Red and Blue realist

Sounds like Frost may have a small niggle (not sure what), but the AFL article the other day said at training he was just doing boxing on the sidelines with Jeffy, who's now out. We've still got a spot on the main list to fill, so wouldn't be surprised to see J Smith upgraded regardless of Frost's availability, particually now with Wag's injury.

I hope they rest Hogan, he seemed to do something to his knee late against the dogs, although he did stay out on the ground but there was only minutes to go in the game. He hurt his knee last year (Hawks game I think) and kept playing and wasn't the same, so rest him for a couple of weeks, even send him back to WA early cause our last JTL game is against Meth Coast over there.

Glad we've got 5 weeks or so before the saints, hoges seemed to jar his knee a bit and last season when he did during similar he was off for the last few games. He looked great and set for a huge year, but it might pay to give him a spell at least next week

I actually thought vanders was good, is more of a stay at home half forward flank while the others (brayshaw etc) went roaming. He provided a great link. Might be competing with a fully fit Kent but think he'll play a fair few games

On that Saty (or any of the regular track watchers), have you noticed who besides Gawn, Pencil and the young rucks doing any ruck work? Speciffically if Watts or Frost have been doing much, if any? As an extension to that have Gawn or Pencil being doing much forward work?

That's very true, just got to listen to Mick Turner talk up anyone from the Falcons, they're all superstars. Either way I'm very impressed by the way Oscar improved last year and hope he does turn out as good, if not better than his brother.

Not doubting yours at all, my info came from when they were at the Rebels, but grain of salt whenever any junior watching is concerned I suppose.

I wouldn't read too much into this. I'd be guessing that it's much easier to develop mids at VFL level than it is for key position players, especially defenders. The key forwards in the AFL are considerably bigger than those at VFL level (most are either undersized - example Tim Smith or developing - example the Weid), whereas a lot of the mids would be roughly the same size as those in the AFL. I thought Oscar's improvement was outstanding and I really hope his confidence continues to grow. I know a lot who had both Tom and Oscar at junior level and have said Oscar was far better than Tom, that might not end up the case at senior level but if it did we'd have a very formidable CHB/FB combo.

Depends if you're looking at it from a bonding point of view or a decision making exercise. It's often easy to get away with things at training because their fresh and probably not going as hard as you would against an actual opponent, therefore their decision making should be slightly easier. I'm hoping by putting them under stress that'll help at the back end of an important game. Still will probably only make a small % difference.

Think your right, he's going to be one of those guys (dangerfield, fyfe etc - not saying he will be as good - just examples) who's going to do more than the occasional helicopter kick or even brain fade. However for me, for Hunt to jump up to the elite or become first class he needs to get more of the ball. He only cracked 20 possessions twice last year, and although he's not going to need 30+ weekly to be valuable if he were to average 20/21/22 touches then he'll make the jump. So another 5 to 6 more touches a game, that will naturally get him more involved and that's all he needs.

I think they might rotate some of the 'older' mids through the backhalf (Jones, Vince, Lewis and Milkshake) while the younger mids (Brayshaw, Tyson, Harmes, Trac, Salem etc) might push more forward. This seems to me to be a more natural progression, given in the juniors most seem to like to take the game on before learning the defensive skills and mindset. Ideally I think we'll be looking at around 14 or 15 guys each game who can realistically play in the middle, but also who are adept in other parts of the ground.

The saints have a novel way of signing up members, offering pay $1 now and the rest later. I know clubs have month by month, but surely this is just a way to get people in (regardless if they sign up when the rest of the money is due) and then pump up the member numbers. I'm sure others sign when they see the figure rise, the old 'I'm going to miss out' mentality.

Yeah it's Pedersen, the averages are as of round 1 next year. What I've noticed is that while we come in 3rd youngest, our average age is much much closer to the rest of the comp, compared with previous year. The difference between the top team and the 17th team (Brissy are a massive outlier this year) is at most 1 year, normally the top few and bottom few are a lot further apart. Does it mean anything? Probably not, but I think it could mean that we're nearly over the 'expansion years' and the comp could be much more even than before.

Yeah think it was the semi against the doggies, he was very quiet that day.

Thanks for the reports! Hun article said Lewis is still recovering from a shoulder injury, so obviously keeping him out of a bit of work at the moment. No reason given for hoges return home, I'd say it's just part of his program it even a reward for returning in such great shape.

Apparently this was a mistake, their recruiter is still balled up the fetual position mumbling 'Mitchel Lewis???' and it got caught on the mics

We did bring in Lewis, so I'd say all the Dawes money has gone. Bringing in Hibberd would have taken Grimes money (which would have been a fair bit because he was captain when he signed) so the H money will probably just help retain our young guns. Not a bad thing, I was worried thinking about how we would afford all of Viney, Hoges, Gus, Tracc, Hunt, Salem, Weid etc.. going forward

Was an interesting interview with Ralphy (so take from it what you will) on SEN this morning, who seemed to have been in discussion with someone at the club - basically said because of the previous players we've had with concussion, Ro Bail, Gus, Viney etc. that we are leaders in the industry in managing it. Also that the club think they have an extremely strong legal position if it came down to it. Said the likely outcome is a negotiated payout, but if pushed the club thinks we might be able to get H off the books completely for 2017 (salary cap wise). He'll stay on the list and essentially be like Melks last year. Wonder if it might mean we get a more experienced rookie than we previously planned, even though H wasn't best 22 (consensus opinion) he has still played the equal second most games of anyone on our list so his experience would have been of some value.

Was anyone there at all? I know a lot of the information has come from the club website, but just interested to hear who the stragglers were. normally there's a ruck or big forward who's not suited to the longer stuff but puts in then brings up their breaky at the end of the run?

Don't think he'll go until after Nov 30, which I think is the last list lodgement date. If he goes after that for 'medical' reasons then he gets a payout from the AFL as well as can negotiate with the club. The club may have asked him to do that, so half his wage is saved from the salary cap, and we might be able to bank $200k or so and that will help retain or attract players. I would ask for those who still hang onto any thoughts he might hang around - why can't he do the running sessions, or at least appear at training? From all reports he's been pretty much unsighted which even with an injury is pretty ordinary in a team sport like this.

Would think they might want the cash going forward? If H is on as much as being reported then that might help retain a younger guy or upgrade a rookie towards the end of the year?

Not sure if that's allowed under the cap, from memory (so I could be wrong) if a player retires due to 'injury/illness' then for that season only 50% of the salary is counted. Whereas if he just retired then we'd have to count the full amount under the salary cap, even if we did negotiate a 50% payout.

I suspect, but don't know for sure, that any announcement on his future will be made after 30 Nov. From memory that date is when contracts can be paid out at half rate, rather than having to carry the full amount for the next season or those beyond. I've thought that for a while, he'll wait until after then to retire and a payout can be negotiated that benefits the club.

Yeah not sure how it works, Viney's the only other still on the list who we drafted (BenKen and Sam Frost have since come in) and they were all there so you might be right.

Was he required to be there? He's going into his 5th season so not sure if he was, might be using the extra week or so he has off to get back into shape before being required to 'officially' be there? That's not to say he looks way out of shape but I imagine some guys get back to close to full training a week or so before pre-season even begins.