TeamPlayedFine39

Threads like this would have a lot more integrity and legitimacy if they were posted after a win. That should be the time when the real eagle eyed observers should espouse the short comings of our list and coaching panel. Othwise, they just come across as negative and reactionary.

I feel a little bit sorry for him - he obviously missed up beating Hawthorn last year.

I really don't understand the comparison to North of the past 3-4 years... Nth Melbourne had a very imbalanced list of retained older players, then on top of that, brought in a host of mature players and free agents to keep them in finals contention. They had a reasonable list with mid-aged players such as Ziebull, Cunnington, Goldstein, Thompson, etc. and maintained that level through free agency and trading, rather than blooding new talent and trading up to higher picks. We are the complete antithesis of this approach. We have lost a significant number of senior players through requested trades, free agency and delistments. So much senior talent departed that we have had to bring in senior players to increase the age profile of our list. All of this was done to stockpile, support and develop young players. Those young players are now starting to string together some senior games. North climbed half-way up the mountain, then sought to add and retain aging players to possible take them over the top (Waite, Dal Santo, Firrito, Harvey, etc). We haven't even climbed part of the mountain yet. If anything, Nth Melbourne of 2014-16 reminds me of Melbourne of 2004-06.

I'd be strongly against this and it would be extremely detrimental to his development. Not only would he get statistically smashed, the opposition would go out of their way to beat up on him in the clinches. You don't put young, undersized midfielders into the center bounce; you certainly don't put a young, inexperienced, light weight ruck just coming back from his second ACL into the center square. The only thing he'll learn is that he isn't ready. While not overly tall, Pederson is bulky and can, at the very least, physically match up against the opposition ruckmen. In a perfect world, King wouldn't even be first ruck at Casey, but as it is, he's having his development fast tracked there. AFL would be a step too far. Let King develop right where he is.

We were predicted to be garbage in 2010... it was 2011 we were supposedly finals bound. There is, however, zero accurate comparison that one could make between those two playing lists and football departments. Zero.

Raises the question that maybe Melksham is being played out of position?? Maybe needs a few weeks in the midfield at Casey to get his touch back.

He also has the illustrious record of getting Campbell Brown 'retired' from AFL football.

IN: Kent, Trengove, Stretch OUT: JKH, Hannan, Bugg

This is a great win by the saints! For those looking to finals, for anyone to be a shot, you need to keep GWS out of the top two. If they get two home finals- that ties up one grand final spot right there.

10 guys leaving us to play for GWS at the first opportunity.

Bird in the hand.

I'd take Trengove over ten Scullys.

Didn't have a great game, but he certainly made plenty of contests which is more what I was responding to. He's not ready yet but he's shown enough for mine.

We traded ourselves into a position to draft Weideman because he wasn't going to make it to our next pick, he was the best available. He attacks the ball in the air with ferocity, he's clean with his hands and he's both a good set shot and field kick. What he needs is 10kg so he's not move off the ball so easily both on the ground and in the air. I have no idea how you've come to the conclusion that he has 'no hunger for the contest'?? In the games he's played this year he's been battered from pillar to post flying for marks against 28yo, 95kg, KPDs. He's made the contest and brought the ball to ground. The one match he struggled to get the the contest, he had a corked thigh which kept him out of the team for the next round. Weideman was on the radar for pick 6 all year, I fail to see the desperation.

Very confused by how this proposed 'independent panel' would work. Surely the coaches have a game plan and tactics they wish to employ, then they select a team that can best execute this. Someone removed from this would be putting the cart before the horse...

The issue with Hawkins in Round 3 was the speed and ease with which Geelong was able to get the ball into him once they penetrated our press. Collingwood denied him this easy ball which assisted Dunn as he wasn't caught out of position. One on one, Dunn is superior to O'Mac, however nowadays you need a whole team defender to stop the opposition scoring. On addition, as far as list management goes, Dunn has already reached his ceiling while I believe o'Mac is still a long way off. I like Dunn and I think he should be very proud of the career he's made for himself. Started as a key forward, moved to midfielder, then KPD- he's certainly proved himself to be versatile. However it's benefitted him to move to collingwood where he'll find more opportunity.

In addition you are going to struggle to find any suitable outdoor, grasses playing areas. Basketball, badminton and volleyball all use much smaller areas and have existing infrastructure. Football has always relied on cricket ovals.

All the promotions for the event are promoting 'networking' opportunities; it's a junket to try to attract business and sponsorship. Ex-pats will enjoy it, locals may find it to be a curiosity, but the whole trip is motivated by corporate dollars. At any rate the shear size of China is a huge opportunity for expanding the game and brining more dollars and sponsorship, considering 0.25% of their population is still lager than our entire population. Was planing on going to see the match, unfortunately the timing is terrible (from a Hong Kong perspective).

I think you were proven wrong in 1991.

Great to read that big Maxy ran for the first time on the weekend. Long road ahead obviously, but great progress!

Yikes!! Forgot he was a mature-age recruit. Point taken.

As far as I'm aware, like his brother, it a mixture of bad luck (impact) and soft tissue. His strongest asset is his marking and was seen as one of the most promising KPF in the league a few years back. Is currently seeing out a five year deal that Sydney signed him onto which is indicative of how the Swans viewed him. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/swans-lock-in-reid-for-five-20111216-1oys3.html He is largely an unknown due to his recurring injuries and not having a good run at it since Tippet, then Franklyn arrived. When he's on, he's very, very good IMHO.

Personally... I would be looking at our 1st rounder for Isaac Smith...

Thought he was a player at essendon, but wasn't overly impressed by his preseason and Casey form for us. Figured he'd need 6 months to fully hit his straps after the suspension and injury. I was completely wrong. He intuitively understands the speed of the game at senior level and reads the play like it's a Grug book. A fine addition to the team!

I remember Wallis and Long, but what did Solomon do? He was a kid in 2000...