LeverPuller
BigFooty Tanker
- Jun 23, 2011
- 35,101
- 40,615
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Newcastle United Seattle Seahawks
Blah blah, yes, the whole 'handouts' and 'use what you have' and blah blah again. I know. I've heard it every year for the past three.
First, some statistics.
Melbourne win totals, 2007-2014 (5 games to play)
38 wins
2 draws
131 losses
Average percentage 73.72 (lower than wooden spoon winners in 2007, 2009 and 2010)
Melbourne win totals, 2012-2014
10 wins
51 losses
Average percentage 64.85
AFL reasons for lack of a PP last year
"Some factors believed to be behind Melbourne's failed request are their emerging young talent, such as Jack Viney and highly-touted Jesse Hogan, as well as the expected return of key senior players from injury like Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes and Mark Jamar."
Hogan - 0 games
Clark - 0 games
Dawes - no preseason, 13 games
Jamar - 12 games, still has injury issues
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It may not be a start-of-first, but Melbourne deserve some type of special assistance at this point to rebuild their list. At this point, the industry consensus is that James Frawley is going to leave - their fourth free agent to do so since the beginning of FA, and another senior player who must be replaced. While a draft pick will be given, at this point Melbourne are shedding senior players far quicker than they can replace them.
Furthermore, we're talking a side that is historically bad. It's hard to find a side with five wins or less in six of eight years. Carlton 2002-2009 had 5 such seasons - and came out of it with three #1 draft picks. Fitzroy 1989-1996 had 4 such seasons. And yet noone mentions Melbourne in the same breath, and outrage comes about when any assistance is suggested.
I don't necessarily think a start-of-first-round PP should be awarded unless Melbourne gets the spoon. However, even if they don't I think Melbourne should get an end-of-first rounder.
Thoughts?
First, some statistics.
Melbourne win totals, 2007-2014 (5 games to play)
38 wins
2 draws
131 losses
Average percentage 73.72 (lower than wooden spoon winners in 2007, 2009 and 2010)
Melbourne win totals, 2012-2014
10 wins
51 losses
Average percentage 64.85
AFL reasons for lack of a PP last year
"Some factors believed to be behind Melbourne's failed request are their emerging young talent, such as Jack Viney and highly-touted Jesse Hogan, as well as the expected return of key senior players from injury like Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes and Mark Jamar."
Hogan - 0 games
Clark - 0 games
Dawes - no preseason, 13 games
Jamar - 12 games, still has injury issues
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It may not be a start-of-first, but Melbourne deserve some type of special assistance at this point to rebuild their list. At this point, the industry consensus is that James Frawley is going to leave - their fourth free agent to do so since the beginning of FA, and another senior player who must be replaced. While a draft pick will be given, at this point Melbourne are shedding senior players far quicker than they can replace them.
Furthermore, we're talking a side that is historically bad. It's hard to find a side with five wins or less in six of eight years. Carlton 2002-2009 had 5 such seasons - and came out of it with three #1 draft picks. Fitzroy 1989-1996 had 4 such seasons. And yet noone mentions Melbourne in the same breath, and outrage comes about when any assistance is suggested.
I don't necessarily think a start-of-first-round PP should be awarded unless Melbourne gets the spoon. However, even if they don't I think Melbourne should get an end-of-first rounder.
Thoughts?