Cheers for that YM. Don't know why you wasted your time writing that thing about us beating Sydney. I'm pretty sure we had about a 2% chance of winning. Guess you're not so much on the ball park mate. It's fine to be positive and optimistic, but you were so so sure. That is all.

Since you're even referring to a recent thread, maybe next time you could post in that thread instead of creating a new one

Anyhow I hope to see YM repost the same thread - with opposition club and player names changed - for the next three weeks.

always does, and thank god he always will

he sometimes even makes me beleive a little, not this wek though

OK, Ash... I have a few minutes so here are the answers to your questions

OK, why did both the Bulldogs and Carlton pass on the messiah, err, I mean Sylvia?

I put this down to poor recruiting. I am as baffled as you, trust me. Cooney is good, Walker is a dud. A fully fit Sylvia is the next Gary Ablett. So you can see why all Demons supporters are rapped to have stolen him at pick 3. he was the popular choice to go number 1 before the draft. He is the most talented footballer in the land. Pound for pound the strongest player in the AFL, a shade ahead of Daniel Kerr. You need to realise that not all teams have someone the calibre of Craig Cameron in the ranks. He knows how to pick them.

Why is Aaron Hamil considered a "great" player when the guy only averages 14 possessions, 4.4 marks and 1.25 goals a match over his 190 game career?

I have wondered this myself for a long time.. The answer is simple. He played for Carlton, before they turned into a rabble. I know its hard to remember, but there was a time when the Blues were flying high, and were as overexposed as the likes of Collingwood and Essendon. If a young bloke from these media darlings has a half decent game, footy writers salivate over it and they never let up. For example, why does Brock McLean get stuff all media exposure compared to guys like Dale Thomas, Marc Murphy, Adam Cooney and lance Franklin, even though he is 5 times as good as any of them? Simple - his team is not a media darling. Aaron Hamill had a couple of decent seasons when the Blues were up and running, and his worth was overinflated by the media and Carlton fans. Good player, but not even close to great.

How long will it be before everyone realises the "Shineboner spirit" is just a myth as it only gets talked about when the Kangaroos win, and never mentioned when they get flogged?

This goes back to the media. Does anyone with a clue really believe in the Shinboner spirit? Its a crock of [censored]. Whenever the Roos win, you can guarantee the newspaper will mention this 'spirit' at least once. Hopefully when Archer retires, that will be the end of it.

Apart from the 3 Brownlows that Colin Sylvia wins, who will be Melbourne's next Brownlow medalist?

I had him pegged in for 3 Brownlows, but I have bought it back to 2 because his career is taking a lot longer to get started due to injuries. I am expecting Brock to win a couple of them as well over the next decade. Don't be surprised to see them tie for the medal in the same year.

And since you're predictions are so accurate, can you tell me when Essendon will next win a premiership. 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

Well the way the AFL is at the moment, the interstate teams will be dominant for a long time. I know things happen in cycles, but I don't believe that will be the case. The interstate teams have the members, the money, the facilities, the power and most importantly, the AFL on their side.

There are a few teams I have penciled in for flags before the Bombers get a sniff. Melbourne, Adelaide, West Coast, Port Adelaide, St.Kilda, Sydney, Brisbane will win flags before the Bombers do next. Taking into a account the likelihood that a number of these teams will win more than 1 flag in that time, (possibly as many as 3) , I am going to say that the Bombers next flag will fall somewhere between the years 2018-2022

Much appreciated great one.

Glad to help

That's gold from start to finish Y_M.

The funny thing is, that I actually agree with you re Hamil & Kangaroos.

As for Brock & Colins 2 Brownlows each, well you'd know better than me.

And 2018-2022? Sh!t hey, I'm in for a bit of a dry spell aren't I.