Nice post.

Your right about the McGovern deal it’s done.
Where towards the end of the second year of that deal. McGovern’s contract is for 5. So given it’s about 40%of its completion it’s fair to make some comparisons between the 2. Lets forgot about picks 26 and 28 for a minute .

A bit of history about Shane McAdam. He is from Halls Creek in WA. He tried out at the draft camp where he showed he had the physical tools with the tests they do. As is sometimes the case, he didn’t get a look in at any of the clubs. So he went back to Halls Creek played local footy for a few years before at 22 he wants another crack at the AFL. He moves to Adelaide gets an apprenticeship and plays for Sturt where he stars in 2018. Adelaide want him. Meanwhile Adelaide have a crap 2018 in all regards and the Gov wants out to Carlton. Because we were so shit in 2018( 3 years into SOs rebuild) we have 2 picks in the lower leagues as compensation . We didn’t choose McAdam or Kreuger from South Adelaide because Adelaide and Geelong respectively wanted those 2 players. Kreuger was part of the Setterfield deal.

The reason I am writing this is to highlight that a players path to the AFL can be varied. If someone like McAdam never gives up on the dream and has the physical tools to play AFL which every club should have known about you may get a decent player for next to nothing.In Carlton’s case actually nothing
Contrast this to Mc Govern . No doubt he has talent but his work ethic on field is below AFL standard. To be unfit like he was last year is inexcusable on all accounts. It’s says a bit about his character at the time. Hopefully that’s improved in the last year
McAdam is 6 months younger plays in the same position and probably gets $550000 less this year which leaves more room in the cap
McAdam is quick athletic has footy smarts is an excellent mark for his size. His kicking needs improvement but the best thing about him is his work ethic. His second and third efforts.
Might have something to do about his journey
Says a bit about his character.
I used to be mates with Andy Collins. You wouldn’t meet a more determined son of a bitch. At 23 he was running around at Sandy. 200 games, 3 flags and a B and F later the rest is history. And ironically he is Gibbons greatest fan.

And don’t put the pencil through Kreuger.
Has had more knee surgery. Is contracted for 2021 and Geelong rate him.

The point I’m making here is every recruiting team have to look at the lower leagues. It’s starting to become obvious you can find late blooming talent. More importantly guys that really hate losing. No soft cocks.
Eg Sam Collins turfed by the Dockers back to Werribee now one of the best key defenders at GC and hates losing
Luke Ryan hates getting beaten. One of the best defenders in 2020 after running around at Coburg
And there are more


On Martin I disagree. Let’s see how he goes tonight. He is on good coin. Needs to have a greater output.

Kids have 2 years to show what their capable of. Then they can be chopped. Two years is long enough. You can’t wait forever in this caper.The AFL move too fast for that.
Many of our kids haven’t shown enough in a longer time frame.
Just because they dominated TAC doesn’t mean they will make it at AFL level.

I’m not interested in trading away pick for a big banana.
Not yet anyway.
Only when your truly knocking on the door.
And we are way off it at the moment

our recruiting has been very poor we have been slow for years , i can not believe it has taken 2020 to point this out.

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dane's trolling again

Not sure what relevance McAdam’s back story has. It appears the summary is:
McAdam; overlooked as a teenager, never gave up on his dream, went back and played state league, finally got his chance, incredible work ethic, star.

McGovern; overlooked as a teenager, never gave up on his dream, went back and played state league, finally got his chance, shit work ethic, shit player.

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@cecil_anderson

The Dow & LOB draft is looking sketchy now. Wonder if that is why SOS was given his marching orders. While it is early, Stocker hasn't exactly set the world on fire either.

Jack is our best defensive forward. If he can handle Fyfe, the fact that he's also our best set shot and an inch taller than his likely opponent each week is a significant overmatch for us.

