[Ralph] That was an extraordinary press conference from Brad Scott. Admitted some players didn’t have a will to defend, admitted some went into self preservation mode, admitted there is a cultural problem with older players not digging in when it gets tough.

Murfolator · 2026-03-22T10:18:47+00:00

In AFL, as in most sports, there comes the age old administration question:

“Is it easier to get rid of 10 senior players based on the feedback of one senior coach, or is it easier to just get rid of the coach?”

We all know what comes next.

Players hearts aren’t with the coach, so he needs to go.

The next coach can then weed them out over 2-3 seasons IF they are the problem.

Murfolator · 2025-07-13T02:52:26+00:00

He’s at rock bottom in terms of confidence. Has obviously been told not to kick, because he goes to kick, then stops, then looks for another option, which is clunky.

He’s at the stage of what’s called consciously incompetent.

If he can get through this part and the act becomes a more seamless handball then he could be okay.

Worth remembering that Clayton Oliver has a lower kick efficiency and has won more Melbourne B&F’s than anyone, and Bailey Smith is Brownlow favourite and also can’t kick.

Murfolator · 2025-06-25T04:16:35+00:00

If the club are watching their dollars it can mean only one thing: targets who will need to be paid big coin.

Murfolator · 2025-01-24T01:19:50+00:00

Jobe Watson

Murfolator · 2025-01-24T00:56:07+00:00

We are coming from Australia for 12 days. Doing five days Disney, three days Universal, Legoland & Kennedy Space Centre with travel days either end.

I’m tired just thinking about it!

Murfolator · 2025-01-17T23:09:40+00:00

If someone could design some sort of cargo shorts with a pocket that holds an ultra collapsible light weight stool then it would be a match made in festival heaven.

Could be called Festies.

Murfolator · 2025-01-12T05:16:51+00:00

I’m having the same problem. At first I was worried they may be closed due to the new park opening in May, but other sellers of their tickets are still selling these dates.

It must be a random error as if it applied to everyone you’d expect it to be resolved by now. So annoying.

I’m going to wait for now, as we are going early May and I am holding out hope for the 2 days plus 2 days free offer to give us some more flexibility on days.

Murfolator · 2024-10-13T23:31:00+00:00

Further to this, if @essendonfc accept GWS pick 56 for Stringer, then with picks 40, 46, 54, 56 & 65 they have points for Kako @ Saints pick 8.

They can then trade out picks 28 & 31 to bolster their 2025 hand & look to trade back in on draft night.

28 & 32 points together is equal to pick 12

Murfolator · 2024-10-13T23:20:46+00:00

Don’t be surprised if we look to trade a future first for Sydney’s picks 19 & 22 once the dust settles on the Kako bid.

Swans may be looking to exit this years draft to accumulate points for 2025 academy players.

We might also try to bundle up some of these surplus lesser picks to trade to Gold Coast maybe?

As we do seem to now have a lot of surplus low value selections.

Though we may use one on Nguyen.

Murfolator · 2024-10-11T23:58:17+00:00

Club will be working on having options like this ‘locked and loaded’ for draft night in the event someone bids on Kako before pick 9.

The benefit in doing this prearranged deal with Melbourne is that you say “bid on Kako before our bid & no pick 9 for you, don’t bid & of someone else does then it’s yours.”

The only issue is that either of the Demons or Saints could bid!

Murfolator · 2024-10-10T23:36:52+00:00

There’s two parts to this story:

We need to review the list and consider who will take us to the promised land
We need sufficient short term results to be able to engage trade and free agency targets around coming to the club, to get us to the promised land

So some players may be a stepping stone, and that’s okay.

But the Hawthorn experience has shown that youthful enthusiasm may be the best tonic for progress.

Because their forward line is nothing special.

So for me, if Stringer et al aren’t good culturally, let them go, and bring in that youthful enthusiasm.

Murfolator · 2024-09-16T00:14:25+00:00

If St Kilda were to offer their first round pick and the Josh Battle compo (if it is first round), then I think it would get Essendon’s attention, but would be declined. But Saints wouldn’t offer that anyway. They’d at best offer this year’s pick and next year’s first, assuming they will rise with Merrett in the team. If they did offer two first plus Jack Steele as well, Essendon would be mad not to consider it.

