The Canberra Times correspondent Merryn Sherwood is all over Melbourne's China experiment - ACT stopover on long march into China but hasn't much to say about the Demons in town.

The article also mentions that we were first with the Irish experiment in 1981 but not the fact that we've completely abandoned that country and given it over to other clubs to recruit premiership (Sydney) and grand final (Collingwood) players.

Anyway good luck and a happy new year to Zhao Yonggen and Zhao Wei!

Forgive my ignorance but is the China experiment about breaking into the market IN CHINA? Or is it about trying to gain support of Chinese expats living in Melbourne? Or quite possibly it could be both!

Actually I think we're trying to recruit some small forwards with a bit of pace...

I know this sounds stupid, but I can't help but feel ticked off that clubs like Sydney, Collingwood and Brisbane are benefiting from an experiment that WE started. I think I'm more annoyed by the fact that we have not carried on with the Irish experiment. Is it lack of funds which has prevented us from recruiting?? I don't think so considering our China project.

For memory, Nick Walsh was the last player on our list from Ireland and he was delisted four or five years ago. Why have we not continued with this project as there appears to be more Irish players coming to play AFL than ever before??

I know this sounds stupid, but I can't help but feel ticked off that clubs like Sydney, Collingwood and Brisbane are benefiting from an experiment that WE started. I think I'm more annoyed by the fact that we have not carried on with the Irish experiment. Is it lack of funds which has prevented us from recruiting?? I don't think so considering our China project.

For memory, Nick Walsh was the last player on our list from Ireland and he was delisted four or five years ago. Why have we not continued with this project as there appears to be more Irish players coming to play AFL than ever before??

Couldn't agree more...a complete waste of time...once again letting Collingwood Sydnet et al lead the way

we may have started the experiment to Ireland that other clubs are now doing, but I am quite sure anything that any club does that is innovative and successful becomes common practice amongst all footy clubs sooner or later (and I do not mean that all clubs are going to start breeding players on illegal substances in a bid to win premierships and brownlows)