Machsy

You could hardly fill a thimble, Steve...

As I've mentioned before, Mark Robinson has alluded to Prestia using the "unsafe workplace" argument if push comes to shove.

Not sure I'm a fan, but if we're in the winning side of that argument...

I don't think we are seeing Geelong's culture crumbling, but rather their best players getting close to the end of their careers.

They were a great group and can't easily be replaced.

Some have already gone and others are near the end. Hopefully we see the same with Hawthorn and Sydney, though Sydney keeps topping up with high draft academy picks.

Off-field the culture is toxic, and as we all know the fish rots at the head.

Colin Carter has well-meaning intentions and is a good person, but I'm not sure of his capability in his role as president.

Cook is regularly heard commenting openly that he's sticking it out so he can hold the record as the longest serving club CEO in AFL/VFL history.

Whether serious or not, I don't think it sets a great example.

Players have recently been seen fingerpointing onfield during matches.

The quality and experience is not there any more, and a lot of the young talent is growing into eccentric prima donnas & upstarts with no one pulling them into like for their antics.

The culture is crumbling and rapidly, as far as I can see.

I would take that and run if that meant we still kept pick 5!

But I think you couldm be right surely GC would ask for a first rounder.

I think they'd ask for more.

Whether they'll get it is another question.

Pick 5, as much as you'd like it to be a bankable star, is just as likely to produce an O'Rourke, Plowman, Morton, a Jarrad Grant, a Bennell, a Scully, a Hurley, even a Toumpas (don't get me wrong, he has time & I like the progress the kid has shown this year). A Gumbleton, Hansen or Leuenberger, even a Gibbs, who took longer than Watts to show enough.

Plenty of solid players, but few of those names are stars.

I think for a top 5 pick to turn out to be as good as Prestia is a very good result.

Any better is pure luck and quite rare.

Jonathon Brown was pumping up Hogan again saying that the only player to give Rance a hiding was Jesse

Something tells me Browny likes him.. Feel free to come down and work with him Browndog!

I'm sure I recall hearing Jon Brown had been in touch with Jesse and offered his help whenever it is needed.

I saw it also.

In any workplace, the relationships you hold have to be strong while you're there.

I don't think a 'hug' after a win is any indication that Garland is a required player...

But that's just me.

I have no doubt Garland is a required player.

I just think it demonstrates that Garland also does not have a foot out the door and an eye on his wallet either.

motlop 24 steviej 32

Stevie J probably chooses to stay, in my opinion.

I wonder if any noticed it shown on AFL360 (or possibly the telecast itself) after the Geelong win, when Roosy came into the rooms seconds after the win, Garland in his civvies with a big grin on his face, giving Roosy a big hug.

I think they have a strong enough relationship & I don't think Garland will be going anywhere.

We'll see.

Stevie J probably stays in my opinion.

It will be interesting to see what their move on Dangerfield is now. How can they ask the AFL for money and then chase after expensive free agents? Surely if they receive money from the AFL they will be told that it can't be used to finance Dangerfield? Surely the AFL have learnt their lesson from the Sydney equalisation fiasco to make sure they give the money conditionally.

Regardless of who the money goes to, they still have to pay the minimum of the salary cap, and can't pay over the cap.

I don't think the FA argument is relevant at all.

Is it intentional that I picture Dorothy from the Golden Girls every time I read your username..?

Meanwhile the pick they got off us for Garlett.

In real terms, they passed on the later pick & used the earlier pick on Clem Smith... whose longevity in the game is limited, in my opinion.

Especially these days, with the tackle almost being outlawed, a poor man's Byron Pickett has no place.

I would fight to retain the bolded but the other 8 have a bit of work to do.

I realise Harmes will have his chance in the coming weeks.

M Jones and Terlich are prime candidates to be paid out... Especially if Riley, Harmes, and Howe show something in the last 9 games.

Fighting for Riley but not Howe?

That surprises me.

I'd happily see Howe go, but he has some currency.

What is it that you see in Riley?

I see absolutely the right attitude, but I'm not sure I see a lot more.

He assists to build the culture we want, but I'm not sure that his onfield value is all that high, his tank being his greatest limitation.

- Cost blowouts on the stadium construction including light towers

- lower than expected govt contributions for stadium upgrades

- massively over-optomistic forecasting error for the revenue coming from their Point Cook gaming venue

- hilariously incompetent sponsorship deals including clauses allowing sponsors the option to renew deals at the same already low rate for the same duration

- inability to properly effectively upsell memberships or sell functions due to staff not fit to run a bath (especially corporate) but they have been able to hide until now as the tickets have sold themselves in successful times. Unfortunately their recruiting choices to turn things around have been very poor, and now some of the more capable rats are deserting the sinking ship

They lost nearly 30% of their membership when Ablett left because supporters thought they were on the way down. They went on to win the flag that season and they alll came back. If Geelong decline is real this time, there might be a big colapse of members.

Absolute rubbish.

You're just making [censored] up.

He'll be a later pick, but I like Tommy Glenn.

I don't know about their culture crumbling, but their finances appear to be inexplicably crumbling.

FMD how can such a wealthy club that regularly gets a home gate taking of $500k be struggling? If it's so mismanaged, then time for the AFL to step in and take over.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cats-plea-to-afl-for-financial-help-20150708-gi81c4.html

I spelled it all out months ago, but no one cared to listen.

Brian Cook is living off past glories.

Mitch Duncan??

Either some here haven't seen Harmes play, or they haven't seen Duncan play.

Duncan has tidy skills, runs the lines well, good link up player, but runner but is a bit soft, goes when he wants to at times.

It's not how I'd describe Harmes.

we need players who can see ball, get ball, use ball.

if if he can get over his knee injury without any major concerns - and it's a big IF at this stage, as apparently it was a pretty nasty one - then we'd be mad not to chase prestia.

in terms of targetting players from the northern clubs, prestia and treloar would be top tier, dixon, bennell and josh kelly next, and then the likes of plowman (richmond want him), tomlinson, leuenberger (again, tigers into him in a big way apparently), lonergan, et al.

Tigers want everyone.

It's a sound strategy for them though, going for more mature talent, in a year when their earliest picks are likely to yield lesser talent than most years.

Not sure they have the resources to pull many trades off though.

Berger wouldn't surprise, with Maric getting on & not much decent ruck depth.

I heard Mark Robinson saying that Prestia might be angling for a move away from GC, and that with a year on his contract he may even use the "unsafe workplace" argument in relation to the club drug culture.

No destinations were specified, but I bet his family would be angling pretty hard to get him to MFC.

My biggest worry is list balance. We simply can't have too many small mids.

Hopefully Tyson, Vanders, Petracca & Brayshaw provide enough size.

Question for me is: with teams having to pay more for academy selections this year - will anyone pass on a Mills, Dunkley, Hopper, Keays, or Kennedy?

$500k in afl terms ain't that much these days

confirmed by moloney prior to the start of the season.

unbelievable, to be honest.

Confirmed by who?