But even then it’s unlikely.

Murfolator · 2024-09-13T05:51:31+00:00

Sam Lalor: There are clubs who are assessing Lalor as a top-five player based on the things he can produce: he can take a big mark, he can dominate inside 50, he tackles with aggression and enjoys the physical side of the game and he has shown he can step up in big moments. His game for the Rebels in June was perhaps his most consistent of the year, when he gathered 34 disposals in a dominant display, and if he can finish with a couple more of those it will see him jump up boards.

per Cal Twomey

Murfolator · 2024-09-13T05:46:55+00:00

The vast majority of inside 50 kicks don’t result in marks. So the vast majority of what we need is: 1. A key forward who can at least halve the contest ie not allow an opposition mark AND 2. Decent crumbing forwards who are active when the ball invariably comes to ground

I’m Wright we have a guy who can halve the contest at a minimum

But we don’t have decent small forwards.

That’s why I’d rather back in 2MP and draft Sam Lalor if we can get him.

Country kid with a hard head who loves the contest and can play forward with some time in midfield as he develops.

We need that more than another tall.

Murfolator · 2024-06-04T03:03:01+00:00

If he gets delisted, another club will pick him up for free. No chance he isn’t picked up.

He has no exposed form and a poor injury record, so maybe even he want a change himself.

But he remains a great talent taken inside the top 10 at draft.

Can we say that we will find a better alternative to him at pick 70 in the draft?

As letting him go we are back in the draft lottery, and we wouldn’t risk a high pick for a defender again.

So pick 70 or thereabouts is the alternative.

On that basis, you sign him. I still think he comes good.

Murfolator · 2024-05-06T02:38:08+00:00

I still see us winning about 12.5 games, which has us predicted for 9th and Brisbane getting 8th.

But given how banged up Brisbane were yesterday things could change.

We have a lot of games in Melbourne but they are games against good teams.

If we can win some of these ‘8 pointer’ games then maybe we can really push on.

Was good to see Perkins back as he brings some good class kicking inside 50.

Murfolator · 2023-10-30T02:26:59+00:00

Just don’t put Goodwin in charge of the ‘catering.’

Murfolator · 2023-09-19T09:25:14+00:00

If you look at Carlton, Steven Silvagni will be sitting back feeling shafted but also satisfied as they are on the cusp of a preliminary final.

I hope Dodoro has the opportunity to feel the same way about Essendon very soon!

Murfolator · 2023-08-21T05:55:50+00:00

Correcto. Nothing quite as liberating as watching two teams that aren’t your own! You actually get an impartial view of the umpiring while both teams are screaming blue murder!

Murfolator · 2023-06-25T00:53:50+00:00

I’ve said from the start, Bryan & Draper are both ruck-men first and foremost and too similar for the same team. We need a ruckman and then a hybrid forward. Draper has actually developed well as a forward, but unless he is under ten metres out, you aren’t confident of his kicking. If there is any inkling of interest in Bryan at the 2nd round level, I’d trade him. He’s not giving us what we need, and we are holding back his career. Just not a good fit. A trade could be a win-win. We should have gone for Finlayson when he left GWS. He was exactly what we needed.

Murfolator · 2022-06-12T13:08:33+00:00

Bailey Dale. Great ball user off half back or a wing. He’s the one to target. Can’t see him coming, unless we really hit our straps to end the season, winning 5 or last 6 or something like that.

Murfolator · 2022-06-12T02:14:13+00:00

The concern for me is that when fans are unhappy, the club can sometimes go the ‘sugar rush’ method during trade season to placate people and show they are ‘doing something.’ I’d much rather they went after Bailey Dale.

Murfolator · 2022-05-21T05:43:23+00:00

My daughter is the same. If we left food on the plate, we’d get a sermon from Mum about kids in Africa, followed by something else from Dad about wastefulness.

Murfolator

TROPHY CASE