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Congratulations to former Demon Jordie McKenzie on winning the B & F at SANFL club North Adelaide.

As you would know, I support the current TAC Cup premiers, the Sandringham Dragons having had a minor role in their early days as Central Dragons and later the Prahran Dragons. Like the Bulldogs, this team achieved their premiership success coming from outside the top four and making the grand final and winning the flag by playing four sudden death finals. The Dragons should produce at least four top 20 draft picks in November and this bloke could easily be the fifth. His is also a pretty heart wrenching story - Oliver Florent will miss his father forever but is inspired by him too

A good thing the footy club don't agree with you then. Simply, we don't need a player like Steele and we need a player like Hibberd.

Most important Preseason for 52 years if we go backwards in 2017 i fear the club will always be a bottom feeder We must beat teams. Fear no one

Our next years first round would be pick 18 I assume??

The fanfare is because he is from GWS and has been 'ripping it up' in the NEAFL. Apparently every GWS cast off is a gun in the making and hasn't been getting a run due to all the players they already have. It's simply not true, but people get sucked in to thinking it is. Just ask Steve Silvagni - he is making every attempt to create the Carlton Giants with their cast offs. This is spot on, Steve. Much of why I like the recruitment of Hibberd is that it gives us further flexibility, and I'm surprised others can't see it. Having him on a HBF releases guys like Salem and Hunt to be more damaging further up the field.

Could be as low as 22 after priority picks to Coll, Carl, Ess and Rich.

We are keeping very quiet aside from Hibberd. Hope we have an iron in the fire.

Call me a negative Nelly but I hope your source is right and they move him on. Would mean they keep Mitchell and he doesn't end up at the Hawks. It will really give me the absolute s%^ts if they get Mitchell. So much for competitive balance. The O'Meara one is interesting too. Apparently failed medicals at 3 clubs but the Hawks take him. Sounds like a Darling trick. Make it look bad so you get to where you want to go. Can say to GC well he failed 3 medicals so we aren't giving you what he's worth.

He is clearly bitter with the club, as he allowed the article about his kids switching to the Dogs, to go in the paper, with pictures of the family. It was unnecessary and tacky I thought.

I understand his face will be painted orange so he can play the part of an oompa loompa in the next remake of Willy Wonka. PS. The only reason he's retiring is that there was zero interest in him from other clubs.

Yup, u agree, i think we'll be keen to upgrade pick 44 into a second rounder if we can, maybe 44 and one of Dawes/Garland/Dunn if they attract any interest for a pick between 28-33 Jay Kennedy-Harris and Alex Neal-Bullen might both feel they'd be a better chance of playing at AFL level with a different side, despite both being contracted i reckon they'll be shopped around. I'm of the opinion that next years draft crop will be of a much higher standard than this years so personally i'd be really keen to retain our 2017 first round pick unless an amazing deal came along. I'd also be keeping an eye on developments with Tom Mitchell, if he leaves it's for money, the Swans are according to AFLcom only able to afford 320k a year and i reckon he's worth a bit more than that, the Hawks are going to find it really tough to get the trades done, so perhaps our 2017 pick might appeal to the Swans, i think the other big factor in his decision making is playing in a team that's going to feature in the pointy end of finals, and i reckon Hawks will slide regardless of Vickery, O'meara and or Mitchell.

Good lord!!! That's a bit personal Steve!!!

I played tennis with his dad as a junior at Wellington Tennis club. He was a star and very humble. Lots of fun. Always enjoyed a laugh. The family was wonderful and Olivers grandfather Reg was a great bloke always smiling. Oliver is top 20 quality. I think the Hawks at pick 14 would be great but they will need that for pick O'Meara or Tom Mitchell. Olivers dad was a keen Hawks man. Bulldogs would be a nice location at pick 18.

A beautiful and inspirational story. The 'sentimental old fool' in me says that I hope we somehow manage to draft Oliver, but I know that's very, very unlikely. Good luck to him wherever he ends up, which will hopefully be a Victorian club where he can continue to be a 'rock' of support for his mum.

Or devoting his time to a suspect twitter account.

What an absolutely wonderful son. He is the sort of person I would love to have at our club.

As was stated by another poster it may well be cash flow positive in addition to giving control of the stadium to the AFL who can run it with an AFL bias which never happened under the previous management. Despite what people think the AFL are not fools financially. In addition what is the site worth? Albeit there was an agreement in place I wouldn't mind betting the AFL has made a pretty significant profit on the overall deal. I've never understood the dislike for Etihad. I think it's a fantastic venue for viewing football. You get as good or better view of a game at Etihad than any other ground I've been to and to me that is the primary feature of any ground. You are guaranteed a "dry" game, good conditions and skillful footy. Despite the size of the ground the games are usually fast open affairs where the standard of play is as high. In the middle of winter the temperature is higher in Etihad than the MCG and getting there is so simple with Southern Cross station a short walk away. There are good eating venues close to the ground and the cost of food at Etihad is the same as the MCG. I do agree the issue of level 2 seating needs to be addressed. Our performance there is poor but I agree with TGR, if we are going to be any good then it's got to be anywhere, anytime, anyone. A negative mindset only provides an excuse to fail. If you've got philosophical problems with the AFL and big business then very simply don't follow the sport because your problem ain't going away. Footy is big business. As a teacher of mine once said "like it or lump it".

Great if we could do it. He would complete our inside mids. Hibberd and Melksham would help with adding Hunt and Stretch to the outside mids. Mitchell is proven and would be a great get. Surely our list and Goody would excite him, plus some more dollars. Weave your magic Mahoney. Next year's first pick would be the price.

