mo64

Are you serious. The Dogs list has had a massive overhaul since McCartney got the sack. They lost Griffen, Cooney and Higgins. Everyone tipped them for bottom 4 in 2015. Players like Johannisen, Wood, Hunter, Dahlhaus, Wallis, Roughead were just fringe players. Picken has been a revelation. Boyd and Morris were on their last legs. 7 other players who played yesterday have arrived since 2015. Just accept what everyone else in the football world can see. Beveridge gets the best out of his players through a brilliantly devised gameplan. And that's the job of a coach.

Not this crap again. Beveridge has totally reformed how the Dogs play since he took over. In 2015, they were a high scoring attack focussed team that were easy to score against. In 2016, they are the best defensive team. In essence, they are a different team from 2015 to 2016. This has got nothing to do with the time that McCartney was there. McCartney might be good at developing individual players, but he was a failure as a coach. The game is constantly evolving. To suggest that we'll reach the level of the Dogs, simply because McCartney is a development coach is fanciful.

Spot on DS. Aside from Bont, if you included one or two of their onballers in our team, they wouldn't make a huge impact on our W/L column. It's how they're coached and how they operate as a team which makes the difference. It's also their mindset during the game that we should be envious of.

What's the point of keeping someone on the list that is borderline VFL standard, and clearly not AFL standard? There's got to be dozens of mature aged ruckmen in the country that have a better skillset than Spencer.

I said that an hour ago and got shouted down by everyone because Casey were in front. People talk about having faith in the FD. Whoever made the decisions to give Garland a 3 year deal and Spencer a year extension, have no idea of what makes an AFL footbller.

I couldn't care less if Casey lost the game and we had 10 promising youngsters out there, who looked AFL standard. The whole point of Casey is as a development team. BTW, I grew up a Coburg supporter who went to 3 winning Grand Finals. I have no sentiment towards Casey other than being a feeder club.

That's exactly what I said.

If it was a mob of youngsters, I'd be enthused. Spencer, Garland, Grimes, Dunn, Trengove, Terlich, M.Jones are past it. Kennedy, Michie, White and Newton are VFL standard. ANB's disposal isn't VFL standard. Huelett doesn't look AFL standard, but I'd give him time. I stand by what I said. Oliver, Weid and J. Smith are the only players that I'm excited by.

So who else can you see taking it to the next level?

Looking to our future, not much to get excited about other than Oliver, Weid and J. Smith. Plenty of effort and good tackling by the rest, but poor disposal and no speed is the reason why most are playing at Casey.

It's not Dunn's fault that the players on the end of the kick aren't good enough to break the lines.

Demons contingent of Scorps mids are slow by foot and hand. Bulldogs killing them on the outside.

Disagree. Beveridge has bucked the trend a bit by outwardly saying that it's all about winning the premiership from week 1 of the finals. Since he took over, he's never put any limits on the players as far as what is achievable. If the Dogs can neutralise the Swans mids in the 1st quarter, it's game on. Swans also have a lot of inexperienced players. I reckon it will be a cracker of a GF.

Toby McLean isn't Magic McLean's son, but Zaine Cordy is a F/S pick, being Brian's son, and Lachie Hunter is Mark's son.

Have to agree. For mine, he's been putting up Jake Spencer type performances. Can't recall him doing anything constructive other than competing in the ruck. He's miles off being a good footballer.

Jeez people on here overrate Melksham. What are his credentials as a backman?

Agree with your assessment of Hogan the footballer. He'll be a once in a generation player. But in my view, we've already moved heaven and earth to keep him. For the past year and a bit, the club has been putting out a positive spin on Hogan re-signing, but the deadline from the Hogan camp is constantly shifting. The club would be aware that it needs to put in place a contingency plan in the event that Hogan decides he'll see out his contract before making a decision. The club realises that that is worst case scenario for the club for 2 reasons: 1. Next year the whole focus on Melbourne from the greater football world will be about will he or want he stay. 2. We can't put out offers during the year for a big fish because a large chuck of our salary cap needs to be tied up into Hogan in the event that he decides to stay. As we know, most players decide that they'll move during the course of the year prior. So it's not unreasonable to speculate about what would be an acceptable trade for Hogan this year.

Agree with the OP. The hypocrisy of the Australian media when it comes to drug taking is appalling. They brandish every sportsperson that competes for a country reknowned for it's systemic drug taking as a drug cheat, except when it's an Australian sportsperson. The problem is that they see the personal side of the Australian sportsperson, he's a great bloke etc, but that's not factored in when they're condemning a foreign sportsperson. On SEN, it seemed like all the SMS feedback they got was negative towards Watson holding a press conference, aside from Essendon supporters.

How about the Melbourne FC.

Hogan leaving is family related just as Scully leaving China was family related and Scott Thompson leaving was family related.

The problem is SWYL, the signs are we won't be rewarded for being compassionate. I too lost a family member recently to cancer. If his ties to family are strong, let him be with them. It makes no sense that he'd wish to remain in Melbourne next year to play with us when his emotions would at there highest levels, yet wouldn't commit past next year when his emotions would subside some what. There are other things in play if you ask me.

No one in their right mind would have suggested that GWS were in a premiership window this year, just as no one thought the the Bulldogs would be contenders after 2014 upheavel. Would you have classed Stevie J as a genuine leader? Most thought he was going to GWS for a pension, but like Harvey, he can turn a game. A big yes for me.

I actually meant slow in mind, not body. Oliver, Salem and Dunn looked a level above with their quickness of decision making. Trengove barely looked VFL standard.

Supposedly there's no sentiment in AFL football, but I think that Trengove has earnt the right to give it a shot. He's still young enough for us to reap the rewards if he can make an impact next year. But I do agree with Picket when he said the Trengove did look slow on Sunday.

No they don't. There are heaps of players at GWS who extended prior to this year. The same applies to dozens of players across all clubs. They see themselves as being part of the resurgence unconditionally. The same can't be said off Hogan if these comments are true.