Rhino Richards

Agree BBP. People get carried away with the expectations of draft day and forget that the players we have drafted are kids whether they are 17 or 18. Unless we have an injury riddled year, I would expect few to get a consistent run in MFC in 2008. If Morton is as good as everyone says I think he would be closest. The big critieria for me is that they firstly settle into the AFL/MFC culture and begin to fulfil the confidence shown in them by CAC. I hope longer term they become stars for MFC.

Agree. Although MFC seem to have chosen wisely according to comments in the press.

B. Clint Batram - James Frawley - Nathan Carroll HB. Daniel Bell - Jared Rivers - Paul Wheatley C. Sylvia - Nathan Jones - Cameron Bruce HF. Brad Green - Michael Newton - Matthew Bate F. Aaron Davey - David Neitz - Russell Robertson R. Jeff White - Brock McLean - James McDonald Inter. Simon Buckley, Adem Yze, John Meeson, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Lynden Dunn, Ricky Petterd Emergency- Matthew Whelan, Cale Morton, Paul Johnson, Colin Garland

Which is? I think Sampi is a different proposition to Byron.

Its our top 22 thats the problem. Stuff the depth. Anyway our depth as always is only two consecutive losses deep.

I believev CAC is on the record of saying that he will take the best available with pick 4. Its unlikely to be a smokey.

Its Maguire not McGuire oh accurate one. I am not the one changing a discussion about a St Kilda player into a personal bragging of some mystic prophetic talent.

That's right legend. You were more focussed on getting Cousins in the PSD.

It will happen straight after the pre season parade down Little Bourke St lead by John So and Jackie Chan.

In giving your esteemed rating did you provide suggestions to the Club on how they can improve on the "0" or do you think your cryptic answer sends a potent and informative message that's will benefit all?

I think it is a bluff conjured by the AFL. Having the Pies in the GC will undermine the resettlement of North in GC. Also sly that the Pies said western Syndey as the alternative. <_<

No Ben Cousins is not involved in this one! B)

I think North's adversary is one and the same.....the AFL. If the AFL are going to invest in North on the GC they will not let the Pies undermine the process. The AFL dont want 17 teams. Its a shot across the bow of the Kanga ship. They want North in Qld. North are just putting off the inevitable by promoting "loans" and other non arms length arrangements to create a veneer of financial stability. They are shot in Melbourne and need to think smartly about extracting the best deal up in Qld.

No. Just different points of view on it. Theadvent of the GC as the 17th team would hasten the demise of the existence of the Roos. It would be folly to think of them in separate terms.

No there is one. The Roos survival is best achieved in the GC. They wont survive longer term in Melb. The AFL are keen to move up there as soon as practicable due to the continued financial performance of the lucrative Southport Sharks and the presence of the NRL Gold Coast team.

I do too. However there comes a time when they need to have the fortitude to admit that they may have to move. I recently read a book on the last days of Fitzroy. Lots to admire in the final days but some of the pig headness from the Fitzroy only inflicted greater pain on them. I dont want the Roos to do that. I dont know all the points. But I do know the AFL wants a team permanently in the Gold Coast and wants to relocate a Melb based club. They have a financial incentive to have North move and succeed there. Its a win win for both if it does. Why Would the AFL jeopardise that? They want to succeed in the GC and would use the Kangas to do it. The AFL money must be spread between the relocated Club, promotion of the game and NOrth in Qld and the improvement of infrastructure. It may not be 10 vs 100 but the proportions would appear right. Do you think the AFL will continue to assist the Kangas to stay in Melbourne for future years when they survive on a non arms length pot of "loans" which are not commercially arranged?

Is the money a loan or a gift? If it is repayable whether or not it has interest to be paid on it, it means that it is on balance sheet and raises again the solvency of the Kangas. If its a gift then what controls will be over it in a cash strapped club to ensure the capital is not used to prop up cashflow in a bad year Does any benefit from this replace any special assistance from the AFL? So given it provides them with $600,000 per year how far does this to making them a sustainable profitable entity in the future? How good is this deal versus the $100million package from the AFL to actual sustain a future?

What is 10 million in "l-o-a-n-s"? What are the terms of provision and repayment? What interest charges are there? What happens when the Kangas absorb and use up the 10 million? How is the Kangas going to be able to achieve a sustainable profit making brand that will grow? There are no white knights just a smokescreen to delay the inevitable. Just a bandaid to a haemorraging artery. I would have thought its AFL $100 million if you relocate vs $10 million if you stay. Now what to do North Board? Its interesting to see the Magpies make a move on the GC games. James Brayshaw should focus on creating comedy on the Footy Show rather than setting up a tragedy at North.

Bravo Paul Gardner for your comments. Maybe Jeff Kennett should head a charity group "Beyond the Truth" or "Beyond Redemption". Also Kennett might like to give us his opinion on the AFL drugs policy and his club's attitude and policy toward the "3 strikes" arrangement. There buddy system might not be working as well as they think. A tick for Eddie for also rebuking Kennett.

Statement made by his female partner during that 5 day binge who advised 911 emergency staff as to what had caused. He must have been in a bad way. Check the article its not alleged. Ben Cousins should sue if its not correct. http://news.realfooty.com.au/cousins-dodge...71120-1bni.html Its only for the fact that Cousins is 10,000 miles away that he is not facing a minor durgs charge in the US.

The chap masquerading as a supporter of the working class club and spouting his old school tie has really made some pretentious claims about success. Full marks to Eddie and his dynamism for the way he has rejuvenated a traditionally strong football brand with a now solid and active supporter base. The Lexus centre is a winner and his spruiking of sponsors and the interests of Collingwood has been admirable. But for all that money, strong supporter base, great facilities, rich sponsors and strongly favoured draw their lack of on field success has been a shambles and embarrassing. Their football list with the exception of 3 or 4 youngsters is underwhelm with most of their best players in the twlilight of their careers without ready recruiiting. This list bears the scars of 4 to 5 years of truly pathetic recruiting under Judkins and Malthouse and Eddie must share the blame for it. For Club that has "everything" they have little to show for it and that may be Eddie's ultimate epitaph.

Every 3 or 4 months...... Frankly if people really want to know excitement at AFL game, they should have been at the 1987 elimination final (vs Kangas) and the qualifiying final vs Swans. I have never seen an MFC crowd so pumped and the atmosphere of excitement and expectation was electric. I also recall each week when Northey ran the team out on the ground before the start of the game, he instructed to run as a group as close to the perimeter fence of the MCG as possible to soak up the wave of support. It worked. However the following week at that cemetery sporting venue Waverley, the excitement just could not be captured in that ground. We fell short that day.

No. The AFL charge was not solely based on the Cousins arrest. But it helped. I think his US episode only validates the AFL decision more. Its not alleged that he went to a hospital. He was in a hospital following a 5 day cocaine binge.

But his Mother called him Chopper......

Yes. It would appear that the culture that has hit fan at the WCE has been with them for longer than we think. So long as he played in the red and blue. .. Thompson was still devastated in 2007 and it completely upset his plans for that year from which they never recovered!