Similarly, McGovern tips the contested forward entries in our favour. Its a real shame that he only gets to 60% of the contests that we need him to, but that's just how it is. What he offers is miles ahead of anything the developing mids have offered so far.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

There’s more questions than answers at the moment with our young midfield stocks. We’ve drafted or revruited Cunners, Kennedy, SPS, Setterfield, Fisher, Dow, O’Brien, Walsh, Stocker, Philp and Kemp as midfielders or potential midfielders.
Kemp - haven’t seen yet but comes with a big reputation.
Philp - way too early to call.
Stocker - unfortunately an interrupted year with personal issues (wish him the best) but we’re still unsure what we’ve got there. I liked what I saw last year but DT didn’t even give him a proper look in the pre-season. Not once an emergency before leaving the hub.
Walsh - star.
LOB - where’s he at? Unsighted all year. Barely an emergency after the first 4-5 rounds. Showed a bit last year but clearly not in Teague’s good books. Cottrell has gone past him on the wing in the eyes of the coaches.
Dow - injured most of the year, made to earn his way in scratch matches and finally back in the team. Looked a 200 game player in his first year but has been downhill since. Must play the remaining games to get a grasp on whether he can become a reliable quality midfielder.
Setterfield - coming along very nicely.
SPS - why isn’t he in the midfield? Played at half back since Teague took over and too little effect this year in particular. Why is he being held back? All the talent in the world but has regressed unfortunately and I’m hoping that’s just due to him playing out of position.
Fisher - re-purposed as a small forward. Has played the role well. Will he graduate back to the midfield? One of our best mids in 2018 but rarely sighted there since Teague took over.
Kennedy - has improved this year but still the jury is out on whether he’s a quality midfielder? In the same contested mould as Cripps, Curnow and Setterfield and behind all in the pecking order. 5th year in the system and out of contract.
Cunners - do the club see him as a midfielder anymore? Played well there vs Essendon* and then moved back to the forward line after an average showing (along with most of his teammates) the following week vs St Kilda. Hasn’t really been sighted in the back half of the year. Feels like he’s been pitted against Fisher for a small forward role next to Eddie.

A lot of potential in that group but also more questions about their viability as midfielders going forward. Take out Walsh and Setters who are tracking well, we need a few more of those guys to make it as quality midfielders to elevate us for the next 5 years.

Our recruiting can improve but jesus keogh you really are stuck in an argument you can't prove yet.

You can't write off kids after 2 years.

I have always agreed there are players missed from other leagues but like most selections they are punts too. You never know till they show their stuff against the big boys when they are developed. And it shouldn't stop us from targeting established players. We can do both. Blame the recruiters, not the players they selected.

You will see some of the Green shoots kick arse if developed properly and when they are mature enough to do so. I have used the example of Steele who is having a break out year at 25 after his best year last year at 24yo.

Go Blues. Not many pieces to the puzzle to go. Just need a midfielder in the State Leagues, plus Williams, Papley, Couch, Viney if we can ever land one of those...and we will. Its always been the plan, we just werent a destination club the last 3 years we have been on the hunt.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I agree.

Re last sentence re developing mids....Different roles Different age. Can't compare.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We all know Fish does allright when thrown in the midfield mix. Elusive. Quick. Smart. Teague has pigeon holed him so now he does his midfield type work forward of the centre square and he shows he's got all the right qualities to rove.

Coaches don't always get it right, and this will apply to Teague too.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The comparison is on the scoreboard. We're three goals better per game when McGovern is in the side.

You have to win the 50-50 contests if you want to turn forward 50 entries into scores. McGovern has a Spalding-like chaos element to his game that can wear defenders down and provide more opportunities for the likes of Betts/Fisher and Charlie.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

It's not like we haven't tried to address that over the years though.....Dow, O'Brien, Polson, Cootrell, etc. They're quick, question is whether they can actually play.

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"I had to eat"

The co-Captain is the difference in his game this year. Playing both Docherty and Simpson means we have two spare defenders in a seven-man defensive set up.

The theory is all well and good on paper, but it counts for sweet FA when we get torched by medium & small forwards each week.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

McGovern yes but you cant have Casboult, McKay, Charlie, Jack and McGovern with 1 small. It's not practical. Show me a best 22 without mids resting forward.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I've been saying it all year, Teague is wasting him in the backline.
If he's not in the middle then he needs to be on the HFF getting instruction from Eddie and Martin.

How was McGoverns work rate tonight
Do you want me to remind you of picks 26 and pick 28

Mc Govern was shit tonight
How long do you give him

Absolutely dreadful. What is it with that guy. Would have been better to play TDK up there and let him grab a few. At least he competes.