TeamPlayedFine39

I'm not at fussed about us not going after Marchbank. What is concerning is Carlton and Silvagni's obsession with bringing in fringe GWS talent. The are going after a lot of high draft picks that have yet to show anything close to real, consistent form at the top level, and unless I'm mistaken, none of them have shown anything at Carlton either. Their entire rebuilds hinges on GWS offcuts making it big. Lamb, Phillips, Sumner, Plowman, Jaksch and now Marchbank (possibly for a first round pick). Could pay off of course, but at the moment it feels like Silvagni's not wanting to admit that he got a lot of his GWS drafting wrong, and wanting them to turn it around at the Blues.

Good post, but I reckon there's a lot of Brisbane Lions 2001-04 in that tactic. Interestingly, that's who Clarkson wanted to model his list on when he first started.

An enjoyable read... but this is pretty weird isn't it? A succession plan before a coach has had a a single match...??? Barlow has been floated on here a bit; would love to see him at the Dees for three years. For those worried about him displacing a young mid... good - make the kids develop and earn their spot every single week. If Barlow, a proven and hard bodied midfielder wanted to come to us, I'd welcome him with open arms. (I've always had a soft spot for him though - he's a great story)

Josh Watts - formerly of the Brisbane Lions? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-05/brisbane-lions-delist-five-after-horror-season

I have high hopes for ANB when he finally has the chance to play his natural position... hopefully he gets that chance with the Dees.

My wife's a Hawthorn supporter. Had the gall last year to tell me that she's bored of the home and away season as Hawthorn just win all the time- finals are the only thing that interest her. I cried and vomited at the same time. Our son's a Melbourne supporter- signed him up in the hospital the after he was born. In return she chose the name, school and religion.

Last trade period he was copping pages of outright abuse as no one understood what he was trying to do... until it all suddenly came together. I agree, we've been very crafty the last few years.

I think Hibberd for our second round pick is basically a fait-accompli. As that ties up our second rounder and our first has already headed north, I'd love for us to target a free agent or two to balance out our young list, particularly if we're losing Grimes and possibly one of Dunn or Garland. 1) Brent Harvey (DFA); has the speed and goal-kicking nous that we lack. Would cost nothing but a place on our list. 2) Tyrone Vickery (FA): Again, would only cost us some cap space and a place on the list. Would be the only ruck forward on our list who is ready to play senior football and, despite very promising signs, Weid won't be ready for a full time gig for another year. 3) If Eric McKenzie was going cheap - 3rd rounder, I'd be very interested. When all's said and done, I'm not expecting us to be big players this year and the free agency pile is looking pretty thin for 2016.

The AFL's media is too rude, intrusive and offensive to have not gotten a whiff of Hogan leaving. If players are talking about it at the BnF and ex-freo board members are sharing it around, how have Barrett, Stevens, Wilson and co. not received the news plastered the walls with it? Three weeks ago we were howling down GNF for saying Hogan was staying; the general gist of this was that "of course he is, it was quoted in an article- this isn't anything new!" Now we are attacking Hogan on the back of a player's reported ''gut feel'' and a poster saying he'd heard from someone who used to be on the board at Fremantle. The sources on all sides are very, very weak. We always complain the media is ready to sink the boot into us... so where are they? Why aren't they running the articles they did about Scully, Frawley and Howe leaving?? This thread sprung to life on the back of two pretty vague posts. (And it's not Saty that derails threads, it's the 12 regulars who jump on everything he says.)

Great for Jack! Great result from someone playing 2nd/3rd tall forward.

Thriller!

I think Roos had some inside knowledge, particularly of Heeney, through the youth academy he was coaching.

In fairness, your last scoop on the Hogan deal came from you lipreading a conversation with a Brisbane player...

First (small) outrage regarding tanking that I can recall was the Fremantle v Geelong 'Haselby game'. http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/703360/tanking-didnt-happen-drum/ StKilda played a few years of absolute stinkers after that and no one batted an eyelid. It was some of Carlton's results in the mid 2000s that really turned the public around on tanking.

In addition, I don't think he put a whole game together this year. He showed glimpses, but you can see that there is a player in there who is going to completely tear games apart in the coming years. He won't win it, but there's a potential superstar there.

The insurance issue, if reported accurately is disgraceful. They're Melbourne Footballers- take care of them.

Agree and disagree. One of the most attractive qualities that H had before coming to the Dees was his durability. Some questioned his attitude, that seems to be great since joining us. His ankle and concussion issues are new as far as I know...

I was shocked to see how young he is - though he was into his 30s. Definitely showed signs of slowing this year but he a prolific accumulator and a hard worker. Has two years left in him I'd say... worth a gamble, but I'd only be comfortable with us taking one player nearing their end. Definitely take him over Thompson, not sure I'd take him over Harvey.

'Former lover...' Already pivoting the narrative to the scorned ex out to ruin the poor, innocent guys career... with the truth.

True. You could add James Kelly to the list too. In a roundabout way, it's a good thing Stevie left Geelong; last year he looked slow, lazy and frustrated. He's benefited immensely from the move.

Someone on this page might be a little bit tipsy... FWIW Hogan is young, inexperienced, and struggles to cope with being out of form as it's happened to him so few times in his life. He's passionate; and in its youth, it comes across as cantankerous. The determined, stoic type will come with age and experience. I'd also wager that he's playing injured which is adding to his lack of mobility and frustration. He could barely walk when off the ground during the stkilda match and hasn't looked dangerous since.

Bring on the preseason training reports!!

An athlete not being able to get faster is probably the most absurd thing I've heard on here... Especially following the olympics. If your pace is set in stone, then how does a runner improve? Post pb's? What do they do at training with their coaches??

Well, take this week for example; as he is the emergency he would take the position of any midfielder or flanker who is injured or sick. That's on form, not sentiment. Next year, after a full preseason he could take the spot of anyone in the team he has that much talent and passion. The way he has come back from this 'career ending' injury, I wouldn't count anything out for him.