KingDingAling

Good in 2009 Nationals (SA) as well. Pretty sad his best football was in his first 2 years.

Yeah I know, I was just adding the midfield onto the initial discussion about the 22. Because, lets face it, Trengove's best football is in the midfield (well, I believe it is anyway), and I think he will have to be at his very best to break into that position (anticipate our midfield will be improved). I think 2016 will just be about getting back on the park. If he can manage to get back onto the park, he will have to be at his very best to break into the midfield (2017 on wards).

A fit, healthy and IN FORM Trengove is most definitely in our 22. I say 'in form' because it has been a while since he played the game, so I would no longer assume that just because he is fit and healthy - that he should be granted a game. You are right, he will have to earn it. He will have to find his very best form to break into our midfield from here on in.

Yeah, I think he did. He was a little bit underdone. He definitely taken it easy. Pretty sure he got his jaw broken in the VFL that year also. It wasn't a consistent year for him, I know that much, he wasn't fully wound up. If I were GWS I would've taken him. Viney was a safe pick. Either way, I think GWS should cop more heat over their picks, than we cop over selecting Toumpas. Also, they seem to be exempt from criticism for targeting Scully as well (who has been an absolute failure).

I expected GWS to bid on Viney at the time. I think they should've as well. Hindsight is wonderful of course, and it would've been against the tide (for them to bid on Viney at the time), but they picked outsiders anyway (who since failed). I think everyone was surprised GWS picked O'Rourke and Plowman. Yet we cop heat over selecting Toumpas - who was rated higher than those 2. Viney was always going to be gold at 26. I think Viney held back in the Nationals that year, and that helped us.

I don't even think Ben Kennedy has had much opportunity. He looked very good during the NAB cup last year, and looked good in patches in 2014. Collingwood have just been blessed with such a dominant midfield, and even before 2015, they had Beams lock down a position in 2014 and have a great year. Beams left and Crisp, Adams and Sidebottom stood up. Kennedy just couldn't break in. He will be a good pick up for us, and I still think he'll be a top 10 player of that draft. Emma will be justified IMO. I like Kennedy, he is a go-getta.

Its also very unlikely the competition will be as strong as Cripps or Hogan. Also, from memory, Brayshaw also copped the vest a couple of times. The rising star field doesn't look as strong to my eye, it looks weak. I would still favor Petracca even if he didn't rock up the first few rounds. 18 players on our list that have played less games than Brayshaw. That is an interesting stat. Good times ahead if some of those players turn out to be elite.

Crowley should be fresh and hungry. He is a very good trainer and shows good discipline. He isn't the greatest player, but Essendon don't have much to choose from IMO. Crowley is as good as they'll get. Kelly had an interrupted year, but looked reasonable when he was out there. I still think both guys have something to offer. IMO they are decent picks considering the selection pool. A lot of VFL players don't even look up to AFL, at least those 2 guys are still up to AFL (I think).

I'm on him for the rising star at $10. He was $6 before the toe. Just slowly specking him at this stage. Got burnt on Cripps last year, and was into Brayshaw early.

Yeah, good point.

That is a decent signing if true. First Crowley, now Kelly (possibly). Slowly but steadily the Dons are building a list.

Interesting if true, but I couldn't find that anywhere on the internet. Or, did he tell you this personally?

Just my opinion. I was never big on rushing Trengove (previously) and Toumpas without a good, solid foundation. I do think it is a blessing in disguise with CP, others might disagree, as they are perfectly entitled to.

The toe is a set back. But it gives him further time to strengthen the muscles around the knee. IMO it is a blessing in disguise, he will be cherry ripe when the hard running starts. When it comes to Petracca I couldn't care less about round 1.

Hope so. In this instance I think it is a blessing in disguise for Petracca. He has had every opportunity to really strengthen that knee. When he gets back into it and cranks up the volume (with cardio and intensive sprinting) the knee should be able to withstand the onslaught (touch wood). Keeping in mind that his knee was already coping ok.

Yeah, fair call. I didn't take that into account. It is plausible that multiple players could leave. Heppell won't leave, he is a very loyal kid (apparently), I'd be confident from what I have heard about him - that he won't leave. Not sure on the others though.

I thought we had laws (revenge porn) to prevent this thing from happening? If so, the woman's day would be complicit in breaking a law. The woman's day would've known that this woman broken the law, and then still went ahead and published them. Swan and co are the victims here, they may be flogs, and I'm not condoning their actions (it isn't a nice thing to go behind your girlfriend or wives back and trade pics, it is cheating in my eyes), but it doesn't give anyone else the right to share, profit and publish these pics. If this was to happen to Daisy Pearce and a few other female footballers, and a men's magazine published their nudes, we would all be outraged, and the PM would've had to come out and give a statement. Australia is becoming an absolute joke.

I am supposed to be impressed with her working for channel 7? I'm not. Not impressed she didn't give a statement either, when you go around making bold accusations - back them up. Not only wouldn't she give a statement, but no witnesses could back up her allegations. Martins friends or connections are completely irrelevant, so I don't know why you mention that, it has nothing to do with this debacle. The police found no evidence that Dustin Martin committed a crime, end of story. Good day.

Was too drunk to remember, accepted that he used foul language, that doesn't mean he threatened to kill her with a chopstick. FFS. The media blown this one WAY out of proportion. Luckily for the AFL, GIl had a good read on the situation, he doesn't just jump at shadows.

Except there is no evidence that Dustin Martin threatened to stab a woman to death with chopsticks. What do you suggest the AFL do? Rub a guy out when the evidence does not support the allegation? If the AFL did that, Martin could take them to court, and he would win.

Yeah, and witnesses didn't back up the victims story. The media wanted their man, but like most people, they should of waited for the facts to come to light. This is the second time in the past couple of months the media have done this. Martin could pursue legal action (like Gayle is), but I don't think Martin will. He will just want to get on with his football. Big stuff up by the media here.

Then it is like for like. Michie's recent form has been a little above VFL level, and Melksham's past couple years a little below AFL standard, I would have them on par. Would prefer to give a young lad a crack at it, bit more upside. If White is training well, then he seems the logical choice.

Whether he hands it back on his own accord or not doesn't really matter. It is a best & FAIREST award, and Watson played with an unfair advantage that year. Award will be stripped. Not sure what the AFL will do with it after that, I dare say they will declare it a void year, no one wins, that will cover the backside of their sponsors (betting agencies).

Their list will be ordinary this year. I don't mind their list 2017 on wards. The Bombers managed to trade out players at top value prior to the saga, and providing those picks were spent wisely, then It could be a blessing in disguise. There are a lot of disgruntled teams (Port, St Kilda) either whinging about compo or being bent over, but that is just a credit to the Bombers. Its not their fault that opposition teams didn't factors in the prospect of a WADA ban. If Essendon didn't start offloading players prior to 2016, they would be in a far worse position than they are now. The Bombers will enter 2017 with a relatively young list, and the impending arrival of a number 1 draft pick.

Yep, the players are all pretty quick to accept the view of the majority, and not even question it. That is partly what happened at Essendon. The fact the PA has a 100% approval, just means this saga could've happened at other clubs just as easily. Essendon players aren't the only ones who are naive and stupid. We've got a 100% of players nodding their heads to the PA - who hasn't acted in their best interests, and is now calling for a WADA overhaul (which isn't in the best interests of the player either).