Earl Hood

As per my #292 post earlier in this thread, our Darwin game was dumped after the AFL announced their rescue package for the Suns. They now have first dips on the Darwin zone, we were effectively sent on our way by the AFL and thanks for your help. Perts announcement of listening to our fans calling for a MCG game is just so much corporate weasel word spin, we were always leaving, at least I hope so! The worst outcome would be for us to be playing there as the away team.

On SEN this arvo Martins manager admitted MFC had made enquires but the manager said Martin was not interested and was determined to get to the Blues so if you add that to his inflated salary demands I can see why we might move on. Not sure what hard ball pick exchange deals we could do with the Blues to make them earn this freebie.

Didn’t Luke Ball do just that to get to Collingwood? Ball should have been charged by the AFL at the time but they looked the other way. SEN talked to his manager this afternoon and he said MFC had already been in contact but Martin wants Carlton. He will put a ridiculous price on his head to scare us away but doesn’t that mean Carlton has to pay that price?

Well I would have hoped we worked him into the deal for Frost! We ended up with jackshyte for Frosty in the end when we should have worked Isaac into the deal. A 2 year deal gets us an experienced player who still has ability. It is interesting how easily we could have moneyballed this draft to fill some obvious gaps for minimal cost while we still played the main game for first round draft picks. Think Isaac Smith for the wing, Jenkins/Bruce/Ellis, up forward, Dougle Howard down back? Oh well let’s go to the draft for a small forward and what else?

I would have made a big play for Bruce myself but hey do we really need a tall target for not a big price? Someone who can actually take a contested grab and I believe can kick straight from a set shot more often than not.

Yes it is all quite puzzling for us supporters. What was the 2019 stat I saw on Demonland? Yes the worst conversion rate for scores versus inside 50 entries ever recorded (i.e. since the mid 90’s). The forward line was totally dysfunctional most of the season but the club doesn’t rate that issue as a current personnel problem! Inability to take a contested grab, no crumbers, no forward tackling pressure added to an appalling and morale sapping inability for forwards to convert set shots for goals from inside 40m. Oh and forward X factor rating was next to zero with Jeff being our only small opportunist forward when not injured, who could also apply inside tackling pressure but he has been delisted. On the positive side if everyone is fit game 1, a decent forward coach should be able to develop a functional forward unit out of TMac, Weid, Petty, JSmith as talls and Melk, Tracc, Fritsch, AVB as mediums along with a 2019 small forward draftee. But get a few injuries and it all gets problematic, I believe we need some more forward depth. And the other issue is our game plan up field that makes being a forward at MFC a nightmare but maybe that changes next year!

Isn’t all this just Pert putting positive corporate spin for the AFL dudding us with the Suns being given priority over the Darwin zone? Weren’t we always leaving Darwin once the AFL announced its rescue package for Suns?

I think the Frost trade to the Hawks, under the tutelage of the world’s greatest coach will be facinating to watch next season. In my opinion Frost’s learning curve is still on the up, as he is a great athlete not a natural footballer, so needs time which we had run out of. With us I thought under immense pressure he learnt to play within his limitations with short kicks to position when he was running forward and free but yes turned it over when facing the wrong way. And he at times punched the ball back into the corridor but a lot of this goes back to our coaching I think. The Hawks defence is much more composed than ours and as I rank the 2020 Hawks as very likely to finish top 6, I suspect Frosty may shine. It will be interesting to see how they cover his deficiencies and play to his strengths.

As Nietzsche said to me as he ran past at rehab training earlier this year, what does not kill us, makes us stronger! So am expecting a big year from him next season.

GC I haven’t seen him play much but he is often described as a 200cm flanker not a KPF so I assumed he doesn’t kick all of his 2 goals a game from taking pack marks or manhandling KPB one on one, but just as often when the ball has hit the deck in the forward line. Also being 200cm would give us a ruck support option as well.

Averages 2 goals a game. Can he kick set shots for goals from inside 40m consistently? If so go get him in my opinion.

Re Bennell the talk is that they have got to the bottom of his soft tissue problems and they have been rectified and he is now more mature and asking for a chance. We know he has exceptional skills that we don’t possess and that is why some here have suggested he train with us over the preseason to test both his physical and mental resilience before we would take him on. Seems a low risk possible high reward approach to me.

Love his attitude but what are his weapons? Not tall, not fast, nor great closing speed so not a great defensive tackler. Can’t kick more than 40m so what have we got? Admittedly the above commentary would describe Diesel Williams of course, too small, too slow but he had that undefinable quality of being where the ball is or is going to. That skill you cannot teach or acquire, you have it or not. No sign that Spargo has that skill that I have seen.

Always looked pretty sharp at training but his Casey stats were very sparse, even for a small forward. Has skills but doesn’t get the ball. Not sure where he goes from here. Another year may tell us something.

Very touching but my priority is that he can play footy big time!

We just make it plain we will be nominating for Green so let’s do a deal with pick 3 vs your Pick 6 and a player of our choice and some swapping of back end picks or next years to make it work. But who would we want and realistically get from GWS in this scenario? Would they move on a key forward or pacey outside mid?

From watching numerous training sessions this season, especially the full ground game simulation sessions I did notice and commented here during the season that come game day we did not play how we trained. Our ball movement in a game is one dimensional and predictable. I put it down to lack of confidence and/or poor leadership on the ground.

Yes please but won’t happen.

Very profound!

Yes Steve what value should MFC put on resilience, the ability to get on the park for a club that year on year carries 10 plus on the injured/rehab list for as long as I can remember.

Probably not!

Not happy! Whatever we get won’t be worth what we are giving up unless there is a player swap that hasn’t been talked about so far.

I think Tracc has most of the physical tools required to be a Dusty prototype. He has great hands, works well in heavy traffic, I think he has potentially elite field kicking ability but his set shot goal kicking needs work as we all know. The big deficiency at the moment is above the shoulders, he doesn’t have the aggression, the confidence, the sheer arrogance or the footy IQ of Dusty but who does? Tracc is a work in progress, he can work on his skills but I am not sure he has that aggression and self belief that separates the very good from the greats like Dusty. Watching Dusty on Saturday at times I thought I was looking at Eric Cantona at his arrogant best!

But you don’t need an early pick, think Ryan, Pickett, Kelly, Stack.....all overlooked in drafts

Every one of Pickett’s disposals has oozed poise and class, extraordinary.