropped. All were liabilities and that is crucial in trying to beat better teams. Ins Grimes, Brayshaw & Hulett.

6 Jetta... never beaten 5 Watts ... creative and skilled 4 N.Jones... tough, always pushed it forward 3 Hunt... pace through the lines 2 Harmes... tough and skilled 1 Garlett... always dangerous Hogan fumbled, dropped marks and played for free kicks. He should be looking in the mirror tonight. Did he give his best... not in my eyes. He should have lifted when it was in the balance. Two goals were from free kicks.

I watched the Tigers, Saints, Suns, Blues, Magpies play so far this weekend and Grimes would DEFINITELY get into their best team as a running mid/half back.

Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Essendon, Richmond, Hawthorn, Fremantle, St.kilda, Collingwood and Carlton. I think Richmond will pickup Jack as an "under-used, unwanted, mistreated" delisted free agent.

injuries Mitch King ... knee - season Salem... illness - tbc /3 weeks Jkh ... hamstring - 4 weeks / season Wagner... knee - 1 week /rested Pedersen ... mystery illness?? J Smith ... groin - 4 weeks