Opinion Is Our Flag Window Shut?

[Johnny Karate]

No point being scared of the three tall forwards, im willing to put last weeks game down as an outlier until proven otherwise, more often than not a tall forward set up ends up like the mess the Dogs had in round 1 against us.

None of this will happen, ive got no doubt predictable Goody keeps Petty back and for some bizarre reason believes TMac and Brown can play the tall forward role just as well.

Essendon has a small backline and had little trouble with our forwards on the weekend. No need to worry about tall forwards if the midfield does their job.

 

[Major Colvin]

Speaking generally, I don't think our current team is feared by our opponents. And one of the main reasons is that over the last 15-20 games, we've shown a propensity to capitulate quickly under pressure. Last Saturday was a perfect example - we let what is I'd argue is a middle of the table team effectively bully us to slam on 7 unanswered goals. A similar trend that's happened fairly frequently starting with the Freo game last year.

Presently, teams like Collingwood and Geelong - at the very least would be perceived by all opponents as hard to play against. No easy wins. Richmond used to be like that but are dropping off due to age.

Many up and coming teams, like St Kilda, will probably enjoy the prospect of playing against us. Seeing that yes we've got talent, but look what's possible when you're able to shut us down.

Then you look at a team like Carlton, they're even less feared than us. Again, talent not an issue. But teams like Adelaide last Thurs, knew that even short periods of intense pressure will likely be enough to break them.

 

[ZionMig22]

We have our Ruck and CHB out
Geelong were terrible without Stewart and any Ruck
Pies struggled without a ruck on weekend
Blues would be deplorable without Weitering/De Koning
Lions would be terrible

 

[Johnny Karate]

If we’re talking star power and flag windows, how does Fritsch, Gawn, Lever, May, Oliver, Petracca and Pickett stack up?

Richmond 17-20 had: Cotchin, Edwards, Grimes, Houli, Lynch (19,20), Martin, Prestia, Rance (17,18), Riewoldt and Vlastuin producing at a high level.

Hawthorn 11-16 had: Birchall, Breust, Burgoyne, Franklin (11-13), Gibson, Gunston (12-16), Hodge, Lake (13-15), Lewis, Mitchell, Rioli, Smith

Geelong 07-11 had: Ablett (07-10), Bartel, Chapman, Corey, Egan (07), Enright, Harley, Johnson, Kelly, Ling, Milburn, Mooney, Ottens, Selwood, Taylor (08-11).

 

[mrmonkey]

If we’re talking star power and flag windows, how does Fritsch, Gawn, Lever, May, Oliver, Petracca and Pickett stack up?

Richmond 17-20 had: Cotchin, Edwards, Grimes, Houli, Lynch (19,20), Martin, Prestia, Rance (17,18), Riewoldt and Vlastuin producing at a high level.

Hawthorn 11-16 had: Birchall, Breust, Burgoyne, Franklin (11-13), Gibson, Gunston (12-16), Hodge, Lake (13-15), Lewis, Mitchell, Rioli, Smith

Geelong 07-11 had: Ablett (07-10), Bartel, Chapman, Corey, Egan (07), Enright, Harley, Johnson, Kelly, Ling, Milburn, Mooney, Ottens, Selwood, Taylor (08-11).

ATM definitely well behind those groups, but Geelong imo is by far the best, would kill our current team.

 

[Bluelegs]

If we’re talking star power and flag windows, how does Fritsch, Gawn, Lever, May, Oliver, Petracca and Pickett stack up?

Richmond 17-20 had: Cotchin, Edwards, Grimes, Houli, Lynch (19,20), Martin, Prestia, Rance (17,18), Riewoldt and Vlastuin producing at a high level.

Hawthorn 11-16 had: Birchall, Breust, Burgoyne, Franklin (11-13), Gibson, Gunston (12-16), Hodge, Lake (13-15), Lewis, Mitchell, Rioli, Smith

Geelong 07-11 had: Ablett (07-10), Bartel, Chapman, Corey, Egan (07), Enright, Harley, Johnson, Kelly, Ling, Milburn, Mooney, Ottens, Selwood, Taylor (08-11).

I think we're definitely closest to the Richmond group but lacking the firepower up forward they had.

 

[Johnny Karate]

I think we're definitely closest to the Richmond group but lacking the firepower up forward they had.

I suppose that’s where they went shopping for Lynch. Don’t know if we’re in a position to do anything like that now but I’d love to know if we’re looking at the free agency/trade period to bolster our list further this year preferably through the middle.

 

[Bluelegs]

I suppose that’s where they went shopping for Lynch. Don’t know if we’re in a position to do anything like that now but I’d love to know if we’re looking at the free agency/trade period to bolster our list further this year preferably through the middle.

It's a bit annoying that since we've actually been at in contention we haven't been able to take advantage of free agency in the ways other sides have.

