SaberFang

Gotta say, without sounding shallow and all, I always assumed he was a mature-age recruit. Some guys just don't get the genes.

He does a great job running around like a headless chicken though. Watching the replay too. Still delicious!

This thread is still going? Please. Our recruitment team is no longer infested by morons.

Been saying all along, Frawley will cost Hawthorn the three-peat. He's fools gold and the Hawks arrogantly thought they could "save" him from the MFC, just like Blease and Geelong. So, so great to see the pricks lose.

I think we all understand the compensation system and the reason we got pick 3 as band 1 compensation. The point we're making is the AFL made a mistake setting the threshold for band 1 compo so low; $625k x4 years is peanuts in modern contracts; from memory the previous threshold set for band 1 compo was $700k x4 years (Dale Thomas). In this respect, it's hard not to think the AFL assisted us by lowering the threshold and taking into account a lot of other considerations they usually wouldn't. We're all glad they did and pick 3 was fair compensation for the situation we were in BUT it set a really bad precedent that is coming home to roost now. The respect paid to our dire situation last year has been ignored by other clubs who now demand the same treatment. This is largely because the AFL wasn't transparent in their decision-making last year (well, any year).

That free kick count is absolutely disgusting. If you compared that number to Buddy, Cloke or Riewoldt you'd be in for a shock. Fortunately, the exposure from the Rising Star award will drive him into Selwood/Hodge/Riewoldt-esque umpire protection from next year onward. The AFL would have to see Hogan as a huge marketing opportunity and the typification of players they want to see more of; superstar key forwards that remind fans of the AFL's "glory days" of Dunstall/Lockett/Carey; those players always get looked after.

I love this guy as captain. Puts everything in perspective for his inconsistent year. Can't wait to see him get back to his best in 2016.

I'm so grateful this draft doesn't have any standout players the way that Petracca and Brayshaw were. Makes it all the more likely Carlton pick another thoroughly average spud like Gibbs with pick 1. A trained monkey could've gotten the guns at GWS with the ridiculous amount of picks they were gifted; let's see if Silvagni has any clue what he's doing now he's forced to endure a heartbreaking single pick per round.

Personally I think Carlton are just shooting themselves in the foot here. They probably think they're so smart. "This is what Melbourne did! They just asked for a PP to ensure pick 3! We'll do the same!" Unfortunately, in doing so, they're screwing the AFL's pet Brisbane and putting all parties in a thoroughly difficult position. The only viable solution to this mess now appears to be the sensible thing: no clubs get a priority pick (a fair outcome considering the precedent they set last year with us) and to ensure Schache gets to Brisbane Kreuzer's compo will be band 2. Their "secret formula" might just involve a sudden minimum salary increase to breach the band 1 compo threshold (at $625k x4 years, it's set far too low). I doubt Kreuzer was ever going to get band 1 at $500k/year, but he's certainly not getting it now when the AFL need Brisbane to get pick 2.

Hope it backfires horribly on all parties, the AFL give no priority picks and the compo pick for Kreuzer ends up pick 19.

We have remarkably few average players who would give us a better return at the trade table. Not dissimilar to the club rating pick 3 above retaining Frawley. I fully expect this to be the same scenario, albeit without free agency.

We chased Lynch for a while and obviously were left red-faced less than a week ago. I imagine we scrambled pretty quickly to find a suitable alternative.

Hilarious coming from the softest player in the AFL. [censored] off Gibbs, show some class. Didn't he kick up a stink when a former player tweeted about him laying a tackle (for the sling tackle on Gray)?

Agreed that you can hardly be surprised this has happened to Bennell considering the shithouse culture at Gold Coast. It was always going to be a nightmare putting that many kids on high salaries in that city.

Just imagine the player Hogan will be with a competent midfielder feeding him. Could be the next 80+ goalkicker.

Always seems to be a gun who slips, incomprehensibly, to somewhere between pick 10 and 20. Would love to see us get that player if we slide to around pick 9.

To be honest, IF the club want him, they're playing it perfectly. The less we act like we want him, but maneuver ourselves behind the scenes to convince him to join us, the less we have to pay for him. Pretty simple. Unlike the imbecilic other clubs showing their hand already. If they come out and say they really want him, suddenly he has more currency.

Great scoop from the Hun, as always.

Isn't this the guy we were all crushed got dropped for our match versus Essendon?

Felt kind of bad for Cripps. You could see he was devo watching Hogan go up on stage.

Exactly. Distinctly remember that [censored] Swann coming out repeatedly saying we shouldn't be overcompensated for Frawley (this was clearly the backdoor deal that the AFL arranged and informed other clubs about in advance). Different story when the shoe's on the other foot though! They need priority picks! More concessions! More funding! Overcompensation for free agents leaving! Extended contracts for players they draft! Puh-lease.

Not untrue, but would you be happy if Nathan Jones walked up to Joel Selwood and called him a f**got after we beat Geelong? Rockliff might be a great player, but he needs to grow the [censored] up and show some actual leadership. You don't earn respect unless you give it.

Calling Boomer a "[censored]" after winning against North. Punching Stevie J in the [censored] a few weeks back. Blaming losses on teammates he dislikes at match reviews. He's despised by a large circle of teammates and is a huge part of the retention problem up there.

Jesus, no.