You can still trade out a player under contract, can't you? I think it's fairly clear that Spencer will only get his opportunities as an understudy to the AA ruckman. At this stage of his career, he might aspire to be more than that so if another club offered him the opportunity, he might agree to be traded out. On the other hand, Minson is as close to the end as you can get and he might be happy to play second fiddle (given that he's the only AFL player who can also play the violin, it would be a great fit) for a year or so. If this happens, then Melbourne wins in the trade because it would get a draft pick or player in exchange for Spencer and Minson would come for free as a FA. Whatever the case, we would be looking to draft another younger ruckman to develop along with Mitch King for the future (I can't see us hanging on to Max King after three years as a rookie).

A fierce competitor who gets the best out of himself. I'm really glad to hear he is doing well! Thanks for the update Elwood

Harvey has officially retired. He's already secured a gig as the new Gobbledok for Smith's Potato Chips.

I felt towards the end of the year a lot of Melbourne fans were turning on him a bit, I think as a defence mechanism to expectations that he would ditch us. Now that he's committed and essentially said he's in it for the long haul I hope those people give him every bit of support and credit as he could've taken some big money.

i think all state politicians, developers and city councillors should be forced to live there

It's a poorly designed stadium that doesn't even meet the standards of a backyard tennis courts orientation. It's also not the AFL's job to worry about what any future developer would do with the land. I hate the place and can't wait to see the back of it.

This x 1000

I suppose they can say they won 3 flags, but the clearing of father/grandfather legend/son, Josh Kennedy, is one of the greatest list blunders of modern times. Kennedy last night won his 3rd Swans B & F. He has become a champion. His family begged Clarkson to give him a go, but they didn't and cleared him. It shows even a genius footy coach like Clarkson, can make a huge blunder on the ability of a player. Would they have won more flags with him?

Thank you RTG, I was getting all a flutter for a moment!!

Yes, we always do well when we make claims about who we'll beat. I sat at the G for the certainties against Essendon and Carlton this year. Really enjoyable.

Very much confusion....

Always like Jordie. Gave 100%. Good on him for the b&f and thanks for the info.

It's winning time !!!

I think you've nailed it. If Goodwin can instill consistency of effort and coach well on matchday, we have the talent to be a top 8 team. If we hear the same postgame excuses after a loss as we did with Roos, we'll remain around the 10-12 region. It's up to you Goodwin.

Tyson and Hibberd are more than decent and they nominated us. All of our gun, younger players have re-signed and showed tremendous faith in the direction the club is headed in as well. Some supporters are never happy and have short memories to boot.

Anyone got footage of the mark he took on the wing against the Hawks earlier in the year - I think it was over Hodge or Mitchell. Just out-bodied the much more experienced player and looked like a 200 gamer.

That is one of best pieces of play I have ever seen a first year player perform. Just brilliant. I think it led to a goal from half back as well. Have I mentioned I love this kid, he is my favourite Demon and I look forward to seeing him play for us, for the next dozen or so years.

Heheh. I see what you're doing there. Hawks with Vickery and Rockliff would be hilarious. C-C-C-C-Culture breaker! We can only hope that the Dogs go cold on Cloke and he also ends up at the Hawks.

Does this give us an excuse to upload that tackle again? Always loved Jordie. Even when I thought his name was Tommy.

She was good in that role. Very genuine. She has a bubbly personality which I didn't find annoying, which is uncommon.

Belatedly, yesterday's trade radio highlights. I can't see how it's possible for Rockliff to kiss and make up with Brisbane after the way he's been carrying on. Should we go after him? • Tyrone Vickery has become the first player to make an official move this off-season, after Hawthorn tabled a free agency offer for the Richmond ruckman. The Hawks offered Vickery a two-year deal, with the Tigers having three days to match the offer. • Adelaide veteran Scott Thompson will play on for a 17th season after signing a new deal with the Crows for 2017. Thompson will also make a transition into coaching as part of the one-year extension, taking on more unofficial coaching duties, as well as a playing role. • Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong has ended trade speculation by signing a new two-year deal with the premiers. Jong had been heavily linked to a trade this off-season, but decided to stick with the Bulldogs, despite heavy interest from the Gold Coast Suns. • The future of Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell will become clearer by Monday, with the 23-year-old set to meet management this weekend. His manager Phil Mullen told NAB AFL Trade Radio today that Mitchell was yet to make a decision, but would know by Monday as to whether he would seek a trade, most likely to Hawthorn. • The future of Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff still isn't clear, with the Lions today confirming they had yet to make a decision on his future at the club. Rockliff is set to meet with new coach Chris Fagan in the coming days, in a meeting which will prove pivotal to him remaining at the Gabba.

It might sound like it, but I reckon we'll do a deal or two. Mahoney always plays his cards close to his chest. He's a good operator.

c'mon, surely it's comforting to know the Figjams have totally lost it ?

Just thinking out loud - GC have a bevy 1st rounders that they're looking to do things with. One of those things needs to be to postpone one to next year to spread. Our next year first for one of their this years first rds would absolutely perfect

Our third for Hibberd. Fug Essendon.

Just to add some ridiculous commentary, the AFL has just tweeted the following: "Peter Schwab confirms Lions keen to use pick to advantage the club most". Really? Well, that's thrown the plans of all other 17 clubs into disarray.

Please let it mean we don't have to play home games there anymore...last year v St Kilda was an absolute joke

Hope they blow it up.

I watched him at Box Hill in the last Casey home and away: he was sensational. Casey might have won the flag had he not been surgeonized.... I'm glad he's been retained. He isn't a great player but he gives 100%, all of the time. Go Pedders

Interesting to see Hoges being a lot more vocal in the press waxing lyrical about Goody and the emerging group. I think he is hooked. Hallelujah!