 

[Johnny Karate]

It's a bit annoying that since we've actually been at in contention we haven't been able to take advantage of free agency in the ways other sides have.

Definitely, we’ve picked up some good players from other clubs down the years: Hibberd, Melksham, Langdon, Brown, Hunter and Grundy. May and Lever were probably the most big ticket but would love to augment our midfield. Seems as though we tried to with Cerra and Merrett. However, given the amount of players we’ve now signed to long term deals, I wonder if we’ve got the money for it?

 

[Bluelegs]

Definitely, we’ve picked up some good players from other clubs down the years: Hibberd, Melksham, Langdon, Brown, Hunter and Grundy. May and Lever were probably the most big ticket but would love to augment our midfield. Seems as though we tried to with Cerra and Merrett. However, given the amount of players we’ve now signed to long term deals, I wonder if we’ve got the money for it?

Happy we never got Cerra or Merrett. Gaff was the real one that got away.

 

[Johnny Karate]

Happy we never got Cerra or Merrett. Gaff was the real one that got away.

Funny how things turn out. With West Coast looking to rebuild, maybe we could get him at the end of this year?

 

[mores]

Funny how things turn out. With West Coast looking to rebuild, maybe we could get him at the end of this year?

Too old

 

[Dory_77]

Too old

Why are we still talking about Andrew Gaff?

But also, age doesn't matter that much for where we're at now. If we get a good year from him as an outside mid that'd be great - would give us more flexibility and a good kick/decision maker through the middle.

 

[Bluelegs]

Why are we still talking about Andrew Gaff?

But also, age doesn't matter that much for where we're at now. If we get a good year from him as an outside mid that'd be great - would give us more flexibility and a good kick/decision maker through the middle.

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

 

[mrmonkey]

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

I can only think of Stewie Dew but he came out of retirement.

 

[Johnny Karate]

Too old

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

Isaac Smith?

 

[Dory_77]

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

Isaac Smith last year, Dew in '08; a stretch but Lake? Moved to Hawthorn at 31 and got 3. Probably been a few rucks that have snagged one as a journeyman moving clubs (Hickey, Stef both made GFs)

 

[Bluelegs]

Isaac Smith?

Good call. Not sure Gaff has 3 more years left in him

 

[Daemon]

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

Ben Brown?

 

[markm106]

There was some word we will be into Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

24

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

. By then Tmac and BBB will be gone. JVR will be our main key forward. Jefferson has shown a bit at VFL but looks a while off. King would keep the window open for longer.

 

[Bluelegs]

Ben Brown?

Meh, came on a four year deal when he was 27 don't really feel it counts.

 

[stEdy]

Andrew Gaff

3

Andrew Gaff

Age

32

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.6

5star

K

15.9

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.5

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

8.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

CL

2.5

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

0.6

3star

is a big no for me. Misses so many kicks for a purely outside player and has no penetration. Pretty disappointing player, really, considering the hype when he was shopping himself around. Reminds me of Tom Scully

21

Tom Scully

Age

33

Ht

181cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.7

5star

K

9.9

4star

HB

10.8

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.5

5star

CL

2.3

4star

D

12.6

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

5.1

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.1

2star

CL

0.8

3star

D

19.8

5star

K

8.8

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.6

5star

CL

3.8

5star

, plenty of touches, not a lot of impact and a sad kind of end to his career.

 

[Topkent]

Are there any players who have gone to another club right at the end and snuck in a flag?

Dimma Hardwick won a flag at 30 with port. I'd say it's actually reasonably common. Probably happened heaps back in the days when North and Carlton were taken players with the 10 year rule.

 

[Topkent]

If we’re talking star power and flag windows, how does Fritsch, Gawn, Lever, May, Oliver, Petracca and Pickett stack up?

Richmond 17-20 had: Cotchin, Edwards, Grimes, Houli, Lynch (19,20), Martin, Prestia, Rance (17,18), Riewoldt and Vlastuin producing at a high level.

Hawthorn 11-16 had: Birchall, Breust, Burgoyne, Franklin (11-13), Gibson, Gunston (12-16), Hodge, Lake (13-15), Lewis, Mitchell, Rioli, Smith

Geelong 07-11 had: Ablett (07-10), Bartel, Chapman, Corey, Egan (07), Enright, Harley, Johnson, Kelly, Ling, Milburn, Mooney, Ottens, Selwood, Taylor (08-11).

So many times I've read we need to snag multiple flags with this once in a generation team. It's only once in a generation for us, pretty stock standard top of the ladder team for everyone else. Their reputations might increase after they retire but I'd argue that's one of the weakest flag cores in the last 25 years.

 

[Daemon]

So many times I've read we need to snag multiple flags with this once in a generation team. It's only once in a generation for us, pretty stock standard top of the ladder team for everyone else. Their reputations might increase after they retire but I'd argue that's one of the weakest flag cores in the last 25 years.

You really are a glass half full guy.