FireInTheBennelly

Are you a Board member?

I'd look at Cheney for coverage, but also as he has a connection with Lever. That would help if we were forced to pick him through an injury to Nev. He was also at Lever's wedding so knows the boys I'd say. With DJ now gone, who was looking to be the Nev backup, I think there's a slight need. I think Neade could be useful also, he's what's missing from Jeffy. His forward pressure could be a big bonus, but needs to work on consistency.

He's said he won't play for any other club and will retire if he can't play for the dorks. would you draft him? I don't think there's any risk for him, but you never know I suppose. If a club wanted him, they'd approach him to sign as a DFA, and they wouldn't waste a draft pick. Regarding the wages, a contract is a contract, and if he were to be picked up by another club, that club would then have to honour the existing wage details. It's probably heavily back-ended as well, meaning a new club would have to pick up the higher wages - which they won't do. Time will tell, let's see what happens. If after all is said and done and he's rookied to them, I'd love to see the years wages he's on, and what their salary cap payments are. We'll never get to see it, but London to a brick, if he was on the main list they'd be over.

Ok thanks for that, sounds more like it. They've just played it beautifully to ensure no other clubs pick him up. Similar to the 'The Ball Maneuver'

The way I read it was they are throwing him straight onto the rookie list without risking the draft, is that incorrect?

Yes and by doing so risked him being picked up by a rival club. Fortunately that didn't happen. Now apparently you can arrange to delist a player, who then retires, immediately changes his mind and can then be added back onto your rookie list. If it wasn't blatant cheating of the rules you wouldn't need to go through all that, and just say player X is moving back to the rookie list, done. It's laughable. Someone suggested rookie list wages aren't in the cap? We should do the same with our 4 highest paid players, and then recruit 4 new superstars on the same wages. If it's ok for the Dorks.

I wasn't aware of the Langford one, that's just plain wrong, they can't do that. If he's delisted he must go to another club via free agency, or the draft. There are quite a few players this year going through the same processes - and following the rules. The Mumford one is similar. Needs to go through the draft. His situation is particularly odd. I'll throw this out there without any accusations, but a move like that has a lot of '3 strikes' about it. Remember the old mysterious injuries from a few years back. The Lyon one, whilst dodgy, I'd say is within the rules at this stage. Need to be watching for future pick trading between the 2 clubs to make sure any trades are 'even'. If there are trades done that are unbalanced towards the GCS, we all know what it's for.

True. And the flip side of the coin is those 3 teams all need to play us twice. It's a great draw to test us out, but we'll need to have improved on this year to make top 4.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dees members need to pay to get into a Pies home game? Collingwood sells an away game membership package for games at the G. This means they are collecting revenue on what should be our ticket sales when it's our home game.

True. But how much does leadership impact on the development of that player? It's a hard one to quantify but I reckon there's significant value up to a point.

That's very interesting, and probably a lot to do with Bernie's retirement. It's offset slightly through the trade ins, and the fact Bernie is staying on at the club in some capacity, but it does make a good argument to pick up an experienced player somehow. The problem is the ones up for grabs have very little appeal. This will take another hit when Lewis retires also so unless our youngsters take another big step up in 2019, we need to be on the lookout for a premium experienced player for end of next year. After that there's only Jones, so let's hope we get where we need to be before that happens.

This may not go down well for some but I think it's a good idea. With the Pies wanting to start alternating home games again for the QB game, how about we move 'The Big Freeze' to a game against Essendrug instead? Obviously this year as our home game to start with. Ok with you Ed?

I'd also love to know exactly what Essendon did this year to be talked about in the same breath as us?

In regards to the Essendon game, I would have a home game and wear our clash jumper than have it as their home game, every freaking year. It may even sell more clash jumpers for more cash, but the income that game would generate would be a massive boost. For the Collingwood QB home game, I'd be looking into what we gave up to the Pies to have it as our home game each year, and make sure whatever that was (can't recall) is also reversed. Does anyone remember 'the deal'?

I get the feeling football is the distraction.

How would it work if 40k of the 50 were Dees members bringing their own cheese platters?

I think that's the game Plapp said it was the most dominant game he's ever seen a player play. Or words to that effect. Hope he stays fit for 2019, another step up for us.

I agree with you. I think this was an opportunity for the AFL to showcase an up and coming powerhouse and they've fluffed it. Wasn't the talk that Pies wanted us in round one? They can see what's happening and wanted in. Instead they've given them the Cats and we've all but missed out. The Pies will make money from their home game, will we?

Only if he goes by Jack or Jake.

Rance's guide apparently went home and told all his family the Australians have a new way to exchange pleasantries. You reach for the handshake, and at the moment there's contact you throw yourself backwards and to the ground, rolling around grabbing yourself. It'll be all over China soon.

Was it Roos that said beware the junior kp player who dominated purely through the fact there were no matchups for him? Any chance of that with him? At 199 cms, were there just no match ups?

For real, our academy picks have to be aboriginal? Is that the same for all teams?

I hear he loves his biscuits....

Not a very inspiring list though. Howe, Neade (???), doesn't look good.

You're a legend